Continued on Page 7

Continued on Page 7

Government’s total lack ofinterest in NA................................................It is not time for protest................................................Kerry presses India’s standon militants

See Page 04

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—KSE-100 whose bench markwas closed in red with a slight decline of46 points in the last trading session got outof the short corrective spell on Wednes-day with a gain of 214.46 points to closeat all time high at 33585 level.

Though the index opened negativeand remained bearish during the entiretrading on Tuesday it recovered its lossesin the second half of the session, closingslightly in the red, however today’s ses-sion was altogether different with an ap-parent bullish trend prevailed amid animpressive market volume of 383 mil-

KSE-100 touches all time high at 33585 levellion shares tradedamid brisk tradingactivity.The volume leaderof the day wasJahangir Siddiqiwith 30 millionshares traded inthis scrip while theNational CarrierPIA retained itssecond volumeleader position onthe second consecutive day with 29 mil-lion shares trading Pak Electron on thethird position with 21 million shares. The

cement sector and IPPs were lookingattractive at current levels, and they maylead the index towards new highs.

STAFF REPORTER

QUETTA—An anti-terrorism court (ATC) inQuetta on Wednesday indicted former militaryruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, formerinterior minister Aftab Sherpao and formerBalochistan Home Minister ShoaibNosharwani in Nawab Akbar Bugti murdercase.

Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti, son ofNawab Akbar Khan Bugti, had nominated theformer president and other high-ups in the mur-der of his father. The Balochistan High Courthad already issued arrest warrants of the ac-cused persons. During hearing, Musharraf’scounsel Zeeshan Cheema submitted a medicalreport in the court, requesting the court to al-low the former president exemption from ap-pearance. He said Musharraf was undergoingback pain and therefore he would be unable toappear in the court. To which, the court ques-

Akbar Bugti murder case

Musharraf, Sherpao,Shoaib indicted

tioned as to why a medical board was not con-stituted when it had been ordered in the lasthearing of the case.

Sohail Rajput, lawyer of Jamil Bugti, con-tended that the former president was regularlygiving interviews to different TV channels.Cheema requested the court to accept the ex-emption application of the former president.

The court also expressed its displeasureover continuous absence of the former presi-dent from proceedings of the court. The courtsaid Musharraf would be granted exemptionfrom appearance in the court only after themedical board would apprise it about theformer president’s health.

The court also indicted Aftab Sherpao andShoaib Nosharwani in the case. The court ad-journed the hearing till February 04. Balochnationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugtiwas killed in August 2006 in an explosion in acave where he had taken refuge.

LIAQAT TOOR

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifhas called meeting of Chief Ministers of all prov-inces to comprehensively brief him on theprogress made by them on the implementationof the National Action Plan next week.

The Prime Minister chaired a meeting toreview progress on the implementation of Na-tional Action Plan to eliminate terrorism andextremism from the country at the PM’s Houseon Wednesday.

The Prime Minister expressed government’sresolve in eradicating the menace of terrorismand extremism from the country and directedall the provincial governments to take proac-tive measures for ensuring speedy and effectiveimplementation of the action plan.

He said that government would take strictaction against those found in glorification of ter-

Nawaz calls CMs’ meetingon NAP next week

95 Punjab outlawed terrorist organizations identifiedrorism and spreading hatred in any way.

The meeting was informed that FIRs havebeen registered against 341 persons involved inhate speech, out of which 251 have been for-mally arrested while 41 shops disseminating hatematerial closed. Action has been taken againstnearly 1100 persons on the misuse of loudspeak-ers. Madaris are also being closely monitoredso that spread of terrorist ideology can bechecked, while 95 proscribed organizations havebeen identified in Punjab which are still engagedin spreading terrorism and extremism.

The Prime Minister asked FBR to ensurethat funding to proscribed organizations isstopped. He also directed the Ministry of Infor-mation Technology to take steps for blockingwebsites and social media platforms being usedby terrorist organizations.

The Prime Minister called a meeting of

TOKYO—Pakistan and Japanenjoy cordial bilateral relationswhich have grown significantlyover the years to the mutualbenefit of both countries.Japan’s economic assistancehas helped much in the devel-opment of Pakistan’s economicand social infrastructure.

This was stated by FederalMinister for Finance SenatorMohammad Ishaq Dar whileaddressing Japanese business-men at Investment Seminar or-ganized by Japan ExternalTrade Organization JETROand co-sponsored by Board ofInvestment here Wednesday.

Dar said that though Japa-nese auto sector accounts forabout ninety five percent in thefour-wheeled vehicle marketand has a great positive influ-ence on Pakistan’s economybut bilateral trade volume be-tween Pakistan and Japan hasbeen stagnant for the past fiveyears. It was also heavily infavour of Japan which needs tobe addressed through initiatingnegotiations for Early HarvestProgram of FTA.

Finance Minister said that

Dar for big boost toPak-Japan economic ties

Addresses investment seminar

TOKYO: Finance Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar being receivedby Katsunobu Kato, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Ja-pan prior to their meeting.—APP photo

huge potential exists to furtherstrengthen economic ties be-tween Pakistan and Japan as

Pakistan offers a big market forinvestment in energy, automo-

Continued on Page 7

TARIQ SAEED

PESHAWAR—Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and legendary cricketer Imran KhanWednesday said the courage, enthusiasm dis-played by the students of Army Public SchoolPeshawar in the aftermath of the deadly attackon December 16 was pride of the nation andmust be commended by all and sundry.

“Everybody must commend the braveryand courage of the students so that they under-stand the importance of continuing to seek edu-cation under every circumstance. Without edu-cation no nation could excel and even the HolyProphet (PBUH) said that to seek educationone should even go all the way to China”. ThePTI chief said while addressing a media con-ference in Peshawar where he dashed alongwith his newly wed spouse Reham Khan toexpress solidarity with the students of APS andencourage them.

However, his visit to the Army PublicSchool was marred with unpleasant happeningsas he and her wife was not allowed to enter theschool by the enraged parents who had gath-ered there saying the politicians were only try-ing to gain political mileage out of the schooltragedy. The PTI chairman said his visit to the

Peshawar APS gory scene

Enraged parents barImran’s entry

school was to express solidarity with the stu-dents and their parents and commend their cour-age and was not politically motivated.

The bereaved families demanded of the poli-ticians to end terrorism from the country insteadof point scoring. The protesters also scuffledwith police and continued protest. Extra con-tingents of police were also called on to controlthe enraged protesters.

The PTI chief reiterated his demand of res-ignation of the Speaker National assembly AyazSadiq saying he had lost the mandate of thepeople as rigging was proved in the NA 122election. Imran insisted that 34000 votes in the122 constituency were found invalid in the in-quiry. “Invalid votes means bogus votes and thatis why we have been demanding the early con-stitution of Independent Judicial Commissionto probe the riggings”. Imran said.

Imran clarified that PTI had finished theirsit-ins and demands in order to be in unison withthe government and help them as much as pos-sible to root out terrorism and that was why hisparty became part of the All Parties Conferencesin Peshawar. “It does not mean that we havebacked out and in fact we are now going to rig-orously press with our rightful demands of em-

Continued on Page 7

Yemeni AlQaeda claimsresponsibilityof Paris attackCAIRO—Yemen’s al-Qaidabranch on Wednesdayclaimed responsibility for lastweek’s massacre at a Parissatirical newspaper, with oneof its top commanders sayingthe assault was in revenge forthe weekly’s publications ofcartoons of the ProphetMuhammad, considered aninsult in Islam.

The claim came in avideo posting by Nasr al-Ansi, a top commander of Al-Qaida in the ArabianPeninsula, which appeared onthe group’s Twitter account.The video was the group’sofficial claim of the assaulton the Charlie Hebdo offices,although a member of AQAP,as the branch is known, lastFriday first confirmed to TheAssociated Press that thebranch had carried out theattack.

In the 11-minute video, al-Ansi says the Charlie Hebdoattack, which killed 12 people— including editors, cartoon-ists and journalists, as well astwo police officers — was in“revenge for the prophet.”

He said AQAP, as thebranch is known, “chose thetarget, laid out the plan and fi-nanced the operation” againstthe weekly, though he producedno evidence to support theclaim.

Orders he said, came from

Continued on Page 7

Khan to hear ‘GoImran Go’ sloganeverywhere: PR

MIAN ARSHAD

ISLAMABAD—Federal Infor-mation Minister Pervaiz Rashidsaid Wednes-day that theslogan ‘GoImran Go’ isvoice of theheartbrokenpeople, whohave sufferedto due toImran Khan’spolitics of agitation. Referringto protest staged by parents ofthe martyred children of ArmyPublic School when ImranKhan arrived in Peshawar,Rashid talking to newsmen out-side the Parliament House saidthat Khan will face and hear ‘GoImran Go’ slogans from everynook and corner of the country.

Rashid said what Imran hadto face Wednesday was reminis-cent of his style of politics againstthe PML-N. “The nation chanted‘Go Imran Go,’ because Imranintroduced them to these chants,”he said. He added that the chantsagainst the PML-N made no dif-ference to them, but they shouldmatter to Imran since they arecoming from mournful parentswho have lost their children.

He said that the slogan (GoNawaz Go) coined by Khanfrom atop his container hasevaporated in thin air.

Rashid urged that Khan re-turn to mainstream politics andthe National Assembly to servethe nation instead of doing poli-tics of agitation. He said PTI

LeJ terroristAkram Lahorito be hanged

on Jan 17FAISALABAD—Death war-rants for convicted sectarianterrorist Ikramul Haq aliasAkram Lahori have been re-is-sued after he dodged his execu-tion by winning an eleventhhour pardon from the victim’sfamily last week.

Lahori’s, who was to feelthe hangman’s noose tighten-ing around his neck on Janu-ary 8, will now be punished onJanuary 17th at Kot LakhpatJail Lahore.

Earlier, an anti terrorismcourt (ATC) declared a ‘com-promise agreement’ betweenthe two parties as null and voidfor their failing to meet certainlegal requirements. The case isseen as a test of thegovernment’s plan to executeconvicted terrorists in the after-math of a school massacre that

Continued on Page 7

NEW DELHI—On the back offrequent cross-border fire inJammu & Kashmir in recentmonths, UN Secretary GeneralBan Ki-Moon has suggestedthat dialogue between Indiaand Pakistan should continuefor both countries to find a“long standing solution”.

“I am concerned aboutwhat has happened in that areain Jammu & Kashmir. We haveseen loss of lives along the Lineof Control. I have suggestedand strongly recommended tothe Prime Minister and foreignminister that there should becontinuing dialogue so this canbe resolved as soon as pos-sible,” said Ban in an exclusiveconversation with Times of In-dia.

Wrapping up a visit to In-dia which he said holds a spe-cial place in his heart, Ban

India, Pakistan shouldresume dialogue on

Kashmir dispute: Banhighlighted the dangers ofgrowing terrorism and extrem-ism in different parts of theworld. “It’s a very dangeroussituation because somehowextremists continue to propa-gate, we should educate people,have some campaigns to let thepeople know that it’s importantto respect other’s religions,faith and traditions. If my reli-gion is important to me, itshould be equally important forothers.”

Ban said terrorist actsagainst freedom of expressionare “totally unacceptable.”“This was a strong wake-upcall for the international com-munity. It was a strong expres-sion of solidarity. National gov-ernments have a responsibilitythat all these perpetratorsshould be brought to justice.

Continued on Page 7

104 bodiesfound in Ganga,probe orderedLUCKNOW—The UttarPradesh government onWednesday ordered a probeafter over 100 bodies werefound in a channel of theGanga in Unnao district, anofficial said. Thirty bodieswere recovered from theriver’s channel till lateTuesday but by Wednesdaymorning the number swelledup to 104.

Director General ofPolice (DGP) AK Gupta hassought a detailed report afterrecovery of the bodies in theGanga, near the PeriyaarGhat, where bodies aregenerally cremated. KanpurInspector General of PoliceAshutosh Pandey said thebodies belonged to thefamilies who could not afford

LONDON: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif reviewing guard of honour.

Continued on Page 7

MA KAISERIMAM

LONDON—Chief of ArmyStaff Gen Raheel Sharif onWednesday visited 10 Down-ing Street and met with BritishPrime Minister DavidCameron.

According to the Inter Ser-vices Public Relations, themeeting resolved to share in-telligence reports and increasecooperation to counter terror-

ism. The meeting also resolvedto stop the funding of bannedorganisations and foreign anti-Pakistan powers.

In a series of tweets, ISPRspokesman Asim Bajwa saidthe COAS raised issue of ac-tion against proscribedorganisations, anti-Pakistan el-ements operating from outsidePakistan and measures to choketerror financing.

The COAS also called on

Secretary of Defence MichaelFallen and held extensive talkswith Chief of the Defence StaffUK, Gen Sir NicholasHoughton on regional security,stability in Afghanistan, mutualdefence and security coopera-tion.

The COAS also met HomeOffice Permanent SecretaryMark Sedwill and DirectorGeneral of the Office for Se-

Pakistan-Russiahold strategicstability talksOBSERVER REPORT

MOSCOW —The 9th meetingof the Pakistan-Russia Con-sultative Group on StrategicStability was held in MoscowWednesday. The Pakistan sidewas headed by AdditionalForeign Secretary TasnimAslam. Mr. Sergey A.Ryabkov, Deputy ForeignMinister, led the Russian del-egation.

The talks were held in acordial and friendly atmo-sphere. The two sides revieweddevelopments in the area of in-

Continued on Page 7

Pak, UK to share intelligence,coop to counter terrorism

Gen Raheel meets David Cameron

Sindh PSCChairman resignsafter forced toviolate meritOBSERVER REPORT

KARACHI—Chief Justice(Retd) Dr. Agha Rafiq AhmedKhan on Wednesday tenderedresignation from the post ofchairman Sindh PublicService Commission.

Sources quoted Dr. AghaRafiq as saying that the postwas contrary to his tempera-ment and he was forced torecruit people on the basis offavoritism rather than onmerit.

Dr. Agha Rafiq AhmedKhan was appointed asChairman SPSC on June 9,2014 for the period of fiveyears.

Justice Dr. Agha RafiqAhmed Khan, born on August23, 1949 in Garhi Yasin,Shikarpur, also served asChief Justice, Federal ShariatCourt of Pakistan from 2009to 2014.

Continued on Page 7

PESHAWAR: PTI Chairman Imran Khan, his wife, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and others offering Fateha afterlaying floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada, here on Wednesday.

IGP satisfiedover schools

security

PESHAWAR—Inspector Gen-eral of Police of KhyberPakhtunkhwa Nasir Durranion Wednesday here visitedvarious schools and reviewedsecurity arrangements madeto avoid any untoward inci-dent in the future. Talking tomedia, Nasir Durrani appreci-ated the spirit and courage ofthe students and their par-ents.

He lauded the securitymeasures being made andsaid that there are better se-curity arrangements for theschools.He said a fewschools had not yet com-pletely built their walls. Hesaid administration shouldhave put up banners andbarricades.—APP

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—A delegation of prominent manage-ment consultant group, McKinsey met PunjabChief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif,here today. The delegation included Hans-Martin Stockmeier of McKinsey, CountryManager Pakistan Salman Ahmed, Ali Maalikand Taimur Khan.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Min-ister said that government is providing full at-tention to promoting good governance in theprovince for providing relief and best servicesto the masses. He said that reforms will beintroduced in important social sectors duringthe next three and a half years.

He said that development of educa-tion, health, agriculture, livestock, voca-tional education as well as urban devel-opment, maintenance of law and order anduplift of rural areas is the priority of thegovernment. Shahbaz Sharif said that aproject has been evolved for rehabilita-

Rs 15 billion allocated under KhadimPunjab Green Road Programme

MUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—Technical Educa-tion and Vocational TrainingAuthority (TEVTA) is playingvital role in promoting Appren-ticeship Training Scheme(ATC) across the province ofthe Punjab. Strength of on rollapprentices has been in-creased from 5984 to 12871during last four years.

During the last financialyear, 1366 new check surveyswere conducted, 57 new In-dustrial Units were notified, 60

industrial units were regis-tered, 4860 inspections werecarried out and 11426 appren-tices were recruited by the in-dustries. It was stated byChairperson TEVTA IrfanQaiser Shaikh while address-ing the meeting to review theprogress of ApprenticeshipTraining Scheme. The meet-ing was attended by ChiefOperating Officer TEVTAJawad Ahmed Qureshi, Gen-eral Manager OperationsHamid Ghani Anjum, DirectorApprenticeship Training

TEVTA playing vital role in promoting skills

FHS gift toGujranwala

citizensMALIK ABDUL QAYYUM

GUJRANWALA—AssistantChief of Air Staff (Housingand Projects) Air CommodoreGhulam Qadir Lodhi said thatFazaia Housing Scheme FHSwill proved to be a gift forcitizen of Gujranwala, its Plan-ning has done on modernlines, infrastructure develop-ment work is going on in re-markable manner and thisscheme would be completedbefore the targeted time.

He was addressing the in-auguration ceremony of 3DAir Craft Monument. He saidFazaia Housing would be ac-cumulated with all housingfacilities and availability ofbasic amenities on scientificlines would be ensured.

tion of roads of rural areas under KhadimPunjab Green Road Programme and a sumof 15 billion rupees have been allocatedfor this purpose during current fiscal year.

He said that effective measures are neededfor the achievement of targets and the timewasted will be made up through determinationand hard work. The Chief Minister said that atarget has been set to provide vocational edu-cation to 20 lakh youth up to 2018. He said thatsolid measures have been taken for the pro-motion of IT in the province.

He said that targets have also been fixedfor increasing the GDP of Punjab. He said thatspecial attention is being paid to skills devel-opment. He issued instructions for setting upa committee comprising officials of concerneddepartments headed by Chairman Planningand Development, and directed that effectivestrategy be evolved for the development ofsocial sectors with the cooperation ofMcKinsey and timeline fixed for the achieve-ment of the targets.

CommunityDevelopmentProgramme

launchedISLAMABAD—Minister ofState for Parliamentary Af-fairs and Chairman SteeringCommittee and MDGsSheikh Aftab AhmedWednesday said a Rs 12.5billion Community Develop-ment Programme had beenlaunched to achieve Millen-nium Development Goals(MDGs). The steering com-mittee in its maiden meeting,chaired by Sheikh Aftab, de-cided that the programmewould be advanced on emer-gency basis in line with Rulesof Financial Discipline andPEPRA rules for accomplish-ing the task at a fast pace,said a press release.—APP

BASHIR AHMAD REHMANI

HAFIZABAD—The Ambassa-dor of Japan HiroshiInomata has remarked theGovernment of Japan hasgiven top priority to empow-erment of women in Japan aswell as other countries un-der the dynamic leadershipof Prime Minster ShinzoAbe.

He said the provision ofcolossal for the establish-ment of a Science Laboratoryin remote village and Voca-tional Training Centre inHafizabad was one of the ex-amples of such commitmentsof the Japan Government.

He expressed his hopethat this project would notonly improve the female edu-

Women empowermenttop priority: Japan envoy

cation and skills of the localcommunity but also contrib-ute in strengthening thefriendly relations between thepeople of Japan and Pakistan.

While inaugurating theScience Laboratory and Voca-tional Training Centre at SakhiVillage and Hafizabad city onWednesday he said that theproject has been completed ata cost of US $ 113,264 pro-vided by the Government ofJapan to the Raj InternationalInstitute Trust (RIEIT), anNGO actively working forgrassroots development inthe area. The ceremony wasattended among others by of-ficials of Japanese Embassy,notables of the local commu-nity and students of new fa-cilities.

Scheme Waheed Asghar andother officers here yesterdayat TEVTA Secretariat.

Irfan Qaiser Shaikh saidthat the strength of on roll ap-prentices has been increasedmore than double which is agreat achievement. TEVTA hasshown a considerable growthregarding promotion and de-velopment of ApprenticeshipTraining Scheme in Punjab.The AT scheme had beenimplemented in the industriesthrough Regional Directoratesof Apprenticeship Training

(RDATs) located at Lahore,Faisalabad, Rawalpindi,Multan, Bahawalpur,Gujranwala and Sialkot. Allthese offices are centrally con-trolled / monitored by ATWing at TEVTA Secretariat.The RDATs are assigned tar-gets regarding different activi-ties on 06-monthly basis. As aresult of target oriented activi-ties, the number of industrialunits operating the scheme hasbeen increased to 1084 inPunjab.

Old Afghanfound dead in

LandikotalOUR CORRESPONDENT

LANDIKOTAL—An oldafghan man has found deadnear Landikotal bazaarWednesday night.Khasadar force personnelwhen informed by the localsshifted the corpse to Hospi-tal, sources said here.

The old man whose ageis reportedly to be 60 yearswas found dead nearLandikotal bazaar.

A Khasadar force per-sonnel told this scribe thatas they received the infor-mation about the incident,our men reached the spotand shifted the dead bodyto hospital.

Hashish seized at Torkham borderNASIB SHAH SHINWARI

LANDIKOTAL—Khasadarforce personnel at Pak-Af-ghan border Torkham dur-ing checking foiled a bid to

smuggle hashish from Af-ghanistan. The drug ped-dler was arrested.

The TorkhamKhasadars during routinechecking foiled a bid tosmuggle hashish from Af-ghanistan and arrested thepeddler,official said onWednesday.

Political TehsildarPassport at Torkham bor-der Nek Muhammad toldreporters that they have

stopped an Afghan na-tional identified asMomeen Khan resident ofNingrahar province in Af-ghanistan and recoveredfive kilograms hashishfrom his possession.

The seized hashish wasconcealed in a fruits cartonand was trying to smuggledit to Pakistan,he said.Thearrested person was shiftedto Landikotal lock up forfurther investigation.

ISLAMABAD—The cold wavewould grip most parts of thecountry from Friday after thethree-day rain spell andfoggy conditions would pre-vail in plain areas, accordingto the weather experts.

Deputy Director, Na-

tional Weather ForecastingCenter, Pakistan Meteoro-logical Department (PMD),Aleem-ul-Hassan told APPthat the cold wave wouldpersist in most parts of thecountry with fall in night tem-peratures. The intensity ofcold weather conditions

Cold wave to grip most parts of country

would increase during thenext three days and there arechances of frost in plain ar-eas of Punjab, Sindh andNorth Balochistan, he said.

The recent rain spell, al-though of normal intensity,has benefitted Wheat crop inBarani areas. The Wheatcrop was facing water stresscondition and the presentrain spell has providedenough moisture to Wheatcrop for flourishing. The rainspell has also subsided thepollution and dryness andprovided relief to the peoplefrom seasonal diseases.

The official said there arechances of another rain spellwith cloudy weather condi-tions across the country fromJanuary 19 or 20 which canbe widespread in Sindh andBalochistan.—APP

KP Wildlife,Biodiversity Bill

approvedPESHAWAR—The GovernorKhyber Pakhtunkhwa hasformally approved theKhyber Pakhtunkhwa Wild-life and Biodiversity (Protec-tion, Preservation, Conser-vation and Management) Bill2015, which has alreadybeen passed by the Provin-cial Assembly.

According to an officialcommunique issued by theKP Assembly Secretariat, af-ter ascent of the Governor thebill was hereby published asan act of the Provincial legis-lature of the KhyberPakhtunkhwa.—APP

PESHAWAR—A meeting of the Board of Direc-tors of Pesco with Chairman BoD MalikMuhammad Asad Khan in the chair emphasizedon merit based appointments in the companyand decided to make the recruitment throughwritten test conducted by the either NTS orETEA. The BoD emphasized that all recruitmentsmust be made purely on merit and for that reasonrecruitment should be made through NTS orETEA tests.

Chief Executive Pesco Syed Hassan Fazil gavea comprehensive Presentation to the board onefforts to bring Pesco out of losses and to pro-vide better facilities to the consumers. He saidthat every effort is being made for reduction inline losses and increasing recovery.

The meeting was informed that as per theboard instructions development activities arebeing carried out in the province and in this re-gard work is in progress on 132 KV Tarbela-Swabi

Merit based recruitmentsin Pesco emphasized

International LiteraryConference concludesKHAIRPUR—The Interna-tional Conference on Lit-erature, Society and Re-construction (Past ,Present & Future) contin-ued on the second dayWednesday, organized byDepartment of Urdu, ShahAbdul Latif University, incollaboration with HigherEducation Commission,Islamabad.

The speakers shedlight on the importance ofl i terature in society andsaid that literature is themirror of society and hasa major impact on the de-velopment of the society.It has shaped civilizations,changed political systemsand exposed injustices.

They said l i teratureand poetry are not a mereplay on word rather theyare the highest expressionof human creativi ty andprofundity of thought andthe role of l i terature inshaping and reconstruct-ing any society is crucialto a materially and spiritu-ally balanced, prosperousand civi l ized display ofvigor in a globalized world.

The speaker said litera-ture has long been consid-ered as reflect ing thenorms and values of cul-ture and influencing thesociety. It exposes socialinjustice, societal ills, of-fering ideas and ammuni-tion for social change.—APP

NAWABSHAH—The SecretaryTransport AuthorityBenazirabad has notified newrates of transport fares to beeffective from from January15. The fares of buses, mini-buses, coaches, vans andother public transport havebeen reduced due to fall in oilprices, according to a hand outissued here on Wednesday.

The revised fare rates areNawabshah - Karachi (AC)Rs. 364, Nawabshah-Hyderabad Rs. 150,

Nawabshah - Moro Rs. 58,Nawabshah - Sanghar Rs. 48,Nawabshah - Feroz Rs. 76,Nawabshah - Tharushah Rs.85, Nawabshah - Sukkur Rs.140, Nawabshah - Cochlea Rs.97, Nawabshah - Khairpur Rs.121, Sakrand - Gamal Kereo Rs.10 and Sakrand - NawabshahRs. 17.

The Secretary TransportAuthority has warned ofstrict action if any trans-porter was found involvedin overcharging.—APP

Transport faresreduced in Nawabshah

MULTAN: Staffers of Rescue 1122, Defence and Bomb Disposal Squad demonstrating rescue exercise during rehearsal to combat the suicidebomb blast and fire at Emerson College.

HYDERABAD: MQM’s MPA Rana Sadiqi distributes bangles during Dawat-e-Haleemorganized by MQM Women Wing.

Policies preparedfor improving

educationalstandard

HYDERABAD—Vice Chancel-lor University of SindhJamshoro Prof. Dr Imdad AliIsmaili has informed that theuniversity management hasprepared long and shortterms policies for improve-ment of educational standardof the university.

Talking to media personshere on Wednesday, he saidthat quality education in alldepartments of the universityshould be ensured so that thepassing-out graduates couldbe able to meet the challengesof the modern world.

He informed that whilepreparing the short and longterms policies, focus has beengiven to bring educational re-forms and research culture sothat the results of the researchcould be utilized for the de-velopment of the country andwelfare of the masses.

Under short term poli-cies, he informed that train-ing courses will be arrangedfor the students and the fac-ulty as well as the employeesand officers.—APP

LOWER Dir: Activists of Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek protesting against pro-posed Seed Act.

Divorced daughters, unmarriedsisters entitled for family pension

Transmission Line. Similarly bifurcation of 11 KVOld Murghuz feeder has been completed and 11KV Zaida feeder has been established with a costof more than Rs.10 million which will facilitateconsumers of the area. All these projects havebeen financed by Federal Govt.

The meeting was also updated about con-struction of new Transformer Workshops. Simi-larly it also directed the rapid implementation ofthe printing of photo of Meter Reading on theelectricity bills and to secure data of consumersthrough an electronic mechanism, so thatconsumer’s grievances of wrong reading is re-dressed.

The meeting instructed to give comprehen-sive presentation on the installation of small trans-formers 5KV, 10KV & 15KV etc and installation ofconcrete poles, in the next BoD meeting. A num-ber of other managerial and administrative mat-ters on the agenda were also approved. —APP

SHCBA to challenge 21stconstitutional amendment

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—The Sindh High Court Bar As-sociation (SHCBA) has announced to chal-lenge the 21st constitutional amendment,which created room for the establishment ofthe military courts in Pakistan. The SHCBAmet under an exigent call to deliberate thearising scenario Wednesday at the SHCBAoffice at Sindh High Court chaired by thePresident of the association.

The exigent meeting also passed a reso-lution in this context, which showed com-plete support to Pakistan Army in its waragainst terror and the meeting also vehe-mently condemned the Peshawar carnage inwhich around a hundred and fifty innocentstudents of the Army Public School werebrutally massacred by Taliban.

The resolution held certain changes inthe Army Act should have sufficed to meetthe requirement for taking the terrorist to task

but the amendment made to the constitutionwas unnecessary and were tantamount toruining the basic structure of the constitu-tion of the country. The resolution said theestablishment of the military courts had ledto the creation of a parallel system of Justiceand Judiciary, which would undermine thesystem of delivery of the justice very badly.

The meeting however stressed uponbringing improvements in laws on terrorism,protection of the witnesses, prosecution andinvestigation and security of the Judges. Themeeting said the government could not shunits responsibilities by simply changing theconstitution like the 21st constitutionalamendment, which was absolutely in oppo-sition to the basic structure of the constitu-tion and devolution of powers. The meetingcollectively laid their confidence on to thePresident to proceed ahead for challengingthe 21st constitutional amendment at theSupreme Court of Pakistan.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Punjab Government, fol-lowing the directions of OmbudsmanPunjab, has made amendment inPunjab Pension Rules according towhich divorced daughter and unmar-ried sister of the deceased govern-ment employee would also be entitledfor grant of family pension till life af-ter his widow, infants and unmarrieddaughters.

Punjab Finance Department hasissued amended notification and cop-ies of the same have been sent to all

Administrative Secretaries, Heads ofthe Attached Departments, DCOs,Lahore High Court, Accountant Gen-eral Punjab, All District Advisors ofthe Ombudsman Punjab and DistrictAccounts Officers for compliancewith effect from May 15, 2013.

According to details, SaminaGulnar Khanam, and Zubaida Bibi, di-vorced daughters of deceased gov-ernment employees Fazal Hussainand Abdul Rahim respectively,lodged applications to OmbudsmanPunjab that they had no regularsource of income after the death of

the their father and the payment offamily pension was also stopped asthey were not entitled for the same asper existing rules although they weredependent in their houses.

