Karachi edition thursday, 5 april, 2012 Jamadi-ul-awal 12, 1433Rs15.00 Vol ii no 278 22 pages

PAGE | 03 PAGE | 06

Indian govt, army deny ‘coup fears’ report

Media projectingbaseless corruptionstories: Gilani

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Saeed’s links withOsama led to US bounty

Pakistan, US look to salvage tiesISLAMABAD

SHAIQ HUSSAIN

PAKISTAN on Wednesday turned downfresh US demands for early resumptionof the stalled NATO supplies, sayingthat the contentious issue would be de-cided in the joint session of parliament,

which has been convened to revisit the bilateralties and devise future terms of engagement withthe United States. Islamabad also made it clear toWashington that it would not move against HafizMuhammad Saeed, Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD) chief,who has been put by the US on its ‘most wantedterrorists’ list’ along with another senior JuDleader Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki.

The US has also announced a bounty of $10million on Hafiz Saeed whereas reward for AbdurRehman Makki is $2 million.

US Deputy Secretary of State for Managementand Resources, Thomas Nides, who reached hereWednesday morning on a mission to improve thestrained Pakistan-US ties, held meetings withPrime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and ForeignMinister Hina Rabbani Khar soon after his arrival.

g pakistan again turns down US demand to restore NaTO supplies g pakistan saysno concrete evidence available to link Hafiz Saeed with Mumbai attacks

RAWALPINDIAFp

The founder of the militant groupblamed for the 2008 Mumbai at-tacks goaded the United States onWednesday in a defiant public ap-pearance mocking his $10 millionUS bounty.

Hafiz Saeed, the founder ofLashkar-e-Taiba, the extremist or-ganisation accused of mastermind-ing the carnage that killed 166people in Mumbai four years ago,said he was ready to face “any Amer-ican court” to answer charges.

The 62-year-old former engi-neering and Arabic professor ap-peared on stage at aspecially-convened press conferencein the Flashman Hotel, close to theheadquarters of the Pakistan armyin the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

“If the United States wants tocontact me, I am present, they cancontact me. I am also ready to faceany American court, or whereverthere is proof against me,” he told re-porters in the hotel named after afictional colonial hero. Saeed makesregular public appearances in Pak-istan and he mocked the idea of of-fering a bounty for someone wholives so openly.

“Americans seriously lack in-formation. Don’t they know whereI go and where I live and what Ido?” he said. “These rewards areusually announced for people whoare hiding in mountains or caves. Iwish the Americans would give thisreward money to me.”

Saeed is a leading figure in theDefence Council of Pakistan, a coali-tion of right-wing, religious and ex-tremist groups opposed to thegovernment reopening NATO sup-ply lines to Afghanistan, which havebeen closed since November.

The coalition has staged noisydemonstrations in recent monthsand Saeed said the campaign hadworried Washington.

“The US decision is aimed at si-lencing the Defence Council of Pak-istan and to ensure resumption ofsupplies through backdoor channelsand increase interference in Pak-istan,” he said. US Undersecretary ofState Wendy Sherman announcedthe cash reward in India on Monday,and Saeed accused the United Statesof kowtowing to pressure from Pak-istan’s arch-enemy.

Maulana Sami-ul Haq, chief ofthe Defence Council of Pakistan anddubbed father of the Taliban, calledfor “countrywide protests” over thebounty on Friday after the mainweekly Muslim prayers.

The money offered for informa-tion leading to Saeed’s arrest andconviction is eclipsed only by Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri,who commands a bounty of $25 mil-lion and who some analysts also sus-pect is hiding in Pakistan.

Asked if the reward had givenhim any concerns for his own safety,Saeed said: “Both America and Indiaare unnerved now. They shouldknow that my death is in the handsof Allah, not America. Let this beknown to everybody.”

pML-N endspCNS boycott on pM’s request

ISLAMABADSTAFF RepoRT

Boycott of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members from the pro-ceedings of the ParliamentaryCommittee on National Security (PCNS)entered into the third consecutive dayon Wednesday compelling the commit-tee to delay its scheduled submission offinal recommendations with the jointsitting of the parliament for a few days.The situation forced Prime MinisterYousaf Raza Gilani to seek help fromPML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, who assuredhim that the PML-N members wouldend their boycott of the PCNS.Gilani told Sharif that the PCNS meetingwas being held under the leadership ofSenator Raza Rabbani to finalise Pak-istan’s new terms of engagements withthe US and NATO. He said that it was inthe national interest to reach consensusrecommendations in the larger nationalinterest and this occasion should not beused for political mileage. A source inthe PML-N said that Gilani assuredSharif that the government would reviewthe petroleum prices but the PCNS wasimportant and it should not be ignored.The committee, which met here at Par-liament House continued threadbarediscussion to review the proposalsfloated by the main opposition parties,the PML-N and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl without making any headway. The committee was scheduled to submitits reviewed report with the joint sittingof the parliament on Wednesday but itfailed to do so as no progress was madedue to the absence of the PML-N mem-bers from the committee, who haveboycotted the proceedings in protestagainst the increase in petroleumprices. The PML-N and JUI-F had op-posed the committee’s recommenda-tions and threatened to oppose theproposals in the joint sitting.Resultantly, in a bid to address thereservations of the opposition mem-bers, a high-level meeting of the gov-ernment and opposition partiesdecided that the PCNS would review itsrecommendations to achieve consensusto send a strong message to the worldby the parliament.It is pertinent to mention here that boththe PML-N members of the PCNS – Sen-ator Ishaq Dar and Mehtab Khan Abbasi– had signed the final draft of the rec-ommendations but its leader ChaudhryNisar Ali Khan took a summersault,claiming there were some controversialclauses in the draft. Later, Mian RazaRabbani, the chairman of the commit-tee, could not hide his anger at the boy-cott of the PML-N members and saidthat the N leaguers should have at-tended the meeting.He also admitted the fact that the con-tinued boycott by the N leaguers hadhurt the schedule and said that due todelay in finalising the recommendations,the committee would not be in a positionto submit its report in the upcomingmeeting of the joint sitting of the parlia-ment scheduled to meet on Thursday.Rabbani said the committee was notbound to adhere to the reservationsbeing expressed by the US administra-tion and the PCNS was taking up thematter as per parliamentary norms.

Hafiz Saeed defiant,says ‘ready to face any US court’

ISLAMABAD: US Deputy Secretary of State Tom Nides shakes hands with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar before a

meeting on Wednesday. afp Continued on page 04

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ISLAMABADApp

INTeRIOR Minister, Rehman Maliksaid on Wednesday that the clashes inGilgit-Baltistan were not a result ofsectarianism; rather some hiddenforces were trying to disrupt peace in

the area. “These elements desire chaos and donot want progress in GB,” he said while talkingto the media after meeting with Ulema from dif-ferent schools of thoughts.

The minister said the objective of the meet-ing was to discuss the problems in GB and pre-pare a strategy to avoid such a situation in thefuture. Talking about the measures adoptedafter the unfortunate incident in Kohistan lastmonth, Malik said more police and FrontierConstabulary (FC) personnel have been de-ployed. He said when he had visited the arealast month; the authority had presented somedemands which, he added, had been fulfilled.

Malik said the number of PIA flights toGilgit have been increased while compensationpayments for the victims of the Kohistan inci-dent had been given to the GB authorities.

He said peace and stability in GB is the gov-ernment’s priority and that the federal govern-ment will utilise all its resources for thepurpose. expressing his gratitude to the Ulema,he said their role in ensuring peace in the coun-try is commendable and that the Interior Min-istry will arrange a conference for Ulema fromall schools of thoughts.

Malik stated that police in GB was beingequipped with modern gadgets while theirnumber was also being increased. He thankedthe Pakistan Army for their cooperation in con-trolling the situation. Replying to a question,he said, evidence is being gathered to tracethose involved in the GB clashes. “It is still tooearly to name who are involved in these clashes,but I assure that strict action will be takenagainst those responsible,” he said.

He appealed to the people of GB to playtheir role in normalising the situation in thearea. Regarding the US bounty on Hafiz Saeed,Rehman Malik said the Pakistani governmentwas not taken on-board. He said the US author-ities should have informed the Pakistani gov-ernment or Interpol before announcing thebounty. “I categorically state that the US did nottake Pakistan’s authorities on board,” he said.

He added that the Ministry of Foreign Af-fairs had been asked to confirm the reports.

Rehman Malik also thanked Maulana Fa-zlur Rehman, former Senator Abbas Kumeliand MQM Chief Altaf Hussain for their role innormalising the situation in GB. Ulema, includ-ing Mufti Munibur Rehman, Mufti Nazir Fa-rooqui, Qazi Niaz Hassan Naqvi, condemnedthe incident and said all the sects are peacefullyliving in Pakistan. They stated that they alsoparticipate in each other’s functions and help intime of need. The Ulema also announced thatthey will hold a Peace March in Gilgit-Baltistan.

02thursday, 5 april, 2012

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laHore

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Women unsafe, even in jails president invites opposition to join hands to face threats

Pakistani-Canadian jailed for 14 years for helping Sikh militant group

NEW YORKoNLINe

A 50-year-old Pakistani-Canadian has been sentenced to 14 years in jailfor providing material support to the Sikh militant group Khalistan Com-mando Force, blamed for carrying out assassinations and bombings inIndia, reports said Wednesday. Khalid Awan was convicted in 2006 by a US federal jury in Brooklyn forproviding financial aid to Khalistan Commando Force (KCF). In 2007, Awan was given a 14-year prison sentence, which was vacatedby the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court had or-dered a lower court to consider handing him a longer sentence for a “ter-rorism enhancement” after prosecutors filed an appeal. Awan was re-sentenced on Tuesday to 14 years’ imprisonment by federaljudge Allyne Ross on the terrorism charges. “During yesterday’s sentencing proceeding, the district court found thatall three of Awan’s crimes intended to promote crimes of terrorism, andimposed a prison sentence of 14 years,” the Justice Department said. In a statement, the FBI said KCF comprises Sikh militants seeking a sep-arate Sikh state in Punjab and has been responsible for thousands ofdeaths in India since it was founded in 1986. The organisation has engaged in numerous assassinations of prominentIndian government officials — including that of Chief Minister BeantSingh of Punjab in 1995 — and hundreds of bombings, acts of sabotage,and kidnappings. The US Attorney’s Office and the FBI began investigation against Awanin 2003 after an inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brook-lyn, where Awan was jailed on federal credit card fraud charges, reportedthat Awan boasted of his relationship with Paramjit Singh Panjwar,KCF’s leader and one of the 10 most wanted fugitives in India.

