CHAMAN: A man looks on the US army vehicle loaded on a truck waiting for the clearance at security check post on Pak-Afghan border on Monday.

LAHORE—Pakistan MuslimLeague-N not ready to give achance to Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) to win a single seatfrom Lahore, has won the firstphase of political war by get-ting psychological dominanceover its political opponents in-cluding PPP and PTI even priorto general elections.

Knowing that a weak can-didate could turn the victoryinto defeat, PML-N chief Mian

Nawaz Sharif took the affairs ofawarding tickets to PML-N can-didates in his own hands inLahore and decided to contestelections from NA 120 againstPTI candidate Chaudhary AsgharGujjar while Mian ShahbazSharif will contest elections fromNA 128 against PTI candidateMansha Sindhu. SimilarlyHamza Shahbaz Sharif will faceWaleed Iqbal, a grandson ofAllama Iqbal, who has submit-ted his nomination paper from theplatform of PTI.

According to some political

analysts, both the political par-ties PML-N and PTI have keptthe ace of the trumps in secret andnot showing them at this stage butapparently PML-N has opted for“Big Names” strategy in Lahore.

PML-N is also trying tomake alliance with Jamat-e-Islami and other political partiesin Lahore to tackle PTI. PML-Qand PPP alliance is also wakingup and under the leadership ofMian Manzoor Watto, PPP hasalso hoped for some strongerpresence in Lahore but failed tostir political ripples in Lahore.

It was a prevailing impressionfew months ago that all thesethree constituencies were beingconsidered having reasonablevote bank of PTI but the overallscenario in Lahore changed sincethe last six months as PML-Nregained its strength in the capi-tal provincial by lobbying stronglocal factions and initiating megaproject of Metro Bus Service.Now all is going to in favor ofPML-N though PPP and PML-Q alliance failed to stir ripples inLahore. Furthermore, Jamat-e-Islami is likely a big alliance of

From dreams to reality: PML-N winspsychological war against PTI in Lahore

Continued on Page 7

Continued on Page 7

Verification of degrees

SC sets April 5 deadlinefor 189 ex-MPs

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The SupremeCourt of Pakistan’s Chief JusticeIftikhar Muhammad Chaudhrysaid on Monday that lawmakersholding fake-degrees could facecriminal cases and gave 189 law-makers, who had not submittedtheir educational certificates, timeuntil April 5 to submit their docu-ments for verification.

A three-member bench of theapex court, headed by Chief Jus-tice Iftikhar MuhammadChaudhry, heard the case pertain-ing to lawmakers with fake de-grees.

During the hearing, the chiefjustice said that the degrees of 54parliamentarians were found asfake whereas 189 lawmakers had

failed to submit their educationalcertificates since the past two anda half years. He added that accord-ing to the Constitution of Pakistanmembers of parliament could facecriminal prosecution for intention-ally submitting false statements.The chief justice remarked thatlawmakers holding fake degreesare ineligible to contest elections.

Chaudhry further said thatdegrees should be issued from anapproved institute and that thematter of degrees should be likean open book.

Chief Justice Chaudhry re-marked that action should be takenagainst the 54 parliamentarianswith fake degrees. The CJ stressedthe importance of the upcomingelections and everyone includingthe judiciary wanted them con-

ducted in a transparent manner.Chairman Higher Education

Commission Dr Javed Leghariand Secretary Election Commis-sion of Pakistan, Istiaq Khan ap-peared before the bench.

Secretary of the ElectionCommission Ishtiaq Ahmed toldthe court that the Higher Educa-tion Commission (HEC) had in-formed the commission about 69cases of fake degrees held by law-makers and that the cases wereforwarded to the relevant courtsfor criminal proceedings.

Ishtiaq further said that FIRswere lodged against 21 lawmak-ers who held fake degrees and thatthe names of lawmakers holdingfake degrees were being uploadedon the election commission

Continued on Page 6

PML-N in the upcoming generalelections. This changing sce-nario compelled the PTI leader-ship to change their electionstrategy and Imran Khan hasdecided to focus Lahore to placeinfluential and powerful candi-dates from all the constituenciesof Lahore but apparently failedto bring a winning candidateagainst PML-N bigwigs exceptby announcing his own name tocombat Mian brothers from NA126. Imran Khan was interestedto award PTI ticket to Zaheer

CJ takes noticeof allegedcorruption byGilani, AshrafSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Chief JusticeIftikhar Muhammad Chaudhryhas taken notice of the allegedmulti-billion corruption carriedout by former prime ministersYousaf Raza Gilani and RajaPervaiz Ashraf in theirrespective tenures.

The notice was taken afterthe Supreme Court registraroffice submitted a note to thechief justice.

The note claimed that 450illegal CNG licenses wereissued during Gilani’s tenure

Arrest warrantsissued againstAmin FahimSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—An anti-corruption court, hearing thecase over a multi-billion-ruppeescam in the National Insurance

Companyscam, issued onMonday non-bailable arrestwarrantsagainst sevenaccused in thecase includingformer federalminister for

commerce MakhdoomMuhammad Amin Fahim.

Other accused in the caseinclude former federalcommerce secretary SalmanGhani, Amin Qasim Dada andJaved Saeed (directors ofNICL) and Khalid AnwarKhan. All accused werebooked for allegedly causinghuge financial losses to theexchequer by violating rules inthe selling a piece of land inKorangi area in Karachi.—Agencies

Kayani, Dunforddiscuss

strengtheningcooperation

RAWALPINDI—Pakistan’s Chiefof Army Staff Gen Asfhaq ParvezKayani met with Isaf’s Com-mander Afghanistan General Jo-seph F Dunford on Monday, ac-cording to a press release issuedby the Inter Services Public Rela-tions.

The two military command-ers met as part of the continuingtri-partite commission efforts tostrengthen military-to-militarycooperation and regional stabil-ity.

The military leaders dis-cussed a variety of issues relatedto strengthening cooperation andpressuring militants who threatensecurity along the Pakistan-Af-ghanistan border.

This was General Dunford’sfirst visit to Pakistan in his offi-cial capacity as Isaf Commander.

“The Pakistani, the Afghansand the international communityall desire peace and security in theregion. These meetings are impor-

Continued on Page 6

SituationerMuzaffar Ali

Continued on Page 7

Amir, Dasti indictedin fake degree cases

M U Z A F F A R G A R H /BAHAWALPUR—Former Par-liamentarians Jamshed Dastiand Amir Yar Waran have beencharged in the fake degree casesagainst them.

The court ofdistrict and ses-sions judge hereon Monday in-dicted JamshedDasti in bogusdegree case. TheDistrict and Ses-sions JudgeAbdul Rehman Khan Niazi in-dicted Jamshed Dasti on the re-quest of regional election com-missioner of Multan.

The petitioner was of theview that the accused contestedin 2008 elections on a fake de-gree and he should be tried onthe charges of forgery. JamshedDasti, on March 15, had an-

nounced to quit the PakistanPeoples Party (PPP). He said thathe would contest in general elec-tions as independent candidatefrom NA 177 and 178. Dasti fur-

ther said thatHina RabbaniKhar and her fa-ther opposedhim in by-pollsthat took placein 2010, addingthat he had toldthe party leader-ship that he

would contest elections againstKhar. On Sunday night JamshedDasti, as a mark of solidarity withthe poor people of his constitu-ency travelled through a donkeycart to reach District ReturningOfficer (DRO) office to filenomination papers. Hundreds ofsurprised people gathered at the

Continued on Page 7

15-memberinterim cabinet tobe sworn-in today

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The Prime Min-ister House has announced for-mation of 15-member caretakerfederal cabinet which will takeoath today.

The Prime Minister MirHazar Khan Khoso has selectedthe interim cabinet after manydays consultations. The caretakerministers have been taken fromall the provinces.

The cabinet consists ofpeople whom the caretaker PMpersonally knows or has workedwith them in the past.

President Asif Ali Zardariwill travel to Islamabad today toadminister the oath of office to

Appointment ofRaja’s son-in-law

illegal: IHCISLAMABAD—The IslamabadHigh Court on Monday declaredformer premier Raja PervaizAshraf’s son-in-law’s appoint-ment in Pak-China InvestmentCompany Limited (PCICL) asillegal.

The government of Pakistanhad, on March 4, appointedShahnawaz as the deputy man-aging director of the company.

Javed Mehmood, who hadbeen appointed for the same poston January 3, 2011, and whoseterm was going to expire onJanuary 2, 2014, challenged theappointment of the new deputymanaging director in court. Healleged the appointment hadbeen made under political pres-sure and violated all rules andregulations. The court had, onMarch 14, reserved its judgmenton a petition challenging the ap-

Musharraf forpolls under army

Arrives in IslamabadSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Former Presi-dent Gen (Retd) PervezMusharraf has said that generalelections should be held underthe army supervision. He saidhis party will have seat adjust-ment with MQM.

He was addressing a pressconference at his Chak Shahzadfarm house Monday night.

When his attention wasdrawn to the filing of nomina-tion papers by Javed Hashmiagainst him in Islamabad, hepraised the PTI leader.

Pervez Musharraf’s arrivedhere on Monday night by a PIAflight from Lahore. Earlier his

chartered flight from Karachi toIslamabad was diverted toLahore due to bad weather andthe former military ruler had toresume his journey on a Paki-stan International Airlines flight.

A Civil Aviation Authorityofficial said Musharraf?s char-tered plane left Karachi forIslamabad at 4 pm.

It was diverted to Lahorebecause of rough weather overthe federal capital, he said. Latein the evening, Musharraf leftfor Islamabad on a PIA flightafter authorities declared hissmall chartered aircraft was notfit to contend with the badweather. “Musharraf had to wait

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—Muttahida QaumiMovement (MQM) Co-Ordina-tion Committee Deputy Con-vener Dr Muhammad FarooqSattar Monday released the Elec-tion Manifesto of the MQM forthe general elections-2013.

The party manifesto with itstitle slogan, ‘Empowering thePeople’ was made public in ahugely crowded gathering of theMQM supporters, workers,sympathisers and office-bearers.

LPG pricecut byRs11.5 per kgISLAMABAD—LiquefiedPetroleum Gas (LPG)marketing companies havereduced the LPG price to aconsiderable level of Rs 11.50per kg, Rs 134 per domesticcylinder and Rs 515 percommercial cylinder. LPGprice has been reduced ininternational market from$895 to $ 817 per metric tonand significant reduction of$87 per metric ton has beenwitnessed.

Following this cutPARCO, the major LPGproducer in the country hasalso reduced the price by Rs11368 per metric ton and newprice in the county will be Rs90578 per metric ton.

After this decrease of Rs11.50 per kg, new price ofLPG in Gilgit Baltistan,Muzaffar Abad, Naran, Bagh,Kaghan and Peshawar wouldbe Rs 115 per kg and domesticcylinder will be available at Rs

‘Empowering the people’

MQM unveilselection manifesto

A large number of newsmen werepresent.In his opening remarks,the Deputy Convener claimedthat the MQM was the only po-litical party in the country thathad originated from the low-in-come social class of the people.The aim ahead to the party wasto struggle to abolish the archaicfeudal system that gripped thecountry since its birth as the sov-ereign state in the sub-continent.

He said that in pursuance tothe philosophy of Realism and

Continued on Page 7Continued on Page 7

LIAQAT TOOR

ISLAMABAD—All main politi-cal parties including PML-N,PTI and JUI-F have kicked offtheir election campaign by stag-ing big shows in Lahore,Mansehra and Swat, but PPP,the biggest political party of thecountry is still in a state of dis-array. Bilawal Bhutto, who wasrecently given commanding po-sition in the party, left Pakistanfor UAE at this critical time for

‘unknown reasons’ and did notreturn so far to lead the campaign.There is nobody in the party torespond to the unending propa-ganda going on against the party.President Asif Ali Zardari, whowas Co-Chairperson of the partyrecently, has been debarred bysuperior courts to take part inpolitical activities as long as heis in the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Stalwarts in the PPP are fac-ing cases including Raja ParvezAshraf, Makhdum Fahim, Gilani

family and Rehman Malik whileothers are seemed to be sitting onthe fence, taking no part in de-fending the party.

During background inter-views, it was revealed that therewas no effective central com-mand at this moment to controland guide and guiding the party.PPP is rudderless and it has noanswer to the onslaughts of op-ponents, media and civil society.A party leader on condition ofanonymity told this scribe, the

party banked on ‘Shahadat’ ofZulifkar Ali Bhutto and BanazirBhutto in the past and success-fully earned sympathy votes.But, this time a performance-based politics will be a winningpitch in the elections. Unfortu-nately, PPP leaders are facingserious allegations of corrup-tion and it could not deliver tothe people and the country. ThePPP is facing serious situation

Election battlefield heating up

PPP still in a state of disarray

Continued on Page 6

2 copters sought to dispatch voters’ lists to Balochistan

EC starts scrutinyof nomination papersSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The ElectionCommission of Pakistan received9,124 nomination papers and hasimmediately started their scru-tiny, and the process will be com-pleted till April 7.

According to the ElectionCommission, more than 3,000nomination papers have beenscrutinise by NADRA, FBR,State Bank of Pakistan, and NABand have been sent back to theReturning Officers.

Meanwhile, the ElectionCommission of Pakistan has re-quested the military to providetwo helicopters for deliveringvoters’ lists to certain areas ofBalochistan. A summary hasbeen sent to the military leader-ship in this regard.

The ECP Additional Secre-tary Muhammad Afzal Khan toldthe media on Monday that thevoters’ lists and ballot papers willbe sent to Balochistan via heli-

copters and a C-130 aircraft.Last week, the army gave fi-

nal approval to its plan of pro-

viding security to ECP to ensurefree, fair and peaceful generalelections on May 11 – the day ofpolling.

The final plan, which in-cludes the number of soldiers that

will be deployed across all sen-sitive polling stations, will bemade public after another roundof talks between military andelectoral authorities.

Additional Secretary of Elec-tion Commission of PakistanAfzal Khan has said that the scru-tiny of the candidates of the forth-coming general elections will bedone without accepting any pres-sure or influence. He was of theview that no one would be ableto win the elections under theshadow of guns.

Meanwhile, PML-N ChiefNawaz Sharif, MuhammadShahbaz Sharif and ChairmanPTI, Imran Khan have been sum-moned for the scrutiny of thenomination papers. The Return-ing Officer has summonedNawaz Sharif and ShahbazSharif on April 3 and April 4,whereas Chairman PTI, ImranKhan has been summoned onApril 5.

Continued on Page 7

Afzal Khan, ECPAdditional Secretary

Continued on Page 7 Continued on Page 7

M. HALEEM ASAD

TIMERGARA—Former fieldcoordinators of the NationalResearch and DevelopmentFoundation (NRDF) belong-ing to different districts ofMalakand division on Mon-day demanded of theUNICEF, Islamabad office, toimmediately release their sala-ries being withheld for thelast six months.

During a media briefinghere NRDF field coordinatorfor Dir Lower MuhammadAbdullah Madani, AfreenKhan Swat, Noorullah Bajaur,Fazal Wahid MalakandAgency, Sahibzada Izharullahand Shah Khalid from Shanglaalleged that some officials atthe UNICEF Peshawar officehad caused damages to the‘Involvement of Ulema againstElimination of polio’ project.

They said that morethan 15,000 volunteer ulema(religious leaders) were sup-porting the project in theKhyber Pakhtunkhwa andFATA but due to negligenceand inefficiency of some ofthe UNICEF office atPeshawar the project losttheir support. They said

they had been working withNRDF, a partner of theUNICEF in the project forsixteen months as districtfield coordinators in theirrespective areas.

“The project ended inDecember 2012 but theirsalaries from June to No-vember, 2012 were withheldby the UNICEF Peshawarwithout telling any concretereasons,” Madani said,adding that they contactedthe office regularly sincethen but to no avail. Theysaid the NRDF should alsobreak its silence and backits field staff in this regard.

The aggrieved staffersdemanded of the UNICEF torelease their salaries, restartthe project and initiateproper enquiry against itsregional chief at PehsawarDr Jameel for his failure tomake the project as a suc-cess in KhyberPakhtunkhwa and Fata.They warned to hold a pro-test sit-in in front of theUNICEF office at Pehsawaron April 5 along with theirfamily members includingwomen and children if theirdemands were not met.

PTBB fails toprovide books

to studentsSHER MUHAMMAD KHAN

MULTAN—The Punjab TextBook Board has failed to pro-vide syllabus books to thou-sands of students of govern-ment schools, which re-opened after spring holidayson Monday, April 1. A num-ber of students and their par-ents have expressed concernover unavailability of books.

Most of the teachers saidthe schools being funded byPunjab Education Founda-tion had received the sylla-bus books but the studentsof the schools being run bythe Punjab Education De-partment had yet to getbooks. Several teachers as-sociations have asked thePTBB and the education de-partment to play their role inthis regard.

Teachers say that in sucha situation they could notfulfill their responsibilityproperly without books. Dis-trict monitoring officer told toPakistan Observer that theconsignment of the bookshad been received and wouldbe distributed among the stu-dents soon.

PML-N toend sense ofdeprivation

PESHAWAR—Central VicePresident of PML-N AmirMuqam has claimed that hisparty would end sense ofdeprivation of the people ifvoted to power in the gen-eral elections 2013. Address-ing a corner meeting of theparty workers in NA-4, AmirMuqam who is also candi-date from the constituency,said that he would make it amodel constituency by de-veloping its roads, and so-cial sector infrastructure.

He said that he spent mil-lions of rupees in the con-stituency on the develop-ment works in the past de-spite the fact he was notelected from NA-4 Peshawar-IV. The PML-N leaderstressed upon the partyworkers to work day andnight for the success of theirparty candidates. The meet-ing was also addressed byparty candidates for PK-11Haji Sifatullah and PK-10Amanullah Khan. Mean-while, it is reported that Paki-stan Muslim League (N) hasfielded Maulana MuhammadYounas against former Presi-dent General (R) PervezMusharraf in NA-32 con-stituency Chitral, said aspokesman for the party hereon Monday. The central Par-liamentary Board of PMLNhas awarded party ticket forNA-32 to MaulanaMuhammad Younas andMuhammad Kausar Advo-cate for PK-89.

Sargodga: PML-N ChiefNawaz Sharif has filed nomi-nation papers from NA- 68Sargodha 5 to face PPP’s SyedNusrat Ali Shah and PTI’sMian Noor Hayat Kalyar. TheNA-68 constituency consistsof three tehsils includingSillanwali, Sahiwal andShahpur along with threePunjab Assembly seats PP-36,PP-37 and PP-38. NA-68 hasalways been a stronghold ofthe PML-N since 1988.—APP

2 motorbikes,cash snachedOUR CORRESPONDENT

HAFIZABAD—Two personswere deprived of their bikesand cash worth of thousandof rupees at two differentplaces today. According topolice source, Ghazanfar Ali,son of Ghulam Rasool was onway to his village whenreached near Sahoke, twoarmed bandits interceptedhim and snatched away hisbike, cell phone and Rs. 3000at pistol point.

According to another re-port, Muhammad Nadeem,son of Muhammad Hanif ofHafizabad today parked hisbike NO. HZK-6452 outsidethe shop on Jagganwala roadtoday but when he came out-side, the bike lifter hadwhisked away with his bike.Bike-snatching and liftinghas become order of the dayfor the past one month andscores of bikes have beensnatched or lifted but thepolice have failed to checkthe rising incidents.*****

As many as 99 profiteerswere challaned for violatingPrice Control Act by the Spe-cial Price Magistrates in thedistrict during March andtotal fine of Rs. 67,350 wasrealised from the violators.Meanwhile, the DCO has ad-vised the SPMs to continuecrackdowns on the profiteersto provide some sort of reliefto the consumers.

HYDERABAD: Models walk on ramp during the FashionFolk organized by a local studio at Public Garden.

TARIQ SAEED

PESHAWAR—In two tragicincidents one in Chitral andother in Swat on Monday atleast nine people were killedand seven others includingwomen and children sus-tained serious injuries.Those killed included threeschool going children whowere hit by a speeding car.

Reports reaching herefrom Malakand division saidas many as six passengerswere killed and equal num-ber of others sustained se-rious injuries when ajeepplunged into a deep ra-vine in Chitral on Monday

morning. The locals said apassenger jeep with 15 per-sons on board coming fromUpper Chitral to main city,went off the road while ne-gotiating a sharp turn inBarnas Nullah area and fellinto deep ravine.

The reason behind thegory incident was stated tobe over speeding and badcondition of the road. “Thedriver of an ill-fated jeep,coming from Booni to Chitral,when reached Baringus area,plunged into deep ravine dueto over speeding while nego-tiating a sharp turn in themountainous region”. Policeofficials said

Some of the passengersmanaged to save themselvesby jumping out of the vehiclebut six of them were killed inthe accident while six othersincluding children andwomen sustained wounds.The local people on self-helpbasis shifted the bodies andinjured to District Headquar-ters (DHQ) Hospital Chitral.

On the other hand in atragic incident three schoolchildren lost their lives inroad mishap at Charbagharea of Tehsil of Swat onMonday. According to de-tails, the students were cross-ing a road in Gulibagh areaof Charbagh Tehsil, when

they were hit by speedingcar. Nine years old girl stu-dents Jaweria, 7-year oldMahnoor and 11 years oldAsadullah were killed on thespot, while 10 years oldAmaduddin was serious in-jured.

He was shifted to SaiduSharif hospital. “A group ofschool children was crossinga road when a fast-movingcar hit them. As a result, threeof them died on the spotwhereas one of them sus-tained serious injuries”. Lo-cal administration said.

APP adds from Shangla:Two policemen were injuredwhen Unknown militants at-

Militants attack police check post in Shangla, two cops injured

9 including 3 school kids killed in Chitral, Swattacked a police checkpost atTehsil Poran in Shangla dis-trict in wee hours of Mon-day. According to policesources, unidentified assail-ants equipped with auto-matic weapons, attackedKankar security checkpostjointly manned by police andjawans of special force in thewee hours of Monday. As aresult, head constable AbidAli and another cop of spe-cial force sustained criticalwounds. The police also re-taliated as result of which theoutlaws escaped from thescene. Police shifted the in-jured to hospital and startedinvestigation.

HYDERABAD: Lady Health Workers block the entrance of Shehbaz Building during a protest sit-in for acceptanceof their demands.

ISLAMABAD—The USfunded EntrepreneursProject in Pakistan will train26,000 women embellishersacross Pakistan and improvetheir skills to increase theirincome by 2014. Throughthis project, the United StatesAgency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) pro-vides female artisans withthe skills to improve theirproducts, access better mar-kets, and increase their in-comes.

The project providesskills and improves the busi-ness know-how of low-in-come women with home busi-nesses. According to Jamila,one of 26,000 women whowill benefit from this projectby 2014 her income hasgrown manifold by the train-ing she received fromUSAID’s EntrepreneursProject. “Now I don’t haveto think about what I will feedmy children anymore. In-stead, I can think about my

children going to school andlearning things I don’tknow,” she said.

Jamila’s husband is a daylabourer and his modest in-come does not cover thefamily’s basic needs. Jamilaused to embroider fabric us-ing Sindhi and Balochi stitch-ing and did beadwork, butowing to few orders, earnedonly $7 a month. She came toknow about a training pro-gram sponsored by USAID’sEntrepreneurs Project, which

helped women earn a living.Today, Jamila manages ateam of 65 women embellish-ers and helps these womenreceive orders, collect anddeliver finished products tothe buyers.

“Now I earn more than$19 a month,” said Jamilawho has no education or ex-perience on the formallabour market, but now sup-ports her family by earningadditional income. Theproject also trained her to

represent other business-women to the purchasers ofembellished fabric. To-gether, the women are ableto offer large quantities ofproducts and receive betterprices. US sponsoredcourses teach women em-bellishers to identify prod-ucts in high demand, to ac-cess better markets andbusiness service providers,and to create new value-added products to attracthigher profits.—APP

USAID to train 26,000 women across Pakistan

QUETTA: Students of Govt Sardar Hassan Musa Girls Degree College presenting tab-leau during inaugural ceremony of Pakistan Art Gallery in college.

FAISALABAD—Former Fed-eral Minister for Communi-cations and senior PML-Nleader has announced toleave the party after havingbeen denied the party ticketfor the National Assemblyelections. Addressing apress conference here onSunday, Raja Nadir Pervezalleged that Chaudhry NisarAli Khan was behind the de-cision of not giving him theparty ticket.

He alleged thatChaudhry Nisar was playingthe role of Mir Sadiq and MirJaffar and distanced NawazSharif from old loyalists. Hesaid he was leaving thePML-N with broken heartand pain. He said it was be-

Nadir Pervez leaves PML-Ncause of Chaudhry Nisarthat Javed Hashmi left theparty.

Raja Nadir Pervez saidthat candidates are beingasked to donate a car andgive Rs15 million for the partyticket. He blamed that somepeople were making moneyin Faisalabad in return forparty ticket. He recounted hisservices for the PML-N andSharifs and said that he wasone of the 18 MNAs whoconfronted the Q-Leaguegovernment in very difficulttimes and kept the partyunited. He said he was oneof those who carried the cof-fins of Mian Sharif whenpeople were hesitant to at-tend his funeral.—INP

NRDF field coordinatorsdemand 6 months salary

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—The KhyberPakhtunkhwa Minister forInformation and Special Edu-cation, Mossarat Qadeemhas said that special childrendeserve our special attentionas compared to the normalone for making them usefulcitizens of the society. Shesaid that she would do all herbest for the welfare of thespecial children adding thatshe was intending to domuch more for them in herpersonal capacity also.

This she said while ad-dressing the prize distribution

Special children need special attentionceremony of MuhammadAzam Khan, Special Educa-tion Centre (MAKSEC) atCharsadda on Monday. Theceremony beside others wasaddressed by the Patron-in-Chief of MAKSEC, Haji AliAkbar and its Chairman WajidAli Khattak while DeputyCommissioner CharsaddaSyed Zafar Ali Shah and au-thorities concerned of Educa-tion Department were alsopresent on this occasion.

Mossarat Qadeem main-tained that special childrenwere the test from Allah Al-mighty and who succeed inthis test would get its fruits

in this world and in the here-after. She said the ratio ofspecial children in our coun-try was 3 % of the popula-tion and keeping in view thisratio, there was a need of alarge network of special edu-cation institutions for them.She added the governmentalone could not do the samebut each and every one hasto play his role as attentionon special children was notthe responsibility of the gov-ernment alone. She appealedthe philanthropists to comeforward and generously helpthe MAKSEC like welfare in-stitutions.

Hepatitispatients get

free injectionsFAISALABAD—As many as150 deserving patients ofHepatitis-C got free of costinjections as complete treat-ment course of the diseaseunder Hepatitis ControlProgramme of the Punjabgovernment. In this connec-tion, a ceremony was held atDHQ Hospital here, attendedby Medical SuperintendentDr Arif Ali, Additional MS DrHabib Buttar, Prof Dr AkmalSharif, other doctors of thehospital and large number ofpatients.