In similar applications addressedto Ombudsman Punjab, Ms. SakinaBegum and Ata Bibi, unmarried sis-ters of late Shafqat Ara, and late HajiraBegum respectively pointed out thatthey were dependent in the home oftheir sisters which were governmentemployees but payment of pensionwas stopped with their death. Om-budsman Punjab, Javed Mahmood

directed Incharge Mohtasib PunjabPension Cell Wazir Ahmad Qureshito probe the issue and submit recom-mendations for appropriate amend-ments in existing rules.

Ombudsman Punjab was told thatas per Finance Department’s notifi-cation, the divorced daughter was en-titled for grant of family pension tillher re-marriage in 2013. OmbudsmanPunjab observed that the widoweddaughters and unmarried sisters ofthe deceased pensioners’ civil ser-vant, wholly dependent and residingwith the deceased pensioners.

Government’s totallack of interest in NA

LEADER of the Opposition in the National Assembly SyedKhurshid Shah, who is otherwise a polite and caring person, hadto vent his anger in the session of the House on Tuesday over

total lack of interest of the treasury benches especially Ministers in theproceedings of the Assembly. The genuineness of the grievance alsoforced the chair to acknowledge the indifferent attitude of the treasurymembers and urged them to make it a point to attend the proceedings toresolve problems of the people.

The issue is not confined to National Assembly alone as there is greatresentment in the upper House as well where Opposition parties haveconsistently been raising it but there is no change in the attitude of theGovernment side. All this is because the Prime Minister himself seldomattends the session and even if he comes to either house it is for a fewmoments. Of course, he has regularly been attending sessions of the Par-liament during emergencies triggered by developments at the D-Chowkand in the aftermath of December 16 terrorist attack in Peshawar butotherwise, he seldom appears in the Parliament. No doubt, the PrimeMinister has other pressing engagements as well and at times he is notexpected to be present in the House but his attendance would have salu-tary effect on the overall behaviour of the members and their interest inthe proceedings. And even if he could not make it to the NA or the Senatefor some genuine reason, as Leader of the House, he should take seriousnotice of careless attitude of his partymen especially his Cabinet col-leagues, who even do not care to attend the proceedings when they arerequired to be there to respond to Questions pertaining to their Ministries.The Government apparently draws its strength from the Parliament butdisrespect towards this institution not only amounts to lowering the im-age and prestige of the Parliament but also causes a dent to the cause ofthe Government itself. People have elected representatives to speak forthem and prepare policies and laws for their welfare and not for gossipin these Houses or cosy offices and restaurants.

It is not time for protestBOTH PAT and PTI, which ended their sit-ins and protests in different

circumstances, have again threatened to re-launch the campaign dueto non-consideration of their demands by the Government. PAT of Dr.Tahirul Qadri has announced to resume its country-wide protest fromJanuary 17 while PTI is planning another sit-in at the Capital to kick-startwhat it calls Plan-D, after its three plans could not achieve their targets.

It is a big question mark whether or not their movements would pro-duce the desired results because of a number of factors including chillyweather, expected rains, fatigue, financing of agitation, in-house differ-ences on modes of protests and marriage of Imran Khan. It is highly un-likely that protests of PAT and PTI would yield impact like the oneslaunched on 14th of August last year particularly when their workers andsupporters have seen the fruitless outcome of the prolonged sit-ins. How-ever, it is both in the interest of the country and the parties involved not tore-launch the protest movements at this particular point of time whenattention of the entire nation is focused on the monstrous problem of ex-tremism and terrorism. Plans and programmes that are part of the overallnational strategy to counter terrorism are being given practical shape bydifferent stakeholders – Federal and Provincial governments, Armed forces,intelligence agencies and judiciary. Military courts are beginning theirproceedings, anti-terrorist courts are now delivering judgements withspeed, executions are being carried out and security and vigilance hasbeen enhanced to check terrorism in its different forms. PTI being one ofthe stakeholders as it is heading the Provincial government of KPK, isexpected to complement national efforts and not to distract attention fromthe core issue. We would, therefore, urge both PTI and PAT to postponetheir protests and at the same time warn the Government of foot-draggingon the issues involved. A solution must be found on the table and not onroads, which might not benefit any one of them.

Kerry presses India’sstand on militants

INDIAN Defence Minister Tuesday rejected talks with Pakistan afterUS Secretary of State John Kerry projected Indian view point par-

ticularly his insistence for action against all militant groups includingPakistani and Afghan Taliban. Though he complimented Pakistani Armedforces for carrying out an effective operation in North Waziristan thatproduced significant results but stressed that the battle against terrorgroups is not yet over.

The remarks by John Kerry reflect a partisan attitude at a time whenPakistan is engaged in war against terrorism which is in fact a global waras terrorism has become a global phenomenon. Pakistani political andmilitary leadership have repeatedly stated that action against terrorists isacross the board and there is no difference between good and bad Talibanas they are enemies of the State. In addition Pakistan has also made itclear that it would not allow its soil to be used against any other country.But the US Secretary of State, despite knowing fully well these categori-cal statements, thought it fit to stress for action against militants by spe-cifically pointing out that they are threat not only to Pakistan but also toAfghanistan, India and the United States. Mr Kerry’s mention of LeT inparticular was a clear indication that he was advancing Indian view pointas he had come to Islamabad from New Delhi where he must have beenpressed to pressurize Pakistan. One had expected that the top US diplo-mat at the same time would have spoken of Pakistan’s serious concernsabout Indian involvement in terrorist activities in Balochistan and otherparts of the country but his support to New Delhi’s arguments encouragedthe Indian Defence Minister and Army chief who on Tuesday refused tohold talks and accused Pakistan of waging a proxy war in Kashmir. Allthis indicates that John Kerry was on a mission to pave the way for mak-ing President Obama’s forthcoming visit to India in February more re-warding but his statement in our view has hurt the sentiments of Paki-stanis, caused dismay in Pakistani circles because the country has been atrusted ally of US and it will encourage those who are opposed to closerelationship between Pakistan and the United States.

The ostrich mentality

Libyaspirals

downwardas the West

looks theother way

WHEN Libya’s attemptto construct a new,democratic political

system faltered after 2012, theObama administration andNATO allies who had intervenedto support the overthrow of dic-tator Moammar Gaddafi couldstill rationalize that they hadheaded off the mass bloodshedand civil war that the Gaddafiregime threatened and that laterovertook Syria. The respite, how-ever, proved to be temporary. As2015 begins, Libya is well on itsway to becoming the MiddleEast’s second war zone — withthe same side effects of empow-ering radical jihadists and desta-bilizing neighbouring countries.

The sprawling but sparselypopulated country of 7 million isnow split between two govern-ments, parliaments and armies,one based in the eastern city ofTobruk and the other in the capi-tal, Tripoli. While Syria’s war isfought along the Arab world’sSunni-Shiite divide, in Libya thecontest pits the region’s secularSunnis against Islamists (alongwith minority Berbers). Since thatsame divide dominates the poli-tics of Egypt, Tunisia, the Pales-tinian territories and much of therest of the Maghreb, outside pow-ers have predictably picked sides:Egypt and the United Arab Emir-ates back the secular forces in theeast, while Turkey, Qatar andSudan support the Islamist LibyaDawn in the west.

This mounting conflict is oc-curring not so much because ofNATO’s 2011 intervention,which was limited to airstrikes,but because of its swift with-drawal and subsequent failure toassist in stabilizing the country.Without institutions or trainedand loyal security forces, an in-terim government could not gaincontrol over the numerous mili-tias that had sprung up to fightthe Gaddafi regime.

As the situation has steadilyworsened in the past two years, theObama administration, France,Britain and other participants in theNATO intervention have reactednot by dispatching aid but by shut-ting down their embassies andwashing their hands of Libya. Thetask of trying to broker peace hasbeen handed to a UN mediator,Bernardino León, who in recentinterviews has described his mis-sion as quixotic. As in Syria, thispassivity could soon produce a se-rious threat to Western interests.According to the US Africa Com-mand, 200 jihadists linked to theIslamic State already have set upa training camp in the easternLibyan town of Derna. Only 300miles from southern Europe,Libya could — far more easilythan Yemen or western Iraq —become the launching pad formore attacks on Paris and otherWestern capitals.

The only sign that the Obamaadministration is conscious ofthis threat has been the issuancewith its allies of empty state-ments, such as one Saturday thatcongratulated Mr. León forscheduling talks in Geneva thisweek among some of the warringparties. Real progress towardending the fighting would requiremore energetic action, such as di-verting Libya’s oil revenues to anescrow account, enforcing anarms embargo, freezing the inter-national assets of both sides andpressuring Egypt and other out-side powers to cease their inter-ventions. Ultimately, an interna-tional peacekeeping force prob-ably will be needed to help re-store order.

The Obama administration is,as always, reluctant to mount oreven support such an effort. Yetdoing so now is surely preferableto being forced, as in Iraq andSyria, to conduct another militaryintervention in the future.— The Washington Post

MEDIA WATCH

THE easy availability of softtargets for terrorists to commit atrocities is because mere

lip-service was given to re-organiz-ing and conditioning the civilianLaw Enforcement Agencies (LEAs)for conducting asymmetric warfare.In the immediate aftermath of adeadly event our response is quitegood, as time passes this translatesinto ad hoc and half-hearted mea-sures. Our leaders’ rhetoric andgrandstanding thereafter meantmostly for public consumption andphoto-ops. Despite the depletion oftheir resources as well as freedomof space and movement by PakistanArmy’s successful counter-insur-gency in Swat and FATA, more re-cently in North Waziristan, the ter-rorists, with inadvertent help fromour media, are using the strategy andtactics of unconventional warfare tokeep our populace terrified.

Three very important points informulating the “National ActionPlan”, viz (1) de-weaponisation ofour cities (2) correct utilisation andhusbanding of our available re-sources and (3) regulating of privatesecurity companies (the citizen’ssecond line of protection) were takenout for extraneous reasons. No townor city in the world permits peopleto carry weapons only except in Pa-kistan. The proliferation of weaponsin our urban areas is alarming, ran-dom checking of gunmen in civil-ian clothes carrying illegal arms,mostly prohibited bore automatics,is an exercise in futility. Influentialshave them released almost immedi-ately alongwith their weapons. Re-ligious extremists like Lal Masjid’s

Cynicism & political evolution of Pakistan

THE discussion of the political cynicism here focusesonly on the sections of soci-

ety which exercise influence on theformation of public opinion. Thesesections may be considered as themainstay of political cynicism in Pa-kistan. As far as the general citizenryis concerned, the myth of its politi-cal apathy evaporates with every gen-eral election held in the country. Onemay object: the turnout in the elec-tions is too small to break this myth.However, the statistics belie it: theturnout in 2008 stood at 44 % and in2013, 55 %. In the world’s largest de-mocracy, India, it was 64 %.

The mainstay of political cyni-cism in Pakistan comprises academ-ics, intelligentsia, journalists, TVchannels talk show hosts (as well asannouncers!), Urdu/English news-paper columnists and op-ed con-tributors, and authors of books onvarious subjects but with a politicaltilt, which include history, Muslimshistory, memoirs, novels, etc.

As for the academics, both pub-lic and private, they may be termedas unique creatures. Except some ofthem who have somehow found aplace mostly in print media and sothey need to take a position, the largemajority of them thinks it’s not forthem to think and write about thegovernment and the state, i.e. poli-tics, and they are there to teach andearn their living. Their only mantrais: “Politics is not our cup of tea;and thinking and writing about the

The point is thatno body likeshaving saltrubbed into theirwounds, even ifit is the salt ofthe earth.

government and the statetouches the boundaries ofthe political.” One morething: a sizeable section ofthem is now busy in doingresearch which pays. That’show they judge the quality

of their research.In case, the freelance thinkers and

writers, who are not attached withentities which somehow interferewith their thinking and writing, areincluded in the larger group of intel-ligentsia in addition to journalists, TVchannels talk show hosts, Urdu/En-glish newspaper columnists and op-ed contributors, that will allow foranother group of thinkers and writ-ers to exist within this fold as intel-lectuals who whether they think ornot but do write for their politicalmasters or parties. This later groupconsists of writers who have openpolitical affiliations; their writingsparaphrase the policy of their partiesand leaders. Since political parties arevery much directed in their aims andpolitics and in no way can be diag-nosed with any type of cynicism, theviews of these writers do not formpart of the context which the presentanalysis is set in. A bigger chunk ofthe Pakistani intelligentsia thinks andwrites in religious terms and sincemost of them think and write out ofsheer sanctity of their belief, thisanalysis which aims at listing inde-pendent opinions does exclude them.

After identifying the sourcesfrom where the views and argumentsbased on political cynicism generate,it’s time to examine them. For wantof space, only two will be discussedhere. First, most of the thinkers andwriters hold that for Pakistan there isno way out of its crisis, and it’s be-cause of the defects which it is af-

flicted from its very birth. A childwith birth defects! That amounts tosaying that Pakistan is inherently un-viable. The arguments put forward bythem are quite convincing. They say:Because it is inherently un-viable, itis unstable from the day one. The his-tory of 67 years attests to that. It’s noplace to go into the details of the de-fects which make Pakistan un-viable.Nor is it of any use to sort out thosewho cherish such views and why.What is of value and needs to be re-futed is their argument!

What is a viable country, theymust be puzzled with this question.Whether USA was viable; whetherRwanda, North and South Sudan areviable! Actually this tribe of politi-cal cynics is involved in endless de-bates on what is it that makes a na-tion, and what role religion and lan-guage play in making a people anation, and how to distinguish na-tion from nationality. To them,people, nations, countries are likeacademic entities or intellectual cat-egories the criteria of the definitionof which they must fulfill. However,in contrast, it may be asserted thatcommunities, people, nations, coun-tries, whichever form they get to-gether and appear in, are entities ofliving individuals. Likewise, for anygood or bad reason, or in this or thattype of circumstances, they maycome to bond themselves in the formof a new people, nation, or country.

So even after 67 years, columns,articles and books questioning the ra-tionale of Pakistan’s coming into be-ing still find place on the paper, air andwebsites. It is this cynicism which isintellectually holding Pakistan backfrom moving ahead and evolving po-litically. The fact is that countries maybreak and give birth to new countries,

Abdul Aziz flaunt the laws quiteopenly despite all our politicalrhetoric. A prominent Karachipolitical leader proudly main-tained that a Pathan and his per-sonal weapon could not be sepa-rated. Asked about what he did

in Dubai in the years he lived therehe could only give a blank smile.

De-weaponisation must be en-forced today. No one out of the uni-form of the LEAs should carry weap-ons. Citizens do need static guards forprotection, but out of uniform only atthe premises. Guards of private secu-rity companies doing escort duty, prop-erly verified and having undergoneadequate training must have writtenpermission from the police stationnearest to their Head Office/BranchOffice. All escorts/bodyguards must bein the uniform of a LEA or a privatesecurity company. Having police pow-ers in Karachi, the Rangers not takingdue cognisance and enforcing the lawis severe dereliction of duty.

Exiting a popular restaurant inKarachi recently it took us some timeto get through the traffic jam causedby the dozens of police mobiles andguards, both in uniform and civilianclothes, brandishing all sorts of pro-hibited bore automatic weapons. Otherthan a Provincial Minister, who canwell afford private protection, the oth-ers making a fashion statement werepolitical notables, family members andfriends, etc of the ruling elite. Withoutproper training guards will not exer-cise fire discipline, this lack of firecontrol can lead to a real tragedy.

Of about 33000 policemen em-ployed presently by Karachi police,a credible source says that 3000(equivalent to more than a motorizedinfantry brigade plus) in a special eliteunit allotted for the protection of ourpolitical elite, family and friends, etcare highly paid (about Rs. 100000 perconstable all under 35), a cool Rs. 3.5billion in salaries alone if true. On

that scale what should we pay oursoldiers fighting night and day inSwat and FATA? About 7800 guardsare allocated for non-police protec-tion duties, including Ministers,judges, etc while 2000 do guard du-ties at police offices, residences, etc.The balance 20000 remaining arespread over 109 police stations withabout 2000 police mobiles. Withleave, sickness, etc police stationsaverage only 40-45 personnel avail-able per shift, how can they man 15mobiles per police station? Yetmonthly about Rs. 100000 is spenton fuel. One does not have to be anEinstein to figure out why the track-ing device and the PSO fuel cardshave been done away. Will someoneplease carry out a comprehensiveaudit of how our precious manpowerand resources meant to fight terror-ism is criminally being diverted topersonal use or to fill own pockets?

With mobility not available to theinvestigating officer for site visit ofthe crime scene, hearsay evidence isbeing presented rather than on thespot actual statements. This weak-ened case is more liable than not tobe thrown out of court because of theexisting inadequacies/deficiencies inthe already arcane Evidence Act 1872(revised by the Qanoon-e-Shahadat1984). Police morale is at a low ebbin Sindh because of rampantpoliticization, inherent corruption andvast difference in salaries, etc. Maybenot to the same extent, the same isendemic in Punjab also. Police per-formance has improved in the pastyear relatively in KPK, in Balochistanthe induction of a large number ofserving Army officers, particularly inrunning the training institutions, hasemade the situation somewhat better.

Funds being earmarked for thecounter-terrorism effort will be swal-lowed up by corruption. A person canbe killed in two major ways, viz (1)the active manner by being physically

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as Pakistan gave birth to aBangladesh and a Pakistan.

The second tribe of politicalcynics has a good philosophical ar-gument on their table to offer. It isthe Theory of Lesser Evil. Like theperfect cynics, they believe thatnothing exists but the evil. In clearterms, that means every politicalparty or whatever takes place in thepolitical realm of Pakistan is evil.The most popular form this Theoryacquires is during the elections days,when this view is widespread: Outof all the evil parties, let’s choosethe lesser evil! That’s so much char-acteristic of the political cynics thatone may use it as a yardstick for theirwho’s who. Also that view gives riseto all the revolutionaries who aimat building the Pakistani societyfrom scratch.

Not only theoretically, butpractically also, it’s not possiblethat in a situation all the things areevil. Imagine a situation wherenothing prevails except evil, eventhere something evil may causesomething good to happen. Forthis focus needs to be shifted onsmaller and effective things.Revolutionary total view may notwork in this context. In every situ-ation such good things exist to berealized by those who may have avision to grasp them. But the Pa-kistani intelligentsia does not wantto wake up from its cynical slum-ber and remains broiled in its fu-tile debates. That has retarded theintellectual evolution as well aspolitical evolution of Pakistan.—The writer is Lahore-basedpolitical philosopher and authorof The Rise of State Aristocracyin Pakistan (Urdu) and otherbooks.

— Rebecca West British journalist

attacked or (2) the passive way whensecurity is weakened either deliber-ately by (a) diversion of security per-sonnel and/or equipment or (b) bysiphoning of these funds meant forthat. Stealing from the counter-ter-rorism effort weakens organisationand effectiveness of the LEAs, thosethieves are guilty of aiding and abet-ting terrorists, as guilty of killing ourchildren in Peshawar as the terror-ists. Accountability across the boardmust prosecute such thieves. Theyshould be tried by military courtswhoever they are.

While the Army did right in en-couraging consensus among thepoliticians for countering terrorism,thereafter it has been a predictablemess. The buck having been half-heartedly passed to the Army, theywill now face the blame for inac-tion. To quote Richard Nixon, “de-cisions should not be debated tilldeath”. The pun is intended andtragic, indecision and vacillationover the years resulted in the mur-der of our children by the most bru-tal terrorists that this world has seen.

Those with the status quomindset fixated on making moneyhide behind words and paper of theConstitution to violate the spirit ofthe law at will. There is a time toplay “Constitution” and there is atime to face reality. Reality is in theform of the dead bodies of our chil-dren in Peshawar. Our media didtheir best helping the terrorists ter-rify our parents from sending theirchildren to school. On Jan 12Pakistan’s children across the nationgive their courageous answer to theterrorists. When we have such braveparents and brave children, the ter-rorists have no future in our coun-try. Those with an ostrich mentalitycan never confront that truth.— The writer, retired army officer,is a leading defence and securityanalyst.

Dr Khalil AhmadEmal:khalilkf@gmail.com

Ikram SehgalEmail:ikram.sehgal@smswppl.com

Voice of the People

Display of worldconscience in Paris

SAKHI SARWAR

The acts of terrorism need to be con-demned as the killing of a humanbeing amounts to the killing of theentire mankind. While we appreci-ate the coming together of the worldconscience and making a humanchain by not less than 44 heads ofstates from all parts of the world atthe murder of some 11 human be-ings in Paris, we do condemn thediscriminatory attitude of this worldconscience to observe inhuman neg-ligence and maintaining criminalindifference to the massacre of in-nocent school children in Peshawarlast month.

The perpetrators of the killingat the Charlie Hebdo newspaper of-fice might be having a reason to dothe deed but what was the reason tokill innocent children by firing di-rect on their innocent foreheads.Respect for freedom of expressionshould be there and we should con-demn any act against freedom ofexpression but at the same time we’llhave to protect the victims of thisunbridled freedom of expression. Nosaner person can allow the freedomof expression or freedom of speechto intrude or annoy the feelings of alarge community and it should bekept in mind that there is always areaction to such an action of provo-cation. Let the world consciencecome together to condemn all kill-ings of human beings in Gaza, inAfghanistan, in Kashmir, in Iraq, inEgypt, in Peshawar or anywherewhere innocents are massacredwithout any fault of theirs.—Islamabad

Freedomof expression

MUHAMMAD ALI

Mark Zuckerberg on January 9 de-fended the people’s right of freedomof speech and freedom of expression.He said ‘’Facebook has always beena place where people across the worldshare their views and ideas. We fol-low the laws in each country, but wenever let one country or group ofpeople dictate what people can shareacross the world’’ his statement ac-tually refers to the blasphemy act ofsatirical French magazine CharlieHabdo in which they publishedblasphemous cartoons in theirMagazine and further those blas-phemous cartoons were publishedby Facebook, therefore, magazinewas targeted by extremists.

According to Mark Zuckerberghe wants to make Facebook a placewhere people can speak, share andwrite freely without fear of violence.But is this freedom of speech andexpression only for West? If not,then why status of Pakistani Actor/Director Hamza Ali Abbasi was re-moved by Facebook in which hecondemned brutal attack and alsotried to explain Muslims devotionwith Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)in which they could cross any limit.If Facebook and other Social Me-dia sites encourage freedom ofspeech then why they made continu-ous and shameful efforts to silent thevoices raised in favour of innocentpeople and avoid to exposes the bru-tality of ruthless country like Israel.Why Facebook deletes the videos ofinnocent children and other victim-izes those got injured in air strikesby Israelis in Palestine and byAmerica in Afghanistan, Iraq and inTribal areas of Pakistan.

The people and countries whichhave become champions of freedomof speech do not react on the lawwhich is enforced in more than 20countries, where denying holocausts

Muslims and the WestALMAS MEHAR

Paris attack has grabbed the attention of every single newspaper, television, magazine and socialmedia. We know “who”, we know “how”, but we don’t aspire to know “why”. Before I move on to

“why” let me say unequivocally, that killings were, are, will be unacceptable and most of the Muslimsacross the world do not appreciate this act and further refuse to accept that they were killed in the nameof our great faith or to avenge Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). In parallel capacity I woulddefend right to free speech, but it comes with a great responsibility and aftermaths. Freedom and libertyin the West are actually becoming something of an illusion. West needs to realise that they don’t havecontrol and full access over freedom of expression, liberty and peace. Paris mass murder has nothing todo with “freedom of speech”. Answer of “why” lies in many counter questions as why is that, new lawsand regulations are being introduced specifically specific to Muslims in America and Europe? Whythere is no reaction when hundreds of children are massacred in Gaza? and why those who assaultedCharlie Hebdo office were viewed as intolerant and barbaric? Paris incident is continuation of whatEurope and America have been doing to Muslims, it has its roots in the injustices, the mass destructions,war against Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza where millions have been misplaced, injured, humiliated and killed.West needs to face it, because many people are the sufferers of endless wars, hypocrisy forced on them,injustice and discriminatory policies of the West. This denial of basic rights and provocative acts are thereasons behind such incidents. Manipulation of facts by the Western media may harm the Muslimsliving in Europe; they would be subjected to hatred, racism, extremism. Incidents like Paris must bekept in context and perspective, it is indeed shocking, but not as shocking as massacre of 54 people inEgypt during peaceful protest, massacre of 134 students in APS Peshawar and massacre of 513 childrenin Gaza war. They relate this act with irreverent and offensive cartoons published in magazine and dubthe incident as a reaction to avenge of such act. If they realise it is so, then why don’t they repeat, nowand then, the same mistake? They should go for self assessment when some magazine, without havingsome justification or reason, resorts to some mischievous provocation act, only in the name of freedom ofexpression. Islam is the religion of peace and we believe that no freedom is brought through violence.Muslims are not ready to confront tomfoolery of western media in this case, by saying this I don’t meanto curb freedom of speech and inquiry. Enough of damage has been done to diminish the prestige ofIslam and this needs to be stopped. There is zero tolerance for religious intolerance in Islam.—Via email

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View From Abroad

Why astrology and politics don’t mix

A thought for MahindaRajapaksa, until last weekthe long-serving president of

Sri Lanka. He has, admittedly, beenaccused of war crimes. But it was hardnot to feel a smidgen of sympathy atthe manner of his departure. Worriedabout his dire approval ratings –that’ll be the alleged war crimes – hesought the counsel of his astrologer,Sumanadasa Abeygunawardena.Abeygunawardena consulted theheavens and suggested a snap elec-tion, in which Mr Rajapaksa was dulythumped.

“Not all of Nostradamus’s pre-dictions have come true either,” saidthe seer forlornly as he contemplatedunemployment. (It is telling thatNostradamus, a man famous for be-

ing wrong, clearly remains the neplus ultra of the business.) All as-trologers might be looking at thestars, but for now Abeygunawardenais very much in the gutter.

Yet Sri Lanka is not the onlycountry where this ancient profes-sion still holds sway. Across the PalkStrait in India, Pranab Kumar Bhatthas a reputation as the no-nonsenseastrologer to a number of high-pro-file individuals, including currentprime minister, Narendra Modi.“Pay your fees, ask your questions,hear the answers and get lost,” Bhatthas been quoted as saying.

Nor is the Sri Lanka fiasco is thefirst time an astrologer has failed todeliver the goods. In 2001 theNepalese royal astrologer, MangalRaj Joshi, admitted that the death ofthe entire royal family in a hail ofbullets had been “unforeseen”. Per-haps he would nearly agree with

Donald Rumsfeld, that while there areforeseen foreseens and unforeseenforeseens, the real doosras are the un-foreseen unforeseens.

In fact, it is possible that Rumsfeldgot the idea from one of his previousemployers, Ronald Reagan, whosewife Nancy engaged the services ofJoan Quigley, a Californian astrologer,after the attempted assassination ofRonald in 1981. “Virtually every ma-jor move and decision the Reagansmade … was cleared in advance [withJoan],” wrote chief of staff DonaldRumsfeld in his memoir.

It is easy to be scornful. Modernconvention has it that the closest ad-visers of western leaders should con-sist exclusively of cronies from school,quackish economics graduates, andtabloid newspaper hacks, who respec-tively provide the wisdom, science andlow cunning needed to run a state suc-cessfully. But, then again, Reagan cre-

Please unlock me..!

IN Lewis Carroll’s story of“Alice In Wonderland,” one ofthe characters is a lock. The

lock is restless. It is busily hunt-ing for something behind everyrock and tree. As Alice watches thelock, her curiosity is aroused andshe asks, “What is the matter?”The lock replies, “I am looking forsomething to unlock me.” I thinkthat’s our quest also — looking forsomething to unlock us!

Something or somebody whowill open us up to passion andpurpose for living: We don’twant to die before we ever truly

live! And we somehow know thatthe best part of our lives will bewhen we’re finally unlocked, whenour hearts have been opened. Tillthen we search for the special some-one who has the key!

The man lay on the psychiatristscouch; this was his last meeting andhe looked with admiration at thebeautiful lady who had led himthrough each session till he nowstood, ready to face the world again.“Will you marry me?” asked the pa-tient to the startled woman. “How didmarriage come into this?”

“Dear lady,” said the man, “youhave unlocked me! For years I havesearched for someone who’d unlockthe passion within me, bring out thebest which had been lying hidden, andmake me what I am today!” “And

I’ve done this for you?” asked thedoctor with a smile.

“Yes, Yes, Yes,” whispered thepatient, “You had the key! Years agowhen I got married I looked at mywife on my wedding day, thinking,‘she’ll be the one to unlock me’ butshe didn’t! But you my dear lady hadthe key!” The doctor smiled to her-self as she went to her cupboard andpulled out sheaves of paper, “Here,”she said, “study all of it!” “What isit?” he asked. “Your mindunravelling itself to me at every ses-sion!” “So why are you giving it tome?” “Can’t you see?”

“No,” said the patient. “That itwas you who had the key? That all Idid was help you in your search andtoday you have found it!” “But youhelped me find the key?” “That’s my

job!” said the psychiatrist, as shesignaled her secretary to call thenext patient, “everybody has theirown key to unlock their talents,their hearts, passion, zest for lifeand enthusiasm; you don’t need awife or husband to do it for you,nor a psychiatrist!”

The man smiled as he left theclinic, and the patient coming inasked the young doctor, “He washolding something close to hischest?” “His key! I just helpedhim find it!” “And where was itall the time?” “Right there in hishand!” smiled the doctor. “Whycouldn’t he see it?” “He was toobusy crying, ‘Please unlock me’to his wife, mistress, secretaryand friends..!”—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com

Collapse of criminal justice system

THE criminal justice system isa reflection of society but it isa painful reality that the crimi-

nal justice system has collapsed in Pa-kistan. This is why, crime in all itsforms and manifestation has becomeall –pervasive in our society. Everycity, every town and village has be-come a murder city, town or a vil-lage in this city where criminals andkillers rule and reign. Law -abidingcitizens of this country feel inse-cure even in their homes. It is aknown fact the successful prosecu-tion of crimes largely depends on se-curing reliable evidence, includingthe testimony of witnesses. Whenwitnesses withdraw from proceed-ings due to intimidation or actualharm, securing convictions often be-comes impossible. For this reason,the protection of witnesses remainsa cornerstone to an effective crimi-nal justice system.

