SNEAK PEEKVcs rue lack of educationfunding across country

The vice chancellors ofuniversities across thecountry on Tuesdaycobbled their thoughtstogether to bringreforms in the higher

education sector. They also discussedthe current funding situation duringtheir executive committee meeting heldin Islamabad.

Page 02

Senate stops reappointment,extension of ombudsman

The upper house of theparliament on Tuesdaypassed two legislativepieces, including “TheFederal OmbudsmenInstitutional Reforms

Bill, 2013” and “The Securities andExchange Commission of Pakistan(Amendment) Bill, 2013”.

Page 04

landi Kotal still suffersfrom terrible skin disease

The disease ofleishmaniasis has turnedinto an epidemic in LandiKotal and the adjacentareas as thousands oflocal tribesmen, including

a large number of children, have beeninfected by Leishmania, a parasite. Themost aSected areas of the region areTorkham, Gagra, Mulagori, Ashkhel andWalikhel, hospital sources said.

Page 05

rabia and Shehzad Sheikhto star in lollywood’s Hijrat

Super model Rabia Butthas now got the chance toflaunt her acting skillsalong with actor ShehzadSheikh both playing leadroles in directorial debut of

Farooq Mengal, entitled ‘Hijrat’. Rabia Buttis a known fashion model who has set manyfashion runways on fire with her sensuouscatwalk and appealing beauty. Film Hijratportrays human rights issues in Pakistanand is a romantic flick.

Page 10

Eight-centuryGalle Test draws

Sri Lanka's KumarSangakkara completedhis second century ofthe match before theopening Test againstBangladesh ended in a

tame draw on the fifth and final day inGalle on Tuesday.

Page 11

wEdNESdAy march 13, 2013 rabi-us-Sani 30, 1434 I Islamabad/rawalpindi I Vol, V, No. 328 I www.thespokesman.pk Pages 12 I Price 10/-

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TTOODDAAYY’’SS WWEEAATTHHEERR

Brief showersHIGH: 22 LOW: 11

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A BEAR ANDBULL STORY–KUNWAR KHULDUNE SHAHID

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QATAR ENSURES LNGSUPPLY TO PAKISTAN

cmyK

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: With the first eversmooth transition of power insight,ruling and opposition members of theparliament alike are becomingrestlessand besides trying to gleaninformation about a caretaker premierfrom their moles, parliamentarians aremore scared these days of the tone andtenor of Fakhru Bhai and his fourcomrades than anything else. Members in the Senate and NA are

wondering what the ElectionCommission of Pakistan is really upto.

Smart ones amongst them are stillpushing legislative business of interestthrough both the houses. There havebeen more than two dozen bills passedalone in the last two sessions of both thehouses as compared to only half a dozenin the past one year. Following Chaudhry Nisar, Farooq

Naek and others in the almost outNational Assembly, senators —thosetoo from People’s Party — hurledvenom at Justice Fakhuruddin Ibrahimand his “Char Piyarey” for criticizingparliamentarians. As Jahangir'Baddarrr' (the way he pronounces hisown name in pure Lahori accent) was

informing the Upper House that quietdiplomacy had begun between chiefministers, People’s Party and ElectionCommission to ensure dissolution of allassemblies on the same day, People’sParty senators just pounced on ECP forberating members of Parliament andeven the president. Saeed Ghani then tried to move an

Adjournment Motion in the Houseagainst the Election Commission forbreaching the privilege of theparliament by ordering the printing ofnewly proposed nomination paperswithout even waiting for the consent ofthe president. Though the motion was

opposed by the leader of House in theSenate (Baddarrr), members from allsides went on to discuss the matter forwell over an hour to convey to FakhruBhai that he too could be called intoquestion if he did not stop callinglegislators thieves and plunderers. Maula Bux Chandio, another People’s

Party minister, went a step further todefend Mr. President by suggesting toFakhru Bhai that if the ECP could saythat approval from the government wasjust a formality, "we can also say thatthe oath we take from the president is aformality too. By saying this, the ECPviolates the Constitution.”

Others, who could no longer have theirpotential voters hired in governmentdepartments just before the elections,called the ECP a hijacker of theconstitution. Then the issue of backdoorchannels resurfaced in the House.Backdoor channels have not only sprungopen for the ECP, provincial and federalgovernments, there were other gateswhich have never shut in Pakistan’streacherous parliamentary history. WhatBaddarrr forgot to mention was hislatest call on Hina Rabbani Khar. WhatBaddarrr also missed were the hecticand somewhat sweaty details of goingson between Khursheed Shah, deposed

chief minister of Balochistan NawabRaisani, Balochistan Governor NawabMagsi and some of the core members ofthe president’s team at KhursheedShah’s house. The question of calling ajoint session to extend the Governor’sRule in Baluchistan was also discussed,as well as the fear that restoringRaisani might bring the sit-in forcesback to Quetta. Gone are the dayswhen Baddarrr used to be the first guyto know all this all through NaheedBaaji and also gone are the days whenhe was the one who used to do suchwheeling and dealings on behalf ofLate Benazir Bhutto.

Of much legislation and MPs venom at Fakhru Bhai

MOHAMMED RIZWAN

LLAAHHOORREE:: In the aftermath of JosephColony arson and vandalism, the placelooks like a Palestinian settlement inGaza or closer to home something likea Jalozai camp where the evictedChristians have been accommodate inlarge tent canopies provided by thePunjab government and NGOs of allshades and hues are ‘working’ in frontof cameras. Just across the tent city, noless than 400 construction workers arebusy raising the community virtuallyfrom the ashes. The deadline tocontractors given by the Punjab Chief

Minister Shahbaz Sharif is March 16and the compensation money – Rs500,000 per household – has beendelivered to the aSectees.The latest from this land of

‘impure’, however, is a stunner. Thepolice that acted with speed of lightin registering the 295-C FIR againstSavan Masih, has not so far arrestedShahid Imran, the man who accusedSavan of blasphemy. Not arrestinghim is like ignoring the most criticalpiece of evidence that could clearlyseparate chafe from the wheat. Also ifthe accuser is arrested and hisaccusation turn out to be false, the

police is bound to register a Qazafcase against Shahid Imran.On the heels of this tragic incident,

the media especially electronickicked up such thick sheet of hazethat it was almost impossible to findand reach to the truth. Opinionswere flying like dirt and variousshowmen advanced their favouritethemes pretending to tell the nation– the ultimate truth. The mostfavourite theory is – it was a case ofland grabbing. Some say it hassomething to do with political scoresettling after scrap dealer marketelections. The cocophny is intense.

But certainly not many in the mediahave been talking to the victims. Thesehomeless people deny anyinvolvement of land grabbers and alsothey deny any knowledge of falloutfrom trader market elections. Theysay, and that sounds closer to the truthif you walk that turf, it was a hate-crime triggered by bigotry andunleashed on the economically mostdowntrodden class of the society. Thecombination of local madressahstudents with Pathan labourersworking in scrap market proved fatalfor the wretched community.The media now, is trying to save the

so called ‘soft image’ by advancing andpropagating theories of land-grab ortrader election just to hide the ugly faceof religious extremism.Now, a word on police. According to

the SHO badami Bagh, who standssuspended after the Supreme Courttook suo moto action and issuedwarning to police high-ups, it was theknee-jerk reaction of the police forceand their political masters. The policewas issued clear instructions not to‘interfere’ fearing stronger backlashfrom the religious community whowere bent upon ravaging thecommunity. It was classic Punjab

police tactic to appease and pacify thereligious sentiment. The arrest ofSavan Masih the same night was alsodone on the instructions of policechiefs of the city who had got it clearedwith political high-ups. “Now they aretrembling and searching for ascapegoat. And they got that goat in theform of low-ranking police oRcers,”said Hafiz Majid, now suspended SHOBadami Bagh. The InvestigationORcer on the case SI Rana Shabbirtold The Spokesman that the accuserImran Shahid is fugitive but there is a‘talk by his family’ that he wanted totake back his accusation.

It was a religious hate crime. Period.

LAHORE: Victims of the Badami Bagh burning gather as many political personalities including Imran Khan visited Joseph Colony.

MASOOD REHMAN

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Giving a categoricalgo-ahead to the ElectionCommission of Pakistan (ECP) toensure holding of free, fair andtransparent general elections, theSupreme Court Tuesday observedthat the Commission was fullyauthorized under the constitution toamend the nomination forms andalso make other necessary changes.A three-member bench led by

Chief Justice Iftikhar MuhammadChaudhry, while hearing pleasseeking electoral forms, directed theECP to ensure timely holding of theupcoming general elections.The court noted that it had already

interpreted Article 218(3) of theConstitution in its June 8, 2012judgment making it clear that theElection Commission was chargedwith the duty to 'organize' and'conduct the election'.The court said the language of the

Article implies that the ElectionCommission is responsible not onlyfor conducting the election itself, butalso for making all necessaryarrangements for the said purpose,prior to the election day.It said by conferring such

responsibility on the ElectionCommission, the constitutionensures that all activities both prior,on and subsequent to election day,that are carried out in anticipationthereof, adhere to standards ofjustness and fairness, are honest, in

accordance with law and free fromcorrupt practices.The court noted that it had also

already observed in a case thatelection is a process which startswith the issuance of the electionprogramme and consists of thevarious links and stages, as forexample, filing of nominationpapers, their scrutiny, the hearingof objections and the holding ofactual polls.It said if any of these links is

challenged it really tantamount tochallenging the said process ofelection. It said it (court) hadinterpreted that the phrase 'conductof the election' as having "wideimport" and including all stagesinvolved in the election process.The court made it clear that

these observations subject allelection related activities that takeplace between the commencementand the end of the election processto the jurisdiction conferred onthe Election Commission underArticle 218(3). “The ElectionCommission therefore has to testall election related activities thatare carried out in the relevantperiod, both individually andcollectively, against thestandards enumerated therein”,the court ruled.The court said the Election

Commission may also exercise itspowers in anticipation of an ill thatmay have the eSect of rendering theelection unfair.

changes in nomination papers

SC puts weightbehind ECP� Says Election Commission can amendforms � Calls for ensuring timely elections

Ec mulls polls under new lawsIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has startedpreparation of an ordinance pertaining to electoral reforms whichwould be sent to the caretaker prime minister for approval once theinterim government is established as it looked firm to hold forthcominggeneral elections under new electoral reforms. According to ECPmember Justice (retd) Riaz Kayani, an ordinance of electoral reforms isbeing prepared which would be sent to caretaker prime minister forapproval soon after the establishment of interim government. Talkingto media here on Tuesday, Riaz Kayani said on the advice of caretakerprime minister, the president would be bound to promulgate theordinance within 15 days. He said the electoral reforms are necessary toensure holding of free and fair elections. Kayani said if governmentfailed to provide Rs 4 billion then it would be diRcult to hold electionsin time, adding that he doesn't expect the releasing of funds from thecurrent government. However, he hoped that the caretaker governmentwould issue the funds. –STAFF REPORT

TAHIR NIAZ

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The federal governmentseemed to be in a fix over the politicalsituation in Balochistan as the ChiefMinister Nawab Aslam Raisani hasdeclined to step down.Sources said the situation in the province

stands all the more complicated with thechief minister not willing to dissolve theassembly before the stipulated time if hisgovernment is not restored. The membersof the Balochistan Assembly met hereTuesday with Khurshid Shah in the chairbut to no avail, as the members demandedRaisani to resign from his oRce. Thesources said Raisani insisted Balochistanassembly would complete its constitutionalterm, saying he will not move any advice tothe governor for the dissolution of assemblyprior to April 6. In face of resistance on partof Raisani, the sources said, the governmentis likely to get the Governor’s Rule in theprovince endorsed from the joint session ofthe Parliament to be called on March 14. Incase the government did not come intoaction, the order of enforcing Governor’sRule in the province would expire on March14 and the Raisani government willautomatically get restored.Meanwhile, efforts for setting up of

caretaker setups, both at federal andprovincial levels, gained momentum asformer political adversaries grouptogether to plan and implement. PunjabCM Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday wrote aletter to Opp Leader Raja Riaz and

invited names for the caretaker setup.The PML-N has already warned that ifBalochistan and Sindh failed to formneutral caretaker governments, then thePunjab would not dissolved Assembly onMarch 16, meaning elections forprovincial and national assemblies maynot be held on same day.Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali

Shah and opposition leader have startedconsultations for the formation of thecaretaker government in the province.Sources said CM Shah and GovernorSindh Dr Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan metthrice during 12 hours, after which thechief minister sought the oppositionleader in Sindh assembly Syed SardarAhmed to hand him names for thecaretaker chief minister.There are reports that the new

dispensation is expected to consist of tenministers and two advisers, of which sixministries may come from MQM andremaining four from PPP. Advisers will betaken one each from PML-Q and PML-Functional. The sources said the provincialcaretaker government is likely to beannounced on Friday.In KP, CM Hoti has contacted

opposition leader Akram Khan Durranifor generating the process of caretakersetup for Province, which brings forththe names of Supreme Court’s Justice(Retd) Sardar Raza Khan, senator-cum- bureaucrat Shakeel Durrani,former I.G Abbas Khan, and formerchief secretary Azam Khan.

Govt in a fixover Balochistan � Talks on caretaker setups gain momentum

KKAARRAACCHHII:: At least fourpolice personnel were killedin separate attacks,apparently in a move toterrorise the major lawenforcement agency of theport city of Karachi.According to reports,

unidentified armed mensprayed bullets at a policemobile near the NazimabadNo 7, killing two policemenon the spot. According toSSP Central Amir Farooqui,the vehicle was targetedthrough modern weapons.An another incident which

happened within an hour ofthe first attack, the unknowngunmen opened fire at twopolicemen in the Kala Pularea of the city, killing both ofthem on the spot. GovernorIshratul Ibad has ordered theIGP to submit a report on thekillings within 24 hours. DIGWest Shahid Hayat, however,refuted that the cops weretargeted for being membersof the police force. Hayat saidthe assassinated personnelwere in plain clothes and theattack might be result of theirpersonal enmity. “Had thepolice being the target, thecops roaming in the area inpolice uniform would haveattacked” he held. Hayatfurther said both, thoughdeployed in the DHA PoliceStation they were not on dutyduring the attack. –AGENCIES

Four copsgunned downin Karachi

PrESS GAllErySAEED MINHAS

PTCL IS OUT OFBOUNDS FOR EVEN

RAJA RENTAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

OUR STAFF REPORTER

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD.. Approximately 45million people in the country livebelow the ‘poverty line’ and thus 90million people may not have the‘purchasing power’ to buy education.It was consensus at a day-longnational conference held in thefederal capital. The event was organised by the

Pakistan Coalition for Education andentitled “Privatisation of Education:National Scenario”.Such statistics present an alarming

situation and highlight the essentialand dire need of state sponsorededucation throughout the country.The right to education is consideredto be a basic civil liberty across theglobe and the responsibility ofensuring this right undoubtedly lieswith the state. The panel of speakers at the

conference consisted of many

eminent educationists, bureaucratsand politicians, many of whom hadheld important posts in the past. Theperils associated withcommercializing education wereobserved by most speakers. Aziz Kabbani, Director Education

Foundation, emphasized that a child‘cannot become a means to an end’and that the stigma attached topublic schools is unwarranted.Helamented the commercialization ofparenting and education and saidthat studies carried out in the Westhave also shown that privatisation inthe education sector has resulted indepriving the child of his rights;parents are expected to act as ‘riskmanagers’ which presents a sad stateof affairs. The speakers however highlighted

considerations for a Public-Privatepartnership in this regard. It wasargued that public welfare must bethe state’s foremost consideration

however a context specificpartnership could be devised suitedto the needs of the region. Towardsthe end of the seminar Mr ArshadNafees Khan presented theconcluding views; outlining feasiblelow cost private schooling plans,encouraging microfinance and localentrepreneurs to support theeducation sector of Pakistan. Zehra Arshad, National

Coordinator of PCE presenting theclosing remarks stated that thegovernment should not hide from itsresponsibilities by promotingprivatization. The state should be aprovider of education rather than afacilitator. As the preference forprivate school education becomesmore widespread in Pakistan, thedebate on the relative merits ofpublic and private education in thecountry has gained increasingrelevance and importance to headbutthe thorny issue.

Everyone can’t buy education

SALMAN ABBAS

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Fear of losing powers afterfew days has compelled some of thelawmakers to use diOerent tools for gettingtheir legal and even illegal work done. Samewas noticed during the parliamentarymeetings on cabinet secretariat heldrecently in which lawmakers urged the citymanagers to even take some unjustifiedsteps just to assist some blue-eyedpersonalities.Sources in the CDA told The Spokesman

that political personalities seems active intaking rounds of CDA oNces nowadays forgetting their diOerent works done. TheoNcial said that the best tool for some

lawmakers who wants to get some illegalfavours from the CDA was either sending atout mafia’s to senior CDA oNcials or byputting the civic body oNcials underpressure during the parliamentarycommittee meetings.On March 4, the Senate Standing

Committee on Cabinet Secretariat forcedthe city managers to issue a no-objectioncertificate (NoC) to a private housing societyfor the development of land, despite the factthat the society does not control therequired amount of the land. In a saidmeeting, Senator Kalsoom Perveen ignoredall the violations of private society and alsogiven warnings to CDA Planning andDesign Member Mustafain Kazmi when he

informed the committee that themanagement of the housing society hadsubmitted a layout plan for the developmentof a housing scheme on an area of 2,600kanals, while it only holds possession of1,900 kanals. He had said that the societynot only faces shortage of 700 kanals, buthas yet to submit the engineering designand environmental protection certificate forphase-II. Performance of NA sub-committee which was formed to resolve theissues pertaining to illegal Afghan Basti inSector I/11 is also in front of all as no onecan even demolish a single house in theillegal settlement. The sources said that thefailure of the committee showed that itmight also be a political trick to put the city

managers under pressure and get worksdone. On March 6, National AssemblyStanding Committee on Cabinet Secretariatasked the CDA chairman to give thetimeframe for allotment of industrial plot toan individual in Sector I/11 despite the factthat the industrial plot can only be sold outthrough open auction under the LandDisposal Policy 2005. During the meeting,MNA Dewan Bukhari while criticising thecivic body for its reluctant in allotting plotto the individual said to the CDA chief thathe would not be the MNA after March 16.Despite repeated attempts made by thiscorrespondent, Senator Kalsoom andMNA Dewan Bukhari were not availablefor their comments.

It’s a free-for-all in Capital Development Authority

CMYK

CMYK

Dengue campaign in ruralareas next weekIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The DistrictAdministration of Islamabad hasdecided to launch a dengueprevention campaign in remote areasof federal capital from next Monday.Deputy Commissioner IslamabadAmir Ali Ahmed while chairing aspecial meeting reviewed thearrangements for the campaign,which would continue for a week.During the campaign immediateaction would be taken at high riskareas and the locals would be briefedon the preventive measures of thedeadly virus. �ONLINE

Lack of parking facilitiescapital’s main problemIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Parking facilities inthe commercial areas of the federalcapital have always been a matter ofconcern but the phenomena isheading for a point of no return. Lackof parking facilities in the commercialareas of Karachi Company, PeshawarMorr, Jinnah Super, Blue Area,Aabpara and Melody are becomingproblematic for the commuters by theday. People who come for shopping inthese areas have to wait for hours topark their vehicles. The largestcommercial markets of KarachiCompany, Peshawar Morr, Blue Area,Melody and Jinnah Super lackappropriate parking places for carsand other four-wheelers because theparking slots in these areas are alwayspacked with motorbikes. This alsocreates many troubles for thepedestrians. �ONLINE

Broken roads a seriousthreat to motoristsIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Several roads of thefederal capital,which have beenbroken or are deteriorating owing toheavy traffic, are causing serioustroubles for motorists. The roads inquestion are said to have developedpotholes, which pose a serious threatto small vehicles and their drivers.The main IJ Principal Road fromPirwadhai Chowk to Faizabad is oneof such roads where potholes havepopped up owing to frequently plyingheavy traffic. Likewise, the road fromSector I-11 to 7Up Chowk is also in anugly shape, and gives the look of anunder-construction thoroughfare atvarious places. "The condition of theroad near the Islamabad RailwayStation is very bad, where manyvehicles have met with accidentsmerely due to potholes and bumpysections," said Talha Nadeem, aresident of I-10/2, who uses this roadto get to his office in the Blue Areaevery day. �ONLINE

Illegal cattle pens posehealth hazardsIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Mushrooming cattlepens in Gulzar Qaid have become asource of perpetual nuisance for theresidents. Every where illegal cattlepens are operating in the area andurination by the buffaloes and cowsand waste have turned the area intobreeding ground of mosquitoes, saidAjmal Khan a retired governmentemployee. Every night of our lifeturns into sleepless night asmosquitoes continue to zoom in allthe rooms and bite us, saidMuhammad Sharif a resident. We arefacing the fear of spread of denguefever, he added. �ONLINE

OUR STAFF REPORTER

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: In an eOort topreserve the green character of thefederal capital, the CapitalDevelopment Authority kicked oOSpring Tree Plantation Campaign onTuesday, during which 500,000saplings will be planted acrossIslamabad.CDA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz

formally inaugurated the campaignby sapling a plant at the green beltbetween E-10 and E-11 sectors. CDABoard members, oNcers and oNcials,

environmentalists, children fromdiOerent educational institutions,special children, representatives fromNGOs, police oNcials and peoplefrom all walks of life were theparticipants of the colourful event.Speaking on the occasion, Tahir

Shahbaz said that the tree plantationwas their national as well as religiousresponsibility as deforestation hasincreased the demand of treeplantation on huge level to meet therequired green cover for the betterenvironment. He said that theparticipation of the children

highlights the importance of the eventas they were the true catalyst ofchange who would reinforce eOorts ofthe stakeholders for the conservationof the environment and furtherbeautifying it.The CDA chairman said that strict

monitoring should be carried out toensure maximum survival of theplanted saplings. He said that theprotection of the saplings during thisdrive should be taken as challenge byboth CDA and the residents of thecapital city, so that this drive could beturned into a success. “Today’s green

Islamabad is the outcome oflaborious and consistent efforts ofCDA employees, which they madeduring the successive regimes byplanting, protecting and nourishingthe trees,” he said.Shahbaz said that the authority

was focusing on planting theindigenous species, especially fruitand flowering trees including Chir,Pine, Kachnar, Amaltas, Dhreak,Jacaranda, Olive, Jaman and appleetc. The CDA chairman wasapprised by CDA EnvironmentMember Dr Kazim Niaz that the

environment wing was working hardto increase the green cover andpreserve the green character of thefederal capital, adding that about500,000 saplings would be plantedin urban and regional areas duringthe spring campaignAbout 165,000 saplings would be

planted in urban areas includinggreen belts, avenues, parks, whereas355,000 saplings would be planted inMargalla Hills National Park area andSimly catchment area. In door to doorcampaign, CDA would distribute20,000 fruit plants among the

residents of G-6, G-7, I-9 and I-10sectors. He said that the CDA wouldnot only provide saplings but alsoprovide assistance in their plantation.To boost efforts for raising

awareness to highlight theimportance of trees andconservation of environment, CDAalso organised walk from F-11/3 toE-11/4, the planting site. The CDAchairman led the walk, participatedby students, representatives ofNGOs, traders, special children, civilsociety, citizens committees,environmentalists and others.