Addressing the cer-emony, MS Dr Arif Ali saidthat 2,000 deserving patientssuffering from Hepatitis-Cdisease had so far been gotinjections to complete treat-ment course. He said thatHepatitis-C is a deadly dis-ease, however, if it diagno-sis on time, it can be con-trolled.—APP

Saifullah brothersask people

to vote for PPPLAKKI MARWAT—Saifullahbrothers have claimed thatdespite being in power theirfamily unlike other politicalparties has never been in-volved in corruption and al-ways served the people ofprovince while setting asidepolitical and personnel differ-ences. People should supportPPP for the sake of peace, endto power crises, completion ofuplift projects including con-struction of dams and powerhouses in the province.—APP

BASHIR AHMAD RAHMANI

HAFIZABAD—The ReturningOfficer Pindi Bhattian/Addi-tional Sessions JudgeGhulam Rasool has rejectedthe nomination paper filed forPP-107 of Mian IntisarHussain Bhatti on the objec-tion raised by his rival SyedShoaib Shah Nawaz thatIntisar Bhatti had alreadybeen convicted in connectionwith a case some time back.Meanwhile, Ch Qamar-uz-Zaman Additional SessionsJudge/Returning Officer forNA-102, PP-105 and PP-106

97 politicians file papers in HafizabadNomination papers of Intisar rejected

and Ghulam Rasool Addi-tional Sessions Judge/Re-turning Officer for NA-103and PP-107 have started scru-tiny of nomination papers.

*****District Office (Cord)

Noman Hafeez has calledupon the growers to put intheir maximum efforts to in-crease per acre yield of theirfood output to improve theirsocio-economic conditionsas well as to make the coun-try self-sufficient in food. Hewas addressing a gatheringof growers at computer drawfor distribution of 12 laser

levellers to the growers in thedistrict. He said that govern-ment has introduced avail-ability of laser levellers byproviding subsidy of Rs.2,25,000 each which wouldgo a long way in increasingyield of food output.

The DO Water Manage-ment Syed Shahid Saleemsaid that 344 growers hadsubmitted their applicationsfor getting subsidised laserlevellers of which 336 weredeclared eligible purely onmerit and the ballot has beendrawn transparently. He fur-ther said that last year 17

growers had been providedsubsidised laser levellers.

*****As many as 97 politicians

including five women had filedtheir nomination papers fortwo NA and three PA seats.Forty-nine candidates are in-dependent while others be-long to PML-N, PTI, JI, PPP,Awami Ittehad, ST, MQM andMWM. Ch. Mehdi HassanBhatti District President PML-Q, who and his group wereawarded tickets from the partyfor all the five constituencieshave filed their nominationpapers as Independents.

ANP will win againStaff Reporter

PESHAWAR—A stalwart of Awami Na-tional Party (ANP) and former federalminister for Railways, Haji GhulamAhmad Bilour has claimed that the elec-torates of the city will once again ex-press full confidence in ANP and willregain power with support of masses.He expressed these views while ad-dressing a public meeting in Gulbahar.He said all people of KhyberPakhtunkhwa had witnessed the tough

situation that was faced by ANP and the provincial gov-ernment during last five years. Despite menace of terror-ism and difficult law and order situation, he said, the ANPcontinued pace of development and completed recorddevelopment projects that has no precedence in the past.Haji Ghulam Bilour said his brother and Martyr of Peace,Shaheed Bashir Ahmad Bilour had also laid down his lifefor a noble cause of peace and his supreme sacrifice wouldnot go waste. He said they are the followers of greatpreacher of peace, Bacha Khan and are considering poli-tics as a sacred job. The people welfare and democraticprocess, he said will continue in future too and ANP willsupports peace endeavours. He said that history hadproved that NA-1 is the stronghold of ANP and importedcandidates have always faced defeat here, saying thistime too the imported candidate will face crushing defeatat the hands of Peshawarites. The former minister termedthe upcoming general elections crucial for national sal-vation and security of Pakistan and urged the people touse their vote in conscious and elect representatives ca-pable of fighting for their rights.

Mirwaiz, others put under house arrestOur Correspondent

MUZAFFARABAD—In occupied Kash-mir, the authorities have placed theAPHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooqand other senior Hurriyet leaders underhouse arrest to prevent them from visit-ing the residence of ShaheedMuhammad Afzal Guru at Doabgah inSopore. Accodind to Kashmir MediaService, the other Hurriyet leaders whohave been placed under house arrestinclude Maulana Abbas Ansari, Agha

Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi, Zafar Akbar Butt,Masroor Abbas and Syed Saleem Gilani. Mukhtar AhmadWaza was arrested and lodged at Sherbagh Police Stationin Islamabad. The veteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilaniand Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman,Muhammad Yasin Malik continued to remain under housearrest. The APHC Chairman in a statement warned the au-thorities against lodging Hurriyet leaders and activists withcriminal prisoners in jails. He said that the authorities weresubjecting them to political vendetta in clear violation ofpolitical and ethical norms. Protest demonstrations con-tinued for the second consecutive day, today, in Shopianagainst the arrest of youth by Indian police. People raisedpro-freedom and anti-India slogans during the protests.Several were injured when police used brute force againstthe protesters in the area. Hurriyet leaders, Yasmeen Raja,Firdous Ahmad Shah, Bashir Ahmad Andrabi and AbdulAhad Para in their separate statements condemned theongoing crackdown and arrest operations in the territory.According to the data, compiled by the Research Sectionof Kashmir Media Service, Indian troops in their stepped-up state terrorism martyred 11 innocent Kashmiris includ-ing one in custody during the last month of March.

Waheeda Shah denied PPP ticketHYDERABAD—The former defenceminister and a leader of PakistanPeoples Party (PPP) Syed NaveedQamar submitted his nomination formto contest the election from NA-222constituency in Tando MuhammadKhan district. Qamar was elected as aMember of the National Assembly for5 times from this constituency, since1990 general elections on PPP ticket.The other candidates of PPP who sub-

mitted the forms on Sunday include Syed Aijaz ShahBukhari for PS-53 and Abdul Kareem Soomro for PS 54.The forms were also submitted by Pakistan MuslimLeague-Functional’s (PML-F) Mir Inayat Talpur, Pir SajjadJan Sarhindi and Ghulam Mustafa Lashari, PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf’s Muhammad Iqbal Nizamani, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e- Islam- FazlurRehman’s (JUI-F) Maulana RamzanSoomro and many independent candidates for PS-53. Simi-larly, for PS-54 constituency the forms were submitted byNayyara Sultana of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM),Pir Sajjad Jan Sarhindi, Maulana Abdul Rashid Loond ofJUI-F, Atique Ali Loond of PML-N and Bashir AhmedShah of Sindh United Party, besides several independentcandidates. Syeda Waheeda Shah Bukhari, who put her-self on the map by slapping the female polling staff dur-ing the Feb 2012 by-elections in PS-53 constituency, hasreportedly been denied the ticket of PPP. She submittedthe nomination form in an independent capacity as hersupporters protested against Syed Aijaz Shah Bukhariwho has been given the PPP ticket for PS-53. Earlierformer MNA and Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party(Women Wing Pakistan) ms Faryal Talpur has said thatall the party’s candidates for Sindh Assembly seats havebeen finalised and announcement in this regard will bemade within next two days. While talking to newsmen atNaudero House.—APP

Media reports on award of PPP tickets deniedHYDERABAD—Former provincial min-ister and President of PakistanPeoples Party (PPP) Hyderabad chap-ter, Zahid Bhurgari has said the mediareports about the award of ticket tocertain PPP candidates for the con-stituencies in Hyderabad were un-founded. Talking to the media aftersubmitting his nomination forms forNA-221 and PS-47 here Bhurgari saidthe PPP’s parliamentary board was yet

to make an announcement in that regard. “The final listof the candidates who have been given the party tick-ets will be made after the end of the scrutiny process ofthe nomination forms,” he said. When asked about thereplacement of Pir Amjad Shah Jeelani, the PPP’s fivetimes election winner from PS-50 constituency inHyderabad Rural Taluka, with the former Sindh informa-tion minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, he denied that adecision has been taken so far. “Memon was born inTandojam area of Hyderabad Rural and he spent all hislife in Hyderabad,” he said to defend his candidaturefrom PS-50 when questioned why an outsider was be-ing given the ticket. Memon had won unopposed in aby-elections from a Sindh Assembly constituency inTharparkar district in 2009. Bhurgari said all the aspir-ants of the PPP tickets in Hyderabad would have toaccept the parliamentary board’s decision. “Even if I amnot given the ticket, I will accept the decision,” he said.Bhurgari was accompanied by PPP’s district vice presi-dent Jam Khan Shoro who submitted his nominationform for PS-47 constituency in Qasimabad taluka. MsFaryal Talpur files nominations for NA-207.—APP

QUETTA—The leaders ofpolitical parties working inBalochistan have pinnedhope on upcoming generalelection that they wouldbring peace and help in nor-malizing the situation. Intheir separate statements is-sued here Monday theyhope the elected representa-tives of the people wouldsurely have the wisdom tocheck out the complex situa-tion in the Balochistan prov-ince. Former prime ministerMir Zafarullah Khan Jamalicommenting on a situationsaid: “The Election Commis-sion of Pakistan headed by

Justice (Retd) Fakhruddin GIbrahim will conduct free, fairand transparent electionsand the voters would haveto cast their votes for sincereand honest candidates”.

He said that people ofJaffarabad are lucky as twoprime ministers were takenfrom their region.He said thathe was contesting electionsfor the welfare of people.Headded conducting of generalelection would help in nor-malizing the law and ordersituation in the province. Pa-kistan Muslim League-QBalochistan president SheikhJaffar Mandokhel said that

he hope that masses wouldvote for his party.He said thatgeneral election 2013 wouldstrengthen democracy andbring prosperity inBalochistan.He advised hisparty workers not to acceptany pressure during the elec-tion campaign and continuetheir work for conducting offree-fair and transparent elec-tions.

Nawab Aali Bugti, thechief of Bugti tribes and thegrandson of late NawabAkbar Khan Bugti said thathe decided to contest gen-eral election with his beliefthat Election Commission is

a powerful institution thatwould ensure conducting offree, fair and transparentelections.He, however, al-leged that some hindranceswere put in the way of filingof his nomination papers. MirSadiq Umrani, the presidentof Pakistan Peoples’ Party(PPP) Balochistan said thathis party believes in demo-cratic values and rule of lawadding that general election2013 would strengthen de-mocracy and boost economy.

Hazara Democratic Party(HDP) leader MuhammadRaza Wakeel and SardarSahil Hazara said that con-

ducting of general electionwould discourage non-democratic traditions andwould bring downtroddenpeople into mainstream ofthe country. Sardar OmarGorgaij, senior PPP leaderand former federal ministersaid that PPP-led governmenthad executed record devel-opment works in Balochistanand masses would onceagain vote for PPP that al-ways protected their rightsand resolved their problemson priority basis.

Sardar Gorgaij who is alsoPPP candidate for NA-260Quetta-Chagai seat said that

general election provide achance to voters to elect theright person who work fortheir betterment and devel-opment of their area. AbdulMateen Akhundzada, thechief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)Balochistan and JI candidatefor PB-16 Loralai seat saidthat voters would have to dis-courage and defeat the can-didates who remained in-dulged in corruption of de-velopment funds and earnedbad name. He said that hisparty after coming in powerwould initiate’ accountabilityof looters of the national ex-chequer.— APP

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—The KhyberPakhtunkhwa Governor, En-gineer Shaukatullah presidedover a high level meetingduring his visit to FATA Sec-retariat here on Mondaywherein the pace of progresson development projects inirrigation sector was re-viewed. The meeting was at-tended by the ACS FATA, DrTashfin Khan, secretariesand directors of the nationbuilding departments of theFATA Secretariat.

After having detail re-view of the pace of progresson development projects,the Governor desired to re-alistically re-assess theground situation both in re-

spect of ongoing as well asthe new schemes and makespecial efforts for ensuringcompletion of the projects tothe maximum possible ex-tent. There is a need to cur-tail the portfolio of the on-going projects and makesure that the number ofprojects; with nominal an-nual allocations are cur-tailed, he said.

Governor also sought alist of both tube-wells anddug wells alongwith detailreport on their prevailingstate of working in FATA andfurther desired that efficientarrangements also have to bemade to ensure properfunctionalization of the entirelot. On a point the Governoralso stressed need for ensur-

ing launching of solidschemes to control land ero-sion because of floods.

Meanwhile, the Governoralso paid a surprise visit tovarious sections of the sec-retariat and took keen inter-est in their working. Care-taker KP CM calls on Gover-nor Shaukat: Provincial Care-taker Chief Minister, Justice(Retd) Tariq Parvez Khancalled on the KhyberPakhtunkhwa Governor, En-gineer Shaukatullah atGovernor’s House, Peshawaron Monday. He discussedmatters of mutual interestwith special focus on theongoing arrangements forensuring conduct of generalelections in free, fair andtransparent manners.

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TIMERGARA—Like othersparts of the country, the firstphase of filling of nomina-tion papers has successfullycompleted in Lower Dir dis-trict where 21 candidates in-cluding a woman filed theirpapers for single NationalAssembly (NA-34) DirLower constituency forelections 2013. Prominentamong those, who submit-ted their nomination papersfor NA_34 Dir Lower in-cluding ShahibzadaMuhammad Yaqoob Khan(JI), Farid Khan (PML-N),Qazi Fazlullah (JUI-F),former State Minister andPPP stalwart Malik AzmatKhan, Muhammad AzamKhan (ANP) and MalikRasheed of PTI.

For the first time in the

history of Lower Dir District,a woman candidate NushratBegium, who was elected theDistrict Vice President of Pa-kistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTi)has also filed nomination pa-pers as Independent candi-date and hopeful to get partyticket. The total registeredvoters in the constituencyare 5,40,091 for whom 308polling stations would besetup to exercise their rightof franchise on May 11 nextin the 2013 election.

Similarly, 24 candidateshave filled nomination papersfor PK 94 Timergarah, 16 can-didates for PK-95 Jandol, 14candidates for PK 96 MaidanTehsil and 26 for PK-97Adeenzai Lower Dir. Thestaff of Election Commissionof Pakistan has started thescrutiny of nomination pa-pers that will continue till

April 7. On the last day offiling nomination papers fornational and provincial as-semblies to contest forth-coming general elections, 56nomination papers for thetwo seats of national assem-bly and 139 for the five pro-vincial seats of districtAbbottabad were filed.

According to details, 24candidates filed nominationpapers for NA-17Abbottabad-I and 32 candi-dates filed papers for NA-18Abbottabad-II. While 42candidates filed papers fromPK-44, 17 papers for PK-45,31 papers for PK-46, 24 pa-pers for PK-47 and 25 candi-dates filed their nominationpapers from PK-48. Manycandidates from PML-N,Tehrik-e-Insaf and other par-ties filed nomination papersindependently.

RAHMATULLAH KHAN

P E S H AWA R —Express ingconfidence over ANP ChiefAsfandyar Wali Khan andthe party parliamentaryboard, the ignored ex-MPAAurangzeb Khan said thatticket has no importance forhim. Speaking at a news con-ference on Monday,Aurangzeb Khan, a formermember of the provincial as-sembly who was ignored thistime while bestowing the can-didates with tickets for KPelections by Awami NationalParty (ANP), said that hewould remain a strong workerof the party and had no in-tention to enlist his name indissidents.

He claimed that he wasbeing offered by other politi-

cal parties to join them withoffers of tickets for provincialand national assembly but allof them should hear that hecould not even image to ad-here himself with them for sakeof peace. He added that hisfamily was loyal to ANP, whichhad been rendering sacrificesfor the party in the past andeven in recent past. However,he made it clear that he wouldnever prefer his personal in-terest over the party interestin the future. It is worth men-tioning here that Aurangzeb’selder brother Alamzeb Khan,who had won the 2008 generalelections on ANP platformfrom PK-1 constituency butcould remain member of theassembly for 9 months only ashe had been killed in a bombblast in front of his Hujra.

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—Public Trans-port Owners Association(PTOA) KhyberPakhtunkhwa threatened tohold a hunger strike in frontof Peshawar High Court(PHC) if concerned authori-ties did not stop the extor-tion money being taken bythe bus stands contractorswithin 10 days. The threatswere made in a protest dem-onstration held on Sher ShahSoori Road opposite canton-ment railway station on Mon-day. The infuriated demon-strators were carrying ban-ners and placards inscribedwith different slogans againstthe bus stands contractors.

Zia-ur-Rahman, President(PTOA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

and Tahir Bangash GeneralSecretary were leading theprotesting transporters, whoon the occasion said that ev-ery owner had to pay Rs20000to a bus stand as the entry feewhile government had fixedRs70-100 daily charges of thestands but the contractorsthey alleged have been receiv-ing Rs300-500 by force whichwas atrocity with the trans-porters.

“Peshawar High Court(PHC) has also announcedits verdict regarding the dailycharges schedule and askedthe concerned authority tofollow the regulations” theyinformed and lamented therewere no such facilities fortransporters in the busstands and faced various dif-ficulties.

World Autism DayHYDERABAD—The AutismSyndrome Disorder is a devel-opment disorder that affectsthe way a person communi-cates with and relates to peoplearound him, said an eminentchild consultant, Dr. SalmaShaikh while talking to thisscribe on Monday in connec-tion with International AutismAwareness Day. The autismsyndrome disorder is usuallynoticed first when a childreaches the age of three years,she informed and added that itis identified by three areas ofdifficulty for the autistic per-son including social relation-ships and communications,imagination and planning andrepetitive behaviours. Somepeople with autism may neverlearn to talk but they engagein repetitive movements, shesaid and added that the causeof autism is not known and itlasts throughout a person’slifetime.—APP

Balochistan politicians pin hope on elections 2013

Governor reviews progresson Fata irrigation projects

Nnomination papers scrutiny start

Ex-MPA assures toremain ANP worker

PTOA threatens hunger strikeagainst extortion money

QUETTA: Affectees demanding postponement of 2013 Elections till return of Nawab Muhammad Mir Aali Bughti toDera Bugti.

BAHAWALPUR: Famous religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel inaugurating Po-lice Reporting Centre.

Symposiumparticipants forevidence-based

medicinesHYDERABAD—The partici-pants of the 8th Interna-tional Symposium of LiaquatUniversity of Medical andHealth Sciences (LUMHS)Jamshoro which concludedon Sunday evening havecalled for provision of state-of-the-art evidence-basedmedicines to the ailingpeople.

They also demanded thepromotion of high qualityclinical research to meet thecurrent needs and upcomingchallenges, enhancement offund allocation for clinical aswell as basic research, im-parting health education atgrassroots level regardingcommunicable diseases aswell as for early detection ofcancers. —APP

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Me-teorological Department(PMD) on Monday forecastisolated rain and thunderstormfor upper parts of the countryduring the next 24 hours. Anofficial of PMD informed thatisolated rain and thunderstormis expected in Malakand,Hazara division, Rawalpindi,Sargodha, Islamabad, Lahore,Gujranwala, Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan.

A shallow westerly waveis affecting upper parts ofcountry (Upper KP, UpperPunjab, Kashmir, GB) and islikely to persist till Wednesday.Mainly dry weather will pre-vail in different areas of Sindhand Balochistan during thenext 24 hours. The highestmaximum temperatures re-corded during the last 24 hourswere Shaheed Benazirabad 39C, Sukkur, Larkana and Chhor38C.

The maximum tempera-tures recorded in other cities

Isolated rainlikely in upcountry

was Islamabad 29C, Lahore33C, Karachi 31C, Peshawar31C, Quetta 24C, Skardu 22C,Murree 19C, Muzaffarabad29C, Gilgit 29C, Faisalabad34C, Multan 33C andHyderabad 37 C. The Pollencount recorded in Islamabad

was 4,247 per cubic meter. Therainfall recorded during last 24hours was Lower Dir 35mm,Parachinar 13, Dir 05, Chitral04, Mirkhani, Drosh andKalam 03 mm. The KP MetOffice here on Monday pre-dicted rain at isolated placesin parts of Hazara andMalakand division during next24 hours that will help bringtemperature down.—APP

QUETTA: A large number of protestors blacked the road outside Custom Office againstnon-provision of extension in Amnesty Scheme of Non-Custom Paid Vehicles.

FATA womentake new turn

UNFORTUNATELY, due to extremism and violence FATA is being painted by some global players as hub of terrorism. The fact,however, remains that FATA traditionally has been hospitable area,

known for its chivalry and large-heartedness. Unlike propaganda beingunleashed by some vested quarters, women are also treated with respectand they enjoy good protection in the tribal region.

The real face of FATA has been highlighted by filing of nominationpapers for Elections-2013 by two tribal women Badam Zari and NusratBegum, who become first tribal women to formally contest elections forNational Assembly. The very fact that these women hailing from BajaurAgency and Lower Dir have filed their nomination papers means that theyconsider the overall environment favourable for such a venture and thataugurs well for socio-economic empowerment of women of the area. Ifthey do make it to assemblies this would send loud and clear message notonly to women of the area but to the entire world that things are not as badin tribal region as is being depicted by some circles. In the first place,wherever possible, political parties should have given tickets to tribalwomen. One of the two candidates, Nusrat Begum from Lower Dir, com-plained that she was district vice president of PTI but this liberal party toodid not pick up courage to award ticket to him and now she would becontesting the election as an independent. Secondly, we hope that thesetwo candidates would be afforded extra security and encouragement tocarry out their campaign smoothly and in a peaceful environment. We ex-pect from male candidates and others to afford them equal opportunity tocanvass and reach out to each and every corner of their constituencies. Wewould also urge electorate of the areas to support them as their successwould project real face of FATA in the world.

FPCCI’s demand forexemption from load-sheddingTHE newly elected body of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of

Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has strongly demanded total exemp-tion of industrial sector from power and gas load-shedding to help strengthennational economy besides saving the industrial and agricultural sectors fromirreparable loss. Its President-elect Zubair Ahmad Malik and other office-bearers have called for uninterrupted gas supply throughout the year to boostthe economic growth and meet export targets besides ensuring bumper crops.

The successive governments have been boasting of making concertedefforts for industrial and agricultural development of the country but regret-tably they did not plan to take care of rapidly increasing demand for electric-ity and gas. This is despite the fact that numerous options were available toincrease local energy production or meet the demand through foreign col-laboration. It is because of this criminal neglect that the country is todayfacing acute crisis of power and gas load-shedding that is not only affectingthe common man but has pushed the national economy to the brink of col-lapse. New investment is not coming and the existing plants and machineryare being shifted by entrepreneurs to foreign destinations where they wouldnot face this type of dismal situation. As against load-shedding and darknessin Pakistan, even some of the regional countries are either providing free orcheap energy to their industries and as a result their economies are booming.Pakistan too has the potential to develop local resources but not to speak ofcontroversies surrounding crucial projects like Kalabagh Dam, even the settledproject like Diamer-Bhasha Dam are not taking off due to lack of interest onthe part of the successive governments and machinations being employed byvested interests in WAPDA and some other circles to hamper progress onthem. Same is true of 185 billion tonnes of Thar Coal that is enough to pro-vide around fifty thousand megawatts of electricity for two centuries butsome lobbies are creating hurdles in its exploitation. We hope the next gov-ernment would make energy production and supply as one of top prioritiesand also consider genuine demand of the FPCCI.

OIC initiative onRohingyas issue

THE Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) has activated its administrative apparatus to provide relief to Myanmar’s uprooted Mus-

lims. The Secretary General of the Organisation Ekmeleddin Ihsanogluaddressing the Contact Group meeting on Rohingya in Jeddah said that heis planning to hold a meeting of Foreign Ministers on 14th April to give acategorical message that the OIC was behind them in their cause and themember countries are ready to take all necessary measures and actions todeal with the situation.

The establishment of the OIC Contact Group on Rohingyas was thestep in the right direction as they had been suffering since long and noneighbouring country is ready to provide them refuge. What is more wor-risome is that the Buddhist Monks are leading attacks against Muslimswhich is negation of Budh religion that preaches peace and non violence.The new escalation of violence against the country’s Muslim populationsaw mosques burned, houses razed and charred bodies left lying in thestreets, in what many witnesses described to a large extent as part of a well-organized campaign. The UN special rapporteur on Myanmar human rightsTomas Ojea Quintana issued a statement saying that he has received re-ports of State involvement in some of the acts of violence. Vijay Nambiar,the UN’s top adviser on Myanmar who toured the violence-hit town ofMeiktila on Sunday, agreed that much of this violence was planned andcalled on the government to punish those responsible for the tragedy. It isastonishing that the US and other western countries who had been cryinghowl for Aung San Suu Khi’s house arrest are keeping mum over the eth-nic cleansing. In this situation, we believe that the OIC that has tremendousinfluences should exert itself to ensure protection of Rohingyas otherwiseit should give a call for economic and diplomatic boycott of Myanmar.

Foreign interference in Election 2013

A man of greatcommon sense andgood taste, —meaning thereby aman withoutoriginality or moralcourage.

Bolstercyber-attack

defences

Cyber-attacks were launchedagainst three major banksand three TV broadcasters in

South Korea on March 20, andNorth Korea is suspected of beingthe perpetrator. There is also a re-port that the Chinese military islikely to be involved in many cyber-attacks against the United States.Japanese government organizationsand private companies were alsotargeted by cyber-attacks. For ex-ample, defence contractors such asMitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.,IHI Corp. and Kawasaki HeavyIndustries Ltd. reported cyber-at-tacks against them in 2011.

It is imperative that the govern-ment and businesses develop aheightened awareness of the dan-ger from cyber-attacks and cyber-espionage and take protective mea-sures as needed. They should beprepared to cope not only with thetheft of important information, in-cluding intellectual property, butalso with the paralysis of criticalsocial and business infrastructure,including banking systems, causedby cyber-attacks. According to theSouth Korean government,malware pretending to be virus vac-cine programs infected the serversof the banks and the broadcasters.The infection spread to some32,000 online terminal units, in-cluding automatic teller machines.Circumstantial evidence does notrule out the possibility that NorthKorea is behind the cyber-attacksagainst the South Koreanorganizations.North Korea hasbeen deeply isolated in the inter-national community — with UnitedNations-initiated economic sanc-tions slapped on it because of itsnuclear weapon and missile pro-grams — and is stepping up belli-cose rhetoric against South Koreaand the US. In February 2013, UScyber-security company Mandiantissued a report stating that Unit61398 of the People’s LiberationArmy on the outskirts of Shanghaiis likely to have had a hand in theattacks against the US.