In Pakistan, witness protection isoften sorely lacking, and progress to-wards formalized and functioningwitness protection services has beenslow. Challenges include statutoryframeworks and policies that are

weak or non-existent, under-in-vestment in witness protectionservices, and the scarcity of rel-evant knowledge and skillsamong policymakers and lawenforcement agencies. Amongcitizens, awareness of these is-

sues also remains limited. These cir-cumstances make it difficult to en-visage how the rule of law may be-come a reality for citizens.

Complex crimes are constantlyevolving, presenting new and var-ied challenges to criminal justicesystems. These crimes includeorganised crime, money laundering,terrorism, and international crimessuch as genocide, crimes againsthumanity and war crimes andcybercrime. Guaranteeing the pro-tection of crucial witnesses in suchcrimes gives courts the opportunityto listen to their testimony and evalu-ate the evidence. This is especiallytrue in cases involving powerful in-dividuals with links to influentialnetworks and institutions. New chal-lenges emerge daily; including thepossible exposure of witnesses basedon the Internet and new informationcommunication systems.

It has become easier to establishlocality of any person through vari-ous new technologies, and socialmedia sites such as Facebook can bean extensive source of personal in-formation. Much still has to be done

to advance research, training and leg-islation to inform and support the pro-tection of witnesses. Once witnessesare afforded effective protection, theirtestimony could lead to the propercarriage of justice and the convictionof individuals – even those who arehigh profile.

In this way, effective witness pro-tection will promote the administra-tion of justice, strengthen the rule oflaw and build the credibility of crimi-nal justice systems. At the end of theday, if there is no witness, there is nocase. Undeniably, the preservation oflife and property is one of the funda-mental functions of the state. Overthe millennia, the state has endeav-ored to perform this function throughvarious institutions. Crime and crimi-nality are as old as humanity itselfand their total elimination appear tobe beyond human ingenuity. The in-vestigative, prosecutorial, adjudica-tory and correctional institutions aimat containing criminality within so-cially acceptable limits.

The State causes sanctions to beimposed upon the criminals commen-surate with the gravity of their crimes.Had our past successive the and thepresent rulers revamped the criminaljustice system and our legal frater-nity had also advocated vigorouslyand cooperated actively with the rul-ers for revamping it then, the 21stAmendment would not have become

Ed cumming

a reality. Pakistan faces a plethoraof problems and challenges in re-establishing the rule of law. Thereis the need to address the chronicproblems and challenges identified,both, by the judges, jurists, amongothers, during different workshops,seminars and also in their researchpapers, within the criminal justicesystem that hinder the requiredprogress in this sector. Rulers mustredouble their efforts to revamp thecountry’s criminal justice systemincluding its rules, procedures, andterms to describe the stages of theproceedings.

May I also remind a few linesfrom the Millennium Declarationon human rights, democracy andgood governance, to our ruling elitewhich went on to state that StatesMembers “...will spare no effort topromote democracy and strengthenthe rule of law...” and would “...re-spect fully and uphold the Univer-sal Declaration of HumanRights…strive for the full protec-tion and promotion in all our coun-tries of civil, political, economic,social and cultural rights for all...”and to “...strengthen the capacity ofall our countries to implement theprinciples and practices of democ-racy and respect for human rights,including minority rights”?—The writer is Islamabad-basedfreelance columnist.

ated 16 million jobs and ended thecold war. In the UK, how much bet-ter are we governed than we wereunder Elizabeth I, who leaned heavilyon her polymath astrologer John Dee?If the recession taught us anything,it’s that financial tea leaves are nomore reliable than the real kind. Atleast horoscopes usually have the de-cency to remain ambiguous.

And while our suspicion of as-trology might feel scientific, it is notnecessarily democratic. A 2012 sur-vey of Americans, reported in theNew York Times this week, foundthat 10% believed astrology to be“very scientific,” and another thirdbelieved it to be “sort of scientific.”More of the population, in short,believe in their horoscopes than be-lieve that fossil fuel usage affects theclimate. Perhaps we do get the po-litical advisers we deserve.— Courtesy: The Guardian

India: From defensive to offensive

IN an international politics wherestates exist in anarchy and preferto maximize their security have

two basic strategic options, i.e., de-fensive and offensive.“Offensive-defence” theory also called “secu-rity dilemma theory”, given byStephen William Van Evera, arguesthat international conflict and warare more likely when offence hasthe advantage over defence, whilepeace and cooperation are moreprobable when defence has the ad-vantage over offence.

It argues that in a world wherethere is an offensive advantage, ex-pansionist grand strategies will bemore common, states will adopt of-fensive military doctrines, armsraces will emerge, foreign policieswill be confrontational, crises willbe frequent, states will shroud theircapabilities in secrecy to concealmilitary & economic vulnerabilities,and preemptive and preventivestrikes will become more likely.States that follow defensive strategyattempt to defend their territory andresources they control and don’t seekto expand territory. The theory also

goes on to say and suggests thatstates that adopt offensive strategieswould tend to succeed in interna-tional politics, whereas those statesthat adopt defensive strategieswould tend to fail.

“Imbalance” would be a more ap-propriate term when describing India-Pakistan equation. In straight numeri-cal terms of population, economics,military manpower and equipmentIndia overtakes Pakistan. What hasto be understood from the outset isthat the two countries have very dif-ferent military aspirations. India seesitself as a rising regional and extra-regional power and sees militarypower as one element in this process.As any aspiring regional player does,India looks around for potential part-ners, i.e., US and Russia and poten-tial enemies, i.e., China andPakistan.Pakistan is in an altogetherdifferent position. It seeks to provideitself with the military means to de-ter any offense from India. Havingsaid this, it can be said that thoughIndian shift from defensive-defenseto offensive-defense has been gradualbut constant and the following fac-tors clearly manifest this shift overthe period of time. India’s failedpolicy of cold start and threats of sur-gical strikes inside Pakistan hint tooffensive strategy. Soon after the

Abbottabad operation, the Indianchief of air staff, Air Chief MarshalP. V. Naik, gave the statement thatthe Indian air force has the capabilityof carrying out surgical strikes againstthe alleged Mumbai attackers hid-ing in Pakistan. The Pakistan-spe-cific Indian Cold Start Doctrine(CSD) has the potential to put theentire region into a quagmire of vola-tility and dismay. The threat of de-terrence failure would increase ifIndia operationalised its CSD as ithas wide range of implications forSouth Asia as a region.

India has maintained its positionas the world’s leading arms importerfor the third year in a row, ahead ofChina. According to latest SIPRI es-timates, the volume of Indian importsof major weapons rose by 111 percent between 2004–08 and 2009–13,and its share of the volume of inter-national arms imports increased from7 to 14 per cent.The recent violationsof working boundary and the line ofcontrol (LoC) by India clearly gavePakistan the signal of military andeconomic might India possesses atpresent.Indo-US cooperation in high-tech defense equipments has raisedconcerns in Pakistan which compelsPakistan to look for advanced weapontechnology. Such compulsions maycreate a path towards the destabiliza-

tion of strategic balance in the re-gion and for this US is the spoiler.

The BJP in its manifestopledged to “study in detail India’snuclear doctrine, revise, update, tomake it relevant to challenges ofcurrent times”. It wanted to reviewthe nuclear doctrine, whose twomain pillars were:(a) no first-usecommitment and (b) building acredible but minimum nuclear ar-senal. India has problems with al-most all SAARC countries espe-cially Pakistan, Bangladesh andNepal.India has aligned itself withthe US in its policy of “Asia re-balancing” focused at China. Thisshows Indian aggressive-cum-con-frontational foreign policy.In theface of India’s growing military ar-senal coupled with offensive strat-egy, Pakistan is seeking tomodernise its forces. Therefore,India’s changing posture from de-fensive-defence to offensive-de-fence is visible and it would con-tinue in the future but in an atmo-sphere of nuclear and missile tech-nology Indian offensive strategyis bound to suffer in context ofIndo-Pak equation as qualifyingweapons being defensive or offen-sive is difficult.—The writer works for IslamabadPolicy Research Institute.

is a crime even talking about this orin favour of Hitler could be trouble-some for you, even Pakistanis werehighly criticized by Israeli and Euro-pean media on charge of showingsympathizes with victims of Hamas-Israel war in 2014. Any human whofeels the pain of humanity will notfavour or defend brutal massacre ofCharlie Hebdo’s staff.

On other side, no argument is rightenough, which could defend blasphe-mous cartoons or disrespect to the holyProphet Mohammad (PBUH), Seri-ously, is it just a fun for them to hurtthe feelings of the followers of world’ssecond biggest religion. All civilizednations favour freedom of speech andfreedom of expression but it shouldbe under limits. Now the time has ar-rived to determine the limits of ‘free-dom of expression’, difference be-tween freedom of expression and in-sult or disrespect. Freedom of expres-sion refers to criticism, disagreementor rejection to some policy, not to in-sulting or disrespecting someone’sreligion, faith and ideology orsomeone’s feelings. World musthave to understand the sensitivity ofthe matter and end up double stan-dards otherwise these unpleasant at-tacks will continue to happen whichat least we don’t want to see.—Wah Cantt

Trafficsafety rules

ZUHAIB ALI LASHARI

I am doing my MSc. Thesis: on traf-fic safety rules and regulations. Ac-cording to my research, the publictransport drivers, pedestrians, motor-cyclist and local vehicle owners donot abide traffic safety rules. Accord-ing to WHO 2013 report, approxi-mately 30,131 people die annually inPakistan due to the road mishaps be-cause of violation of traffic safetyrules and lack of awareness.

The vehicle occupants do not usethe seat belts, and do not reduce thespeed of their vehicles where neces-sary. Thus, by using seat belts andlimiting speed, there would be 67percent less chances of road mishaps.The simple solution to educate pub-lic regarding traffic safety is possiblethrough social media, seminars, printas well electronic media and by in-cluding lessons in academic syllabus.At the end, traffic police should playtheir role for implementation of alltraffic safety rules and the violatorsmust be treated accordingly.—Islamabad

Smoking is deathZEESHAN RASHEED MANI

Smoking is injurious to health, as theAmerican heart association has statedthat rates of heart disease in middle-aged men are 50-90% higher amongheavy smoker than among the non-smokers. There is extensive evidencethat smoking contributes to thedevolvement of heart disease thateventually results in heart attack. As asmoker grows older, carbon particlesdeposit in lungs. The lungs cancer isdue to congestion of lungs. It can causestrain and tension in nervous systemwhich creates depression and restless-ness. It is hard to get rid of any habitespecially of smoking. If you are trav-elling in a van or bus and are smok-ing, this can be harmful for those whoare travelling with you. If you aresmoker even your own children willdislike the ill smell of your mouth. AsMuslims, we are the followers of theholy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),who ordains, ‘do not do that createstrouble for other’.

It is a bad habit because a smokercan easily be victimized foraddictives. In this way, smoking is thegateway to the narcotics. A smokercan easily be addicted to narcotics and

drugs. This risk is present in everycigarette, which is offered to him bysome unknown person in a bus, incollege or in a theatre. For the sakeof the taste of one cigarette, he ispushing himself towards death.

Some people think smoking as asource of tranquillity, but it is incor-rect, just a mindset. In fact, smokingis the first step to drug addiction, pro-toplasmic imbalances, heart failure,cancer, disturbed family life andabove all moral bankruptcy. There-fore, to led a healthy and happy life itis better to give up smoking—Rawalpindi

Who are we?BISMA ALAM

We certainly have developed the feel-ings against our leaders and againstour government. We are too busy topoint out their faults that we have everforgotten our faults. For example,everyone talks about corruption, rig-ging and unawareness of Governmentabout public issues. But, do we no-tice our faults? We are the ones whodon’t try to clean our city, we are theones who through garbage out of ourcars, we are the ones who don’t re-spect our teachers. So if we are do-ing so many wrong things then whywe presume that our governmentshould be free of all faults? We wantchange but we don’t want to changeourselves. So this is for all the peopleto improve yourself in order to im-prove the society.—Via email

Social evilsin our society

ZEESHAN RASHEED RAJA

Social evils have become one of themost explosive issues in our society.These evils weaken and demoralize anation and spoil its good image in theworld. Pakistani society is affectedwith so many social evils, namely,bribery, hoarding, profiteering, smug-gling, nepotism, jobbery, drug addic-tion and dowry etc. Bribery has be-come a part of our social system. Mostof the government officials are notready to work without bribery. Peopleare fed up with red-tapism and arecompelled for bribery.

The business community is in-dulged in hoarding and black market-ing and takes benefits of rising prices.The smugglers are doing ill-legaltrade. They are looting the poorpeople. Drug mafia is also spoilingthe younger generation by providingopium; heroin and other narcotics.These are powerful additives and arespoiling younger generation. Dowryis another social curse by which oursocial problems are multiplying dayby day. Because of this evil so manyyoung girls are unmarried. Their poorparents can not arrange expensivedowry for them. If we want to seeour country progressive and prosper-ous it is our duty to cooperate withthe government. Political partiesNGOs and national mass mediashould take necessary steps to rootout these evils from the society. Ahealthy democratic system should beadopted so that the social evils couldbe fought out from Pakistan.—Rawalpindi

Khalid ChandioEmail:letme_checkit@yahoo.com

Hashim AbroEmail:hashimabro@hotmail.com

LUIS SIMÓN

THE existing global order has been largelyunderwritten by the UnitedStates’ (US)military and strategic pre-eminence.

Moreover, the US is likely to remain the onlyglobal power for the foreseeable future. Its clos-est global peer competitors, China and Russia,are unable to project and sustain military poweron a global scale and lack the power of attrac-tion of the US. However, these powers do havethe potential to disrupt the established interna-tional order in some of the world’s key regions.Fraying regional orders in Europe, the MiddleEast and East Asia 2014 has witnessed the emer-gence of a number of challenges to regionalorder in Europe, East Asia and the Middle East.In two of these regions, East Asia and (Eastern)Europe, the challenge has come from the intentof China and Russia to revise the regional or-der to reflect their rising power and geopoliti-cal priorities.

In the Middle East, America’s less ambitiousstrategic approach has resulted in a securityvacuum that is being filled by a reverberation ofethno- sectarian tensions and inter-state compe-tition. In East Asia, China’s growing economicweight is translating into a process of rapid mili-tary modernisation and a more assertive foreignpolicy. In particular, Beijing’s efforts to strengthenits nuclear deterrence and field more robust Anti-Access/ Area Denial capabilities potentially posea significant challenge to America’s ability tosustain its military power in the Asia-Pacific overthe medium term. In addition, Beijing is becom-ing more assertive in the pursuit of its interests

Challenges for European foreign policy in 2015

Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano waves during a Liberation Day ceremony at the Unknown Soldier’s monument in central Rome April 25, 2014, inthis handout photo provided by the Italian Presidency Press Office.—File photo

in the East and South China seas, where it isengaged in territorial disputes with a number ofallies and partners of the US. In Eastern Europe,Russia’s annexation of Crimea and ongoingmeddling in Ukraine have undermined Europe’srules-based order.

Moscow’s efforts to restore a sphere of in-fluence in Eastern Europe represent a directthreat to the security of a number of US part-ners in the region (including Ukraine, Georgiaor Moldova) and have created strong suspicionamongst some of America’s North AtlanticTreaty Organisation (NATO) allies, most no-tably the Baltic States, Poland and Romania.In crafting its response to China’s increasingassertiveness in East Asia and Russia’s attemptto recreate a sphere of influence in EasternEurope, the US must strike a difficult balance.On the one hand, Washington seeks to reas-sure its allies and partners in Europe and EastAsia and preserve the established regional or-der. On the other hand,the US wants to avoiddisproportionate measures that might lead toan escalation and derive into a situation of openpolitical hostility with either Russia or China.

The US believes that some form of under-standing with Russia and China is central topreserving stability in Europe and East Asia –but also important to advancing other globalsecurity objectives. Washington’s Eurasianstrategy over the past four decades has largelybeen predicated on encouraging some degreeof geopolitical distance between Russia andChina. Against the backdrop of successive At-tempts at Sino-Russian strategic rapproche-ment, it seems that the most effective way for

Washington to preserve its own diplomaticroom of manoeuvre is maintaining some formof cooperation with both Moscow and Beijing.

The US-China relationship is central to theproper functioning of the global economy,whilst progress on a number of other globalchallenges is also premised upon cooperationwith Beijing – as demonstrated by the Novem-ber 2014 US-China agreement on curbing glo-bal emissions. Russia remains crucial for thesuccess of any US-led efforts to limit the glo-bal spread of nuclear weapons. Moscow alsoremains an important diplomatic player in theMiddle East (particularly for the crisis in Syriaand the Iranian nuclear dossier) and shall provekey to stability in Central Asia, especially fol-lowing the US military drawdown in Afghani-stan. Last but not least, the US is well awarethat some form of understanding of Russia willbe important to ensure the long-term stabilityof the Arctic, an area of increasing geostrategicinterest for Washington.

The collapse of regional order in the MiddleEast seems to be directly related toWashington’s decision to adopt a less ambi-tious strategic approach towards the region.This can be traced back to the US military with-drawal from Iraq in 2010-11 – and can also beseen in Washington’s reluctance to intervenemilitarily in Syria and restraint in committingmany resources (including by excluding com-bat troops) to fighting the Islamic State (IS) inIraq and Syria. The strategic vacuum resultingfrom this US ‘retreat’ from the Middle Easthas created a process of growing geopoliticalcompetition in the region. The advance of IS

in Iraq and Syria has aggravated existing ten-sions between Sunni and Shia Muslims – andhas reinvigorated calls for Kurdish autonomy.

Ethno-sectarian cleavages are partly respon-sible for the wave of political instability thatbesets the Middle East, but such cleavagesshould not be isolated from changing patternsof regional inter-state competition – for the lat-ter largely delineate the strategic and politicalparameters within which the former operate.Critically, the geostrategic expansion of Iran,Saudi Arabia and Turkey – and their competi-tion for influence via proxies – are (re)definingthe region’s evolving geopolitical parameters andethno-sectarian fault lines. Between ‘reassur-ance’ and ‘de-escalation’?: In Eastern Europe,the US has joined forces with its European al-lies to ramp up political pressure on Russia. Onthe diplomatic front,the US and the EU haveadopted (relatively) ambitious sanctions againstRussia’s political leadership and economy. Onthe military front, the US and NATO have takena number of measures aimed at reassuring Cen-tral and Eastern European allies, including ef-forts to increase the Alliance’s readiness forEastern European contingencies,the deploymentof small US Army rotations to the Baltic Statesand Poland, an increase in the presence of USand allied air and naval assets in the Baltic andBlack Sea areas, and a higher tempo of alliedexercises in Central and Eastern Europe. The‘post-Crimea’ measures adopted by the US andNATO could signal that the two-decades longprocess of US force reductions in Europe mayhave reached rock bottom.

—Courtesy: Pride

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN

THE Iranian clerical regime has repeatedly vowed to eraseIsrael from the map, but American publisher HarperCollinsactually did it. The company released an atlas of the Middle

East for English-speaking students in the Persian Gulf region,and Israel isn’t on it. The West Bank and Gaza are on it, which isentirely appropriate since they exist and are not part of Israel,but Israel itself is just…absent.

The Tablet newspaper in Britain originally reported the story,and HarperCollins has since recalled the atlases and promisesthey will be pulped. Executives at the company headquarters areembarrassed and say they sincerely apologize. Lower level em-ployees, however, thought they did the right thing.

Collins Bartholomew told The Tablet that putting Israel onthe map would have been “unacceptable” in the Middle East andthat “local preferences” had to be respected.

He isn’t imaging those local preferences. I’ve seen plenty ofArab maps that don’t include Israel. Sometimes it’s labeled asPalestine. Sometimes it’s a blank space. Sometimes it’s thereand labeled correctly. It depends on the map and, to an extent,which country produced it. Some Arab nations are less hung upon this than others.

Companies that want to sell products to customers really doneed to think about what would and would not be acceptable orthey won’t turn a profit. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’sjust basic business.

But the map HarperCollins produced is a lie. Right there onits atlas cover are the words, “Learn with maps” in English. Butkids can’t learn real geography from fake maps. Setting asidethe politics of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the product fails to liveup to its own description.

Let’s get back to politics, though. People who hate a countryso intensely that they can’t bear to see its existence on mapshave a serious problem. I detest North Korea and wish it didn’texist. So much better if it were joined to democratic South Ko-rea like East Germany merged with the west after the fall of theBerlin Wall. But for God’s sake, I don’t require the maps in myhouse to show North Korea as blank. If I did, I’d have a problemand I’d need some help.

There isn’t much Westerners can do to change reactionaryattitudes on the other side of the planet, and publishers aren’tgenerally in the political-emotional therapy business, but pan-dering to a denial of reality only perpetuates it.

If Middle Eastern customers will only buy a map if it lies,they can make their own damn maps. And if HarperCollins, orany other publishing company, actually wants kids over there to“Learn with maps” as it says, then the local delusional bubbleneeds to be punctured.

—Courtesy: WA

Erasing IsraelFrom the Map

S. M. HALI

XI JINPING, Chinese President and General Secretary ofthe Communist Party, who had promised to come downhard on corruption, has launched an anti graft campaign

to make good his promise. Expressing “Zero-Tolerance” forsleaze, graft and corruption, the Communist Party’s anti-graftagency has organized a three-day plenum. The three-day, closed-door Central Commission for Discipline Inspection plenumcomes after a meeting of the 25-member Politburo late last month,which saw top leaders vow to stand firm in the fight againstcorruption. The Politburo also said it would not tolerate cadresforming political factions for personal business

Moving beyond rhetoric, President Xi Jinping has been work-ing on a crackdown on political factions and syndicated corrup-tion in local governments and particular industries ever since hecame into power. The Communist Party’s Central Commissionfor Discipline Inspection, headed by Politburo Standing Com-mittee member and key Xi ally Wang Qishan, has played a cen-tral role in this campaign, in which hundreds of officials acrossthe nation have been investigated and prosecuted. Beijing em-barked on a wide-reaching campaign two years ago to root outgraft among party, government, military and state-owned com-pany officials.

The CPC aims at targeting both the “tigers” and the “flies”(senior and lower ranking government officials and Party mem-bers), with regard to the current anti graft campaign. According tothe Central Commission for Discipline and Inspection, the Party’swatchdog, since the announcement of the anti-corruption cam-paign a year ago, 182,000 officials were punished for disciplinaryviolations in 2013. Lavish banquets, luxury gifts, and expensiveweddings and funerals are strictly banned among Party members.

The year 2014 had witnessed graft investigations into severalleading figures, including Zhou Yongkang, the former security tsar,Ling Jihua, ex-presidential aide, retired General Xu Caihou, whowas vice-chairman of Central Military Commission, and Su Rong,former deputy head of the national political advisory body. Doz-ens of senior ministerial and provincial officials have fallen, aswell as retired top cadres like former domestic security tsar ZhouYongkang and former general Xu Caihou Two women officialsfrom Shanxi province were sacked for alleged graft and adultery,the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said. It is rarefor the party’s top anti-corruption agency to openly accuse femalecadres of sexual misconduct.

One of the officials, Zhang Xiuping , 49, was a deputy partysecretary in Jinzhong and served as a deputy secretary general forthe provincial anti-graft agency for more than a decade. The otherwoman to be sacked was Yang Xiaobo , 43, a deputy party secre-tary for Gaoping . Separately, Fang Guoxing , deputy general man-ager of China Kweichow Moutai Winery (Group), has been placedunder investigation for corruption by the anti-graft agency.

A number of steps have been taken to cement the anti graftcampaign. A compilation of select remarks by Chinese PresidentXi Jinping on the fight against corruption and the constructionof a clean CPC has been published. A circular issued jointly bythe Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and theCPC’s discipline agency asked Party officials to take the essenceof the remarks to heart and behave in line with the decisions soas to ensure an effective counter-corruption drive. Additionally,President Xi will require the support of the old guard of the CPCto ensure success of the anti graft campaign.

President Xi needs to watch out for dissension because hishard-line measures to weed out corruption could possibly causeinternal division within the Party. Secondly, he cannot funda-mentally uproot corruption without changing the legal systemand mobilizing the civil society. Efforts in this regard have beenmade by announcing the concept of accountability and compre-hensive rule of law enacted by the CPC to protect the Chinesepeople in accordance with the law and constitution.

Meanwhile western critics have been commenting negativelyon the herculean task undertaken by President Xi. A few opinethat only the “flies” have been targeted, letting the “tigers” goscot free. The names mentioned above are all of senior cadre andbelie this unwarranted criticism. Some critics liken it to Mao’s“cultural revolution” but they forget that times have changedand PRC today enjoys greater democracy and the checks andbalances within the CPC will strengthen President Xi’s endeav-our to root out graft rather than weaken his position. Xi Jinping,Chinese President and General Secretary of the Communist Party,who had promised to come down hard on corruption, has launchedan anti graft campaign to make good his promise. Expressing“Zero-Tolerance” for sleaze, graft and corruption, the Commu-nist Party’s anti-graft agency has organized a three-day plenum.

—Courtesy: Emailed

Xi Jinping’s antigraft campaign

Beijingconcerned overflatulent Japan

mily budgetBEIJING—China on Wednes-day voiced concern overJapan’s annual military bud-get. Japan’s Cabinet onWednesday approved 4.98trillion yen (about 42.46 bil-lion U.S. dollars) of defensebudget for the 2015 fiscalyear, which starts in April, thecountry’s largest ever and a 2percent increase year on year.

Since Japanese PrimeMinister Shinzo Abe took of-fice in late 2012, Japan’s de-fense budget has seen anuptrend and could top 5 tril-lion yen in 2016, said mediareports.

Japan’s military and secu-rity policies have long drawnthe attention of the interna-tional community, for it indi-cates Japan’s future plans forpeaceful development, ChineseForeign Ministry spokesmanHong Lei said at a routine pressbriefing.

“We hope Japan will reflecton its history, follow the pathof peaceful development andplay a constructive role in pro-moting regional peace and sta-bility,” he said.—Xinhua

KIEV—A passenger bus came under heavy firein eastern Ukraine, killing 12 people, Ukrainianauthorities said, and fighting intensified aroundthe international airport in the city of Donetsk asseparatists tried to oust government forces. Thelatest violence flared on Tuesday after Russia,Ukraine, France and Germany scrapped plans fora summit in Kazakhstan this week because of thefailure to implement a four-month-old ceasefireagreement.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko con-demned the bus attack as an act that “chilled theheart” and blamed it on the forces of the separat-ist Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.“These deaths are on the conscience of the DNRand LNR gangs and on those who stand behindthem,” he said, promising to sign a decree onWednesday on more troops for the front. But hiscomments aroused indignation on Wednesdayamong some Ukrainians seeking tougher actionagainst the separatists.

“The terrorists fire on a bus with pensioners,kill children, shoot volunteers and torture themin cellars and we say simply that we are ‘ready’,”wrote Oksana Zinovieva, a spokeswoman forKiev mayor Vitaly Klitshchko, on her Facebookpage. “We have been trying to convert readinessinto action for too long already.” The death tollin the attack rose to 12 with the death overnightof one of those wounded, police said. A seniorofficial from the Organization for Security andCooperation in Europe (OSCE) called for maxi-mum restraint from all sides in the Ukraine con-flict, which has killed more than 4,700 people

Ukraine bus attack kills 12amid worsening airport battle

since last April.“Over the past 24 hours the situation has sig-

nificantly deteriorated, especially near the Donetskairport,” said Ertugrul Apakan, head of the OSCE’sspecial monitoring mission. The conflict betweenUkrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels begansoon after Russia annexed Crimea last March, cre-ating the worst crisis in East-West relations sincethe Cold War. Western governments accuse Rus-sia of backing the separatists but Moscow deniessending in troops. Photographs showed the bus pep-pered by holes, as were seats inside it.

A long trail of blood marked the road besideit near the town of Volnovakha. A regional Ukrai-nian administration spokesman said the bus wasattacked by rebels using Grad rocket launcherswhile it was carrying civilians through a govern-ment checkpoint. Separatists denied responsibil-ity and said the bus had been attacked by smallarms fire rather than a missile or shell. Reportsfrom Donetsk on Tuesday said a significant partof the airport’s control tower - already a wreckedhulk with cabling and concrete dangling from itafter months of shelling - had been destroyed.

The Sergei Prokofiev airport complex,opened to great fanfare by the now ousted presi-dent Viktor Yanukovich to mark the Euro 2012soccer championship, has gradually disintegratedunder months of fire. But although it has not func-tioned since the onset of hostilities last April, withits runways cratered by shell holes, the airporthas symbolic value for both sides. Governmentforces have repelled repeated rebel attempts todislodge them.—Reuters

ROME—Italian PresidentGiorgio Napolitano handedin his resignation as head ofstate on Wednesday, leavingPrime Minister Matteo Renziwith the politically delicatetask of finding a successor.

The 89-year-oldNapolitano, widely respectedoutside Italy as a guarantorof stability during the eurozone crisis, had always beenexpected to step down beforethe end of his second term inoffice because of his ad-vanced age.

With elections in Greecelater this month and the Eu-ropean Central Bank undergrowing pressure to take un-precedented steps to fight therisk of deflation, the changeadds to an increasingly un-certain climate in the eurozone.

I taly is s truggling toemerge from years of reces-sion and the governmentfaces hurdles to its economicand constitutional reformagenda. Renzi hailedNapolitano’s contribution toensuring political stabilityduring nine turbulent yearsin office and said he expecteda successor would be chosenby the end of the month.Stalemate over selecting anew head of state could ab-sorb precious political en-ergy and, at worst, under-mine Renzi to the pointwhere he might try to re-es-tablish his authority with anearly general election.

Speculation has been un-derway for months over whowill succeed Napolitano in anoffice with wide but looselydefined powers that rangefrom naming prime ministersand vetoing laws to exercis-ing general moral suasionover government policy.

Italian president quits amidchaotic conditions for his premier

No clear front-runner hasemerged with potential candidatesincluding former Prime MinisterRomano Prodi, Economy MinisterPier Carlo Padoan and constitutionalcourt judge Sergio Mattarella.