Protests called over US bounty on Hafiz SaeedRAWALPINDI: Right-wing, religious and extremist groups on Wednes-day called for nationwide protests to denounce a US bounty on the manwho founded the group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. “On Fridaythere would be countrywide protest,” said Maulana Samiul Haq, chief ofthe Defence Council of Pakistan and dubbed father of the Taliban. TheUnited States on Monday slapped a $10 million bounty on Hafiz Saeed,the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the banned extremist organisation ac-cused of masterminding the carnage that killed 166 people in Mumbaifour years ago. Saeed, who lives openly in Pakistan, joined Haq on stage ata press conference in a hotel opposite the headquarters of the Pakistanmilitary in Rawalpindi, goading the Americans to haul him before thecourts. “If the United States wants to contact me, I am present, they cancontact me. I am also ready to face any American court, or wherever thereis proof against me,” Saeed told reporters. Saeed and the Defence Councilof Pakistan has spent recent months whipping up demonstrations acrossthe country calling on the government not to reopen NATO supply lines toAfghanistan, which have been closed since November. AFp

Pakistani charged with killing wife, her ‘lover’AMMAN: A 20-year-old Pakistani farmer was charged on Wednes-day with killing his wife and her teenage “lover” when he found themtogether at his house in Jordan, a judicial official said. “He shot deadhis 18-year-old wife and her lover, who was 17, on Tuesday, in theJordan Valley,” where the unnamed suspect worked on a farm, theofficial told AFP. “He has confessed, saying he killed them when hecame to his house and saw them together in a suspicious situation.He was charged with premeditated murder.” Murder is punishable bydeath in Jordan but, in so-called “honour killings,” courts can com-mute or reduce sentences. Between 15 and 20 women die in suchmurders each year in the Arab kingdom. AFp

KARACHI: A Shia girl shouts slogans during a

protest against sectarian killings on Wednesday. afp

Clashes in Gilgit, Chilasnot sectarian: Malik

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03thursday, 5 april, 2012

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articles on Page 12-13

foreIgn newS

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artS & entertaInment

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SPortSIndia’s pull out forces pHF to postpone 3-nation series

Story on Page 18

18 killed in Syrian clashes, mostly in Homs Sajid Khan promises Asin her biggest blockbuster

CommentA destabilising conflictSectarian terrorism has to be crushed with an iron hand.on BhuttoIt isn’t a PPP rally without the colour.

Nazir Naji says:

Imran Husain says:Guzzle less fuel: It’s easy to make emotional statements.

Mayank Austen Soofi says:“Ruined by reading”: How on earth can a Pakistani write about India’s capital?

Our real ‘jugular’: What is the geographical location of GB?

High security alert declared in major cities

ISLAMABADINp

High security alert has been declared inmany cities including the twin cities of Is-lamabad and Rawalpindi after Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s threats to targetgovernment institutions. According tosources TTP has hurled threats to target gov-ernment institutions and installations. Thereare reports of fifteen suicide bombers leavingMiranshah for various cities.Sources claimed that government buildingsin Islamabad, Rawalpindi and police couldbe targeted. Sources also said that the plan-ning for the attacks had been made by TTP’scommanders Nadeem Abbas and TariqQadeer. Police authorities have furtherbeefed up security in Rawalpindi and Islam-abad after the TTP threats.According to authorities TTP is issuingthreats to build up pressure after the arrestof the planner of the attack on the joint ses-sion of parliament.

PIa decides to raise fares LAHOREoNLINe

PIA has decided to increase the fares inrespect of its international and domesticflights in the wake of recent hike in theprices of petroleum products. PIAsources said its loss had gone up owing torecent enhancement in the prices of pe-troleum products. A decision had beentaken to increase fare ranging between Rs2000 to 3000 on domestic routes and Rs5000 to Rs 7000 on international routes.

India inducts Russian-made nuclear submarine into NavyNEW DELHI

oNLINe

After a gap of two decades, Indiaon Wednesday joined the eliteclub of nations having nuclear-powered submarines with the in-duction of the Russian-origin‘Nerpa’ into Indian Navy. De-fence minister AK Antony com-missioned the Akula II classNerpa rechristened INS Chakrainto the Navy. India had earlierleased and operated Charlie ClassRussian nuclear submarine from1988 for training its personnel onsuch submarines. With INSChakra and the indigenous INSArihant expected to start opera-tional patrols soon, India will

soon have two nuclear sub-marines guarding its vast mar-itime boundaries. The Nerpa hasbeen taken on lease from Russiafor ten years and would provideNavy the opportunity to train andoperate such nuclear-poweredvessels. “Our crews will get theexperience of operating underwater for several months at a goas unlike the conventional dieselelectric submarines, which haveto come to surface at regular in-tervals, nuclear submarines canremain under water for months,”Navy officials said.

India had signed a deal withRussia in 2004 worth over $900million for leasing the subma-rine. It was expected to be in-

ducted a couple of years earlier,but after an accident in 2008, inwhich scores of Russian sailorsdied during trials, the deliveryschedule was changed. IndianNavy crews have already beenimparted training for operatingthe submarine in Russia. A crewof over 70 people includingaround 30 officers is required tooperate the INS Chakra.

The heart of the submarine isits nuclear reactor which hasbeen made by Russia. Its dis-placement is around 8,140tonnes. With a maximum speedof 30 knots, the vessel can go upto 600 meters in water and hasan endurance of 100 days with acrew of 73.

Central character

of rPPs scam

flees to CanadaISLAMABAD

INp

The central character behind the rentalpower projects (RPP) scandal and formerPrivate Power Infrastructure Board(PPIB) MD Fayyaz elahi, who has dualnationality, has fled to Canada, beforethe Supreme Court issued directives ofputting his name on the eCL and all oth-ers involved in the RPPs scam, while oneaccused Basharat Cheema had been ap-pointed as in-charge of the Anti-LoadShedding and Monitoring Cell (ALSMC)in the Water and Power Ministry.According to sources, Fayyaz had beenappointed as PPIB MD on recommenda-tions of former caretaker water andpower minister Tariq Hameed before the2008 general elections. Former waterand power minister Raja Pervaiz Ashrafhad been supportive in giving an exten-sion of services and sent two separatesummaries to Prime Minister SyedYousaf Raza Gilani in this regard, but thePM rejected them after the RPPs scandalwas taken up by the Supreme Court.Sources said that during Nawaz Sharif’sgovt, NAB chairman Saifur Rehman hadordered the arrest of Fayyaz on corrup-tion charges but he fled to Canada. Ac-cording to sources, NAB was likely toseek Fayyaz’s extradition from Canadathrough Interpol.

Punjab govt ignores Zardari

LAHOREINp

President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in La-hore on Wednesday, but no official fromthe Punjab government was at the airportto greet him. The president’s visit isspanned over three days in which he isscheduled to address a parliamentarymeeting of the Pakistan People’s Party(PPP) Punjab chapter. However, theparty sources said that the trip could beextended to four day as well. The parliamentary meeting was sched-uled to be held earlier but was postponeddue to a meeting between the presidentand a US state department official at theGovernor House. Sources said that thepresident would leave for India directlyfrom Lahore on a personal visit to theshrine of a Sufi saint in Ajmer.

ISLAMABADApp

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilanion Wednesday said that a section ofmedia was projecting baseless and wrongcorruption cases against him and thepresent government only to defame him.

He was talking to a private TV chan-nel. “All these stories are cooked only todefame me,” the PM said. “I make anumber of decisions daily but only threeor four decisions are being projected inthe media just to defame me,” Gilanisaid. He said, “Out of these decisionssome are good, some are bad, as we arepart of society.” The PM said, “It isagainst journalist ethics that old news isbeing publicized,” he said, adding thatnews means recent or fresh news. Gilanisaid that the media talked about theAdnan Khawaja case, adding that al-though the matter was subjudice but hewanted to explain it.

He said, “The media is giving popu-larity to Adnan Khawaja by projectingthis case as I have not done anythingwrong in this case.” The PM said,“Whenever a job was given by me, I or-

dered for an interview and when the in-terview of Adnan Khawaja was con-ducted everything had been asked by theofficials who interviewed him and thenhe was appointed after getting answersfor all the questions.” He said, “There-fore, I cannot be held responsible for giv-ing him the job.” Gilani said that Adnanhad already been working as chief exec-utive for two or three years and it wasjust a transfer and posting, which was aroutine matter. The PM said, “There isneed to look into his first appointmentand get the details of his qualificationwhen he was recruited for the first time.”Regarding Khurram Rasool, he said, thathe was a consultant for PTV and deputedfor Northern Pakistan affairs and in abusiness since 2004 and it was before hisbecoming prime minister.

Gilani said that even the judiciaryhad given its remarks that two partieswere doing business and if one waswrong then the other will also be wrong.The PM said it was a wrong perceptionin the media that media was a com-plainant regarding case of Khurram Ra-sool, adding, “I am the complainantagainst him and the media is wrongly

projecting that I am responsible for anycorruption done by Khurram Rasool,which is highest of stupidity.”

He said then another scandal wasagainst his son that he bought a jeep fromthe Hajj scam. Gilani clarified, “My sonbrought the jeep in 2008 and the Hajjscam was in 2010, so he bought the jeepone year before the Hajj scam.” The PMsaid that when the complainant in thecase, who was a PML-N MNA, was askedby court, he told that it was a hear-say. Hesaid, “The court ordered to register a caseagainst that sitting MNA of PML-N wholevelled false allegations against my sonand a case has been registered againsthim but we are being maligned.”

He said the media should be very ju-dicious and when the CJP had given theremarks that do not defame who are re-spectable and registered a case who gavefalse statement, so media should becareful in reporting such cases. Abouthis son MNA Ali Musa Gilani, the PMsaid he had nothing to do with politicsbefore this election on the seat, whichwas vacated due to resignation of ShahMehmood Qureshi. Gilani said his sonnever used his influence as his son.