The National Police Agencyhas decided to establish specialunits for the investigation of cyber-attacks at 13 major police head-quarters across Japan this month,with 140 specialists manning them.Enterprises and government min-istries and agencies need to nurtureexperts who can defend againstcyber-attacks, because clearly thereis a shortage of such experts in Ja-pan. Cooperation among them arealso needed. They should notifyeach other as soon as they are tar-geted by cyber-attacks so thatthey can build necessary defencein time. There cannot be toomuch caution against cyber-at-tacks. — The Japan Times

*****

Electionviolence

The Supreme Court of Kenyahas upheld the official resultsof the nation’s presidential

election in which Uhuru Kenyattawon outright with just over 50 percent of the popular vote. The factthat Kenyatta, wanted by the Inter-national Criminal Court on chargesthat he was behind political vio-lence that marred Kenya’s previouselection in 2007 and left more than1,200 people dead, won by just overthe 50 per cent mark meant that heavoided a second-round run-offwith Raila Odinga.

When the Supreme Court an-nounced its verdict, clashes brokeout in Nairobi, leaving at least twodead and scores of Odinga’s sup-porters injured. This history of elec-tion violence in Kenya is troubling,and while the presidential cam-paign itself went off without inci-dent, the post-result clashes showthat tensions and divisions withinKenya are still simmering. Thereare accusations that some ballotsmay have been questionable, butthe Supreme Court ruling does atleast give a vestige of legitimacyto the proceedings. Odinga, in chal-lenging the results, is now urgingfor calm and an end to the latestspate of violence. And that’s a wel-come development. — Gulf News

MEDIA WATCH

George Bernard Shaw—Irish dramatist

Caretaker Chief MinisterPunjab Najam Sethi in apress conference denied US

role in his appointment, adding thathe never held one-on-one meetingwith the US envoy Richard Olson.Even if he had no one-on-one meet-ing with US envoy recently, it doesnot mean that US had no role in hisappointment. In the past, there werereports that he has had meetings withRichard Olson and Consular Gen-eral Nina Maria. Since elections areonly a few weeks away, tremendousincrease in diplomatic maneuvering,social activity and interaction is tak-ing place. Foreign diplomats espe-cially the UK and the US are keento know about seat adjustments andpolitical alliances formed to partici-pate in elections. Such meetings ofpolitical leaders with foreign diplo-mats obviously carry serious impli-cations for the state and repercus-sions for the people of Pakistan. USofficials of political section inIslamabad, US consulate Lahore andConsulate General herself have in-creased interaction with political fig-ures of different political parties.

Though the media is not high-lighting such meetings, these meet-ings are reportedly held at ConsulGeneral’s residence, politician’sresidences and even at different res-taurants of the city. Frequent meet-ings between Consul General NinaMaria and different politicians havetaken place while Political Consu-

Who to lead PPP’s election campaign!

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It is mind boggling that while allother political parties in Pakistanare gearing up for the general

elections scheduled on May 11, thePPP seems to be hamstrung inlaunching the election campaignunder a front line leader. The vis-ible sang is due to Mr Zardari’swearing of two crowns: one that ofthe head of the state and the otherof the party. Now as president hecan run his office from the well-guarded presidency, yet in publicmeetings he cannot have similarfoolproof guarantees.

We have seen in the recent daysthat the chairman of the PakistanInsaf Party Imran Khan kickingaround and vigorously flaunting hisparty’s revolutionary manifesto.The PTI managed to gather a hugecrowd at Minar-e-Pakistan onMarch 23 that nearly corroboratedImran Khan’s claim of filling thathistoric spacious ground. Close onthe heels, PMNL President NawazSharif addressed a mammoth pub-lic assemblage in Mansehra thatbetokens his popularity and wellbeing in the Hazara region. TheMQM is too flexing its wings in itsareas of influence which areKarachi and part of Hyderabad.

A week or ago, a group of PPP(P) parliamentarians with vicepresident of the party Amin Fahimas the chief, unfurled an electioncharter bedecked with a pack ofreforms aimed at changing the des-tiny of the nation. But besides pro-

nouncing its manifestomerely, the party’s topbrass and high profileleaders have to jump inthe election fray andfight out their claim asa popular party. Thatcan be done throughcorner meetings,supplemented with big

public congregations.Now when it would be utterly

difficult for Mr. Zardari as the chair-man of the party, to come out in thepublic and fire up and galvanize thesupporters specifically and thepeople in general to vote for the PPP,who can play such a vital and mosturgent role. If Bilawal Bhutto canfill that vacuum: well and good. Butdespite Bilawel’s being the realChairman of the party, he is con-strained by his age, meager experi-ence in politics and dangling dan-ger to his life as well if he comesopen in the public.

So the million dollar questionstill remains unanswered that howthis party is going to propel and ad-vance its future plans and programseffectively and comprehensively allover Pakistan? While its leaders willhave to bend heavily backward toproject their future agenda, also theywill have to labor very hard to eraseor diminish their badly bruised im-age for being neck deep in sleazyscams and foul money making scan-dals. Moreover, the stigma of badgovernance looks like hanging likemillstone around the neck of the PPPand it has to be dispensed with assoon as possible.

But as the stars on the politicalhorizon portend, the PPP may nottake the lead in the elections. It couldat best emerge as a runner-up. Thereare many praiseworthy achieve-ments by the outgoing PPP govern-ment. But those achievements were

more in the nature of constitutionalamendments and sheltering the edi-fice of the democracy for five years.These achievements did not haveany redeeming bearing on the livesof the people of Pakistan.

Pakistan has remained burdenedby an unremitting cycle of violenceof all kinds including the sectarianfeuds and religious extremism inwhich hundreds of Pakistanis havebeen killed and injured. The cost ofliving sky rocketed, the poverty pro-liferated, and the basic needs of thepeople went beyond their reach tobe adequately met. The national in-stitutions were degraded, the unem-ployment soared, social vices fromadulteration to rape swelled. Thelaw enforcement for the security ofthe people plummeted to the low-est depths.

In contrast, the shenanigans ofthe ruling parties broke the previ-ous records on corrupt practices,excelled in nepotism and doling outundue privileges to themselves andto their kith and kin. They provedto be high way robbers in deplet-ing the national exchequer in everyconceivable manner.

While a nation is desperately try-ing to survive against most tryingconditions, the interim prime min-ister, in his last few days as the chiefexecutive of the country, decampedwith 37 billion rupees given to himas special discretionary funds. Hemade thousands of appointmentsthat in due course would put inexo-rable burden on the state treasury.

Regrettably this prime ministerwas already booked in highly seri-ous financial crimes one of which isfleecing the national exchequerthrough fake rental power units.The outgoing government lockeditself in a continuous battle with thejudiciary by not complying with thejudicial verdicts.

lar US Consulate and Po-litical Consular US Em-bassy, Islamabad havebeen discussing politicalsituation in the countrywith different political fig-ures. On 23rd February2013, a delegation fromBritish High CommissionIslamabad had visited

Lahore and held meetings withJam’at-i-Islami, PPP and PML-Nleaders and Asma Jahangir, MianImran Maqsood (PML-Q), NajamSethi (Journalist) and now caretakerCM Punjab. A high profile delega-tion headed by US Ambassador Ri-chard Olson and Robert MenandezChairman Senate Committee for For-eign Affairs visited Lahore twice andmet politicians including MianNawaz Sharif.

It is quite normal that ambassa-dors and officials of consulate gen-eral cultivate relations with the gov-ernment, media and intellectual elitewith a view to strengthening ties andcreating goodwill in general. ButAmerican ambassadors and consularofficers have had the reputation ofgoing beyond their mandate. Thereis a widespread perception that theCIA is funding some political activ-ists, media men and NGOs with aview to advancing its interests. Manypolitical leaders of Pakistan in the pastconsidered American ambassadors astheir ‘family members’, and dis-cussed with them even their personalmatters. They wished to remain in thegood books of the US ambassador,and of course America, as they be-lieved that they could enter the corri-dors of power with the blessings andsupport of the US. In the past, USConsul Generals of Lahore have beenactively involved in cultural activi-ties, and have had relations with theintellectual elite and media men.

In February 2012, national En-glish daily had reported that “the USConsul General in Lahore Ms NinaMaria visited residence of senior jour-nalist Najam Sethi. However, it couldnot be ascertained what issues werediscussed in the meeting”. During thesecond stint of Mian Nawaz Sharif,Najam Sethi had been taken into cus-tody for interrogation by the ISI forhis alleged connection with the In-dian intelligence agency RAW (Re-search and Analysis Wing). Accord-ing to the report, he was speaking toelite Indian audience in the contextof the Kewal Singh Memorial lectureseries on the subject of ‘Pakistan andthe 21st century’, with Mr Gujral inthe chair. In his speech, Najam Sethisaid: “Pakistan during the past 50years had suffered a whole range ofcrises and had become a failed state,and there is no hope of anybody com-ing and getting Pakistan out of theseries of crises”. Najam Sethi was de-tained and perhaps case registeredagainst him. However later eventsreveal that the US had been worriedabout his arrest and played a role ingetting him released.

On 19th May 1999, five monthsof Nawaz government ouster, Paki-stan embassy in the US had re-sponded to IFJ letter regarding thearrest of Najam Sethi stating “MrSethi was arrested on the specificcharge of anti-state activities fallingoutside the ambit of legitimate jour-nalistic freedom. It is not the first timethat Mr Sethi has been arrested. Hewas arrested in mid-70s and in mid-80s as well for anti-state activities.He will be afforded full opportunityto defend himself in accordance withthe law”. Anyhow, Mr Sethi has hadexcellent relations with Americans.In 1999, a Pakistani delegation wasin United States in connection withAmerican aid and to seek IMF sup-

port. According to an official fromministry of information, head ofAmerican delegation postponed themeeting stating that unless NajamSethi is released there would be nodeliberations. In a question from hisanchorperson whether Pakistanwould retaliate if there is another2nd-May like incident, Najam Sethihad replied Pakistan military is nomatch of US/NATO forces.

On TV talk shows,anchorpersons and panelists ‘relish’Pakistan-bashing and military-bash-ing. A few anchorpersons and mediamen, wittingly or unwittingly, en-dorse the views and ideas floated bythe US and their mouth pieces —Washington Post and New York Times— while others are either runningNGOs funded by the US and west-ern countries, or have acquiredconsultancies from UN organiza-tions. One can observe the ‘pearls ofwisdom’ scattered by these palmedoff journalists and analysts in Englishprint media and on TV channels.There are a couple of media groupswho publish news, stories and articlesin their print and electronic media topromote America’s interest in the re-gion. In their editorials, they writewhat Americans want to read. Acouple of local English dailies carryarticles written by the authors whoaccuse Pakistan of duplicity, andblame it for protecting and ensconc-ing the Taliban and Al-Qaeda lead-ers. They use the very arguments ad-vanced by members of the US ad-ministration to denigrate Pakistan,often repeating that Pakistan does notwant to act against Haqqani networkand others in North Waziristan be-cause Pakistan considers them as its‘assets’ to be used after Americansleave Afghanistan.—The writer is Lahore-basedsenior journalist.

It couldn’t lay bare or at leastactively pursue the most brazenmurder of its chairperson BenazirBhutto in five years. Why onlyone page of the 35 pages of theBenazir Bhutto’s will is shown.Why the whole will is not laidbare because that document be-longs to nation? Interestingly thatone page shows only the appoint-ment of Asif Ali Zardari as the nextchairman of the PPP. Doesn’t thatsmell fishy on the face?

So Pakistan needs terribleshake-up to cast away the lethalparasites, the deadly bugs andblood sucking leeches from itsbody politic. Pakistan is in direneed of an iron willed leader orbunch of leaders who can trans-form this marvelous land into re-splendent one with prosperity andthe enticing look of a modern state.He should stamp out the scourgeof sectarianism, the ravenous reli-gious militancy caving in the foun-dations of Pakistan. He should atleast be clean handed, free fromgreed, and of high moral charac-ter. He should be dedicated to theservice of the people and not him-self or his clan or party.

Such leader should not exploitor abuse their powers for personalenrichment and aggrandizement.Pakistan needs peace domesticallyand the establishment of a systemof governance that ensures equaland fair justice to all, provision ofbasic needs and utilities, clean en-vironment and elimination of pov-erty be it economic, intellectual orsocial. To sum up it should bemodel good governance so thatcountry can move forward andpeople have a break from a deca-dent, stinking and nerve shatteringparadigm of living.—The writer is a senior journalistand a former diplomat.

Mohammad JamilEmail: mjamil1938@hotmail.com

News & ViewsNews & ViewsNews & ViewsNews & ViewsNews & Views

Saeed QureshiEmail: qureshisa2003@yahoo.com

Column from DallasColumn from DallasColumn from DallasColumn from DallasColumn from Dallas

Voice of the People

During his first term, PresidentObama had shown much enthusiasm about peace in the

Middle East. He made a much-toutedspeech in Cairo ‘A New Beginning’and laid out grand plans for future ofthe region. He vowed to show even-handedness in the US foreign policytowards the region. Four years downthe road and still no breakthrough inthe peace process. Obama recentlymade a visit to the Middle East re-gion. Unlike the past, PresidentObama did not put forth any grandobjectives and stated that he is justgoing to listen. Expectations werelowered from the outset.

This was his first official visit toIsrael. The visit came at the right timefor both the US and Israel. It is thebeginning of Obama’s second termin office and there is a newly electedIsraeli government in office. Just theright time to rectify what has not beenright and start afresh. Obama andPrime Minister Benyamin Netanyahuhad not enjoyed much cordial rela-

Obama’s ME visit: Any outcome?PIMS achieves

milestonesOMAR ABDULLAHB

Let us have a look at the five monthsperformance of Professor RiazWarraich as Executive Director(ED) of PIMS. He assumed chargeof Executive Director of PIMS on16 October 2012. Since then to ju-dicial strike he worked as ED PIMS.Now the question is that during hisfive months tenure how much PIMSgained and how much it lost. Inde-pendent observers believe that Pro-fessor Riaz Warraich is a panaceafor all problems of PIMS, while hisworst enemies are of the view thathis policies are heading PIMS to apathway that would lead it to bettertertiary care hospital. He took hisoffice back in October 2012, whenPIMS was in deep financial and ad-ministrative crisis and state of affairswas ground to halt.

Two mega projects of cardiaccentre and liver transplant centrewere supposed to be closed. Hun-dreds of employees of PIMS wereupset about their jobs and their fu-ture. Professor Riaz warraich wasthe man who revived both megaprojects of cardiac centre and livertransplant center. In fact liver trans-plant centre was modified to organtransplant centre in which currentlykidney transplantations are beingdone successfully. Regarding thisdevelopment, there were initiativestaken and President of Pakistan wasbriefed a bout the feasibility of es-tablishment Pakistan Kidney &Liver Institute in collaboration withCOMSATS Institute of InformationTechnology (CIIT). According tothe proposal, the Institute would bea not-for-profit organisation where50% patients will be paying while50% beds will be for non-payingpoor patients.

The revenue generated from thepaying patients would be utilised inproviding relief to the poor patients.Milestones after milestonesachieved during his five months ten-ure, expansion of emergency andaccident centre of PIMS is underprocess but this work is interruptedafter judicial orders. All his megaprojects are overshadowed by judi-cial order and currently there is waveof deep shock among PIMS employ-ees and they are deeply aggrievedover IHC’s decision on integrity ofPIMS. Let Prof. Riaz warraichwork, let PIMS prosper and develop.—Via email

Mera in fieldMUKHTAR AHMED BUTT

Is this not a tragedy that as a nationwe don’t learn any lesson? Thecountry is facing internal and exter-nal threats and we continue to dis-play non-serious attitude and makelaughing stock of ourselves in frontof the world. Mera contesting elec-tion against Imran, Sarfaraz, LiaqatBaloch and Mussarat Shaheenagainst Maulana Fazalur Rahman isnothing except a big joke of thiselection process. This simply re-flects our mind set depicting howserious we are about coming elec-tions. In all probabilities Mera’snomination may not see the light ofthe day as she apparently does notmeet the criteria of selection as perECP rules. Even if she is cleared totake part in election she will suffervery humiliating defeat. The onlybenefit that I see is that media willhave good topic for days to discusslive and provide fun and entertain-ment to people.

We have also added anotherchapter in our history by allowingeunuchs to field their candidatesthroughout Pakistan.It is obviousthat there are bleak chances of themwinning any seats but their entryshall be better than professionalleaders. Eunuchs form an incorrupt-ible segment of the society as theyhave no families as such their needsare limited, have simple living andhence they will not indulge in cor-ruption as compared to our politi-cians. Their participation in electionprocess shall help to break the sta-tus quo and may be some of themdefeat known candidates, joining theassemblies and serving this nationbetter than our time tested inapt andcorrupt politicians.—Karachi

Save thetoiling tillers

MEHMOOD ALI

The British had seized control of theIndo-Pak subcontinent in view of itsheavy agricultural potential. Most ofthe wheat produced was whiskedaway to Europe and many timesthere were famines here causingmillions of deaths. To get more andmore agricultural yield, they gaveall facilities to the settled (pacca)areas of Punjab but the riverside un-settled areas (Ikatcha illaqa) of theriver Indus was handed a very cruel

Feminists societal tormentsMAHRUKH IBRAHIM

It is apropos of a letter about growing number of gender discrimination. Increasing rates of harassment at market, public places

parks and as well as at work place has become serious problem inPakistan. Women are insecure and always faced these kinds of woesand troubles. Majority of women using public transports complainof different type of verbal, on verbal and physical harassment. Femi-nist teasing refers to the vicious nature of evil, the issue badly im-pacts on decisions of women of society. They are unable to contrib-ute themselves in economy and work as social and political activ-ists. Harassment is punishable by law, But No law is without loop-holes, making laws are not a big deal it should be keenly imple-mented by societal shifts.—Abbottabad

READERS

Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

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

—Editor

treatment because they were consid-ered unproductive and unworthy ofattention.

No facilities were extended tothem such as subsidies, grants, andremittance of the dues but, to the con-trary, they were subjected to heavytaxation whether they could pay ornot. Today we are an independentcountry and due to phenomenal in-crease in our population, we need todevelop every inch of agriculturalland. This is the only way to save pre-cious foreign exchange on food im-ports. But Punjab government is stillcontinuing to pursue the colonial poli-cies. Mauza Lundi Pitafi districtMuzaffargarh along river Indus wastotally devastated during the 2010floods and has still not recoveredfully. Instead of giving the tillers agrace period in government dues, thelocal patwari is demanding thousandsof rupees in abiana for the year 2011which he will most probably pocketprivately. The known government-opposed zamindars are his main tar-get. The government of Punjab is re-quested to remit government dues ofmauza Lundi Pitafi until the year2013. We shall be most obliged.—Muzaffargarh

Worth of KURIZWAN AFATB MUHAMMAD

Through your esteemed newspaper Iwould like to draw the attention ofstudents and others towards the im-portance of Karachi University andalso I want to admire KU. The Uni-versity was established through par-liament as a Federal University in1951. In 1962 its status was redefinedas a university of the province ofSind. On 23 October 1950 theKarachi University Act was passedand after an amendment in 1951 itwas enacted. For the first two years,the University of Karachi remainedas an examination University for theaffiliated colleges. Karachi universityis the only university in Asia whichhas 53 Departments and 20 ResearchCenters and Institutes, under facul-ties of Arts, Science, Islamic Stud-ies, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy,Management and Administrative Sci-ences and Medicine. The enrolmentof regular students at the campus isaround 28,000. There are about 1000faculty members and more than 3000supporting staff.

According to the Higher Educa-tion Commission (HEC) of Pakistan,it is ranked among the top three uni-versities of the country. In 2008 theuniversity entered the THE-QS WorldUniversity Rankings for the top 500universities in the world. The Uni-versity of Karachi holds a uniqueposition in the country’s educationalsystem. As a respected research andreaching institution, it is committedto intellectual leadership, and to ex-cellence in both developing knowl-edge and conveying that knowledgeto its students. The University ofKarachi meets the commitments topreserve knowledge through its in-structional and research programs forhigher level education.—Karachi

Problem forevening studentsSYED UMARULLAH HUSSAINI

I wish to draw attention through yournewspapers toward major problem ofuniversity of Karachi students. I amstudent of university of Karachi inevening. The road through which stu-dents head for the silver jubilee gateof university of Karachi becomes toodark at night and there is no sign oflight over there.

It is dangerous going from thereat night. Those students who don’thave their own conveyance sufferdaily. .It is not only my problem butit is the problem of evening studentswho pass through that road. I re-quest to make some arrangementsfor street lights so that students canwalk in light.—Karachi

Strike forsalary hikeMAHRUKH IBRAHIM

Permanent faculty are on “cease workprotest” since last 3 weeks in Inter-national Islamic University. The mainissue to address is that the manage-ment is continuously decreasing their

India fails to uphold human rights

India — a country that PresidentObama has proudly called “theworld’s largest democracy” – con-

tinues to face every year the anniver-sary of one of its darkest, most un-democratic moments. Twenty-fiveyears ago, on March 30, 1988, Indiasuspended Article 21 of its Constitu-tion, which provides that no personshall be deprived of life or libertywithout due process of law. The sus-pension applied to the northwesternstate of Punjab, home to India’s Sikhreligious minority and the site of amajor secessionist movement thatoccurred from 1984 to 1995.

Suddenly, a police officer couldarrest, detain, or even summarily ex-ecute a citizen of Punjab without ju-dicial accountability. The promise ofdue process – a guarantee that somany Indians had fought for duringthe era of independence only decadesearlier – had been jettisoned. The re-sults were disastrous. Human RightsWatch and Physicians for HumanRights described the government’scounter-insurgency campaign in In-dia as “the most extreme example ofa policy in which the end appeared

to justify any and all means, includ-ing torture and murder.” While earlyreports limited the number of deathsto hundreds or the low thousands, ourresearch indicates that nearly 20,000people were killed, with the peaknumber of deaths occurring from1990 to 1993.

India cannot hide from its past.It must use this anniversary to ac-knowledge what took place in Punjab,provide reparations to those who werewrongfully harmed, and cease allongoing human rights violations. Bymost accounts, the Punjab conflictbegan in June 1984, when India’sarmed forces launched an assault onthe Harmandir Sahib complex –popularly known as the “GoldenTemple,” the heart of Sikh religiousand political life. The attack beganduring an important religious holiday,when the complex was overflowingwith worshipers, and resulted in sev-eral thousand deaths.

When these efforts met with lim-ited success, India repealed theConstitution’s due process protec-tions for the state of Punjab. Secu-rity forces now had the legal coverto target whomever they suspectedof participating in the rebellion.Many suspects were picked up bythe police and never seen again. In

other cases, individuals unconnectedto the conflict were targeted to in-still fear in the population. And stillothers were targeted for politicalpurposes, including appeasing policeand military officers emboldened bytheir newfound powers.

By 1995, the movement had beencrushed, and none of the political andeconomic demands of the Sikhs hadbeen met. Moreover, families in vil-lages throughout Punjab were stillsearching for relatives who were lastseen in police custody. In December1996, the Indian Supreme Court, re-lying on an inquiry by India’s Cen-tral Bureau of Investigation into masscremations in Punjab, found a “fla-grant violation of human rights on amass scale.” The court cited evidencethat police had secretly crematedmore than 2,000 people during the 10-year insurgency. And that was in justone district. Many human rights ad-vocates believe that mass cremationstook place in Punjab’s then 12 otherdistricts, as well.

What distinguishes India’s case,however, is that it was a functioningdemocracy when it adopted thesemeasures. Its parliamentarians intro-duced the amendment as a bill inboth houses; the requisite majorityvoted for the legislation; and the

Sukhman Dhami

tions with each other at personal level.Obama made stops in Jerusalem,Ramallah and Amman. In Jerusalem,he made an address to the Israeli uni-versity students. Obama asked thestudents to put themselves in theshoes of Palestinians and feel whatthey felt. He also underlined that cre-ation of Palestine was crucial forIsrael’s security. Of course the secu-rity of Israel was reassured.

In the West Bank, Obama statedthat Palestinians deserve a homeland,an end to occupation and settlements.By meeting the PalestinianAuthority’s President and Prime Min-ister, it was reaffirmed that they arethe legitimate representatives of Pal-estinians. He also asked for resum-ing negotiations by relinquishing con-dition of halt to settlements. Obamapreviously had made calls for halt toJewish settlement; that put him atodds with the Congress. The effortaimed more at winning domestic sup-port from the Congress.

One significant outcome of thevisit was the restoration of full diplo-matic ties between Turkey and Israel,two of the US closest allies. Just be-fore President Obama was boardingAir Force One, he facilitated a call

Views From Abroad

Humanity in search of peace

The mankind stands at its mosttormenting crossroads - a timefraught with insane tragedies,

man seeing man as a wild beast to behaunted and sadistic leaders and deca-dent superpowers forging boguswars, planned massacres and environ-mental disasters. Throughout historymen of power and influence commithorrible crimes against the humanityof which they are an essential part.Why? The answer rests with theirindividualistic absolutism andmindset. Is it part of the human na-ture that man should be cruel to man?

The primitive scope is now en-larged to encompass crimes againstall the living things, the universe andwhatever it contains. We are at a riskof extinction. Global warriors are theelite class born to rule - the men ofking, who are most often hated andfeared and always dream of glory andtriumph to achieve at a cost of ruth-lessness, triviality and success lead-ing to degeneration and viciousnessacross the human societies. They areinfluential to defy accountability for

their crimes. George Bush and TonyBlair both despite being indicted byan International Tribunal for crimesagainst the humanity in Iraq are freeand untouchable.

Recently, a global Think-Tankgathering at Davos, Switzerlandshowed the organizing muscles ofaffluent bankers, politicians and bil-lionaires and some ruling elite takenfrom the painful tragedies of the poorand left-over human beings in otherparts of the world. It is unknown whoinvites who and what criterion is im-plied to select the rich and 1% afflu-ent ruling elite under questioning infunctional Western democracies.They have no legitimacy from thedemocratic masses to talk abouttheir future. Does this mean onlyrich and most powerful entities arepresumed intelligent and capable ofchange and future-making? This isnaive historical thinking lingeringon to this day. If so, it will under-mine Reason and defy the logic ofmoral and intellectual advancementsup to the 21st century.

Bankers and few ruling elite arepart of the problems, not solutions.Bankers would be obliged to save thebanks, not the humanity as appearsto be the case of Cyprus financial

bankruptcy under the EU 10 billionEuro emergency loan. Bankers willdeprive the common Cypriot folks oftheir lifelong savings and assets toimpose the EU dictates. To themmankind is just numbers and digitsand the same is viewed by the war-mongers. Time and history have ar-ticulated new paradigms of changeand future-making. Nobody is sure,how to imagine the future exceptsome assumptions of the few afflu-ent whose business will be at stake iffuture turns out to be problematic anduncertain.