500,000 saplings to be planted during federal campaign

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: People travelling on donkeys and animal-driven carts in a village near the federal capital as a motorist drives by in an SUV. �ONLINE

STAFF REPORTER

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The vice chancellors ofuniversities across the country on Tuesdaycobbled their thoughts together to bringreforms in the higher education sector. Theyalso discussed the current funding situationduring their executive committee meeting heldin Islamabad. Those who attended the meeting included

HEC Chairman Dr. Javed Leghari, Quaid-i-Azam Universit VC Professor Dr. MuhammadMasoom Yasinzai, Balochistan University ofInformation Technology VC Engineer Dr.Ahmed Farooq Bazai, Sardar Bahadur KhanWomen’s University VC Sultana Baloch,Karakoram International University VCProfessor Dr. Najma Najam, Kohat University

of Sciences and Technology VC Nasir JamalKhattak and University of Haripur VC Dr.Nasser Ali Khan.It was discussed in the committee meeting

that various development projects in theuniversities are delayed due to lack of funding.According to the committee members thatdue to the current funding situation, theuniversities will be turned like the privatesector schools where the parents do not preferto admit their children. They suggested thatthe government should implement thedecisions made at a Senate StandingCommittee of Education and Trainingmeeting regarding the issue of funds. The committee agreed to formulate unified

policies regarding the performances of vicechancellors and heads of higher education

institutes by discussing that likewise the facultymembers, the vice chancellors should also havea proper policy regarding their evaluation.According to the committee’s suggestion, policyguidelines would also be prepared to supportand facilitate the disabled students for theirhigher education, which would be in conformitywith the national policy with special emphasisover prevention of separate quota or reservedseats, fee concessions and provisions ofsupporting material like books. The policy would be forwarded to all public

and private sector institutions forimplementation. The committee also discussedthe preservation of Federal Quota Policy 2012for admissions in federal universities, andrecommended that the universities implementit as according to the policy.

OUR STAFF REPORTER

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: It has been exactly 20years since revolutionary Urdu poetHabib Jalib passed away on March 12,1993. However, his poetry remains alivewith his fans and followers acrossPakistan. Jalib, born in 1928 inHoshiarpur (now in India), migrated toPakistan after the 1947 partition of thesubcontinent. He started his career byworking at an Urdu newspaper andsoon gathered countrywide attentionthrough his trenchant poetry which wasprogressive and leftist in orientation.The late poet believed in the MarxistLeninist model of the state and thisreflected to a great extent in his work.However, his foremost subject in poetryremained the suOering and agony of thedowntrodden in society. He was highlycritical of the military dictatorship ofGeneral Ayub Khan and advocated fora democratic state in which the rights ofthe people were safeguarded.Jalib was also imprisoned twice for his

views and opinions which caughtimmense attention and applause inmany circles. His fearlessness in the faceof the oppressor will remainpraiseworthy and inspirational forgenerations to come. Pakistan Academyof Letters Chairman Abdul Hameedsaid that Habib Jalib, who enjoy thestatus of being the true spokesman ofpeople’s expectations and feelings,undoubtedly holds an unparalleledstatus in Urdu literature.Meanwhile, an evening titled

“Shaam-e-Sukhan” was arranged atKuch Khaas for all theatre andliterature lovers. The event openedwith a recital of some of the most lovedand well-known versus of the lateHabib Jalib that highlighted the poet’sresilient spirit in the face of oppressionand injustice. The prose included bothsatire and humor.The evening also featured classicalmelodies played live on the tabla andsitar. Sajawal Khan, a young andfamous table player from the PunjabGharana played some classical melodiesthat were thoroughly applauded by theaudience. The event was organised byTheatre Walay in collaboration with theKuch Khaas.The Theatre Walay is a companyconsisting of amateur artists, includingdirectors, writers, actors, graphic artists,set designers and technicians who havebeen performing plays since 2005.

Jalib still alivewith his fans

VCs rue lack of educationfunding across country� Meeting urges government to implement Senate Committee of Education and Training’s decisions

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Non-Teaching Sta& at a sit-in for their demandsoutside National Press Club. �ONLINE

STAFF REPORTER

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned forindefinite period hearing of the National Reconciliation Ordinanceimplementation case after Justice Nasirul Mulk withdrew himselffrom the bench. The bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk and comprising Justice

Ather Saeed and Justice Amir Hani Muslim was hearing a casepertaining to implementation of apex court’s verdict in the NRO case. During the hearing, Justice Nasirul Mulk decided to detach himselffrom the case saying that he had announced a verdict in PeshawarHigh Court on the same point. He said he had given a judgment in the case against Adnan Khawaj

and Ahmd Riaz Sheikh. He justified that the aforesaid verdict was proving a hurdle in his wayand that was why he had decided to detach him from the bench. Herequested the court to refer the matter to the chief justice to refer thematter to any other bench for further hearing.Before his withdrawal from the bench, the bench rejected a plea of

former attorney general Malik Qayyum seeking removal of his namefrom the NRO implement case. Malik Qayyum’s lawyer WaseemSajjad said that the issue regarding petition for review had come toan end.

Judge detaches himselffrom NRO bench

Kasuri brushes asideUS ‘sanctions’LLAAHHOORREE:: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insafcentral leader and former federalminister Khurshid Mahmood Kasurihas said that Pakistan should not bescared of US threats of sanctions andcomplete its gas project as these curbswould not hurt Pakistan’s interests.He was talking to the media at a localhotel here on Tuesday. Ijaz AhmedChaudhry, Dr Yasmeen Rashid,Shabbir Sayyal, Rai Azizullah and DrAtid-ud-Din were also present on theoccasion. During the pressconference, PTI South Punjabpresdeident Noor MuhammadBhabha, North Punjab presidentSadaqat Ali Abbasi, General SecretaryHina Manzoor, West Punjab presidentRai Hassan Nawaz and generalsecretary Faizullah jointly nominatedIjaz Ahmed and Dr Yasmeen Rashidrespectively for president and generalsecretary slots in the comingprovincial level party elections.Khurshid Kasuri said only the UN’ssanctions could hurt Pakistan’sinterests. He said the party leadersand workers were striving forchanging the fate of Pakistan underthe leadership of Imran Khan. He saidthe PTI would clean sweep in cominggeneral elections. Speaking on theoccasion, Ijaz Ahmed and Dr YasmeenRashid said that Imran Khan hasmade a history by conducting intra-party elections. They said Imran Khanwould administer oath from morethan 80,000 PTI office-bearers atMinar-e-Pakistan on March 23. Theysaid the PTI has become the largestpopular political entity in Pakistan asit had registered more than 10 millionmembers. �STAFF REPORT

General election on May 8,says Manzoor WassanKKAARRAACCHHII:: Provincial Minister forJails, Minerals and NaturalResources, Manzoor Wassan hasmaintained that assemblies will bedissolved on March 16 and the newelections would be held on May 08.He expressed these views whileaddressing a public gathering inKhairpur district here on Tuesday. Hesaid that agreements regardingGawadar port and Iran-Pakistan gaspipeline are of internationalimportance in nature. �ONLINE

Lawyers boycott overBadami Bagh incidentLLAAHHOORREE:: Lawyers have boycottedthe courts’ proceedings whileshowing solidarity with Christiancommunity over Badhami Baghincident in which dozens of houseswere set on fire on Saturday bymiscreants who had lust for the landunder the curtain of blasphemousallegations. Following the BadamiBagh mayhem, the Punjab BarAssociation appealed the lawyersthroughout the province to go onstrike while sympathizing withChristian people who were victimizedby criminals. �ONLINE

Graduation Day at AM Anglo MontessoriRRAAWWAALLPPIINNDDII:: A scintillatingceremony was held to mark theGraduation Day at the AM AngloMontessori, School & College wherethe prep class promoted in class onein school section. The graduates ingowns and caps, smiling enchantinglyhad glowing faces and from the stageabsorbed with thankfulness, the loveradiating from the eyes of theparents. Mahpara Amiruddin, theMontessori incharge, thanked theparents for the excellent display ofappreciation for the proud younggraduates. She highlighted variousactivities that these toddlersunderwent starting from theplaygroup, the necessary educationalstandard and character developmentimparted to them. She said that theAM-Anglo was the first Montessori inRawalpindi about 23 years ago andtoday the institution is a college andhaving a new girls campus. Theadministration thanked the parentsfor their cooperation and theMontessori staff for their devotion,dedication and wisdom. �PR

KKAARRAACCHHII:: Laborers dismantling damaged and weak portions of the bomb-stricken flats in Abbas Town. �ONLINE

OUR STAFF REPORTER

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Senator MushahidHussain Sayed, while hinting atredefining the national security paradigmof the nation, has vowed to play the roleof a bridge between military and mufti. Ina meeting with European Union’s defenceattaches headed by Mr. Pierre Mayaudon,DHM, European delegation at theParliament House, the chairman of theSenate Defence Committee observed,“The fear of strong and powerful has gonedue to a free media, independentjudiciary, vibrant civil society and adynamic parliament.” He further said that the parliament is

playing an assertive role keeping in viewthe emerging realities at national, regionaland global level and the committee isrevisiting the defence paradigm in light ofthe new realities. “A new andcomprehensive defence policy strategydocument will be prepared after seekingproposals and recommendations from allthe stake holders,” said Mushahid. “Thenational security, in view of the changedscenario, needs broader definition.” He informed the delegation about the

changed and expended role of theParliament particularly mentioning thestand taken by the Parliament on Salalaincident. He stated that the Parliamenttook a unanimous decision to redefineterms of engagement with United Stateand NATO and unanimously approvedrecommendations in this regard. Heremarked that media is playing active rolein shaping public opinion and citizenactivism is being witnessed resulting innational cohesion on new issues. He saidthat contours of defence now includeclimate change, cyber warfare, terrorism,extremism which require comprehensivepolicies. He said that terrorism is acommon enemy and a collective approachis direly needed to get rid of the menaceand ensure regional and global peace.He said that we are facing the fallout ofdevelopments in the region. He hoped tobuild a good relationship with regionalplayers since their destiny isintertwined. Mushahid briefed thedefence attaches about the steps takenby the Committee and reiterated thatthe committee would act as bridgebetween khaki and mufti. Publichearings on core issues related to nationalsecurity have been organized andseminars were being arranged to seekguidance from experts and scholars indiJerent fields to finalize a comprehensivedefence strategy document.

Mushahid vowsto act as a bridgebetween militaryand mufti

ZEESHAN JAVAID

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The upper house of theparliament on Tuesday passed two legislativepieces, including “The Federal OmbudsmenInstitutional Reforms Bill, 2013” and “TheSecurities and Exchange Commission ofPakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2013”. SenatorFarooq H. Naek laid the first bill, regardinginstitutional reforms for standardising andharmonising the laws relating to the federalombudsman’s institution, before the house. Itwas passed unanimously.As keeping into consideration the deficiencies

and lacunae, the legislators felt the need foramendments to improve the working of theombudsman’s oIces. According to the bill’sobjectives and reasons, the ombudsman wouldhold oIce for a period of four years and not beeligible for any job tenure extension or re-appointment as the ombudsman under anycircumstances. But the new bill allows theombudsman to continue holding his oIce afterthe expiry of his tenure until his successorenters upon the oIce.It further maintained that at any time when

the oIce of the ombudsman is vacant or unableto perform his functions due to any cause, thepresident of the country would appoint anacting ombudsman, who would performfunctions and exercise powers and be entitledto all privileges as admissible to theombudsman.Till the time the acting ombudsman is

appointed the oIce of the federal ombudsmanwould act as ombudsman and in case thefederal ombudsman is absent or unable toperform functions of his oIce, the federal taxombudsman would act as the federalombudsman, in addition to his own duties.Regarding the removal of the ombudsman,

the bill maintained, “An ombudsman may beremoved from oIce through Supreme JudicialCouncil on the grounds of being incapable ofproperly performing duties of his oIce byreason of physical or mental incapacity or foundto have been guilty of misconduct.”Once the bill turns into law, the ombudsman

would not be allowed to hold any office ofprofit in the service of Pakistan other than ajudicial or quasi-judicial office, before theexpiry of two years after he ceased to hold

office even no to be granted to participate inpolitical activities etc. The second bill aims at regulating the

domestic capital market and safeguarding theinterest of investors. It has already been passedby the National Assembly. After signatures ofthe president, it will become Act of theParliament. The bill was introduced by FinanceMinister Saleem Mandiwala. It says that theproposed amendments in the bill will removecertain practical diIculties experienced inprotecting the enforcement and other relatedactions of the Commission and to ensure theircontinuity and eJectiveness in connection withregulating the capital market and safeguardingthe interest of investors.The bill further maintained that at the end of

the cumulative period of five years, in case of theTerm A Commissioners, or six years, in case ofTerm B Commissioners, the relevant number ofcommissioners would cease to hold oIce or anyvacancy in SECP arising would in each case befilled by the appointment of the requisitenumber of qualified person as commissioners,each for a term of three years starting from thedate of appointment.

Senate stops reappointment,extension of ombudsman� President to appoint acting ombudsman to be entitled to all privileges as admissible to ombudsman

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

TAHIR NIAZ

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: As the Election Commission ofPakistan is getting stricter on the potentialcandidates for the upcoming general electionswith each passing day ahead of the generalelections, the parliament seemed to havedecided to facilitate them by all possible meansas the National Assembly Tuesday unanimouslypassed a bill to exempt electoral candidatesfrom personally appearing before returningoIcers at the time of filing nomination papers.The law would help all those sitting in jails

prior to conviction and abroad in self-exile asthey would be able to file their nominationpapers through their proposer, seconder or by a

nominee. The law would also serve as a sigh ofrelief for those under security threat and havealready limited their movement in public.The house passed “The Representation of

Peoples (Amendment) Bill, 2013” to amendthe Peoples Act, 1976. It was moved by ZahidHamid of the PML-N but all the partiessupported the same. The new law would undothe amendment in the Representation ofPeople Act, 1976 made by former PresidentGen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf apparently toblock former PPP head Benazir Bhutto andPML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, who were in self-exile at the time, from contesting 2008 generalelections. “With this amendment in the ROPA1976, the act will be restored to its previous

position enabling the candidates to avoidcoming to the returning oIcer if there is anythreat or other reason.Meanwhile, the house unanimously passed a

bill for prohibition of corporal punishmentagainst children. Moved by Dr. AttiyaInayatullah from the PML-Q, the bill said that“Any person who is guilty of inflicting corporalpunishment on a child shall be punishablewith imprisonment extending up to amaximum of one year or fine up to fiftythousand rupees or both”. The house passedanother piece of legislation introduced by Dr.Attiya Inayatullah that deals with reproductivehealth care and rights bill in order to promotereproductive health care rights and provide

reproductive healthcare in accordance with theConstitution and International commitmentsmade by the government under the conventionon Elimination of Discrimination AgainstWomen, and those to which Pakistan is a Sateparty.Four bills were also introduced in the

National Assembly. The bills included “TheIslamabad Capital Territory Local GovernmentBill, 2013” provides for establishment ofempowered local governments in IslamabadCapital Territory. It was moved by ShaikhSalahuddin. “The Legal Practitioners and BarCouncil (Amendment) Bill, 2013” provides toamend the Legal Practitioners and Bar CouncilsAct, 1973. It was moved by Naseer Bhutta.

A rash of bills continues in National Assembly

OUR STAFF REPORTER

LLAAHHOORREE:: Peace and HarmonyNetwork Pakistan, an association ofscholars and representatives fromdiJerent religions, on Tuesday calledfor interfaith peace and religiousharmony in greater interests andasked the federal and provincialgovernments to expose faces of thosebehind the gruesome incident ofreligious intolerance in Punjab.Addressing a press conference at

the Lahore Press Club, PHNPChairperson Allama Pir MuhammadZubair Abid, Secretary General

Javaid William, Maulana AbdulWahab Roprri, NCJP NationalDirector Emmanuel Yousaf, DrMajeed Able and Taranjeet Singhcondemned the mob attack onChristians in the Joseph Colony andcalled it a disservice to the religionand humanity as well.Allama Zubair Abid urged

Muslims to give special care to allreligious minorities in line with theteachings of the Holy Prophet (peacebe upon him). “We have toremember in our mind that HolyProphet Muhammad (peace be uponhim) showed compassion towards

followers of other religions and tookwell care of neighbours,” heexplained, and said that the JosephColony incident was clearly againstthe teachings of Islam.Javaid William appreciated the

Punjab government for ordering ajudicial inquiry into the incident andtrial of the arsonists in the anti-terrorism courts. To a question, thePHNP secretary general said that hewould condemn the person who didblasphemy a million times, but therewas no justification to punish 180Christian families for an individual’sact. To another question, he said that

violent and destructive responsecannot be justified in anycircumstances. William pointed outthat there was a need to find a legalframework to prevent actions thatoJend religious sentiments, inciteviolence or acts of violence andintolerance. On the occasion, he alsocondemned burning of the HolyBible in the Christian houses,attacked by the violent mob. He saidthat there was a need to take steps tocombat hatred and discrimination,and to promote coexistence amongdiJerent religions and faiths toestablish a harmonious society.

Scholars call for interfaith peace, harmony

LLAAHHOORREE:: Folk artists from Jacobabad perform at the Gypsy Mela at Children’s Complex. �ONLINE

STAFF REPORT

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The ElectionCommission of Pakistan on Tuesdayasked the political parties contesting theupcoming general elections to fileseparate lists of their candidates inorder of priority for the seats reservedfor women and non-Muslims in theNational Assembly and the provincialassemblies with the respectiveReturning Officers by the date to befixed for filing nomination papers.The ECP also appointed the Returning

OIcers for the seats reserved for Womenand Non-Muslims in the National andProvincial Assemblies for GeneralElections-2013.

SALMAN ABBAS

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesdaysought comments from principal secretary to prime ministerand secretary establishment on a contempt of court petitionfiled against them by a PAK-PWD oIcial over delay in hispromotion. Chief Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi washearing the case filed by Superintending Engineer SMZohair Khalid, who has cited the PM, Principal SecretaryAyub Qazi and Usman Taimoor Azmat as respondents. Thecounsel for the petitioner contended that his client wasrecommended for the post of chief engineer. “But theminister concerned only promoted Attul Haq whereaswithheld the promotion of his client,” said the counsel. OnJune 24, 2011, the court directed the respondents to processthe case of Zohair in accordance with law after which theH&W secretary moved a summary to the PM for seeking hisapproval on the recommendation of CSB regardingpromotion of petitioner, contended the counsel.

IHC seeks comment from top secretaries

RAWALPINDI: Graduation Day ceremony at AM Anglo Montessori School and College.