KARACHIAFTAB CHANNA

As the higher authorities contemplate replacing the SindhRevenue Board chairman, the officials working in the taxcollecting body on a deputation basis, are feeling insecureregarding their jobs, Pakistan Today has learnt.

After the establishment of the Sindh Revenue Board,a retired bureaucrat, Nazar Hussain Mahar, was appointedthe body’s chairman on a two-year contract basis by theSindh government, while violating the Supreme Court’sorders. After Mahar took charge, he employed the officialshe favoured, providing them heavy salaries, perks andprivileges, well-placed sources told Pakistan Today.

Recently, the Sindh government advertised for thepost to replace the present one.

The appointment of the new chairman will also bemade in violation of the apex court’s orders that had saidthat no post be filled on a contract basis as it deprives sen-ior officers of their rights. According to the advertisementpublished, the Sindh government needs to expand its rev-

enue base and restructure the organisation and needs theservices of an individual with private and public sector ex-perience. The blue-eyed officials enjoying lucrative postsin the tax collecting body include Iqbal Lakho, SardarAbdul Nabi Thahim, Sara, Javed Memon and others.

Iqbal Lakho, whose is originally a Planning and Devel-opment Department officer, was employed as the SindhRevenue Board Headquarter deputy commissioner.

Sources said Lakho was charged with dealing with allthe major issues between the board and the taxpayers onbehalf of the chairman. Lakho was also made the chair-man’s personal staff officer besides being allowed to headmulti-million projects for the Planning and DevelopmentDepartment. Abdul Nabi Thahim, who was previouslyworking as Sales Tax commissioner, was given the post ofthe Revenue Board Project director.

Sara is also enjoying a lucrative post in the board as anofficer of the excise and Taxation Department.

Javed Memon is now employed as a Sales Tax consult-ant. He is a retired officer of the excise and Taxation De-partment.

Media projecting baselesscorruption stories: PM

SRB’s blue-eyed officials threatenedby chairman’s replacement

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The US official was told thatPakistan would not detainHafiz Saeed as there was noconcrete evidence suggestinghis involvement in the Mum-bai terrorist attacks in No-vember 2008 or any other actof subversion.

“Deputy Secretary Nideswas told that such acts by US(bounty on Hafiz Saeed)would further harm the al-ready strained ties and alsodamage the ongoing effortsfor reconciliation between Is-lamabad and Washington,”said a Pakistani diplomatprivy to the crucial Pak-UStalks.

earlier, Nides asked forthe early reopening of theNATO supply lines, whichwere blocked by Islamabad

soon after the airstrikes ontwo Pakistani border posts inMohmand Agency last year inNovember in which 24 Pak-istani soldiers were killed.

The US official said thatthe United States respectedPakistan’s sovereignty but italso expected that Islamabadwould take full cognizance ofWashington’s security con-cerns and try to address them.

“The US official was toldthat since the matter of NATOsupplies is now before theparliament so the govern-ment couldn’t oblige Wash-ington on this count and theyshould wait for the outcomeof the parliamentary debateon NATO supply lines andother bilateral issues such asdrone strikes,” the diplomatsaid.

Meanwhile, in a state-

ment on US bounty on HafizMohammad Saeed and HafizAbdul Rehman Makki, For-eign Office spokesman AbdulBasit said, “Pakistan wouldprefer to receive concrete evi-dence to proceed legallyrather than engaging in apublic discussion on thisissue. “He underlined that ina democratic country likePakistan, where judiciary isindependent, evidenceagainst anyone must with-stand judicial scrutiny,” said astatement.

In his meeting with USDeputy Secretary, Prime Min-ister Gilani reiterated thatnew rules of engagements be-tween Pakistan,USA/NATO/ISAF must re-spect sovereignty and territo-rial integrity of Pakistan.

“The Prime Minister em-

phasized that the ongoingparliamentary review processoffered an unprecedented op-portunity to bring trans-parency and credibility to therules of engagement withUSA, NATO and ISAF,” saidan official statement. “Rela-tions with US must be basedon mutual respect and mutualinterest,” said the prime min-ister The prime minister fur-ther stated that Pakistanwould like to build bilateralrelations with USA based onmutual respect and mutualinterest.

The US delegation alsocalled on Foreign MinisterHina Rabbani Khar at theForeign Ministry.

The two delegations ex-changed views on the wholegamut of bilateral relationsand issues of mutual interest.

The foreign minister briefedthe US side on the parliamen-tary process underway in re-gard to new terms ofengagement with the UnitedStates.

Khar underscored thatthe democratic government ofPakistan wanted the voiceand aspirations of the peopleof Pakistan reflected in thecountry’s foreign policy. Shestressed that the parliamen-tary process was the key inachieving Pakistan’s foreignpolicy objectives which in-cluded security and economicprosperity of the country.

The US official conveyedthat Washington fully re-spected the parliamentaryprocess and reaffirmed theUS government’s desire to re-engage with Pakistan. He alsoappreciated Pakistan’s posi-

tive and constructive role inbringing peace and stability inthe region.

According to statementissued by US embassy afterNides meeting with Khar, theUS deputy secretary said, “I’mvery pleased to be here at thispivotal time between theUnited States and Pakistan toengage in discussions aboutthe future of this very, veryimportant relationship.”

“I am here to build uponthe important conversationsthat have taken place over thelast 10 days – including be-tween President Zardari andAmbassador Grossman inDushanbe and between Pres-ident Obama with Prime Min-ister Gilani in Seoul,” he said.

“As President Obama saidlast week when he met PrimeMinister Gilani, we believe

that we can achieve a bal-anced approach in a relation-ship that respects Pakistan’ssovereignty and interests butalso represents our concernsabout our national security,”he said.

He said, “We are commit-ted to the people of Pakistan.And, we recognize how chal-lenging this past year hasbeen. And, I am heartenedthat we are working throughour differences very construc-tively.”

“Being here today provesthat a sustained engagementis the most productive wayforward, and a hallmark ofthe way in which maturedemocracies operate. Toomuch is at stake for us to turnaway from each other, so wemust work through all ofthese challenges,” Nides said.

pakistan, US look to salvage relationsContinued fRom page 1

LAHOREApp

PReSIDeNT AsifAli Zardari onW e d n e s d a ysaid that forlong-term and

sustained Pak-US ties, itwas important that the re-lationship is based ontransparency, mutual re-spect and mutual interestand is authenticated bythe true representatives ofthe people.

During his meeting withUS Deputy Secretary ofState Thomas Nides at theGovernor’s House, the pres-ident said that Pakistan at-tached great importance toits relationship with the USand the two countries havemutuality of interests topursue. He said that thegovernment was awaitingcompletion of the parlia-mentary review process toreset the ties. Zardari saidthat the democratic processmay seem to be long and

noisy but should be valuedfor being lasting and fruit-ful.

Nides said that the USrecognises Pakistan’s role inthe fight against militantsand wanted to restore mul-tifaceted cooperation andrelationship with Pakistan.He said rebuilding the trustand confidence between thetwo countries was essentialfor pursuing common ob-jectives. Nides said that USrespected the parliamentaryreview process in Pakistan

and looks forward to itsearly completion. The pres-ident emphasised thatdrone attacks were counter-productive and violated thecountry’s sovereignty. Hesaid that civilian casualtiesas a result of drone attackscaused deep resentmentand fueled extremism andmilitancy.

Discussing the situationin Afghanistan, Zardari saidthat narco-trafficking andnarco-financing wereamong the major challenges

that needed to be tackledurgently. He said that theinternational communityand NATO/ISAF should ad-dress the issue of drugs andeliminate the fundingsource of militants. Thepresident said that it wasimportant that an incen-tivised framework is devel-oped to attractmultinationals to make in-vestments in Afghanistanand the region.

Separately, the presi-dent urged party parliamen-

tarians and office-bearers toreach out to the people oftheir respective areas andenhance contacts with vot-ers in preparation of thenext general elections. Thepresident said that achieve-ments of the PPP-led gov-ernment would speak in thenext elections and the partywill once again win elec-tions, the negative propa-ganda by its detractorsnotwithstanding.

The president was ad-dressing a meeting of the

PPP Punjab ParliamentaryParty at the Governor’sHouse. The party parlia-mentarians expressed theirviews on host of nationaland political issues, includ-ing reorganisation of theparty, preparations for thenext general elections anddevelopment issues in theirrespective areas. They re-posed full confidence inthe leadership of Zardariand the government ofPrime Minister SyedYousaf Raza Gilani.

Pak-US ties should be based on mutual respect: Zardari

SHEIKHUPURA INp

A woman sustained criticalacid wounds when her hus-band threw acid on her overa domestic dispute onWednesday.

Police said that the hus-band threw acid on his wifein Dhang area of the city.The woman received criticalburn injuries and was shiftedto the District Headquarters

Hospital (DHQ) for treat-ment.

Hospital sources saidthat the woman’s conditionis now stable and out of dan-ger. Police said that man fledfrom the spot after commit-ting the crime.

Punjab Chief MinisterShahbaz Sharif has taken no-tice of the incident and di-rected IG Punjab to nab theculprit and submit report ofthe incident immediately.

Husband throwsacid on wife inSheikhupura

rashid ghazipasses away

Daily Business ReportFaisalabad Chief editorAbdul Rashid Ghazi passedaway on Wednesday night.Pakistan Today editor ArifNizami and APNS Memberexecutive Babar Nizami haveexpressed their condolencesto the bereaved family.

WASHINGTONAFp

The United States saidWednesday it wanted thefounder of the militantgroup Lashkar-e-Taiba to beprosecuted and jailed afterhe openly goaded Washing-ton with a press conferencein Pakistan.

Hafiz Saeed, the founderof the organization accusedof masterminding the 2008siege of Mumbai that killed

166 people, dared the UnitedStates to contact him afterWashington announced a$10 million reward for infor-mation on him.

“He’s free to do that, un-fortunately, up to this mo-ment. But we hope to puthim behind bars,” State De-partment spokesman MarkToner told reporters whenasked about Saeed’s publicappearance.

Toner sought to clarifythe US reward for Saeed,

saying that Washington wasoffering money not for hiscapture but for informationthat would allow his prose-cution in a court in theUnited States or elsewhere.