To many conscientious scholars,there are serious problems amongstthe most powerful nations and politi-cal leaders about the future-making.They are bankrupt in ideas and prac-tices and failure in the present, howcould they be a guiding force for thefuture? It is no longer the world of1945 after the German defeat thatallied will be unchallenged. The newemerging powers and viable tradingnations such as China, India, Brazil,Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Iran,Pakistan, Taiwan and Indonesia andfew other could well be active par-ticipants in making a promising fu-ture irrespective of the former bigpowers. There is no end game in deal-

basic salaries and teachers are taking4 classes in a day as pre-requisite fortheir job,but mitigation in their sala-ries are injustice with them as theyare working hard but not getting ad-equate reward.The strike will some-how drastically disrupt the situationwith in the university and students arealso affected by this act. Because,classes are off due this reason ,andthere studies are disturbing, studentsurge teachers to return to work. Man-agement should resolve this problem—Abbottabad

Decline in basmatirice export

OWAIS HASSAN SHAIKH

This is apropos of the article ‘Pickupin basmati rice exports’ (March 25).Among other issues such as absenceof research in high-yielding varietiesand decline in the area of cultivation,the article discussed how exports ofPakistani basmati rice are being hitbecause of the absence of a geo-graphical indication (GI) law. I dis-agree with the conclusion that a GIlaw, in general, and a GI, in par-ticular, on basmati will do wondersfor increasing its exports. A geo-graphical indication is a sign af-fixed on the packaging of certaingoods, certifying that the productoriginates from a specific geo-graphical area and because of thathas specific characteristics. Thesecharacteristics cannot be replicatedin another area, especially when itcomes to agricultural products.

According to the article, Indianexports of basmati will hit 10 millionton this year. However, it must beborne in mind that basmati has notyet been registered in India as a GI.Hence, at least in India’s case, its suc-cessful export is not simply the re-sult of ‘enacting a GI law’. One ofthe reasons, as the writer pointed out,could be research in new varieties orother initiatives.What needs to beasked, and as rightly pointed out bythe writer, is how to counter the at-tempts of countries like the Philip-pines and Bangladesh from usurpingthe identity of basmati. In any case,at least here in Germany there isbasmati rice available from Thailand.—Munich, Germany

Balochnationalists

SULEMAN MANSHA GANDHI

Nationalist leaders of Balochistanhave announced to participate in thecoming general elections. By doingso they have proved that they are pa-triotic and civilized people. Now it isthe duty of all the political parties andthe judiciary of Pakistan to stand forthe people of Balochistan. All of theircomplaints should be redressed andthe power drunken figure, who havedone wrong to them be brought tobook.

This is not possible unless all thepolitical parties get together, regard-less of their vested political interests.If the PPPP can sit with the coalitionpartners for saving her governmentand PML(N) can tolerate Zardari rulethen why they cannot go together forBalochistan. The Supreme Court ofPakistan has issued many a fruitfuldirections for bringing about im-provement in the current situation ofBalochistan. But the government didnot chalk out any feasible policy nortake any effective action. Our politi-cal and military leadership alwaysclaim to be patriotic. The issues likeBalochistan are a standard to judgetheir patriotism.

Free and fair elections inBalochistan would be a ground break-ing of good steps. This is the respon-sibility of Election Commission ofPakistan, care taker governments,Superior Judiciary and Military toconduct such elections in Balochistanthat leave no room for doubt.—Lahore

president officially enacted it intolaw on March 30, 1988. “Theworld’s largest democracy” hadconvened to strip the promise oflife and liberty, not some militarydictator ruling by decree.

And it’s clear that India is con-tinuing its abuse of human rights.There is now considerable evidencethat many of the same measures thatwere used to quell dissent in Punjabare consistently being used in Kash-mir and the northeast states. Boththese regions have sought to secedefrom India, and just like Punjab,their citizens have experienced ar-bitrary detention, torture, and insome cases unlawful killings anddisappearances.

To this day, families are wait-ing to learn the fate of their disap-peared loved ones, and none of thesenior government officials or thearchitects of the crimes have beenheld accountable. If India is to ce-ment its reputation as “the world’slargest democracy,” it must providetruth and justice to its victims, andvow to hold due process and humanrights protections as sacrosanct. Thewriter is a human rights attorney inNew York.— Courtesy: The ChristianScience Monitor

between Prime Minister Netanyahuand Turkish Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan. The once close tieswere severed when Israel raidedGaza-bound flotilla in 2010 and killednine Turkish citizens. Prime Minis-ter Netanyahu made an apology andexpressed regret over the deathswhich he had refused to make earlieron. This did not stop here. Report-edly, Israel has shown interest in re-moving the Gaza blockade throughjoint efforts with help of Turkey. Ana-lysts are of the view that the two coun-tries common interest in containingthe spill over effect of Syrian con-flict is significant in normalizing re-lations. The US also needed Israel andTurkey to come together for a prob-able military action against Iran orcollapse of Assad regime in Syria.

So is there any substantial out-come of the trip. Apparently no; ex-cept for the US mediation betweenIsrael and Turkey. But if the Gazablockade were to be removed, whichwas one of the conditions of Turkeyfor normalizing relations with Israel;it would provide much needed reliefto the Palestinians who have been un-der siege since 2007. Israel has al-ready shown relaxation by allowing

The light on my staircase wentout, a few moments beforevisitors were expected. I got

a stool and was going to step on it,when a neighbour cried out, “Justtell the watchman to call the elec-trician!”

“It will take an hour at least,” Isaid, “And people are expected homenow!” I got on the stool fiddled withthe bulb, turned the choke this wayand that and finally gave up, “I toldyou to call the electrician!” said the

neighbour!” “Now I will!” I grinnedat her, “But first I had to try!” I re-member my dad, he’d try anything —carpentry, electrical wiring, plumbing,roofing. From watching him, I learneda lesson that still applies to my lifetoday: No matter how difficult a taskmay seem, if you’re not afraid to tryit, you can do it.

And when you’re done, it maystill leak.”Sure it may leak, but wehave the satisfaction of knowing wetried. There’s something to be saidfor taking a risk and going for it. Iam convinced that one of the greatnecessities of life is courage.We’veheard it said, “Nothing ventured,nothing gained.” But the motto ofsome of us is more like “Nothingventured, nothing lost.” How often

are we so afraid to try to do some-thing new or to go in a new directionthat we never venture beyond the fa-miliar? “Better to be safe than sorry”has trapped too many unhappy peoplein a cocoon of their comfortzones.What would you be doing withyour life today if you had more cour-age yesterday? Where could you betomorrow if you decide to take a rea-sonable risk today?

Is there anything so crippling tothe spirit as fear? How might thingsbe different if we acted with just alittle more courage? After all, whodoesn’t feel fear? But the truth is thatcourage is not fearlessness; courageis deciding to act anyway. RalphWaldo Emerson said “Do not be tootimid and squeamish about your ac-

Try doing it..!tions. All life is an experiment. Themore experiments you make thebetter.” Boldness is not the same ascarelessness. And I have madeplenty of mistakes in life. But I amquite sure that my bitterest memo-ries come because I was afraid toact. I sometimes wonder what mylife would be like today if I hadbeen a little bolder, a little moredaring, when opportunities showedthemselves.

My visitors came home in thedarkness, “My lights aren’t work-ing!” I said as they climbed thesteps. “Turn the choke a little!” saidone of them. “I did,” I said, “Butnow it’s an electrician’s job!” Ifelt good, when I said, I’d tried..!—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com

Turkish trucks into Gaza. If Tur-key is given a role in the peace pro-cess, and possibly in the Quartet, itmay turn out to be beneficial for Pal-estinian cause.

There were a lot of expectationsfrom the visit on both sides. Those ofIsrael were duly addressed. On thewhole, the trip served the purpose i.e.,maintaining the status quo. Obama didnot put forth anything new on the tableto revive the peace talks or some ac-tionable formula. Obama tried to putup a balanced stance, allaying Israel’sfears and giving reassurance of USsupport, while at the same time prom-ising Palestinians that peace is on thecards. The Arabs have become in-creasingly aware of their rights aswitnessed in recent years. They areno longer willing to make compro-mises, least of all the Palestinianswho have been denied statehood forso long. Will these hollow promisesmade by Obama sit well with them?Or will they be standing up to be-come master of their own destinies?The international community mustalso realize that peace will remainelusive unless Palestinians are giventheir due rights.—The writer is researcher at IPRI.

ing with the challenges of future.One could imagine of increasing in-teractive inputs from the thoughtsand priorities of the informed glo-bal citizenry to be a decisive forcein future-making. It is the future ofhumanity, not of the 1% ruling andexploitative class.

Many theoreticians focus oncompetitive market strategies tochange and societal development.Free markets and stock exchanges donot change human thinking and be-havior nor do they create anew moraland intellectual future for the man-kind. Markets are subservient to thewill of the 1% whereas 99 % are out-siders - the oppressed species. Glo-bal bankers and financial strategistswork in curves- patchwork – thework of hourly paid media jockeysto convince human conscience thatsomething good will benefit the de-prived and denied 99% out of theeconomy of the few- 1%. Those ac-cumulating massive wealth and ma-terial resources will never share itwith the neglected ones. If past andpresent are any reference point, a dif-ferent future is highly contentious.—The writer specialises in globalsecurity, peace and conflictresolution.

Maria SyedEmail:mariaumair@gmail

Mahboob A Khwaja Email: kmaboob@yahoo.com

COURT NOTICE

In the Court of AzizullahKalu Additional Session

Judge Phalia.

Asmat Bibi Vs A z h a rFarooqAppeal Family.Memo.

Azhar Farooq S/oMohammad Tufail casteWaraich R/o chak No 43Tehsil Phalia Distt MandiBahauddin.

Whereas the services ofabove mentioned respondentsis not possible through ordi-nary means, therefore, he isdirected to attend this courtpersonally or through hiscouncil on 20-4-13. Other-wise the ex party proceedingsshall be taken against him.

Given under my hand andseal of the Court.

Sd/-Additional Session Judge

Phalia

website.He said that a committeehas been formed to review thematter and suggest necessary ac-tion in this regard.

Chairman Higher EducationCommission (HEC) informed theapex court that the process of veri-fying degrees had been underwaysince 2010.

He said the Election Com-mission of Pakistan had sentphoto copies of 60-70 percent ofparliamentarians’ degrees forverification. The bench gave the189 lawmakers, a last chance,and time until April 5 to submittheir educational certificates forverification.

It is to be mentioned here thatthat the day of the general elec-tions is closing in and therefore,such cases and decisions in themhave become more important.Chairman Higher EducationCommission Dr. Javed Lagharisaid that as per Supreme Courtorder, the commission would is-sue notices to 189 election candi-dates for verification of their de-grees. Dr Javed Laghari said thatChairman Higher Education hasonly authority to verify degrees ofcandidates.

The HEC chairman said allsuspected candidates must sub-mit their degrees of Matric, in-termediate or equaling andhigher degrees till April 5.Laghari said the offices of HECwould remain open late night tocomplete the task within definedperiod. —INP

SC sets AprilFrom Page 1

Musharraf forpolls under

armyFrom Page 1

MQM unveils election manifesto underthe slogan ‘Empowering the People’

From Page 1

tant to achieving that goal as wecontinue to explore ways to ex-pand our relationship”. GeneralDunford said.

General Kayani reiteratedPakistan’s stance and desire forpeaceful, stable and united Af-ghanistan and the need for a suc-cessful Afghan-owned-Afghan-led peace process. Heemphasised the need to continuesupporting all efforts to bringpeace in Pak-Afghan border re-gion. He urged Isaf to help Paki-stan check cross border attackslaunched from inside Afghanistan.

General Dunford had previ-ously met with General Kayani inthe days preceding his assumptionof command in February.

Moreover, Commander ofTurkish Armed Forces, GeneralNecdet Ozel, who is heading ahigh powered delegation, on

Kayani, Dunford discussstrengthening cooperation

From Page 1Monday called on Chairman JointChiefs of Staff Committee, Gen-eral Khalid Shameem Wynne.

He remained with Chairmanfor some time and discussed mat-ters related to bilateral interestsbetween the two countries with anemphasis upon Geo-Strategic situ-ation of the region, said an ISPRpress release.

Earlier on his arrival, he waspresented the Guard of Honour bya smartly turned out contingent oftri-services. Later, on behalf ofthe President of the Islamic Re-public of Pakistan, in recognitionfor his services in bringing twoarmed forces closer and improv-ing the relations between Turkeyand Pakistan, he was conferredthe award of Nishan-e-Imtiaz(Military) at an impressive andsimple ceremony held at JointStaff Headquarters.—Agencies

pointment of the primeminister ’s son-in-law,Shahnawaz Mehmood, in thecompany.

On Monday the court ob-served that the action taken bythe than government was not inconformity with the law as theperson did not qualify for the job

The court declared the ap-pointment as null, void and ille-gal.—Online

AppointmentFrom Page 1

1330. Rawalpindi, Islamabad,Murree, Attock, Mirpur,Jehlum, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yarkhan and Multan LPG price hasbeen fixed at Rs 110 per kg whiledomestic cylinder will be at Rs1270. Other major cities of thecountry like Lahore, Gujranwala,Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gujrat newprice LPG gas will be available atRs 105 per kg and price of domes-tic cylinder will be Rs 1210. InKarachi LPG price will be 100 ru-pees per kg and domestic cylinderwill be at Rs 1150.—INP

LPG price cutFrom Page 1

scene to see the former MNAriding donkey cart and travellingwithout any security.

Talking to media personsafter filing the nomination pa-pers Jamshed Dasti said thathis step was meant to makethe politicians realize aboutthe miseries of common man.

“I am a common man andwell aware of the hardships facedby masses due to inflation, en-ergy crisis and poor law and or-

Amir, Dasti indictedin fake degree cases

From Page 1

Practicalism introduced by theMQM Chief Altaf Hussain, theparty was striving to transformthe country into a welfare state,which was the vision of thefounder of the country Quaid-eAzam Muhammad Ali Jinnahand Allama Iqbal where every-one would have equal rights andthere would be no discrimination.

The MQM was the onlyparty that that did not merelyraise the slogan of empoweringthe poor people; it actually intro-duced a real revolution in thepolitics of the country by send-ing the educated people frompoor and middle-class segment ofthe society to the Senate and theNational and Provincial Assem-blies, he claimed.The Deputy Convener said thatthe long struggle of Altaf Hussaincarried a testimony that theMQM wanted to include thepeople at the grassroots level inthe political process by demol-ishing the culture of dynasticpolitics.

The salient points of themanifesto prepared by the MQMfor the purpose of solving theproblems of the people of Paki-stan are as follows.

Education: Dual systems ofeducation would be abolishedand Urdu-medium institutionswould be brought at par withEnglish-medium institutions.Budgetary allocation for educa-tion would be raised from 2.2 to5 percent of the GDP.Health: Budgetary allocation forproviding better healthcare facili-ties would be increased from 0.6to 5 percent of the GDP.

Economy: Prices of oil,petrol and other items would be

gradually reduced for controllinginflation and improving the stan-dard of living of common people.

Energy crisis would besolved and the issue of circulardebt in the power sector wouldbe resolved. All written-off debtswould be recovered.

Urban Development: Singleadministrative agency would beestablished in each city and dis-trict that would work under anelected city or district Nazim.Traffic management will bebrought under the control of cityor district governments. Low costhousing will be encouraged andinvestment will be made in thehousing sector.

Agriculture: Agrarian re-forms would be introduced anda limit will be placed on maxi-mum land holdings of an indi-vidual. The surplus land wouldbe distributed among landlesspeasants and farmers.

Good Governance: All secretfunds at the disposal of president,prime minister, provincial chiefministers and ambassadors willbe brought under public scrutinythrough the Public. Terrorism: ANational Terrorism Policy will beformulated in consultation withelected representatives, police,bureaucracy and the armed forcesfor eliminating the scourge of ter-rorism from the country.

Rights of women, childrenand religious minorities: Childlabour will be abolished and strictlegislation will be done againstdomestic violence, child abuse,parading of women as naked instreets, rape as a means of settlingfeuds, child marriage, karo-kari,vani, marriage with the HolyQuran and bonded labour.

Energy: Projects will be un-dertaken to ensure the supply ofnatural gas and electricity fromIran, Qatar and Central AsianRepublics. LNG (LiquefiedNatural Gas) plants and gas pro-cessing plants would be installed.CNG policy will be reviewed.

Implementation of the LocalGovernment System and Au-tonomy: Local government insti-tutions are nursery of the democ-racy, hence a system of local gov-ernment would be established andpower and resources would bedevolved to the grassroots level.

in face of other main politicalparties, the party insiders said.

The dynamic media, civilsociety and latest tools of propa-ganda and publicity includingfacebook andTwitter have putPPP at a disadvantage as its me-dia cell cannot match with wellequipped media campaigners ofPML-N and PTI, the insiderssaid. Though Yousuf RazaGilani, Vice Chairman of theparty has announced to start elec-tion campaign next week, butserious issues of loadshedding,price hike, unemployment, cor-ruption charges and low growthrate have forced the party to goon back foot.

One of the reasons for thislackluster campaign is differ-ences among the leaders whichsurfaced during ticket awardingprocess, particularly in Sindhwhere Khursheed Shah, a stal-wart of the party was seen pro-testing over the issue. However,the party leadership is optimisticthat on return of Bilawal Bhutto,the morale of the party will berestored and it will bounce backto take on the opponents.

PPP stillFrom Page 1

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—A Chinese Com-pany, Huawei on Monday as-sured to continue supporting itspartners for telecom businessexpansion in Pakistan and to helpthem achieve the set targets.

At a Huawei Pakistan CorePartner Convention held hereMonday, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Company, Mr.Simon said he anticipates 2013as an opportune growth periodfor partners and Huawei.

“We need to collaborateshoulder by shoulder with an

Huawei Pakistan core partner convention participants with chief guest Simon Geng, CEOof Huawei Pakistan, Ahmed Bilal Masood Deputy CEO and Zeng Chuishi Director MiddleEast Procurement Qualification Dept Huawei Technologies.

open mind to jointly createadded-value within the industry.Let’s build and enjoy a prosper-ous future together with real win-win results,”. He said with col-laborative efforts, Huawei wasable to achieve business gainsand steady growth within Paki-stan. This is not only an achieve-ment for us, but also a successfor our many cooperation part-ners. He also mentioned five co-operation essentials that Huaweiwill be focusing on over the com-ing years.

Ahmed Bilal MasoodDeputy CEO Huawei Pakistan

said the theme of this particularconvention is “Collaboration,Value, Win-Win” as this mottohighlights not only our vision forthe market, but also expectations.“We are confident that Huaweiand our partners can continue todevelop relationships marked byexceptional, value, where to-gether we can achieve greaterefficiencies for long-term sus-tainable development.

Head of procurement dept. inMiddle East, Zeng Chuishi,Naseem Usmani AdvisorHuawei Pakistan and other offi-cials attend the Convention.

Huawei supporting partners fortelecom business expansion

You buy a Hondawe plant a tree

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Honda has intro-duced another first of its kind inPakistan with their new “You buya Honda, we plant a tree” initia-tive. Takeharu Aoki, Presidentand CEO of Honda Atlas Cars(Pakistan) Limited inauguratedthis new drive at the factory pre-mises by planting a tree. Thisyear, Honda will plant a tree onthe customer’s behalf for everycar that is sold.

Honda has always cared forthe environment with its indus-try leading Euro 4 emission stan-dard on all Honda cars, whichgives the least emissions of anycar manufacturer in Pakistan.With this new move, Honda aimsto give back to nature even more.

and 200 in Ashraf’s tenure –several of these were issued totheir relatives. Oil and Gas Regu-latory Authority (Ogra) has alsobeen pressurised by the formerpremiers to issue illegal licenses,the note added.

Alleged corruption was alsocarried out in around 42,000CNG cylinders which were im-ported to the country, the notestated.

A three-member bench willtake up the case on April 3.

CJ takes noticeof allegedFrom Page 1

der situation.” It should be men-tioned that Dasti claims to be thepoorest lawmaker, owning noth-ing other than his salary.

In Bahawalpur, the court ofAdditional Judge HamidHussain Shah heard the fakedegree case sent by the ElectionCommission of Pakistan. Dur-ing proceedings former PPPMNA Amir Yar Waran was in-dicted and the hearing was ad-journed till April 2.—INP

Abbas Khokhar from the con-stituency of NA 128 but nowKhokhar families unanimouslydecided to nominate MalikKaramat Khokhar their joint can-didate.

Former PPP MPA and runnerup of last general election fromNA-128, Karamat Khokher hasjoined PTI along with his entireinfluential group of the constitu-ency. His close relative ZaheerAbbas Khokher won from NA-128 in the 2002 general electionson PPP ticket but joined PPP-Pa-triot, a rebel group of party whichlater merged into PML-Q. In the2008 elections, Karamat Khokher,the head of this group along withZaheer Abbas joined PTI. ZaheerAbbas also contested a by-elec-tion on PTI ticket from PP-160.According to PTI claims, he haddefeated PML-N with big marginbut the ruling party rigged theelections.

To cause more dent to PTIhull in Lahore, Mian ShahbazSharif his also submitted hisnomination paper to contest elec-tions from the provincial con-stituency PP 161.

PTI has decided to give ticketto Hamid Meraj, a son of formerprovincial minister Mian MerajDin from NA 123. Hamid Merajremained part of PML-Q for al-most a decade and contestedthree polls but remained unsuc-cessful. In the 2001 local bodyelections, Mian Hamid Meraj lostthe election of union council

From dreamsFrom Page 1

(UC) Nazim. In the 2002 generalelections, he was awarded ticketfrom PP-144 but lost to PML-N’sChaudhry Akram Gujjer.

Although PTI received322 applications, including 84 re-ceived for the National Assemblywhere 238 party members appliedfor the provincial seats, startingfrom PP-137 and conclude at PP-161 but maximum applicationshad been received from NA-126where 16 party members wantreceive the party ticket.

According to the PTIsources, earlier Imran Khanwanted to contest elections fromNA126 but now he changed hismind. Imran could combat elec-tions from NA 122 or from NA125. The sources claimed thatImran Khan could finalize NA125, an influential constituencyof PTI leader Aleem Khan.

Accordingly, NA-127and NA-128 are semi rural con-stituencies and NA 129 and NA130 are rural seats of Lahore. PTIwill give a tough fight on NA-123 and NA-125 and may be onNA-128 if Zaheer Khokhar re-mains firm with PTI as NA-128is a personality vote of Khokharsnot much party vote of PTI.

On the other hand, NA-118-NA and NA-122 are too hardto win for PTI since they are ofold Lahore and mostly KashmiriButt, Araen baradari, Jutt andbaradaris of interior Lahore andwalled city may not switch overto PTI.

for more than two hours at theold airport lounge under exten-sive security cover,” the officialsaid. PIA spokesman AtharAwan said that Musharraf re-served a seat on flight PK-308after authorities told him that hischartered plane could not bravethe rough weather.

“The PIA flight left at 8.30pm and reached Islamabad air-port at 9.25 pm,” he said.

the cabinet members.Seven ministers have been

taken from the province ofPunjab, three from Sindh, threefrom Balochistan and two fromKhyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The interim cabinet in-cludes: 1) Arif Nizami, 2)Shehzad Jamal, 3) AshrafShaikh, 4) Abdul Malik Kansi,5) Dr Sania Nishtar, 6) FerozJamal Shah, 7) Malik Habib, 8)Ahmer Bilal Sufi 9) DrMusaddiq Malik, 10) MaqboolRahmatullah, 11) AsadullahMandokhel, 12) Dr YounusSoomro, 13) Dr Mushtaq Khan,14) Sohail Wajahat Siddiqui and15) Mir Hassan Domki.

15-memberFrom Page 1

Meanwhile, Election Com-mission (EC) has posted detailsof nomination papers of 500 can-didates including ChaudhryPervez Elahi former deputyprime minister.

The EC has released detailsof nomination paper in respect ofChaudhry Pervez Elahi onwebsite.

As per details, Pervez Elahiis BA and he has paid tax amount-ing to Rs 2.8 million during thelast there years. Chaudhry AhmadSaeed has filed nomination papersfrom NA-105 against ChaudhryPervez Elahi.

The candidates will be ad-judged on the touchstone of article62 and 63 of the constitution inthe perspective of scrutiny pro-cess. Nomination papers of 164candidates from 2 constituenciesof Islamabad will be subjected toscrutiny exercise.

EC starts scrutinyof nomination

papersFrom Page 1

Afghan teenagerfatally stabs US soldier

KABUL—An Afghan teenagerkilled an American soldier ineastern Afghanistan by stabbinghim in the neck while he playedwith a group of local children,officials said Monday.

The killing comes as themonthly U.S. death toll rosesharply in March to 14 with thestart of the spring fighting sea-son when the Taliban and otherinsurgents take advantage of im-proved weather to step up at-tacks.

Sgt. Michael Cable, 26, wasguarding Afghan and U.S. offi-cials meeting in a province nearthe border with Pakistan whenthe stabbing occurred lastWednesday, two senior U.S. of-ficials said. They spoke on con-dition of anonymity because theinvestigation is ongoing.

The attack occurred after thesoldiers had secured the area forthe meeting, but one of the U.S.

officials said the youth was notbelieved to have been a mem-ber of the Afghan security forcesor in uniform so it was not be-ing classified as an insider at-tack. The official said the at-tacker was thought to be about16 years old, but the age couldn’tbe verified.

The Afghan and Americandignitaries were attending theswearing-in ceremony of Af-ghan Local Police in Shinwardistrict in Nangarhar province,senior district official ZalmaiKhan said. Afghan Local Police,or ALP, recruits are drawn fromvillages and backed by the U.S.military.

The soldier was playing witha group of children outside whenthe attacker came from behindand stabbed him in the neck witha large knife, Khan said, addingthe young man had escaped tonearby Pakistan.—AP

BIPIN DANI

OBSERVER

CORRESPONDENT

MUMBAI—Former Indiacaptain MohammadAzharuddin had been of-fered to lead the nationalveterans team against arch-rivals Pakistan in a two-match series in Sharjah nextmonth. This was revealed byformer Test player ChetanChauhan, also the presidentof the Veterans Cricket As-sociation of India.

Speaking exclusivelyover his mobile from Delhi,Chetan Chauhan said, “wehad offered Azhar to leadthe side and initially heagreed also, however, he

Azharuddin was offeredIndia’s veteran team

captaincy against Pakistanhas now come with the ex-cuse and not sure whether hewould lead the team”.

“We have tentatively de-cided to play the two 40-overs matches in Sharjah(UAE) in the last week ofApril. Our only problem ismany former players have notcome out with their availabil-ity as many of them are busyin IPL, either as coaches ormentors for the variousteams”.

Pakistan team will be ledby Inzamam ul Haq, accord-ing to Fawad Ijaz, the Chair-man of the Pakistan VeteransCricket Association.