Parties asked tosubmit candidatesfor reserved seats

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

KKAANNDDHHKKOOTT:: Two people drownedwhile 3 were rescued when their boatcapsized while fishing behind LakeView Park in the murky waters earlyTuesday morning. As per details, fivepeople were fishing when their boatcapsized. Rescue workers managed torescue three people while 2 drownedwhich included 35-year-old FazilSabzoi and 10-year-old Salah MajidSabzoi. The two are said to be cousins.The dead body of 10 year old Salahhas not been retrieved yet. –ONLINE

Snow Festival begins inMalam Jabba tomorrowRRAAWWAALLPPIINNDDII:: A-four day SwatSnow Festival 2013 will be held fromtomorrow (March 14) at the famousskiing resort of Malam Jabba.According to ISPR, after theoperation in Swat, the skiing resorthas been rebuilt while the hoteladjacent to it will also be madefunctional in the next few months.The event includes skiing, gliding,snow trekking and Tobogganing. Alarge number of people from all walksof life from all over the country areexpected to attend this festival. On theoccasion, special skiing and glidingcoaching-classes will be arranged forschool and university students.Located nearly 40 km away fromSaidu Sharif, Malam Jabba is an idealspot for a family picnic during thesummer season due to its lush greenpastures and thick pine forests. –ONLINE

Edhi appeals to Zardari,Obama for Aafia's releaseKKAARRAACCHHII:: Noted human rightsactivist Abdul Sattar Edhi onTuesday visited the "10 years-10days" camp at Karachi Press Club inconnection to raise the issue of DrAafia Siddiqui on the completion ofher first 10 years in the Americanimprisonment. Writing comments inthe guest book on the occasion, hesaid: "I appeal to the US governmentto release Dr Aafia on humanitariangrounds.” “If any imprisonment isnecessary he should be put in jailinstead of Dr Aafia.” Edhi appealedto President Asif Ali Zardari and USPresident Obama to release Aafia.He said when the children of thenation show such a commitment, thefuture of the nation would be bright.He hoped that Dr Aafia would soonreturn home. –ONLINE

SEPCO stopselectricity to LarkanaLLAARRKKAANNAA:: The WAPDA andSEPCO have halted electricitysupply to the Larkana districtwithout any announcement. TheWAPDA and SEPCO oOcials haveinitiated a drive for removal of thenewly-inducted meters, which wereissued during installation of newABC cables in Larkana. –ONLINE

Irrigation Departmentemployee goes missingLLAARRKKAANNAA:: An employee of theIrrigation Department has allegedlygone missing. According to details, amissing irrigation employee (baildar)at Kirthar Canal Mukhtiar AhmedGopang, also the general secretarySITUMF, mysteriously went missingin the jurisdiction of Waleed PoliceStation Larkana on Sunday last. Therelatives and SITUMF leaders andworkers have expresseddissatisfaction over the performanceof police and demanded of the DIGLarkana to take solid steps for hisearly recovery. –ONLINE

ATHAR LASHARI

BBAAHHAAWWAALLPPUURR:: For labourers, thebasic theme of involvement in wheatharvesting is to secure the basic fooditem for the entire year. There are somany crops where labour is involvedbut the wheat harvesting season issomething diPerent. It has been seenthat the labourer also get the suOcienthusk for their animals.The rate for their labour is diPerent

in various areas. In south Punjab,especially interior, the rate is very low.The farmer set a formula for thepayment and majority of them give 50kg to 70 kg per acre for cutting andthreshing. In the local market, thewheat price is currently Rs 1,050 to Rs1,100. It means the worker (or workers)will get around Rs 1,375 to Rs 1,890 forthe whole process.If a healthy man does the job alone,

then he will complete an acre in sevento eight days. If we go according to thedaily wages at the rate of Rs 350 perday, a labourer can earn Rs 2,450 to Rs2,800. But the case is quite opposite

here, as usually the whole familyparticipate in the process and hence afive-member family complete the oneacre in two days. The simple calculation shows that

these seasonal labourers earn muchless than other casual labourers. “Thefarmer never gives the paymentaccording the hard work, but we arebound to follow the ‘set principles’ aswe need this season for the rest of theyear,” says Maqbool Bhatti.Bhatti wants increase in wages or

share. He explains his point, saying themajority of landlords give 18th or 20thpart of the total per acre yield. “In manyareas, the cutting and threshing aretwo diPerent works with diPerentwages, but both the activities are to becompleted in south Punjab by the samelabourers at minimum wages,” Bhattiadded. If a family is already has a dealwith farmer as his permanent workers(tenants), then they will have to carryout the job without any extra wages, asthere are given 1/8 share of theproduce. “We are bound to doeverything from to preparing of land to

harvesting of crop, but we never receivethe actual or suOcient wages,” GhulamNabi, a 45-year-old tenant said.Sometimes, the farmer sells out his

total yield minus the stock for his ownuse and the labourers just receive thehusk as the sole reward. However,there are some areas where theworkers’ per acre share is set as 80 kg to100 kg for cutting, threshing andpacking the wheat.Mostly, the wheat is shifted to the

market while the husk dumped in thefield. There are many examples wherethe farmer violates his own agreementregarding the wages. “The next wheatharvesting is just round the corner,but I am still waiting for my last yearwages. Every time I repeat thedemand, he just gives another date,”Hafiz Mehtab, a poor seasonallabourers, said.The season is very important for

the both farmer and his workers.

Both schedule their main familyactivities after this season. Most ofthe people directly related to wheatbusiness plan their children’smarriages after the wheat harvesting.That is why in south Punjab andinterior Sindh, the April and May isthe marriage season. One can say thatwheat harvesting ultimately bringshappiness in the lives of farmers andseasonal workersMany of the labourers plan building

their house after earning during theseason. Although they work outcontinuously for two months but theyalways or mostly end up with moredebts. In Interior Sindh, the seasonalworkers and the tenants (locally knownas haris) always remain under debt.“My grandfather and a farmer had adeal for the cultivation of land. Andnow my sons and I are also workinghere on the same land,” WaliMuhammad, a hari, said.He added that during the floods in

2010-11, all the total crops weredestroyed. “As we were also ashareholder with 1/8 share, we also

suPered the huge loss.” “Since mygrandfather, we are under debt to thefarmer; therefore, we cannot moveanywhere,” Wali added.One the other hand, a farmer

blamed the government for the highrates of agricultural inputs. “We can’taPord paying extra to the labourersinvolved in harvesting. If we do so,what will we get,” Malik Qadir Bakhsh,a big landlord, said. During the wheatharvesting season, many localtraditional festivals are arranged.”Visakhi” (also pronounced asBhisakhi) is the most popular festivalof Punjab when the farmers and thewheat harvesting labourers enjoy thelife with their families. The tiredlabourers along with their families visitthe Visakhi festival and buy somesweets (like jalibiyan) and toys fortheir kids. After the completion ofwheat harvesting, the labourerspreserve their wheat for the entire yearin a mud storage called “Kalhoti” andthen start the search of newopportunities as routine.

((CCoonncclluuddeedd))

Seasonal labourers – wheat for survival (IV)�They get just 5 percent of per acre yield after two months of hard labour �A causal worker says he hasn’t been paid last year’s wages yet

OUR STAFF REPORTER

MMAARRDDAANN:: Khyber PakhtunkhwaChief Minister Amir Haider KhanHoti on Tuesday said that the ANPwould never surrender to terroristsand the party workers have givengreat sacrifices for the security andbetter future of the country.Meanwhile, two PPPP leaders -Arshad Khan and Haider Ali KhanAdvocate - also announced to quit theparty and joining the ANP.Talking to media persons in

Mardan, he said the ANP was on thefrontlines in the war againstterrorism and the party had so far lostaround 800 workers, includingBashir Ahmad Bilour. He alsostrongly condemning the bomb blastnear Khyber PakhtunkhwaInformation Minister Mian IftikharHussain’s house in Nowshehra.“We gave the basic right of

development to Mardan as theprevious rulers ignored the districtduring the last 60 years, Hoti said,adding that he was very happy to see

progress in Mardan and other partsof the province, especially inEducation and health sectors.Hoti said the ANP had made no

decision made so far to make analliance with any other politicalparty but the politics was an art ofpossibilities; therefore, regionaland district-wise alliance as well asseat adjustment was possiblewith any party.He said the interim setup for the

province would be decided in next twoor three days as he was in touch with

all political forces in the province.The chief minister said he would do

more for the development of districtif the people of Mardan gave himanother chance to serve them.On this occasion, the PPPP

candidate for PK-23 and ex-chairman of District CouncilMardan Arshad Khan joined ANP.Meanwhile, Hoti also addressed agathering in Katlang where a seniorPPPP leader and candidate for PK-28 Haider Ali Khan Advocatejoining the ANP.

ANP hasn’t decided yet entering into alliance: Hoti

OUR STAFF REPORTER

KKHHYYBBEERR AAGGEENNCCYY:: Thedisease of leishmaniasis hasturned into an epidemic inLandi Kotal and the adjacentareas as thousands of localtribesmen, including a largenumber of children, have beeninfected by Leishmania, aparasite. The most aPected areasof the region are Torkham,Gagra, Mulagori, Ashkhel andWalikhel, hospital sources said.The thermo therapy

technician in the Landi Kotalhospital, Haji Tahir, saidhundreds of leishmaniasispatients were being providingmedical treatment. Pointingscores of patients sitting outsidehis room for their turn, Tahirsaid the numbers patients wasincreasing day-by-day and thetotal had crossed the figure oftwo thousands in the ongoingyear. “Every day, 10 to 12 patientsare provided the therapy andone to three need medication for

recovery,” he added.Badshah Mir, a resident of

Surkamr, Sarkai, of TehsilJamrud, who brought his fouryears old son Shakir to theLandi Kotal hospital for therapytreatment, said his son and anephew had been sufferingfrom the disease for the last oneyear. The Jamrud hospital islacking of thermo therapyfacilities; therefore; they have totravel 35 kilometres to LandiKotal for treatment.”Another tribesman,

Ihsanullah hailing from KhugaKhel who was buying injectionsfrom a private medical store forher minor daughter, said he wasa poor taxi driver but he had noother choice as the hospital hadno alternate treatment excepttherapy machine which hadalready been overburdenedbecause of thousands of patients.He demanded the authoritiesconcerned for immediateprovision of another thermotherapy machine for smooth and

timely cure of the disease.Agency Headquarter Hospital

Landi Kotal MedicalSuperintendent Dr Nazir Wazirsaid the high ups in the FATAHealth Directorate had beenbriefed on the whole situation.The locals have demanded the

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor,FATA health director andKhyber Agency political agent toprovide with full set of neededthings to tackle the disease.It is important to note that

leishmaniasis is caused by theblood-feeding flies. They carryLeishmania, a parasite, whichcauses leishmaniasis. Its bite firstturns into a permanent wound,while it remains as a permanentmark even after healing.The suggested precautionary

measures include ensuring useof mosquito net and avoidingaccumulation of water in streetsand drains. In case of the signsof are noticed, it is necessary tocontact the hospital at theearliest for a free test.

Landi Kotal stillsu�ers fromterrible skin disease�Over 2,000 fly-borne leishmaniasis patients reported so far�Hospitals lack basic necessities to tackle the epidemic

OUR STAFF REPORTER

AATTTTOOCCKK:: Recorddevelopment projects havebeen under taken duringthe last five years at the costof millions of rupees, whichbenefitted thousands offamilies in PP-19. This allcould be made possibleonly because of the betterstrategy, leadership andgood governance of PunjabChief Minister PunjabShahbaz Sharif. MPAMalik Aetbar Khan saidthis while talking to TheSpokesman at his residencein Village Khunda, about80 km from Attock.Giving details of various

development projects, hesaid initial work had beenstarted on a bridge betweenAttock and Mianwali overSawan River which wouldcost Rs 1305.811 millionand link the two districtswhile facilitating thousandsof travellers. He saidvarious projects had beencompleted which includedmetalwork of 29 link roadsat the cost of Rs 297.516million, while missingfacilities were provided to101 schools at the cost of Rs184.661 million.“Ten water supply

schemes have beencompleted at the cost of Rs61.572 million and a BasicHealth Unit (BHU) hasbeen built in VillageGulyal at the cost of Rs11.280 million.”Aetbar said he tried his

best for the development ofhis constituency and wouldbring his constituencyat par with developedareas of the Punjab if votedto power again.

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Minister forInformation andBroadcasting Qamar ZamanKaira said on Tuesday thatPakistan People’s Party(PPP) was the party oflabour and working classand it would continue toserve them.This he said while

addressing the participantsof a sit-in of PakistanOrdinance Factory (POF)Wah employees at DChowk, near ParliamentHouse. He said PrimeMinister Raja PervaizAshraf had given approvalfor regularisation ofcontract and casualemployees of POF WahCantt. He said that thePrime Minister had issueddirectives to the SecretaryDefence for regularizationof casual employees of thePOF Wah and summery inthis connection will bemoved to the regularizationcommittee schedule tomeet tomorrow.The prime minister, he

added, also sent the case ofup-gradation of POFemployees to the POFboard for approval as theboard was the competentauthority in this regard. Healso said that the premierhad given approval forgrant of danger allowanceto POF Wah employees.Kaira also announced that

the government hadaccepted in principle thedemand of the employees ofthe POF for revival of oldmedical facilities but for this

they will have to surrendermedical allowance beinggiven in the salary.Kaira also visited the sit-in

camps of teaching and non-teaching staP of schoolsworking under FederalDirectorate of Education.About teaching staPdemands, he said, that hewill convey their demands tothe Prime Minister andthese will be considered forapproval. At non-teachingstaP camp, he said, theirgenuine demands will beaccepted within 24 hours.Moreover, he said, that

case for regularization ofnon-teaching staP will betabled beforeRegularization committeeheaded Syed KhursheedShah. He said that thepeople’s government hasalready regularised250,000 contractemployees and the non-teaching staP of the FDEwould also be regularisedas per policy. –AGENCIES

PPP standsfor labourclass: Kaira

PPEESSHHAAWWAARR:: PPPPPP activists protest outside Peshawar Press Club. Senior party workers are unhappywith recent nominations for various slots by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Anwer Saifullah. –ONLINE

OUR STAFF REPORTER

SSWWAABBII:: Federal Minister for CommunicationsDr Arbab Alamgir Khan on Tuesday inauguratedthe Karnal Sher Khan Interchange and GhaziInterchange. Both the interchanges have recentlybeen completed which will facilitate the peopleand traders of different regions of the district andperiphery areas.Seven years, back it was former president Pervez

Musharraf who laid the foundation of Karnal SherKhan Interchange, aiming at making the peopleeasily approach the Karnal Sher Khan CadetCollege which is situated near the IsmailaMountains. The Ghazi Interchange would facilitate

the people of Tehsil Ghazi, Tehsil Topi and all thosewho either work in or come to Ghulam Ishaq KhanInstitute of Engineering Sciences and Technology,Tarbela Dam, Ghazi-Barotha Hydropower Projectand Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate.Arbab said a monument of Karnal Sher Khan

would be constructed near the interchange,enabling the people of the country andforeigners to know about his bravery who gavehis life for the motherland at the mountainpeaks of Kargil. The minister said two bridgesover Uch Khwar would be constructed alongwith the building of the dilapidated sections ofthe road which linked the interchange with theKarnal Sher Khan Cadet College.

Roadworks inaugurated in Swabi

Two drown as boatcapsizes in Kandhkot

‘Recorddevelopmentin Attock’

FFAAIISSAALLAABBAADD:: EPI vaccinators protest as they ask government for security during anti-polio campaigns, as Taliban havetargeted health workers, especially women, in multiple attacks in various cities. –ONLINE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

THE SPOKESMANChief Editor: Huma Ali

Executive Editor: Atif MateenResident Editor: Saeed Minhas

Consulting Editors: Jalees Hazir Samina Choonara

Competing narratives on PakistanRecently, the chairman of the PressCouncil of India (PCI), JusticeMarkandey Katju, likened Pakistan toJurassic Park, saying violence anddeathare being reported every day due toinherent faults in how the country wasconceived. He commented thatcommotion in the countrywas anaturalconsequence of setting up a theocraticstate and that in a maximum of fifteento twenty years, Pakistan will againbecome part of India to create a statewhich can curb extremism on bothsides of the border. In his earlier article,‘The truth about Pakistan’, publishedjust lastweek inTheNation, hewent onto establish the thesis that there was nosuch thing as the two-nation theory andthat it was the product of Britishconspiracy. He held that before 1857,Hindus and Muslims lived togetherpeacefully and that was proof enoughthat they could do so again.Katju, a credible judge and now an

outspoken advocate of minority rights,represents almost a similar position tothat of theCommunist Party of India orthe Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, althoughtheyhadopposite theoretical bases. Thefact of the matter is that these viewscould never capture the popularimagination of the Muslims of Indiawho wanted constitutional safeguardsin united India which the Congressrefused time and again. Thisintransigence was consistent and wentinto as late as the summer of 1946whenNehru and Sardar Patel rejected thecabinetmissionplan. So, no onehas thetime or the energy to pay heed to Mr.Katju’s romantic views about Pakistanand India getting together to create atolerant, pluralistic state. However,Pakistan should understand thatincreasing violence and a visibleweakening of the state is challengingthe very existence of the country and ifthe erosion of State authority is notarrested soon, things may actually driftinto complete chaos.Before that happens, the troubling

question is that the internationalnarrative and story on Pakistan is notchanging as “themost dangerous placein theworld”, “drifting into extremism”and where foreign journalists opt towrite books like Alive and well inPakistan. The prevalent liberal viewwithin Pakistan is remarkably close tothe international narrative beingadvanced now for over a decade abouta failing state. There is considerable

scholarship in the area, in some cases,funded by the State Department.Many scholars are writing about howPakistan will eventually collapse dueto rising extremism and a hapless orcomplicit State, with manyinternational observers fearing thatthe extremists will then get hold ofnuclear weapons too.The intelligence community dealing

with the war in Afghanistan andPakistan, and journalists embedded inthe war machine write about howPakistan is playing a double game inAfghanistan by sheltering Talibanleaders. Terror attacks like 7/7 andOsamaBin Laden's last hideout next toPakistan’smilitary academymakes it alltoo easy for a lazy conclusion on this

country as a rogue state not obeying theinternational system in marginalisingthe Taliban and Iran.Lately, I find most Human Rights

reports, either by the local commissionrun by Asma Jahangir or internationalbodies like Amnesty, extremely naiveabout the international politicalcontext, the “war on terror” reportingand proxy wars being played byintelligence agencies. While it is truethat Pakistani security forces should beaccountable, but so are the Americansin Afghanistan and FATA and theIndians in Kashmir. That is why TariqAli had to remind Lahore's Englishspeaking crowd just last week that theyshould still keep talking aboutKashmirbecause the killing there has surpassedthat in Tibet except the internationalpress in unwilling to notice it.Just recently, Saadia Toor, a rising

academic at City University of New

York, in her piece on Women's Day inThe News (otherwise a paper eager toperpetuate the prevailing global mythson Pakistan) questioned a brand offeminism used as a proxy to serveimperial motives in Afganistan. Saadiawrites eloquently that: ‘...the idea thatthe US/Nato war in Afghanistan hasbeengood forAfghanwomencontinuesto hold sway within the liberalmainstream in the United States. InAugust 2009, for example, Timemagazine’s cover featured a disfiguredyoungAfghanwomanwith the caption,“What Happens When We LeaveAfghanistan”.More recently, inMay thisyear, Amnesty-USA ran a campaignopenly supportive of the US/Natopresence inAfghanistan just in time for

the Nato summit in Chicago. Ads oncity bus stops featured images ofAfghanwomen in burqas along with thecaption: “HumanRights forWomen inAfghanistan. Nato: Keep the ProgressGoing!” (Imperialist Feminism Redux,8 March, The News). The same logic isbeing deployed consistently to victimsof human rights abuse without theirknowledge and permission.The political use of human rights

reporting and Pakistan’s universallynegative image may be worth noting,but there is a radically diWerent turn thecountry’s political and military leaderswill have to take to stabilise Pakistan.Ofprimary importance is containing theuse of violence for political means andmarginalising andweakening the terrornetwork in the country. It is an opensecret that investigation oVcers, thelocal judiciary and the media areunwilling to take on known local

terrorist outfits. The State will have tocome in by making anti-terrorism apriority and focussing on rooting it outwhile developing political consensusand educating society. Unless violenceends in general and the minorities andother threatened groups like theHazara, the Shia, and Balochnationalists feel safe, Pakistan cannoteven begin tomove towards stability.In this context, rather thandismissing

Justice Markandey Katju outright, weneed to realise that our fragility hasconvinced a sizable section of Indianthinkers that Pakistan will not be ableto survive and we are only providingthemgoodgrounds to think so eachday.There is ample evidence that Pakistan’sinternal instability has furthertoughened the Indianposition on issueslike Sir Creek, Siachen, Kashmir andevenminor cultural exchanges.The recent hype on cross border

firing in AJK in the Indian media hasstunned Pakistani intelligentsia withthe Indian chief of army staW statingthat they will attack Pakistan in theirown time and in their chosenpositions. This type of talk willcontinue for a while becausesomewhere in the Indianestablishment, the hawkish view onPakistan’s future prevails and a week-long stay in Delhi and a fewconversations with representativeIndian media is enough to convinceyou of their fixed and quiteretrogressive views.The core question is if in the next

twelve months, this country is likely tocome out of a sense of drift intodestruction. Possibly not. There areseveral diVcult transitions to be made,the most important of them being thepolitical one. There will be change ofleaders in themilitary and the judiciarytoo while the United States militarywithdraws slowly from Afghanistan.Does the Pakistani political leadershiphave the potential to steer the countryout of impending doom? Many peoplein Islamabad doubt that but it ischallenges that test anyone’s potential.The ability to deliver will haveconsequences not only for the people ofPakistan but for stability in the region.