“We all know where he is— you know, every journalistin Pakistan and in the regionknows how to find him —but we’re looking for infor-mation that can be usable toconvict him in a court oflaw,” Toner said.

He denied that the

United States was trying tomake new demands of au-thorities in Pakistan, whichis completing a review aimedat resetting relations withWashington after months ofcrisis between the war part-ners.

“It’s not to put pressureon any one government.But we wanted to be able toprovide Pakistan with thetools that they need toprosecute this individual,”Toner said.

RAWALpINDI: Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed smiles as he leaves with religious leaders after a news conference on Wednesday. afp

US wants Hafiz Saeed‘behind bars’

US slaps sanctions on PIa

ISLAMABADoNLINe

In what appeared to beanger over non-restorationof NATO supplies, the UShas imposed more sanctionson PIA, media reported onWednesday.According to reports, PIApassengers, longing totravel to the US, wouldhave to undergo patdowns and scrutiny oftheir luggage at the Man-chester airport, which ac-cording to the report, maytake six hours to give go-ahead to the flight. Thereport said that the PIAwill have to bear more ex-penses of parking, passen-ger’s meal and otherexpenditures.

Karzai telephones Pm

ISLAMABADApp

Afghan President HamidKarzai telephoned PrimeMinister Syed Yousaf RazaGilani on Wednesday andexpressed concern overemergency landing of hisplane at the IslamabadAirport, soon after take-offfor Sukkur.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan re-

ceives her Saudi counterpart Dr Abdul Azia Bin Mohay on Wednesday.

g President asks PPP leaders to prepare for next general elections

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05thursday, 5 april, 2012

News

ISLAMABADINp

PTI Chairman Imran Khan onWednesday condemned the tragicincidents of violence in Gilgit andChilas, in which 10 people werekilled and dozens others injured.

The PTI chairman expresseddeep sorrow for the bereaved fam-ilies. He also prayed for speedy re-covery of the injured. Condemningall acts of sectarian violence, Imransaid that if the PTI came into powerit will work to unite sects of all reli-gions to promote peace and har-mony in the country. The tragicincidence speaks volumes of badgovernance and failure of the gov-

ernment to bring law and orderunder control, he said, adding thatsince the government came intopower there has been a consider-able escalation in the frequencyand intensity of incidents of sectar-ian violence. It was a matter ofgreat concern for the PTI to see thatGilgit, which was once a peacefularea, continually witness sectarianviolence under the current govern-ment, Imran said. He asked thegovernment to take concrete stepsto improve the law and order of theregion. The PTI chairman reas-sured that his party was the onlyhope for peace in this country. Herequested the families of victims tostay calm in these circumstances.

GARHI KHUDA BUKSHApp

PReSIDeNT Asif AliZardari, reiterating thecommitment of reconcilia-tion policy adopted by thePPP-led government, called

upon the opposition to join hands withthe government to steer the country outof external and internal challenges.

“Today, I again urge the opposition,let us work together to steer the coun-try out of internal and external chal-lenges,” said the president whileaddressing a mammoth public meetingheld on the occasion of 33rd death an-niversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Hesaid there were some people whowanted to pitch the PPP against theBalochs, Punjabis or Urdu speakingSindhis but he categorically said thePPP will not fight against any commu-nity. Zardari said, “We don’t want tofight with any community, the fight ofPPP and the nation will be againstpoverty and difficulties being faced by

the country. We will fight for the secu-rity and safety of the land, if there willbe any threat to its sovereignty and in-tegrity.”

The president said that he hadunited various parties on the basis ofthe philosophy and vision of BenazirBhutto in the name of “reconciliation”.Referring to new entrants in politics, hesaid, “We do not have any objection ifnew parties include our leaders or theirleaders come to our party.” He addedthat all politicians were getting fruit ofthe hard-work and sacrifices of ZulfikarAli Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, wholaid the foundation of the politics ofprinciples and sacrifices in Pakistan.The president said, “Today is the day ofmartyrdom of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Wehave gathered here to pay tributes andhomage to the martyred and to high-light their philosophy.”

Zardari said that even after 33years of martyrdom of Zulfikar AliBhutto, the name of Bhutto is still alivein every house. “I always said it is atrust of martyred on me,” he added.

The president said there were expecta-tions from the Supreme Court that itwill correct its mistakes but unfortu-nately it did not deliver and take anyaction against the culprits who killedPPP leaders.

All those responsible for the deathof Benazir are hiding now, he added.The president said that besides theBISP, the PPP will undertake manyother programmes for the welfare ofpeople. Zardari assured that next gen-eral elections will be free, fair and im-partial and every person having a CNICwill get a number which will help stopduplication of votes. He said that PrimeMinister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani wasfollowing the constitution and onlybeing punished as he wants to separateSouth Punjab from Takht-e-Lahore.

He said rental power plants wereproviding electricity to the people butthe courts gave a verdict to stop theprojects. “I have support of the peopleand I have the answer to their every at-tack.” The president asked PPP sup-porters to not be afraid of the

propaganda of the media. “Verdict ofthe people is the real verdict andshould be accepted by all,” he added.

Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said on thisnight Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made hisname permanent in history by refusingto bow his head. Bhutto gave voice tothe people and worked for their socialand economic rights, he added. Aitzazsaid that the media was wrongly por-traying the contempt case proceedingsagainst Gilani. The PM had not com-mitted any constitutional violation bynot writing a letter to Swiss authorities,as the president had transnational im-munity, he added.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim AliShah, Sindh Home Minister ManzoorWasan, PPP Central Punjab PresidentImtiaz Safdar Warraich and others alsospoke on the occasion. A two-minutesilence was observed after the speech ofZardari in respect of Zulfikar AliBhutto, who was hanged on the night ofApril 4, 1979. The ceremonies, whichstarted with the PPP CeC meeting, con-tinued until early hours of Wednesday.

g Zardari says Pm being targeted as he wants to separate South Punjab from takht-e-lahore

President invites oppositionto join hands to face threats

GARHI KHUDA BUKHSH: president Asif Zardari and other ppp leaders offer fateha on the 33rd death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on Wednesday.

naB approves threenew references

ISLAMABADSTAFF RepoRT

The reactivated National AccountabilityBureau (NAB) on Wednesday decided to filethree new references against differentindividuals. The NAB executive Board, whichmet with its chairman Admiral (r) FasihBokhari, approved the filing of referencesagainst former Sindh Medical Collegeprincipal Akbar Haider Soomro and others ina case of illegal admissions to the medicalcollege. The case includes allegations ofcorruption leveled against the formerprincipal and other staff members, regarding38 admissions to the college. The board alsoauthorised the filing of another referenceagainst former Malir Development Authoritydirector general Ameerzada Khan and othersfor accumulating assets beyond knownsources of income. Another reference againstformer Additional Hyderabad DistrictAccounts officer Ghulam Muhammad Brohiand other district accounts office officials, forfraudulently withdrawing government moneyby submitting fake pension documents, wasalso approved. The board approved theclosure of the enquiry against the MianwaliGeneral Post Office officials as no publicfunds were embezzled in that case.Investigations against BahawalpurSuperintendent Police Rao MuhammadSaleem; Malir Development Authority TownPlanning director Siddiq Majid; formerBanker equity chairman Rauf Baksh Qadriand former Wapda SDO Jahangir Khan werealso closed due to lack of substantial evidenceagainst the accused. The NAB board alsoauthorised the closure of the investigationsagainst the World enterprises, World TradeHouse, World Auto Trade, World KoreanMotors and World Automobiles, since theiroutstanding liabilities had been amicablysettled between the MCB Bank and thedefaulters. A complaint against MPA JoailAmir Sahotra was transferred to the PunjabAnti-Corruption establishment as theamount reported to be embezzled had beenmisappropriated. The case of KarachiBuilding Control Authority Controller ofBuildings Nisar Ahmad Ansari wastransferred to the Sindh chief secretary.However, it was decided that the NAB willmonitor the case during a three-monthperiod and then decide on its progress.

US slaps sanctionson PIa

ISLAMABADoNLINe

In what appeared to be anger over non-restoration of NATO supplies, the US hasimposed more sanctions on PIA, mediareported on Wednesday. According toreports, PIA passengers, longing to travelto the US, would have to undergo patdowns and scrutiny of their luggage atthe Manchester airport, which accordingto the report, may take six hours to givego-ahead to the flight. The report saidthat the PIA will have to bear moreexpenses of parking, passenger’s mealand other expenditures.

PESHAWARSTAFF RepoRT

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) workers,led by their provincial leaders, observed the33rd death anniversary of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto,in a meeting organised by the People’s Doc-tors Forum (PDF) on Wednesday at the Pe-shawar Press Club.

Speakers at the meeting said the currentPPP office bearers have deviated from the visionof the party’s founder.

They said there was no place for corruptpeople in the party and stressed the need for ‘im-perative’ reforms within the party to dispel thedespondency among its workers.

Those who spoke on the occasion includedPDF President Dr Nisar Khan, Provincial Infor-mation Secretary Ayub Shah, former federal

minister Muzzafar Shah, Azam Afridi, Ghani GulMehsood and others.

A speaker said: “The ministers have con-fined the party to their families and relatives,forgetting the workers who rendered sacri-fices for it.

“If the philosophy and vision of ZA Bhuttohad been adopted by the government, Pakistanwould have never faced the crises it does today.”

Paying tribute to the founders of the PPP,they said it was because of those leaders thatdemocracy had flourished.

They added that it was because of theirservices that even opposition parties remem-bered them.

They stated that ZA Bhutto introduced socialand economic reforms in the country to benefitpeasants and labourers, who had been neglectedduring the military dictatorships.

They said Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto gathered allthe Islamic countries on one platform throughthe Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) tosettle their disputes and also enabled Pakistanto become an atomic power.

Pakistan needs an honest leader to pull it outof its current crises, they said, adding that theyhoped that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would solvethe country’s issues as its next prime minister.

They said Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto made the na-tion aware about politics and their rights.

Dr Nisar said the PPP had reconciledwith other parties to establish provincialgovernments.

Mian Muzafar Shah said 4th April was ablack chapter in the history of the country.