Speaking again exclu-sively from Karachi, FawadIjaz said, “a strong side led

by Inzamam will play the se-ries. The team will also in-clude the former captains,Moin Khan and RashidLatif besides other formerTest and ODI players likeJalaluddin, Ghulam Ali,Mahmood Hamid, TauseefAhmed and Aaqib Javed”.

He said the series wasbeing held to revive theveteran level bilateral seriesbetween the two countries.

The series can only beheld if the sponsors arefound and live telecast ismade. The PCB (PakistanCricket Board) has givenconsent but the tour hasnot been cleared by the In-dian government and theBCCI, it is learnt here.FAISALABAD: Horse riders taking part in Tent Pegging competition in connection with Spring Festival organized

by University of Agriculture.

LAHORE: Winning players of Faisalabad Wolves with Faysal Bank T20 cup after beating Sialkot Stallions at QaddafiStadium.

MANGLA: Fan Yunjun, Zong’s CEO giving the champion’s trophy of professional cat-egory to Major Naeem Hanif. Brig Amir Mirza, President Mangla Golf Club is alsoseen in the picture.

PALLEKELE (Sri Lanka)—Kusal Perera smashed a brisk64 to set up Sri Lanka’s 17-run victory over Bangladeshin a one-off Twenty20 inter-national in Pallekele on Sun-day.

The opener, who wasnamed man of the match, hitfour sixes and five fours inhis 44-ball knock as Sri Lankaposted a challenging 198-5before restrictingBangladesh to 181-7.

Mohammad Ashrafultop-scored for Bangladeshwith a 27-ball 43 whileseamers Angelo Mathewsand Thisara Perera eachbagged two wickets for SriLanka.

“I am happy about myfirst win as captain,” said SriLanka skipper DineshChandimal.

“Kusal Perera gave us thestart and we continued afterthat. We put up a good totaland that is why we won.”

Bangladesh suffered asetback after reaching 68-2 inthe eighth over as Ashrafulwas given out leg-before. Hehit seamer Thisara Perera fortwo successive sixes and

Perera stars in Sri LankaT20 win against Bangladesh

then a four in the same over.Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim

(39) and MohammadMahmudullah (31) keptBangladesh’s hopes alivewith a 50-run stand for thefifth wicket before both fellin the 15th over to leave theirteam struggling at 137-6.

Bangladesh were letdown by their bowling in thelater stages of the innings asthey gave away 75 in the lastfive overs. They also con-ceded 19 runs in wides.

“We gave 20 runs moreand that made the differ-ence,” said Bangladesh cap-tain Mushfiqur Rahim.

Sri Lanka’s JeevanMendis and AngeloMathews put on 66 for thefifth wicket off just 5.5 oversto help their side set a stiff

target.Mendis hit three sixes,

including two in an over fromleft-arm spinner AbdurRazzak, and two fours in his17-ball 37 while Mathewscontributed an unbeaten 30off 27 deliveries.

Sri Lanka plundered 32off the last 13 balls, withThisara Perera making aseven-ball 22 not out with twosixes and as many fours.

The hosts made a briskstart after being put in to batas they raced to 52 in theopening five overs, withKusal Perera playing attack-ing shots against both paceand spin.

Perera hit seamerShahadat Hossain for twofours and a six in the firstover of the match beforesmashing two more sixes, oneeach off spinners Sohag Gaziand Razzak.

He completed his maidenT20 half-century in theeighth over with two runs tomid-wicket off Mahmudullah.

Shahadat conceded 54runs in four overs, including24 in his last.—AFP

Sri Lanka innings:Perera c Rahim bMahmudullah ................ 64D. Munaweera b Gazi ..... 5Chandimal b Razzak ........ 9L. Thirimanne run out ..... 5A. Mathews not out ..... 30J. Mendis b Rubel ......... 37T. Perera not out ............ 22Extras: (lb7, w19) ........... 26Total: (for five wickets)198Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-77, 3-86, 4-100, 5-166.Bowling: ........... O-M-R-WShahadat .............. 4-0-54-0Rubel ..................... 4-0-40-1Gazi ........................ 4-0-30-1Razzak ................... 4-0-39-1Mahmudullah ...... 4-0-28-1Bangladesh innings:Ashraful lbw b Perera ... 43

Shamsur lbw b Mathews 0Jahurul b Mathews ....... 11Mushfiqur Senanayake 39Nasir b NLTC Perera ....... 8Mahmudullah run out .. 31Mominul Haque not out26Sohag Gazi c Mathewsb Malinga ......................... 9Abdur Razzak not out .... 6Extras: (lb 3, w 5) ............. 8Total: (7 wickets) ......... 181Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-27, 3-68, 4-85, 5-135, 6-137, 7-156Bowling: ........... O-M-R-WAD Mathews ....... 4-0-37-2RMS Eranga ......... 4-0-37-0SL Malinga ........... 4-0-27-1Senanayake .......... 4-0-29-1NLTC Perera ......... 2-0-25-2Mendis ................... 1-0-6-0AK Perera ............. 1-0-17-0

Junaid prefersPakistan overcounty offer

KARACHI—Pakistan’s risingsouthpaw paceman JunaidKhan has preferred Pakistanover a county’s offer, a pri-vate TV channel reported onMonday.

“I have played forLancashire, and recently gotgood offers from Durhamand a few other countyteams, however my entire fo-cus is for Pakistan and on theChampions Trophy at themoment,’ he said. “Hence Iturned down the offers.”

“PCB also advised me toskip county offers to avoidpossible injuries before themega event scheduled in En-gland later this year,” Junaid,who had taken 29 wickets innine Test matches and 32wickets in 21 ODIs, added.

Junaid Khan, who recentlyled his regional side at the do-mestic super eight T20 tour-nament, described his cap-taincy experience as a greatlearning curve for him.—APP

LAHORE—After posting 158,Faisalabad Wolves had onemajor aim in the chase - dis-missing Shoaib Malik. Theygot him in time to restrictSialkot Stallions in the chaseand take the title in front of afull house at the Gaddafi Sta-dium in Lahore. The Wolveswon their previous nationalT20 title in 2005.

Wolves, by winning thetitle, have also qualified for theChampions League Twenty20this year, though that remainssubject invitation by the tour-nament organisers. Teamsfrom Pakistan were ignored forthe first three editions of thatcompetition, though the Stal-lions were invited last year.They failed to qualify for themain round.

Wolves were off to a poorstart after winning the toss,the openers back in the hut inthe space of eight balls. How-

Faisalabad Wolves taketitle with 36-run win

ever, they recovered, and re-covered well.

The defining feature ofWolves’ innings was the swiftpace at which runs werescored. The first 50 runs cameoff 50 balls, second in 49 andthe final 50 were knocked offin just 17 balls. Asif Ali waskey, smashing 70 off 49 ballswith nine boundaries, includ-ing three sixes. He first put to-gether a 63-run third wicketstand with Khurram Shehzad(30) after the loss of two earlywickets and then added anunbeaten 79 with captainMisbah-ul-Haq.

Ali won six awards for his70: most stylish player, mostfours, most sixes, best scorer,and the Player of the Matchwhile Ehsan Adil was namedbest bowler of the tournament.Misbah, who is currently enjoy-ing the best run in his career,finished being a tournament

top-scorer with 206 at a strike-rate of 140.13 and an average of103, He’s also hit the most sixesthis competition, 12. He playedanother assured hand inWolves’ innings, smackingthree sixes for his brisk 38 off 25balls. The Stallions were reelingat 10 for 3 in the chase. ShakeelAnsar (4) was the first to go, top-edging a catch wicketkeeperMohammad Salman.

Stallions once again had torely on Malik. Along with AyazTasawwar (28 off 26), Malikadded a steady 63 runs for thefifth wicket but the asking-ratewas climbing with each over.The pair resisted Wolves for awhile but Adil returned for hisfinal spell to end the fightback.He first dismissed Tasawwar -who was caught at extra coverby Asif - and followed with adouble-strike, getting rid of thebrothers (Shoaib and Adeel) inquick succession.—APP

RawalpindiZone lift Army

Polo CupK A R A C H I — R a w a l p i n d iZone lifted the Army PoloCup after beating PeshawarZone by five to three and ahalf goals at Malir GarrisonPolo and Saddle Club onSunday.

There were four chakarsin the sensational final.Rawalpindi Zone team dis-playing perfect rhythm andstamina outclassedPeshawar Zone and defeatedit with five goals againstthree and a half goals.

After the polo match,skilled horsemen enthralledthe audience with their exper-tise at tent-pegging. Thecharging horses and their rid-ers worked in perfect har-mony and picked up thepegs.

Corps Commander, Lt.Gen. Muhammad IjazChaudhry, who was the chiefguest distributed the prizesto the players.—APP

PALLEKELE: Dinesh Chandimal of Sri Lanka with theseries trophy after beating Bangladesh only T20 match.

LAHORE—The limited-overscareer of Younis Khan, the se-nior Pakistan batsman, hangsin the balance after he was leftout of a 30-man squad for theChampions Trophy to be heldin June. The Pakistan board an-nounced the pool of playersunexpectedly early, and therehad been speculation overYounis’ future after a poor one-day series in South Africa ear-lier this month. Younis, 35, wasamong several Pakistan bats-men who floundered in the se-ries which South Africa won 3-2. Younis collected 116 ODIsruns at 23.20 as Pakistan’s frag-ile batting struggled throughmuch of the tour. He has had adifficult ODI run in recent years- his last century came as long

Younis left out ofChampions Trophy squad

back in 2008, and in three of theprevious four years he has av-eraged less than 25.

The other major exclusionfrom the squad was of 20-year-old left-arm spinner RazaHasan, who is looking to makehis comeback after suffering aspine injury last December.Hasan had made an impact dur-ing the World Twenty20 lastyear, playing in four matchesin that campaign.

The experienced all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, whohasn’t played an ODI sinceNovember 2011 continued tobe ignored by the national se-lectors. The Champions Tro-phy features the top eight ODIsides in the world, and is sched-uled to be held in England in

June. Pakistan are in Group Balong with India, South Africaand West Indies. All teamshave to announce their prelimi-nary squad for the tournamentbefore April 6.

Squad: Nasir Jamshed,Mohammad Hafeez, ImranFarhat, Ahmed Shehzad,Misbah-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail,Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal,Shoaib Malik, Umer Amin,Sohail Tanvir, Hammad Azam,Azhar Ali, Shahid Afridi, AsadAli, Anwar Ali, Junaid Khan,Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz,Umar Gul, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil,Imran Khan, Aizaz Cheema,Yasir Arafat, Saeed Ajmal,Abdul Rehman, Zulfiqar Babar,Kamran Akmal, MohammadRizwan.—APP

Golf: Thai teencaptures first

professional titleAGADIR (Morocco)—Thaiteenager Ariya Jutanugarncaptured her first profes-sional title on Sunday whenshe claimed a three-shot winat the Lalla Meryem Cup onthe Ladies European Tour.

The 17-year-old fromBangkok came from a strokebehind overnight leaderCharley Hull to earn victorywith rounds of 69, 67, 67 and67 for a 14 under par total atthe par-71 Golf de l’Ocean.

“I played very good to-day on the front nine and onthe second nine, the par 5, itgot really exciting becausethere was only one shotlead,” said Ariya.

“Yesterday my puttingwas not very good but thefront nine made me confidentwith my putting.—AFP

Indian startook heroin 12times: police

NEW DELHI—Indian Olym-pic bronze-medallist boxerVijender Singh took heroin 12times, according to policewho are investigating hislinks to an alleged dealer anda $24-million drug haul lastmonth.

Police in northwesternPunjab said investigationsshowed both Vijender, whowon a bronze at the 2008Beijing Olympics, and fellowboxer Ram Singh procuredthe drug from the allegeddealer between Decemberand February.

“Vijender Singh con-sumed the drug about 12times and Ram Singh aboutfive times,” Punjab policesaid in a statement Sundaywhich did not specify howthey had reached this con-clusion.—AFP

NATIONAL BRIE

SEOUL—North Koreanamed former premier PakPong-ju, a key confidant ofthe leadership dynasty whowas sacked in 2007 for fail-ing to implement economicreforms, as its cabinet chiefon Monday in a move thatwould further cement the rul-ing family’s grip on power.Pak, believed to be in his 70s,is a key ally of Jang Song-thaek, the uncle of the iso-lated state’s young ruler KimJong-un, and worked forJang’s wife, Kim’s auntKyong-hui, the last remain-ing personal link to the state’srevolutionary founder, KimIl-sung, grandfather of thecurrent leader.

“At the session, DeputyChoe Yong-rim was recalledfrom the post of premier of theDPRK Cabinet and DeputyPak Pong-ju was elected pre-mier of the DPRK Cabinet,”state news agency KCNA said,referring to a meeting of therubber-stamp parliament.DPRK is short for the North’sofficial name, the DemocraticPeople’s Republic of Korea andthe move came as tensionsratcheted higher on the Ko-rean peninsula as Pyongyangthreatened war and the UnitedStates flew in Stealth bombers.

Pak was named to thepowerful ruling Workers’ Partyof Korea Central Committeepolitical bureau on Sunday

and his re-emergence as pre-mier marks a further move byNorth Korea’s young leaderKim Jong-un to reaffirm hisgrip on power. The move doeshowever leave Kim, the thirdof his line to rule the impover-ished, nuclear-armed state,dangerously dependent on hisaunt and uncle, who have re-asserted control over the mili-tary in a purge.

“Pak Pong-ju works underthe orders of Jang Song-thaek,” said Cho Bong-hyun,an expert on the North’seconomy at the IBK EconomicInstitute. “Is Pak a reformer?Well, Jang is an economy fo-cused man, and Jang is theperson who has tried to make

the economy the centerpiecefor the leadership.”

Pak is a career technocratwho took the post of premierin 2003 to implement an am-bitious economic reformpolicy that allowed au-tonomy in farm productionand pricing liberalization, in-troduced in July 2002. Hewas removed in 2007 whenit became clear the stepsaimed at boosting the impov-erished state’s economy,gripped by devastating fam-ine in the 1990s, were notproducing desired resultsand the North’s military be-gan protests at the cabinet,wielding greater power onstate matters.—Reutes

North Korea names Kim clanassociate to premiership

PPP leader joinsMQMKARACHI—Member of Paki-stan Peoples Party FederalCouncil and ex- General Sec-retary Jacobabad district,Nawaz Ahmed Pecho, alongwith his companions hasjoined Muttahida QaumiMovement (MQM). Accord-ing to details, Pecho made anannouncement to this effectin a meeting held atKhursheed Memorial Secre-tariat, Nine Zero, MQM head-quarters. MQM Coordina-tion Committee member,Kanwar Khalid Younus,MQM leader, Aamir Khan,and member MQM CentralExecutive Council, SardarNabil Gabol, were alsopresent in the meeting.Speaking on the occasion,Nawaz Pecho lauded MQMchief Altaf Hussain for hisvision.—INP

Javed Iqbal newCS PunjabLAHORE—The Election Com-mission of Pakistan on Mon-day appointed Secretary Plan-ning Javed Iqbal as Punjab’schief secretary. Earlier, QamarZaman Chaudhry refused toaccept the bureaucratic posi-tion in the province. The EC,under article 218 of the con-stitution, has the authority tomake changes in bureau-cracy.—INP

Electronic-votingfor expatsISLAMABAD—Chairman Na-tional Database and Registra-tion Authority (NADRA),Tariq Malik on Monday sug-gested electronic voting foroverseas Pakistanis. He saidthat NADRA had issued 5.3million National Identity Cardsfor Overseas Pakistanis(NICOP). Talking to PTV, hesaid that 4.5 million peopleover 18 years hold the NICOPand they are registered in dif-ferent constituencies of thecountry. All these overseas Pa-kistanis are registered in thenational and provincial con-stituencies of the country, hesaid. He said “NADRA hadgiven task Electronic-votingfor expiates.—APP

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila, called on Prime Minister Justice (R) MirHazar Khan Khoso at Prime Minister house.

Sindhila briefsPM on navalpreparedness

ISLAMABAD—Chief of theNaval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Asif Sindhila, called onPrime Minister Justice (Retd)Mir Hazar Khan Khoso atPrime Minister House onMonday and briefed him onmatters pertaining to profes-sional preparedness ofPakistan’s Naval Forces.

The Prime Minister saidthat Pakistan Navy is playingan effective role not only inguarding the territorial watersof the country but also in pro-viding relief in coastal areasin times of emergencies.—INP

Saudi PrinceBader Bin AbdulAziz passes away

RIYADH—The Saudi RoyalCourt announced on Mondaythat Prince Bader Bin AbdulAziz has died. He was 81. Thefuneral prayers will be held to-day (Tuesday) at the ImamTurki Mosque in Riyadh,” thecourt said in a brief statement,according to the Saudi pressagency. The prince was 81years old and 20th son ofKing Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

In a long and prestigiouscareer, he served as Ministerof Communications and morerecently as Deputy Com-mander of the National Guarduntil he stepped down in2010.—INP

Pakistan Navy WarCollege delegation

visits Sri LankaCOLOMBO—A group of of-ficers from Pakistan Navy WarCollege visited Sri Lanka re-cently as part of their ForeignStudy Tour Programme.

The delegation led byCommodore Sajid Mahmood,comprised of Officers fromPakistan Armed Forces andfour allied officers from Nige-ria, China and Turkey.

During their stay in SriLanka the delegation calledon Chief of Defence Staff, AirChief Marshal WDRMJGoonetileke, Commander ofSri Lanka Navy Vice AdmiralJayanath Collombage, HighCommissioner of Pakistan inSri Lanka H.E. Maj Gen (R)Qasim Qureshi.—NNI

ISLAMABAD—Prime MinisterMir Hazar Khan Khoso wasgiven a comprehensive brief-ing on the issues and chal-lenges faced by Pakistan inthe realm of foreign affairs atthe Prime Minister’s Secre-tariat on Monday.

Secretary Foreign AffairsMr. Jalil Abbas Jilani alongwith senior officials of hisministry apprised the PrimeMinister on the initiativesand efforts taken by Pakistanto further its national objec-tives.

The Prime Minister wasbriefed on Pakistan’s policy

PM briefed on foreign policyDiscusses political situation with Bukhari

on key issues, nature andstatus of Pakistan’s relationswith United States, India,European Union, Muslimcountries, multilateral andregional organizations.

The Prime Minister wasalso given a detailed updateon Pakistan’s contributiontowards world peace.

Chairman Senate SyedNayyer Hussain Bukhari alsocalled on the Prime on Mon-day morning.

Syed Nayyer HussainBukhari briefed the PrimeMinister on issues pertainingto the Upper House and ap-

prised him on matters andbusiness conducted in Sen-ate at present. Overall politi-cal situation in the countrywith special reference to theforth coming general elec-tions also came under discus-sion.

The Prime Minister reit-erated his resolve to holdfree, fair and transparent elec-tions, which wouldstrengthen the democraticdispensation in the country. The Chairman Senate con-gratulated the Prime Minis-ter on assumption of the of-fice of Prime Minister. —INP

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—A four-memberCaretaker Cabinet of Punjabwas sworn in at a ceremonyheld here at Darbar Hall ofGovernor’s House Monday.

Governor PunjabMakhdoom Syed AhmadMehmood administered theoath while Caretaker ChiefMinister Punjab Najam Sethi,political personalities, ChiefSecretary Punjab, ChairmanPlanning & Development,Senior Member Board ofRevenue, secretaries of vari-ous provincial departmentsand Advocate GeneralPunjab were also present onthe occasion.

The caretaker provincialministers who took oath oftheir offices are: Tariq Pervaiz,

Caretaker Punjab cabinet sworn inSaleema Hashmi, Arif Ijaz andShams Mehmood Mirza.

Caretaker Chief MinisterNajam Sethi while congratu-lating the provincial ministerssaid that the caretaker setupis completely impartial andnon-political. He said thatholding of elections in a free,fair and transparent manner isthe responsibility of the care-taker setup which will be dis-charged efficiently. He saidthat no hurdle will be toleratedin holding of general electionsin a peaceful and orderly man-ner. He said that a peacefulatmosphere will be ensured forgeneral elections so that thevoters could exercise theirright of franchise in an inde-pendent manner. He said thatno one will be allowed to takeundue advantage while cor-

ruption will not be toleratedat any cost. He said that noillegal activity will be permit-ted and stern action will betaken against the elements in-volved.

Earlier, Caretaker ChiefMinister Najam Sethi held ameeting with GovernorPunjab Makhdoom SyedAhmad Mehmood atGovernor’s House duringwhich general elections, po-litical situation of the coun-try and other issues were dis-cussed. The members of care-taker cabinet after taking oathof their offices held an infor-mal meeting with CaretakerChief Minister Najam Sethiand Governor Punjab duringwhich the matter of holdingfree, fair and transparent elec-tions was discussed.

ISLAMABAD—Supreme Courthas issued notices to DrMubashar Hassan and otherparties to NRO in hearing in-tra court appeal filed byformer Prime Minister SyedYousuf Raza Gilani against hisdisqualification.

SC 8-member larger benchheaded by the Chief Justiceof Pakistan (CJP) IftikharMohammad Chaudhry tookup the intra-court appeal forhearing Monday. SyedYousuf Raza Gilani appearedin the court in person and tookthe plea that he held the samestance on NRO which waslater adopted by former primeminister Raja Pervez Ashrafand the court had acceptedthe latter’s stance.

Earlier I filed plea seekingreview of the decision andthen I filed intra court appealunder certain circumstances,he argued.

CJP remarked “ you have

Yousuf Raza Gilani court appeal case

SC serves notices onMubashar, others

filed intra court appeal after204 days while it should havebeen filed within 30 days”.Justice Khilji Arif observed “you will have to provethrough arguments that theverdict given against you wasnot correct. You were primeminister when proceedingswas initiated against you andnow your status standschanged”.

Justice Jawad S Khawajaremarked “ you will have tomake clear it on your ownother wise people will say re-lief was given to Yousuf RazaGilani. Yousuf Raza Gilani saidhe was fully ready to advancearguments and he had men-tioned all the reasons whichled to delay in filing the intracourt appeal. Gilani con-tended that he said this in thepast and says today too thatpresident enjoys immunityunder national and interna-tional laws.—Online

RAWALPINDI—Lawyersmanhandled and locked up ajudge in Rawalpindi after herefused to listen to their de-mands here on Monday. Ac-cording to reports channel,additional session judge,Ahmed Yar Gondal delayedthe lawyers’ call to take no-tice of a case, for which hehad given them assuranceafter which they restrictedhim in his own room. It maybe mentioned here that they

Lawyers manhandle judge

Bilawal returnsfrom Dubai

KARACHI—Bilawal BhuttoZardari, the chairman of thePakistan People’s Party (PPP),has finally returned to Paki-stan. He arrived here in the weehours of today (Tuersday).

Earlier reports said he hadagreed to return to Pakistan af-ter a long meeting with his fa-ther President Asif Ali Zardariin Dubai.

Last Tuesday, the PPPchairman had suddenly de-parted for Dubai amid reportsthat he had left the countryafter develop-ing differenceswith his father and aunt, FaryalTalpur, over the issue ofawarding party tickets for thecoming elections.

However, party leaders re-futed the re-ports, saying therewere serious security concernsfor Bilawal in Pakistan. Al-though the PPP leadership hasbeen denying the reports, itlargely failed to satisfy themedia and party opponents.

Four days after his son’sunexplained departure, Presi-dent Zardari also left Ka-rachifor the UAE on Saturday. Ac-cording to a top presidentialsource, President Zardari hasassured Bilawal that all his res-ervations on certain party is-sues would be removed.

“Yes, the President held ameeting with his son who hadgone a few days back to Dubai,and finally he (Bilawal) hasagreed to return,” the source,requesting anonym-ity,said.—INP

KP CM reviewslaw, order situationPESHAWAR—A high levelmeeting to review law and or-der situation in the provinceand specially with referenceto the upcoming general elec-tions was held here on Mon-day with KhyberPakhtunkhwa Caretaker ChiefMinister Justice (R) TariqPervez Khan in the chair.

The minister for homeand tribal affairs, Mr. FayazKhan Toro, Chief Secretary,Ghulam Dastagir Akhtar, In-spector General Police,Akbar Khan Hoti, SecretaryHome and Tribal Affairs,Azam Khan, Additional In-spector General (Operation)Masood Afridi, AdditionalInspector General (SpecialBranch) Akhtar Ali, CCPO,Peshawar, Imtiaz Altaf and allRegional Police Officers ofthe province attended themeeting.—INP

GILGIT—Pakistan andChina have resumed tradeand traffic on the KarakoramHighway, through theKhunjerab Pass. The twocountries had earlier this yearagreed to open the border on1st April, instead of 1st May,as was the past practice.

A bus carrying passen-gers from China reached thePakistan Customs House lo-cated in the border town ofSost on Monday.

The importance of thetrade through the KarakoramHighway has increased sig-nificantly due to the power-ful presence of Chinese busi-ness companies in Gawadar.It is pertinent to note that theoutgoing Pakistan govern-

Sost: Pakistan-China borderreopened for trade, traffic

ment had handed over themanagement of Gawadar Portto a Chinese company re-cently.

The trade throughKarakoram Highway hasbadly been disrupted due tothe blockade and destructioncaused by the Attabad Land-slide and the dammed HunzaRiver. Currently, tunnels arebeing constructed nearAttabad and Ayeenabad torealign the KKH.

The realignment work isnot likely to be completedbefore mid of 2014, accord-ing to China Roads andBridges Corporation (CRBC)officials, who are working onexpansion and realignment ofthe KKH.—INP

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—Sindh caretakercabinet in its first meeting ap-proved the security plan forthe upcoming general elec-tions-2013.

Sindh caretaker ChiefMinister Justice (Retd)Zahid Kurban Alvi was inchair. Sixteen Ministers at-tended the first cabinet meet-ing while their portfolioswere not announced as yet.Sindh Secretary InformationNoor Muhammad Legharibriefed the newsmen after thecabinet meeting was over atthe Committee room of theSindh Secretariat Monday.Sindh Ministry of Informa-tion Director Yousuf Kaborowas also present.

The cabinet also ap-proved a decision to recruit8000 cops in the Sindh Po-lice on emergency basis. A 3-member committee of care-taker Ministers was also con-stituted in the meeting fortackling down the financialcrisis. The committee wouldsubmit a detailed reportwithin three days.

The cabinet discussedabout the issues and prob-lems emerged due to the pres-ence of the illegal immigrantsin the province and decidedto take up the issue beforethe federal interim govern-

8,000 cops to be recruitedin Sindh for elections

Cabinet discusses law, order and financial issuesment for onward action withthe approval of the later.

The Inspector General ofPolice, Sindh Shahid NadeemBaloch gave a detailed brief-ing to the cabinet on the lawand order situation in theprovince especially the me-tropolis.