ECB President Mario Draghi,once seen as a candidate, has ruledout leaving his current position.Renzi declined to speculate on namesbut said the next head of state wouldbe “a great arbitrator who will help

the country to grow” and would bebacked by as wide a majority as pos-sible.

The new president will be electedin a secret ballot by both houses ofparliament, plus representatives of

the regions, in a complicated multi-round procedure. Italy is strugglingto emerge from years of recessionand the government faces hurdles toits economic and constitutional re-form agenda.Voting must begin

within 15 days and is expected tostart at the end of the month.

The debacle in 2013, when po-l i t ical fact ion-fighting obligedNapolitano to step in as a compro-

mise candidate, underlines how riskythe procedure can be. Renzi’s centerDemocratic Party has about 450 vot-ers in the 1,009-strong voting assem-bly, ensuring the prime minister

should have the numbers eventuallyto elect his candidate without rely-ing on help from major oppositionparties.

But the real risk for Renzi may

come from within his own partyranks, where some of the old guardmay try to extract concessions froma prime minister they have always re-garded with suspicion.—Reuters

MOSCOW—The crew of theInternational Space Station(ISS) safely evacuated to theRussian segment on Wednes-day after systems detected apossible ammonia leak in theU.S. side, but NASA said itmight have been a false alarm.“It’s becoming a stronger casethat this is a false indication,which is great news,” astronautJim Kelly from Mission Con-trol in Houston radioed thespace station crew shortly be-fore 8:30 a.m. EST. Russia’sMission Control Centre saidthere had been a leak of “harm-ful substances”, described byRussia’s Interfax news agencyas ammonia.

NASA confirmed an alarmhad sounded but denied that anammonia leak had been con-firmed. “The Expedition 42 crewmembers are safe and in goodshape inside the Russian segmentof the International Space Stationfollowing an alarm in the U.S.segment at about 4 a.m. EST,”

US section of spacestation evacuated toRussian side after

alarm soundsNASA said in a statement. Sev-eral systems on board saw anincrease in pressure that couldhave indicated an ammonia leak“in the worst case scenario,”NASA said. NASA said that, fol-lowing safety procedures, thecrew had been told to isolatethemselves in the Russian seg-ment while the teams evaluatedthe situation.

The Russians said it wasnow up to the United States todecide what further actionmight have to be taken to dealwith the problem in the U.S.section. The six crew of threeRussians, two Americans andan Italian were not in danger,it added, and Russian newsagencies quoted officials assaying there was no need toconsider evacuating the spacestation. The space laboratory isa 15-nation project which isoverseen by Russia and theUnited States, and it has beencontinuously occupied fornearly 15 years.—Reuters

Chief Ministers of all provincesto comprehensively brief himon the progress made by themon the implementation of theNational Action Plan nextweek.

He said federal govern-ment would provide all pos-sible resources to the provin-cial governments but askedthem to be proactive in thisimportant matter.

The Prime Minister saidthat a state-of-the-art rapid re-sponse force is being formedto meet the challenges posedby terrorism and extremism.This properly equipped forcewould be trained on modernlines and given better paypackage.

In his briefing FederalMinister for Interior,Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in-formed the Prime Minister that180 miscreants have beenpicked up so far from variousparts of Islamabad while 48 ofthem have been formally ar-rested. Similarly in Punjab14000 suspects have beenpicked up out of whom 780formally arrested and are un-der investigation, he said.

Other participants of themeeting included FederalMinister Information, Broad-casting and National Heritage,Mr. Pervaiz Rashid; SpecialAdvisor to PM, BarristerZafarullah; Political Secretaryto PM, Dr. Asif Kirmani; Sec-retary Interior and AttorneyGeneral, along with other se-nior officials.

Nawaz callsFrom Page 1

powering Judicial Commissions to actupon clear evidences of rigging in constitu-encies and for calling re-election”. Hemaintained.

He said the PTI led coalition govern-ment in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa was fullyready to hold the Local Bodies electionsbut the Election Commission was still notprepared to hold the polls. Imran said animportant meeting of the Party’s core com-mittee has been convened on January eigh-teen to draw future line of action.

Imran while referring to the protestduring his visit to APS , said that purposeto make this visit was to dispel security fearsand he even got off his car to inquire fromprotesters how he could comfort them andaddress their issues. He however, said herespected their protest. “I fully understandtheir grief. They have lost their children,”Khan said while reacting to protest of someparents who shouted ‘Go Imran Go’ slo-gans outside the school upon Khan’s arrivalalong with his wife Reham Khan.

Enraged parents bar Imran’s entryFrom Page 1

He regretted that he failed to under-stand the reason behind the protest as hecame here only to boost the morale of stu-dents. Imran said he fully respected thesentiments of the parents but he was quitedisappointed as he noticed that few of themwere not actually parents but instead be-longed to various political parties.

Imran said that he was happy to seethe courage of the students who survivedthe attack, adding his party’s governmentin KPK would not allow disruption of edu-cational activities in the province. He saidthat it was not possible to provide full-proofsecurity to over 65,000 schools in the prov-ince, adding the provincial government wasdoing what it can to improve security.

Imran said it was disappointing forhim that he had to postpone his plannedvisit two days ago as he was advised topostpone the visit that was coinciding withthat of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS)General Raheel Sharif to APS the sameday. The PTI Chairman and his spouse

Reham khan later also visited number ofbereaved families and offered Fateha forthe departed souls and lauded the courageof the parents who lost their blue eyed inthe Peshawar tragedy.

In the meanwhile the KhyberPukhtunkhwa Information MinisterMushtaq Ghani here on Wednesdayblamed political opponents for trying toobstruct Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI)Chairman Imran Khan from enteringArmy Public School in Peshawar.

Addressing a press conference the In-formation minister said the parents ofArmy Public School martyrs staged sit-inas Khan, along with his wife Reham Khan,visited the school. “Awami National Partyand Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz haveformed Shuhada Forum and the protest-ers outside Army Public School weremembers of the forum”. Mushtaq Ghanisaid adding around a dozen workers triedto block route of the convoy and they werejust trying to score “political points”.

bile, textile, surgical equipment, infrastructure,engineering, agriculture and SMEs.

Pakistan also needs Japanese technical assis-tance and investment in renewable energy sourcessuch as solar, wind, thermal and biogas. He hopedthat the Japanese companies will tap the potentialand will be excited to explore some of these areasfor their future investments.

Pakistan is an upcoming emerging market.Many multi-national enterprises made profits inrecent years. This has encouraged other enterprisesto expand their investments in Pakistan. The WorldBank has projected that the investment growth ratein Pakistan, which declined for several years inthe past, is projected to rise during 2014-16.

Finance Minister said that Pakistan has one ofthe most liberal foreign investment regimes inSouth Asia. 100% foreign equity is permitted inthe manufacture and infrastructure sectors as thecountry has a market-oriented economy, with arapidly growing private sector.

Pakistan has a very dynamic market and a largeconsumer base. There is great potential in thepower, infrastructure and natural resource sectors.There is also scope for investment in hydel andcoal based power projects. Furthermore, there is aneed for world class education system and mecha-nization of industries that, if exploited efficiently,can generate wealth for foreign investors.

Finance Minister said Pakistan stands on theverge of a momentous transformation. “Our gov-

Dar for big boostFrom Page 1

ernment is fully committed to harness economythrough appropriate policies and strategicvision.The government has a long term develop-ment plan aimed at creating a globally competi-tive and prosperous country, with particular em-phasis on achieving macroeconomic stabilitythrough inclusive growth” the Minister stated.

He said present government attaches top pri-ority to enhance the performance of the economyfor a better Pakistan. Improved infrastructure, goodgovernance, uninterrupted and affordable energy,quality education and health for all are some ofthe priority areas we are focusing on.

The Finance Minister said the government hadmade other important achievements including rais-ing of US$ 2 billion through Eurobond after 7years; raising of US$ 1 billion through Interna-tional Sukuk after 9 years; successful auction of3G-4G licenses. Nearly US$ 1.2 billion were raisedand two more licenses are still available for auc-tion. Then there has been resumption of programlending by World Bank and ADB that has enabledus to access some US$ 1.5 billion from these in-stitutions during the year. He also hinted at con-struction of terminal at Port Qasim to import LNG,which will likely receive LNG soon.

The Finance Minister said that PML (N) gov-ernment would welcome the initiative of estab-lishing Japan Specific Economic Zones and willfacilitate the establishment of entrepreneurship inall respects.

al-Qaida’s top leader Ayman al-Zawahri, Osamabin Laden’s successor. The attack on the weeklywas the beginning of three days of terror in Francethat saw 17 people killed before the three Islamicextremist attackers were gunned down by securityforces.Brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi who car-ried out the attack on the paper were “heroes,” al-Ansi said.“Congratulations to you, the Nation of Is-lam, for this revenge that has soothed our pain,”said al-Ansi. “Congratulations to you for these bravemen have blown off the dust of disgrace and lit thetorch of glory in the darkness of defeat and agony.”

In the video, al-Ansi made no claim to the sub-sequent Paris attack on a kosher grocery store, dur-ing which a friend of Kouachis, Amedy Coulibaly,killed a French policewoman Thursday and fourhostages on Friday.Coulibaly appeared in a videomessage two days after his death, pledging alle-giance to the Islamic State group, a fierce rival toal-Qaida, saying he had worked in coordinationwith the Kouachis, the “brothers from our team.”

The Coulibaly video raised questions over pos-sible cooperation between the rival groups, com-peting for resources, recruits and leadership ofJihad. But al-Ansi called the rival groups’ attacksa “coincidence.” AP

In Wednesday’s video, al-Ansi also accusedFrance of belonging to the “party of Satan,” say-ing the European country “shared all of America’scrimes,” a reference to France’s offensive againstmilitants in the west African nation of Mali.

Al-Ansi also warned of more “tragedies andterror” in the future.

Washington considers AQAP as one of al-Qaida’s most dangerous offshoots. Formed in 2009as a merger between the terror group’s Yemeni andSaudi branches, AQAP has been blamed for a stringof unsuccessful bomb plots against Americantargets.These include a foiled plan to down a De-

Yemeni Al Qaeda claimsFrom Page 1

104 bodiesFrom Page 1

There should be no place forthem to hide.”

Recalling his conversationwith Prime Minister NarendraModi in Gujarat, Ban said, “In-dia takes a critically importantplace in UN, for peace and se-curity not only in South Asia butglobally. It’s a generous con-tributor to UN peacekeepingand policing missions. India hasunfortunately lost about 158 ofits brave men in these missions.”

As one of the largest con-tributors to the UN’s peace-keeping missions, India hasdemanded a greater role in op-erational decisions. Ban said, “Ihad good meetings with theforeign and defence ministers,on how we can improve opera-tional capacity of all peace-keeping. Yesterday (Monday),when I met the defence minis-ter, I requested the Indian gov-ernment for critical assets likehelicopters, attack helicopters.I’m very encouraged by theirpositive response.” —INP

India, Pakshould resume

From Page 1

a decent cremation as perHindu traditions and dumpedthem in the river. Gupta,however, has reportedlyasked police to probe allangles before arriving at aconclusion.

The district administrationused JCB machines to fish outthe decomposed bodies fromthe river bed and theencatchment areas, a step pro-tested by residents and theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP).BJP state president LaxmikantBajpayi, who visited the sitewhere the bodies have beenfound, rang up senior officialsat night and protested the “in-humane treatment” beingmeted out to the dead.—Online

claimed 150 lives in thecountry’s deadliest terror at-tack. Ikramul Haq, is a mem-ber of banned Sunni militantoutfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi whowas sentenced to death by ananti-terror court in 2004 forkilling a Shiite Muslim threeyears earlier.

He was set to be hanged inthe eastern city of Lahore earlyThursday but his family cameto a deal with the victim’s rela-tives on Wednesday night,Haq’s lawyer, Ghulam MustafaMangan, said.—Online

LeJ terroristFrom Page 1

Pakistan-RussiaFrom Page 1

ternational arms control, non-proliferation and disarmamentas well as strategic stabilityboth at the regional and globallevels. Pakistan and Russia alsodiscussed relevant areas of co-operation in the bilateral do-main and in the multilateralfora.

The two sides reaffirmedtheir commitment to substan-tially strengthen the consulta-tive mechanism on strategicstability and contribute towardsfurther promotion of a rein-vigorated comprehensive andenduring partnership betweenPakistan and Russia.

The two countries agreedto convene the next meeting ofthe Consultative Group inIslamabad.

Economy put on right trackFrom Back Page

troit-bound airliner in 2009 using a new type ofexplosive hidden in the bomber’s underwear, andanother attempt a year later to send mail bombshidden in toner cartridges on planes bound to theU.S. from the Gulf.—AP

He reiterated that the Gov-ernment was addressing energyand petrol issues of the domesticconsumers and the business com-munity. Power plants are also be-ing set up, he continued. He said,“We want maximum productionof electricity by 2017 so that theinvestors and business commu-nity could be assured that theyhave all the resources and energyto meet their requirements.”

Nawaz Sharif informed thebusinessmen that it has been de-cided to lay gas pipeline fromGwadar to Nawabshah. A pipe-line would also be laid from Iranto Gwadar, said the Prime Minis-ter. He said that for establishinginfrastructure, work is in progressand tenders have been called formany infrastructural projects.

The Prime Minister said thatwork was underway speedily onconstruction of Karachi-LahoreMotorway and in this regard Rs55 billion have been released. Hesaid that China was interested inconstruction of Multan-SukkurMotorway and negotiations areunderway in this regard.Khunjrab-Gwadar Highway was

also being constructed. Speedywork is in progress to makeGwadar port fully functional, saidthe prime minister adding theseprojects were very important forthe country.

The Prime Minister said thatdespite difficulties, the economywas moving on the right path andeconomic indicators are muchbetter today as compared to thepast. The foreign exchange re-serves of the country have shoreup to $15 billion. He said that theGovernment was trying to furtherstrengthen Pakistani currency. Hesaid that had dharnas not beenthere, the economy would havebeen even better.

The Prime Minister also di-rected Chairman FBR to holdconsultation meetings with theeminent traders and leading busi-nessmen of the country and topresent suggestions within nextten days on possible reduction oftaxes on various items.During the meeting the PrimeMinister also called for ChairmanPrivate Power InfrastructureBoard and directed him to clearall pending power generationprojects. The Prime Minister as-sured the business communitythat he would visit Karachi in thecoming few days and review lawand order situation. In this regardhe will also hold consultationswith traders, industrialists andother segments of society.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifsaid that people spreading hatredand sectarianism would be triedin military courts. “Swift justiceis key to eradicate the menace ofterrorism,” the prime ministersaid. “Those terrorising society inthe name of religion will bebrought to justice.”

The prime minister was at the

President House to meet businesscommunity delegation, prior towhich he had a one-on-one meet-ing with the President. The PMsaid that Operation Zarb-e-Azbhas played an important role indismantling the terror infrastruc-ture, adding that the governmenthad to take the step of the 21stAmendment and the amendmentin the Army Act to tackle terror-ism.“Under the national actionplan another Zarb-e-Azb is beinglaunched to make the countrypeaceful,” the PM added. “Thesedecisions have been taken in na-tional interest and should havebeen taken earlier.” The primeminister informed that amotorway will be built fromLahore to Karachi, adding that in-frastructure development is amajor priority of the government.“Our priority is to increase elec-tricity generation as soon as pos-sible to meet the rising demand.”

“LNG imports will help usin meeting energy demands,” theprime minister added. Minister ofCommerce, Minister for Waterand Power, and Minister of Pe-troleum were also present. Thebusiness delegation gave sugges-tions to the PM and President. Themeeting was informed that over-seas Pakistanis were sending $25billion annually through all chan-nels combined. The PM addedthat steps would be taken to at-tract overseas Pakistanis to investin Pakistan.The President ob-served that the Government wasserious towards improving theeconomy and to promote tradeand commerce in the country. Inthis regard the policies of the Gov-ernment were in the right direc-tion, said the President. He under-scored the need for the traders andbusiness community to take maxi-

mum benefit from the policies ofthe Government so that theeconomy is further stabilized andmore and more job opportunitiesare created.

The Commerce Minister in-formed that Free Trade Agree-ment 2 was being negotiated withChina to safeguard Pakistan’s in-terest, and that it would be inde-pendent of FTA 1 signed nineyears ago. “The FBR should con-sider decreasing tax rates to en-courage more people to pay taxesso that more revenue is collected,”the PM added.

The Prime Minister furthersaid the government was takingsteps to facilitate industrialists andbusiness community to strengthenthe economy, increase industrialproduction and create job oppor-tunities. Nawaz Sharif said thePML-N government has discour-aged lethargy in government de-cision making and action is beingtaken on priority whereverneeded. He said the LNG importwill help us in meeting energydemand. “We are bringing an eco-nomic turnaround in the countryand economic indicators are im-proving. Foreign currency re-serves and stock market are high,rupee is stable due to govt poli-cies and it will be made furtherstronger” the PM remarked.

He directed ministry of wa-ter and power and PPIB to expe-dite approvals of pending casesof power plants and immediatelyremove all hurdles.

The Businessmen gave sug-gestions to the PM and Presidentto improve the business friendlyclimate and boost economy. Theyregarded the unity displayed byall parties on the issue of terror-ism as a good omen.

Khan to hearFrom Page 1

Chief Imran Khan is trying tofool people on the issue of al-leged rigging by leveling base-less allegations.

The Minister said he hadoffered Imran Khan to identifythe word ‘bogus’ in the auditreport of NA 122 constituencyand also conduct forensic testof the ballot papers which heclaimed had been printed byprivate presses. He said ImranKhan did not respond to any ofthe two offers, which impliedthat he is doing the politics oflies.—Online

Pak, UKFrom Page 1

curity and Counter-Terrorism Charles Farr anddiscussed intelligence sharing and terrorism co-operation.

Gen Sharif, who is on a three-day visit, alsomet with the National Security advisor Sir KimDarroch. He was presented full guard of honourand was accompanied by Chief of the DefenceStaff UK, Gen Sir Nicholas Houghton.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK SyedIbne Abbas and senior British defence officialsreceived the army chief upon his arrival.

Delhi to raiseFrom Back Page

“I am hearing this from you. It has comeas a shock to me. I haven’t received any orderfrom the government,” Chander told an In-dian newspaper. The appointments commit-tee of the cabinet (ACC) approved the termi-nation of Chander’s contract with effect fromJanuary 31, a good 16 months before it wasto end. Strangely, the ACC order was takenoff the DoPT website later in the day.

“It is the government’s decision to end mycontract but I had no indication this was com-ing. No idea why it has happened,” the 64-year-old added.— INP

Rai MansebAli is dead

NANKANA SAHEB—PML-Nmember of the National As-sembly and former FederalMinister Rai Manseb AliKhan died here Wednesday

after pro-tracted ill-ness.

R a iManseb AliK h a n ,e l e c t e dfrom NA-137, was a

well known parliamentariansand elected from his con-stituency as member of theNational Assembly for sev-eral times.

He also remained Fed-eral Minister. Prime Minis-ter Nawaz Sharif, Chief Min-ister Shahbaz Sharif,Speaker National AssemblySardar Ayaz Sadiq, severalfederal ministers and politi-cal leaders have condoledthe death of Rai Manseb AliKhan and prayed that mayAll Almighty rest his sourein eternal peace.—INP

ISLAMABAD: Zahid Malik, Editor-in-Chief, Pakistan Observer writing his comments on the Book of Condolenceopened by the Embassy of the Republic of Lebanon, Wednesday, on the demise of Omar Karami, a former PrimeMinister of the Republic of Lebanon. Seen in the picture is H.E. Mrs. Mona Adnan El-Tannir, Ambassador ofLebanon.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

NorthKoreawantsdirect talkswith USNEW YORK—North Koreaon Tuesday offered to holddirect talks with the UnitedStates on its proposal tosuspend nuclear tests, andsuggested dialogue couldpave the way to changeson the Korean peninsula.The US State Departmenthas rejected Pyongyang’soffer to suspend nucleartests in exchange for atemporary freeze on US-South Korea joint militaryexercises but said it“remains opens to dia-logue” with Pyongyang.North Korea’s DeputyAmbassador to the UnitedNations An Myong Huntold a news conference thatthe offer still stands. “We areready, the government of theDPRK is ready, to explain itsintention behind its proposaldirectly to the UnitedStates,” said the envoy. “Weare ready for that, if theUnited States wantsadditional explanation aboutthe proposal.”—AP

Hagel onfarewelltour topromotenext-genbomberWHITEMAN AIR FORCE

BASE—US DefenseSecretary Chuck Hagelvigorously endorsed anAir Force plan to build anext-generation strategicbomber, arguing that itwould help deter nuclearwar and preserveAmerica’s global pre-eminence. “I think thelong-range strike bomberis absolutely essential tokeep our deterrent edge aswe go into the next 25years,” Hagel told report-ers after addressing agroup of several hundredairmen at this B-2 stealthbomber base in westernMissouri.—AP

PutinorderscombatreadinessMOSCOW—Russia’s top general said onTuesday he would beef upcombat capabilities this yearin Crimea, the Arctic and thecountry’s westernmostKaliningrad region thatborders two NATO states.The remarks by GeneralValery Gerasimov, chief ofthe General Staff of theArmed Forces, are likelyto deepen concern in theWest over what it sees asRussia increasinglyflexing its muscles sincethe start of the crisis inUkraine.—Reuters

SARWAR AWAN

IS L A M A B A D —PresidentMamnoon Hussain andPrime Minister MohammadNawaz Sharif on Wednes-day talking to a delegationof traders said that strenu-ous and sincere effortswere being made to ensurebetter and secure future ofour coming generations anddespite negative impacts ofthe sit-ins (dharnas), theGovernment has workedhard to put the economy onthe right track.

The Prime Minister,Mian Nawaz Sharif said thatenergy shortage and terror-ism were the two major is-sues facing the country butthe Government was notdeterred by these chal-lenges and, accepting thechallenge the Governmentwas making every possibleeffort to address these is-sues.

The Prime Minister saidthat the decision to set upmilitary court has not beenmade by any dictator but bythe democratic dispensa-tion itself. He said that theindependence of judiciarywas essential but equallyimportant is the perfor-

mance of judiciary.Nawaz Sharif said that

pendency of numerouscases has contributed to-wards law and order issues.He said that very soon thecases of attack on MalalaYousafzai and that on moun-taineers in the Northern Ar-eas would be brought to themilitary courts. He said thatwe have to make Pakistan asecure and peaceful placefor our future generations.

Economy put onright track despite

sits-in: PMIndustrialists, businessmen

assured all facilities; FBR toconsider reducing tax rates

Continued on Page 7

NEW DELHI—The Indian govern-ment is working on a concept pa-per to raise a new cadre of spies,the first attempt at restructuringthe security architecture since1968, when the external intelligenceagency Research and AnalysisWing (R&AW) was carved out ofthe Intelligence Bureau (IB).

According to HindustanTimes, the idea was mooted byNational Security Adviser AKDoval after discussions with PrimeMinister Narendra Modi. The De-partment of Personnel and Train-ing was initially tasked with writ-ing the policy paper but it has nowbeen shifted to the National Secu-rity Council Secretariat (NSCS) thatis directly under the PrimeMinister’s Office.

“The work is at a preliminarystage but we are examining the fea-

Delhi to raise new cadre of spies to quicken intelligenceIndian top defence organization chief sacked

sibility of a specialist service thatwill feed all three intelligence agen-cies,” a source familiar with the drafttold the newspaper. The idea tohave a dedicated cadre has beenborrowed from Western countrieslike the US, where the Central Intel-ligence Agency and the NationalSecurity Agency draw their re-sources directly from the open mar-ket.

The Secret Intelligence Service,popularly known as the MI6, in theUK, also recruits talent from theopen market. These agencies pickup recruits with special skills andexpertise to ensure they have thebest talent. The government is hop-ing the new cadre will help deal withthe challenges technology is pos-ing to the current crop of intelli-gence officials. After the terroristattack on Mumbai on 26/11 Indian

intelligence agencies have beenlooking at ways to deal with tech-nological challenges. From workingon cyber security to analysing bigdata, are some of the challenges thatthey have grappled with to keep upwith its counter terrorism efforts.

Clearly, the NSCS has its taskcut out, as recruitment has been aprickly subject for the Indian intel-ligence community. Ram Nath Kaocreated the R&AW with the sup-port of the then prime minister IndiraGandhi to raise a new cadre of spiesdrawn from the government and theopen market, a pool of the best tal-ent available. His vision producedthe Research and Analysis Service(RAS) that began to staff R&AWbut was in constant turf battles withother services.

The move has expectedly raisedeyebrows, particularly among the

intelligence professionals who arefrom the police service, but havethe support of those who joined theservice directly. The IPS has tradi-tionally enjoyed a dominant posi-tion in the Indian intelligence com-munity. Chances are that the big-gest opposition to this move islikely to come from these quarters.

“There is a significant differ-ence between policing and intelli-gence and it is time we embraced amore plural character within the in-telligence community,” a senior se-curity official said.

Meanwhile, The Indian govern-ment has sacked Defence Researchand Development Organisation(DRDO) chief Avinash Chander,putting up the exit order on the De-partment of Personnel and Trainingwebsite even before informing him.

TOKYO—Japan’s cabinet has approved arecord 4.98 trillion yen (£28bn, $42bn) bud-get for defence spending.

The new budget represents a 2.8% risefrom the previous fiscal year. It marks thethird year of increased spending after adecade of cuts.

New Defence Minister Gen Nakatanisaid it was needed to deal with the “chang-ing situation” around Japan. The money isexpected to go towards patrol aircraft andvessels. These include 20 maritime patrolaircraft, five crossover aircraft - which haveboth airplane and helicopter functionalities- and six stealth fighters.

The defence ministry is also planningto buy 30 amphibious vehicles and an early-warning aircraft, which can detect vesselsand other aircraft from a long distance. The

approval comes after last year’s successfulpush by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to rein-terpret the country’s pacifist constitutionand allow the military to come to the aid ofan ally under attack, which some of Japan’sneighbours saw as a move towards in-creased militarism.

Beijing and Tokyo are engaged in a bit-ter dispute in the East China Sea over is-lands known as Senkaku in Japan andDiaoyu in China.

Mr Nakatani, who was appointed de-fence minister in December, said on Sun-day that “the situation around Japan ischanging”. “The level of defence spend-ing reflects the amount necessary to pro-tect Japan’s air, sea and land, and guardthe lives and property of our citizens.”—INP

Japan approves record $ 42b defence budget

GENEVA—The United States and Iran are ex-pressing hope that nuclear talks can be ac-celerated in order to meet a March target for aframework agreement, as the countries’ topdiplomats met Wednesday ahead of a re-sumption in full negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry andIranian Foreign Minister Mohammed JavadZarif were meeting at a Geneva hotel a daybefore negotiators from Iran, the five perma-nent members of the U.N. Security Counciland Germany are to resume talks here.

Ahead of the meeting, Zarif said his talkswith Kerry would show that both sides un-derstand the importance of picking up thepace.

“I think it’s important,” he told reporters.“I think it will show the readiness of the twoparties to move forward to speed up the pro-cess.” Zarif was coy when asked if he thoughtthe deadline could be met and what particularissues were most vexing.

“We’ll see,” he said. “All issues are harduntil you resolve them and all issues are easy

US, Iran hopeful ofspeeding up nukes talks

if you resolve them,” he said. “I believe all ofthem are easy anyway.”

Kerry said earlier this week that he’s meet-ing Zarif to take stock of the negotiations.

“We are at a juncture where most of theissues are now getting fleshed out and un-derstood,” he told reporters on Monday inIndia before he flew to Pakistan and then onto Switzerland. He said he hoped to be able to“accelerate the process to make greaterprogress.”

The U.S. and its partners are hoping toclinch a deal with Iran that would set long-term limits on Iran’s enrichment of uraniumand other activity that could produce mate-rial for use in nuclear weapons. Iran says itsprogram is solely for energy production andmedical research purposes. It has agreed tosome restrictions in exchange for billions ofdollars in relief from U.S. economic sanctions.

The negotiators are trying to turn an in-terim accord into a permanent deal that wouldaddress international concerns about Iran’snuclear program.—AP

Nigerian troops ‘repelBoko Haram attack’

KANO (Nigeria)—Nigeria’s military onWednesday said that soldiers had repelleda new Boko Haram attack after a two-hourgun battle in the restive northeast.

The country’s defence headquarterssaid in a series of tweets that the militantshad been pushed back from Biu, in BornoState, and two anti-aircraft guns had beencaptured.“Troops in pursuit of fleeing ter-rorists as mopping up operation is ongoing.Five terrorists have so far been captured,” itsaid Residents in town, about 200 kilometres(125 miles) southwest of the state capital,Maiduguri, told AFP scores of militant fight-ers stormed the town in 10 pick-up trucks atabout 7:30 am (0630 GMT). But they were

intercepted by soldiers from a nearby bar-racks, leading to a two-hour gunfight. “Sol-diers opened fire on three pick-up vans car-rying the gunmen that came as an advanceparty while the rest remained at a fuel sta-tion in Kigir village,” said resident BabaganaHaruna. “There were 10 gunmen in eachvehicle and all of them were killed in therain of bullets from the soldiers,” he claimed,although there was no independent verifi-cation of the death toll. The Islamists’ ap-parent target was the town’s military base,residents said.The remaining insurgentsthen arrived at the scene in vans and mo-torcycles and 10 more were killed, said resi-dent Awwalu Yusuf.—AFP

DERA ISMAIL KHAN—Asmany as four persons includ-ing a police official werekilled in firing and hand gre-nade attack on his residencehere on Wednesday.

Police said that armedmen who came on motor-cycles opened fire andhurled hand grenade on resi-dence of police official lo-cated in MohallahHayatullah of Dera IsmailKhan.

As a result of firing andhand grenade blast Assis-tant Sub-Inspector (ASI)Qaiser Jahan, his two broth-ers and a passerby died onthe spot.

Four including ASIkilled in firing, hand

grenade attack on houseThe assailants managed

to flee from the scene unin-terrupted, as police as usualreached after prolonged de-lay providing an opportu-nity to the attackers to es-cape safely.