He claimed that the hanging of ZA Bhuttoand the assassination of Benazir Bhutto was a re-sult of international conspiracies.

ppp workers commemorate

Za Bhutto’s death anniversary

Imran Khan slamsviolent incidents inGilgit and Chilas

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06thursday, 5 april, 2012

News

NEW DELHIAFp

INDIA’S government and the armyfuriously denied on Wednesday an“alarmist” front-page newspaper re-port detailing how troop move-ments towards the capital in

January had spooked the cabinet.The Indian express claimed the unno-

tified nocturnal deployments had sparkedconcern about a possible coup at a timewhen relations between the head of the1.13-million-strong army and the govern-ment are strained.

It said the government had takenmeasures as a precaution on the night ofJanuary 16-17, including asking lookouts toidentify the troops involved and orderingpolice to take measures to slow traffic onthe highways into the capital.

“These are alarmist reports and shouldnot be taken at face value,” Prime MinisterManmohan Singh said outside parliament,adding that no one should work to lowerthe “dignity and respect” of the army chiefposition.

Defence Minister AK Antony, speakingat the launch of a nuclear-powered subma-rine in south India, told reporters the sug-

gestion the government had been worriedwas “absolutely baseless”.

“They (the army) will not do anythingagainst Indian democracy. They are truepatriots,” he declared.

The deployments — by a column ofmechanised infantry travelling in ar-moured personnel carriers and a separatecolumn of paratroopers — were “usual,natural activities”, he said.

Indian Army spokesman ColonelJagdeep Dahiya told AFP that the story inthe respected broadsheet was “baselessand incorrect”.

“Certain troops’ movements whichhave been reported were part of routinetraining as per standard operating proce-dures,” he said.

The express cleared its front-page forthe story under a dramatic three-line head-line stating: “The January night RaisinaHill (the political establishment) wasspooked: Two key Army units moved to-wards Delhi without notifying Govt.”

Quoting several unnamed sources, itsaid that the defence minister and theprime minister were informed and thetroops were ordered to halt. They werethen sent back to their bases in statesneighbouring the capital area.

The army explained afterwards thatthe deployments were to test the capabili-ties of the infantry to operate in fog and forthe paratroopers to link up with theirplanes.

While these reasons were initially“viewed with scepticism”, the express re-ported, the defence ministry had sincecome to the conclusion it was “a false alarmcaused by some non-adherence to stan-dard operating procedures.”

The incident was important because itunderlined the distrust between the armyand the government, the paper stressed inthe story which was jointly written by itshigh-profile editor Shekhar Gupta.

“The relationship between the armyand political leadership of the country is atan all-time low,” the spokesman for themain opposition, the Bharatiya JanataParty (BJP), Ravishankar Prasad, told re-porters. “The equilibrium between thecivilian leadership and the army must berestored and respected.”

India’s army chief VK Singh has had apublic falling out with his civilian bossessparked by his bid to stay in office for anextra year.

In January, the same day as the ma-noeuvres detailed in the express, he took

his case to the Supreme Court, asking un-successfully for his birth date as registeredin army records to be changed.

The general, a widely respected vet-eran who faces mandatory retirement thisMay at the age of 62, had claimed his birthdate had been wrongly recorded.

Since this dispute, he has embarrassedAntony by detailing how he was offered a$2.8 million bribe in 2010 to fix a supplycontract, a complaint which was not fol-lowed up by the government.

And last week, a letter he wrote to theprime minister complaining how India’stank fleet lacks ammunition, its air de-fences are “97 percent obsolete” and itselite forces need essential weapons wasleaked to the media.

Uday Bhaskar, a security analyst andformer head of the Institute for DefenseStudies and Analyses, told AFP that India’smilitary was “one of the most apoliticalarmies in the world. I don’t give any creditto this.” The country has very little historyof its disciplined army interfering in polit-ical affairs. After a 1984 army onslaughtagainst Sikh separatists in northwesternPunjab state, some Sikh soldiers mutinied,leading the government to put in placesafeguards against a coup.

MALIK TARIq ALI

Malik Barkat Ali died on 5 April 1946, ayear before creation of Pakistan, forwhich he had struggled all his life. At aspecial session of All India MuslimLeague held in 1946 attended by 470elected Muslim members of provincialassemblies, Quaid-e-Azam paid glowingtributes to him: “I am deeply grieved tohear the very depressing and sad newsof the sudden death of Malik Barkat Ali.He was from the very beginning a trueand loyal member of the MuslimLeague, and on all occasions, he ren-dered the greatest service to MuslimIndia. His advice and staunch supporton all occasions was of greatest value tothe League and myself. Muslim Indiahas lost in him a great man, and I havelost in him not only a colleague, a col-laborator, but also a great friend. Mydeepest sympathies go out to his familyin their bereavement for their irrepara-ble loss.”.

Malik Barkat Ali was elected twice toPunjab Legislature on Muslim League

ticket in 1937 and 1946. From 1937 to1944 he alone represented MuslimLeague on floor of Punjab Legislature.After a distinguished academic career,he taught at FC College and brieflyjoined government service only to re-sign in 1914. He became editor of eng-lish weekly, “The Observer” and whilethere in 1916 he completed his legalstudies gaining top position in LLB ex-amination of Punjab University. In aneditorial written on June 8, 1916 hewrote: “At the present time, whenclouds are thickening over the horizonof Indian Muslims, it is essential thatthe President of the Muslim League, atthe gathering at Lucknow must be pos-sessed of the rare quality of courage. Aswe look around in search of Muslimleaders, we must confess that the per-sonality of Mr Jinnah emerges as themost appropriate”. Malik Barkat Ali wasvery critical of Sir Michael O.Dwyer,Lt.governer of Punjab from 1913, whoimposed censorship asking proprietorsto sack him, but they chose to suspendpublication.

He participated in Muslim Leagueannual sessions held at Bombay, Ali-garh and Delhi in 1924, 1925 and 1926.Barkat Ali was a close associate of Al-lama Iqbal, with whom he shared iden-tical on major political issues. Theyboth opposed Jinnah Sikandar pact,which till todate has cast a gloom overthe unethical politics of Pakistan ingeneral and Punjab in particular. Ac-cording to this pact agreed in 1937 atLucknow, all muslim members of Pun-jab Legislature were required to becomemembers of Muslim League party inPLA. Unfortunately this was not donetill after Sikandar Hayat’s death on 26Dec 1942 and a tribal feud started be-tween Tiwanas led by Khizar Hayat ofShahpur and Khattars of Attock that ul-timately led to Khizar’s sacking fromLeague in1944. This association be-tween Allama Iqbal and Malik BarkatAli continued Iqbal’s death in 1938. On19 June 1930 Malik Barkat Ali and Al-lama Iqbal, jointly sponsored a resolu-tion with Gokal Chand and Nanak inLahore High Court Bar, condemning

unfair trial of Bhagat Singh. Mr Jinnahcame to Lahore on 29 April 1936, to or-ganize the Punjab Provincial electionBoard. He met Allama Iqbal at his resi-dence on1 May 1936, who assured himof his whole hearted support for for-mation of a parliamentary board. On8th May 1936, a joint press statementwas issued by Allama Iqbal, MalikBarkat Ali, Khalifa Shujauddin and PirTaj Din announcing support and coop-eration to Jinnah.

The Punjab Muslim League sessionheld on 12th May 1936 at Lahore electedAllama Iqbal as President, Malik BarkatAli and Khalifa Shujauddin as Vice Pres-idents, Ghulam Rasool as Secretary andAshiq Batalvi as joint Secretary. It wasdecided to make preparations for meet-ing of All-India Muslim League Councilto be held in Lahore in June 36. He wasamongst four members nominated byQuaid e Azam to prepare draft of La-hore Resolution on 21 March 1940. On22 March 1940 the Quaid presented La-hore Resolution in an open session ofthe League held at Lahore, where he

also informed the audience of a letterwritten by Lala Lajpat Rai to Bengals’sfamous leader CR Das, where he statedthat Hindus and Muslims are two differ-ent people who cannot be merged toform one nation. This resolution wasproposed by Maulana Fazal ul Haq on23 March 1940 and seconded by ChKhaliquzaman and supported byMaulana Zafar Ali Khan from Punjab,Sardar Aurangzeb, from Sarhad, Abdul-lah Haroon from Sind, Abdul HameedKhan from Madras, Abdul Rauf fromCP, Ismail from Bombay, Ibrahim fromChundrigar and Nawab Ismail fromBihar. The Pakistan Resolution wasadopted later at Madras Session ofAIML in April 1941 and at LegislaturesConvention at Delhi on 9 April 1946,where it was declared that Pakistan, amodern democratic welfare state willcomprise of Punjab, Sind, Balochistan,Sarhad, Bengal and Assam. Unfortu-nately, we as a nation, have betrayed thevision of our founding fathers.

The writer is a grandson of Malik Barkat Ali

malik Barkat ali — freedom fighter from Punjab

Pml-n secures

3 reserved na,

Pa seatsISLAMABAD

oNLINe

Three reserved seats of women have beencaptured by the Pakistan Muslim League-Naaz after the election at vacant seats inthe National Assembly and the PunjabAssembly. According to unofficial results,Seema Mohiuddin and Shaheen Shafeeqsucceeded at two reserved seats for womenin the NA and the only vacant reserved seatin PA occupied by the former member ofthe PA Shumaila Rana who resigned fromthe seat after being allegedly involved incredit card scandal. According to theelection Commission, appeals can besubmitted against the acceptance or non-acceptance of candidate’s credentials tillApril 6.

Parties demand

withdrawal of

Pol price hikeISLAMABAD

oNLINe

Political parties on Wednesday termed thereduction in petroleum prices by Rs 2 aseyewash and a joke with the masses anddemanded the government to completelywithdraw the recent increase. In theirreaction to the meager reduction in prices,politicians said that the reduction was notsufficient and demanded that thegovernment should withdraw the recentincrease completely while other stepsshould be taken to enhance tax collection.PML-N Informan Secretary Mushahidullahsaid that the government had failed tocontrol inflation in the country and thegovernance system was very poor. PTIDeputy Information Secretary AhmedJawad said that the regular increase inpetroleum prices was a serious issue, whichhad badly disturbed the economic life of acommon man. He said that the governmentshould increase the tax base and taxcollection system should be improved.Ahmed said that tax collection from thebusiness class and parliamentarians shouldbe enhanced, which would be helpful togenerate revenue for the country. The ANPalso demanded the government to withdrawthe prices. ANP Information SecretarySenator Zahid Khan said that thegovernment increased prices in rupees butin case of reduction, prices were reduced inpaisas. He said that prices increase gives aboost to inflation, which adds to miseries ofthe common man. JI Islamabad chief Aslamtermed the decrease as a joke with thepeople and a drama. He said that throughthis minor decease, the government haddecided to deceive the people.