THE WRITER IS A RESEARCH

CONSULTANT IN DEVELOPMENT

AND PUBLIC POLICY

Block 11, G-6/1, Aabpara, IslamabadTelephone: 051 260 7153-4

Fax: 051 260 7498www.thespokesman.pkce@thespokesman.pk

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) asserted its authority onMonday and sent the amended nomination papers for the upcominggeneral elections for printing without waiting endlessly for theformal approval of the President who had been sitting on theproposed draft since 3 February. The oVce of the federal lawminister had raised objections to the amendments which require thecandidates to submit their income and agricultural tax returns of thepast three years, details of foreign trips undertaken by them duringthe period, details of expenditure of children studying abroad, adeclaration of not having or applied for a foreign citizenship, detailsof their income and expenditure and a list of spouse and dependants.According to ECPmember Riaz Kayani, ‘The chief electioncommissioner is determined not to let tax evaders, defaulters andthose who got their loans written oW or were indicted, to take part inelections’. The ECP had the constitutional authority to take the stepthat it took and it must be commended for taking a stand on thematter. This newfound independence should be the defining spirit ofthe commission in the run-up to the holding of elections.While chanting hollowmantras about free and fair elections, theestablished political parties and their traditional winning horses havebeen trying to subvert anymeaningful reform of the electoral process.Recently, there was a hue and cry in the national assembly withparliamentarians across the political divide condemning the ECP forasking them to verify their educational qualifications. A large numberof sitting parliamentarians had submitted forged degrees to thecommission to contest the 2008 elections which required thecandidates to hold a graduate degree. Similarly, quite a fewmembersin the outgoing assembly were dual nationals who had contested theelection illegally. A shamefully large percentage of parliamentarianswere reported to be tax-dodgers while there aremanywho havedefaulted on their loans or got themwritten oW. Naturally, theamended nomination papers do not suit the entrenched political elite.In another related development, the government took no time inwelcoming a European Union election observation mission. TheCouncil of the European Union had made the oWer on Mondayand said that it is ready to assist by deploying an electionobservation mission. Since the restoration of democracy in 1988,foreign observers have been a regular feature of elections in thecountry. With big question marks looming over their capacity andobjectives for making these assessments, the plethora of foreign-funded and controlled election watchers have done little morethan giving certificates of approval for elections in the country,even when there were glaring indications of foul play. There issuVcient evidence to suggest that these observation missions andrelated NGOs act as tools of the imperialist agenda in developingdemocracies. The guarantee of free and fair elections is a strongand independent election commission and political parties withtrained workers. Instead of welcoming foreign observers withdubious agendas, the government would do well to ensure theindependence of ECP and to strengthen it.

Way to go, ECP

The prevalent liberal view withinPakistan is remarkably close tothe international narrative beingadvanced now for over a decadeabout a failing State. There isconsiderable scholarship in thearea, in some cases, funded bythe State Department

Throughout the course of human historybears have generally been perceived asnocturnal animals. They raid trash cans andcrops at night and generally tend to avoidhuman beings. Their sleeping habits andhibernating tendencies are well known andtheir obsession with solitude is welldocumented. But few people are aware of thediurnal side of a particular breed of bearswho can wreak havoc with human beingsinhabiting a particular region through their9 to 5 job, wherein they throw all of theirquintessence out of the proverbial window.If they get too clingy, a continuum of hugscan ensure that a whole country comescrashing down, such is the significance ofthese bears’ occupation.And then there are the bulls. They might

work at the same place, but the bulls’ agendais totally different to their oversensitivecolleagues. While the bears can hug a nationinto submission, once the bulls parade innumbers they can stampede over the

sensitivities and become the founding fathersof the country’s future. Rarely do you seethem being the emblem of a nation, but theconnoisseurs know that when flaunted, thereare few better support systems for a country’sgrowth than a bull’s horns. Both bears andbulls hog the attention of entrepreneurs andeconomists throughout the year, but it is thistime of what is normally a five-year period,that both these species evolve into politicalagents.As elections approach, bulls work

faithfully for the ruling party, while bearsrelentlessly support the opposition. Whoevergets the better of the other tends torubberstamp their party’s success in theelectoral dogfights. However, the bears andbulls in our neck of the woods don’t quiteseem to be following that particular script.The reason why the two species aren’t reallyfulfilling their duties as electioncampaigners owes a lot to the capriciousnature of KSE – the chamber wherein thetwo groups of animals face off.In most countries a mere glance at KSE’s

corresponding chambers is often goodenough to prognosticate the results of the

elections. Take the US for instance, wherethe bulls at Wall Street rallied to takePresident Barak Obama home aftermustering enough investor confidence lastyear. In fact in the 28 US elections since1900, 90% have gone according to thebear-bull script with bull surges precedingthe re-elections 15 out of the 16 times. Takeany other country, and you’d see a similartrend, with bulls and bears orchestratingelection campaigns. However, in Pakistanneither the bulls nor the bears quite franklyhave a clue.Take the example of the 441-point

plummet at KSE following the inaugurationof the Iran-Pakistan pipeline. In most otherplaces unveiling one of the biggest projectsin the history of the country would haveresulted in extended bear hibernation, butthey were partying late into the night inKarachi on Monday. What was even morebizarre about the bear celebrations was thefact that the unveiling of a gas project, sawevery energy sector share go down like apack of cards. Granted Uncle Sam has thestrings of the Pakistani bears and bulls tiedto his belt, but surely such a lucrative project

would have given some impetus to the bullsin energy sector at least. After all who’dbenefit more from the gas coming from Iranthan the likes of OGDC and SSGC?One could’ve forgiven the bears and bulls

for forgetting their roles had the IP plungebeen an anomaly. But the fact of the matteris this election year has seen sociopoliticalnegativity being accompanied by the bulls,with fiscal positivity being escorted by thebears. When MQM was giving the currentruling party the tongue-out, Quetta wasshuddering with ethnic cleansing bombs andforeign exchange reserves were continuingtheir precipitous descent, KSE was busyknocking off intraday and closure records, asbulls stampeded over the 18,000 barrier likeit didn’t exist. While favourable CPI(Consumer Price Index), declining inflationand now the inauguration of the IP gaslinehave witnessed the emotional side of thebears. When the bulls and bears aren’tfollowing the conventional scriptthemselves, monitoring their movements toforecast the upcoming polls becomes a futileexercise.The rumour mills work over time

whenever KSE is under the spotlight. Andthe latest chit chat coming out of the mills isthat the powers that be have ‘fixed’ aprolonged bull surge that should see a maddash in the near future that would send the(wait for it) 22,000-point barrier tumblingout of the picture. The claim might instigatea chain of raised eyebrows, and rightly so,but the fact that the market was rising whilethe country sank during the ongoing fiscalyear does give the impression that the bearsand bulls are following a clandestinelyorchestrated script.The safe bet is that bulls are going to

dominate their matchup with the bears inthe near future unless of course the nephewhas another lucrative project lined up thatmight invoke Uncle Sam’s wrath. And as faras looking at bears and bulls to predict theoutcome of the elections is concerned, itseems as if we might have to put the cartbefore the horse in our neck of the woods;especially if the horse comes with a pair ofhorns, curved outwards in a flat arc.

THE WRITER IS ASSISTANT EDITOR ATTHE SPOKESMAN

A bear and bull story

Pakistan’s energy problemand Iran-Pakistan pipeline

Pakistan is passing through one ofthe worst energy crisis in its history.No serious effort has so far beenmade to address this critical issueby those responsible.The rapidly deteriorating energy

problem, besides some otherequally grave issues like massiveelectricity shortage, miserable law

and order situation and thehorrendous menace of terrorism,has taken a heavy toll on theeconomy of Pakistan. Industriesand businesses are winding up.They are moving to countries whichdo not or have very little of theseproblems, and offer a congenialatmosphere and far better businessprospects than Pakistan. Thesituation is indeed alarming anddepressing.In the prevailing critical situation

the news of implementation of theIran-Pakistan gas pipeline trulycomes as breath of fresh air. Thelong-pending project, a jointventure of neighboring Iran andPakistan, if it is able to see the lightof the day, will significantly help inreducing the massive gas shortagewhich Pakistan faces today. It wouldperhaps also help in rejuvenatingthe country’s industries which havealmost come to a halt due toinadequate gas supply and reviveindustrial production.This undoubtedly will give the

moribund economy of the countrythe boost that it direly needs. A

question that however arises is willthis project ever kick off.At least when looked at from the

recent very bold standpoint of theincumbent government of Pakistan,it seems it will.That the government of Pakistan

has finally signed an agreementwith the Iranian government vis-à-vis the Iran-Pakistan gas pipelineproject reflects the seriousness ofthe two countries to go ahead andimplement this extremely vitalproject without further delay.As reported, under the deal

between the national Iranian oilcompany and Pakistan’s interstategas system, Tehran will provide 750million cubic feet of natural gas, aday, for 25 years, from its giantoffshore South Pars field in thePersian Gulf. The total cost of layingdown the Pakistani section of thepipeline is $1.5 billion. Iran hasalready completed the constructionof its section and is funding $500million for the construction ofPakistani section, with Pakistangovernment furnishing theremaining $1 billion.

Pakistan, in particular, cannotoveremphasize the importance ofthis project. This is evident from thedevastating energy scenario thathas been lucidly elaborated above.But the question arises, how wouldthe government of Pakistan dealwith the strong resentment that theUS government has shown over theproject? In its latest opposition ofproject, the US State Departmenthas categorically said it is inPakistan’s interest to avoid anyactivity that can hit it withsanctions.The State Department said that it

was providing Pakistan withalternatives that would avoid anyviolation of sanctions. The deputyacting US spokesman, PatrickVentrell has recently said “the USgovernment fully recognizes thatPakistan has significant energyrequirements but it really thinksthere are other long-term solutionsto Pakistan's energy needs, and ithas therefore been assisting, as agovernment, to contribute to thealleviation of the energy crisis inPakistan."

The stance taken by the USgovernment vis-à-vis the project isundeniably very bold and clear.Stance of the government ofPakistan on the issue, widelyprojected in Pakistan’s print andelectronic media lately, is equallystrong and comprehensible. Noneless than the stature of the Presidentof Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari hascategorically stated that no power inthe world can halt the $7.5 billionproject, dismissing mounting USopposition to the venture that willbe formally inaugurated on March11, 2013. During his recentinteraction with a group ofjournalists in Lahore, the Presidentemphatically said "Nobody has thepower to halt this project." Pakistan,he said, is a sovereign andindependent country that is actingin its national interest by goingahead with the IP gas pipelineproject. When asked about USopposition to the project, PresidentZardari said Pakistan can makedecisions independently and sign anagreement with any country totackle its energy crisis. A very bold

stance indeed, Mr. President! Let’s,for once, in larger national intereststick to the stance we have taken onthe Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.

M. FAZAL ELAHIISLAMABAD

Non-Tariff Barriers

The relentless debate onMFN to Indiais becoming a tiring aWair. It is norocket science that unless India lifts theNon-TariW Barriers, it is impossible forMFN to be a success. They want us tohurry up and remove all the items fromthe negative to the positive list, but theyaren’t taking the first logical step byabolishing the NTBs.I don’t think it’s a wise move to

acquiesce to Indian demands; weshould focus on national interests.

SHAKEEB AHMEDLAHORE

Please email your letters toletters@thespokesman.pk or postthem to our address in Islamabad.

EDITOR’SMAIL BOX

Rhetoric aside, the global narrative on Pakistan as a failed State canbecome a reality too if radicalmeasures are not takennow

ASHRAF TAHIR

KUNWAR KHULDUNE SHAHID

All over the world, they tend to become political agents when the elections approach, but as far as bears and bulls at KSE areconcerned; they quite frankly do not have a clue

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

I waited and I waited and I waitedsome more, just to be sure, but not asingle soul in sight mentioned it. Notin the electronic media, not in theprint media, not in the social mediaor any other kind of neo-mediumthat I may be outdated enough to beaware of (is telepathy still oWbounds?).Anyhow, so the day arrived when

procrastination was no longer anoption; when lesser mortals withtheir contemporary and relevantknowledge could no longer be reliedupon to speak of somethingdelightfully fantastic; and when thepresent became so unbearablybloody that living in the past was theonly remaining route to sanity… if itmay qualify as such.Thus, it so happened that your

humble servant was compelled tocarry the tattered flag of the ancientand irrelevant in her very own hands– Jihad, indeed! Drum rolls!Drum rolls! I say. Drum rolls,

please. No drum rolls? Oh. They tellme it’s all been sent to the theatre ofgeo-politics, next door. How veryunfortunate. But, grieve not,comrades! This (surprisinglyobstinate) scribe shall continue sansthe sound eWects – there are buttwo-and-a-half of you in theaudience to begin with. (This iswhat happens when you try to stagea show next to a sold-out theatre.Way to go, Shakespeare.)Never mind, never mind, back to

the topic! Mauritania! Or was itMauritius? Oh, ‘scuse, Mauritia (itdoesn’t red-line anything, but itred-lines that! Even Microsoftknows what’s not in vogue). So acouple of weeks ago a bunch ofgeeks mistakenly known asgeoscientists had a Eureka momentwhen they discovered a long-lostpiece of land that had sunk to thedepths of the Western zone of theIndian Ocean some sixty millionyears ago – that’s long before eitherof our speculated fathers (Adam orthe Ape) landed on (or sprouted outof?) the planet. Soon enough thegeeks discovered that it wasn’t justany piece of land, that it was in facta pretty big piece of land, so – voila!We have a new mini-continent! It’slike the Earth had an eighth childwho had died in infancy.And what’s so important about

that? Not much, just a possible re-writing of geological history. Or,perhaps a discovery of extinct livingorganisms that man has thus farbeen unaware of. Or non-livingminerals. Or… Perhaps… Gold?Silver? Diamonds? Rubies?TREASURE? Now your ears stickup. Down, tiger. It probably is justanother huge piece of rock – or that’swhat they’d keep on telling us while

they dig out all the precious jewels.As standard Pakistani citizens, we’llprobably never know.Why? Becausewe’re too busy fretting about“happening news”, and not-giving-a-damn about science. So we’re alwaysthe first ones on the buzzer when itcomes to knowing who BarackObama’s great-grand-father wasand nowhere when it comes toknowing how to keep our drainsunclogged. We all, of course,know what aWects our lives more,don’t we.But, however bad that might be,

we just can’t be blamed. Because,we’re just a product of oursurroundings, aren’t we? This is justwhat happens when people are tooentangled in so-called “globalaWairs” (read: things that don’tconcern them, which they can onlywhine about and never changesinglehandedly. Unless they’resuperman’s progeny, of course. Don’tthink superman ever had anychildren, though. Unless he hadthem secretly. We’ll never knowthat, either, I guess. Anyway. Somuch for parenthetical “comments”.I could write a whole essayparenthetically, trust me.)Anyhow! Therefore, as dutiful

Pakistanis, this Mauritius-iania, orwhatever, should not be any of ourconcern. New discoveries that aren’teven remotely controversial do notinterest us the least. What’s anancient continent compared tosectarian killings, CNG shortage,parliamentary elections, T20 cricketand Sharmeela Farooqi’sengagement? A trifle, of course! It’snot the stuW that makes breakingnews and headlines. Nor the stuWthat keeps us busy. Or the stuW thatwe can gossip about, make wittyjokes out of, laugh at, cry at, whineat or loathe – the stuW that interestsus. We’d rather yawn than careabout constructive information.Research and discovery? All thatcan very well go to the dogs (Inwhich case it won’t be long beforewe would have dogs ruling over ourcountry. Some might argue that’salready the case, but this time itmight happen for real, not just insms-jokelore).As for the less dutiful of us (those

who care to mind their own business- a rare breed I tell you) and thosewho’d rather read than gossip (thatbreed’s already extinct, I guess), thisis sure to be a revelation. A piece ofnews that would interest a rarebreed and an extinct breed – arevelation, indeed! I’d be surprisedif it’d make it even to the mid-pagesof a newspaper.And I wondered what was keeping

this news away from the media. Notany more I guess. If I told you therewas a clan of blasphemous amoebathat inhabited Mauritia before itsank to the bottom of the IndianOcean, would this piece ofinformation be qualified asnewsworthy? Thought so.

THE WRITER IS A FREELANCER

Mauritia!

The BJP, the party of the Right, sees theIndian parliamentary elections on thehorizon and prepares to put forward itsleading candidate for the polls. The oldguard is now exhausted - Atal BihariVajpayee (born 1924) has lapsed into the fogof senility and L. K. Advani’s (born 1927)pasted smile no longer inspires the young.Those who are in Modi’s generation, bornafter Indian independence (1947), ArunJaitley (born 1952) and Sushma Swaraj(born 1953) do not have the dynamism ofModi (born 1950). Jaitley, a student leaderof the Right, has spent his career at the Barand as the pre-eminent bureaucrat of theBJP. Swaraj began her political life as asocialist, having been raised in a hard Rightfamily, but soon drifted toward her family’spolitical commitments. Often mentioned inthe same breath as Modi, neither Jaitley norSwaraj have his mass capacity nor themachismo that is so essential for a partywhose natural inclination is toward fascism.The ruling coalition, the United

Progressive Alliance (UPA), is directed bythe Congress Party, the historic vehicle forIndia’s freedom movement that has nowdevolved into the main engine to deliverIndia to neo-liberal policies. In power since2004, the UPA (now in its second term) isfixated on increasing India’s growth rate.Between 2004 and 2011, India’s growth rateaveraged 8.3 per cent, but it has fallenconsiderably since then (to 6.5 per cent in2011-12, and expected to drop to 5.4 percent in 2012-13). There is little actualexpectation that the GDP will pick up.The IMF’s Article IV Consultation report

for India (February 2013) argues thatgrowth will not pick up unless the

government tackles supply bottlenecks,uncertainty about policies and lengthydelays in investment project approvals andimplementation. On the question of delays,the IMF executives point to the coal sector(India has the fifth largest coal reserves inthe world).Get rid of the environmentalregulations, the IMF implies, and India willgrow like gangbusters.At the next election, it is either the UPA

or the BJP that will come to power (the Leftis too weak and the regional parties are allhappy to line up behind one or the other ofthe bourgeois blocs).Neither will buck the IMF’s policy

suggestions – they are only hampered by thedemon of elections, where vote banks haveto be guaranteed certain state benefits tocajole them to abandon one of the bourgeoisblocs for the other. This is of course anirritant to the IMF wizards.Modi has put himself forward as a better

reformer for Indian capitalism than thecurrent Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.As Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi claimsto have created a miracle in his home stateand wants this to be his resume for the PM-ship. Unfortunately for Modi, his historydoes not allow such subterfuge. Not only isModi the putative leader of the BJP, butalso he has been since his childhood amember of the RSS, the moral center ofIndian fascism. His rise to the top of theBJP came from both his loyal service to theRSS and his organisational work during theRam Janambhoomi movement in the 1980s

and 1990s, which culminated in thedestruction of the sixteenth century BabriMasjid in Ayodhya and the anti-Muslimriots that came in its wake.Modi then returned to Gujarat as Chief

Minister, where he oversaw the massmurder of over three thousand Muslims andthe systematic disenfranchisement ofMuslims and Christian tribals’ (in theDangs district). Human Rights Watch’sApril 2002 report, “We Have No Orders toSave You”: State Participation andComplicity in Communal Violence inGujarat, should be compulsory reading forthe Indian electorate. Mention of theGujarat killings rattles Modi’s supporters.They like to turn to the record of theCongress, which is no better.The high command would like to

concentrate on two elements: One, theCorrupt UPA government with its chair,Sonia Gandhi, as the principle target. Thereis no doubt that the Gandhi family hasvacuumed more than its fair share of thesocial wealth into its bank accounts and itsseveral properties. No question that theCongress is vulnerable, as scam after scamunfolds. Little birds in Delhi tweet thatRahul Gandhi’s task is to maintain hisfamily’s hold on power so thatinvestigations of their personal corruptionare not opened.Two, the torrent of social ills in the

country, with rape and violence on the rise.The BJP’s sentimentality for Tradition leadsit to make the case that far too much social

laxity has enveloped India in a social crisis.From here come all manner of misogynisticand feudal statements about IndianWomanhood. It asserts, as most fascisticorganizations do, that its brand ofDiscipline is the antidote to what hasbefallen India. There is no concern for thewidening inequalities, a contributing factorto the social mayhem.Modi’s supposed probity is compromised

by rumors of his own corrupt practices.When Wharton rescinded a speakinginvitation to Modi, his prime backerGautam Adani of the Adani Groupwithdrew his support to the Wharton IndiaEconomic Forum. Anti-corruptioncampaigner Arvind Kejriwal has accusedModi of corrupt deals with Adani,facilitating his access to easy licenses for hispower plant, cheap land and cheap coalblocks. Modi and Adani deny theallegations. Once the flurry of the electionseason will open, more firm claims willemerge.The bromides about the Gujarat miracle

dissolve in the ether of the facts. In Gujaratthe rate of growth of employment over thepast twelve years has been zero, thatbetween 40 and 50 per cent of children areunderweight and half of its children aremalnourished, and that basic goods (fuel,food, clothing and housing) are among themore expensive in India.To this “model” must be added Modi’s

reactionary ideas about caste. In hisKaramyog (2007), Modi writes that those

castes fated to do sanitation work (cleangutters, sweep houses and cart away refuse),such as the Balmikis, do so as an“experience in spirituality”. ‘I do not believethat they have been doing this job just tosustain their livelihood,’ says Modi, becauseit is their ‘duty to work for the happiness ofthe entire society’. Subhash Gatade, whoedits Sandhan, points out that whenconfronted by Modi’s logic a leading Dalitpoet asked, ‘Why didn’t it occur to Modithat the spirituality involved in doingmenial jobs hasn’t ever been experienced bythe upper castes?’Fortunately, Modi’s road to Delhi must go

through 543 parliamentary seats. The BJPwould have to win a majority of these seatsbefore it can turn to its parliamentaryleader to stake a case for the PM-ship. Inthe 2009 election, the BJP won 116 seats,with its coalition bringing in 159. TheCongress won 206, with its UPA blocwinning 262. It would be a remarkable turnof events for the BJP to double its seatcount, which is why it has to rely onregional parties; apart from one in theSouth (AIADMK) and one in the North(Akali Dal), the other regional parties arenot comfortable with Modi’s corrosivehistory. The Congress is not an adversaryand the corporate media has already begunto sing Modi’s praises. It is only thisregional factor that might block Modi’sJuggernaut ride to Delhi.