The IGP told the meetingthat Police was in associationwith Sindh Rangers conduct-ing targeted operations inselective areas of the city andarrested many hardenedcriminals and recoveredhuge cache of illegal weap-ons from their possession.

The IGP said that SindhPolice had prepared a contin-

gency plan of security dur-ing the polling days in theprovince and all available re-sources would be utilized inthat regard.

He told the cabinet thatin order to maintain the lawand order during the days ofpolling and in order to ensurefree, fair and transparentelections in the province,8000 cops would immedi-ately be recruited to meet thesecurity needs and in thatregard, the recruitmentswould be on pure merit ba-sis.

The caretaker cabinetapproved the security planpresented by the IGP.

Gas pipelineblasted, supply

to Karachisuspended

JA F F E R A B A D—Unknownmiscreants blasted a 22-inchdiameter gas pipeline with ex-plosives here in the weehours of Monday suspend-ing gas supply to Karachiand some parts of southernPunjab.

According to details,miscreants had planted ex-plosive material with 22 inchdiameter gas pipeline inMalguzar area of districtJafferabad which explodedwith big bang. As a result ofblast a portion of gas pipelinewas destroyed and fireerupted at the site ofexplosion.incident.—NP

Recruitment onmerit demandedIS L A M A B A D—Sidiq ulFarooq, a Leader of Paki-stan Muslim League Nawaz(PML-N) on Monday hopedthat people would elect hisparty considering the per-formance of former regimesof Nawaz Sharif. Talking toa private TV channel, hesaid that PML-N took his-torical steps in its regime forthe development of thecountry. He urged that re-cruitment in police forceshould be made on merit tomaintain law and order inthe country. —APP

AML candidatesfrom LahoreLAHORE—Only three candi-dates of Awami MuslimLeague (AML) will contestelection from the provincialcapital for provincial assemblyseats. Chaudhary NaeemGhumman, Khalid Sandhu andArif Anwar have submittednomination forms from PP-156,PP-146 and PP-145 of Lahore.According to a spokesman ofAML, a total of 60 candidatesfor provincial assembly seatsand 20 for National Assemblyseats have filed their nomina-tion forms.—APP

had also traded barbs somedays ago, which resulted intoMonday‘s incident. The inci-dent once again highlightedthe high-handedness of law-yers to achieve desired resultsrelating to cases.

The process of scrutinyof nomination papers of can-didates remained stalled dueto the incident. Later, JudgeAhmed Yar Gondal escapedfrom the back door of theroom.—INP

ISLAMABAD—A meeting ofthe parliamentary board ofthe Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI) was held here on Mon-day with the party’s chair-man Imran Khan in the chairto finalize the party tickets forthe candidates hailing fromKhyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK)for National Assembly andthe provincial Assemblyconstituencies falling in theprovince. “The meeting re-viewed the applications ofthe party’s candidates foreach national and provincialconstituency. The recom-

PTI board finalises partytickets for candidates from KP

mendations made by PTI’sparliamentary board of KPKas well as proposals by theprovincial, regional and dis-trict presidents of the partyregarding the distribution ofparty tickets in the prov-ince,” said the spokesman ofPTI in a statement issuedhere from party’s central sec-retariat.

The PTI spokesman saidthat in light of the recommen-dations, the meeting finalisedthe list of its candidates fromKPK for the distribution ofparty tickets in KPK.—NP

TURBO-charged parents still running their university-agedchildren’s schedules, laundry and

vacations could be doing more harm thangood with a study showing these stu-dents were more likely tobe depressed and dissat-isfied with life. ResearcherHolly Schiffrin from theUniversity of Mary Wash-ington in Virginia foundso-called helicopterparenting negatively af-fected college studentsby undermining theirneed to feel autonomousand competent.

Her study found stu-dents with over-control-ling parents were morelikely to be depressedand less satisfied withtheir lives while the num-ber of hyper-parents wasincreasing with economicfears fuelling concernsover youngsters’chances of success, HealthDay news re-ported. “You expect parents with youngerkids to be very involved but the problemis that these children are old enough tolook after themselves and their parentsare not backing off,” Schiffrin, an associ-ate professor of psychology, said. “Tofind parents so closely involved with theircollege lives, contacting their tutors andrunning their schedules, is somethingnew and on the increase.

It does not allow independence andthe chance to learn from mistakes.”Schiffrin’s study, published in Springer’s

Journal of Child and Family Studies, wasbased on an online survey of 297 U.S.undergraduate students in which stu-dents described their mothers’ parentingbehavior and their own autonomy and

researchers assessed theirhappiness and satisfactionlevels. The study comes asdebate rises over how muchparents should run theirchildren’s lives to makethem succeed.

Schiffrin said the in-crease in technology hadchanged the involvementof parents in their children’scollege lives as the once-a-week phone call homewas replaced with regulartexting, emails and messag-ing. The competitive mar-ketplace and jostling fortop college slots and thebest jobs has also boostedthe involvement of parentsin college lives. She said tocounteract this, rising

numbers of universities were starting torun parental orientation days parallel toevents for students to help encourageparents to give their children more free-dom. Meanwhile signs and symptomsof depression in children include follow-ing. Irritability or anger, continuous feelingsof sadness and hopelessness, Social with-drawal, Increased sensitivity to rejec-tion, changes in appetite either increasedor decreased, changes in sleep sleepless-ness or excessive sleep, vocal outburstsor crying, difficulty concentrating.

Hyper-parents can make collegeaged children depressed

ISLAMABAD: A view of Faisal Mosque during rain on Monday.

RAWALPINDI: General Necdet Ozel, Commander Turkish Armed Forces called onChief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at General Headquarters.

Weather turnspleasant as rain

lashes Islamabad,RawalpindiSTAFF REPORTER

I S L A M A B A D — We a t h e rturned pleasant in Islamabadand Rawalpindi as twin cit-ies received rain here onMonday afternoon. . Whileboth the cities and Murreeand Galiyat received rain.Some areas in RawalpindiIslamabad, Murree, Kohatand Mansehra were also hitby hailstorm.Due to heavyrain power supply was af-fected in Murree and adjoin-ing areas.

Water accumulated inlower areas of the garrisontown. However, peopleseemed happy after the freshspell of rain as the weatherwas getting warmer. Mini-mum temparature was re-corded 24 C with humidity 61percent in the federal capitaltoday.

3000 allergy patientstreated at pollen

allergy relief campISLAMABAD—A total of 3000allergy patients were treatedat the 11th free pollen allergyrelief camp set up here atAabpara Community Center,by the Islamabad Capital Ter-ritory Administration.

The camp started itsworking on March 22, and allthe medicines were providedfree of charge to the patientsat the camp, said a press re-lease issued here on Mon-day.

The Chief Commissioner,Islamabad has especially ap-preciated the services of allthose doctors, chemists andphilanthropists who tookpart in health care activitiesand donated their medicines,rendering great services tothe humanity.

The citizens also by andlarge lauded the arrange-ments made at the camp forprovision of health servicesto the patients.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

I S L A M A B A D — N a t i o n a lUniversity of Modern Lan-guages (NUML) and XIDAIslamic Education College,China will formally signMemorandum of Under-standing on Tuesday toinitiate collaboration ineducation sector. This wasagreed after a meeting of12-member Chinese del-egation of Xida IslamicEducation College,Honghe Prefecture, YunanProvince, headed by Presi-dent of College, BaoCheng, with the officials ofNUML.

President of the Col-

lege, Mr Cheng told theRector and DG NUML that“There are big number ofMuslims living in YunNanProvince and they havegreat interest in studyingabout their religion, Islamicculture and literature. Weseek NUML assistance forthe language learning,teachers’ training and thehigher studies”. He saidthat since the university hashighly qualified and experi-enced faculty members inArabic Language and Is-lamic studies department,we want that our facultymembers and studentscome here for training andfurther studies”. This will

help us to strengthen ourbrotherly and Islamic rela-tions further stronger, headded.

The Rector Maj Gen (R)Masood Hasan told themembers of delegation thatNUML is imparting educa-tion to more than 400 for-eign students from 16 coun-tries and many Chinesestudents are also studyingin Arabic, Islamic Studies,English and other depart-ments of the University.The University will go allout in assisting the collegetowards the promotion ofquality education.

DG Brig (Retd) AzamJamal said that NUML had

expertise of imparting edu-cation not only of nationaland international languagesbut also in the other disci-plines like ManagementSciences, Engineering, andIT and it would providemaximum assistance to thecollege, he added. DirectorAcademics briefed the del-egation about the Univer-sity, its Regional Cam-puses, its academic perfor-mance, collaboration withforeign universities, andlearning facilities.

The delegation also vis-ited the Arabic Language,Islamic Studies depart-ments, Library, Media Lab,and Language Labs. Head

of Arabic Department DrSyed Ali Anwar, Ms LubnaFarah and Dr Zia-ul-Haqhad a detailed discussionabout syllabus, coursesand disciplines of their re-spective departments.

The delegation mem-bers including Mr Ma YuGong, Vice President,Teaching, Mr Ma ShengBao, Vice President, Man-agement, and others had adetailed meeting with Rec-tor NUML Maj Gen (R)Masood Hasan, DirectorGeneral Brig (Retd) AzamJamal, Registrar Brig (R)Saeed Akhtar Malik, andDirector Academics Col (R)Syed Jawaid Ahmed.

Xida Islamic Education College seeks assistance for language learning, teachers’ training

ISLAMABAD: Ma Bao Cheng, President XIDA Islamic Education College is presenting agift to Rector Maj Gen (R) Masood Hasan and DG Brig Azam Jamal during his visit to NUML.

ISLAMABAD—Islamabad po-lice have busted a gang ofdacoits besides nabbingnine other outlaws and recov-ered gold ornaments as wellas weapons from their pos-session, a police spokesmansaid on Monday.

According to details,Sub-Inspector MuhammadHanif from Shahzad Townpolice station arrested fouraccused for their alleged in-volvement in dacoity and re-covered gold ornaments,mobile phones and othersnatched items from theirpossession. The nabbeddacoits have been identifiedas Asif, Naseer, Nasir andZaheer.

ASI Ishtiaq Shah fromMargalla Police station ar-rested three thieves Ghani-Ur-Rehman, KhurramShahzad and Bilal besidesrecovering stolen items fromthem. Another accusedIshfaq was also arrested forpossessing 30 bore pistol.

Meanwhile, Sub InspectorAbudl Waheed and ASI FathaSher from Koral police stationapprehended Taimur, Shahzadand Atiq-Ur-Rehman for pos-sessing 30 bore pistols and one12 bore gun. ASI TansneemAhmad from CIA police ar-rested three thieves Naveed ,Munair Ahmad and Moqeembesides recovering stolen valu-ables from them.—APP

Dacoits’ gang busted

Gold ornaments andweapons recovered

Pothoharilanguage has rich

heritage ofbeautiful voices

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Chairman Paki-stan Academy of Letters (PAL),Abdul Hameed on Monday saidthe Pothohari language has richheritage of beautiful voices. In ameeting with Pothohari writers,arranged by Pakistan Academyof Letters and Pothohari Lan-guage and Cultural Council, hesaid mother tongue is a part ofsub-consciousness of humanbeing and it reflects in all socialbehaviors of the society.

The Chairman assured theparticipants that appropriaterepresentation of PothohariLanguage and writers (Maleand Females) should be en-sured in all literary projects ofPAL. The participants ex-pressed their views on the his-tory and importance ofPothohari Language and litera-ture which includes Shiraz Tahir,Shoaib Khaliq Shahid Awanand Syed Taswar Hussain. Fewparticipants also presentedtheir books to the ChairmanPAL on the occasion includingRiffat Mehmood, shahzad ArbiNakish, Sardar MasoodAakash, Afzal Mihas, HakeemRauf Kiani, Ikhlaq Arshad,Turab Naqvi and ZamanAkhtar. Poets including ZamanAkhtar, Azram Khiayam andImran Aami also recited theirpoetry on the occasion.

Puppet showdisseminates

social messagesISLAMABAD—The puppetshow organized by PakistanNational Council of the Arts,Ministry of National Heritageand Integration dissemi-nated social messagesamong children here onMonday.

The puppet show a regu-lar feature of PNCA, high-lighted environment, educa-tion and health problemsthrough narrating differenttales and gave informationand awareness to childrenin a light and entertainingway.

The show presented per-formances on folk tales, skits,national songs and regionaldances for the children of dif-ferent institutions who cameto watch it.—APP

ISLAMABAD—Lack of civicamenities, ever increasing streetcrimes, unabated encroach-ments have turned sector G-8into slum.

The area is now residentialarea in name only as it has be-come a safe haven for the crimi-nals and robbers due to lack ofstreet light arrangements. Thepoles have been erected sincelong but no cables and bulbshave been fitted therein allow-ing the dacoits and robbers tohave every day a field day.

Wagon terminal standsclose to the market of thismarkaz but no traffic wardenhas been appointed thereintherefore, traffic jam is order ofthe day and even pedestrianscan not cross the road. Wagonplying on route No 150 startspicking and dropping commut-ers on different points on roadcreating traffic mess.

No public toilet has beenbuilt in the market of the markazand the traders and customersuse the foot path as toilet andthe market remains in the grip

of stinking odor the whole daylong. A tract of land was allo-cated for construction of toiletbut that small sized plot is nowunder the occupation of junkdealer who is doing his busi-ness after raising his own shop.

The traders have com-plained that they have repeat-edly requested in writing forconstruction of a public toiletbut their request still standsunheeded. The residents havedemanded immediate steps forprovision of civic amenitiesotherwise they will be forcedto hold protest demonstra-tions.

Residents of Federal capi-tal sectors F and G have de-manded the Capital Develop-ment Authority to repair non-functional streetlights on ma-jor roads and streets of the twosectors. Talking to APP, resi-dents of sectors F and G saidthat absence of streetlights oncity roads provides criminalswith an environment condu-cive to looting people.

Amir Ayub, a resident of

Lack of civic amenitiesturns G-8 into ‘slum’

RAWALPINDI: People keenly watching the parrots at Ayub Park.

Sector F-6/1, said thatstreetlights in his area had notbeen functioning for more thana year. “Streetlights are notfunctioning although CDA re-ceives millions of rupees to re-pair and install them. Criminalscash in on the situation and dotheir activities in the dead ofnight,” Amir said.

“If these lights are re-paired, it would help to curbcrimes in the capital,” he said.Haider Ali, another resident,said that non-functionalstreetlights pose a bad imageof the capital. Malik Faisal, an-other resident of G-6, appealedto the authorities concerned tofix these streetlights as theirabsence poses security risksfor people. Faisal said thatsome traffic signals in the areawere also out-of-order. This, headded, results in road accidentsin G-6 Markaz and Sector F-6.Residents of Sector G-11 told,“We are extremely concernedabout our safety. Faultystreetlights must be re-paired.”—APP

“There is nothing souseless as doing

efficiently that whichshould not be done at

all.”

— Peter Drucker

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The Zonal Chair-man of PRGMEA, ShaikhMohammad Shafiq has said thatthe FBR’s recently launchedsoftware to check claims forbogus refunds and illegal inputtax adjustments against fake andflying invoices is full of discrep-ancies and errors.

He said that the Computer-ized Risk-based EvaluationSystem (CREST), developedby FBR to implement SRO #

FBR’s software performanceunsatisfactory

179, is not user friendly and avery complex interface. The ex-porters are unable to use it ef-fectively, moreover, news re-ports claim that even the taxofficers are still unable to op-erate the said software, there-fore, how can it be expectedthat exporters will use it withease? Exporters have beenasked by the FBR to submitdata for the past 20 months(from July 2011 till February2013) and have been given adeadline of March 31st. Shafiq

said that it is not possible forany company to reconcile their20 month data within this shorttime period.

He said that last digit ofNTN number is missing in thesoftware which makes it verydifficult to sort out relevant data.He asked the FBR to remove thediscrepancies from CREST andmake the software user friendly.He also urged the FBR to ex-tend the deadline giving ampletime to exporters to reconciletheir sales tax invoices.

KCCI writes to president against controversial SROsAMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—Karachi Cham-ber of Commerce and Indus-try (KCCI) in a letter has in-vited attention of the Presidenttowards what it called the re-cent unilateral, controversialand discriminatory SROs is-sued by the Federal Board ofRevenue after meetings withcertain non-representative en-tities.

During whole process the

genuine stake holders includingtrade specific All Pakistan As-sociations and most importantlyKarachi Chamber of Commerceand Industry were not consultedand were not even visited byChairman FBR during his recentvisit to Karachi.

KCCI and the BusinessCommunity has rejected theaforementioned controversialSROs in toto and strongly be-lieve that the FBR may havesome malafide intention and ul-

terior motives behind said SROswhich like in the past will in-crease fraudulent business prac-tices providing an opportunity tothe unscrupulous elements toenjoy edge over the genuinebusinesspersons and encouragecorrupt FBR officials to greasetheir palms with illegal gratifi-cations.

The acts of discriminationagainst the business communitywhile imposing additional tax bur-den and protecting the tax-evaders

are the root cause of corruption andeconomic decline in Pakistan.

Karachi Chamber of Com-merce and Industry, the premierand largest Chamber of Paki-stan, represents the business andindustrial community of Karachiwhich generates 68 percent rev-enue for the national exchequer.The KCCI maintains the privi-lege that Federal Ministers forCommerce, Industries, Finance,Ports & Shipping along withMinisters from other important

ministries visit Karachi Cham-ber of Commerce & Industry forconsultation and feedback be-fore passing on and implement-ing the policy matters which isalso an established practice. Per-tinent to mention here that Fed-eral Finance Minister as well asthe Chairman FBR visited thisChamber last year to discuss thebudget, fiscal and taxation mat-ters and sought Chamber’s pro-posals accordingly.

KCCI has already brought to

the notice of Chairman FBRthrough various letters and state-ments in the press/ electronic me-dia that KCCI cannot and will notaccept any imposed decision by theFBR and its officials at their whimsand discretion causing resentmentand negative reaction within thetrade and industry in Karachi.

We on behalf of the entire busi-ness and industrial community ofPakistan request to kindly interveneand issue directives to the Chair-man FBR to immediately rescind

all the controversial SRO issuedafter 31st December, 2012 with-out the consultation of stakehold-ers and Karachi Chamber ofCommerce & Industry and visitKCCI to meet the representativesof the business and industrialcommunity to discuss and re-move the apprehensions/ uncer-tainty created with issuance ofcontroversial SROs and resolvethe matter upto the satisfaction ofthe business and industrial com-munity.

MD, TERADATA Khurram Rahat presenting a souvenir to Chairman NADRA Muhammad Tariq Malik during NationalIT Excellence Awards. Consular for Economic Affairs US Embassy Robert Ewing is also seen in the picture.—PO Photo bySultan Bashir

Ahmad Bukhsh Lehri, Federal Secretary (MNFS&R), Javed Malik, Member Planning Com-mission, Abdul Basit Khan, Addl Secretary, Dr Iftikhar Ahmad, Chairman PARC and otherhigh officials of Govt and Private Sector on the occasion of Consultative Provincial Work-shop on National Food and Nutrition Security Police.

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—Transparency In-ternational Pakistan’s (TIP) roleseems growing especially inState owned organizations witha concept to make corruptionfree Pakistan

According to SohailMuzaffar TIP Chairman apartfrom the private sector, publicsector organizations andschemes such as PIA, NADRA,Pakistan Steel Mills and BenazirIncome Support Program haveassociated themselves with TIPorganization through MoUs toensure transparency in their pro-curement processes.

Speaking at MoU signingceremony with Sui Southern Gas

TIP’s role in makingPakistan corruption free

company here today Muzaffarhoped that whatever advise TIPwill give to SSGC, will be takenpositively by the Company. TheTIP Chairman reiterated that hisorganization strives for honesty,openness and transparency.

SSGC has signed a Memo-randum of Understanding(MoU) with Transparency Inter-national Pakistan (TIP) on April1, 2013 in order to ensure com-plete transparency in its procure-ment processes.

Speaking on the occasion,MD, SSGC said that the gas util-ity shares a common vision withTIP of a corruption-free Paki-stan and reiterated theCompany’s commitment to ad-dress its observations promptly.

The signing of this MoU willmake SSGC even more con-scious and mindful about main-taining transparency in all as-pects of procurement processes,the MD said.

The MoU will facilitate thegas utility in availing TIP’s ex-pertise as an observer by adopt-ing best practices while follow-ing the rules of the Government.The MoU was inked by TIP’sChairman Sohail Muzaffar andSSGC’s Managing DirectorZuhair Siddiqui. The signingceremony was held at the gascompany’s Head Office inKarachi. Senior members andofficials of TIP and SSGC werealso present to witness the sign-ing.

PSM movingtowards path of

revival: SpokesmanSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—A spokesman ofthe Pakistan Steel Mills hasclarified that Pakistan Steelwhich was operating at 19% in2011-12 at the loss of more than22 billion rupees is now mov-ing towards the path of revival.

In a statement issued here onMonday, the spokesman said bythe grace of God the mighty,Pakistan Steel is currently func-tioning at 25-30 percent capac-ity utilization. The statementfollows a news item publishedin newspapers on 18th March,2013 stating that the PSM suf-fers Rs.50 million losses daily.

The spokesman asserted thateven now the steel mill can berestored to its former profitabil-ity and can attain 60% produc-tion if the government takesupon itself the payment of themark-up and financial responsi-bility.

He said it is pertinent tomention that as steel mills re-store its production the losseswill automatically see a visibledecline.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Civil Aviation Au-thority Pakistan (CAA) held ameeting here on Monday to de-liberate on issues relating to thepeople traveling on the Gulf andMiddle East routes.

The CAA Director AirportServices Headquarters chairedthe meeting of all stake holdersat Allama Iqbal InternationalAirport. It was also attended bydirector level officers from allthe agencies operating at the air-port, including FIA, OPF, Cus-toms, ASF and ANF. Represen-tatives of national airlines, in-cluding PIA, Shaheen Air, Air

CAA for making airportsuser-friendly

Blue, Chairman and DeputyChairman Airlines OperatorsCommittee representing all in-ternational airlines operating toPakistan and airport managers ofall international airports in Pa-kistan were present in the meet-ing.

The meeting emphasizedthat labour force traveling to theMiddle East region should beassisted upon arrivals and depar-tures by the concerned agenciesand sign boards at the airportsshould be in Urdu in addition toEnglish for the convenience ofthe passengers.

The CAA Director AirportServices advised all his airport

managers that Civil AviationAuthority being the regulatorand operator has a greater roleand responsibility to ensurecompliance to the aviation in-dustry standards. He requestedall the stakeholders to make jointefforts in making airports user-friendly.

It may be mentioned themeeting was called after theSupreme Court of Pakistan tooksuo motu action with respect topassengers handling and facili-ties at the Pakistani airports withspecific focus to the overseasPakistanis, primarily the labourforce residing in Gulf andMiddle East countries.

Oil prices downin AsiaSINGAPORE—Oil prices easedin Asia on Monday as investorstook profits after a run-up inprices last week before the longEaster break, analysts said. NewYork’s main contract, WestTexas Intermediate (WTI) lightsweet crude for delivery in May,shed 39 cents to $96.84 a barreland Brent North Sea crude forMay dropped 22 cents to$109.80 in mid-morning trade.“It is not surprising investors aretaking a breather,” said KellyTeoh, market strategist at IGMarkets Singapore. “WTI hasbeen trading near the highest inthe past six weeks as it tracksUS economic growth, and is duefor some profit taking,” she toldAFP. Prices had pushed up forthe fifth straight session onThursday before markets closedFriday for the Easter weekend,helped by firm economic datafrom Germany and the UnitedStates, and the calm reopeningof the banks in Cyprusfollowing a nearly two-weeklockdown.—APP

Asian markets slipHONG KONG—Asianmarkets slipped in holiday-hittrade Monday as investorswere unimpressed by a mildimprovement in key economicindicators out of China andTokyo. The yen also climbedagainst the dollar and euroahead of a Bank of Japan(BoJ) policy meeting thisweek, while there are lingeringconcerns about politicaluncertainty in Italy as well asdebt-ravaged Cyprus. Tokyoslipped 0.92 percent by thebreak on the back of thestronger yen, Shanghai was off0.57 percent and Seoul lost0.27 percent. Sydney, HongKong and Wellington wereclosed for the Easter break.The BoJ’s closely watchedTankan survey of largeJapanese manufacturers for thepast three months showed aslight improvement inoptimism for the world’snumber three economy, thefirst uptick in three quarters.The survey showed sentimentat minus 8 between Januaryand March, up from minus 12three months earlier. Thefigures represent the percent-age of firms saying businessconditions are good minusthose saying they are bad.—APP

Seafood exports up 2.48pcin eight monthsPQ remains active

KARACHI—A ship carryingedible oil was allotted berth atLiquid Cargo Terminal duringthe last 24 hours. Four noreships scheduled to load/offload containers, chemicaland wheat also arrived at theouter anchorage of Port Qasimduring the last 24 hours. Berthoccupancy was 45% at thePort on Monday where totalnumber of five ships namelyM.V Kuksan, Mercy Wisdom,Maori Maiden, Chem RoadDita and Global Challenger arecurrently occupying berths toload/ offload cement, wheat,rice, chemical and edible oilrespectively. A cargo volumeof 27790 tonnes comprising20696 tonnes imports and7094 tonnes exports washandled at the Port during thelast 24 hours.—APP

Rates for conversionKARACHI—The followingrates will be applicable forconversion into rupees ofForeign Currency Deposits,Dollar Bearer Certificates,Foreign Currency BearerCertificates, Special U.S.Dollar Bonds and profitsthereon by all banks and forproviding Forward Cover onForeign Currency Deposits(excluding F.E. 25 deposits) bythe State Bank on April 2,2013. The rates are U.S.Dollar Rs 98.4182, JapaneseYen Rs 1.0520, Pound SterlingRs 149.6154 and Euro Rs126.0836.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The BenazirIncome Support Programme(BISP) has so far disbursedmore than Rs 120 billion sinceits inception among destitutefamilies in its short term strat-egy to cope with poverty.

BISP, the first ever megainitiative of direct cash trans-fer to the resource-powerwomen and their families inthe country, has bring a ma-jor change in the societythrough introducing long termand short term initiative.

Talking to media here onMonday, an official of BISPinformed that under LongTerm Strategy, BISP has si-multaneously launched an‘exit strategy’ to help its re-cipients out of abject poverty.

Under this initiative, heinformed, the provision of in-terest free loans were startedto help the recipients set upsmall business and over

BISP disbursed Rs120bamong deserving families

20,000 families have alreadybeen eligible for drive.

The BISP official furtherinformed that besides cashgrant, counseling, monitoringand training for starting busi-ness is also provided towomen through Pakistan Pov-erty Alleviation Fund (PPAF).