The bodies were shiftedto hospital for medico-legalformalities and later handedover to heirs. A protest dem-onstration was also heldagainst the attack and slug-gish response of the law en-forcement agencies person-nel.

Meanwhile, a case hasbeen registered against un-known attackers and investi-gation was in progress.—INP

Zardari vowsto fulfill

necessities ofpolice martyrs

familiesSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Former presi-dent and Pakistan People’sParty co-chairman Asif AliZardari on Wednesday ex-pressed a resolve to meet allthe necessities of the fami-lies of the Sindh Police mar-tyrs.

He expressed theseviews while addressing theparticipants of a ceremonyconducted in connectionwith the martyrs of theSindh police.

Zardari said that hewould stand by the policeand not let them feel alone inwhatever the circumstanceswill be. He said that PPPstands by the families of themartyrs and will meet theirdemands. Former Presidentsaid that nobody can imposehis ideology by force.Zardari said that he consid-ers the children of slain po-licemen as his own.

He regretted the delay inrelease of payment, but hesaid that non-registrationcaused the hurdle. “I paytribute to the brave youthof Sindh police,” he said.“Our government will fulfillall the needs of families ofmartyred policemen.”

The former presidentpledged that children of mar-tyrs would get free educationat ZABIST University.

Continued on Page 7

WE HAVE all heard references topeople being a “left-brained” or“right-brained” thinker. But research-

ers from the University of Utah say their latestresearch shows this is a myth. Previous stud-ies over the years have suggested that we useone half of our brain moreoften than the other, playinga part in the type of person-ality we have. While the leftside of the brain is usuallyassociated with logical, ana-lytical and detail-orientedbehaviour, the right side hasbeen connected to creative,thoughtful and subjectivethinking.

But a new study pub-lished in the journal PLOSONE, suggests there is noevidence within brain imag-ing that proves some peopleare right-brained or left-brained. The research teamconducted a two-year studyof 1,011 people who werepart of the InternationalNeuroimaging Data-Sharing Initiative (INDI),and who were between the ages of 7 and 29.All participants had the functional lateraliza-tion of their brains measured. Functional lat-eralization means there are specific mental pro-cesses that take place in either the brain’s leftor right hemisphere.

The scientists conducted the brain mea-surements using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) analysis, which involved the participantslying in the scanner for 5 to 10 minutes whiletheir “resting” brain measurements were taken.This allowed the researchers to correlate brainactivity in one area of the brain and compare itwith another. The researchers then divided the

brain into 7,000 regions and analyzed whichregions of the brain showed more functionallateralization.

All connections in the brain were exam-ined, and all possible combinations of the brainregions were correlated for each brain region

that was left-literalised or right-literalised. The results of the scanshowed patterns indicating thata brain connection may bestrongly left or right-literalised.But they found no relationshipthat individuals “preferentially”used their left-brain network orright-brain more often.

“It is absolutely true that somebrain functions occur in one or theother side of the brain. Languagetends to be on the left, attentionmore on the right. But peopledon’t tend to have a stronger left-or right-sided brain network. Itseems to be determined more,connection by connection.” JaredNielsen, a graduate student in neu-roscience at the University of Utahand one of the study authors, adds:

“If you have a connection that is strongly left-literalised, it relates to other strongly literalisedconnection only if both sets of connections havea brain region in common.” Results of this studyare groundbreaking, Nielsen says, as they maychange the way people think about the “right-brain versus left-brain theory.”

“Everyone should understand the per-sonality types associated with the terminol-ogy ‘left-brained’ and ‘right-brained’ andhow they relate to him or her personally,”he says. “However, we just do not see pat-terns where the whole left-brain network ismore connected or the whole right-brainnetwork is more connected in some people.

‘No such thing’ as left orright brained people

Fire fighters trying to extinguish fire which broke out in a College Road plaza on Wednesday.

THE commemoration of the fourth anniversary ofthe Tunisian revolution of January 14, 2011 pro-vides an opportunity to reflect on the impressiveachievements made over the past years as well ason the obstacles that remain to realizing and con-solidating the goals of the revolution mainly interms of laying the ground for the Second Repub-lic that can respond the aspirations of Tunisiansfor a better future for Tunisia on the domestic, re-gional and international levels and to fulfill theobjectives of the revolution in terms of eradicat-ing poverty, reducing unemployment and narrow-ing down regional disparities. After successfulparliamentary and presidential elections, Tunisiahas in fact reached Samuel Huntington’s “two turn-over test,” as Huntington believes that “the changeof power should occur twice to ensure all partiesadhere to the democratic rules”.

It is true that transition to democracy in Tuni-sia has turned out to be more complicated than whatwas expected before, but Tunisia is not an excep-tion, as we have learned from history that demo-

cratic transitions are always difficult. Tunisia wit-nessed a bumpy transitional period from an au-thoritarian to a democratic state where dialogueand consensus, rather than domination and exclu-

sion, was the watchword of the Tunisian transi-tion. Therefore, the first democratically electedgovernment took office with a unique experience

of coalition of three political parties to rule thecountry. This government was forced to resign infavor of a “technocratic” interim government. OnJanuary 26, 2014, amid political tension, socialunrest and economic turmoil, Tunisia’s NationalConstituent Assembly ratified a new progressiveconstitution which was hailed as a model in theregion by foreign leaders and international bod-ies, for instance UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hailed the Tunisian new constitution as a“historic milestone” adding that “Tunisia’s ex-ample can be a model to other peoples seekingreforms”.

Tunisia has as well successfully institutional-ized its revolution through what have been hailedas the first ever free, transparent and pluralisticparliamentarian and presidential elections in thehistory of the country, with broad participation andstrong support from the international community.The election of a new president as well as the ap-pointment of a new Head of Government is a posi-tive step forward, which will be followed quickly

by further steps to name a team of competent cabi-net that would spare no effort to respond to theaspirations of the Tunisian people towards democ-racy, freedom and decent life.

As far as foreign policy is concerned, Tunisiato champion the values of tolerance, solidarity in itsown region and throughout the world and to con-solidate its relations with brotherly and friendlycountries, chief of them the Islamic Republic of Pa-kistan. Indeed, Tunisia and Pakistan enjoy long-standing political, economic, social and cultural re-lations based on mutual respect and solidarity. Theexchange of senior officials testifies to the true will-ingness of both countries to find new avenues ofcooperation in order to upgrade their bilateral rela-tions to the highest level of strategic partnership.

In my capacity as the new Ambassador-Des-ignate of the Republic of Tunisia to the IslamicRepublic of Pakistan, I would like to take this op-portunity to convey a message of solidarity fromTunisia to our brotherly Pakistani people, a mes-sage of hope and confidence in a brilliant and pros-

perous future. We share a common will, a commonvision and an unwavering commitment to get ourbrotherly countries much more closer as well as tofind new horizons to further strengthen the prevail-ing relations between the two countries in all areasfor the mutual benefit of our brotherly peoples. Inthis connection, Tunisia is in talks with the IslamicRepublic of Pakistan to conclude a preferential tradearrangement in order to take the bilateral relationsbetween them to the highest levels of cooperationand partnership.

I would also like to invite Pakistani investors totake full advantage of the numerous advantages thatTunisia offers for totally exporting companies interms of a free and clear investment-friendly legisla-tion, a skilled labor force with a surprising aptitudeto rapidly master new technologies, a real legal pro-tection for foreign investors as well as a continuouslyimproving functional infrastructure.

God bless TunisiaGod bless Pakistan

Long live the Tunisian Pakistani brotherhood

4th anniversary of the revolution

Message of H.E Mr. Adel Elarbi, Ambassador–designate of the Republic of Tunisia

RAZA UR REHMAN

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI—Minister of State CADDUsman Ibrahim Wednesdaysaid that the government hasreleased Rs 200 million in thefirst phase for security of alleducational institutions in thefederal capital. Talking to me-dia after visiting a school,Usman Ibrahim said that theboundary walls of all educa-tional institutions have beenraised to eight feet and theirsecurity is being made fool-proof.

He said the federal govern-ment is reviewing the securityof the educational institutionson daily basis. He said the gov-ernment has approved Rs 480million for security of capital’sschools and colleges and aninitial amount of Rs 200 mil-lion has been released to startthe work. He said there wouldbe no assembly of students inopen spaces. He said CCTVcameras have also been in-stalled in all the institutions.

Meanwhile, as many as 310educational institutions have been de-clared high risk in Rawalpindi region andspecial arrangements have been made fortheir security. Special branch has evolvedlist of 5600 schools and colleges locatedin all the four districts of Rawalpindiregion including 2500 educational insti-tutions of district Rawalpindi.

These educational institutions havebeen divided in 3 categories includingA plus, A and B in terms of security.Category A plus includes educationalinstitutions running under army man-agement, Elite educational institutions

and state run educational institutionswhere the strength of students runs into500 or beyond.Category A includes government runeducational institutions and private edu-cational institutions where the strengthof student stands below 500. CategoryB includes all other educational insti-tutions which are not part of categoryA plus and category A. RawalpindiRegion comprises 310 category A pluseducational institutions and 430 in Acategory.Meanwhile, enhancement in the fees in

the name of security by private schoolsin Rawalpindi city has caused graveconcern among the parents. Home de-partment Punjab has issued directivesto government and private schools totake stringent measures for the securityand an advertisement has also been gotpublished in news papers in this regard.It is mentioned in the advertisement inclear terms that no educational institu-tion will charge additional fee in thename of security to the students.

Despite these directives, some pri-vate educational institutions have in-

creased their fee to the extent rangingbetween Rs 100 and Rs 1000. The par-ents said that charging of additional feein the name of security is but enormousfinancial burden for them. Wheneverthe matter is discussed with the man-agement of these schools then they saythat if the parents have to keep theirchildren in their respective schools thenthey will have to pay this additional fee.The citizens have demanded for sternaction against the management of pri-vate schools involved in charging se-curity fee to students.

310 educational institutions declared high risk in Pindi region

Rs 200m released for securityof edu institutions in capital

Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Barrister Usman Ibrahim examining the security arrange-ments during his surprise visit to G-10/2.

Hearing into Lakhvi’s appeal adjourned for todayIslamabad gets one more ATC

Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in a meeting with acting Saudi Ambassa-dor Jassem Al-Kheledi, discussing matters of mutual interest.

OBSERVER REPORT

ISLAMABAD—The British High Commissioncelebrate the British Food Festival, at MarriottIslamabad on 15 and 16 of January 2015. Thetwo day festival will be held in Nadia’s Loungeat dinner time and is open to public.

It is your chance to taste some delectableBritish cuisines from British Chef Christopher

ZUBAIR QURESHI

ISLAMABAD—The IslamabadHigh Court (IHC) on Wednesdayadjourned hearing into the appealof Mumbai attacks’ arch suspectZakiur Rehman Lakhvi against hisdetention under MPO (Mainte-nance of Public Order). Thegovernment’s counsels prayed forin-cameral hearing that was ac-cepted by the court. Additional At-torney General Afnan Karim Kundiand Advocate General Mian AbdulRauf presented before the court sen-sitive record and documents.Lakhvi’s counsel Raja RizwanAbbasi however requested the court

to hold open hearing as the materialbeing presented by the state lawyerswas available on Internet and ev-eryone could see that.

The judge after examining therecord adjourned hearing for oneday i.e. today (Thursday).

Meanwhile, the government

for the purpose of speedy trial andearly disposal of terrorism-relatedcases has set up another Anti-Ter-rorism Court (ATC no. 2) in thefederal capital. Earlier, a singleATC was working in Islamabadand demands were being made bylegal and public circles to estab-

lish at least one more ATC. SohailAkram judge of the newly con-stituted court on Wednesday tookcharge of his office. At presentaround 40 cases of terrorism areregistered in the federal capital.After the constitution of the newATC 19 cases have been trans-

ferred to it while the ATC no.1will conduct hearing into 21 cases.The cases that have been shiftedto the new ATC include MumbaiAttacks, Bhara Kahu explosive-laden vehicle case and judges’ de-tention case against former presi-dent Pervez Musharraf.

Ireland, the Executive Head Chef from theMarriot Leeds, UK.

During the festival, British musicians,Simon Thacker and Sarvar Sabri will entertainthe audience with their specialist Western Clas-sical music. The duo has performed extensivelyat the UK’s most prestigious venues and festi-vals, including the, Cheltenham Music Festivaland Glasgow Jazz Festival.

HC to celebrate British Food Festival

ISLAMABAD—A Memorial Reference for MunawarMughal (Late) Vice President, FPCCI and formerPresident, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce andIndustry was held at Aabpara Market, Islamabad.

Muzammil Hussain Sabri President,Muhammad Shakeel Munir Senior Vice Presi-dent, Muhammad Ashfaq Hussain Chatha VicePresident of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce& Industry, Abdul Rauf Chairman Founder Group& Chairman United Business Group North Zone,

Zubair Ahmed Malik former President FPCCI,former Presidents ICCI including Mian AkramFarid, Zahid Maqbool, Zafar Bakhtawari, seniormember Khalid Iqbal Malik, Ajmal Baloch Presi-dent Anjanuman-e-Tijaran Pakistan and a largenumber of business community attended theevent. Speaking at the occasion, MuzammilHussain Sabri, President, Islamabad Chamber ofCommerce & Industry paid rich tribute to the roleof Munawar Mughal.—INP

Memorial reference for Munawar Mughal

06:25 01:3004:00

07:15

Zohr

Asr

Isha

Fajar

Meghrab at Sunset

Brothers in Islamestablish regularprayers & charity

Ranger personnel standing alert outside the ICG to meet any emergency.Renowned poets Mansoor Afaq, Rashisha Maheen Malik and others cutting cake on the occasion of a function held atRawalpindi Arts Council to pay tribute to legendary poet Ahmed Fraz.

January 20-21National Conference

A two-day national confer-ence on inter-religion cohe-sion and understandingstrategy will be held on 20-21st January at Allama IqbalAuditorium International Is-lamic University FaisalMasjid Campus.

January 25NUML

NUML University will remainclose till Jan25, 2015. Howeverthe university staff will con-tinue to perform its duties.The Interviews for admissionwill be scheduled in last weekof January and Exam will beheld in February 2015.

ZUBAIR QURESHI

ISLAMABAD—Saira Afzal Tarar, Minis-ter of State for National Health ServicesRegulation & Coordination (NHSRC)taking notice of the news in media aboutabrupt calling off the polio campaign invarious cities has directed stringentmeasures in this regard. Chairing areview meeting regarding the last poliocampaign and preparation of the upcom-ing polio round this month here onWednesday she expressed concernsover cancellation of polio campaign inparts of Karachi for want of security andother cities due to authorities’ negli-gence.

Ayesha Raza Farooq, PrimeMinister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradi-cation, Muhammed Ayub Sheikh Secre-tary National Health Services, Dr AssadHafeez DG Health, heads of InternationalPartner Agencies also participated in themeeting and took stock of the quality ofpolio campaign in December 2014.

The meeting was informed that 5UCs in Karachi had to cancel the lastpolio campaign over security deploy-

Cancellation of Polio Campaign

Minister calls emergencymeeting, directs drastic steps

ment issues.The minster told the participants to

focus on quality of campaigns rather than

frequency and concentrate our efforts onthe consistently non performing UCs. Thecriteria for quality campaign a bare mini-

mum of 90% coverage. Any coverage lessthan this is not acceptable, the ministeradded saying that some UCs were con-

ducting campaigns frequently but unableto reach the 90% mark. With regard to theKarachi situation it was agreed to discussthe proposal of holding special campaignson weekly basis with stick security cor-don and concentration of both polio teamsand security personnel.

To this end Secretary National HealthServices was requested to hold urgentmeeting with CCPO Karachi to finalizearrangements with regard to securitydeployment. It was also decided to con-stitute a special committee for Karachion polio eradication.

The meeting expressed appreciationfor improvement in performance of KilaAbdullah in Balochistan and FR Bannufor achieving high level of IPV cover-age. The meeting also noted the con-cern that all six Lot Quality AssessmentsSurvey(LQAS) carried out in Peshawarhad failed indicating poor quality. Themeeting called for ensuring coherencebetween operational, security & com-munication plans for polio campaigns.It was decided that emergency opera-tion centers at the federal and provin-cial level will perform at optimal level.

Minister of State for National Health Services Regulation and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar chairing a high levelmeeting to review the polio campaign.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Supreme Court (SC) has re-jected petition filed by death convict MoulviMuhammad Saeed Awan against his deathwarrant and decision of high court in SadiqHussain murder case.

The accused will be executed todayas government has already issued hisdeath warrant. Justice Asif Saeed KhanKhosa has remarked “European Union(EU) has enormous pressure on Pakistanfor abolition of capital punishment. ButIslam enjoins life in return of life. Courtis not responsible for delaying the ex-ecution of death convicts by adminis-

tration.And if it is accepted then death cells all

over the country will go empty and no onewill be punished. He gave these remarkswhile presiding over a 3-member bench ofSC during the course of hearing of a deathconvict petition Wednesday.

Akbar Khan counsel for the petitionertook the plea that his client was in deathcell since the last 16 years. He neither diesnor lives like living. Indian SC has givendecision on the matters like this if they gotime barred. Justice Asif Saeed remarked “we are not in favor of execution of any onewithout offence. We want rule of law is es-tablished.

Islam ordains life in returnfor life: Justice Asif Saeed

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Speakers at a seminarheld here Wednesday at AllamaIqbal Open Universi ty (AIOU)called for seeking aspiration andguidance from ‘Seerat-un-Nabi’ andQuranic teachings to develop apeaceful and harmonious society.They underlined the need of pro-moting unity and a common strat-egy through holding-intra-fai th’dialogue’ at country-wide level toeffectively deal with the problem ofterrorism.

The seminar was arranged byAIOU’s Faculty of Arabic and Is-lamic Studies. Vice chancellor Prof.Dr. Shahid Siddiqui presided overthe seminar. Chairman Council Is-lamic Ideology and MNA MaulanaMuhammad Khan Sheerani andchairman Department of IslamicStudies Universi ty of Peshawar

AIOU holds peace conference,promoting intra-faith dialogue

Prof. Dr. Mairaj-ul-Islam Zia deliv-ered their key-note address at theseminar.

The ‘Seerat-un-Nabai’ andQurani teachings provide completecode of action to overcome presentday’s conflicts and unrest, they saidadding “ the issues relating to se-curity and peace’ should be handledthrough human-angle, keeping inview overall interest of the people.Our words and faith should be re-flected in our action and deeds.

They should be no contradictionor double standard in what wepreach or claims, they asserted.Maualana Sheerani emphasized thatthe fundamental r ights of thepeople and their basic human inter-est as enshrined in the Holy Bookmust be upheld.

They believed the intra-faith dia-logue could be an effective way-outto bridge differences on critical is-

sues. He called for addressing theroot-cause of terrorism, stating “ Wemust address the causes which ledto violence and use of force,” headded. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui saidthat promoting intra-faith dialogueis the dire need of the hour to effec-tively deal with social and culturalconflicts.

Instead of war and fights, pro-cess of dialogue and consultationhas always been successful toachieve the objective of peace andharmony among different sects.

In this connection, he referredto ‘Sulah-e-Hudaibiya’ that wasreached between Muslims andKufars’ on the pursuance of theHoly Prophet (PBUH). This was un-precedented agreement in the hu-man history dealing the mattersthrough consultat ion and mutualunderstanding for the cause ofpeace and tranquility, he added.

MIAN ARSHAD

ISLAMABAD—A-3 member ParliamentaryDelegation headed by Speaker, NationalAssembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will embarkon a six day official visit to Istanbul, Tur-key on Saturday 17th January 2015 to at-tend 10th session of the ParliamentaryUnion of the OIC member states (PUIC).

The Parliamentary delegation accompa-nying Sardar Ayaz Sadiq comprise ofMNAs Muhammad Khan Daha and ShaziaAshfaq Mattu. During his stay in Turkey,the Speaker National Assembly apart from

meeting his counterpart will also meet withthe leaders of Muslim Ummah to discussthe problems and their solutions facing inIslamic world.

He will also discuss ways and means tofurther enhance bilateral relations throughinteraction of Parliamentarians of sides aswell as strengthening trade, educational,cultural and investment links between Pa-kistan and other Muslim countries. AStrong supporter of proactive Parliamen-tary diplomacy, Sadiq, will use the plat-form to project message of peace as stabil-ity especially in the Muslim Ummah.

Parliamentary delegation toattend PUIC conference

STAFF REPORTER

RAWA L P I N D I—Chaklala andRawalpinid cantonment boardshave failed to resolve the issues ofwater shortage and unhygienic situ-ation being faced by residents ofthe areas for the last few years de-spite collection of massive taxesand other amount under differentheads from the rsidents.

Residents of both cantonmentboards including Chungi No 22,Dhamial Road, Tench Batta,BakraMandi, Afsha colony andLalkurt i have been facing water

shortage and unhygienic water thatis being supplied to their homes.

The Rawalpindi cantonmentboard has received thousands ofwater connection applications withdeposits of millions of rupees frompeople of Chungi No 22 area twoyears ago but the board has failedto provide water connection to theresidents while new water pipelinesin all streets of the area were laidfive years ago for providing drink-ing water to the residents.

The people of the area have beendrinking unhygienic water as old wa-ter pipelines have leaked from many

points which are passing under sew-erage systems. The water of sewer-age system enter in leaked waterpipeline which cause bad smell anddiseases. A resident of the area DrLiaquat Jadoon told this agency thatthe sewerage system in Chungi No22 area remain blocked and the flow-ing sewerage water on the roads is aconstant nuisance. The residentshave appealed the station com-mander to personally visit the area,take urgent notice of their longstanding problems and resolve theminstead of listening to the excusesof his subordinates.

Residents of Cantt areasdecry over water shortage

Illegal hostelsmushrooming

in capitalISLAMABAD—Number of hos-tels have been opened illegallyin different sectors of Capitalwhereas police and CapitalDevelopment Authority(CDA) are doing nothingabout them. Every day newhostels are being opened, theirnumbers are increasing gradu-ally and the wardens of hos-tels have come from other cit-ies and are doing businesses.

Police stations and otheradministrations do not havehostels’ record and are doingnothing despite securitythreats. Most of the hostels areopened in I-8, I-9, G-8, G-9, F-8,F-9, F-10, F-11 and G-6. As persources, hostels’ owners arerunning their business by tak-ing house on rent; in addition,police and CDA are involvedin the hostels business in dif-ferent areas.—Online

Despite banfishing continuesat Rawal Dam

ISLAMABAD—Despite ban,fishing is continued at RawalDam and surrounding areasthrough illegal means.

Fisher men do fishing atevening time with rods,strings and net. According tothe reports, the Capital Devel-opment Authority (CDA) hasbanned fishing activities atRawal Dam due to securityissues for the last threemonths. Sources said thatofficials appointed at RawalDam are bribed for continualof fishing. On complaints, ad-ministration confiscatesequipment of fisher men butgives them back after they pay500 to 1000 rupees. Sourcesalso informed that tender ofRawal Dam for fishing with netwas not given to anyone butpeople are illegally using netto catch fish at large. —Online

RAWALPINDI—Police on special di-rective of Regional Police Officer(RPO) Rawalpindi Umar Hayat Lalikaon Wednesday launched a specialsearch operation in Khurram colonyand its adjoining areas here in the ju-risdiction of Sadiqabad police station.

Heavy police contingents, po-lice commandos, special branch per-

sonnel, Elite Force, Muhafiz Squadand Ladies police conducted searchoperation in the area.

According to Rawalpindi PoliceSpokesman, Police checked 59houses while several persons wereinterrogated. Two houses were thor-oughly checked during the searchoperation, he added.

R.A. Bazar police on Tuesdayconducted a search operat ion inTNT Colony and its adjoining ar-eas. A total of 61 houses werechecked while 60 people were inter-rogated. He informed that specialspearch operations to net the crimi-nals would also be launched in otherareas of the district.—APP

Police launches search operation inKhurram Colony, adjoining areas

RAWALPINDI—Decanting Liquified PetroleumGas (LPG) shifting from one cylinder to an-other is illegal but with the shortage of gas andCNG, it is going on here unabated. Due to un-availability of gas and low gas pressure, LPGcylinders are in high demand,both domesticallyand commercially. Resultantly illegal LPG refill-ing shops have mushroomed in every nookand corner of the city.

Illegal outlets are found in the followingareas Tench Bhatta, Peoples Colony, DhokeSyedian, Raja Bazaar, Committee Chowk, Bunni,Rehmandabad, Sadiqabad, Dhoke Hussu,Chungi No 22, Dhari, Lalkurti and many otherareas.

The most dangerous aspect of decantingis that it has the potential to ignite and theresulting explosion can harm people, said a citi-zen.

Although that has not deterred illegal com-

mercial distributors who have set up theirshops in residential areas, which puts the lifeof citizens at risk and also challenges the writof the local administration.

There were a large number of rickshaws,Taxis and commercial Suzuki vans which wereusing CNG in the past. With shortage of CNG,many rickshaw, Taxi and Suzuki Van owners,have converted to LPG, considering LPG moreefficient and economical as well as easily avail-able. Amjad Iqbal talking to APP said that infe-rior LPG cylinders are dangerous but the au-thorities concerned have completely ignoredthe issue. He said that the illegal cylinder pro-ducers use light gauge metal sheet and otherpoor quality material to cut production costsand sell LPG cylinders at cheaper rates. Citi-zens use these cylinders without knowing thatthe cylinders are faulty and have the potentialto explode.—APP

Illegal LPG refilling goesunchecked

MUZAFFARABAD: Traders Unity Union leading anti-load shedding protest here on Wednesday.

MUZAFFARABAD: DG Nadra Nasar Ahmed Mir presenting souvenir to the Prime Minister of AJ&K Ch. Abdul Majid atlocal hotel after signing of MoU between NADRA and AJK Govt on the project.

COMMENTS

IN A significant political development, the National Conference moved the Governor’s office—Raj Bhawan—on Wednesday to formally

reiterate its support to the Peoples Democratic Partyon government formation in Jammu and Kashmir—the move seen as a “political masterstroke” by theNC leadership. Amid stalemate over governmentformation in the state in the wake of a hung verdictthat the recent elections threw up, the NC reiter-ated its support to the PDP “in the larger interestof the people of Jammu and Kashmir”, with theformer Chief Minister and Working President ofNational Conference Omar Abdullah today urgingthe Governor NN Vohra to “consult the party lead-ership before taking any final decision regardingthe future of the present Assembly and its viabilityin the formation of a government.”

NC’s Provincial President for JammuDevender Singh Rana this afternoon delivered acommuniqué to the Governor wherein Omarhas—as a consequence of the meeting of NC’sCore Group in Srinagar yesterday—informedVohra that his party has offered its support to thePDP which has emerged as single-largest in thejust-concluded Assembly elections. “However thepolitical impasse in the state due to indecisive-

NC moves ‘Raj Bhawan’ to reaffirm support to PDPness of the PDP has led to the imposition of theGovernor’s rule and placing the State Assemblyin suspended animation despite an overwhelm-ing participation of the people of Jammu andKashmir in the electoral process,” thecommuniqué reads.

According to NC insiders, privy to delibera-tions on the fresh move, the party has informedVohra that it has offered the “unconditional sup-port” of its 15 members to the PDP on govern-ment formation but the latter is “mute” on it. “Thepolitical impasse is certainly not good and a causeof concern for us as a regional party. The ques-tion is when the PDP, which has its 28 members,has unconditional support of our 15 legislators,why is it reluctant to form the government withus?” said a National Conference leader. “Togetherwe can get 43 members. Plus we have the sup-port of few more MLAs and we can therefore forma very stable government.

It will be more stable than the PDP-Congresstie-up wherein they require support of more in-dependents, thus leading to fears of greater insta-bility.” The National Conference is, according tothe party insiders, also of the opinion that thePDP’s alliance with it can ensure representationto all regions of the state—Kashmir, Jammu andLadakh.

“It’s being argued that this formation (NC-PDP tie-up) won’t ensure representation toJammu, for instance. But we can say with author-ity that Jammu and Ladakh, apart from Kashmir,will get due representation because we not onlyhave some of our own members from there, butsupport of few more independents as well. Andthis has been communicated to the Governor aswell.”

Pertinently, the Core Group of National Con-ference—its top decision-making body headed byOmar Abdullah—Monday said it won’t enter intoan alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. “Thecore group meeting reiterated its offer of supportto the PDP for forming the Government. We wantan end to the political uncertainty in the State,”NC’s General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagarsaid after the meeting. J&K came under theGovernor’s rule on January 8 after none of thepolitical parties could come up with the requisitenumbers in the 87-member State Assembly tostake claim to the Government formation.

The December 23 election results threw up ahung assembly with PDP emerging as single larg-est party winning 28 seats—16 short of majority.The BJP with 25 seats stood second followed byNC with 15 and Congress with 12 seats. Soonafter the election results, Omar offered support

to the PDP for government formation. Howeverhe put the onus on the PDP for approaching him.

In return, the PDP said it was ready to takeNational Conference’s support if the latter “for-mally makes a forward movement”.

“We didn’t get any response from their (PDP)side on our offer. We will abide by our assuranceand fulfill the required formalities to prove oursupport to them (PDP) when the time comes. Letthem make the beginning,” Sagar had said. Mean-while, Omar Tuesday presided over a meeting ofparty members who contested the recent Assem-bly elections, here, to discuss the post-poll sce-nario.

The meeting, which lasted for over sevenhours, reiterated its offer of support to the PDPon forming the government. Sources said themeeting discussed the party’s performance in therecent elections which saw it plummeting to worstperformance in its electoral history. The NationalConference won 15 seats—13 seats less than the2008 polls. The agenda of the meeting, which washeld at NC headquarter Nawai-Subh here, was todiscuss various organizational matters and seekfeedback from the party leaders.

Reiterating the commitment of National Con-ference to “preserve the ideological goals whichhave been enshrined in the party’s history”, Omar

said the party would never compromise on its ide-als for political expediency and convenience.

“National Conference is not just another po-litical party that can adjust the rudder and set thecourse of political expediency at the sight ofpower. NC is the party founded and rooted in theideology of dignity and empowerment, of safe-guarding the aspirations of the people of Jammuand Kashmir. And we remain steadfast in thatmission,” he said.