(COUNTERPUNCH)

Three-and-half decades ago,Pakistanis were largely a tolerant,moderate, loving andcompassionate people. Muslims,Christians, Hindus, Sikhs andZoroastrians all lived together as acommunity, participating in eachothers’ festivities religious orotherwise, enjoying their lives andeveryone had a progressive outlook.The draconian rule of General Ziahas been a watershed event in thehistory of this country as it changedall that was good in this society andthis community.A friend of mine once said quite

candidly, ‘that man, Zia-ul-Haq hastorn this society into innumerablesmall pieces and buried them so deepthat even if we were to dig and try tounearth them, we would fail’. Oneretrogressive ruler has created suchdeep fissures and divides in thissociety that has completely disruptedall social life as we knew it.Sectarianism, religious intolerance,bigotry, fanaticism and prejudice arenow the hallmark of this deeplydivided and alienated society; asociety at odds with itself.Hazaras (Shia) are being brutally

targeted in Quetta and elsewhereand there is nowhere to turn, noone to ask for help with targetkillers on a rampage in Karachi,and banned militant religiousoutfits mocking the so-calledfederal and provincialgovernments. The Ahmadis weresilenced some time ago in Lahoreand even the majority Sunnireligious scholars are gunned downruthlessly, but there seems to benothing known as a government inplace to turn to. It seems thatterrorism has become the order ofthe day. The entire governmentalmachinery seems to be paralysed orperhaps inept and incapable of

doing what it is meant to do: guardpeople’s lives and properties. Pettypoliticking and vested interestshave taken over and the larger goodof the society has been relegated topolitical slogans and electionrhetoric. Unfortunately, we havebecome a picture of lawlessness,intolerance, haplessness andhelplessness and all across theworld people refer to this countryas a land of terror. Yet politicalexigencies and expediencies haveleft the government incapable oftaking any measures to tackle thisgrowing menace.What happened in Badami Bagh

the other day should not come as asurprise, since earlier the sameparty in government failed to bringto justice the perpetrators of ShantiNagar which was ransacked by amisguided religious mob in the1990s. The entire village was fire-bombed and blown intosmithereens, women were rapedand their belongings were looted ordestroyed. When Gojra, inFaisalabad, went unpunishedwhere around seven people weremercilessly burnt alive because oftheir religious affiliation, morecrime had to be on its way. But thegrossly incompetent and partisangovernment and bigots at the helmof affairs made sure that no onewas penalised, especially not thepolice officers involved.It seems that no one is pushed

about living in such a lawlesssociety with the government beingthe biggest violator of justice andequity. Smaller communities aretargeted because the perpetratorsof these heinous crimes are

conscious of the fact that, at theend of the day, they will escapeunscathed, justice will neither beserved nor will it prevail, at leastthis is what the past tells us and thefuture doesn’t seem very promisingeither. Pakistani Christians asksimple questions: are they lesserPakistanis, have they not shedblood in wars, have they notcontributed towards health,education and overall developmentof their beloved homeland? Whyshould those behind suchinhumane acts sleep cosily at homeand dwellers of Badami Bagh areforced to live on the roads?It is good that the CM of the

Punjab and the CJ have had thesagacity of at least taking notices,but to what end? The end resultmay remain the same, but one canwait and see, yet historical evidencepoints towards that direction. Todate, nobody charged withblasphemy has been proven guiltyand it is a known fact that this lawis largely discriminatory because ittargets mostly Christians and hasbeen used to harass andmarginalise a poor segment ofsociety. Those falsely charging theChristian community withblasphemy and mobs desecratingthe Holy Bible and burningchurches should also be chargedwith blasphemy.The incident in Sialkot, although

unrelated to what happened inLahore, is a stark reminder of themonsters we have become, but itclearly shows the kind of mobmentality we have assumed. Thefact of the matter is that we as asociety have become indifferent

and apathetic to what happens toour fellow citizens. If this is thestate of affairs, which prima facieseems to be, then the Lord Godhelp us; we are lost and headed forimminent disaster, but whendisasters become the order of theday, where’s hope?I, for one, believe that there is

hope and we don’t have to look hereand there but only need to lookinwards. We need to re-inventourselves for our larger good, forthe sake of this great country, forthe future of our children and forthe good of our cominggenerations. The genies that wecreate out of political exigencies arebound to haunt us one dayeventually; they may be religiouslyintolerant groups or mujahideen orpolitical parties meant to dent voteof other renowned parties. Thesegenies need to be capped by lettingjustice prevail.A few short-sighted, erratic and

opportunistic leaders andindividuals have held this nationhostage for a long time. It is abouttime that such people are sidelinedand placed where they belong. Thegovernment of the day, be it federalor provincial, needs to take chargeof the situation and stop pettyelectioneering gimmickry, stopcajoling these intolerant religiousentities for petty gains. Past trendsneed to be reversed, and justiceneeds to be meted out fast, becausejustice delayed is justice denied.Otherwise we all will suffer and thequestion we won’t be able toanswer is, “Aakhir Kab Tak?”.

THE WRITER IS A FREELANCER

Aakhir kab tak?

Oh never mind, it’s just another ancientcontinent discovered on the floor of theIndian Ocean. No big deal. Go on, backto your bombs, now

Fortunately, Modi’s road to Delhi must go through 543 parliamentary seats. The Congress is not anadversary and the corporate media has already begun to sing Modi’s praises. It is only this regional factorthat might block Modi’s juggernaut ride to Delhi

On the wings of intoleranceVIJAY PRASHAD

EDWIN HUSSAIN Pakistani Christians ask a simple question: Why should thosebehind such inhuman acts sleep cosily at home when dwellers ofBadami Bagh are forced to live on the roads?

NATASHA SHAHID

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

South Korea dismissesDPRK war threatsSSEEOOUULL:: South Korea's defenseministry on Tuesday dismissed theDemocratic People's Republic ofKorea’s (DPRK) repeated threat ofmilitary action as "psychologicaltactics" meant to pressure SouthKorea and the United States. "NorthKorea (DPRK) has been consistentlyissuing rhetorical threats warning ofprovocations," defense ministryspokesman Kim Min-seok said in abriefing, calling such threats "anattempt to put psychological pressure"on South Korea. "(The move is) seenas an attempt to shore up its domesticsupport and pressure South Koreaand the United States into opting for achange in their North Korea policy,"Kim added. While the DPRK is tryingto create a "war-like" atmosphere,there currently is no indication thatthe country is preparing for additionalnuclear or missile tests, thespokesman told reporters. Theremarks came amid heightenedtension on the Korean Peninsula asSeoul and Washington pressed aheadwith the planned military exercisePyongyang denounced as a pretext fornorthward invasion. –AGENCIES

Chopper crash kills fiveUS troops in AfghanistanKKAABBUULL:: A helicopter crash insouthern Afghanistan has killed fiveAmerican service members, oPcialssaid Tuesday. Monday night’s crashbrought the total number of UStroops killed that day to seven,making it the deadliest day for USforces so far this year. Two USspecial operations forces weregunned down hours earlier in aninsider attack by an Afghanpoliceman in eastern Afghanistan.The NATO military coalition said ina statement that ”initial reports”showed no enemy activity in the areaat the time. The cause of the crash isunder investigation, the statementsaid. A US oPcial said all five of thedead were American. The oPcialsaid the helicopter went downoutside Kandahar city, the capital ofKandahar province. The oPcialspoke on condition of anonymitybecause the information had notbeen formally released. The five deadincluded everyone aboard the UH-60 Black Hawk, said Maj AdamWojack, a spokesman for theinternational military coalition inAfghanistan. –AGENCIES

US expels Venezuelandiplomats in retaliationWWAASSHHIINNGGTTOONN:: The United Statessaid on Tuesday that it has expelled twoVenezuelan diplomats in retaliation forthe South American nation's expulsionof two US military attaches last week."We're in response to the Venezuelangovernment's actions against two ofour personnel, we did inform theVenezuelan government on March 9that in accordance with article 9 of theVienna Convention on DiplomaticRelations and article 23 of the ViennaConvention on Consular Relations, thatwe had declared two of their secondsecretaries persona non grata," StateDepartment spokeswoman VictoriaNuland said. The targeted envoys arefrom the Venezuelan embassy inWashington and the consulate in NewYork respectively, Nuland toldreporters at a regular news briefing."And they have now departed thecountry," she added. TheVenezuelan government announcedon March 5, the same day PresidentHugo Chavez died of cancer, thattwo US military attaches werebeing expelled from Venezuela forparticipating in illegal acts thatpromote destabilization of thenation. –AGENCIES

NILE BOWIE

IT should come as no surprisethat incoming Chinese presidentXi Jinping’s first trip as head ofstate will take him to Africa, todeepen the mutually beneficial

trade and energy relationshipsmaintained throughout the continentthat have long irked policy makers inWashington. The new guy in charge -who some analysts have suggestedcould be a populist reformer thatempathises with the poor - will visitseveral African nations with whomChina has expressed a desire to expandties, the most prominent being SouthAfrica. Since establishing relations in1998, bilateral trade between the twojumped from $1.5 billion to 16 billion asof 2012. Following a relationship that has

consisted predominately of economicexchanges, China and South Africahave now announced plans to enhance

military ties in a show of increasingpolitical and security cooperation.During 2012’s Forum on China-AfricaCooperation meeting, incumbentPresident Hu Jintao served up $20billion in loans to African countries,which were designated for theconstruction of vital infrastructure suchas new roads, railways and ports toenable higher volumes of trade andexport. In his address to the forum,South African President Jacob Zumaspoke of the long-term unsustainabilityof the current model of Sino-Africantrade, whereby raw materials are sentout and manufactured commodities aresent in. Zuma also stated, "Africa's past

economic experience with Europedictates a need to be cautious whenentering into partnerships with othereconomies. We certainly are convincedthat China's intention is diQerent tothat of Europe, which to date continuesto attempt to influence African

countries for their sole benefit." Xi’s visit highlights the importance

China attaches to Sino-African ties, andduring his stay, he will attend the fifthmeeting of the BRICS, the first summitheld on the African continent toaccommodate leaders of the world’smost prominent emerging economies,namely Brazil, Russia, India, China,and South Africa. The BRICS group,which accounts for around 43% of theworld's population and 17% of globaltrade, is set to increase investments inAfrica’s industrial sector threefold, from$150-billion in 2010 to $530 billion in2015, under the theme "BRICS andAfrica: partnership for development,integration, and industrialisation".Analysts have likened the BRICS

group to represent yet anothersignificant step away from a unipolarglobal economic order, and it comes asno surprise. The value and significanceof the BRICS platform comes in itsability to proliferate South-South

political and economic ties, and oneshould expect the reduction of tradebarriers and the gradual adoption ofeconomic exchanges using localcurrencies. China’s ICBC paid $5.5billion for a 20% stake in StandardBank of South Africa in 2007, and themove has played out well for Beijing -Standard has over 500 branches across17 African countries which hasdrastically increased availability of theChinese currency, oQering yuanaccounts to expatriate traders. It looks like the love story that has

become of China and Africa willgradually begin shifting its emphasistoward building up a viable large-scaleindustrial base. Surveys out of Beijingcite 1,600 companies tapping into theuse of Africa as an industrial base withmanufacturing's share of total Chineseinvestment (22%) fast gaining on to themining sector (29%). These and otherinvestments demonstrate a willingnessby Chinese investors to put down roots

and infrastructure in Africa. They alsoshow that China's dragon safari is aboutmore than just sourcing commoditiesfor export.” Chinese commercial activities in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo havesignificantly increased not only in themining sector, but also considerably inthe telecommunications field. Themajority of Congolese raw materialslike cobalt, copper ore and a variety ofhard woods are exported to China forfurther processing and 90% of theprocessing plants in resource-richsoutheastern Katanga province areowned by Chinese nationals.China has made significant

investments in manufacturing zones innon-resource-rich economies such asZambia and Tanzania and in Ghana’sinfrastructure. As Africa’s largesttrading partner, China imports 1.5million barrels of oil from Africa perday, approximately accounting for 30percent of its total imports. China-

Africa trade rose from $10.6 billion in2000 to $106.8 billion in 2008 with anannual growth rate of over 30 percent.By the end of 2009, China had canceledout more than 300 zero-interest loansowed by 35 heavily indebted needycountries and least developed countriesin Africa. China is by far the largestfinancier on the entire continent, andBeijing’s economic influence in Africa isnowhere more apparent than the $200million African Union headquarterssituated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -which was funded solely by China. Here lays the deep hypocrisy in

accusations of Beijing’s purported “newcolonialism” - China is focused onbuilding industries, increasingdevelopment, and improvingadministrative and well as physicalinfrastructure - the propagation offorce, which one would historicallyassociate with a coloniser, is entirelyabsent from the Chinese approach.

(PressTV.ir)

China countering Western colonialism in Africa

DDHHAAKKAA:: Several bombs exploded inBangladesh’s capital and policeclashed with protesters Tuesday asopposition leaders enforced adaylong, nationwide general strikeover police intimidation. Witnesses and news reports said

several homemade bombs explodedduring the beginning of theshutdown. RTV and Bangla Visionstations reported explosions in partsof Dhaka. It was not clear if therewere any injuries.Clashes were reported inside and

outside Dhaka, and thousands ofsecurity oPcials were deployed in thecapital to maintain order.

Nearly 400 members ofparamilitary Bangladesh BorderGuard were also deployed to aidpolice in Dhaka, said Maj. Gen. AzizAhmed, the force’s director general.Schools and most businesses in

Dhaka remained closed Tuesday.TraPc was thin on the usually cloggedstreets. An 18-party opposition allianceled by the Bangladesh NationalistParty, or BNP, was enforcing the striketo protest alleged police intimidationduring a rally on Monday. The partyand its allies are demandingrestoration of a caretaker governmentsystem to oversee upcoming elections.Its ally Jamaat-i-Islami also wants a

halt to trials of several oppositionpoliticians accused of crimes stemmingfrom the country’s 1971 independencewar. After Monday’s rally, policearrested some senior leaders and morethan 100 activists of the BNP, headedby former Prime Minister KhaledaZia, in Dhaka during a raid on itsparty headquarters. Police said theyalso recovered at least 10 homemadebombs from the headquarters. Butthe party blamed police for keepingthose bombs inside the headquartersto create a drama.BNP’s acting secretary general,

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and aformer mayor of Dhaka City

Corporation were among thosearrested. Zia, in a late-nightmeeting with senior party leaders,criticised the government for thearrests and later announced similarnationwide shutdown for March 18and 19 if the detained senior leadersare not freed immediately.Zia’s party and Jamaat-i-Islami

have denounced the trials of severalopposition politicians accused ofmass killings and atrocities duringBangladesh’s 1971 independence waragainst Pakistan. Bangladesh says thewar left three million people dead,200,000 women raped and forcedmillions to flee to neighboring India.

Jamaat-i-Islami campaigned againstthe independence of Bangladesh, butdenies committing any atrocities.The administration of Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina initiated thetrials in 2010 and three verdicts havealready been declared. Ten of thedefendants are from Jamaat-i-Islami,the country’s largest Islamic party,while the other two belong to theBNP. Two of the senior partymembers of Jamaat-i-Islami havebeen convicted, one sentenced todeath and another to life in prison.Another former member of theIslamic party has been sentenced todeath. –AGENCIES

Clashes, blasts mark Bangladesh Opp protest

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s opposition activists shout slogans after they burn a street vendor’s cart as they clash with police during theirprotest in Dhaka. –WIRE SERVICE

BBEEIIRRUUTT:: New clashes eruptedTuesday in an intensifying battle forcontrol over Aleppo's internationalairport and nearby military bases inSyria's north, activists said.Rebels have tried for weeks to

capture Aleppo's internationalairport and nearby air bases as partof their campaign to erode theregime's air supremacy in the 2-year-old conflict that the UnitedNations says has claimed more than70,000 lives.Rebels have made significant

strategic advances in the north inthe past months, capturing militarybases, two dams on the Euphratesriver and the city of Raqqa in thenorthwest — the first urban area tofall into opposition hands since theuprising against Assad's regimebegan in March 2011. The rebelsalso control large swathes of landoutside of Aleppo. The battle for thecity itself, Syria's main commercialhub, is locked in a stalemate. Rebelspushed into the city in July andcaptured several neighborhoods andit has been a major battleground inthe civil war ever since.The army still holds large parts of

Aleppo and maintains control overthe airport, the country's secondlargest. Crucially, Syria's air space isfirmly controlled by the regime inDamascus, which uses its warplanesto regularly bomb rebel strongholds.The Syrian Observatory for HumanRights said clashes erupted anew onTuesday around the airport andrebels also intensified their assaulton the Nairab and Mannagh airbases near the strategic facility,which has not been handling fights

for weeks because of the fighting.There were also intense clashes at

another nearby airfield known asKweiras, according to theObservatory, a Britain-based anti-regime group that relies on anetwork of activists on the ground.Fighting also raged for a second

day in the central city of Homs asrebels tried to take back the poorneighborhood of Baba Amr, whichthey lost to President Bashar Assad'stroops a year ago. Last year,government forces besieged BabaAmr for a month before rebel forceswithdrew and the governmentseized control on March 1.Hundreds of people were killed inthe siege. On Sunday, rebels pushedback into Baba Amr and Syrianforces responded on Monday byfiring heavy machine guns into theneighborhood, sending residentsfleeing. In Geneva, The UN foodagency said the renewed violence inBaba Amr has forced at least 3,000families to leave their homes in thecontested area.The World Food Program said in a

statement that more than 1,000 ofthe displaced families have takenrefuge in six schools in Homs andsome 2,000 families are staying inpublic shelters or with relatives indiQerent parts of the governorate. Itwas unclear how much of theneighborhood rebels had seized orcontinued to hold after the latestfighting in the area. In Kiev,Ukraine's Foreign Ministryconfirmed that a Ukrainianjournalist who was kidnapped inSyria is free after being held by rebelsfor more than 150 days. –AGENCIES

Battle forSyrian airportintensifies

BBRRUUSSSSEELLSS:: An overnightsnowstorm in northwesternEurope forced the closure ofFrankfurt Airport, causedrecord traPc jams inBelgium, and left Britishand French drivers sleepingin their cars. Take-oQs andlandings at Europe's third-busiest airport were halted ataround noon on Tuesday toclear snow from the runways.It was set to reopen ataround 1230 GMT. InFrance, a Tunisair plane slidoQ the runway on landing atOrly airport, forcing theclosure of a runway at Paris'ssecond hub while 140passengers were evacuated.In Belgium, the breakdown

assistance association Touringsaid the total length oftailbacks on highways andmajor roads at their rush-hour peak hit 1,670 km (1,038miles), beating by far theprevious record of 1,285 kmset on Feb. 3 last year.Eurostar train service

connecting London with theFrench and Belgian capitalsand the Thalys line linkingParis, Brussels, Amsterdamin the Netherlands andCologne in Germany wereboth suspended. Brussels'two main railway stationswere closed. France's civilaviation authority cancelleda quarter of flights at ParisCharles de Gaulle airport,the second-largest in Europeafter London's Heathrow,and a fifth at Orly. –AGENCIES

LLOONNDDOONN:: British Prime MinisterDavid Cameron on Tuesday urgedArgentina to respect the wishes of theFalkland Islanders after they votedoverwhelmingly in a referendum toremain a British territory.A near unanimous 99.8 percent of the

1,672 eligible voters in the disputedSouth Atlantic archipelago voted “yes”,according to official results, with a 92percent turnout.Only three of the 1,517 valid ballots

were cast against staying an internallyself-governing British territory.The islanders organised the vote in

response to increasingly vocal demandsfor sovereignty by Argentine PresidentCristina Kirchner, who claims Britain isillegally occupying the islands.Her government has dismissed the

referendum as meaningless and said itwould not affect its claims on theFalklands, which sparked a brief butbloody war with Britain in 1982.The announcement of the result

overnight Monday was met withjubilation in the islands’ tiny capitalStanley, and Cameron said he waspersonally “delighted” by the outcome.The British prime minister urged

Argentina to “take careful note”.“The Falkland Islanders couldn’t have

spoken more clearly. They want toremain British and that view should berespected by everybody, including byArgentina,” he said in a statement.Cameron also warned against any

military action by Argentina.“The Falkland Islands may be

thousands of miles away but they areBritish through and through and that ishow they want to stay. People shouldknow we will always be there to defendthem,” he said.