Indian govt, army deny ‘coup fears’ report

KoHAT: Shopkeepers salvage their belongings from the rubble of Kotal plaza which was razed to the ground after an electricity short circuit on Wednesday. ONLINE

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Editor’s mail 11thursday, 05 april, 2012

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. Fax: +92-42-36298302. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk. Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively.

nHa and briberyWe shall all feel pleased and proud of

National Highway Authority (NHA) onan innovative way to control the briberyand commission culture in the depart-ment. All the high level officers in re-gional and construction units have beenasked to sign on an oath. The oath bindsthe officer or whoever is the signatorynot to take bribe-alias-commission fromany contractor, otherwise, will face curseof Allah and his Prophet (PBUH). Wepresume that after signing on the oath,the commission culture will be abolishedfrom NHA, and the government will savemillions of rupees which are being spenton anti-corruption department (who it-self is considered the most corrupt setup)and internal and external audits etc.

NHA has taken care of religious sen-sitivities and quite rightly replaced wordAllah with His alternate names such asBaghwan, to take the non-Muslim offi-cers on board as well. Are we justified topresume that prior to this oath, employ-ees’ service/contract conditions didn’t ad-dress the bribery issue? If yes, then whatwas the need to bring Allah’s curse as thefinal solution against bribery? And if no,then we shall be thankful to NHA for stillhaving few highways in the country.

Let’s wait for the results of such aforward-looking way to curb bribery. Incase of success, same could be followedby police, revenue, judiciary, income tax,customs and other federal and provincialgovernments-run departments.

Good luck to NHA for leading thecountry to a commission-free society.

MASOOD KHANJubail, Saudi Arabia

welfare projects?Sindh Minister for Fisheries, Mr

Zahid Ali Bhurgri has said that PakistanPeoples Party’s (PPP) current govern-ment wants Pakistan to become a welfarestate. He said that this democratic gov-ernment was giving relief to poor peoplethrough Benazir Income Support Pro-gramme (BISP), Wasila-e-Haq Pro-gramme and Benazir Bhutto ShaheedYouth Development Programme.

PPP leader Zahid Bhurgri also saidthat developed countries were appreciat-ing the BISP project. The question toZahid Bhurgri is: which country has ap-preciated the BISP project? It looks likeZahid Bhurgri doesn’t read or watchnews where economic experts are sayingthat PPP’s policies have hurt Pakistan’seconomy.

MUBASHIR MAHMOODKarachi

Using phone while drivingIn an unfortunate incident, some days

ago, one of my friends was badly injured.The cause of accident was negligent driv-ing. The driver was talking on a cell phonethat led to a lapse in his concentrationand he eventually lost control of his vehi-cle, bumping into a huge cargo truck.

Almost, nearly 3,000 Pakistani resi-dents have lost their lives because of ac-cidents related to a cell phone use whiledriving. Moreover, car crashes and tex-ting via cell phones while driving havebeen related more closely in recent years.Cell phones usage while driving has beenrated to be far more dangerous thandrunk driving.

I request our government to take se-rious action against the use of mobilephones while driving.

FARYAL RASHEEDKarachi

women’s health problemsCholecystitis is the inflammation of

the gallbladder causing severe rightupper abdominal pain. This could be dueto presence of stones or inflammation ofthe epithelium in the gallbladder block-ing the normal flow of bile which oftenleads to swelling of the gallbladder. Gall-bladder is a small organ that aids mainlyin fat digestion and concentrates bileproduced by the liver.

At the initial stages the pain might befelt in the right shoulder region, which asthe situation aggravates turns into un-bearable abdominal pain. Other symp-toms include nausea, vomiting, sweatingand restlessness. Recent studies haveshown this to be one of the most commonhealth issues leading to the removal ofgallbladder. Women between 20 and 60years of age are twice as likely to developgallstones as men. Gallstones are morecommon amongst overweight obesewomen with high fat intake or womenwho have recently lost a lot of weight.

Women with diabetes, on oral con-traceptives, cholesterol lowering drugs orundergoing estrogen therapy also standat a greater risk of gallstones. However atother times the causes for gallstones aresimply genetic. It is still not known whysome people form stones and others donot This letter is meant to create aware-ness of this health issue amongst womenof our society as ignoring it can furtheraggravate into spreading of infectionthroughout the body. Once a person isdiagnosed with gallstones the only treat-ment is to remove the gallbladder.

ANOSHA NIMRA SHAHABKarachi

City of lights?Karachi is considered the financial

hub of the country but the law and orderhere is not worth mentioning, let aloneworth trusting.

The government and coalition partiesseem to have failed in handling the situa-tion. In the past five days, the city hasendured more than 10 billion rupees, butno action has been taken by the govern-ment to control violence.

After the death of any politicalparty's worker, parties declare mourningand general strike in the city, which notonly affect traders but also other peopletoo who work on daily wages. I thinkstrikes are not a solution of the affairs ofKarachi. The government and its coali-tion parties should take note of this se-vere issue and safeguard the people.

MASOOMA JUNAIDKarachi

water reservoir in DaduSometime back, the Sindh govern-

ment decided to build water reservoir“Nai Gaaj” in Dadu in order to save rainwater and use it for constructive pur-poses. President Asif Ali Zardari, in viewof technical advice of Wapda, directedthem to complete the project. There wasno harm in doing so for the simple rea-son that this is the only project of its kindlaunched so far in Sindh.

It is sorry to say that as per press re-ports, an unnamed source related toPlanning Commission has termed it as adiversion of resources to Sindh at thecost of Balochistan.

It is a fact that no mega developmentproject was ever launched during theregimes of Nawaz Sharif (two tenures)and ex-military dictator General (retd)Pervez Musharraf benefiting the sons ofsoil in Sindh (more than a total period 17years). In view of this, if one or two proj-ects are launched in Sindh, there is noharm in it. Terming this as a diversion ofresources is highly regretful and objec-tionable and such assertion is wrong.

When Sardar Aseff (now in PTI) wasDeputy Chairman, Planning Commis-sion, he in flagrant violation of the Con-stitution, manoeuvred the ownership ofgigantic Thar coal deposits in Sindh tothe federal government and a notifica-tion was issued in this regard by PrimeMinister Gilani. Afterwards, on hue andcry of Sindh Chief Minister Syed QaimAli Shah, this unconstitutional notifica-tion was taken back.

I hereby warn Planning Commissionas well as Wapda to stop creating hatredagainst Sindh forthwith in the interest ofnational unity.

MOHAMMAD KHAN SIALKarachi

the phenomenon of mobile social networkingRalph Waldo emerson once said:

“The only way to have a friend is to beone.” We make friends because all of uswant to share. When we share with ourfriends the bond of friendship getsstronger. But the fast paced life of todayhas changed things for good. We usuallydo not have time to go visit our childhoodfriends.

Thanks to social networking that hasmade it all possible. Getting connectedwith friends is now just a click away. InPakistan, social networking sites are usedby people who have access to internet.But apart from major metropolitans ofthe country people either do not have in-ternet access or they simply cannot af-ford it.

Mobile phones have penetrated al-

most every town, village and city of Pak-istan. According to estimates more than60 percent of the population has mobilehandsets. In such a scenario mobile so-cial networking can bring people to-gether. Pring is one good example of arapidly growing mobile social network inPakistan.

Like a good friend, Pring keeps youcompany all the time. It helps you con-nect through your mobile handset withpeople you want to share your experi-ences with. Mobile social networking isone of the easiest and the quickest way toreach out to millions of people.

When it comes to mobile networkingor marketing for that matter, the ques-tion most people generally ask is aboutspamming. The unwanted marketing

content received through text messages isalways annoying and the idea of joining asocial SMS group or network sounds alittle too unsafe.

SMS generated content carries a lotof spam messages. You must have re-ceived such content yourself which usu-ally tells you to join an academy or getyour home appliances fixed. Pring hassystems in place that identify, warn andeven suspend spammers if necessary.Its social network is designed on theprinciple of ‘opt-in’ that leaves littleroom for spamming and unwanted con-tent.

Brands with business accounts can-not engage their target audience withouttheir consent. People are not pushed intofollowing a brand. Once they follow they

always have the choice to opt-out.World famous brands like Nokia,

djuice, Levi’s as well as celebrities andpoliticians are already using Pring to in-teract with people.

This is only the beginning of mobilesocial networking in Pakistan. Socialmedia exposure is going to help peoplenot only to interact and communicate butalso share information and spreadawareness. Mobile networking is an in-stant medium that is bound to empowerpeople and give voice to those who do nothave access to the internet. Mobile socialnetworks have the power to bring people,even from the remotest areas of thecountry, to the mainstream.

SYED ALI NAQVILahore

Respecting humanity

failure of the governmentI would like to thank the current gov-

ernment leaders for their brilliant per-formance. With an unstable dollarexchange rate, excessive loadsheddingand record breaking corruption, theywere able to stop the growth of our econ-omy and industrial sector. Now that theinternational donor agencies and loan or-ganisations have realised the level of cor-ruption in Pakistan and have stoppedtheir funding, the current governmentleaders have started taking out govern-ment loans from private banks.

Funds which are supposed to be usedfor industry and commerce to help im-prove the economy are now beingpumped into government loans andbonds. The result of all of this is that thelocal and international banks havestopped their credit facility to industries,which will not only retard the growth ofthe industrial sector, but will also causemany companies to close down, makingthousands of Pakistanis jobless. And thebest part is that all these governmentloans have to be paid for by the citizensof Pakistan (and their children and theirchildren) in the coming years.

HUMAIRA MOHSINKarachi

International cricketThe recently concluded T20 Cricket

League gives us a glimpse of people crav-ing for international cricket on our soil.The story of three young boys who

walked miles just to buy tickets for one ofthe matches at Pindi stadium, speaks alot about enthusiasm still present for thegame.