Omar also spoke about the importance of en-hancing the party’s organizational structure andsaid “such an enhancement would happen sys-tematically and effectively.”

“We will rejuvenate the organizational struc-ture to be in an optimal shape where we can marchforward to reclaim the position of strength thatwe had during the best days of our organization.

This rejuvenation will be based on better con-nect, more effective two-way communication anda thorough incentivization of sincerity and hard-work. We will also have an effective, transparentand direct membership drive that would elimi-nate procedural red-tape and unnecessary com-plexities. No hegemony should be tolerated at thegrassroots and emphasis should be laid on reach-ing out to as many youth as possible,” he said.

—Courtessy Greater Kashmir

Silence of PDPirks Congress

SRINAGAR—Senior Congressleader Abdul Gani WakilWednesday said that one failsto understand what is goingwith the circles of PeoplesDemocratic Party and why thisparty is mum over the issue ofsupport offered to it by Con-gress party.

Wakil told CNS that Con-gress party in a communiqu?to PDP had made it clear thatit will offer unconditional sup-port to it if it wants to formthe government in the State.“There is no response from thePDP and it seems it is in nomood to accept the support ei-ther from National Conferenceor Congress Party,” he saidand added that it is an obliga-tion of PDP to keep a commu-nal party like BJP at bay.

Responding to a question,Wakil said that Congress partywill sit in opposition if PDPforges an alliance with BJP.“We along with National Con-ference will perform the role ofa good opposition to check thecommunal agenda of BJP,” hesaid.—KW

SRINAGAR—Accusing Pakistan of con-tinuing to support “proxy war” in Jammuand Kashmir despite suffering casualtiesdue to terror on its soil, Army Chief GenDalbir Singh has said threats and chal-lenges have been growing because of the“active borders”. The Army Chief said onewill have to “wait and watch” if PakistanArmy has had a change of heart since thegruesome attack on an Army school inPeshawar last month that drew condem-nation in India.

He also said that Indian security forcesare carefully watching the situation in Af-ghanistan and its possible spillover intoIndia. “Threats and challenges have beengrowing, both in intensity as well as com-mitment, because of active borders that wehave,” Singh said addressing his annualpress conference. Talking about the secu-rity situation in Jammu and Kashmir, theArmy chief said, “Pakistan is supportingproxy war in Jammu and Kashmir despitesuffering casualties within their country”.He was referring to the recent casualtiesthat the Pakistan Army had at the hands ofTaliban militants. Singh lauded the Armyand other security forces for ensuring a safeenvironment to voters in Jammu and Kash-mir which saw a high turnout in the recentAssembly election.

“People were confident of coming outto vote. Army and other security forcesworked tirelessly not for weeks butmonths,” he said. The Army chief pointedout that 2014 saw the highest number ofmilitants being neutralised in the state inrecent years and put the figure at 110, out

Pakistan in proxy war inJK: India Army Chief

of which 104 were killed by the force. Lastyear, 65 militants were killed. Singh saidthe high figure showed the effectivenessof the counter insurgency grid that theArmy has set up in the state. Singh saidthe recent attacks against the Army inJammu and Kashmir showed the “despera-tion” of militants.

“The recent strikes by the terrorists notonly reflect their desperation but are also agrim reminder that the terrorist infrastruc-ture in Pakistan is intact,” he said. Talkingabout the rise in ceasefire violations, he saidthat the action has slowly moved to the In-ternational Border and not the LoC. “Thatis probably, likely to be because of ourcounter infiltration grid is stronger on LoC,”he said, adding that measures like ‘obstaclesystems’ are making it difficult for the mili-tants to infiltrate. He admitted that there areareas, like open drains and streams, that aresusceptible to infiltration attempts at the In-ternational Border. Asked about the percep-tion that Army commanders are not beinggiven a free hand in operations, Singhstrongly denied it.

“The commanders have a free hand tooperate. I have given full freedom as faras operation is concerned. On the LoC,they have a free hand to retaliate to Paki-stan firing in a manner that they feel isappropriate,” the Army chief said. How-ever, he underlined that the Army has a“zero-tolerance” approach to human rightsviolations. Talking about the situation inAfghanistan, Singh said the “spillover ef-fect is being watched carefully”. He saidthe situation in Afghanistan has definitely

improved to the extent that the US feelsthat they can leave the country to the Af-ghan national army to take care of the se-curity situation.

“But definitely, the draw-down islikely to have its own effect. That cannotbe ruled out. And we have to be preparedfor it. “Terrorist network can extend fromAfghanistan to our side and J&K is onearea where the effect could be felt. We areaware of this possibility and because ofthis we are keeping a careful watch,” hesaid. The Army Chief added that his forcehas a good tier system of counter infiltra-tion grid. “As and when we feel it needsto be further enhanced, we will definitelydo that,” he said. The Army Chief said theforce needs to modernise and enhance itsoperational effectiveness in the face of“numerous challenges”.

Singh said on taking over as the Chiefof the Army Staff about six months back,he had laid down his vision and identifiedthrust areas for the Army. “These providethe guiding framework and reflect our as-pirations to become a modern combat forcecapable of meeting our mandated role andresponsibility,” he said. The officer saidthe first thrust was on infrastructure de-velopment especially along our Northernand North Eastern borders. This “remainsa priority to meet the large capability gap,”he said, adding that the second was “capa-bility enhancement”. “The raising of theMountain Strike Corps is progressing asper laid down timelines. These efforts willsignificantly raise our capabilities on theNorthern Front,” he said.—GK

SRINAGAR—National Conference Wednesdaysaid that it should be amply clear that NC’s of-fer to PDP was an offer of Outside Support forPDP to form the Government in J&K and thatNational Conference was not interested in be-ing a part of such a Government with PDP inthe State. Terming PDP Chief SpokespersonNaeem Akhtar’s remarks as misinformed andunfounded, National Conference General Sec-retary Ali Mohammad Sagar said that unlikePDP, National Conference has put its ideologyand the State’s Special Status above the pettytrappings of power by not aligning with BJP.

Sagar told CNS that if they were interestedin being part of a Government in J&K, theycould have aligned with the BJP as it was anoption readily available to NC after the electionresults came out.

“But unlike PDP, we are guided by guidingprinciples and a political ideology that is rootedin the aspirations and sentiments of our people.We have put our ideology over the lure of power,something that quite understandably seems in-conceivable for a party like the PDP which isready to make every possible compromise andu-turn to come to power in the State.

PDP wants to come to power at any cost,even if that means contradicting everything PDPleaders said during the campaign for the Assem-bly Elections”, NC General Secretary AliMohammad Sagar said.

The NC General Secretary rubbished PDP’s

‘NC’s offer was outsidesupport to PDP’

deluded claim that National Conference had beenpunished or sidelined by the people. “A party thatonly got 60,000 more votes than us collectivelyin the State can hardly make that claim with astraight face. PDP tried its best to accentuate apropaganda of an alleged ‘PDP wave’, whichclearly turned out to be a farce as the results dem-onstrated. The last we checked neither had MuftiMohammad Sayeed rendered a public apologyfor his crimes against Kashmiris during his ten-ure as the Home Minister and nor have the peopleof the State forgiven him for lording over count-less massacres and being the architect of repres-sion in the State. So, the PDP Chief Spokesper-son should come out of his delusions and the partyshould stop taking the people of Kashmir forgranted”, Sagar added.

“We understand that the PDP clearly owesa debt to the BJP since it was the BJP that fundedand supported the creation of the PDP with aview at dividing the people of Kashmir and frag-menting their representative voice. Similarly theBJP owns promoter’s equity in the PDP for hav-ing funded the creation of PDP. NC had hopedthat PDP would forge a coming together of thetwo regional parties in the larger interest of theState but we recognize their compulsions due tothe debt they owe to the BJP. It would now bebetter for the PDP to be honest with the peoplerather than trying to cloak their deceit behindsome smokescreen of a moral high ground”, theNC General Secretary added.—KW

SRINAGAR—Peoples’ Democratic Party(PDP) accused Omar Abdullah of creatingpressure tactics for PDP and playing themind games. Talking to KNS, PDP chiefspokesman Naeem Akhtar said that whenOmar Abdullah failed to pressurize PDP byresigning as the care taker chief minister.“NC is power hungry party. The people havevoted for change and against national con-ference.

I can tell you that governor rule is betterthan the alliance of PDP and national con-ference. We could have considered this op-tion but the clear picture is that people havevoted against the national conference and ithas been the worst regime even in the state

PDP hints at shuttingdoors to NC

of Jammu and Kashmir when youth werekilled in 2010 and Shopian rape was wit-nessed. It was the Haji Yousuf’s killing,cricket scandals and what not. People arecelebrating that Omar Abdullah is gone.”

Akhar said that the informal channels forthe BJP-PDP government formation havebeen going on and doors for the talks withCongress are also open.

“It is ironical that the party that has beenrejected by the people of the state are eagerthan others to be the part of the government.The present actions of Omar Abdullah arenothing but the pressure tactics to compelPDP to take wrong step. We take the rightdecision and right time.”—KD

PATTAN (IHK)—First online Islamic websitewas launched in Pattan town of North Kashmir’sdistrict Baramulla in the interest of MuslimUmmah and for the online donation of Zakat.The website powered by Telcro Technologiescan be accessed at www.islamicbaitulmaal.orgwas launched by chairman of the said organiza-tion Nazir Ahmad Dar and Vice chairman FayazAhmad Shah in Presence of Advocate SaleemYousuf, Nisar Ahmad Sofi, Bashir Ahmad Sofiand other senior members of Baitul Maal at afunction held in Pattan.

Kashmiri Muslims cannow donate Zakat online

Talking to CNS, Chairman Baitul Mal in-formed that, “Every Muslim from any corner ofthe world can offer his or her Zakat and other do-nations online by clicking on ‘Donation Button’which is visible to the right side of the Home Pageof the Website.

Besides senior executive body members ofBaitul Maal Abdul Hamid Tantray,Ghulam HassanRather,Hilal Ahmad sada,Nadeem Rashid,FarooqAhmad Najay,Abdul Majid Khan,Abdul AhdGanaie,Mohmmad Ismail Sada,Abdul MajeedSada were also Present on the occasion.—KW

SOPORE—An unidentifiedmilitant was killed in a gun-fight in north Kashmir ’sSopore town, some 55 kmsfrom summer capitalSrinagar, an official said onWednesday.

Official sources said thatjoint team of army’s 52 RR,police and 177 BattalionCrpf launched a search op-

Militant killed in firefighteration at Sofi HamamChankhan area of the townfollowing the intelligenceinputs about the presence ofa militant in the area.

As the army and specialoperation group of the policereached near Sofi Hamam,the militant hiding in the areaopened fire upon the forces .

The militant fired at the

government forces and in theexchange of f ire he waskilled.

Government forces alsorecovered of one AK 47 rifle,3 magazines, 89 rounds ofammunition, one UBGL,three UBGL rounds andother ‘war like’ stores fromencounter s i te , sourcessaid.—KD

IOK lacks means tocare for hemophilia

patients: NGONEW DELHI—The Society forHaemophilia Care (SHC), aDelhi-based non-governmentalorganization, has said thatJammu and Kashmir lacks apolicy for tacklingHaemophilia, a genetic bleed-ing disorder that affects aroundthree thousand persons in theterritory.

Vijay Kaul, ExecutiveDirector Society forHaemophilia Care address-ing media persons, said thatdue to callous attitude of theauthori t ies around 1300cases had remained undiag-nosed.—KW

What are you goingto do if you haveall the money inthe world and all

the things that youwanted to achievein your businessand you have noone to share it

with? You comehome alone at theend of the day. And

then what?

—Heidi Klum

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain meeting a delegation of business community at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Chairman BoI Miftah Ismail with the host at the JapanPakistan Parliamentarians Friendship League meeting in Tokyo.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—All segments of the steel indus-try including steel melters, ship breakers, wirerod manufacturers and large scale re-rollershave come together to praise the governmentfor the latest policy decision to levy 15% RDon imported steel products that are heavilysubsidized and attract tariff concessions. GoPhas followed suit after EU, Vietnam, Mexico,Egypt, Brazil, US and Thailand have imposedvarious counter-veiling and regulatory dutieson imported steel products.

Steel melters, ship breakers and large scalere-rollers, which represent over 85% of thesector ’s production capacity approachedFBR, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Com-merce and Ministry of Industries and Produc-tion because the difference between locallymanufactured and imported bars and billetshad swelled to PKR 10,000 – 15,000. After im-position of the regulatory duty, the importedsteel products are still PKR 3,000 – 5,000cheaper than locally manufactured productsaccording to industry experts. “We salute the

Govt moves timely to protect domestic steel industryImposition of regulatory duty provides level playing field

government for providing a win-win situationfor everybody where importers can continueimporting steel products without wiping outlocal industry and the government can alsomop up extra revenues” said Vice-chairmanof PSMA Mr. Khalid Khan.

When asked about objections that some re-rollers have raised about the RD, PSRMA mem-ber Mr. Khalid Khan mentioned “We are a promi-nent member of PSRMA but were not consultedbefore such objections were raised in the media.No meeting was called either and only a few smallre-rollers are against imposition of RD. We fullysupport the imposition of RD.” PSMA has alsoquestioned the statement released by FPCCI stat-ing that such a statement was not issued beforehearing shipbreakers and steel melters which rep-resent majority of the steel industry.

A representative from Amreli Steels, one ofthe largest re-rolling mills in Pakistan, men-tioned there is ample capacity in the countryto cater for local demand; “Before impositionof RD on steel products a lot of mills were onlyutilizing at 40-60% capacity because importedproducts were being dumped in the market.

We urge consumers to approach us for steelproducts as there is ample capacity in the coun-try and the regulatory duty will foster an in-vestment friendly environment that will bringmore capacity into the country.”

According to an article by Reuters.com,“subsidies accounted for four-fifths of the prof-its reported by Chinese Steel Companies in thefirst half of 2014”. “How can we compete withmanufacturers in exporting countries whentheir government provides export rebates ofup to 13% in addition to electricity subsidiesand tax breaks. It is not a matter of making ourindustrial units more efficient because we haveworld class production facilities – it is a matterof an unfair competitive environment” said anexecutive of a steel manufacturer.

PSMA representatives said the regulatoryduty will also help the state run organization toget back on its feet as it will be able to sell itsproducts to consumers at competitive pricesagainst imported goods. “Imported goods willcontinue to come in but they will just be morecompetitive priced than before and will providea level playing field. “Experts believe industrial-

ization and investment is the key to economicgrowth at the stage Pakistan is in currently. Inits infancy, the most powerful economies of to-day such as USA, China and India put industri-alization, investment and creation of jobs as atop priority and protected their local industryfor decades to build the kind of capability that isrequired to compete globally. After many de-cades of following an investment heavily eco-nomic model, China has now built the wealthand middle class to transition to a consump-tion-based economy. If Pakistan is to follow suchgrowth it must build economic stimulus throughgovernment spending and policies that fosterinvestment in industry. The current governmentis taking some of the right steps and one ofthem is the regulatory duty on steel products.

Meanwhile the Pakistan Ship Breakers As-sociation (PSBA) has welcomed the levy of15% regulatory duty on the import of all steelbillets, steel bars and wire rods. The PakistaniShip Breaking industry is the country’s largeststeel raw material supplier to the re-rolling andwire rod industry. The ship breaking industryhas invested over 20 billion rupees in the

Balochistan province during the last 5 yearsand is also the highest revenue contributorfrom the steel sector in Balochistan. Not onlyis this a revenue generating industry, it is alsoone of the largest employers in the under-de-veloped Balochistan Province, employingthousands of persons.

Since the past year, steel billets, wire rodand steel bars were being flooded into thePakistan market by way of dumping fromabroad. This made the local industry unviableand therefore one of the local steel manufac-turing sectors i.e wire rod industry had to-tally shut down. Dewan Rizwan Farooqi,Chairman PSBA, stated “Since 2010, the shipbreaking industry has been providing 1.2 mil-lion tons of steel raw materials annually tothe re-rolling, wire rod and steel melting in-dustry. The ship breaking industry thoughmassive capital investments has ramped upits ability to cater to Pakistan’s down streamindustries by taking its annual capacity from150,000 mt per annum in 2007 to 1.2 milliontons per annum in 2010.

Japanese envoy tovisit SCCISIALKOT—Ambassadorof Japan in PakistanHiroshi Inomata willvisit the Sialkot Cham-ber of Commerce andIndustry (SCCI) here onThursday (Jan 15). SCCISVP Mir Alamgir Meyersaid the Japaneseambassador will discussin details matters ofmutual interest withbusiness communityduring a meetingscheduled to be heldthere.—APP

Shipping activity atPort QasimKARACHI—Two ships C.VCMA CGM Racine andC.V Northern Jaugarcarrying containers werealloted berths at QasimInternational ContainerTerminal Berth No. 6 and 8respectively at Port Qasim(PQ). Meanwhile, threemore ships carryingcontainers, LPG andRapeseeds also arrived atouter anchorage of PortQasim during the last 24hours. Berth occupancywas managed at the Port at36 per cent. Where fivesips namely, C.V CMACGM Racine, C.V North-ern, M.V Hyderabad, M.VSino-6 and M.T GenuineVenus are currentlyoccupying berths to load/offload containers, Coal,Fertilizer and Palm oilrespectively during last 24hours.—APP

Mobilink tests creditguarantee for sukukKARACHI—PakistanMobile Communications(Mobilink), the country’slargest telecommunica-tions operator, plans toraise Rs 6.9 billion ($68.6million) via Islamic bondsthis quarter, PakistanCredit Rating Agencysaid in a statement. Thesukuk, which will belisted, have been ratedAA by the rating agencyand will include a partialcredit guarantee of 966million rupees. The sukukwould help fund thenetwork expansion ofMobilink, a whollyowned subsidiary ofGlobal Telecom Holding,which is in turn majority-owned by Russia’sVimpelCom.—Agencies

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The Securities and Ex-change Commission of Pakistan (SECP)has drawn up a roadmap to review theoperational performance and financial re-sult over the years viz a viz the projec-tions given in the prospectus of compa-nies. The exercise is aimed-ensuring ac-countability sponsoring directors of com-panies whose performance, in the yearssubsequent to listing, could not match thetall claims made in the prospectus, said astatement issued here Wednesday.

It may be noted that requirements fordisclosure of material, relevant and com-plete information at the time of issuance ofprospectus is already stringent in the Com-panies Ordinance, 1984 and relevant rulesmade thereunder. Any, omission and mis-statement of material facts in prospectusattracts penal provisions under the Ordi-nance.

Prospectus serves as the key tool forprospective investors, particularly thegeneral public, for raising capital from thecapital markets. Companies raise sub-stantial capital through public offer forfinancing their capital expenditure, ag-gressive expansion plans and businessre-engineering. Therefore, companies

SECP initiates companiesprospectus examination

clearly state the purpose, benefit and uti-lization of the capital raised from publicsubscription. Moreover, the forecast andprojections made in the prospectus fore-tell the tale of a successful businessmodel promising substantial profits andindicating attractive return in the form ofdividend.

In certain cases, however, in the yearssubsequent to successful public sub-scription, the operational and financialperformances of the Company reveallosses and mismanagement, deprivinginvestors of reasonable return on theirinvestment. The accountability of direc-tors of the company for prudently man-aging the affairs of the Company and ful-fillment of their statutory responsibilitytowards shareholders is the key for as-sessing the performance of the Company.

Therefore, in addition to consistent ex-amination of annual and interim accounts,the prospectus and allied information oflisted companies are being examined andcomparisons drawn with the current perfor-mance of such companies. SECP believesthat transparency and accountability of com-panies shall further reinforce the confidenceof stakeholders, ensure reasonable return toinvestors and strengthen capital market forattracting prospective investment.

Continued on Page 14

ISE-10 indexwitnesses

bearish trendIS L A M A B A D—IslamabadStock Exchange here onWednesday witnessed bear-ish trend as the ISE-10 indexwas down by 2.09 pointsand closed at 3,959.38 points.A total of 119,000 shares weretraded, which were down by125,500 shares when it com-pared with previous day’strading of 244,500 shares.

Out of 159 companies,share prices of 97 companiesrecorded increase while shareprices of 62 companies regis-tered decrease where as onecompany remained stable intoday’s trading. The shareprice of Feroz sons Labora-tories increased by Rs. 29.11per share while the shareprices of Tri-Pack Films de-creased by Rs. 4.61 per share.PIA, Sui Southern Gas and K-Electric remained the top trad-ing companies inWednesday’s trading with49,000, 44,500 and 15,000shares respectively.—APP

45 profiteers fined,two sent to jail

KARACHI—The divisionaland district administrationKarachi has challaned 45shopkeepers and fines ofRs. 75,100/- were imposedwhile two shopkeepers werearrested for continuos profi-teering and violating offi-cially approved price list.According to a statementissued here on Wednesday,during crackdown, the ad-ministration fined 14 milksellers, one vegetables sell-ers, 15 grocers, six fruits sell-ers and nine chicken sellers.

The action against profi-teers were taken in the areasincluding Liaquat Abad,Gulberg, Nazimabad, NorthNazimabad, New Karachi,Murad Memon Goth, ModelColony, Shah Faisal, Saddar,Aram Bagh, Civil Line, Gar-den, Jamshed Quarters,Gulzar Hijri, Orangi Town,Baldia Town and other areas.Commissioner KarachiShoaib Ahmed Siddiqui hassaid that the operationagainst profiteers will con-tinue till the sale of essentialitems is not ensured accord-ing to officially approvedprice list.—APP

KARACHI—Liquidity management opera-tions of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) aim toachieve monetary policy objectives of pricestability so as to provide a facilitating envi-ronment for economic growth. In particu-lar, the intermediate goal is to contain theoverall monetary expansion (M2 growth)within safe limits; consistent with price sta-bility objective, said SBP in a statement.This is ensured by management of day-to-day liquidity in the banking system with aview to keep the overnight money marketrepo rate within the interest rate corridorspecified by SBP Repo and Reverse Reporates. This requires liquidity injections ormop-ups at appropriate periods in time.

In recent times, the liquidity injectionsby the SBP have increased considerablyrelative to its past trends. Noticing theseunusual changes, various market analystsperceive the SBP liquidity management tobe favoring the banks in making profit orsupporting the government to meet its bor-rowing needs. These perceptions are basedon misconceptions and partial analysis ofmonetary variables. The SBP considers itimportant to address these misconceptionsto avoid misguided conclusions and expec-tations on the basis of such analysis.

While assessing the liquidity condi-tions and analyzing the open market opera-tions, it is important to keep in view theoverall growth of money supply in the sys-tem and its composition. Liquidity injec-tions are considered counterproductiveonly when given the inflationary outlookand monetary policy stance, they are con-tributing towards excessive monetary ex-

Liquidity managementaims at price stability: SBP

pansion. Further, a lopsided contributionin growth in money supply complicatesmonetary management. For instance, de-spite a contraction in net foreign assets,high monetary growth led by governmentborrowing reflects external as well as fiscalimbalances, which had been the case dur-ing last few years. From the recent mon-etary aggregates data it can be observedthat the overall monetary expansion (M2growth) is not excessive; in fact it has de-celerated compared to past few years. Moreimportantly, the composition of money sup-ply is reflecting the positive changes oc-curring in the real economy.

For instance, the growth in M2 is beingcontributed significantly by an expansionin net foreign assets of SBP owing to im-provement in external sector. Moreover, thegrowth in private sector credit, albeit lowerthan last year, has a reasonable contribu-tion in monetary expansion. Moreover, theimproved fiscal discipline has resulted inlower government borrowing from the bank-ing system and changed its compositionbetween the commercial banks and SBPconsiderably.

The government has in fact been retir-ing its borrowings from SBP. As a result,the liquidity shortage in the system has in-creased considerably. To meet this, the SBPhas been injecting liquidity, through itsopen market operations, consistent with itsmonetary policy stance. If the SBP refrainsfrom injecting liquidity in the system, itcould retard broad money growth leadingto stifling of economic activities and thus arecovery in growth.—APP

ISLAMABAD—The sale ofautomobiles assembled inPakistan (including LCVs,Vans and Jeeps) in Decem-ber 2014 stood at 11,087units compared to 8,868units in the same monthlast year, showing an in-crease of 25 per cent yearon year (YoY), Gulf Todayreported. The Newspaperquoting Pakistan Automo-tive Manufacturers Asso-ciation (PAMA), data saidthat during the first half offiscal year 2014-15, saleswere up 10 per cent to67,426 units compared to61,252 units in the sameperiod last year; mainly led

Auto sales surge 25pcby Toyota Corolla newmodel.

During the first half offiscal year 2014-15, robustincrease in tractor saleswas observed after the re-duction of General SalesTax (GST) in last budget.The sales increased bynine per cent to 20,857units compared to 19,057units in the correspondingperiod last year, with MillatTractors leading the trac-tor segment in volumes byselling 12,811 units, up 12per cent YoY followed byAl-Ghazi tractors with 7,713units, up 12 per cent YoY,the paper said.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—PIA, in order tofacilitate its valued UmrahZaireen is committed to pro-vide best possible servicesthrough most economicalfares in the market. The air-line is also operating extraUmrah flights between Pa-kistan and Jeddah to caterand accommodate the ever-high influx of UmrahZaireen. PIA spokesperson,Haneef Rana said here onWednesday.

Advertisements havealready been placed in lead-ing newspapers whereinUmrah fares have also beenspecifically mentioned withthe request to valued UmrahZaireen not to pay over andabove the specified fares.Furthermore, in order to ex-tend best possible servicesto valued Umrah Zaireen,PIA management has de-cided to open extra sectionflights in reservation system

PIA offers economicalfares to Umrah Zaireen

for all travel agents enablingthem to book seats on firstcome first serve basis.

It is expected that iftravel agents effectively uti-lize and implement the pro-tocol proficiently then notonly all travel agents will beable to get seats but will alsoserve the Umrah Zaireenmore efficiently. It is perti-nent to mention here thatextra Umrah flights havebeen mounted for Jeddahexclusively for UmrahZaireen and the airline hasprohibited travel agents tobook passengers other thanUmrah Zaireen i.e. thosepassengers who are holdingSaudi work permits or re-turning residents, this hesaid was in conformity withSaudi Immigration regula-tions. The travel agents whofail to comply with the saidprotocol and guidelines willbe subject to penalty in linewith IATA rules. PIAspokesperson concluded.

PARC conductstraining workshop

STAFF REPORTER

I S L A M A B A D — P a k i s t a nAgricultural ResearchCouncil (PARC) is strivingfor promotion of livelihoodand food security in therural areas of Pakistanthrough various R&D ag-ricultural activities includ-ing hands on training ofdifferent agricultural tech-nologies.

This was stated by Dr.Muhammad Ehsan Akhtar,Registrar PARC Institute ofAdvance Studies in Agricul-ture (PIASA) at inauguralsession of two days train-ing workshop on “QualityMushroom Production forBetter Livelihood” here atNational Agricultural Re-search Centre (NARC)Chakshahzad Islamabad.The event was organizedby PIASA-PARC in collabo-ration with Al-Mustafa De-velopment Network for a di-verse group of twenty fivetrainees from different dis-tricts of Punjab and AJ&K.

Govt timelymoves

This has allowed the shipbreaking industry to providethe Balochistan provinceand the Government of Pa-kistan with much neededrevenue in the tune of Rs 11billion annually. We aregrateful to the Governmentof Pakistan in savingBalochistan’s largest indus-try from collapse and wehope we can continue toplay a key role in job cre-ation and revenue genera-tion for Pakistan.” Industryanalysts claim that the shipbreaking industry plays akey role in job creation asdownstream cottage indus-tries have developed in turncreating livelihood opportu-nities for more than quartermillion people in Pakistan.

The imposition of thisRegulatory Duty has comeat a critical time as steel prod-ucts being imported intoPakistan via various FTA’sand subsidies were beingcleared through manipula-tion and mis-decleration andhad created a difference ofover 20% in the cost be-tween locally manufacturedgoods, whereas the costdecrease was not beingpassed on to the local con-sumers and the importerlobby was reaping hugeprofits whilst the local indus-try was brought to a stand-still. This move by the gov-ernment will help in bring-ing some stability to the lo-cal market and curbing rev-enue drain while providinga level playing field for thelocal Steel Sector. The Paki-stan Shipbreakers Associa-tion salutes the Governmentof Pakistan for this boldmove which has helped savehundreds of thousands ofjobs as well as the local steelindustry. We believe thatthis will not only strengthenrevenue collection for theGovernment but will alsoshow the Governmentscommitment to supportinglocal industries.

IMC to supportPak students

designed car inInt’l competition

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Indus MotorCompany (IMC) has spon-sored a group of Pakistanistudents who wouldshowcase two cars theydesigned for a global en-vironment event, beingheld in Philippines fromFebruary 25 to March 03.20 students from NationalUniversity of Science andTechnology (NUST) whodesigned two vehicles(urban type and proto-type) will take part in acompetition where the ve-hicle covering the maxi-mum distance, using leastamount of energy, wouldstand out as a winner.

‘The Prototype cat-egory is a concept car thatis developed keeping inview the futuristic needsof fuel-efficiency. Thisthree-wheeled vehiclehas to be designed keep-ing a prime focus on dragreduction and maximumfuel efficiency,’ saidHassam Ahmed, teammanager of Prototypeconcept car. And the Ur-ban category is a conven-tional four-wheeled ve-hicle that can match theattributes of a modern-day vehicle with an en-hanced efficiency of fuel.