Falklanders hope the referendumresult will arm them with anunambiguous message to take toother capitals when pressing theircase for acceptance on theinternational stage.The United States, for example, has

studiously avoided taking sides on theissue despite its close ties with Britain.The resounding “yes” result, delivered

at around 10:30 pm Monday (0130GMT Tuesday), sparked massivecelebrations.“There’s so much noise here, it’s huge,”

said Barry Elsby, a member of theislands’ legislative assembly. “There arehundreds of people outside thecathedral, celebrating, singing andwaving flags.”He told AFP the vote “sends a message

around the world”.International observers from

Canada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand,Paraguay, the United States andUruguay monitored the referendum onSunday and Monday and declared it“free and fair”.Argentina however maintained its

position that the vote was illegal. “It’s amanoeuvre with no legal value, whichhas neither been convened norsupervised by the United Nations,” saidAlicia Castro, Argentina’s ambassador toLondon.“We respect their way of life, their

identity. We respect that they want tocontinue being British, but the territorythey inhabit is not British,” she toldArgentinian media. The referendumsparked huge enthusiasm among theFalkland Islands’ 2,563 permanentresidents, four-fifths of whom live inStanley, with its typically British pubsand red telephone boxes. –AGENCIES

Respect Falklands vote,Cameron tells Argentina

Snow disruptstransportacross Europe

Where Beijing focuses on economic development, the United States has sought to legitimise its presence throughcounterterrorism operations and the expansion of the United States Africa Command, better known as AFRICOM

Ahmadinejad under fire forhugging Chavez's motherTTEEHHRRAANN:: Senior Iranian clerics have scolded President MahmoudAhmadinejad for consoling Hugo Chavez's mother with a hug — aphysical contact considered a sin under Iran's strict Islamic codes.The rebuke follows a widely published photo showingAhmadinejad embracing Chavez's mother at the funeral of the lateVenezuelan president in what is seen as taboo-breaking behavior inIran. Iranian papers on Tuesday cited clerics from the religiouscenter of Qom who described the hug as "forbidden,"inappropriate behavior and "clowning around." Iran's strictIslamic codes prohibit physical contact between unrelatedmembers of the opposite sex. The clerics did not spareAhmadinejad. "Touching a non-mahram (a woman who is not aclose relative) is forbidden under any circumstances, whethershaking hands or touching by the cheek," said one of the clerics,Mohammad Taqi Rahbar, adding that such a contact, even with"an older woman is not allowed ... and contrary to the dignity ofthe president of the Islamic Republic of Iran." –AGENCIES

Gold 10 Gms Dollar Interbank Kibor 6 months T Bills6 months Urea/Bag Coal Spot 10-Y PIB Furnace oilRs.51771 Rs. 98.15 9.15%-9.40% 9.47% Rs. 1742 $93.05/Ton 11.42% 78,446/MT

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Pensioners to getsmart card from 15thIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD: Federal Minister forFinance and Revenue Saleem HMandviwalla has announced to issuesmart cards to pensioners in thecountry to facilitate them in gettingtheir pension.The cards will be issuedform March 15. Addressing a pressconference here on Tuesday along withDeputy Chairman NADRA Saleem HMandviwalla said that this step hasbeen initiated following the directionsof President Asif Ali Zardari. He saidthat it has been decided that ministry ofFinance and NADRA both will bear thecost of this smart equally. The DeputyChairman NADRA Gohar AhmedKhan further giving the details of thesmart card said that through thesecards pensioners would get theirpension at our centers. He said thatafter complete verification of anyindividual this card would be issuedand this mechanism would be helpfulto eliminate ghost pensioners in thecountry. Deputy Chairman NADRAfurther told in pilot project has beeninitiated in six districts and fromMarch 15 and would be expanded inother parts of the country. He saidthat pensioners of all departmentswill get their pensions through thesecards. –AGENCIES

Indian traders import 1,455tonnes of Pakistani sugar NNEEWW DDEELLHHII:: Private traders haveimported 1,455 tonne sugar, valued atRs 4.42 crore, from Pakistan in the firstthree months of the 2012-13 marketingyear starting October, Parliament wasinformed today. "As per DirectorateGeneral of Commercial Intelligenceand Statistics, Kolkata, about 1,455tonnes of sugar at a value of aboutRs 4.42 crore has been importedfrom Pakistan during currentseason 2012-13 till December 2012by private traders," Food Minister KV Thomas said in a written reply tothe Lok Sabha. The minister saidthe Centre has not entered intoany contract with Pakistan forimport of sugar during 2012-13 and2013-14. –MONITORING DESK

KSE-100 index gains350.29 pointsKKAARRAACCHHII:: Karachi stock marketclosed higher on Tuesday after therewas no immediate announcement ofsanctions against Pakistan forconcluding a gas deal with Iran. TheKarachi Stock Exchange's (KSE)benchmark 100-share index ended twopercent, or 350.29 points, higher at17,872.85 points. The market haddipped sharply the day before afterinvestors sold shares in anticipation ofpossible sanctions. Iran and Pakistanheld a ceremony Monday to mark thebeginning of work on a gas pipeline, adeal that the US has repeatedly warnedmay fall foul of a sanctions regimedesigned to prevent Iran fromdeveloping a nuclear bomb. EngroCorporation and Nishat Mills Ltdclosed at their upper limit due toinstitutional buying, said Samar Iqbalof Topline Securities. Pakistani stockscan only rise or fall five percent a day, arule meant to curb volatility in themarket. Foods and Fertilizer EngroCorporation rose 4.99 percent to 128.65rupees, while Nishat Mills was up 4.99percent to 78.06 rupees. –AGENCIES

STAFF REPORT

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: All Pakistan CNG Association(APCNGA) on Tuesday commenced hungerstrike against anti CNG policy, of thegovernment, politically motivated gasdistribution, five-day gas load shedding inPunjab, continuous maltreatment, and abuseof power by authorities.

Leaders of the CNG association largelyconsists of influential businessmen wereamong the present on the occasiondemanding reversal of anti-CNG moves ofthe incumbent government, abandoningprojects which are to benefit few at the cost

of entire CNG sector protecting interests of80 million countrymen using CNG-poweredvehicles for transportation. They foundworried about Rs400bilion investment,which to them is at stake due to uncertaingas supply coupled with worst kind of supplysuspension and load shedding in Punjab hasadded to their miseries.“We are protesting anti-CNG policies of the

government, politically motivated gasdistribution, 5-day gas load shedding inPunjab, continuous maltreatment, and abuseof power by authorities,” said GhiyasAbdullah Paracha, Chairman SupremeCouncil APCNGA while speaking in the

hunger strike camp.Ghiyas Paracha said that in a bid to

introduce costly imported LNG and LPG tobenefit few influential, government has beensystematically destroying CNG sector, whichwill be resisted. He said gas crisis wasengineered to justify the wrongdoing andefforts to familiarise masses with costlyliquid fuels would met with failure.“Some influential officials and crooked

businessmen have shaped a gang to deprivemasses of their rights, relieve them of theirhard earned money and lay waste to ourinvestments,” he said, adding, thatplundering national resources will not be

allowed come what may.Paracha also expressed his worry over the

uncertain gas supply to the CNG stationsacross the country. He said on October 04,2011 and Jan 01, 2013 the Prime Ministerissued orders to provide gas to our CNGoutlets but it could not be implemented dueto friction between petroleum ministry andOgra. The all-powerful bureaucracy alsoviolated the orders of High Courts directingimplementation of PM’s orders. New CNGstations will not enhance the usage of gas butdistribute load, which will relieve massesthat have to wait for hours to get their tanksrefilled, he deplored.

APCNGA begins hunger strike against government

TTEEHHRRAANN:: Managing Director ofNational Iranian Gas Company(NIGC) Javad Oji said that Iranplans to export 21 million cubicmeters gas per day initially toPakistan via the peace pipeline.Talking to IRNA on the sidelines

of a ceremony marking start ofoperation to pipe Iranian gas toPakistan‚ he said Pakistanis favorincreasing the ceiling of mutualcontract to 30 million cubic metersper day. He said necessarypredictions have been made forexport of 60 million cubic metersIranian gas to Pakistan throughthe peace pipeline."So‚ their request to increase the

volume of the gas exports to 30million cubic meters from thecurrent 21 million cubic meters willbe studied." The oQcial said Iran-Pakistan gas line is continuation ofthe 7th pipeline originating from

Asaluyeh. He said the first phase ofthe 7th gas line‚ starting fromAsaluyeh to Iranshahr in Sistan-Balochistan Province in an area of900 kilometers‚ has been completedand people in the province are nowbenefiting from it. Oji pointed outthat 80 km out of the 320 kmpipeline‚ which lies in Iranianterritory‚ has been completed.He noted that 780 km of the

pipeline lies in Pakistani territory‚costing 2 billion dollars to beimplemented out of this $500million of the piping cost has beenfinanced by Iranian banks andcompanies‚ he added. He said thatthe project is commissioned fullyby Iranian experts. It is estimatedto be fully complete in December2014. He noted that Iran can serveas sustainable supplier of energyto the neighbors as it has hugeenergy reserves. –AGENCIES

Iran to export 21 mcmd gas to Pakistan

CURRENCY BUYING SELLINGUS Dollar 99.30 99.55Euro 128.49 128.94British Pound 145.87 146.36UAE Dirham 26.80 27.05Saudi Riyal 26.30 26.55Kuwaiti Dinar 345.84 350.60Canadian Dollar 95.21 96.90

LLAAHHOORREE:: A man spraying insecticide at a fruit farm in the suburbs of Lahore. The number of insects tends to rise this time of the year. —ONLINE

Bank compensationup in 2012 despitecutback effortsLAURA NOONAN

Compensation at the world's biggest banks roselast year, with 35 of them spending acombined 10 billion euros ($13.1 billion) more

on staff than in 2011, figures compiled by Reutersshow. Bankers' remuneration has rarely been out ofthe spotlight over the last five years, as the industry'spowerhouses were rescued from the brink during thefinancial crisis with hundreds of billions of taxpayers'dollars. Policymakers have since fought to curb thebonuses they say encouraged excessive - andsometimes catastrophic - risk-taking. Capping absolutepay levels is oR-limits for regulators, but banks havetalked a lot about cutting staR costs. Reuters analyzedthe 2012 results reported by banks in the benchmarkEuroStoxx 600 index and their U.S. competitors andfound staR costs rose to 275 billion euros across thegroup. Two thirds of the banks analyzed increasedcompensation per person, though several attributedthis at least in part to redundancy issues. Thecompensation ratio - the industry's preferred yardstick,which measures staR expenses against revenue - wasup for 18 of the 35 banks. Philippe Lamberts, a BelgianMEP who has also been outspoken on bank pay andsupported a cap on bank bonuses recently agreed bymembers of the European Parliament, says the figuresprove that, left to their own devices, banks do notreduce pay. "To me it confirms that what we are doingon the remuneration front is necessary," said Lamberts,referring to eRorts to restrict remuneration throughbonus rules and other provisions in a European Unionpackage of bank regulations. A recent survey fromrecruitment agency Morgan McKinley showed thatbank staR who changed jobs in London in Januaryenjoyed average pay rises of 23 percent. But banksbaulk at the suggestion they are paying staR more,saying things are more complex than the figuressuggest. U.S. retail banking giant Wells Fargo, however,was comfortable with the fact that per-personcompensation went up about 2 percent last year andstands at the equivalent of 83,000 euros, placing thebank at the middle of the compensation table. "Wesupport our team members as a competitive advantageand are committed to compensating them based onperformance," a spokeswoman said. The bankrecorded pretax earnings of 28.5 billion euros in 2012,up from 23.7 billion euros in 2011. Among other banks,it was not uncommon for per-person compensation tooutstrip the rise in pretax profits. In eight of thosewhere per-person compensation rose, pretax profit fell.In another three cases, per-capita compensation wentup, even though the banks actually recorded losses.Banks say the figures can be deceptive. They have beencutting jobs, with 93,000 shed across the group in2012, falling heaviest on some of the loss makers. Thelay-oRs incur redundancy costs that are grouped inwith overall staR compensation, which also includespensions and payroll taxes. The per-head figures usedare based on year-end headcount, since several bankshave not released average headcount figures anddeclined to provide them to Reuters. That means thatif a significant number of staR left in the year, the per-person staR costs are overstated. Since year-endheadcount is also used to calculate per-person costs for2011, however, when banks also mostly laid oR staR,the broad figures provide a consistent basis forcomparison. Where average headcount figures areavailable, these can show material diRerences. Bank ofIreland, still 15 percent state-owned, does disclosethem, showing the bank's per-person compensationrose just under 4 percent. Year-end figures overstate itat 9.5 percent. Even so, it was a year when the bank'slosses rose more than tenfold to 2.1 billion euros. Thehighest per-head rise using year-end figures is DanskeBank, where Reuters figures show an 11 percent rise."The figures do not reflect actual developments in payfor Danske Bank employees," said Bent Jespersen,senior vice president at the Danish bank. Jespersen saida union deal to increase wages 1 percent, plus "minorindividual adjustments", pushed pay up. StaRdepartures also hit headcount, the bank said, a factoralso cited by Switzerland's Banque Cantonale Vaudoise,which had the fourth highest increase in compensationper capita. At Deutsche Bank, where per-head costs rose5.9 percent, a spokeswoman said the figures included anelement of deferred bonuses granted in 2009. DeutscheBank also booked significant severance payments overthe year, she said. Investment banking giant GoldmanSachs, which saw an 8.8 percent rise, had the third-highest increase in per-head payroll costs. Goldman,which declined comment, also tops the table for highestaverage pay, at the equivalent of 310,000 euros, basedon average euro/dollar exchange rates for 2012. Asource at another investment bank included in theanalysis pointed out that their average staR costs werenot comparable with banks that had large retailoperations, where staR costs are lower. It saidcompensation ratios were more revealing. ForGoldman, pretax profit growth of 82 percent easilybeat the rise in average compensation, and itscompensation ratio actually fell to 38 percent in 2012from 42 percent in 2011.

–REUTERS

Analysis

STAFF REPORT

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Advisor to PrimeMinister on Petroleum and NaturalResources Dr Asim Hussain has saidthat Qatar has assured supply ofLiquefied Natural Gas (LNG) toPakistan and a summary would be tabledin the federal cabinet in its today’s(Wednesday) meeting. “Since Qatar hasassured reduced price of LiquefiedNatural Gas to Pakistan so country willget Liquefied Natural Gas at governmentlevel and a summary to this effect wouldbe presented in the federal cabinet. Thenext government will furtherstrengthened this project, Dr Asim said.

During a press conference the Advisoralso said that Pakistan and Iran haveagreed to establish an oil refinery at

Gwadar with a refining capacity of 4 lacbarrel and within three years thisrefinery will also invest $2.5billion. More, a tender has been made for IP

gas pipeline, three compressors will beinstalled in Pakistan and the country’sGDP would go up by 5percent. Asim alsoinformed that Oil and Gas DevelopmentCompany Limited (OGDCL) haswon the bid for 29blocks of oiland gas. He said around$372million investmentwould be made for oil and gasexploration in 60blocks.“On 14March, there

would be agroundbreaking for anoil refinery to beestablished with thehelp, support and

cooperation of KP government and PSO,he said, adding, “ gas companies willinvest $4billion investment for theexploration of shale gas in the country.Advisor to Prime Minister on

Petroleum and Natural Resources DrAsim Hussain in a also said that IP gaspipeline will be insured owing to fear ofterrorism and gas will also be providedto CNG sector when Iranian gas will bebrought to the country.

While admitting increase in gastheft owing to the involvement of gas

utilities officials, Asim said, yes,there is no contradiction that

officials of gas companiesare involved in theheinous crime of gastheft.

Qatar ensures LNG supply to Pakistan

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Chief Executive OQcerHarvest Tradings, Ahmad Jawad haveurged Punjab Industrial EstateDevelopment and Management Company(PIE) to speed up the process of Industrialestate at Tehsil Bhalwal which will becompromising on 400 acres.Talking to kinnow growers at Sargodha,

he said after completion this project willmake a strong push for the export ofkinnow process as Bhalwal is known as thehub of kinnows, supplying over half of thecountry’s kinnow exports.However it was a matter of great concerns

that Pakistan which is 13th largest kinnowproducing country in the world, annuallyproduces 2 million tons yield has minimum

in the ranking to export of this fruit.As Pakistan needs to get seedless variety

on a large scale to cater the needs for EUmarkets as with the introduction of seedlessvariety, kinnow exports are expected togrow to $1 billion extra.Currently, the world citrus markets value

is $2.135 billion, in which, country sharehas remained around 2.5 per cent Jawadsaid Pakistan is losing the kinnow marketin the European Union due to excessiveseeds, as buyer seeks seed-free fruit for easyeating,” still we are looking forward to havemax 3 to 5 seeds in each fruit.However research revealed that

Europeans consider massive seeds to causestomach disorder as every seed of kinnow

has a specific chemical material thatsometimes disturbs the stomach “.Despite the fact Pakistan is the best

kinnow producing country but suRers froma lack of value addition and support fromthe government.“Neither the government nor the fruit

association (PFVA) have taken measures toeducate the farmers about the latesttechniques for producing fruits,” He addedthat Pakistani growers should learn fromtheir Turkish counterparts who captured theEU market well because of the lack of seeds.“Presently Pakistan has a yield of 8,000

kilogram per acre of land while it is 16,000to 20,000 kg per acre as per worldstandards,” Jawad added. –AGENCIES

Pakistan losing kinnow market in EU: Jawad

ICCI welcomes Iran-Pakistan pipeline inaugurationIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) welcomed inauguration of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project costing $1.2 to 1.5 billion terming it as a peace pipeline which would be mark anew chapter in the history of Pak-Iran bilateral relations. Zafar Bakhtawari, President ICCI said that thecompletion of this project would greatly help in overcoming country’s energy problems and improvingenergy supply, especially to manufacturing and industrial sectors which would ultimately make ourindustrial units more competitive in the global world. ICCI President said that the functioning of IP gaspipeline would ensure supply of 750m cubic feet of natural gas per day and help bridge the energy gap ofaround 4000MV, required to keep industrial and commercial wheels of the country into perpetual motion.Bakhtawari was of the view that early completion of this mega project of national importance would be agreat favor to the business community and industrialists as most of the industrial units depend on electricity.Thus, execution of this project would provide gas to power producing units which would definitely

improve thecompetitiveness of export-oriented products and enhance country's exports, he maintained.He further said that IP gas pipeline will remove the mistrust between Pakistan and Iran which wasprevailing since 30years, adding that it would also help eradicate terrorism and bring prosperity inBalochistan. Bakhtawari also hailed the recent decision of the Federal Cabinet regarding transfer ofGwadar port operations to a Chinese company and said that Pakistan and said that Pakistan reallyvalues its relations with neighboring countries and always emphasized on regional cooperation. He saidthat Iran and Pakistan are two Muslim countries which have historic brotherly and geographicalrelations with common faith, which would be strengthened with the passage of time. He said that boththe countries have huge trade and investment potential as well as capacity to launch joint ventures inthe areas of common interest. –STAFF REPORT

� LNG to be imported at nominal price: Dr Asim Hussain

� Demands 7-day gas supply, protests against ‘anti-CNG’ policies

SHOWBIZ DESK

MUMBAI: US director StevenSpielberg is planning to produce afilm set partly on the de factoborder between India and Pakistanin the disputed Kashmir region, areport said. Spielberg, who iscurrently in India's entertainmentcapital Mumbai, told The Times ofIndia that the film would beproduced by his DreamWorksStudios and its Indian partnerReliance Entertainment, which isheaded by tycoon Anil Ambani."We have finalised a script for amovie," Spielberg said."Part of it will take place on the

India-Pakistan border in Kashmir.But we're still trying to figure outthe casting, locations and who'sgoing to direct it." Earlier,Spielberg spoke to a gathering ofIndian directors at an eventmoderated by Bollywood superstarAmitabh Bachchan inMumbai.Bachchan later said on Twitter thathe had "a scintillating evening withMr Steven Spielberg", describingthe acclaimed director's commentsas simple, honest and withimmense candor.Spielberg, known for classic hits

such as Jaws, E.T. and Jurassic

Park, was seen by AFP leavingAmbani's oJce. Reports saidbillionaire Ambani and his wifeTina were throwing a lavish partyin honour of the director duringhis visit.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

Salman to associate with Dubai tourismDUBAI: Salman Khan who is currently shooting for brotherSohail Khan's Mental in Dubai is the latest celeb to endorseinternational holiday destination. Bollywood andinternational tourism have had a long standing agreement,when a celebrity endorses a certain country, that country inreturn grants unparalleled shooting rights for that particularcelebrity's film. Reportedly, Salman Khan has met the projectdevelopers for the same. However, talks are still on as SalmanKhan hasn't yet taken a decision. The project was announcedlast year and the project is called 'Dubailand'. Apart from this,we hear that Salman Khan is also looking at buying anapartment there. -SHOWBIZ DESK

‘Elijah Wood can become a good filmmaker’

CMYK

SHOWBIZ DESKLAHORE: Super model Rabia Butt hasnow got the chance to flaunt her actingskills along with actor Shehzad Sheikhboth playing lead roles in directorialdebut of Farooq Mengal, entitled‘Hijrat’. Rabia Butt is a known fashionmodel who has set many fashion

runways on fire withher sensuous catwalkand appealing beauty.Other than thefashion ramps, RabiaButt will now featurein famous directorFarooq Mengal’s latestfilm Hijrat starringopposite ShehzadSheikh.Film Hijrat portrays

human rights issues inPakistan and is aromantic flick. It isabout a love triangleand elaborates manyproblems in Pakistan.Farooq Mengal hasreally worked hard forthe film and hasimported first-rateproduction and film-making equipmentfrom india tomaintain quality ofthe film. Along with

Rabia Butt and Shehzad Sheikh, thecast of film Hijrat also includes NomanIjaz, Azra Aftab, Ayub Khoso and theMoroccan actress Wiam Dhamani whois also staring in Shehzad Rafique’s film‘Ishq Khuda’. Film Hijrat is set torelease this year in October 2013.