“Thousands of poor youthalready trained and the targetis to train 150,000 studentsduring current fiscal year”, hestated. Unfortunate death ofbread earner could destroyany poor family, the officialsaid adding, BISP is provid-ing a cover of Rs 100,000 tothe bread earner of the poorfamily.

Over four million poorfamilies are already insuredwhile BISP is also extendingthis facili ty to remainingfamilies, he noted.

The trap of vicious cycleof poverty, health shocks areone of the major reason forpushing people below the

poverty line, the official saidand informed that BISP ben-eficiaries are also providedwith Rs 25,000 health insur-ance.

“The pilot project hasbeen launched fromFaisalabad which would befollowed nationwide”, the of-ficial said. Under Waseela-e-Taleem initiative, BISP is fi-nalizing a project whichwould facilitate three millionout of school children of ages5-12 years of the recipientfamilies, the official stated.

He said BISP has signed con-tracts with all the provinces to helpthem sending these three millionchildren to school through cash in-centives of Rs 200 per child.

He informed that BISPhas received additional fi-nancing from the World Bankamounting US $ 150 millionfor the launch of this initia-tive and soon DFID will alsobe providing US $ 100 mil-lion.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The NationalBank of Pakistan (NBP) has dis-bursed Rs 45,789.5 million asagriculture credit among nearly241,296 farmers during 2012against a target of Rs 43,200million”, a statement of theBank issued here said.

According to the statementof the Bank, out of total 1,294domestic online branches, 875are involved in catering theneeds of farmers, while offeringcomplete range of commercialbanking services to farmers.

The NBP said that the loansdisbursed can be divided intotwo categories - production anddevelopment.

Under the first categoryloans are disbursed mainly forthe procurement of seeds, pesti-

NBP gives Rs 45,789.5m asagri creditcides, fertilizers and levelingland, whereas the second cat-egory covers purchase of trac-tors, agricultural implementsand construction of modern stor-age facilitates, cattle farms andpoultry farms etc and providingrunning finance for catering dayto day requirements.

The National Bank of Paki-stan has converted its entire net-work of 1294 branches online,the bank said.

The Bank now has the larg-est number of online branchesin Pakistan, exceeding any otherbank operating in the country.National bank of Pakistan cur-rently enjoys widest branch net-work in the country and its ser-vices are available to Pakistanisliving in far-flung and most dif-ficult to reach areas.

People living in such remote

areas will benefit the most fromthis development. The NationalBank of Pakistan (NBP) wasincorporated in Pakistan underthe National Bank of PakistanOrdinance, 1949.

The bank is involved incommercial banking and relatedservices in Pakistan and has oneof the largest domestic branchnetworks consisting of 1294branches across Pakistan. It alsohas as well as 23 overseasbranches and representative of-fices in 4 countries worldwidewith unique footprint in SouthAsia, Central Asia and theMiddle East.

As the world is talking aboutfood security, Pakistan just can’tremain aloof. The country aimedat achieving food security thatis not possible without address-ing the issues faced by farmers.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Exports of fishand fish preparations wit-nessed increase of 2.48 percentduring the first eight monthsof the current fiscal year ascompared to the correspondingperiod of last year.

Overall exports of fishand fish preparations were re-corded at $199.949 millionduring July-February (2012-13) against the exports of$195.119 million during July-February (2011-12), accord-ing to data of Pakistan Bureau

of Statistics (PBS).In terms of quantity, the

seafood exports expanded by12 percent during the periodunder review, the data re-vealed.

As much as 87,376 metrictons of seafood was exportedduring the first eight months ofthe current year against the ex-ports of 78,029 metric tons dur-ing the corresponding period oflast year.

Meanwhile, seafood ex-ports during February 2013 de-creased by 5.89 percent and15.46 percent when compared

to the exports of February2012 and January 2013 re-spectively.

The exports of fish andfish preparations in February2013 were recorded at $19.731million against the exports of$20.965 million in February2012 and $23.240 million inJanuary 2013.

In terms of quantity, theseafood exports in February2013 decreased by 10.63 per-cent and 15.79 percent whencompared to the exports ofFebruary 2012 and January2013 respectively.

FPCCI for smoothgas, powerfor industrySTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The entire newlyelected body of the Federationof Pakistan Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (FPCCI)Sunday strongly demanded to-tal exemption of industrial sec-tor from power and gas loadshedding to help strengthen na-tional economy besides savingthe industrial and agriculturalsectors from irreparable loss.

President elect FPCCI, ZubairAhmad Malik, VP SAARC CCIIftikhar Ali Malik, and all VPsAzhar Saeed Butt, ShaikhMuhammad Ali, KhawajaMuhammad Iqbal, Zafar KhalilKhan, Gulzar Feroz, Abdul Khaliqand Shaheen Ilyas while talkingto media today demanded thatgovernment, in the larger nationalinterest, should accord top prior-ity to industrial and agriculturalsectors. They demanded uninter-rupted gas supply throughout theyear to boost the economic growthand meet export targets besidesensuring bumper crops.

They said that survival of allcountries rely on soundeconomy, hence in the greaternational interest the governmentshould reshape its policy of loadshedding to provide a chance toindustry to flourish.

Gold Tezab 51385.00Silver Tezabi 874.28

Gold Tezabi (24-Ct) 50420.00Gold 22 Ct 46010.00SilverTezabi 895.00Silver Thobi 815.00

USA 94.20 94.00

UK 147.07 146.76

EURO 118.50 118.25

Canada 91.70 91.51

Switzerland 98.62 98.41

Australia 95.55 95.35

Sweden 13.51 13.48

Japan 1.1869 1.1844

Norway 15.70 15.66

Singapore 74.01 73.85

Denmark 15.70 15.66

Omani Riyal 232.00 231.75

Saudi Arabia 25.12 25.06

Hong Kong 12.14 12.12

Kuwait 336.28 335.57

Malaysia 29.59 29.53

Newzeland 75.07 74.91

Qatar 25.93 25.87

UAE 25.70 25.65

KR WON 0.0818 0.0817

Thailand 2.963 2.957

Oxford UniversityPress to hold the

1st IslamabadLiterature Festival

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—“Encouragedby the remarkable success ofthe Karachi Literature Festival(KLF) over the past four years,Oxford University Press isglad to announce the 1stIslamabad Literature Festival- ILF which will be held onApril 30th to May 1st, 2013.”

This announcement wasmade by Ms. Ameena SaiyidOBE, Managing Director, Ox-ford University Press Pakistan,and Founder/Director, KarachiLiterature Festival (KLF) tointroduce the “First IslamabadLiterature Festival (ILF)”.

Referring to KLF details,Ms. Saiyid said that in 2010there were 34 sessions, 35speakers, 5,000 participants; in2011 there were 46 sessions,102 speakers, 10,000 partici-pants; in 2012 there were 61sessions, 138 speakers; 15,000participants. And in 2013 therewere 148 sessions, 211 speak-ers, 50,000 participants. In KLF2013 writers from nine coun-tries were represented in addi-tion to Pakistan: Canada,France, Germany, India, Italy,Nepal, Russia, the UK, and theUSA.

Ameena Saiyid high-lighted that like the annualKLF, Islamabad LiteratureFestival – ILF would also beabout the promotion of booksand reading and of enrichingminds. “We want to leverageon the success of the fourKLFs and take the festival toother parts of the country sothat more people get an oppor-tunity to celebrate the writtenword and be exposed to someof the finest Pakistani writersand their works. Based on thisidea, the ILF aims to providethe writers and people of NorthPakistan a forum to interact,exchange ideas.

She further added thatthrough such literature festi-vals, OUP intends to createan intellectual space in whichthe diversity and pluralism inPakistan’s society is ex-pressed by authors from tra-ditions both within and be-yond Pakistan’s borders.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The Bank ofPunjab (BoP) has announced theprofit of Rs 1.63 billion for theperiod ended on December 31,2012, showing an increase of369.53 against Rs0.34 billionduring the same period of lastyear.

The profit of the bank haswitnessed a rise due to an in-crease of Mark-up and Non-Mark-up income in the currentyear. The non mark-up incomeincluded Brokerage Income,Dividend Income, income fromdealing in foreign currencies andgain on sale and redemption ofsecurities.

The Bank’s Mark-up in-come has registered a rise of19.24 percent in the current yearto Rs.24.66 billion fromRs.20.68 billion in the last year.

The non-mark-up income ofthe bank stood at Rs.3.19 billion,witnessing an enhancement of60.36 per cent in 2012 againstRs.1.98 billion in 2011.

BoP posts profit of Rs 1.63b,up by 369.53b in 2012

Of total non mark-up in-come, the gain on sale and re-demption of securities recordedat Rs.1.44 billion in the currentyear, showing an increase of339.30 percent against Rs.0.33billion in the same period of lastyear.

In the same way, the fee,commission and brokerage in-come stood at Rs.0.76 billion inthe current year against Rs.0.72billion in the corresponding pe-riod of the last year.

Similarly, the income fromdealing in foreign currencies hasalso witnessed a rise fromRs.0.160 billion in 2011 toRs.0.162 billion in 2012.

The earning per share (EPS)has shown an increase of 368.18percent in the current year toRs.3.09 from Rs.0.66 EPS in thelast year.

According the result an-nounced by the bank on Mon-day, no dividend has been de-clared by the bank for the pe-riod ended on December 31,2012.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Business com-munity is pinning high hopes oncaretaker government and theElection Commission of Paki-stan (ECP) whose decisions areresulting in stability, a leadingbusinessperson said Monday.

Rupee is showing signs ofstability against the dollar de-spite repayments to IMF whichhas not only amazed many ana-lysts but also renewed hopesamong business community,said Mian Shahid, Chief Execu-tive of the Saudi Pak InsuranceCompany.

Speaking at Fikr-e-Farda Fo-rum, he said that apart from thegovernment and ECP, some stepsof the central bank have discour-

Business community pinninghigh hopes on caretaker Govt

aged speculations that have alsocontributed to the stability of ru-pee that was sliding since years.

Mian Shahid said that gov-ernment should try to initiatedialogue with IMF to get loanrescheduled or get anotherStandby Credit Facility to wardoff looming economic threat andpull out economy for distress torevive GDP growth.

Government should alsoexplore other options to stabiliseforex reserves as well as theeconomy as country is livingwithout any IMF loan since May2010, he said.

Mian Shahid who is alsoChairman of the ApnaMicrofinance Bank said thatPakistan has successfully repaideleven instalments to IMF

which has calmed sentimentsand restored confidence.

Lessening unproductive ex-penditure, removal of the unjusttax exemptions, improving taxcollection, a proper property tax,tax on services, six per cent hikein development expenditure, set-tling circular debt and deficit aresome steps that are urgentlyneeded, he said.

He said that the formergovernment’s decision to expe-dite work on Iran gas pipelinewas its great achievement as oursurvival is linked to that project.

Pakistan should take all thedecisions in its own interest re-jecting pressure from countriesthat are compromisingPakistan’s development for theirpolitical gains, he remarked.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan StoneDevelopment Company(PASDEC) is endeavouring toestablish Mohmand MarbleCity in FATA despite securityrisks. The company said thatthe area is mainly recognizedfor its valuable reserves ofmarble and granite. Lack of or-ganized effort due to regula-tions, security concerns anddearth of infrastructure facility,the area has remained unat-tended until recently upon aninitiative of PASDEC the needfor Marble City was recognizedat the highest level of FATAAdministration and Provinciallevel as well.

PASDEC was able to notonly convince but also getcommitment from concernedadministrative bodies to estab-lish the first ever industrial

Development of MohmandMarble city in full swing

estate of its kind in FATA. Thedecision has been widelyhailed especially amongstthose stakeholders whose busi-nesses were badly affected bysecurity situation and weresubsequently closed. Majorityof these were marble process-ing units.

Marble City shall providenot only opportunities for thosedirectly affected by the distur-bance but shall be a valuableaccess to businesses with coun-tries located in the northern re-gion. It shall ultimately becomean important market as well asa business center for countriesof the region.

To achieve the desired goals,FATA Development Authorityand PASDEC have joined handsand are putting their best effortsto accomplish the project devel-opment in shortest possibletime.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Oracle has intro-duced a complete refresh of theirmidrange and high-end SPARCserver in line with advance busi-nesses need of computing powerto discover growth and oppor-tunities and turn social streamsinto market intelligence.

The new SPARC T5 and M5servers are installed in OracleSolaris with world’s fastest mi-croprocessor.

Oracle’s new SPARC T5servers have set 17 worldrecords(1) and are the world’sbest platforms for enterprisecomputing at any scale, deliv-ering the best value for databaseand enterprise applications.

Oracle launches SPARC serverswith world’s fastest microprocessor

“Oracle has refreshed itsSPARC family with the world’sfastest processor and launchedthe world’s fastest single serverfor Database, Java and multi-tierapplications,” said John Fowler,executive vice president, Sys-tems, Oracle. “The new SPARCT5 and M5 systems leapfrog thecompetition with up to 10x theperformance of the previousgeneration, offering an unbeat-able value for midrange andhigh-end enterprise computing.”

The servers also easily addressmultiple application requirementsand quickly meet demanding ser-vice level agreements hence en-hance the efficiency of the busi-nesses manifold and reduce the costof operation significantly.

The new SPARC serversand Oracle Solaris deliver main-frame-class reliability, availabil-ity and serviceability (RAS),with the Oracle Solaris Guaran-tee Program for binary andsource compatibility to ensurethe highest levels of enterpriseapplication availability andbackwards compatibility to runa broad range of new and exist-ing enterprise applications.

The servers expand Oracle’sSPARC portfolio and enablenear linear scalability from 1 to32 sockets, with one commoncore, one operating system, andone common set of systemsmanagement and virtualisationtools, making them ideal plat-forms for building clouds.

BlackBerry inventorspump $100m into

quantum technologiesNEW YORK—BlackBerry in-ventors Mike Lazaridis andDoug Fregin are pairing againto launch a $100 million fund toincubate and commercializequantum science technologiescapable of spearheading the nextwave of computing.

Lazaridis, who steppeddown as co-CEO of BlackBerryin January, 2012, is known forhis passion for physics.

Last year, he launched theQuantum-Nano Centre, a re-search facility in Waterloo,Canada, to promote discoveriesin emerging technologies under-pinning quantum computing. Hesaid he wanted Waterloo to be-come the hub of quantum tech-nology.

“Nothing you see in theclassical technology world canprepare you for what you willsee in the quantum technologyrevolution,” Lazaridis said in astatement.

“Our belief in the power ofquantum physics to transformsociety inspired us to develop astrategy some 12 years ago thatled to the world-class quantumresearch capability that ex-ists”.— Newswire

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Food is thebasic right of every citizenand Government is ensuringnecessary steps to fulfill theneed of nutritious food to ev-ery individual. It was said bySalman Shah, a prominentEconomist & former FinanceMinister of Pakistan whileaddressing a two days Con-sultative Provincial Work-shop on National Food andNutrition Security Policy heldat a local hotel here in Lahore.He further said that Public-Private Partnership is veryimportant in the developmentof Agri sector of Pakistan andGovernment is striving to in-volve Private sector while fa-cilitating them. Program wasjointly organized byMNFS&R, Govt of Punjab,

Agriculture, youth are future of PakistanFour Brothers Pakistan, SeedOrganization Pakistan, KanzoSeed and Pakistan AgriculturalResearch Council (PARC).

While talking on the occa-sion, Mr. Ahmad Bukhsh Lehri,Federal Secretary, Ministry ofNational Food Security & Re-search (MNFS&R) said thatPakistan can significantly moveforward to solve national foodand nutritional security prob-lems of million of Pakistanihouseholds by formulating andadopting rational agriculture andnational food policies. He saidthe government gives high pri-ority to achieving food securityin the country. “Food securityrequires addressing the key ar-eas of sustainable food availabil-ity, sustainable access to food,food utilization and nutrition,stability in food prices/supplies,food and nutrition information

systems; monitoring and evalu-ation and food safety, he added.He added that Pakistan needs tofocus on all these issues on asustainable basis in the long run.He said the Ministry has alreadystarted working on “Zero Hun-ger Action Plan” that aims eradi-cating hunger from the country.For enhancing food availability,agriculture research organiza-tion in Pakistan such as PARC,in collaboration with provincialagriculture research institutesand centers are working hard indeveloping new technologiesand improving the existingones”, he added. Core objectiveof the policy is to reduce thecurrent food insecurity situation.

Abdul Basit Khan, Addi-tional Secretary (MNFS&R)briefed the goals and objectivesof the workshop. He said that theMinistry of National Food Se-

curity & Research has initiatedconsultative process in all prov-inces in collaboration with theProvincial Governments andother stakeholders for formula-tion of National Food and Nu-trition Security Policy (NFNSP)intending to counter the foodinsecurity in the country. He fur-ther added that the present Gov-ernment for the first time hastried to introduce the Food andNutrition Security Policy. Therecommendations of the work-shop will be shared with allstake holders and all provinceswould be taken on board beforea final draft. Federal Govern-ment is working actively to ex-pedite this process.

Dr Iftikhar Ahmad, Chair-man, Pakistan Agricultural Re-search Council (PARC) whileaddressing the workshop saidthat working Groups are deter-

mining the evolution processand ascertaining proposals forfinalizing the draft of NationalFood and Security Policy in thecountry. He hoped that valuablesuggestions will help the au-thorities to formulate a radicaland meaningful policy to copethe issue of food security in thecountry. He said that NationalFood and Nutrition SecurityPolicy is aimed at provision offood who are in real need withincreased agriculture produce.He said that four main policyfeatures are sustainable Foodavailability, Food Accessibility,Food utilization and Nutritionand Stability in food supplies.The aim of the policy would bethat all Pakistanis should haveaccess to nutritious food havinga healthy and active life at alltimes. He said that the policy isbeing finalized on the direction

of Prime Minister and StandingCommittee.

The specific aims of thisPolicy are to establish the vi-sion and institutional struc-tures which will allow theMinistry to facilitate a processinvolving Federal and Provin-cial authorities, including Min-istries, Departments, develop-ment partners, civil societyand private sector through newestablishment of a Food andNutrition Security Council atnational, provincial and dis-trict levels. In addition, mecha-nisms to prepare programmesand to monitor food and nutri-tion security are recom-mended.

Agro-Livestock expert, DrHamid Jalil on the occasion saidthat Aisa is able to lead the foodresources in the world and Pa-kistan is able to lead Asia, the

only thing is planning for poorfarmers who do not know howto cultivate and what to culti-vate. Government should workfor the collaboration of Public-Private Partnership for the bet-ter productivity.

According to the proposeddraft of agriculture policy, ac-cess to food implies whetherindividuals and households areable to access the requiredfood. The new policy alsostresses physical, social andeconomic access to adequatefood at all times. Food utiliza-tion and nutrition dimension offood security means that foodis properly utilized, properfood processing and storagetechniques are employed, ad-equate knowledge of nutritionand childcare techniques existare applied.

The new policy also

stresses that every individualmust have adequate and nutri-tious food that is accessible atthe required time in useablefarm. There is a need to im-prove food security manage-ment during disasters. A num-ber of measures need to betaken in due course, includingpromoting coordinated ap-proach for disaster prepared-ness and management, to en-sure allocation of adequate re-source to disaster manage-ment and improve system ofassessing possibilities of ashock.

Javed Qureshi, ChairmanFour Brothers, SDPI Chief,Abid Qium Solehri, MemberAgricultue PlanningCommision, Javed Malik, re-nowned Agriculturists andother stakeholders also partici-pated in the program.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Mobilink Foun-dation partnered with the Paki-stan Life Saving Foundation(PALS) to carry out a beachcleaning activity at the Sea Viewbeach in Karachi.

Sea View is one of Karachi’smost frequented beaches, withthousands of visitors every day,which also results in litteringalong the scenic coastline.Mobilink Foundation Torch-bearers and PALS volunteersconducted the beach cleaningactivity, which lasted for overfour (4) hours, and collectedover 200 kg of garbage.

The activity was part ofMobilink Foundation’s continu-ing drive to preserve Pakistan’s

Mobilink Foundationorganizes beach cleaning

eco-system and bio-diversity,with another ongoing initiativebeing the cleaning of theMargalla Hills in Islamabad. Allwaste material collected fromthese activities is recycled ordisposed of in conformity withenvironment friendly measures.

Omar Manzur, Head ofCorporate Communications,Mobilink, highlighted, “Paki-stan has been blessed with a di-versity of natural environ-ments and our coast lines aresome of the most beautiful inthe world.

Mobilink Foundation Torchbearers and PALS volunteersafter the beach cleaning drive in Karachi.

LAHORE: Faisal Khaliq, Chief Information Officer Ufonegiving away the Shahkaar Player of The Match award to AsifAli of Faisalabad Wolves after the final against Sialkot Stal-lions.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Pakistan Industrialand Traders Associations Front(PIAF) has expressed grave con-cern over fast widening fiscaldeficit and called for immediatelegislation to plug loopholes inthe financial and revenue collec-tion systems.

The PIAF Chairman MalikTahir Javaid said on Mondaythat repeated revisions in taxcollection target and unimagin-able increase in fiscal deficitwere an indication of the factthat the overall financial systemis not working the way it is sup-posed to. Since the entire sys-tem needs overhaul therefore theCaretaker Prime Ministershould, in consultation with theprivate sector, form a new set ofreforms for the sake of expan-sion in the tax-net, he said.

Malik said that if the PrimeMinister understands that thereis a need for imposition of somesort of financial emergency toavoid further borrowing frominternal and external sources, heshould declare it. He said that

PIAF concerned overwidening fiscal deficit

unavailability of electricity, de-teriorating law and order situa-tion, lowest ever local and for-eign investment and heavy bor-rowings by the previous govern-ment had already affected themanufacturing sector to themaximum. And these thingshave put the economy at stake.

During the last five yearsneither in considerable workwas done to increase the GDPof the country nor and seriousmeasures were taken for the ex-pansion in the tax base and to-day the country is heading to-wards a point of no return in fi-nancial terms. He said that thecountry needs more than sevenper cent growth for the next tento fifteen years to come out ofinertia like situation. The PIAF Chairman saidthat it was very unfortunate thatno attention was given to thebusiness community calling forestablishment of water reser-voirs or initiation of coal-basedpower plants in the country. Hada little attention been given to-wards the early completion ofKalabagh dam the electricity

situation would have been quitesatisfactory. He said that todayonly because of power shortage,a large number of industrialunits had either closed downtheir operations or curtailed theirproductions to alarmingly lowlevels. He also invited the attentionof the caretaker Prime Ministertowards the public sector enter-prises and urged him to look intotheir affairs and political inter-ference in these national entitieshas destroyed them. He sug-gested the Prime Minister thateither the institutions should beprivatized or reputed administra-tors should be assigned the taskto put them back on rails. The Prime Minister shouldalso review the working of Fed-eral Board of Revenue as insteadof giving some facilitation to thebusiness community or takingany proper measures for bring-ing the untaxed sectors into thetax net, it is squeezing the exist-ing tax payers. He said that re-peated issuance of anti-businessSROs has become a norm in theFederal Board of Revenue.

Prices of wheat,onions, spices

and cooked fooditems go up

ISLAMABAD—Wheat, onions,spices and cooked food itemswere among the 21 commoditiesand services that registered anincrease in price during Febru-ary as compared to January2013. Twenty-one registered adecrease, while the prices of theremaining 10 remained constantsays a Free and Fair ElectionNetwork (FAFEN) report re-leased on Monday.

FAFEN governance moni-tors visited 200 retail outlets in116 districts across Pakistan inFebruary. They noted a further3% increase in price of wheatgrain. Wheat grain had regis-tered an increase of 8% duringthe preceding month.

A high increase in prices ofspices and condiments was re-corded: the price of ginger roseby 10% while garlic’s price wentup by 5% because of the sow-ing season. In vegetables, theonions saw an increase of 8%.The price of cooked items alsoincreased: a plate of vegetablesand a plate of beef were all upby 3% each, while the price ofplain chappati rose by 1%.

The price of masoor pulse,gram pulse and washed moongwere up by 2% each; the priceof beef were up by 2% and thatof mutton were up by 1%. Indairy products, fresh milk andyoghurt also registered price in-crease of 1% each.

Region-wise, the price ofginger increased the most inIslamabad Capital Territory(ICT), followed by the Fed-erally Administered Tribal Ar-eas (22%), Balochistan(17%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa(12%), Punjab (11%) andSindh (8%). Onion price in-creased by 11% in Punjab andFATA, followed by KP (7%)and Sindh (5%). Garlic, too,reported a substantial increasein prices in ICT (25%), fol-lowed by KP and Sindh (8%each).

Comparing with the data ofPakistan Bureau of Statistics(PBS) in February 2013,FAFEN Governance Monitorsobserved higher prices of fewercommodities in eight districts– Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Lahore,Faisalabad, Multan,Hyderabad, Quetta andBahawalpur. However, in fourdistricts (Gujranwala, Karachi,Peshawar and Khuzdar), PBSobserved higher prices of feweritems than those recorded byFAFEN.—INP

Ghaffari madeSVP of PML-N

Lahore Trade WingSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—On the direction ofHamza Shahbaz Sharif, PML-NLahore President Pervaiz Malikhas appointed eminent traderand CEO Gohar PublicationsAbuzar Ghaffari as senior vicepresident of PML-N Lahoretrade wing.

While speaking at tradersmeeting, Abuzar Ghaffarithanked high-ups of PML-N forreposing trust upon him andpledged that all major issuesbeing faced by traders in thecountry would be solved amica-bly very soon according toparty’s mandate. Those whopresent on the occasion wereincluded Sheikh Raza, ZahidRasheed, Altaf Hussain Gohar,Tallat Butt, Khawaja Yaqoob,Khawaja Athar, Umar Qudoosi,Latif Gujjar and many others.

Abuzar Ghaffari said thatthe mega tasks accomplished byPML-N can be seen across theprovince of the Punjab whilePPP-led government had ruinedcountry’s economy in last fiveyears. Ever-growing menace ofelectricity and gas load-shed-ding, political uncertainty andcorruption have put the countryon edge of wreck while busi-nesses across the country havebeen devastated completely.

Unisame wantseconomist as

finance ministerSTAFF CORRESPONDENT

KARACHI—The Union of Smalland Medium Enterprises(Unisame) has invited the attentionof the caretaker Prime Minister MirHazar Khan Khosa to the urgentneed to appoint an economist asfinance minister promptly in viewof the severe economic issues.

President Unisame ZulfikarThaver said the caretaker gov-ernment will need to start prepa-rations for the forthcoming bud-get and will need to take boldsteps to overcome the situationdespite being just caretakers.

He suggested the names ofwell-known personalities in-cluding Dr Ishrat Hussain, ZakirMahmood former presidentHabib Bank or Salim Raza ex-governor State Bank of Pakistanwho are considered as financialexperts and are capable of tak-ing important decisions to savethe country from economic cri-sis by taking remedial measures.