Currency Selling Buying

Daily opening& closing ratesPMEX Index 2,606Total Volume (Lots): 17,180Traded Value (Rs): 2,401,696,466

Commodity .......................... Price Quotation ........................ Open ............ CloseCRUDE OIL ......................... $ Per Barrel ................................. 45.96 ............. 46.74SILVER ................................. $ Per Ounce ................................ 16.568 ........... 17.018GOLD ................................... $ Per Ounce ................................ 1,233.8 .......... 1,230.8GOLD ................................... Rs Per 10 gms ............................ 40,202 ........... 40,105MTOLAGOLD .................... Rs Per Tola ................................. 48,233 ........... 48,056GOLD ................................... Rs Per Tola ................................. 48,233 ........... 48,056RICEIRRI6 ........................... Rs Per 100 kg ............................. 3,203 ............. 3,202PALMOLEIN ...................... Rs Per Maund ............................ 3,713 ............. 3,712SUGAR ................................ Rs Per kg .................................... 45.76 ............. 45.19ICOTTON ............................ US Cents per pound ................. 59.80 ............. 60.14WHEAT ............................... Rs Per 100 kg ............................. 3,408 ............. 3,407

The total value traded was PKR 2.402 billion as compared to PKR 2.11 billion reportedon last business day, an increase of 14 percent. Number of lots traded also increased by63 percent to 17,180 from 10,520. PMEX Commodity Index increased by 0.17 percentand closed at 2,606. Major business was contributed by crude oil amounting to PKR1.634 billion, a 61 percent increase when compared to the previous trading day. Thiswas followed by gold (PKR 704 million) and silver (PKR 64 million).

USA 100.30 100.10

UK 155.58 155.27

Euro 122.12 121.87

Canada 86.35 86.18

Switzerland 101.58 101.38

Australia 81.33 81.17

Sweden 12.87 12.85

Japan 0.8329 0.8313

Norway 13.48 13.45

Singapore 75.75 75.60

Denmark 16.41 16.68

Saudi Arabia 26.72 26.67

Hong Kong 12.93 12.90

Kuwait 342.32 341.64

Malaysia 28.68 28.62

Newzealand 77.41 77.26

Qatar 27.54 27.49

UAE 27.31 27.25

Kr Won 0.0909 0.0907

Thailand 3.049 3.043

Continued from Page 13

ISLAMABAD—Developing countries inAsia and the Pacific are forecast togrow at an average of 5.8 percent in2015, up from 5.6 percent in 2014, theUnited Nations (U.N.) said. This willbe driven by improved performancesin a number of major developingeconomies, including Bangladesh, In-dia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea,South Korea and Thailand, the U.N.Economic and Social Commission forAsia and the Pacific (ESCAP) said inits Economic and Social Survey ofAsia and the Pacific 2014: Year-endUpdate, Todays’ Zaman reported.

Prospects for some of theseeconomies will be aided by theprogress in implementing structuralreform programs in 2015, which areexpected to improve the domesticbusiness environment, the report said.Growth in China is forecast to hoveraround 7 percent in 2015 consistentwith the ongoing economic rebalanc-ing, it said. Regional inflation is likelyto remain relatively subdued in 2015,falling to 3.5 percent from 3.9 percentin the previous year, which offers roomin some economies for loosening mon-etary policies to support growth, the

Asia-Pacific developingeconomies to grow 5.8pc in 2015

Year-end Update indicated.“Despite improved prospects,

many developing economies in theregion face structural constraintswhich have kept them from realizingtheir growth potential. Infrastructureshortages remain acute and growthhas not translated into enough decentjobs,” United Nations Under-Secre-tary-General and ESCAP ExecutiveSecretary Shamshad Akhtar said. In-frastructure deficits and lack of avail-ability of decent jobs are the main do-mestic structural concerns which areimpeding the supply potential ofeconomies, the report showed.

Also, likely capital volatility in 2015stemming from monetary policies ofdeveloped economies may affect mac-roeconomic stability and investmentin the region, according to ESCAPanalysis. “The impact may negativelyaffect GDP growth of some countriesin the region by up to 0.7 percentagepoints,” the report said. The ESCAPrecommended using a variety of mea-sures to tackle capital volatility, in-cluding ensuring good macroeco-nomic fundamentals, judicious foreignexchange intervention, and use of

macroprudential policies to encourageentry of long-term capital.

In addition, the ESCAP predictedthat the steep decline in oil priceswould have varying impacts on balanceof payments, inflation and fiscal spaceof countries. For energy-importingcountries, a 10-dollar per barrel fall inthe oil price in 2015 would translate intoan increase in GDP growth of up to 0.5percentage points, it said. However,this could reduce growth in Russia, anet energy exporter, by 1.1 percentagepoints and deprive neighboring Cen-tral Asian countries of 1.7 billion dol-lars in remittances from nationals work-ing in the Russian Federation, it added.

The ESCAP regarded decliningglobal oil prices as “a valuable oppor-tunity for Asia-Pacific economies toreduce fuel subsidies that account fora large share of national budgets inmany countries in the region.” Regres-sive fossil fuel subsidies more oftenbenefit the rich and have little impacton reducing poverty, the report said,adding that the savings from a cut inthese could be better invested intomore productive and inclusive devel-opment.—APP

KARACHI—Karachi is a city of 25 mil-lion. It attracts people from acrossSindh province and other areas of thecountry who dream of building a bet-ter future for themselves and theirfamilies. Samsung Electronics, withits pursuit of nurturing entrepreneur-ial culture, has created ‘The Nest’ I/O,an incubator and startup space, inpartnership with P@SHA and otherprestigious companies, to help theseyoung aspiring entrepreneurs turntheir dreams into reality. While Paki-stani startup community has showntremendous growth in recent years,there is still a vast potential for devel-opment that remains untapped.

Samsung has given hope to youngpeople in the tech community who as-pire to start and run their own busi-nesses, thus creating value for them-selves, jobs for others and much-needed wealth for the country. ‘ By

CIO & CCSO Zong, Niaz A. Malik and Country Manager Symantec Corporation,Wasim Iqbal shaking hand after signing MoU along with their teams.

PESHAWAR: Members of Women Chamber of Commerce Peshawar, Multan and othercities are speaking with Chief Manager SBP, Syeda Asma Aziz and other bank officialsin connection with attainment of loans on easy terms.

OBSERVER REPORT

ISLAMABAD—Zong, the digital partner of the nation, an-nounced that it has selected Symantec Netbackup Appli-ances and Software solution to enhance its customers’ dataprotection. Being one of the largest Telecom operators inPakistan, Zong was looking for a robust, unified and scal-able solution to deal with data expansion challenges and atthe same time to achieve stringent RTO and RPOs. Zonghas been pioneering the transition to modern technologicalservices and is the first and only operator in Pakistan tooffer 4G services. The company holds more than 100terabytes of business information, across 200+ servers over3 data centers.

For the past few years, we have grown our subscriberbase at a very high and consistent rate each year, SaysMr. Niaz A Malik, Chief Information Officer, Zong. In IT,we help to enable and support this growth by providing asteady foundation of efficiency and availability. This helpsthe business to grow and retain our subscribers’ base.Our vision is to become an indispensable digital life part-ner of our customers and we need strategic partners likeSymantec to ensure stability of our products and services.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Ali Waqas,Director of Information Technology at Zong, said, “Fol-lowing our strategy to enhance our operational efficiency,we are aiming to become one of the leading telecom ser-vice provider to offer the best IT solutions to enhanceevery customer’s experience. As the data deluge trendcontinues to impact the world, the deployment of suchadvanced backup solution will further support our prom-ise to safeguard and govern critical business information.”

Zong enhances customers’ dataprotection through Symantec

Mr. Muhammad Abdul Wajid, Director of InformationTechnology at Zong mentioned that we are facing expo-nential data growth hence decided to use NetBackup DataProtection Optimization to conserve storage space bydeduplicating backup data. We’ll benefit from faster back-ups and replication, as well as reduced backup storage costs.Mr. Wajid and his team at Zong will significantly reduce theadministration time spent to manage the enterprise backupby using Symantec’s solutions, relocating valuable humanresource hours to meet other needs of the organization.

Wasim Iqbal, Territory Manager Pakistan at Symantec,added; “Zong has been at the forefront of how the telecomindustry can utilize leading edge IT technologies. Symantecis one part of this vision. Netbackup delivers agile and scal-able data recovery tools, which will enable Zong to optimizebusiness operations for increased productivity. Informa-tion Protection and Security has been the top agenda ofCIO’s across the Globe and Pakistan’s Telecom industry isno exception. Symantec’s suite of comprehensive solu-tions allows businesses, such as Zong, to manage & secureinformation, and remain one step ahead of industry incustomer’s data protection and security. We are delightedto work with such a prestigious organization.”

Teamsun Technology, a leading system integrator inPakistan will deliver the solution in collaboration withSymantec’s professional services team. For years, Zongused Symantec NetBackup software to back up data totape. Although the solution performed well, the companywanted to enable faster backups and restores says Mr.Tony Ye, CEO of Teamsun Technology. Symantec’s Appli-ance based backup solution is a true one-window solu-tion across data protection industry.

Samsung creates ‘The Nest’ I/OTech Incubator, Startup Space

opening The Nest I/O, the PakistanSoftware Houses Association for ITand ITES (P@SHA), in partnership withSamsung and Google for Entrepreneursand with support from the U.S. StateDepartment, is expanding its supportto the Pakistani tech startup commu-nity. This was the combined messageemanating from the speeches made byJ.H. Lee, Managing Director ofSamsung Pakistan, Ann Lavin- Headof Public Policy at Google Inc Asia/Pa-cific, Brian Heath- US Consul GeneralKarachi and Jehan Ara- President ofP@SHA at the vibrant launch event ofthis dynamic startup space.

The Nest, in its first year of opera-tion, plans to support over 50 residen-tial startups, and empower dozens moreexternally incubated startups and pro-vide a community space that will cre-ate an impact for hundreds more. TheNest I/O’s 6,500 sq ft of physical space

will provide a home for talented entre-preneurs, where they will have accessto mentors, training and communityevents, as well as access to current tech-nology platforms and products for de-veloping and testing. Showcasing in-novative products to potential inves-tors and customers is also a part of thevision of the new tech incubator.

As part of the ‘ Google For Entre-preneurs’ global community, this hubwill be able to provide startups inKarachi the opportunity to freely sitand connect with over 30 startup hubsaround the world from ‘Campus Lon-don’ to ‘iHub’ in Nairobi and avail theexpertise of tech experts from theSamsung and Google network. It ishoped that The Nest I/O will providethe needed support to Pakistan’s nextgeneration of entrepreneurs. Inter-ested startups can apply to http://thenestio.com.

QUETTA: ICAP delegation lead by president Yaqoob Sattar in a meeting with GovernorBalochistan, Muhammad Khan Achakzai at Governor House.

ICAP Presidentmeets Governor

BalochistanQ U E T T A — G o v e r n o rBalochistan MuhammadKhan Achakzai has empha-sized the need of an effec-tive campaign and practicalmeasures for bringing aware-ness among masses regard-ing education. Talking to adelegation of Institute ofChartered Accountants ofPakistan (ICAP) headed byits president Mr. YaqoobSattar who called on him atGovernor House Quetta, theGovernor said the basic pur-pose of higher education isto fulfil the social needs.

Governor said that mod-ern education is the only ef-fective mode to harmonizewith contemporary require-ments. On the occasion, thedelegation briefed the Gov-ernor Balochistan about es-tablishment of ICAP’s satel-lite office in Quetta locatedin Civic Business Center, HaliRoad, Quetta Cantt.—PR

COMMERCE REPORTER

RAWALPINDI—Italian am-bassador Adriano ChiodiCianfarani has said that hiscountry is the ninth largestexporter and 14th largestexporters of Pakistan. Italyhas assisted Pakistan in en-ergy projects worth of Rs 14billion and also offered tech-nical assistance to over-come energy crunch. Hesaid that textile exports ofPakistan to Italy have in-creased after GSP Plus sta-tus and it will be further im-proved with the passage oftime. He was exchangingthese views with the actingPresident Rawalpindi Cham-ber of Commerce and Indus-try (RCCI) Mian HumayunParvez during his visit toChamber on Wednesday.

First Secretary, Head of

Pak textile export to Italyincreases after GSP plus status

Economic, Cultural & PressOffice Ms. Elena Claudia DiVito, former presidentsRCCI Amanullah Khan,Hussain Ahmed Ozgun,Syed Ali Raza Saeed Shah,leaders of trade associationsSheikh Hafeez, Ch.Iqbal andother members were alsopresent on the occasion.Ambassador said that bothcountries should exploreother sectors to enhancebilateral trade volume. Hewas of the view that Paki-stan has great potential ingems & precious stone butowing to lack of technology& modern techniques Paki-stan is losing a great part ofits revenue. He said thatItaly can provide latest ma-chinery for drilling, cuttingand finishing to boost thePakistan gems sector. Hestressed the need of direct

relations of the businesscommunity of both sidesand ensured his full coop-eration in this regard.

Speaking on the occa-sion acting President MianHumayun Parvez said thatItaly is an important tradepartner and trade volume be-tween Pakistan and Italy is$1.5million, which needs to beenhanced. He said that Paki-stan major exports to Italy in-clude Leather, textile, andcotton and oil seed whilemajor exports are machineryand electrical goods. RCCI isinterested to hold a singlecountry Made in Pakistanexpo in Italy to promote Paki-stani goods in Italian marketsand establish a linkage withtheir Italian counterparts. H.EAdriano Chiodi Cianfaraniensured his full cooperationin this regard.

FPCCI newly elected general body member Abid Abdullah and others with FPCCI presi-dent Mian Muhammad Adress.

RAWALPINDI: Acting president Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, MianHumayun Parvez presenting shield to Italian ambassador, Adriano Chiodi Cianfaranion his visit to RCCI.

LAHORE: Shahid Afridi and teammates participating in World Cup 2015 training camp on Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD: Youngsters playing volleyball in Federal Capital.

SUKKUR: A view of cricket match between Sukkur Green and Blue at Municipal Stadium.

NawabappointedPTF SVP

OperationsI S L A M A B A D — P a k i s t a nTennis Federation (PTF)on Wednesday announcedAVM (R) Razi Nawab asthe PTF ManagementCommittee Member andappointed him as SVP-Op-erations with immediateeffect.

The President PTF SalimSaifullah Khan made thedecision, says a press re-lease issued here.

Nawab, who is the SVPof the Pakistan Squash Fed-eration and the major forcebehind the once-again grow-ing Squash activities in Pa-kistan, is a well-known andhighly respected figure inthe world of sports in Paki-stan.

His coming aboard inPTF is a matter of delightbecause it is attended by hisvast exposure and experi-ence in Sports Administra-tion at the Pakistan and In-ternational stage.

Nawab is expected totake over the most demand-ing role as “SVP-Opera-tions” which means he willbe working very closelywith the President and over-seeing crucial aspects, suchas Players’ and Coachesand Officials’ development,Infrastructure identificationand development, as well asserving on various Commit-tees of the PTF.—APP

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Football Federation(PFF) has signed a five-year agreement withthe Qatar Football Association (QFA)through which theabilities of the nationalplayers, referees, coaches and other tech-nical staff will be enhanced to a higher level.

Talking to APP, PFF Secretary ColAhmed Yar Lodhi said that the agreementwas signed in a bid to improve the game offootball in the country. “QFA will also ar-range sponsorship for the country’s na-tional league and adjust some of their play-ers in their league,” he said.

Lodhi said this agreement will provevery beneficial for PFF. “National men andwomen teams would be able to tour Qatarfor training purposes twice a year accord-ing to the agreement,” he said.

Lodhi said Qatar has one of the bestmulti-purpose sporting facility in Dohawhich besides football, also covers futsal,basketball, badminton, and athletics. “Thefacility also has a medical centre which iscounted as one of the best of the world.Our players would also be able to avail the

Qatar to help groom footballin Pakistan

same facilities during their trips,” Lodhisaid.

Lodhi said PFF might also hold refreshercourses of both A and B license coacheson Qatar soil. “The agreement is based onmutual cooperation in all fields of footballdevelopment including national teams,youth teams and grassroots level,” he saidadding countries will also play internationalfriendlies with each other.

Lodhi said the agreement also coversfootball exchange programmes which mayinclude personal exchanges (travel to Paki-stan and Qatar as appropriate) for instruc-tion, education, work experience, work-shops, study tours as well as exchange ofdocumentation such as training and othermanuals,” he said.

Lodhi said Qatar has always stood byPakistan as a brotherly nation and throughthis agreement the national players espe-cially will benefit a lot. “Our referees,coaches and other technical staff will alsogain advantage from this agreement,” Lodhisaid.—APP

SPORTS REPORTER

KARACHI—Pakistan cricket authori-ties on Wednesday retained the sus-pended spinner Saeed Ajmal whilealso adding the newcomers fast bowler

Sohail Khan and the leggie Yasir Shahin their list of central contracts.

The 37-year-old Ajmal is undersuspension for illegal bowling actionsince September last year and will ap-pear in a reassessment test in Chennai,India on January 24.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) saidthe central contracts will run fromJanuary to March 31 this year. Ajmalwas retained in “A” category alongwith Test and one-day captainMisbah-ul Haq, Younis Khan,Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi andJunaid Khan.

Paceman Junaid was lucky to beretained in the top category despitebeing sidelined through injury sinceOctober last year.

“PCB has extended central con-tracts up to March 31, 2015 the cen-tral contracts awarded for the year 2015

PESHAWAR—For the first time in the his-tory of the game three of the promising Ten-nis stars - Saqib Umar, Aqib Umar andShoaib Khan - will represent Pakistan in theforthcoming Junior Davis Cup to be playedin Malaysia in February this year.

This was stated by President KhyberPakhtunkhwa Tennis Association Dr. Tahirwhile talking to APP here on Wednesday.He said after giving stunning performancein various national events, all the three wereselected purely on merits by a selectioncommittee of the Pakistan Tennis Federa-tion.

Besides them another player HafizAbdul Rehman, hailing from Rawalpindi,will accompanied them to play in the Un-der-14 category, he disclosed. In the Un-der-16 category Ali Shahib Zada (Sindh),Aman Atiq (Rawalpindi), Muzamil (Punjab),and Raza (Karachi) will also part of the eightmembers’ squad, he said. It is pertaining tomention here that earlier Mehmood Khanin 1984, Jehanzeb Khan in 1987 and InamGul in 2004, all from Khyber Pakhtnkhwahave the honored to be part of the nationalteam, Dr. Tahir disclosed.

It would for the first time in the historythat all three players from a province willrepresent Pakistan in the Junior Under-14category of Davis Cup. Dr. Tahir, Presidentof the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tennis Asso-

Three KP players to representPakistan in Davis Cup in Malaysia

ISLAMABAD—Former Test cricketerWajahatullah Wasti hopes that off-spinnerSaeed Ajmal clears his official ICC test sayingAjmal can only get an entry in the World Cupnational squad if any player gets injured ormisfit. Ajmal will undergo official ICC testingin Chennai on January 24, to assess his re-modelled bowling action. If Ajmal’s action isfound to be legal, his ban from bowling ininternational cricket will be lifted but if he failsthe ICC’s Bowling Review Group (BRG) willspecify a period during which Ajmal will notbe entitled to approach the ICC for reassess-ment.

This is the second time the PCB has ap-plied to the ICC for a date; earlier the PCBwithdrew their request, despite being giventhe date of December 7, on the advice of theexperts working with Ajmal.

Talking to APP, Wasti said Ajmal hope-fully is fully prepared to clear his test. “Ajmal’s

Wasti hopes Ajmal clears ICC testcareer though doesn’t end with the WorldCup, what is important that he continues toplay cricket even after the WC,” he said.

Wasti said pitches of Australia are verygood for Ajmal as they have an extra bounce.“The bounce in Australia is always good foroff-spin bowlers as there are greater chancesof getting the batsmen to edge or miscue ashot,” he said.

Asian Bradman Zaheer Abbas saidAjmal’s absence would be widely felt in theWC as he is one of the greatest bowlers Paki-stan has got. “But nothing can be done untilhe clears his bowling action according to theICC rules,” he said.

Former cricketer Muhammad Wasim saidthe loss of Ajmal is a major setback to ourbowling resources. “Now with Hafeez not tobowl in the World Cup, the whole combina-tion of the team has been disturbed,” hesaid.—APP

Bell smashes 187 in England’swin over PM XI

ahead of their tri-series opener.“Template-wise, today—it was perfect,”

he said. England have put their disappoint-ing Ashes campaign last year behind themand were making good strides forward, hesaid. “There are not many guys in that dress-ing room from that Test series,” he said.“This is a new group and a group that hasmoved on, really.” There were plenty of posi-tives for England, working towards nextmonth’s World Cup in Australia and NewZealand, with opener Moeen Ali and num-ber three James Taylor both contributing 71.

Bell and Ali put on 113 for the first wicketbefore Bell combined with Taylor in a standof 141 for the second. Bell hit 20 fours andthree sixes in the highest score by a bats-man for England in a 50-over match againstan attack that included two of Australia’sWorld Cup squad members, Pat Cumminsand Glenn Maxwell.—AFP

Man City confirmBony transfer

LONDON—Manchester Cityon Wednesday confirmedthe signing of striker WilfriedBony on a four-and-a-half-year deal from Swansea.“City have completed thesigning of Wilfried Bonyfrom Swansea City,” the En-glish champions announcedon their website.

“The 26-year-old strikerhas agreed terms on a fourand a half year deal which willkeep him at the Etihad Sta-dium until the end of the 2018/19 season.” The Ivory Coaststriker was quoted as saying:“As a player it’s always goodto be part of one of the big-gest clubs in the world andit’s a good opportunity for meto be in that situation now -I’m really proud.”—AFP

Chairman PCB congratulates Women team

Suspended Ajmal givencontract extension

Saeed Ajmal Yasir Shah Sohail Khan

will be awarded in April,” said a PCBrelease.

Shah and Sohail — both part ofPakistan’s 15-man squad for nextmonth’s World Cup — have beenawarded central contract in Category

‘D’, the release added.The term of the previous contracts

expired Dec. 31, 2014.Category ‘A’ (6) Misbah-ul-Haq,

Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez,Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, JunaidKhan.Category ‘B’ (3) Ahmed Shehzad,Umar Akmal, Umar Gul. Category ‘C’(6) Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, AdnanAkmal, Khurram Manzoor, NasirJamshed, Abdul Rehman. Category‘D’ (18) Sohaib Maqsood, SarfrazAhmed, Bilawal Bhatti, Sharjeel Khan,Zulfiqar Babar, Fawad Alam, EhsanAdil, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz,Raza Hasan, Umar Amin, Haris Sohail,Rahat Ali, Shan Masood, MohammadTalha, Anwar Ali, Yasir Shah andSohail Khan.

Chairman PCB Mr. Shaharyar M.

Khan has congratulated Pakistan’sWomen’s team captain Sana Mir, man-ager Ayesha Ashhar and the teammanagement for the clean sweep inthe three match one-day seriesagainst Sri Lanka.

The series win also meansthat Team Pakistan got all sixpoints to qualify for the ICCWomen’s Championship.Transcript of ChairmanPCB’s Message:

“I would like to con-gratulate the team on com-pleting their highest chasein ODI history and alsoJaveria Khan on her maidenlimited-overs century.

“Qualifying for the ICCWomen’s World CupWomen’s cricket is a signifi-cant achievement. In recentyears, Pakistan Women’steam has consistently per-formed well. This reflects thehard work and commitmentof all the players and man-agement. The Board and I

personally am really proud of you all.“At this occasion, I also hope that

the recent achievements of ourWomen’s Team shall inspire morewomen and girls across the countryto take to cricket. To increase thespread of women’s cricket, the Boardhas already taken several initiatives,like holding the inaugural Under-21Malala Women Championship and in-creasing the number of facilities dedi-cated for our women cricketers.

“The Board has also recently ac-quired a ground at Model Town,Lahore from the Punjab governmentexclusively for women’s cricket; PCBhas also signed a MoU with LUMSwhich would for our women cricket-ers open the latter’s ground and ex-cellent training facilities in a superbenvironment.”

ciation disclosed that the selection of theplayers have been made on merit only.

He said Saqib Umar defeated HafizAbdur Rehman in under-14 category of therecently concluded Begum Kalsoom SailUllah National Ranking Tennis Tournamentheld at Islamabad besides KhyberPakhtunkhwa won Under-16 Team Cham-pionship and Aqib Umar won the Udner-12category title besides winning many tour-nament last years while Shoaib Khan wonNational Ranking Tennis Championshippheld in Rahim Yar Khan, National Champi-onship played Lahore and got first posi-tion in Under-12 category.

He said looking after the stunning per-formances of Saqib Umar, Aqib Umar andShoaib Khan they were selected to repre-sent Pakistan in the international event. Hesaid all of them played so far 26 varioustournaments and won 22 which clearly in-dicated their talent.

He also congratulated all the players fortheir selection in the national team and as-sured them all out efforts would be takenfor the facilitations of Saqib Umar, AqibUmar and Shoaib Khan.

He also lauded President PTF Salim SaifUllah Khan for taking keen interest in thepromotion of Tennis in the country in gen-eral and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particu-lar.—APP

‘Not impossible’to reach Ronaldolevel, says HondaSYDNEY—Japan’s KeisukeHonda has become the lat-est player to aspire to thelofty heights of Real Madridsuperstar Cristiano Ronaldoat an Asian Cup seeminglyfull of them.

The playmaker toldJapanese media on Wednes-day that he felt he was notfar off the level of Ronaldo,who won his third worldfootballer of the year awardearlier this week.

“There is supposed tobe a limit to how many goalsone player can score but(Ronaldo) keeps knockingdown those limits,” Hondatold the Sankei Sports news-paper after scoring from thespot in Japan’s 4-0 thrash-ing of Palestine in theirAsian Cup opener.

“But he’s just a humanbeing, just like me, so I don’twant to say it’s impossible(to reach Ronaldo’s level),”added the AC Milan player,who scored from the spotagainst in Monday’sgame.”That’s what I’m al-ways striving for.”

CANBERRA—Opener Ian Bell plundered 187off 145 balls and Stuart Broad captured fourwickets as England crushed the PrimeMinister’s XI by 60 runs in Canberra onWednesday. Bell starred in England’s impos-ing 391 for six to set the PM XI a run chaseof almost eight runs an over at Manuka Oval.Bell was out on the penultimate ball of theinnings, caught by Australian Test batsmanand PM XI skipper Chris Rogers off pacemanJason Behrendorff as England made full useof winning the toss.

England then bowled out the home sidefor 331 off 48.1 overs in an encouraging hitout ahead of Friday’s opening tri-series one-day international against Australia inSydney. Paceman Broad snaffled four for 40off 8.1 overs, including two wickets in twoballs and was denied a hat-trick late in thePM XI innings. Bell said the English sidecouldn’t have asked for a better preparation

KARACHI—Pakistan hasmoved to fourth place in theICC Women’s Championshipafter defeating Sri Lanka 3-0in the second round clash,which concluded in Sharjahon Tuesday, InternationalCricket Council (ICC) an-nounced on Wednesday.

Clean-sweep boosts Pakistan to 4th in ICC Women’s tableThe ICC Women’s Cham-

pionship is a qualifying tour-nament for the ICC Women’sWorld Cup 2017 with the topfour sides earning automaticqualification for the event tobe staged in England, whilethe bottom four sides will geta final chance of qualification

through the ICC Women’sWorld Cup Qualifier in 2017.

The tournament struc-ture sees each team will playeach other in one home oraway series that will includethree ODIs over a two and ahalf year period. As such,each side is guaranteed at

least 21 ODIs over the tour-nament period.

As a consequence, in thelatest ICC Women’s ODIPlayer Rankings for Batters,Sri Lanka’s Jayangani hasmoved up four places to acareer-high joint ninth posi-tion alongside Australia’s Jes-sica Cameron on 580 points,while Pakistan’s Javeria Khanhas moved up two places toa career high 13th.

However, the biggestmovers from either camp wereSri Lanka duo DilaniSurangika in 51st spot (upeight places) and PrasadaniWeerakkody (up 18 places toa career high 85th), while therewere also significant ad-vances for Pakistan duo SanaMir (up 13 places to 63rd) andMarina Iqbal (up 22 places to72nd). In ICC Women’s ODIPlayer Rankings for Bowlers,there was no change in thetop 10, however Sri Lanka off-spinner H.A.S.D. Siriwardenehas moved up three places to16th. Sana Mir is Pakistan’shighest ranked bowler in sev-enth place, 22 points adrift ofWest Indies’ Shanel Daley.

The biggest mover fromeither side was Pakistan’sSumaiya Siddiqui (up sixplaces to a career high 52nd)and Inoka Ranaweera (up 12places to a career high 48th).

Stafanie Taylor of theWest Indies continues to leadthe bowlers’ and all-round-ers’ tables.—APP

Bipin DaniOBSERVER CORRESPONDENT

MUMBAI—The fans may not be able towitness the broadcast of umpire commu-nications during the forthcoming CarltonMid Triangular Series (Australia, Indiaand England) commencing in Australiaon Friday.

Last year, the viewers and spectatorswere able to hear the consultations be-tween the on-field and television umpiresduring the one-day international seriesbetween Australia and South Africa. Theresults of the said system is being de-bated.

“The umpires’ communication trialonly took place in the Australia v SouthAfrica ODI series. As regards its usage inthe ICC CWC 2015, this will be confirmedin due course”, Sami Ul Hasan, the Headof Media and Communications, ICC, saidexclusveily.No benefit ?

One of the former umpires, JohnHolder, believes that the idea should notbe implemented.

Speaking exclusively from England,where the Barbados-born John Holder,

Intrusion into umpires’conversations debated

who umpired in 11 Test matches and 19ODIs’, said, “there is no real benefit to TVviewers in being able to listen to the dis-cussions between the TV umpires and hison field colleagues. It is simply that the TVcompanies pay the respective boards hugesums of money to be able to broadcastmatches and they want more and more in-fluence in the running of the game”.

“I remember clearly in the early 90’sasking my boss Alan Smith who was CEOof the England & Wales Cricket Boardabout the use of stump microphones incricket in the UK. They had started to beused in Australia. I was assured that theywould never be accepted in Englishcricket. How very wrong he was!!”.“As time has gone by TV has becomeincreasingly intrusive. There are stumpcameras, ultra sensitive microphones, hotspot, snicko, cameras on umpires ‘helmetsand now access to umpires conversa-tions. Added to this, umpires have to waitfor a signal from the broadcaster beforethe game can start. Gradually TV hastaken over the running of the game. Someof their innovations are good but not thislatest intrusion into umpires’ conversa-tions”, he signed off.

PARIS: Russia’s Maria Sharapova with the Suzanne Lenglen trophy.