Rabia Butt andShehzad Sheikh to starin Lollywood’s Hijrat

Model Alizey’s new lookSHOWBIZ DESK

There are many out there who arestruggling to enter the limelight.Some succeed, while others have to

wait till their stars turn lucky for them.Among those who are climbing up theladder of success rapidly, Alizey Nasir, withher killing looks stands out. Her career asa fashion model was no less of a surprisefor her. Alizey Nasir has adopted modelingas a full time career, yet she seeks to learnmore in everything she adopts or plans toadopt in future. Alizey NAsir has been onand oK seen on ramps, yet she hasappeared more in commercials, whichaccording to herself, is where she enjoysbeing more. With Alizey busy withacquiring project after project, hereducation has sort of taken a back seat.Alizey Nasir is still in the primary years ofher career where choosing the best oKercan take her to heights and a wrong stepcan destroy it all. Good luck to her. Have alook of Alizey Nasir new photoshoot doneby Photographer Hassan Vohra

PROFILE

Baz Luhrmann's ‘The Great Gatsby’to open Cannes film festivalSHOWBIZ DESK

LONDON: Australian director BazLuhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" willopen the 2013 Cannes film festival, theworld's most important cinemashowcase, organizers said. Theadaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald'saccount of "Roaring Twenties" Americacombines serious literary heritage andA-list star power, with LeonardoDiCaprio in the lead role. DiCaprio willmake an appearance at the festival onthe famous Croisette waterfront for thefirst time since 2007. The opening gala,preceded by a glitzy red carpet fashionparade and followed by parties alongthe palm-lined Riviera, will also beattended by Bollywood star AmitabhBachchan and U.S. rapper Jay-Z. "It is agreat honor for all those who haveworked on The Great Gatsby to openthe Cannes film festival," Luhrmann,whose first film Strictly Ballroomwasscreened there 21 years ago, said in astatement. "F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote

some of the most poignant andbeautiful passages of his extraordinarynovel just a short distance away at avilla outside St. Raphael," he added.DiCaprio plays Jay Gatsby in the 3Dmovie, CareyMulligan is DaisyBuchanan and TobeyMaguire is Nick

Carraway, the narrator. The festivalruns fromMay 15 to 26 and U.S.director Steven Spielberg is head of thisyear's jury. Last year's winner of thecoveted Palme d'Or for best picture wasAustrian filmmakerMichael Hanekefor the drama Amour.

LOS ANGELES: Director Danny Boyleand actress Rosario Dawson havereportedly ended their relationship.Boyle and Dawson had started datinglast year. "It's all over. It's very sad, butthey always were an unlikely couple, inmany ways," Sunday Telegraphnewspaper quoted a source as saying.Dawson had earlier dated actor JasonLewis for two years.

Danny Boyle,Rosario Dawsonpart ways?

SHOWBIZ DESK

MUMBAI:Sanjay Leela Bhansali has worked with AishwaryaRai Bachchan in three films and shares a wonderful rapportwith her. Reportedly, Deepika Padukone is being reminded ofBhansali's admiration for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on thesets of Ram Leela. Sanjay Leela Bhansali often addressesDeepika Padukone as Ash or Aishwarya at the sets of RamLeela. The daily quoted a source as saying, "There have beenso many occasions that after a shot Bhansali would say 'Niceshot Ash' or 'Ash, let's do the next scene like this' while talkingto Deepika." Apparently, Bhansali's assistant directors have toremind the director that he is working with Deepika, notAishwarya. Aishwarya Rai has worked in three major projectswith Sanjay Leela Bhansali. HumDil De Chuke Sanam,Devdas and Guzaarish were the three mega-budget filmswhere the two worked together. Ash is said to have developeda warm bonding with her director right from her first film.

Bhansali addresses Deepika as Ash

LAHORE: RenownedPakistani pop singer AtifAslam celebrated his 30thbirthday tomorrow. Aslamwho has won numerousawards started his career in2004 and several songs of hisfirst album ‘Jal Pari’ werehuge hits. Atif has also sungplayback in several Bollywoodmovies and has also achievedstart status in India. Atif hasalso sung playback in severalBollywoodmovies and hasalso achieved start status inIndia. He ventured into therealm of acting when hestarred in themovie ‘Bol’. Atifmade his debut on 17 July2004 by releasing first albumtitled Jal Pari, which stood onthe success of “Aadat”. Thealbum had become the youthanthem of Pakistan. Atif wasable to deliver in liveperformances as well inPakistan and numerouscountries across Asia. Theartist started performing tosellout crowds on a regularbasis. -SHOWBIZ DESK

SHOWBIZ DESK

TEHRAN: Iran is planning to sueHollywood over the Oscar-winning“Argo” because of themovie’sallegedly “unrealistic portrayal” ofthe country, Iranianmediareported.Several news outlets, including

the pro-reform Shargh daily, saidFrench lawyer Isabelle Coutant-Peyre is in Iran for talks withoJcials over how and where to filethe lawsuit. She is also the lawyerfor notorious Venezuelan-bornterrorist Ilich Ramirez Sanchez,known as Carlos the Jackal.Following the 1979 attack on the

US Embassy in Tehran, 52Americans were held hostage for444 days, but six embassy staKerswere sheltered by the Canadianambassador. Their escape, using afakemovie as a cover story, isrecounted in “Argo.”After its Oscar win in February,

Iranian oJcials dismissed “Argo” as

pro-CIA, anti-Iran propaganda.Though themovie isn’t showing

in any Iranian theaters, manyIranians have seen it on bootlegDVDs and it set oK a spiriteddebate that exposed a generationaldivide. Iranians who took part inthe 1979 Islamic Revolution pickedapart the portrayals of Tehran at thetime but those too young to recall

the events were eager for a diKerentview on what had happened. Thedecision on the lawsuit came after agroup of Iranian cultural oJcialsandmovie critics screened the filmin a closed audience in a Tehrantheater lateMonday. The gathering,titled “TheHoax of Hollywood,”discussed various legal aspects offiling a lawsuit, media reports said,

without providing details. Itremains unclear what specificcharges Iran could raise and whatcourt Tehran could turn to if theaction goes ahead. Those at themeeting dismissed “Argo” as a“violation of international culturalnorms.” A statement issued after thegathering said that “awarding ananti-Iranmovie is a propagandaattack against our nation and entirehumanity.”The statement did not clarify how

themovie was allegedly unrealistic,but oJcials have accused “Argo” ofdepicting Iranians as “too violent.”They have also said themovie’s

director did not refer to otherdocumentaries on the embassystorming or discuss reasons for thecrisis, which included simmeringresentment against the UnitedStates for a CIA-aided counter-coupin 1953 that toppled democraticallyelected PrimeMinisterMohammadMossadegh and restored the pro-Westernmonarchy in Iran.

Iran mulls suing Hollywood over Argo

Spielberg planningKashmir film

LONDON: KimKardashian wasseen undergoing a ‘vampire’ facial, aprocedure where ones own blood issplashed on the face with the help oftiny needles in the latest episode ofKourtney and Kim TakeMiami. The32-year-old reality star even sharedan image of the facial on Instagram.In the procedure, blood is drawnfrom the arm of the person and isthen spun in a machine for removalof platelets. The blood is thensplattered onto the face, whichstings a little. The ‘vampire facial’ isan update on the ‘vampire facelift,’ inwhich several painful injections aregiven on the face. -SHOWBIZ DESK

Kim gets a'vampire' facial

LONDON: Actor ElijahWood is destined for a career behind the camera, feels thedirector of his new filmManiac. The Lord of The Rings star plays a disturbed serialkiller in Khalfoun's new slashes film and the director thinks he could follow in thefootsteps of Ben AIeck. "He brought tons of ideas to the set, he's a total filmmaker. I'llbe really surprised if we don't see him directing very soon. Funnily enough, heunderstood immediately that he had to be there every day. Even though we don't seehim throughout the entire movie, he realised it was important that he be there to deliverlines and to really influence the other actors. "Eventually themovie began to be seenthrough his eyes and he was participating. He'd be looking and pulling the camera onset, he was director of photography and he really morphed into the character. It was veryinteresting to watch," Khalfoun said. Maniac is released onMarch 15. SHOWBIZ DESK

Atif Aslamturns 30

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

CMYK

CMYK

RRIIOO DDEE JJAANNEEIIRROO::US swimminglegend MichaelPhelps saidMonday there wasno chance of himcoming out ofretirement to

compete in the 2016 Rio de JaneiroOlympics. "I'm done, I'm done,"Phelps said after meeting childrenfrom Rio's Rocinha favela on thesidelines of the Laureus SportsAwards. Phelps, the most decoratedOlympian of all time with 22medals, retired from swimming afterbagging four golds and two silvers atlast year's London Olympics. But the27-year-old Baltimore Bullet ruledout any chance of a comeback in Rio."It was a great race ... I look back atall I've got and I can truly say I'vedone everything I've wanted," saidPhelps, who accumulated anastonishing 18 Olympic goldsin his career. –AGENCIES

Indian Olympic medallistquizzed over drug haul

NNEEWW DDEELLHHII::Indian Olympicbronze-medallistboxer VijenderSingh has beenquestioned overhis alleged links toa $24-million

heroin haul and has refused to giveblood or hair samples, police saidTuesday. Singh, who won a bronzeat the 2008 Beijing Olympics, wasinterviewed near Chandigarh innorthwest India on Mondayevening after an alleged drug dealerarrested with the heroin namedhim and fellow boxer Ram Singh as‘clients’. Vijender, 27, who became ahousehold name in India afterwinning the Olympic medal, hasstrongly denied any link to the drugdealer and slammed as ‘ridiculous’the allegations against him. Policeseized 26 kilograms (57 pounds) ofheroin worth 1.3 billion rupees($24 million) last week in thenorthern state of Punjab. Thealleged dealer was arrested alongwith five others. Vijender, himself apolice officer in the neighbouringstate of Haryana, was questionedfor close to four hours on Mondayevening, according to a policestatement reported by the PressTrust of India (PTI). –AGENCIES

Federer marches intoIndian Wells fourth round

IINNDDIIAANN WWEELLLLSS::Roger Federermade quick workof Ivan Dodig onMonday, keepinghis Indian Wellstitle defence ontrack with a 6-3, 6-

1 third-round victory over the60th-ranked Croatian. Federerneeded just 61 minutes to seal thevictory – abetted somewhat byDodig's six double-faults, the last ofwhich came on match point. Thequick finish may have been agodsend for the Swiss great, whosaid he "tweaked" his back late inthe match. However, Federer said hefully expected to be fit enough tocontinue his pursuit of a first title of2013. "I'm not too worried," Federersaid. "I have gone through it somany times where you feel a littletweak. You might play next day.Now this time around I have a dayoM, extra time. "From thatstandpoint I'm not worried at all,"added Federer, who will facecompatriot Stanislas Wawrinka for aquarterfinal berth. Wawrinka endedthe challenge of Australian veteranLleyton Hewitt 6-4, 7-5. –AGENCIES

Phelps rules out rioOlympics 2016 return

LLOONNDDOONN:: Reigning Olympicchampion Kim Yu-Na and Japan's MaoAsada will join Canadians PatrickChan, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir instar roles when the World FigureSkating Championships openWednesday (today). Two-timedefending men's world champion Chanand reigning world and Olympic icedance champions Virtue and Moir, whogrew up in London, will enjoy a homeice advantage while Kim and Asadalead a competitive women's field.Already heated rivalries will

intensify in all disciplines with theworld's elite looking to stake earlyclaims to the 2014 Olympic podiumand post results that earn theircountries maximum entries fornext year's Sochi Winter Games.Competition begins Wednesdaywith the pairs and men'sshort programmes.Asada, the 2008 and 2010 world

champion, and Kim, the 2009 worldchampion, have achieved superstarstatus in their respective homelands.Kim will emerge a self-imposed two-year hiatus from International SkatingUnion (ISU) competition while aresurgent Asada looks to parlay arecent win streak into a third worldcrown. Kim looked great as she tunedup for these championships at asecond-tier event in Germany. Her200-plus total score confirmed shehad lost none of her jumping prowessand performance panache.Meanwhile, Asada has gone

undefeated this season in ISU eventsafter struggling to retool her jumpsthe previous two years. The Japanesestar has regained the form, and thetriple Axel, that brought her two worldcrowns. Reigning women's championCarolina Kostner of Italy is skatingbetter than ever, but repeating aschampion will be diLcult. Her long

list of challengers also includesanother Japanese rival, Akiko Suzuki,and American Ashley Wagner.Defending titles will be no waltzaround the ice rink for the Canadiansgiven losses to arch rivals this season.Chan raised eyebrows when he hireda modern dance instructor as hiscoach last summer and then struggledon the Grand Prix circuit.Meanwhile, his main challengers,

Spaniard Javier Fernandez andJapanese Yuzuru Hanyu and DaisukeTakahashi, raised their own levels,flashing quadruple jumps galore andshrinking the sizeable points gapChan enjoyed for two years. Chansaid his season "hasn't been great"but said he has regrouped, refocusedand really thought about what heneeded to do to improve ahead ofthese championships. "Winning theworld championships would be greatthis year going into the Olympic

Games," Chan said. "It would be niceto ride that wave winning the worldchampionships – not just any worldchampionships, but in London, inCanada – and ride that wave allthe way to Sochi so that I can reallystep on the ice (in Russia) witha lot of confidence."Virtue and Moir also hit a few

potholes this season with losses totheir American training mates, MerylDavis and Charlie White, at two majorevents. The Canadian and Americanduos have had a lock on the top twopodium spots since 2010, with Virtueand Moir winning in 2010 and 2012and the US duo coming out on top in2011. Virtue's troubles with chroniclower leg cramping has tested theperfectionist couple's patience andhindered their performance again thisseason, although Virtue said last weekshe is now ‘feeling great’. The pairsevent, like ice dance, is again expected

to be a two-way race betweenGermany's four-time worldchampions Aliona Savchenko and

Robin Szolkowy and Russians TatianaVolosozhar and Maxim Trankov,twice runners-up. –AGENCIES

Asian and Canada stars all set to sparkle

GGAALLLLEE:: Sri Lanka's KumarSangakkara completed his secondcentury of the match before theopening Test against Bangladeshended in a tame draw on the fifth andfinal day in Galle on Tuesday.Sangakkara cracked a solid 105 andopener Tillakaratne Dilshan animpressive 126 as Sri Lanka declaredtheir second innings at 335-4 at tea toset Bangladesh an improbable 268-run victory target in the last session.The tourists finished at 70-1 in theirsecond innings.The flat track at the Galle

International Stadium producedeight centuries, equalling the recordof most tons in a Test, set during theWest Indies-South Africa match atAntigua in 2005. "The draw is hugeand it was also the first time we tookthe lead against Sri Lanka," saidBangladesh captain MushfiqurRahim, who was named man of thematch. "It is really enjoyable. The

team is playing very well together.We didn't really bowl well first up,so we had a chat that we need toshow character and then ourbatsmen did really well."Sri Lanka added 219 to their

overnight total of 116-1 for the lossof three wickets, with debutantKithuruwan Vithanage (59) andskipper Angelo Mathews (38 notout) being the other main scorers.Sangakkara completed his 32ndcentury, the highest by a Sri Lankanin Tests, with a single oM oM-spinnerMohammad Mahmudullah. He hit10 fours in his 172-ball knock. Theformer captain, who scored abrilliant 142 in the first innings, alsobecame the fifth Sri Lankan to makea century in each innings of a Testafter Duleep Mendis, AsankaGurusinha, Aravinda de Silva andDilshan. "It was disappointing notto win the match. It was hard workfor the bowlers, but the batsmen

batted really well," said Sri Lankaskipper Mathews. "The batterswould have loved to bat for anothertwo days on this pitch. We have acouple days to freshen up and I lookforward to the next game."Dilshan, 63 overnight, played some

good shots in the opening session andreached his 16th Test hundred whenhe turned left-arm spinner EliasSunny to square-leg for a single.Dilshan and Sangakkara fell in thespace of 19 runs after lunch, but notbefore putting on 213 for the secondwicket. Sangakkara, 49 overnight, wascaught by Jahurul Islam oMMahmudullah at short mid-wicket,while Dilshan was caught by AbulHasan at deep square-leg oM thesame bowler after hitting nine fours inhis 190-ball knock.Bangladesh also put in a solid

batting performance in the match asthey posted their highest Test total of638 in their first innings on Monday

in reply to Sri Lanka's 570-4declared. Rahim top-scored with200, the first Test double-century bya Bangladeshi batsman. Mohammad

Ashraful (190) and Nasir Hossain(100) were the other main scorers.The second and final Test starts inColombo on Saturday. –AGENCIES

World Figure Skating Championships commence today

Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat competing for France practice at Budweiser Gardensin preparation for the 2013 World Figure Skating Championships. –AGENCIES

Sangakkara, Dilshan excel in drawneight-century Galle Test

SCOrebOArdSSRRII LLAANNKKAA FFIIRRSSTT IINNNNIINNGGSS 570-4 DEC (LThirimanne 155, K Sangakkara 142, D Chandimal116, Sohag Gazi 3-164)BBAANNGGLLAADDEESSHH FFIIRRSSTT IINNNNIINNGGSS 638 (MushfiqurRahim 200, Mohammad Ashraful 190, Nasir Hossain100, T Dilshan 2-75)SSRRII LLAANNKKAA SSEECCOONNDD IINNNNIINNGGSS (overnight 116-1)D Karunaratne c Hasan b Hossain 3T Dilshan c Hasan b Mahmudullah 126K Sangakkara c Jahurul b Mahmudullah 105K Vithanage b Mahmudullah 59A Mathews not out 38L Thirimanne not out 2EEXXTTRRAASS:: (NB 2) 2TTOOTTAALL:: (for 4 wkts dec; 83 overs) 335FFAALLLL OOFF WWIICCKKEETTSS:: 1-17, 2-230, 3-249, 4-320.BBOOWWLLIINNGGHossain 9-1-33-1Hasan 10-0-45-0Gazi 15-1-58-0Sunny 20-0-76-0Mominul 5-0-25-0

Ashraful 1-0-10-0Mahmudullah 20-1-70-3Nasir 3-0-18-0BBAANNGGLLAADDEESSHH SSEECCOONNDD IINNNNIINNGGSSJahurul Islam not out 41Anamul Haque b Eranga 1Mohammad Ashraful not out 22EEXXTTRRAASS:: (B 4, LB 1, NB 1) 6TTOOTTAALL:: (for one wicket; 22 overs) 70FFAALLLL OOFF WWIICCKKEETT:: 1-2BBOOWWLLIINNGGKulasekara 4-1-6-0Eranga 3-1-10-1Herath 4-0-15-0Mendis 7-1-23-0Dilshan 4-0-11-0Toss: Sri LankaUmpires: Richard Illingworth (ENG) and Nigel Llong(ENG)Third umpire: Tyron Wijewardene (SRI)Match referee: David Boon (AUS)

GGAALLLLEE:: Bangladesh’s Mohammad Ashraful (L) is watched by Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal as he plays a shot during the finalday of the opening Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Galle International Stadium on Tuesday. –AGENCIES

IIPPOOHH:: India came from a goal downto defeat Pakistan 3-1 to register theirfirst win in the 22nd edition of theSultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh. Theyoung Indian side showed plenty ofmaturity and composure to avengethe Indian defeat at the AHFChampions Trophy in Doha lastDecember. More importantly it keptthe Indian hopes alive for a podiumfinish at the Azlan Shah Cup.Pakistan took the lead in the 4th

minute as skipper MuhammadImran decided to relay the penaltycorner attempt to the right for adiving Muhammad Waqas to turninto goal. But India hit back in thevery next minute when Rupinder PalSingh sent in a pile driver of a flicksailing into the Pakistan net. Fiveminutes into the match and its 1-1.India took the lead in the 9th minutewhen Akashdeep Singh pounced onthe rebound after an initial attempt byMandeep Singh came oM Pakistankeeper Imran Shah who was playingin the place of regular Imran Butt.Pakistan could have leveled in the 11thminute but Muhammad Irfan Juniormade a hash of things with the goalgaping in front of him.Pakistan were awarded penalty

corners in the 15th, 25th and 35thminutes, but Imran could not find thetarget as India led 2-1 at halftime.Pakistan dominated proceedings inthe first ten minutes of the secondhalf, thanks to the untiring Shafqat