True to the disrespect that our rulersand opposition have for the people, thetwo sports channels; PTV and GeO arenot far behind. These channels insultviewers by indiscriminately cutting inwith commercials while the commentaryis still on. Ten Sports has picked this des-picable habit too only for our viewersduring Pakistan team matches.

KHURAM KHANLahore

leader on the riseIt has not been long since Maryam

Nawaz, daughter of Nawaz Sharif,stepped into politics, but the young ladyis gaining popularity rapidly. From thelaptop distribution ceremonies, the ladyhas picked up some fan following and herspeeches have shown that she possesses arather rare combination i.e., beauty withbrain. She has become a youth icon.

She is educated and probably the bestone to lead the youth. She might be rela-tively young but she is mature in her.Being a high-spirited and extremely en-ergetic individual, these traits will allowher to work solemnly for the people ofPakistan and to pave a road for develop-ment of the country.

Maryam’s entry into politics is a signof optimism. Her astute understanding ofthe present challenges faced by our coun-try and her eagerness to work for their

correction and to bring about prominentchanges and developments has broughthope to many people. Her presence inpolitics has filled a void in the presentpolitical scenario of Pakistan. She had togo through the sufferings of exile. HerNewsweek interview has also given a bet-ter insight to her personality and henceshows her potential.

MAJID TAMOORLahore

Holiday!I would like the government to look

into the issue of killings in various citiesof the country. This has become a com-mon thing now which is destroying ourcountry's future. Children have becomeused to of the unexpected holidays thatthey have started praying that someoneshould die and any political party an-nounces a holiday.

These holidays are just to show thepower of the political parties in which nopatriot is interested. They are just de-stroying the future and making Pakistanweaker. No one is safe here now. When ason leaves his home for education, amother prays for him to come back homesafely. Wake up before it’s too late to saveour beloved country. The governmentshould seriously take some steps tomaintain peace in the country. Streetvendors and daily wagers are the worstaffected people as they have to sleep onempty stomach.

RAMLA MUNIRKarachi

The dismal law and order situation of Karachi has paralysedthe daily routine of the residents of this city and created seriousproblems for them. The killing of innocent people shows the in-different attitude to violence that has seeped into our society.Why are we divided into so many sects, races and ethnicities?Why cannot we become one nation?

It seems that as a society, we have lost our rationality andspirit. We are fast turning into a mob and not a structured andsophisticated nation with norms and values that we are sup-posed to be. It is high time we started thinking about our youth,country and future.

I humbly request all political forces and government institu-

tions to focus on working towards developing a peaceful society.The government, politicians, law enforcement agencies and theresidents of the metropolis must come forward and play theirrole in curbing this vicious cycle of violence that we go throughevery few days.

Target killings, bloodshed and strikes that we have becomeso used to, will one day destroy us. They are not going to endthe evil in society but will only act as a driving force to instigatefurther violence. Please respects others’ lives and respect hu-manity.

IQRA SOHAILKarachi

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Comment12thursday, 05 april, 2012

Arif NizamiEditor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36298305-10 Fax: 042-36298302Karachi – Ph: 021-34330811-3 Fax: 021-34330900Islamabad – Ph: 051-2287414-6 Fax: 051-2287417

Web:www.pakistantoday.com.pk Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

He was, a man with a mission

on Bhutto

Bring up Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, if you want an endless debate. Hismere mention continues to be as divisive as the man himselfwas charismatic.

Most interesting is how he is used. Deify him to get votes.Demonise him to denounce his party. Deify him to denounce hisparty on the basis on how it has abandoned his principles. His meremention is an industry because of the versatility of its applications.Fitting, really, for a man who was a set of contradictions himself.

The good points? What would be his greatest achievements? The1973 constitution? An achievement, yes, the consensus. Waltzinginto India with a piece of paper and returning with 90,000prisoners of war? Yes, only his sort could pull that across. Thenuclear programme? To some, maybe, but at times it is an albatrossaround our necks. Leftist policies? even his own party admits tosome myopia in those.

No. Bhutto’s greatest legacy is the jiyala. And for that, he paidthe ultimate price. By facing certain death with a dignified, steelyresolve that could shame the most valiant of war heroes. That actcontinues to inspire millions. Come every military takeover, comeevery prospect of military takeover, the question always remains:the Leagues we will handle, but what shall we do about the jiyalas?

Since he was elected by the people, never, ever should he becompared with military dictators. But dictatorial he was. Hevictimised - and later, outlawed - the leftist NAP on no solidgrounds. His FSF and, yes, the ISI played hell with the politicalopposition. He disastrously courted the clerics within the countryand without; engaged them against the communists in Afghanistan.Another precursor to Ziaist policies was his suppression of thepress.

The functions the other day commemorating his anniversaryhad much theatrics. It isn’t a PPP rally without the colour. Butdespite the rhetoric spewed there and elsewhere, how does the partyof today compare to him? Like pygmies to a giant. The man, despitehis flaws, had a vision. He had things figured out. He wasaccompanied by intellectuals, thinkers, scholars. The PPP of todaydoesn’t seem to have its act together when it comes to matters ofgovernance. Be it the power crisis or issues of inflation, there is a bitof a complacent auto-pilot feel to the scheme of things in Islamabad.A sharp contrast from the man who had an encyclopaedic grasp ofmost topics under the sun. A man who appeared to have a plan.

Much is made of President Zardari’s catlike ability to navigatethrough Pakistan’s choppy waters. And it actually is quite a feat. Butthe common man wants a plan. Or, at the very least, the semblanceof a plan.

Sectarianism rears its ugly, ugly head

a destabilising conflict

Wars fought and conflicts initiated in the name of religionhave mostly been motivated by political rivalries orcrude materialistic interests. This is as true about themedieval crusades as it is about the Afghan jihad

launched over three decades back. The ongoing sectarian terrorismin Pakistan has been widely interpreted as the offshoot of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. While the real actors behind the conflicts of thetype benefited from the conflagrations they had ignited, commonpeople suffered and countries were destabilised in the process.

Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan which are of great strategicimportance have been chosen by communal terrorists as theirhunting ground. The KKH is the sole land route which providesChina and Central Asia an access to the Persian Gulf. It is thereforeof crucial economic value for Pakistan. Any sectarian upheaval inthe region hits the country’s vital interests. The ongoing conflict inGilgit-Baltistan is the sequel of the February incident when aterrorist group stopped buses and vans on the KKH, verified theidentity of the passengers before killing 16 members of the Shiacommunity. Over the last few weeks, tensions continued to mountin the region leading to the tragic events of Tuesday when nineinnocent persons were killed near Chilas by a mob and another fivedied in Gilgit city. Unless the government acts firmly, moreinnocent people across the sectarian divide are likely to be targeted.The region has to be completely peaceful to serve as a major traderoute in days to come

Balochistan is another sensitive province where a terroristcommunal network continues to target the Hazaras. While theadministration has fully concentrated on the Baloch militants, thesectarian terrorists continue to act with impunity. The province hasalso been used as a launching pad against Iran by Jundullah whichis a sectarian-cum-ethnic terrorist network. The Sunnis and Shiashave lived together for centuries with peace. even now, votershardly ever take into consideration the sectarian background of thecandidates. Both communities are duly represented in the army andother vital institutions. Sectarian terrorism has to be crushed withan iron hand to ensure stability and maintain peace in Pakistan.

Our real ‘jugular’What we have done to Gilgit-Baltistan

Like today’s politicians andstrategic experts do not knowhow Balochistan came to be apart of Pakistan, they simi-larly do not know how Gilgit-

Baltistan came to be apart of Pakistan.For the sake of recall, Gilgit-Baltistanused to be a part of the Kashmir statethat the people freed from Dogra raj.Post-independence, the people of GBvoluntarily decided to join the federationof Pakistan and wanted to be given thestatus of a federating units like the oth-ers. But the then rulers of Pakistan,pleading on the basis of the lack of an ad-ministrative infrastructure, stated thatthey would have to be part of the Pak-istan federation for the time being with-out being declared a separate province.They would be given that due status oncethe requisite administrative infrastruc-ture was in place. Given our nationalpredilection for amnesia, no one remem-bered this pledge even though the peopleof GB constantly kept reminding govern-ments and repeatedly asked for recogni-tion of their identity. In 1963, animportant part of GB was given underthe control of China without asking fromthe people. Given their allegiance to andlove for Pakistan, the local populace ac-cepted this unjust decision. Finally, theincumbent government came throughon the historical promise of giving themprovincial status.

It is pertinent to mention here thatit is the people of GB, after the people ofeast Pakistan, who fought their war ofindependence themselves, got their free-dom and joined Pakistan of their ownvolition. Of Pakistan’s current territory,there was widespread disagreement inthe then province of NWFP. The RedShirts movement boycotted the referen-dum and because of that boycott, theprovince became a part of Pakistan afterthe referendum. The Sindh Assemblyhad passed a resolution in favour of Pak-istan but there was no noteworthy ex-pression of desire from the people there.The province became a part of Pakistanaccording to the plan of partition. Theresolution that had been passed in 1938,in fact was passed in the assembly of theprovince formed after separation fromthe Bombay presidency. During the elec-tions for this assembly, the issue of Pak-istan had never come up. The resolutionwas passed 1938 whereas the resolutionfor Pakistan was presented in 1940.

Similarly, the Pakistan movement inPunjab was also restricted to a few days.The elections that took place in Punjabbefore independence, the MuslimLeague had not gotten a majority inthem. Along with Hindus and Sikh, the

party of the Punjabi feudals, the Union-ist Party, formed a coalition governmentand the chief ministership was given toKhizar Hayat Tiwana. During this time,the movement for Pakistan had alreadygained steam. Thus, the Muslim Leaguealso protested against that governmentin Punjab and registered their participa-tion in the Pakistan movement. SomeMuslim Leaguers were arrested. Somefeudals also had an R&R session as jail-birds. But this agitation in Punjab wasn’teven a miniscule portion of the entiretyof the Pakistan movement and the sacri-fices rendered for it. Punjab’s englishgovernor hinted to all the Unionists thatsince the Pakistan movement was aboutto achieve its end, it was better for themto join the ML. And as the night fell, allthe Unionist became Leaguers and WestPunjab became a part of Pakistan. IfPunjab had prepared it case to presentto the Radcliffe Award, then Ferozepurand Gurdaspur could have become partsof Pakistan. Batala especially wouldnever have gone to India. But the Pun-jabi Muslim League was barely able tofight its own case properly which is anindication of its seriousness of purpose.