MELBOURNE—North Korea scoredtheir first Asian Cup goal in 23 yearson Wednesday but Saudi Arabiadashed hopes of an upset by stormingback for a 4-1 win.

A second defeat in Group B left theNorth Koreans on the brink of elimina-

tion while breathing new life into a Saudicampaign that had been flagging afterthey were stunned 1-0 by China in theiropening game at the weekend.

North Korea picked up a yellowcard after just 15 seconds when JongIl-Gwan, being tracked by NewcastleUnited, was booked for a wild lunge.

They continued to tear into the Sau-dis as they went in search of a firstAsian Cup victory since 1980 and thedream looked on after 11 minutes asJapan-based Ryang Yong-Gi slammed

Saudis break North Koreanhearts after scare

home after big striker Pak Kwang-Ryong’s fierce drive had been parriedby goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah.

But Naif Hazazi equalised with aclinical finish against the run of playeight minutes before the interval. TheSaudi forward’s joy was unbridled,having fluffed a penalty in their shock1-0 loss China last Saturday.

Strike partner Muhammed AlSahlawi poked the Gulf side in frontseven minutes after the break, beforeprofiting from some horror defendingto roll in a third moments later as NorthKorea began to unravel.

Saudi Arabia, who won the last oftheir three Asian Cup titles in 1996, con-tinued to press, Al Sahlawi squander-ing a golden opportunity to completehis hat-trick by dragging horribly widewhen clean through on goal.

Nawaf Alabid added a fourth afterreacting sharply to having his penaltysaved by North Korean goalkeeper RiMyong-Guk.

Pyongyang frequently lavishescars and apartments on athletes whobring glory to the state, but the NorthKorean players at least had the conso-lation of being cheered to the raftersby a crowd of 12,000 in Melbourne fora plucky display.

Meanwhile, China scored twice in13 minutes to come from behind andupset Uzbekistan 2-1 at the Asian Cupon Wednesday to book themselves aspot in the quarter-finals.

China started the tournament as anoutsider for the title but after winning

their first two Group B matches in dra-matic fashion, they are now assured offinishing top of their pool with a gameto spare.

Trailing 1-0 at halftime against thegroup favourites, China drew level af-ter 55 minutes when Wu Xi scored thensnatched the lead with a spectacularsolo strike from substitute Sun Ke.

“This is great news for us, weplayed a very beautiful match,” saidChina’s French coach Alain Perrin.

“We were a little nervous at the startbut we started getting more space inthe second half and our opponent wasgetting tired.”

Uzbekistan, who took an early leadthrough an opportunist goal from OdilAhmedov, could not find a lateequaliser and now face Saudi Arabia intheir final group game in Melbourneon Sunday to decide the pool runner-up.

As Group B winners, China will playthe runner-up in Group A, either Aus-tralia or South Korea. The Group B run-ners-up will play the Group A winners.

The Saudis, beaten 1-0 by Chinaon the weekend, stayed in the huntearlier in the day with a 4-1 win overNorth Korea, who were eliminated.

Ahmedov gave Uzbekistan the leadafter 22 minutes with a goal against therun of play.

The central midfielder took a specu-lative long-range shot from outside thebox that took a wicked deflection offthe legs of Chinese defensivemidfielder Wu.—AFP

MOSCOW—World number two MariaSharapova will spearhead Russia in theirFed Cup open-i-ng-round match againstPoland in Krakow on Feb 7-8, nationalOlympic team manager Vladi-m-ir Kamelzonsaid on Wednesday.

Four-time champions Russia are tryingto bounce back from a disappointing 2014season, when they lost 4-0 to Australia intheir first-round clash.

Kamelzon added that in addition to five-time Grand Slam winner Shara-pova,Anas-tasia Pavly-u-che-nkova, 23rd in theWTA rankings, and four-time Grand Slamtitle winner Svetlana Kuznet-sova, ranked27, will also play, along with world number

MELBOURNE: Saudi Arabia’s Nawaf Al-Abid scores a goal with assistance from teammate Taiseer Al-Jassam pastNorth Korea’s goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk during their Asian Cup Group B football match at the Rectangular stadiumon Wednesday.

China stun Uzbekistan 2-1 at Asian Cup

Sharapova to lead Russiaat Fed Cup

83 Vita Diatchenko.“Sharapova’s participation is guaran-

teed,” Kamelzon told the R-Sport Agency.“Kuznetsova and Pavlyuchenkova willlikely play the doubles. “Their participationwill give all of them the right to play at theOlympics in Rio.

We’ve formed a strong squad and ourgoal is to win this match.” It will be the firstmeeting between the two nations in FedCup.

Meanwhile, Sharapova, who has beena fixture on the tennis circuit since 2002,continues to shine with victory over AnaIvanovic in Brisbane handing her a 34thcareer title.—AFP

Czech policecharge 25 overmatch-fixing

PRAGUE—zech police saidWednesday they hadcharged 25 football officialsand referees over match-fix-ing in regional footballleagues dating back to 2013.

“Five people have beencharged with bribery and 20with accepting a bribe,” saidJaroslav Ibehej, spokesmanfor the Czech police’s anti-corruption squad, withoutnaming the involved offi-cials or teams.

Between May and No-vember 2013, the officials“bribed referees to makethem act in favour of a spe-cific team... or be impartial,”he said, adding the caseconcerned 10 games.

Those charged with brib-ery face up to two years inprison if convicted, whilethose who accepted a bribemay spend four years behindbars, the police said.—AFP

SYDNEY—The countdown is on for the11th Cricket World Cup and the likelywinner is still guesswork a month outin one of the most evenly-matched andsecurity-conscious tournamentsstaged.

Australia will share the hosting ofnext month’s cricket showpiece withNew Zealand, 23 years after they co-hosted the event when Pakistan beatEngland in the final at the MelbourneCricket Ground.

Hosts Australia and defendingchampions India may be the top tworanked teams but any of a half-dozensides could lift the trophy on March29 at the MCG.

The Australians, under the ag-gressive coaching of Darren Lehmann,are gunning for their fifth World Cup;while India stopped the Aussies fromwinning a fourth straight title in thequarter-finals of the last tournamentin India in 2011 and have winning re-cent ODI form.

There may be fitness doubts overskipper Michael Clarke, with an im-posed deadline of February 21, but theAustralians possess some of the big-gest names in world cricket — DavidWarner, Steve Smith, Brad Haddin andMitchell Johnson.

It will be how the team handle theexternal pressures as the host nationthat will decide their winning chances.The Australians didn’t cope in 1992and they missed out on the semi-fi-nals.

Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions,have by far the most experiencedsquad with Mahela Jayawardene,Kumar Sangakkara and TillakaratneDilshan all playing more than 300ODIs.

South Africa, who have come close

Countdown on for evenly-matched,security-tight World Cup

but have yet to win the World Cup,are always a threat under the cap-taincy of AB de Villiers, while NewZealand and Pakistan have the fire-power to cause problems in this for-mat.

The jury is out on England’schances after they stripped AlastairCook of the captaincy less than twomonths out from the World Cup andinstalled Eoin Morgan in his place.

But former Australia Test batsmanMike Hussey rates England as a ‘dark

horse’. “They’ll fly under the radar alittle bit, no one’s really giving them alot of chance,” Hussey said.

“They’ve got some really experi-enced, quality players but they’ve alsogot some really good underrated play-ers, guys like Moeen Ali and ChrisWoakes, very underrated and if theycan just get their confidence up andmove through the tournament, theycan be a bit of a dark horse.”

Australia’s rising pace star Josh

Hazlewood believes the sub-conti-nent teams will struggle with thebounce of the Australian wickets.

“Their conditions are a lot flatterand spin friendly and their games arequite high scoring over there,”Hazlewood said. “So I think bounce isthe key.”

It’s the thing I look for againstthose sub-continent teams. “Joiningthe 10 Test-playing nations will be fourassociate countries — Afghanistan,United Arab Emirates, Scotland andIreland — to add someunpredictability to the pool games.

Matches in Australia will be playedin all the major cities — Sydney,Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth,Canberra and Hobart — with many ofthe grounds upgraded and renovatedin recent years.

New Zealand will host 23 gamesacross seven grounds with the BlackCaps playing all their pool games onhome pitches while Australia mustcross the Tasman to play the Kiwis inAuckland.

The other New Zealand venues areChristchurch, which hosts the tour-nament opener between New Zealandand Sri Lanka on Valentine’s Day,Wellington, Hamilton, Napier,Dunedin and Nelson.

All grounds have been declaredready with the purpose-built HagleyOval in Christchurch recently rated aquality venue by the New Zealand andSri Lanka players after they staged adress rehearsal for the World Cupopener.

A focus on the build up to theWorld Cup has been on security withNew Zealand World Cup chief execu-tive Therese Walsh warning it will betight.—AFP

Pironkovachalks up 14th

straight winS Y D N E Y — T s v e t a n aPironkova’s stretched herSydney International win-ning streak to 14 matcheswith a straight sets victoryover Barbora ZahlavovaStrycova to reach the semi-finals on Wednesday. TheBulgarian, who again had tofight her way through quali-fying to reach the maindraw, ousted the worldNo.25 Czech 6-4, 6-1. It con-tinued an amazing run at thetournament by the Bulgar-ian world No.67, who was ashock winner in 2014 afterbattling through the threerounds of qualifying to beatGermany’s AngeliqueKerber in her eighth matchat Sydney Olympic Park.

Pironkova, 27, has onceagain had to do things thehard way to reach the lastfour after coming throughqualifying to reach the maindraw. “I’m super excited. Tobe honest, I didn’t reallybelieve that I could go thisfar again because I had tostart from quallies again,”Pironkova said.—AFP

Ronaldo sayshis son is aMessi fan

P O R T U G A L — C r i s t i a n oRonaldo’s son Cris junior isa Lionel Messi fan the boy’sfather said after they met upwith the Argentina captainat the Ballon D’Or ceremonyin Zurich on Monday.

After Ronaldo wasnamed 2014 Ballon D’Orwinner, beating four-timewinner Messi into secondplace, the two players had afriendly exchange in thelobby of Zurich’sKongresshaus when Crispointed at Messi and thenstood up to greet him.

Real Madrid’s Portugalcaptain Ronaldo told hisarch-rival Messi: “Hewatches a video on theinternet of all of us and hetalks about you,” prompt-ing a coy reaction from hisson.—AFP

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, stands with his son CristianoRonaldo Junior.

WE HAVE all heard references topeople being a “left-brained” or“right-brained” thinker. But research-

ers from the University of Utah say their latestresearch shows this is a myth. Previous studiesover the years have suggestedthat we use one half of our brainmore often than the other, play-ing a part in the type of person-ality we have. While the left sideof the brain is usually associatedwith logical, analytical and de-tail-oriented behaviour, the rightside has been connected to cre-ative, thoughtful and subjectivethinking.

But a new study publishedin the journal PLOS ONE, sug-gests there is no evidence withinbrain imaging that proves somepeople are right-brained or left-brained. The research team con-ducted a two-year study of 1,011people who were part of the In-ternational Neuroimaging Data-Sharing Initiative (INDI), andwho were between the ages of 7 and 29. All par-ticipants had the functional lateralization of theirbrains measured. Functional lateralization meansthere are specific mental processes that take placein either the brain’s left or right hemisphere.

The scientists conducted the brain mea-surements using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) analysis, which involved the partici-pants lying in the scanner for 5 to 10 minuteswhile their “resting” brain measurements weretaken. This allowed the researchers to corre-late brain activity in one area of the brain andcompare it with another. The researchers thendivided the brain into 7,000 regions and ana-lyzed which regions of the brain showed more

‘No such thing’ as leftor right brained people

Ex-President of Pakistan and Co-chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari presenting compensation cheques to the heirs of police martyrs at CM House. CM SindhSyed Qaim Ali Shah and IG Sindh Police Ghulam Haider Jamali are also seen in the picture.—PO Photo

functional lateralization.All connections in the brain were examined,

and all possible combinations of the brain regionswere correlated for each brain region that wasleft-literalised or right-literalised. The results of

the scan showed patterns indi-cating that a brain connectionmay be strongly left or right-literalised. But they found norelationship that individuals“preferentially” used their left-brain network or right-brainmore often.

“It is absolutely true thatsome brain functions occur inone or the other side of thebrain. Language tends to be onthe left, attention more on theright. But people don’t tend tohave a stronger left- or right-sided brain network. It seemsto be determined more, con-nection by connection.” JaredNielsen, a graduate student inneuroscience at the Universityof Utah and one of the study

authors, adds:“If you have a connection that is strongly

left-literalised, it relates to other stronglyliteralised connection only if both sets of con-nections have a brain region in common.” Re-sults of this study are groundbreaking, Nielsensays, as they may change the way people thinkabout the “right-brain versus left-brain theory.”

“Everyone should understand the personalitytypes associated with the terminology ‘left-brained’and ‘right-brained’ and how they relate to him orher personally,” he says. “However, we just do notsee patterns where the whole left-brain network ismore connected or the whole right-brain networkis more connected in some people.

US Consul General in Karachi Brian Heath called on Sindh Senior Minister Nisar AhmedKhuhro at Sindh Assembly.

Shops seen closed in the area of Gulbahar on the occasion of funeral prayers of workers of MQM.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The United States Consul GeneralBrain Heath called on Sindh Senior Minister forEducation Nisar Ahmed Khuhro at his SindhAssembly Office Wednesday. They discussededucation reforms and quality of education inSindh and security measures which were beingtaken for schools. They also exchanged viewsover bilateral socio-economic and political mat-ters and mutual interests also.

Nisar Ahmed Khuhro briefed him about theeducational reforms in Sindh province. He ap-preciated the US AID specially to encourageEducation Sector in Sindh. He said that it wasthe first time that induction of the teachers hasbeen made purely on the merit through NTS test.He said that we want qualitative education rightfrom primary level and US Aid in this regardwould be proved as instrumental source.

He said that Sindh government is also en-couraging girl’s education and to promote girlseducation in Sindh the education department is

US keen for reforms ineducation: CG Brain Heath

giving stipends to girls students in Sindh andwe have distributed the money of stipend 2500to 3500 rupees among girls student of class sixto tenth through easy paisa and ATM card astransparency can be ensured.

Nisar Khuhro said we have taken measures forsecurity of schools and checklist comprising essen-tial security measures had been circulated amongschools administration which must be strictly imple-mented and have directed the increase of police andrangers patrolling in the schools areas.

One the occasion the Minister said that Paki-stan attaches much significance to its relations withUSA and called for further boosting the existingbilateral relations. Talking on the occasion USConsul General assured to continue all possiblehelp to the Sindh government in education sector.We are committed to supporting education in Pa-kistan, which is the key to a brighter future forPakistan’s children,” said US consul general Brainheath. “Working together, the U.S. and the Sindhgovernment will improve the quality of and ac-cess to education for the children of Sindh.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The SteeringCommittee of Sindh EducationDepartment has decided theSchedule of the Academic Ses-sion, Admissions, Examinations,vacation and holidays for theyear 2015 in its meeting heldWednesday at the committeeroom of Sindh Assembly withSenior Minister for Education

No academic improvement plan at sight

Steering Committee on educationapproves schedule of vacations

CITY REPORTER

KARACHI—Some 343403 under five children, be-longing to central district, Karachi will be adminis-tered polio drops in the forthcoming National Immu-nization Days, from January 19 to January 22. DeputyCommissioner Dr. Syed Saifur Rehman sharing de-tails of the three day exercise told APP on Wednes-

Teams prepared to get kidsimmunized against polio

day that 1173 teams, coupled with 189 fixed sites,will cover children of the target age groups belong-ing to 49 union councils in the district central.

Sharing a break-up of the area, he said 121717children belong to North Karachi town of the district,while 83223 are from Liaqutabad town, 69131 chil-dren are from Gulberg town and another 69332 arefrom North Nazimabad town. Dr. Saif ur Rehman said

276 areas incharges and 49 union council medicalofficers would supervise the three day exercise.

In reply to a question, he said influential sectionsof the society including cricketers, other sportsmen,philanthropists, academicians and community lead-ers have already been taken on board to motivate par-ents and concerned families of the kids who could beprotected against the crippling disease.

Nisar Ahmed Khuhro in theChair. Steering Committee de-cided that Academic Session ofthe Schools for the year 2015 andonward will commence fromApr 1, Cambridge schools O &A level will commence from Aug1 and Colleges from Aug 2.

While the admission in Class1X will commence from 1stApril and admission in class X1in Karachi shall be made throughCAP of the Education & LiteracyDepartment from Sep 7 and theadmission in class X11 may start

during vacations and completedby Sep 1. Regarding steeringcommittee decisions Senior Min-ister Education Nisar AhmedKhuhro said that the studentsfrom class 1 to 111 have the fa-cility to automatic promotion butthere will be written examina-tions of these students locally forthe sake of creating sense of ex-amination among the students.

He said Examination up toclass V111 will be completed byMar 15 and result will be an-nounced till Mar 31 when theory

examination of SSC-1 & 11 willcommence from Apr 7 and prac-tical will fallow. He said resultof SSC-11(Class X) will be an-nounced by Jul 15 by all boardsof Sindh and BSE Karachi willannounce by Jul 31.

He said result of class 1Xshall be announced within 60days after announcement ofMatric result. He said theory ex-amination of HSC-1 & 11 (ClassX1-X11) will commence fromApr 28 and the result of HSC11(Class X11) will be announced

by all boards of Sindh on Aug31, 2015 and the Board of Inter-mediate Karachi will announcethe results by Sep 15, 2015.

Nisar Khuhro said result ofX1 shall be announced within 60days after announcement of re-sult of class X11. And all publicsector universities of Sindh willconduct the degree examinationsaccording their own schedule tobe communicated to the depart-ment. School building and col-lege building will be utilised forconducting the examinations.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Students highlighted vari-ous environmental challenges in theirartwork during the ‘Art Competition, or-ganized by World Wide Fund for Na-ture-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) in col-laboration with Karachi Youth Initiative(KYI) at Hijrat Colony, Karachi. Dur-ing the event, students condemned ter-rorist attack on Army Public School inPeshawar and paid homage to the vic-tims by observing one-minute silence.More than 300 students including teach-ers from six private schools participatedin event. They depicted the issues ofhygiene challenges, deforestation, en-

Students highlight environmentalissues through artwork

dangered species, wildlife and solid wastemanagement in their art work. Although,paintings was simple but they conveyedstrong message for the government, NOGsand general public to take effective mea-sures for nature conservation and environ-mental sanitation.

Speaking on the occasion, Saeed-u-Islam, Coordinator WWF-Pakistan saidthat Hijrat colony is beset with many prob-lems particularly heaps of garbage, pollu-tion, illiteracy, unhygienic conditions andunsafe drinking water. While, NomanHassan representing Talent Youth Organi-zation (TYO), said that they had recentlyestablished this volunteer organizationwhich focused on promoting education and

creating harmony among various ethnicgroups in the area.

Bilal Ayaz, trainer on solid wastemanagement said that litter is thrownbeside roads and near public places inHijrat Colony which is hazardous forhuman health and environment.

7 year Alishaba from Darul Banatschool and 13 year Shabnam Rasheedfrom Iqra Grammar School received firstprizes in photo sketches and chart art com-petitions respectively. Six schools whichparticipated in Art Competition includedDarul Banat Fellowship School, Iqra Fel-lowship School, Evergreen School,Islamia Collegiate School, Junejo Schooland Iqra Grammar School.

KARACHI—Provincial transport authorities would ensure thatno drug addict is hired as driver for public buses while rel-evant measures are also adopted to see that none of these ve-hicles are driven by a person in a hooked status, be it in termsof alcohol or any contraband drug. This was decided in a meet-ing held on Wednesday at the Karachi Commissioner office toextensively review measures that may prevent recurrence ofthe recent “Highway Tragedy”.

Restriction on hiringof addicts as drivers

It was also decided that each of the transport com-pany would, on immediate basis, ensure issuance of tick-ets to the passengers. Moreover, proper scanning of theluggage as well as hand carry of the travellers would beundertaken by each of the concerned inter-city bus own-ers with extreme care that these may under no conditionmay carry inflammable items, any sort of chemical or gascylinder.—APP

WE HAVE all heard references topeople being a “left-brained” or“right-brained” thinker. But research-

ers from the University of Utah say their latestresearch shows this is a myth. Previous studiesover the years have suggestedthat we use one half of our brainmore often than the other, play-ing a part in the type of person-ality we have. While the left sideof the brain is usually associatedwith logical, analytical and de-tail-oriented behaviour, the rightside has been connected to cre-ative, thoughtful and subjectivethinking.

But a new study publishedin the journal PLOS ONE, sug-gests there is no evidence withinbrain imaging that proves somepeople are right-brained or left-brained. The research team con-ducted a two-year study of 1,011people who were part of the In-ternational Neuroimaging Data-Sharing Initiative (INDI), andwho were between the ages of 7 and 29. All par-ticipants had the functional lateralization of theirbrains measured. Functional lateralization meansthere are specific mental processes that take placein either the brain’s left or right hemisphere.

The scientists conducted the brain mea-surements using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) analysis, which involved the partici-pants lying in the scanner for 5 to 10 minuteswhile their “resting” brain measurements weretaken. This allowed the researchers to corre-late brain activity in one area of the brain andcompare it with another. The researchers thendivided the brain into 7,000 regions and ana-lyzed which regions of the brain showed more

‘No such thing’ as leftor right brained people

Naureen Hayat, Principal Army Public School, Lahore handing over cash donated by students from their personal savings for drought affected people ofTharparkar at Army Relief Camp Fortress Stadium.

functional lateralization.All connections in the brain were examined,

and all possible combinations of the brain regionswere correlated for each brain region that wasleft-literalised or right-literalised. The results of

the scan showed patterns indi-cating that a brain connectionmay be strongly left or right-literalised. But they found norelationship that individuals“preferentially” used their left-brain network or right-brainmore often.

“It is absolutely true thatsome brain functions occur inone or the other side of thebrain. Language tends to be onthe left, attention more on theright. But people don’t tend tohave a stronger left- or right-sided brain network. It seemsto be determined more, con-nection by connection.” JaredNielsen, a graduate student inneuroscience at the Universityof Utah and one of the study

authors, adds:“If you have a connection that is strongly

left-literalised, it relates to other stronglyliteralised connection only if both sets of con-nections have a brain region in common.” Re-sults of this study are groundbreaking, Nielsensays, as they may change the way people thinkabout the “right-brain versus left-brain theory.”

“Everyone should understand the personalitytypes associated with the terminology ‘left-brained’and ‘right-brained’ and how they relate to him orher personally,” he says. “However, we just do notsee patterns where the whole left-brain network ismore connected or the whole right-brain networkis more connected in some people.

Relatives of bride who died due to collapse of Marriage Hall roof during wedding at ShadBagh, carrying her coffin during funeral.

PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran inaugurating renovated corridors of IER and other academic blocks.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Provincial Minister forLaw, Excise & Taxation and FinanceMujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has said thathuge resources are being spent on therapid development of the province, pro-motion of quality education, elimina-tion of ignorance and unemployment aswell as provision of prompt and inex-pensive justice to the masses. He saidgovernment is establishing state-of-the-art medical institutes for the provisionof latest healthcare facilities at cheaperrates even free of cost to the deservingpatients.

He said that focus is on the launch-ing of high tech hospitals for the treat-ment fetal and complicated diseases anda modern institutes of Neuro Sciencesis being established at a cost of Rs. 2.74

Punjab province on pathof progress, prosperity

billion in two phases. He said that In-stitute of Neuro Sciences will provideopportunities for the promotion of neu-rosurgery in Punjab as well as trainingand updating the knowledge of doctors.He said that brain tumour is completelycurable disease and all facilities of neu-rosurgery are available in the country,early diagnosis can enhance the possi-bilities for complete recovery.

While talking to a delegation ofdoctors and party workers, MujtabaShuja ur Rehman stressed upon the doc-tors community for launching massiveawareness campaign for sensitising thepeople about hazardous aspects ofsmoking with a view to prevent TB,heart, lungs, bronchitis and varioustypes of lungs cancer. He said that it ishigh time for promoting social mobili-zation against smoking, TB and cancer.

He said that billions of rupees arebeing wasted on smoking annuallywhich is major cause of spread ofdeadly diseases like TB, lungs cancerand even cardiovascular diseases as wellas other chest diseases even chronicobstructive pulmonary diseases which4th main cause of deaths in the worldand 600 million people are victims ofthis disease in the world, whereas, ac-cording to WHO 3 million people dieeach year in the world due to these com-plications.

Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman said thatgovernment is focusing for the treat-ment of chronic & fatal diseases. Hesaid that by increasing the health bud-get, the present government has ensuredmodern health facilities and free medi-cines to poor and resource-less people.He said that special attention is being

paid to the provision of best treatmentfacilities to the people of far-flung ar-eas especially remote areas of SouthPunjab and Rs. One billion has beenprovided for mobile health units.

Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman saidthat government was encouraging theNGOs as well as educational institu-tions for organizing awareness eventsagainst fatal diseases. He said thatPunjab government has provided ad-ditional budget for the provision ofhealth services in Punjab. He told thatwith a cost or Rs.4 billion health in-surance card will be issued so that toprovide state of the art healthcare fa-cilities even in private health institu-tions to the poor card holder patients.He said that Rs.600 million has beenreserved for dialysis facilities to thepoor kidney patients.

MUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr MujahidKamran has inaugurated newly renovated main corridor of Instituteof Education & Research (IER) related academic blocks here onWednesday. On this occasion, Dean Faculty of Law Prof Dr Shazia

PU VC inauguratesrenovated IER corridor

Naureen Qureshi, Registrar Dr Liaqat Ali, Controller ExaminationsDr Shahid Munir, Resident Officer-I Dr Sajid Rashid Ahmed, Addi-tional Registrar Dr Kamran Abid, Additional Registrar-II MalikMuhammad Zaheer, senior faculty and administrative officials werepresent. The historical IER corridor has now been renovated withbeautiful tiles which had added to the beauty of corridor.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Punjab Chief Minister MuhammadShahbaz Sharif has announced financial assistancefor the heirs of those who were killed as well asthe injured persons due to collapsing of the wall ofa marriage hall in Shadbagh, Lahore. Financialassistance of Rs. five lakh will be given to the fam-ily of each deceased person while Rs. one lakhwill be paid to each injured person. The ChiefMinister also constituted a committee headed byCommissioner Lahore Division Abdullah KhanSunbal for investigation into the case.

CM announces financial assistancefor persons killed in collapsing of wall

The committee will present its report within48 hours. The members of the committee willinclude Member National Assembly PervaizMalik, Members Provincial Assembly GhazaliButt, Ch. Shahbaz Ahmed, District Coordina-tion Officer Lahore, DG 1122 and EDO Works.Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also expressedsorrow and grief over the death of two minorbrothers due to collapsing of the roof of theirhouse in Ramzanpura Gujranwala. Sympathiz-ing with the bereaved family, the Chief Minis-ter also directed administration to provide besttreatment facilities to the injured persons.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—A delegation of Pakistan MuslimLeague (N) Saudi Arabia besides social personali-ties met Punjab Chief Minister MuhammadShahbaz Sharif here Wednesday and presentedcheques for a total amount of Rs. 78 lakh for Chief

PML-N Saudi Arabia delegationpresents cheques to Shahbaz Sharif

MUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—Prof. Dr. Fazal A. KhalidVice Chancellor, University of Engi-neering & Technology (UET) Lahorewhile addressing the participants of theWorkshop said, “We are determined toquality higher education and to enhancethe capabilities of newly inducted fac-ulty members by equipping them allnecessary professional training”.

He further said that the prime func-tion of the universities is to createknowledge and this value addition canonly be done through innovation, skillsand commitment. He also emphasizedon conducting research as the key roleof the university teachers. He also fo-

New faculty to be trained to enhancetheir capabilities, says UET VC

cused on providing all the required facili-ties to young faculty to be more produc-tive in teaching as well as research. He ac-knowledged the efforts of QEC in this re-gards and appreciated all resource personsfor their valuable contribution.

UET Quality Enhancement Cell(QEC) organized a one week trainingworkshop for newly inducted facultymembers of various campuses and depart-ments of the University. Prof. Dr. Noor M.Sheikh Former Dean, Prof. Dr. A. R.Saleemi Member Technical Board, Envi-ronmental Tribunal & former Dean, Prof.Dr. Hameed Ullah Mughal Chairman Me-chanical Engineering Department, Prof.Dr. Ali Sajid Founder & Former Directorof IBM, Brig. (R) Waqar Hussain were the

guest speakers.Prof. Dr. Ghulam Abbas Anjum, Di-

rector QEC formally welcomed all theguest speakers, resource persons andparticipants of the training workshop.He also explained the objectives ofholding the workshop. The followingaspects were covered during the entireweek: Importance of Professional De-velopment, Teaching as a Profession,Lecture Planning, Microteaching, As-sessment and Evaluation, How to Pre-pare a Research Proposal, ScientificWriting, Where to apply for ResearchFunding, Motivational Aspects of Aca-demics, Leadership Paradigm Shift,Power of Positivity and Faith, UET Ad-ministrative & Academic Bodies.

Minister’s Flood Relief Fund. President PML (N)Saudi Arabia Mirza Altaf, Vice President Ch. Shahbaz,Shahzad Ahmed, President PML(N) Jeddah City SethAbid and Secretary General Jeddah Khalid Jutt gavea cheque for Rs. 25 lakh while Member ProvincialAssembly Mehwish Sultana presented a cheque forRs. five lakh. Irfan Butt and Mian Abdul Jabar of

Sargodha gave a cheque for Rs. 48 lakh. Speakingon the occasion, the Chief Minister appreciated thespirit of service to the distressed humanity.

He said that the government spent billions ofrupees on the rehabilitation of distressed brethrenand sisters as it considered service to humanity as aform of worship.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—An acute shortage of petrol in the pro-vincial capital hit motorists hard on Wednesday. Asper details, PARCO refinery remained closed for

Acute shortage of petrol in citythe last two days due to a technical fault, causingdelay in supply to various petrol stations. The short-ages of oil products at petrol pumps have causedconsumers to suffer, particularly, in those areas wherethe petrol pumps are in limited numbers.