Rasool, but they just could not findthe final touch. In the 52nd minutePakistan were awarded their fifthpenalty corner but Imran pulled it justwide of the left post and India sighedin relief. Mandeep Singh and MalakSingh kept the Pakistan defendersbusy with their constant pressure andthat forced the Pakistan defendersinto making long passes instead ofbuilding up from the back gradually.In the 56th minute India went 3-1 upwhen Mandeep Singh picked up therebound from his deflection to sendthe ball into the roof of the net.Pakistan were then awarded their

sixth penalty corner in the 58thminute, but Sreejesh denied Imranyet again with a diving save. Two morepenalty corners to Pakistan in the64th and 65th minutes were alsowasted and as the minutes tickedaway, the youngsters of India startedslowing the pace. Pakistan wereawarded their ninth penalty corner40 seconds from time but failed toreduce the deficit. In other match,defending champions New Zealandgot back onto the winning trail whenthey defeated South Korea 3-0. NewZealand, the defending champions,had lost both their opening matches,4-3 against Pakistan and 3-2 againstMalaysia and were looking for a winto secure points. Malaysia heldworld number two Australia to a 1-1draw in an exciting match in front ofa full stadium. –AGENCIES

India triumphover Pakistan

Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament

�Malaysia hold Australia to 1-1 draw�New Zealand down South Korea 3-0

RRIIOO DDEE JJAANNEEIIRROO:: Jamaican sprinterUsain Bolt and British heptathlete JessicaEnnis won the Laureus World Sportsmanand Sportswoman of the Year Awards onMonday following their success at the2012 London Olympic Games. The teamof the year award went to Europe's RyderCup team after their stunning victory overthe United States at Medinah lastSeptember. Bolt, who also won the awardin 2009 and 2010, won gold in the 100,200 and 4x100 metres relay in London torepeat his medal haul from Beijing. Hewas not there in person to receive theaward at Rio's Theatro Municpal butappeared via a hologram.Wearing a suit and tie and holding the

trophy in his hands, Bolt promised todefend his Olympic titles at the 2016 RioGames. "Definitely I will be here in 2016,"he said. Also nominated for the awardwas American swimmer Michael Phelps,who won four gold and two silver medalsin London to become the most decoratedOlympian of all time. Phelps was given anew award for Exceptional Achievement,which he collected at the gala ceremonyin the 2016 Olympics host city just hoursafter participating in a swimming classfor children at a Rio slum. "Being able tobe given an award from athletes who areicons in their sports, it's just atremendous honour," Phelps said at anews conference. "My life just keepsgetting better and better."Also nominated for the top sportsman

award were British Olympic champions MoFarah and Bradley Wiggins, Formula 1triple world champion Sebastian Vettel andBarcelona's Lionel Messi. Great Britain wonthree prizes with Ennis, Andy Murray andSebastian Coe. Ennis dominated theOlympic heptathlon and won the goldmedal despite carrying the enormouspressure of home hopes at the Olympicstadium, while Murray won thebreakthrough award after winning his firstgrand slam at the US Open as well asOlympic gold and silver medals in London.Coe, the chairman of the OrganisingCommittee of the London Olympic andParalympic Games and also a LaureusWorld Sports Academy Member, receivedthe lifetime achievement award. DominicanRepublic's Felix Sanchez received thecomeback of the year award after winningthe Olympic 400 metres hurdles gold medalin London, eight years after winning it forthe first time in Athens. –AGENCIES

Bolt and Ennis win topLaureus Awards

PPAARRIISS:: Sri Lankan ManilalFernando, a member ofworld governing body FIFA'sExecutive Committee, hasbeen provisionallysuspended from all football-related activities for 90 days,FIFA said on Monday.Without going into details ofFernando's allegedtransgressions, FIFA said ina statement it wassuspending him in the wakeof an investigation opened inOctober 2012 "in order toprevent interference with theestablishment of the truth"regarding ethicsproceedings."The proceedings relate to

formal ethics charges broughtin a final report filed by thechairman of the investigatorchamber with the chairmanof the adjudicator chamber.This report is the result ofinvestigator proceedingsopened in October 2012,"FIFA stated. Fernando, 63,represents the AsianFootball Confederation(AFC) and has sat on FIFA'sExecutive Committeesince 2011. –AGENCIES

VVIIEENNNNAA:: Vienna's plans to bid for the 2028 Olympic Games have beenfirmly rejected by the city's inhabitants in a referendum, local authoritiessaid on Tuesday. A resounding 71.94 percent of voters said no to theproposal with 28.06 percent in favour, the government said on its website(www.wien.gv.at). Austria hosted the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics,both in Innsbruck, and co-hosted the Euro 2008 soccer championshipwith Switzerland but has never staged a summer Games. The rejectioncame 10 days after Swiss voters in the Graubuenden canton voted againsta plan to bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics. "We accept the result of thereferendum," Karl Stoss, president of the Austrian Olympic Committee(OeOC), which had backed the proposal, told Austrian media. "We wouldwelcome any investments in sporting infrastructure by the city of Viennaso that we can oMer top training conditions to our athletes and so that,from now on, Vienna can regularly stage big international sporting events,even if they are not on the scale of the Olympics." –AGENCIES

FIFA suspendsExecutiveCommitteemember

Vienna residents reject city’s 2028 Olympic Games bid

Usain Bolt Jessica Ennis

Pm okays policy for releaseof unhindered fundsIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Prime Minister RajaPervaiz Ashraf Tuesday granted hisapproval to a policy of getting fundsreleased from the national exchequerwithout any hindrance. The abovepolicy has been approved at a timewhen the incumbent government isonly four days away from itsdissolution. Under the new policy, noone will be able to raise any objectionsto the funds' withdrawal, not even theAuditor General. Now no matter howbig the amount of the funds, theFinance Ministry can get themreleased without facing any hurdles.According to the Auditor General, noconsultation was made on theproposed policy before the primeminister's approval. –MONITORING DESKK

Ec official shotdead in QuettaQQUUEETTTTAA:: An election oRcial inBalochistan was shot dead byunidentified motorcycle-ridinggunmen. The provincial deputyelection commissioner, Ziaullah, wason his way home from oRce when thegunmen attacked his vehicle nearChandi Chowk in the Satellite Townsuburb. The election oRcer'sbodyguard, who was driving the car,was injured in the attack. Theattackers sped away from the site. Arickshaw driver took the injured oRcerto a hospital where he died from hisinjuries. Meanwhile, police discoveredtwo bodies riddled with bullets in theAabgum area of the city. Both bodieswere identified as Safdar and BaazMuhammad and were kidnapped byunknown persons from Degari andMushkaaf areas. –STAFF REPORTER

Sindh EcP memberwrites dissenting noteIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Election Commissionof Pakistan member from Sindh hasreportedly not signed the draft ofnomination papers, the ECP orderedfor printing without the approval ofthe president, a private TV reported.The TV said Sindh ECP memberRoshan Esani had diSerent viewpointand written a note of dissent on thedraft nomination papers. Esani has astance that the president hadauthority to approve nominationpapers, adding that sending thesedocuments for printing without theapproval by the head of the state isnot fair. –MONITORING DESK

Egyptian Presidentmorsi due on 16thIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Egyptian presidentDr. Mohammed Morsi is due toarrive in Pakistan on March 16 on atwo-day visit. The Egyptianpresident is to hold bilateralconsultations with Pakistanleadership on a variety of issues.Both Pakistan and Egypt areexpected to sing six agreements invarious fields. The Egyptianpresident could not make it to D 8summit in November last year as hehad to postpone his visit at theeleventh hour because of internalpolitical situation of Egypt. -DNA

Five of a familykilled in accidentKKHHAAIIRRPPUURR:: A dreadful traRcaccident takes lives of five member ofa family, when a motorcycle collidedwith a trailer. The unlucky family offive, couple and three kids, weregoing on a motorbike on NationalHighway, when a trailer crushedthem resulted deaths of all five familymembers. The deceased includedGhulam Rasool (32), his spouseMehnaz (26), nine years old Bakht, 6years Hamoli and 2 years old babynamed Gul. The trailer driver tried toescape from the scene but policearrested him from Rohri. -ONLINE

WEDNESDAYMARCH 13, 2013THE SPOKESMAN - RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD

SALMAN ABBAS

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Gas distribution companies tooka sigh of relief Tuesday as the division bench ofthe Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesdayenabled the government authorities to collect theGas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC)from consumers for the time being whilesuspending the earlier order of IHC single benchwhich had declared the GIDC Act 2011 as illegal.A division bench comprising Justice Riaz

Ahmed Khan and Justice Mohammad NoorulHaq N. Qureshi suspended the short order ofJustice Siddiqui till the issuance of detailedjudgment. The final verdict on the fate of GIDCwould be announced after hearing about 300petitioners who had initially brought this case inthe IHC. After suspension of IHC single benchorder by the division bench, the GIDC Act has

been restored for the time being which enabledthe gas distribution companies to collect the levyfrom the consumers.Domestic consumers of gas, however, were

exempt from the levy which the governmentimposed on the industrial sector, initially at therate of Rs 13 per MMBTU but later increased itto Rs 100 per MMBTU, only to be reduced to Rs50 per MMBTU in September last year.Over 400 industrial units challenged the

GIDC in the Islamabad High Court lastSeptember as the levy had increased their costof production. The contention of the petitionerswas that the levy was imposed to finance theinfrastructure for the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) andIran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline projects, or for priceequalisation of other imported alternative fuels,including LNG and LPG.

According to the petitioners, no timelinescould be determined at present for even the startof these projects as well as the costs of the sameand the government had imposed and startedcollecting the cess whose rates had beenincreased exorbitantly without any justificationor rationale. Advocate Shah Khawar, AnwarMansoor Khan and Salman Akram Rajaappeared on behalf of the federal governmentand ministry of petroleum appeared before thebench on behalf of the federal government.Advocate Khawar told the court that a number

of petitions against GIDC were pending in theLahore and Sindh high courts when the IHCsingle bench declared the GIDC Act 2011 asillegal. He said that the single bench through ashort order declared an Act of Parliament asillegal and a detailed judgment in this regard isyet to be issued. He said in the short order the

judge did not give reason for declaring the Actillegal and because of this order the LHC andSHC issued stay orders in the favors of petitionerswho had challenged the Act. According to him,the GIDC could not be termed as illegal orunconstitutional because the imposition of tax isthe prerogative of the government; the GIDC wasintroduced after necessary legislationand could not be set aside by the court. The

levy never violated the fundamental rights of thecitizen therefore, it could not be declaredunconstitutional, the counsel added. The benchafter initial hearing of the appeal suspended theshort order of IHC single bench till the issuanceof detailed judgment over GIDC Act 2011.The court also issued notices to all the

petitioners to hear their point of view andadjourned the hearing till a date to be fixed bythe registrar oRce.

OUR STAFF REPORTER

KKAARRAACCHHII:: President AsifAli Zardari Tuesdayinaugurated a number ofdevelopmental projects invarious parts of Sindhaimed at further improvingthe infrastructure of theprovince, and provision ofhealth and housing facilitiesto the people of Sindh.The various developmental

projects inauguratedincluded foundation stonelaying of Shaheed ZulfikarAli Bhutto Expressway fromGarho to Shah Bundar,inauguration of newbuildings of DistrictHeadquarter Hospitals atBadin, foundation laying ofDistrict HeadquarterHospitals Dadu, EmergencyTrauma Centers at Talukalevel Badin, Shikarpur, andthe launch of TownshipScheme in Karachi under theBenazir Shaheed HousingProject. Those present at theceremony included amongothers Sindh Governor DrIshratul Ibad Khan, SindhChief Minister Syed QaimAli Shah, Managing Directorof ZulfikarabadDevelopment Authority Lt.Gen (Retd) Syed IftikharHussain Shah , federal andprovincial Ministers,parliamentarians and otherhigh oRcials.

OUR STAFF REPORTER

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The Supreme Courton Tuesday held that the missingprisoners of Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail,being detained by the Inter ServicesIntelligence (ISI), could not be triedunder the FCR, as they had spent a lotof time in the prison and later wereshifted to the internment centers.A three-member bench comprising

Chief Justice Iftikhar MuhammadChaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed andJustice Sh. Azmat Saeed, noted thatno one was above the law and no oneshould even think that the courtswere helpless.The court noted that the

intelligence agencies should notforget that they had the authority tofunction only within the sphere oflaw. The chief justice said if courtswould be unable to dispense justice,then how the country would run,adding that extra legal measuresfrom any one would not becompromised.He said no institution of the

country had the authority to keepthe people into illegal custody for theentire life. He regretted thatfederation’s chief law oRcer IrfanQadir was posing as if he did notknow anything about the case.Justice Gulzar Ahmed noted that

the trial of the missing prisoners couldnot be completed despite the lapse ofover 18 months. He said agencies’record indicated that a new story wasbeing fabricated to justify their

detention. During the hearing, TariqAsad, counsel for missing prisoners,stated that the trial of 11 prisoners wasnot conducted under the Army Act1952, thus they could not be kept inthe internment centers.Raja Muhammad Irshad, counsel

for ISI, presented before the courtrecord of Rawalpindi’s HamzaCamp and requested the court tokeep it secret. He said the accusedwere involved in suicide attack onHamza Camp and they would beprosecuted under Frontier CrimesRegulation ( FRC).The court noted that the trial of

the accused was completed long ago,however, the agencies kept themunder forcible custody. The courtquestioned that now howproceeding could be initiatedagainst them under the FCR.After examining the record, the

chief justice said, “So many days hadgone and you were now presentingthese documents in the court.” Hemade it clear that the court wouldtake decision in accordance with thetrue spirit of law in this regard.Raja Irshad requested the court

to adjourn the hearing for twoweeks so that the matter may besettled under the FCR. The chiefjustice regretted that despite thelapse of about two years, noevidence could be brought againstthe prisoners, adding that evidencewas must for detaining any one.Meanwhile, the court adjournedthe hearing until March 20.

TAHIR ALI

MMIINNGGOORRAA:: It has been almost four yearssince insurgents led by Mullah Fazlullah− popularly known as Mullah Radio −were ousted from Malakand Division in asuccessful military operation, howeverthe fear of the Taliban is still in the backof the minds of local inhabitants. In thepost-operation period, old security check-posts still stir uncertaintyin the Valley’sinhabitants, leading to stressfulsituations. Urooj, a 14-year-old girl who lives in the

Kabal area of Swat, still remembers the timewhen the Taliban emerged in her village.They forced women to remain indoors anddestroyed her school; her family migrated to

Mardan where they lived inside a camp builtfor internally displaced persons (IDPs). “Ican’t forget that tragic period of my life; Iwill never forget,” she says. Urooj has goneback to school but she still fears the Taliban.“Baba says we are free of the menace of theTaliban but I ask if there is no threat fromthem, why are security forces still patrollingthe area”, she asked.Just like Urooj, many inhabitants of Swat,

Buner and even some parts of Lower Dir arestill not over the trauma of the reign of themilitants and security forces'bloody clasheswith them. Today, there are no signs of theTaliban and the control of the area restswith the Pakistani military. Though areminder of some degree of security,residents also look at the check-posts with

trepidation. “Sometimes, just in front of our homes,

the security forces ask us for our ID cards;it seems if we are living like illegalimmigrants. During the time of themilitants and even after their defeat, we arestill living in an uncertain situation. Whenwill the MaulanaFazlullah chapter close?”asked Ahmed Khan who lives in Dewlai inSwat, also known as the Switzerland ofPakistan, a peaceful place before Fazlullah-led militants descended on it in2007.Tourists came to the area not onlyfrom Pakistan but from abroad, a source ofincome for many locals. “There were nosecurity concerns; even the foreignerswandered in our areas on bicycles; butonce the Taliban came and following a

military operation 2009, even we as localsare reluctant to venture outside our homesafter dark”, Arshad Khan of Shamozai toldThe Spokesman.Dargai is the gateway to Malakand

Division, where everyone is checkedbefore entering Swat valley — whetherthey are locals or non-locals. Long queuesof vehicles wait to be checked. After the Dargai check-post, once the

Malakand Pass has been crossed, visitorsare checked once again at Chakdara if theyare moving on to Dir, Chitral or Bajuarwhile those who enter Swat, Buner andShangla are checked at the Landaki check-post. Apart from the main checkpoints,there are numerous other smallcheckpoints all over the valley.

Professor DrFouziaNaeem, Dean Facultyof Social and Media Sciences, SindhMadrassatul Islam University, is of the viewthat in a postwar scenario, the presence ofcheck-posts and security forces scarschildren. “When things are not clear it leadsto uncertainty in children, which is followedby lack of decision power.”UsmanUlasyar, chairman of the Swasto

Art and Culture Association, is of the viewthat fear of the militants will fade ifmilitary personnel are called back frompublic places and security of the area ishanded over to police. Locals say that thecommon people of Swat are usually keptaway from cultural activities and thefunctions are designed to entertain‘honorable guests’ from outside.

Adiala Jail’s missing prisoners

No trialunder FCR

MOMO BAIG

WWAASSHHIINNGGTTOONN:: The US NationalSecurity Adviser Tom Donilon on Tuesdaysaid that ties with Pakistan have becomediRcult but also essential.Delivering a speech on the US policy

towards Asia at the Asia Society, TomDonilon said crisis no longer looms overUS relationship with Pakistan as overthe past year both the countries haveworked hard to overcome the period ofstrain in their ties. "We have had, as youmight imagine, as has been clear, somedifficult issues, but I do think we are at apoint here where we don’t have a crisishanging over the relationship. Wecontinue to work intensively with thePakistanis on the kinds of issues, andwe’ll continue to do so."The US National Security Adviser said

they have had with Pakistan a veryimportant partnership in the counter-terrorism area. And indeed the Pakistanishave suSered thousands of casualties in thebattle against extremism.He said Pakistan has been an important

partner of the US in its eSorts against themost extreme elements.The national security adviser said the US

and Pakistan have in common a stableAfghanistan at the end of this process, andthe two countries are working together onthat. "We both have in common the fightagainst extremist elements, and wecontinue to work on that," he said.Referring to the upcoming general

elections in Pakistan, Donilon termed it as

a milestone towards strengthening of thedemocracy in the country, and said the USwill be "watching that."State Department spokesperson Victoria

Nuland said Pakistan risks sparking USsanctions if it pursues its plans with Iran tobuild a $7.5 billion gas pipeline.“We have serious concerns, if this project

actually goes forward, that the IranSanctions Act would be triggered,” StateDepartment spokesperson Victoria Nulandsaid. “We’ve been straight up with Pakistanabout these concerns.” Nuland said the USwas “supporting large-scale energy projectsin Pakistan that will add some 900megawatts to the power grid by the end of2013.” Those projects included renovatingthe power plants at Tarbela, the ManglaDam, as well as modernizing others plantsand building new dams at Satpara andGomal Zam, she added.

APP adds: The US Ambassador RichardOlson Tuesday called on Foreign MinisterHina Rabbani Khar at the Foreign ORce.During the meeting, they discussed theoverall bilateral relationship includingprogress made under the strategic dialogueprocess in various spheres of cooperation.The Foreign Minister expressed

satisfaction on the current trajectory of therelations between Pakistan and the UnitedStates and hoped that these multifacetedrelations would be further strengthened anddeepened on the basis of mutual respect andcommon interest. They also discussed thesituation in Afghanistan and how Pakistanand the US could cooperate in bringingpeace and stability in that country.

Consumers to pay cess on CNG

Four years on, ‘Mullah Radio’ still haunts Malakand

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari unveiling a plaque to inaugurate 50,000 residential plots for the poorest of the poor under ShaheedMohtarma Benazir Bhutto Towns Sindh. –ONLINE

Presidentinauguratesuplift projects

Pak–US ties termedtense but ‘essential’

cmyK

� SC questions ISI’s authority on forced detentions

Panic after 4 dead in 3 KP blastsPPEESSHHAAWWAARR:: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed a panic day byexperiencing three attacks in various areas killing at least four whileinjuring as many as 24 others. Early Tuesday morning, a bombripped through a sewerage canal near the residence of KPInformation Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain injuring six includingthree children. According to District Police oRcer, MuhammadHussain, “The explosive device was planted at an under-construction canal. The minister remained safe as he was inPeshawar.” In 2010, Taliban killed the only son of the minister in hisnative town, vowing to target more politicians. In the afternoon, aremote control bomb targeting a police van killed two policemenwhile injuring at least 18 others in Bannu. As per Bannu DSP Iqbalkhattak, the bomb planted in a motorcycle hit a police van that wascarrying police oRcials, killing at least two civilians while injuring 18others including a woman. Bannu is gateway to the restive NorthWaziristan from where the Talian carried out attacks on securityforces and politicians. The Taliban also killed senior KP ministerBashir Ahmed Bilour last December. Later in the afternoon, aconstable of the bomb disposal squad (BDS) Zarmast died when apressure cooker bomb exploded in restive Mattani area of Peshawar.“Zarmast was trying to defuse a roadside bomb and it exploded,killing him on the spot,” a fellow colleague said. He was the senioroRcial and was famous for defusing bombs. Another BDS oRcialwas killed last year while defusing a bomb. –NAZAR ISLAM

� Again warns of curbs over IP pipeline