He stated that in the budgetproposals submitted to the Smalland Medium Enterprises Devel-opment Authority (SMEDA) theunion has emphasised the needto take immediate bold steps andabolish import duties on alter-nate energy devices to promotethe installation of alternate en-ergy systems by the industrial-ist as summer is at the anvil andenergy shortage is expected.

DUBAI—Etisalat, one of thelargest telecom operators andICT provider in the Middle East,today launched the ManagedLAN Switch service to provideend-to-end and proactive man-aged services solution to busi-nesses in the UAE. Etisalat, oneof the largest telecom operatorsand ICT provider in the MiddleEast, today launched the Man-aged LAN Switch service toprovide end-to-end and proac-tive managed services solutionto businesses in the UAE.

The new service aims to en-

Etisalat launches ManagedLAN Switch Service

sure the high performance of cli-ent networks while keepingbusinesses focused on their coreactivities.

Etisalat’s Managed LANSwitch service will include thesupply, installation and configu-ration of LAN Switches - frommulti-vendors; testing and com-missioning; proactive 24x7monitoring and remote manage-ment, as well as on-site supportand maintenance of hardware inthe event of faults on customerpremises. The proactive moni-toring and management will be

delivered through a comprehen-sive solution managed atEtisalat’s Customer NetworkOperations Center (CNOC).

Managed LAN Switch serviceserves as a single source for cli-ents to access Etisalat’s expertise,technology and infrastructure. Cus-tomers can access Etisalat’s ad-vanced information and commu-nication technology (ICT) capabili-ties and benefit from a seamlesslymanaged data platform for futurebusiness growth and productivitythrough unified communicationsand security services.—Agencies

TURBO-charged parents still runningtheir university-aged children’sschedules, laundry and vacations

could be doing more harm than good witha study showing these students were morelikely to be depressed and dissatisfied withlife. Researcher HollySchiffrin from the Univer-sity of Mary Washingtonin Virginia found so-calledhelicopter parenting nega-tively affected college stu-dents by undermining theirneed to feel autonomousand competent.

Her study found stu-dents with over-controllingparents were more likely tobe depressed and less sat-isfied with their lives whilethe number of hyper-par-ents was increasing witheconomic fears fuellingconcerns over youngsters’chances of success,HealthDay news reported.“You expect parents withyounger kids to be very involved but theproblem is that these children are oldenough to look after themselves and theirparents are not backing off,” Schiffrin, anassociate professor of psychology, said.“To find parents so closely involved withtheir college lives, contacting their tutorsand running their schedules, is somethingnew and on the increase.

It does not allow independence and thechance to learn from mistakes.” Schiffrin’sstudy, published in Springer’s Journal ofChild and Family Studies, was based on anonline survey of 297 U.S. undergraduate

Hyper-parents can make collegeaged children depressed

students in which students described theirmothers’ parenting behavior and their ownautonomy and researchers assessed theirhappiness and satisfaction levels. Thestudy comes as debate rises over howmuch parents should run their children’s

lives to make them succeed.Schiffrin said the in-

crease in technology hadchanged the involvement ofparents in their children’scollege lives as the once-a-week phone call home wasreplaced with regular texting,emails and messaging. Thecompetitive marketplace andjostling for top college slotsand the best jobs has alsoboosted the involvement ofparents in college lives. Shesaid to counteract this, ris-ing numbers of universitieswere starting to run parentalorientation days parallel toevents for students to helpencourage parents to givetheir children more freedom.

Meanwhile signs and symptoms ofdepression in children include following. Irritability or anger, continuous feel-ings of sadness and hopelessness, So-cial withdrawal, Increased sensitivityto rejection, changes in appetite — ei-ther increased or decreased, changes insleep — sleeplessness or excessive sleep,vocal outbursts or crying, difficulty con-centrating, fatigue and low energy, physi-cal complaints (such as stomachaches,headaches) that don’t respond to treat-ment, reduced ability to function duringevents and activities at home.

KARACHI: MQM leaders Dr Farooq Sattar, Khush Bakht Shujat and Waseem Akhtarflashing victory signs after scrutiny of their nomination papers.

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Zahid Kurban Alvi along with cabinet members laying a floral wreath at the Mazar-e-Quaid.

KARACHI: Consul General of Indonesia Rossalis R Adenan and Haroon Agar, presidentKCCI, inaugurating International Tour and Travel Exhibition at Expo Karachi. Yahya Polaniand Shamim Firpo are also present on the occasion.—PO photo by Sultan Chaki

KARACHI: PPP women activists from Maleer hold a demonstration against the alleg-edly unjust award of party tickets on NA-258, PS-127 and PS-129.

5 committeesformed forfair polls

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Sindh caretakerChief Minister Monday con-stituted several committeesto ensure free, fair and trans-parent elections in the prov-ince. According to details,newly formed five committeesincluded the provincial elec-tion coordination committee(PECC) , the security and lawand order committee (SLOC), the district election coordi-nation committee and the di-visional election coordina-tion committee (DECC).

In this regard, the care-taker Sindh government is-sued a notification Sindh Ad-ditional Chief Secretary wouldbe the chairman of the PECCand Home Department addi-tional Secretary would be thechairman of the SLOC. SindhPolice Inspector General, fed-eral and provincial intelligenceagencies, Rangers Army andElection Commission repre-sentatives would be membersof the SLOC.

Divisional Commissionerwould be the chairman of theDECC and regional electioncommissioner, DIG, deputycommissioner and representa-tives of Police Special Branchand federal and provincial in-telligence agencies would bemembers of the committee.

CNG supply tosuspend for 24 hrs

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Sui SouthernGas Company announcedMonday the schedule forclosure of CNG stations forthe current week. Accordingto the media release of SSGC,all the CNG stations in Sindhwill remain closed from 8amon Tuesday April 2, 2013 till8am on Wednesday April 3,2013 for 24 hours only.

This step is being takenby the gas utility accordingto ‘Gas Load Management’program, the spokes personof SSGC disclosed.

SSGC regrets the incon-venience which may becaused to the CNG users dur-ing the above notified 24hour shut down period.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Jamaat-e Islami(JI) Pakistan Chief MunawwarHassan said that the transpar-ent elections would prove ul-timate defeat to the terroristelements.

He expressed these viewson Monday while addressinga luncheon reception held atIdara-e-Noor Haq in thehonor of newly elected officebearers of Karachi Press Club(KPC).

He viewed that if thegeneral elections wouldhold transparent, then it willprove last nail in the coffinof terrorist and extortionmafia. Honest JI leadershiphas the capability to bring adurable positive change in

Transparent elections to proveultimate defeat to terrorists: JI

the country.Denouncing the culture of

target killing and political in-tolerance in the city, he saidthat the terrorist group of aparticular party was identifiedin the city and everyone knewwhat would happen later.Hence, The role of media ingeneral and journalists in par-ticular for bold reporting dur-ing worst working environ-ment in the city was inevi-table.

He said all those journal-ists, who reported the facts;refusing pressures hadplayed a commendable role.The electronic and print me-dia would play its positiverole in order to bring thechange in the country.

JI Sindh Ameer Dr Mairaj

Ul Huda Siddiqui while ad-dressing on the occasion saidthat the plunderers had onceagain submitted the nomina-tion papers and seemed thatthey would easily clear theirscrutiny process, as the Elec-tion Commission was not dis-charging its duties accord-ingly. He urged the media thatit should play its due role tofoster awareness among thepeople of the country.

Siddiqui hailed the demo-cratic rule of Karachi PressClub and said that it was com-mendable for entire country.JI Karachi Chief MuhammadHussain Mahenti said that thepeace, tolerance and democ-racy were need of the hour inrespect of the current situa-tion of the city.

Police arrestgangster, kill 3

wanted criminalsKARACHI—Police have ar-rested a gangster of notori-ous Bhaloo Group from KatiPahari and killed three wantedcriminals during an encoun-ter near Northern By-pass inKarachi.

The Counter=terrorismwing of CID police arrestedgangster Abdul Karim ofBhaloo Group from KatiPahari on Sunday and seizeda large quantity of weaponson his guidance from a housefrom same area.

Five Kalashnikovs, G3rifle, 2 repeaters, many pis-tols, few CCTV cameras andbulletproof jackets and hun-dreds of bullets were recov-ered from the pointed outhouse.—NNI

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—The civil societyrepresentatives on Mondayemphasized the need forstrengthening advocacy andcampaign and sensitisation ofthe caretaker government torehabilitate the flood-affectedpeople, as majority of themwere still vulnerable to facestarvation without havingsource of livelihoods afternatural calamities.

The representatives of thecivil society were discussingat a day-long meeting to “shar-ing notes and experiences:

Civil society asks caretakers torehabilitate flood affectees

Three years of floods rehabili-tation and beyond,” organizedby Pakistan Institute of LabourEducation and Research(PILER), where representa-tives of humanitarian organi-zations hailing from Punjab,Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa,Balochistan and Sindh sharedlessons they learned duringthe emergency response.

Ms. Noor Jahan fromJaffarabad district, Balochistansaid several families affectedby the flood 2010 and 2012floods in Jaffarabad andNasirbada districts were facingstarvation like situation as no

state support is being pro-vided to them.

Pariyal Mari from Shikarpursaid, besides destruction ofsources of livelihoods andcrops, almost entire educa-tional and health facilities areno more functional and thegovernment despite passageof such a long time could notrespond to rehabilitate theseimportant public infrastruc-tures. Now when the politicalparties had nominated candi-dates for contesting elections,it was responsibility of civilsociety to mobilize these af-fected people so they at least

dare to ask the aspirant candi-dates for power corridors thatwhy they stayed away whilethey were facing hunger anddestruction. The meeting par-ticipants observed that migra-tion was a common problemand several families had mi-grated to other areas duringthe floods after losing theirassets and they were still outof their homes.

Sartaj Abbasi of RootsWork Foundation sharing hisexperience realized the factthat sanitation facilities and in-stallation of water pumps werenot needed.

KMCadministrator for

computerizingof assets record

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Karachi Metro-politan Corporation (KMC)Administrator Syed HashimRaza Zaidi said that therecord of movable and im-movable properties, assetsand all machinery should beset and computerized listshould be prepared so thatother departments couldnot use them and claim ofpossess ion.

He said this while direct-ing Financial Advisor andother officers of KMC. Un-der this directive FinanceDepartment prepared assetsmanagement forms and sentto all other departments.

In first phase, the de-tails of immovable proper-t ies was being collectedwhich include differentKMC buildings, offices,markets play grounds,parks, hospitals and othersafter which original docu-ments and details of thoseassets would be computer-ized.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Sindh caretakerChief Minister (CM) Justice(Retd) Zahid Kurban AlaviMonday had a meeting with a4-member delegation of Inter-national Union for Conserva-tion of Nature (IUCN) Pakistan(Country office) led by StellaJafri, Consultant (OD&HR) atC.M House.

The country representa-tive Mehmood Akhtar Cheemainformed the Caretaker ChiefMinister that IUCN is the

IUCN for Mangroves growing project in SindhWorld’s oldest and largest en-vironment organization withmore than 1, 137 governmentand NGO member organiza-tions and almost 11,000 volun-teer scientists in more sup-ported by more than 1000 pro-fessional staff in 60 offices andhundreds of partners in thepublic. He further informedthat the IUCN had been imple-menting variety of projects,ranging from policy advocacyand support to on groundimplementation which includeBalochistan partnership sus-

tainable development, Na-tional impact AssessmentProgramme, Pakistan waterprogramme, Pakistan sustain-able Transport project, man-groves for the future.

Caretaker CM appreciatedthe role of IUCN and said therewas need of implementing de-velopment schemes on BOTbasis. He said that budget ofSindh province was in deficitwhile during the Cabinet meet-ing on Monday; he was in-formed that there were manyprogrammes.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The CID has ar-rested 4 high value targetsfrom Boat Basin area inClifton, Liyari and ShirinJinnah Colony. According toCID SSP ChaudhryMuhammad Aslam, the ar-rested belonged to Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan, a bannedterrorist organisation. CIDalso claimed to have recov-ered heavy quantity of explo-sive material from the posses-sion of the arrested terrorists.

CID nabs 4 TTP men; polio teamattacked in Machchar Colony

The CID SSP said thatthe arrested were Hafiz MerajUddin, Abdul Majeed aliasJan, Imran and BakhtiarMasood and highly explosivematerial was recovered fromtheir possession, which in-cluded 50-kg of explosive, 1Kalashnikov, 5 grenades, 6ball bombs, 2 rifles of .22 cali-bre, detonator wire, ball bear-ing and other stuffs.On the other hand, unidenti-fied armed men attacked ateam of polio workers thatwas busy in administering

anti-polio drops to the in-fants in Machchar Colony.Polio team guard retaliated indefence and 2 cops sus-tained bullet injuries. The in-jured cops were shifted tohospital for medical care.

In Manghopir area, Po-lice arrested 6 hardenedcriminals during a targetedoperation. Police also recov-ered explosive material,rocket launcher, re[eatergun, Kalashnikov and 6 gre-nades from the possessionof the arrested criminals.

THE health officials have been askedfor complete ban on those artificialmilk products that are harmful to the

health of newborn babies.Citizens have demanded the authori-

ties concerned to take notice of illegal prac-tice of such companies,who are attracting themothers by using wrongtactics. According to them,these companies are tryingto convince the mothersdespite the fact thatmothermilk is medically es-sential for infants in theirearly age.

People said that theseformula milk companiesalso use logos backed bythe opinion of medical spe-cialists claiming benefitsfor the users.

Kashif Malik, a resi-dent of Sector I-10/I com-plained that these compa-nies are misleading themothers through promo-tional nature of logos, pic-tures and messages besides presentingtheir products as mother-milk substitutesfor infants.

He asked that these companies shouldremove their colourful and attractive logosand other health claims from their prod-ucts’ labels as these undermine the obliga-tory message that mothers milk is the bestfood for babies and helps in preventingdiarrhea and other illnesses.

Ali Faisal, a college student of federalcapital, said that baby formula milk manu-facturers in the country are violating thePromotion of Breastfeeding and Young

Artificial milk products areharmful to infants health

Child Nutrition Ordinance 2002.He added the law is promulgated and

implemented years back however thereare issues like improper enforcementmechanism. He urged to take necessarymeasures to enforce the policies at pro-

vincial level. World HealthOrganization (WHO) recom-mends that infants start re-ceiving complementaryfoods at six months of agein addition to breast milk,initially 2-3 times a day be-tween 6-8 months, increas-ing to 3-4 times daily be-tween 9-11 months and 12-24 months with additionalnutritious snacks offered 1-2 times per day, as desired.

A public health expert,Dr Sobia Faisal said that it isa high time to educate peoplethat mothermilk protects ba-bies as it is a living substancecontaining antibodies andother protective factors.Shesaid low levels of long chainpolyunsaturated fatty acids

found in formula milk may contribute tolower mental level and vision skills in in-fants.

Dr Sobia said for the first six months,child should be exclusively breastfed.The transition from exclusivebreastfeeding to family foods, referred toas complementary feeding which shouldbe started at six months till 18 to 24 monthsof age. She said complementary feedingshould be started with banana, potatoes,white rice, brown rice, peas, mango andwheat or related products instead of us-ing any formula milk.

LAHORE: Punjab Rangers Sector Commander Brig Zahid releasing a rare bird dur-ing Environment and Safe Wildlife awareness walks at Wagah Border.

LAHORE: PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif chairing a meeting of Central Parliamentary Board at PML-N Secretariat Model Town.

LAHORE: People buying mosquito nets.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Caretaker ChiefMinister Punjab Najam Sethihas said that the campaignagainst dengue should belaunched on war footing andall necessary measuresshould be adopted for elimi-nating dengue mosquito andits larvae. He said that a vig-orous public awareness driveshould also be initiated re-garding the importance ofsanitation and preventivemeasures against dengue. Hedirected that all concerneddepartments should take ef-fective measures in a wellcoordinated manner for elimi-nation of dengue.

He issued these instruc-tions while presiding over ahigh level meeting regardingmeasures against dengue vi-rus at Chief Minister’s Sec-retariat, here Monday. Addi-tional Chief Secretary, Secre-taries of Health, Local Gov-ernment, Higher Education,Schools Education, Agricul-ture, Labour, Environment,Social Welfare, Coopera-

Sethi for launching campaignagainst dengue on war footing

tives, Vice Chancellor KingEdward Medical Universityand concerned officers werepresent. Provincial secretar-ies informed the CaretakerChief Minister about the mea-sures taken by their depart-ments for eradication of den-gue.

Addressing the meeting,Caretaker Chief Minister saidthat dengue mosquito and itslarvae can be completelyeradicated with the collectiveefforts of the concerned in-stitutions and the active par-ticipation of the masses inanti-dengue drive. He saidthat there is a need for launch-ing a vigorous awarenesscampaign, to inform thepeople about preventivemeasures against dengueand cooperation of electronicand print media should besought for this purpose.

Similarly, he said seminarsshould be arranged at districtlevel. He said that a coordi-nated strategy should beevolved against dengue vi-rus and mechanical andchemical methods be

adopted for eradicating den-gue larvaee.

Moreover, he said pre-cautionary measures shouldbe taken to apprise thepeople of any possible threatof dengue. Najam Sethi fur-ther directed that indoor andoutdoor surveillance shouldbe carried out in an activemanner while relevant equip-ment and machinery shouldbe in working condition. Healso issued instructions forspecial monitoring of grave-yards, warehouses, under-construction buildings andponds.

He said that tyre shopsshould also be monitored andit should be ensured thatused tyres are not stored inthe open places. Najam Sethifurther directed that timelypayment of salaries to thestaff deputed for anti-denguecampaign should be ensured.

The Caretaker Chief Min-ister expressed satisfactionover the arrangements foranti-dengue campaign anddirected that the process ofissuing licenses to tyre

shops and junkyards becompleted by April 15 at anycost. He further directed tomobilize dengue brigade.

Earlier, provincial secre-taries gave detailed briefingsregarding measures for anti-dengue campaign. The meet-ing was informed that with thegrace of Allah, the situationis completely under controland no case of dengue hasbeen confirmed so far nor anypatient suffering from denguefever is under treatment in anyhospital. It was further toldthat anti-dengue countershave been set-up in hospitalswhile citizens feedback sys-tem is also operating and allcomplaints are being immedi-ately addressed.

The meeting was in-formed that anti-denguecampaign will continue tillMay 30 in the first phasewhile refresher courses havealso been arranged for thestaff. It was also told thatanti-dengue campaign is be-ing pursued vigorously andthe situation is being closelymonitored.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Former Prime Min-ister of Pakistan and SeniorVice Chairman of PPP, SyedYusuf Raza Gilani has said thatfiling of nomination papers bytwo women from tribal areasto contest National Assemblyelections is a heart- warmingdevelopment on the politicalhorizon of the country and in-deed is the culmination of thevision of Shaheed BenzirBhutto.

Credit for this goes to thePPP led democratic govern-ment that extended the promul-gation of the Political PartiesAct in FATA, he said.

He said that it was thegood news for the women ofFATA in particular because itwould embolden them to takeactive part in the country’spolitics and join in the decisionmaking process on the issuesof national importance.

He observed that the

FATA women’s participation inelections a good sign: Gilani

Benazir Income SupportProgramme elevated the sta-tus of the poor women of thecountry because under thisprogramme millions of womenhead of the families were re-ceiving the direct financial as-sistance . This has led to theenhancement of their statusboth at family and societallevel, he added.

He recalled that the PPPdemocratic governmentpassed landmark legislationsthose made violence againstwomen and harassment ofwomen at work places as cul-pable offense entailing fineand imprisonment to the crimi-nals by the courts.

He further said that baneof Vani, Karo Kari, Quran mar-riages and child marriages werealso made offence in order tosave the women from the age-old social evil practices.

He maintained that in thePPP new manifesto a specialfocus had been given for the

uplift of the women folk with aview to provide them equalopportunities to take part inthe nation building process.They will be provided equalopportunities to excel in life,he added.

He said the half of thecountry’ population consistedof women and it was naïve toaspire for development by ig-noring or marginalizing such ahuge population. It has nothappened anywhere in theworld and Pakistan cannot bean exception in this regard, hesaid.

He said that the role ofMohtarma Fatima Jinnah,Shaheed Benazir Bhutto andBegum Nusrat Bhutto in thePakistan Movement, for therights of the poor and for therestoration of democracy re-spectively were unforgettableand indeed were role model notonly for the women of Pakistanbut also for women belongingto the world.

Justice SyedJamshed Alinew DG PJA

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Justice (R) Mr.Justice Syed Jamshed Alitook charge of the office ofDirector General of PunjabJudicial Academy, Monday.Former DG, Justice (R)Tanveer Ahmad Khan andRana Arif, Deputy Director,briefed him about the affairsof the Academy.

Syed Mushtaq Ali, fatherof Justice Jamshed, had theprivilege of being StandingCouncil for Pakistan MuslimLeague. Justice JamshedShah started law practicefrom Multan in 1964. Hepassed West Pakistan Com-petition Examinations (nowCSS) in 1969 and served asMagistrate at Narowal,Shakkargarh and Sialkot.Later on, he remainedDeputy Secretary in Board ofRevenue for five years. Healso served as AssistantCommissioner Sheikhupuraand AC (G) to Commissioner.He resigned from Govt. jobin 1979 to join lawyer profes-sion again.

He was elevated as Judgeof Lahore High Court in 1998.During this stint, he also re-mained member of Syndicatefor Govt. College University,University of Education andUniversity of the Punjab. Hewas elevated to SupremeCourt in 2005 and retired in2008. Recently, he headed athree member commissionformed to investigate billionsof rupees of loans written offover the past four decades.

Now Chief Justice ofLahore High Court has req-uisitioned his services as DGPunjab Judicial Academy inorder to hone the judgmentwriting skills of the judges ofdistrict judiciary of the prov-ince. He carries a rich experi-ence in this field being a judgeof initial level to the apexcourt.

STAFF REPORTER

LA H O R E—Latif Khosa,former Governor of Punjaband Secretary General PPPhas urged the Punjab care-taker Chief Minister Mr.Najm Sethi, to reshuffle thebureaucracy of the Punjabmeasuring up to the im-peratives of holding fair,free and impartial electionsin the province.

Delay in this regard willbe grossly detrimental tothe mandate of the caretak-ers, he cautioned.

Mr. Khosa said thatduring the last five yearsof Mr. Shahbaz Sharif’s ty-rannical rule, he had postedjunior officers against thesenior position by ignoring

Latif Khosa seeks reshufflein Punjab bureaucracy

upright and senior officersof impeccable integrity bygiving preference to hisblue-eyed junior officerswho were ready to servehim without caring for theprescribed rules and regu-lations of governance.

Mr. Khosa emphasizedthat the posting and trans-fers should take place atthe district and sub-divi-sion levels because at thatlevel actual manipulationof the mandate was easy tocarry out as was the casesin the past.

Mr. Khosa also men-tioned that i t was under-stood that the former ChiefMinister held a meeting oftop bureaucrats on the lastday and told them, “treat

me as Chief Minister onleave for sixty days and willbe back after May 11 so be-have”.

He suggested the Care-taker Chief Minister tocheck the veracity of thisand if found correct thenreshuffl ing should beimplemented without anydelay.

Mr. Latif Khosa saidthat in this background theCaretaker Chief Ministershould not wait for moretime as delay wil lstrengthen the impressionabout the ineffectivenessof his administration whichwould affect the capacityof his government to holdfair , free and transparentelections.

APPMA welcomesdecision to lift ban

on kite flyingMUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—Vice President ofAll Pakistan Paper Mer-chants Association(APPMA) and founder ofkite flying festival KhawajaNadeem Saeed Wayeen haswelcomed the caretaker ChiefMinister Najam Sethi’s deci-sion to lift ban on kite flyingin Punjab and said that itwould go a long way in high-lighting the soft image of thecountry.

In a press statement is-sued here, Khawaja NadeemSaeed Wayeen said that thedecision would also help cutrate of unemployment in theprovince as thousands ofpeople are directly or indi-rectly attached with kite mak-ing industry.

He suggested to theChief Minister Punjab to es-tablish special kite flyingzones out of the city so thatpeople could take part in thisfestivity whole of the year. Itwould not only strengthenthe cottage industry wouldhelp in earning much-neededforeign exchange throughtourism industry as prior toban, a large number of for-eigners were used to visitPakistan to take part in thekite flying festival.

LAHORE—World PunjabiCongress (WPC) ChairmanFakhar Zaman has urged thePunjabi writers to developnew visions and horizons tomake their writings to reflectmodern sensibility.

He exhorted the writer toeschew cliches and stereo-types and creating Punjabiliterature which brings it atpar with the world literature.

He said that not onlyPunjabi writers, but Urduwriters as well should shunpurism and traditionalism intheir writings.

Punjabi writers urged to develop new visionsAddressing a gathering

of writers, intellectuals andscholars here on Monday,Zaman said there was a needof using new metaphors,similes and images in thebackdrop of cyber-phenom-enon and other technologi-cal changes.

He expressed great con-cern over the UNESCO re-ports that within next 25 yearsPunjabi will be an extinct lan-guage.

He said that he had beentelling both Indian and Paki-stani Punjabi writers to have

their writings translated intoEnglish and circulate them onthe internet so that critics allover the world could appre-ciate the merit of our lan-guage.

He said that he hadtranslated the ‘Sufi’ poetsinto nine languages of theworld when he was the achairman of Pakistan Acad-emy of Letters and circu-lated them throughout theworld.

This, he said, was theproper way to save this lan-guage from extinction.—APP

Auction of plotstomorrow

LAHORE—The Lahore De-velopment Authority willhold open auction of 58 plotson April 3 at 10 am at LDACommunity Centre, NewMuslim Town, Lahore.

The plots include 38commercial plots situated onprime locations of JoharTown, Model Town Exten-sion Scheme, Mustafa Townand Gujjer Pura Scheme,three residential plots situ-ated in F One Block JoharTown and 17 residential plotsof Venus Housing Scheme,Ferozepur Road, Lahore, (anapproved private housingscheme).—APP

Only threecandidates of

AML to contestfrom Lahore

LAHORE—Only three candi-dates of Awami MuslimLeague (AML) will contestelection from the provincialcapital for provincial assem-bly seats.

Chaudhary NaeemGhumman, Khalid Sandhuand Arif Anwar have submit-ted nomination forms fromPP-156, PP-146 and PP-145 ofLahore.

According to a spokes-man of AML, a total of 60candidates for provincialassembly seats and 20 fornational assembly seatshave filed their nominationforms under the umbrella ofAML.

He said AML had alliancewith Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Imran Khan wouldcontest election from NA-56while Sheikh Rasheed fromNA-55 after the seat adjust-ment deal.—APP