However, returning to the point Iwas making, it was the people of eastPakistan that had rendered the most sac-rifices for the creation of Pakistan andafter them, the people of GB who gottheir territory freed from an oppressorand joined Pakistan. The decision abouteast Pakistan was also taken by peoplewho had no remarkable contribution tothe creation of Pakistan. And now whatis being done in GB is also being done byelements who never fought for the causeof Pakistan.

What did we lose after losing eastPakistan? Those who are pushing thiscountry deep into a quagmire in thename of Islam still have no idea abouthow grave that loss was. The leadershipof east Pakistan would never have letPakistan be embroiled in the Afghanwar. The Kashmir problem would possi-bly have been solved. Just like India,Pakistan would be on the road to rapiddevelopment. We would be standingwith dignity in the comity of nations.Our society would have been free fromthe scourge of violence. No OBL wouldhave been ensconced safely in our quar-ters and no Hafiz Saeed would have had

the gall to support foreign terrorists. Wehave seen all this because we let eastPakistan go. And what is happening inGB now, if I allude even perfunctorily toit, it would scare the daylights out ofmost.

Consider: What is the geographicallocation of GB? On the one hand, it joinswith KP and on the other with AzadKashmir. The Karakoram Highwaypasses through it and that is where ourand China’s territories meet. North tothat is Wakhan strip which is a part ofAfghanistan. But this is the area whichdirectly joins Pakistan to the landmassof Central Asia. China is conductingmany great developmental worksin GB.China is going to build a big water reser-voir in this area, 80 percent of the ex-penditure for which China will bearitself. This Chinese reservoir will act likea lifeline for our Daimer-Basha dam. Ifthis reservoir is not built, the Daimer-Basha dam will be but a pipedream. Youmust also know that the fountainhead ofour aquatic lifeline i.e. the River Indus isalso situated in GB.

I wrote in my previous column thatif any flight from Indian territory toAfghanistan were to take fifteen min-utes, it would be from this area. You flyfrom Occupied Kashmir to GB fromwhere you fly to Wakhan in a matter ofminutes. Now look at our relations withIndia and the US. Look at their capabil-ities and look at our own and you willclearly know what I am worried about. Ifwe lose control over GB, the one that wenever actually established, what wouldbe the consequences for that?

eighty percent of GB’s people belongto the Fiqh Ja’afria. They are a peacefulpeople. During Zia-ul-Haq’s reign, theSipah-e-Sahaba started terrorist activi-ties in the region which have now gaineda lot of momentum. Gilgit has been in acurfew for the last three days. Corpseslitter the roads and no one dare pickthem up. Sectarian hatred is fermentingin South Punjab and our tribal areas andreaching that region. Kashmir is the‘jugular vein’ without which we havebeen living for 64 years. But if someenemy gets hold of our jugular vein ofGB, we will definitely not have 64 years…

The writer is one of Pakistan’s mostwidely read columnists.

By Nazir Naji

The incumbent government has once again increasedpetroleum prices in the country, making it evenharder for the common masses to sustain their daily

lives. Though the government has brought some reductionoff late in petroleum prices, but that has not been to the sat-isfaction of the common man neither has it assuaged theirworries in any way.

It was not long ago that the government increased pe-troleum prices but the latest one with a great upward hikehas embittered and angered the people a lot.

An upward spiral of price hike is usually initiated withan increase in petroleum prices. First and foremost, it is the

transport sector that increases their fares without any re-straint or fear of the authorities that are bound to checkthem with due regularity in this regard. The result is obviousin the shape of scuffles witnessed on an almost daily basisbetween drivers and travellers.

People are unable to bear the brunt of another price hikeare crying for the government to take back the decision.Their ire is obvious from the widespread demonstrationacross the country.

The precarious law and order situation has already takena toll on the masses while the price hike and unemploymentin the country are only compounding the masses’ miseries.

– Translated from the original Pashto by Abdur RaufKhattak

on petroleum pricesDaily Khabroona

Regional press

KHI 05-04-2012_Layout 1 4/5/2012 1:47 AM Page 8

Comment 13thursday, 05 april, 2012

Two days ago, the mediawent ballistic about theprice rise in petroleum

products. every headline wasemotionally charged telling thenation that it was beingharshly treated beyond reason.There are times when unpopu-lar steps are absolutely neces-sary and rational presentationof the step must be heard too.

Right below one suchheadline, for the first time wasan advertisement from thegovernment’s fuel ministry ad-vising conservation of fuel re-sources. It stated the realpercentage of fuel imports andadvised, ‘use less’. This, I be-lieve, is the answer to our cur-rent problem of rising fuelprices. But, no it isn’t accept-able; simply because we won’tdo a reality check and themedia will not permit it.

Look, fuel prices in Pak-istan are below those than inneighbouring counties and theworld at large. But this fact farfrom satisfies those that com-ment or wish to take politicalmileage by creating agitationand despair. You can possiblyargue, ridiculously, that theycan afford it. My cabby fromHeathrow yesterday looked atthe sparse, for London, trafficand said people are just notable to afford cars. When I toldhim that the latest figures re-leased by car manufacturersstated an increase of 20-25%sales. He said, obviously theyare parked in the drive andpeople are thinking twice be-fore using them due to the highfuel prices.

It’s easy to make emotionalstatements but difficult to con-trol the results. Yes, fuel prices

are high for our developingeconomy. Therefore, we needto take steps to use less fuel,not have the government sub-sidise fuel prices at the cost ofdevelopment. The net sufferersfrom insufficient developmentare the people themselves. Asthey are by an increase in thecost of living. It is a delicatebalance that economic man-agers need to maintain. Thisfact must be appreciated anddefinitely not ignored whileopining on economic measuresaffecting daily lives.

Let us argue that our peo-ple get precious little in theform of services and that sub-sidies are the only actual bene-fits they derive. Perhaps a casecan be made out for this but itboils down to the fact thatthese subsidies will eat us outof house and home. Basic serv-ices which are the responsibil-ity of the state, funded fromgood economic growth andgovernment’s revenue from thetax system, can only be im-proved if there is balanced de-velopment. In Pakistan, wehave two burning issues. Firstis the rising population, a fac-tor which has been admirablycontained by our neighbours.And second is heavy subsidisa-tion of almost everything dueto historically poor planning,leaving little to no room forfurther development andmaintenance of services.

So how is the resourcemanagement to succeed whenemotional outcries incited bythe media and opinion makersforce economic managers tosuccumb to unrealistic de-mands? The truth is that be-cause of a lack of growth due todecades of following the policyof least resistance, we are atthe horns of a dilemma. Duringthe fuel crisis of the ’70s whenthe western world was crip-pled, economic managers re-sponded with harsh measuresto curtail the national fuel bill.Prices were raised in accor-dance with the cost of crude,but at the same time steps weretaken to encourage less use offuel. People were advised touse one vehicle to carry four ormore people to work. Road

lanes were created to give pri-ority to such ‘people carriers’.They were encouraged to usepublic transport, less heatingand air-conditioning. Theseare some of the innumerablemeasures. In essence, they allsucceeded and a culture of con-servation developed. Overtime, this has paid huge divi-dends.

Not once have I read orheard media sponsored reportsencouraging people to followsteps that will allow the coun-try to regain even a normal de-velopment agenda.Governments in similar situa-tions have taken tough meas-ures. In Africa and thePhilippines, the use of cars ispermitted based on odd oreven registration plates on dif-ferent days of the week. In the-ory, this curtails even thewealthy to using only one car aday. Why in Pakistan doesevery one coming from onehome use a different car? Hasthe media ever considereddoing a report on this abuse? Iremember, as a kid, a businessfamily close to us would travelin one car, five of them (carswere bigger in those days), toand back from work each day.It’s time the media accepted itssocial responsibility anddrummed this into our skulls24/7.

The state goes beyond thisgovernment or those intendingto govern or even those tryingto govern under wraps. Incit-ing people to agitation, hopingfor mobs to invade the streets,creating a picture of a countryfermenting is severely under-mining. This is the goose thatlays the golden egg for everyPakistani, be they common cit-izens or in authority. WhenPakistan’s credibility is ques-tioned and a portrayal ofshambles is presented not justthe country suffers but the veryability of anyone being able togovern, forget the rhetoric,comes into dispute. As Pakista-nis ensure the golden egg doesnot ferment.

The writer may be con-tacted via e-mail at imran-mhusain@gmail.com

Behind the incendiary headlines lies the solemn truth

Guzzle less fuelThe definitive Delhi novel not yet written

“Ruined by reading”

Random ThoughtsBy Imran Husain

Last week, my spy in HarperCollinsIndia told me that Pakistani bloggerRaza Rumi is almost done writing a

non-fiction book on Delhi.How on earth can a Pakistani write about

India’s capital?By the way, have you read the definitive

Delhi novel? (No, it’s not Ahmad Ali’s Twi-light in Delhi. )

Of course, you haven’t read The Delhinovel. I’m still writing it but last night Idreamt that The New York Times carried a re-view of my novel! Here it is:

“Ruined by Reading,” Mayank AustenSoofi’s affecting first novel, begins as a sort ofdiary entries of a lonely book lover. What nov-els to buy today? Where to find a soul mate?What to do in the evening? Can I read the en-tire Proust? Should I really buy a Khaled Hos-seini? Will I again return to the good old JaneAusten this morning?

While such oddly unfocused questionsmay sound banal, they provide the narrativebeginning of a novel that turns out to be asstrange as it is powerful, a novel that is Bald-winian in its ambitious tackling of alternative-ness, loneliness and big-city life, butself-absorbed to the point of narcissism.

A newspaper reporter who grew up inDelhi, India, Mr Soofi creates a hystericalstory of an enduring romantic passion and alove of books that juxtapose into each other inchapters as short as a newspaper column thathe writes for a Pakistani paper.

Set in Delhi against a backdrop of culturaland social taboos, his story de-picts the catastrophic confluenceof events – it remains unclear tillthe end that they were real or justthe fevered imaginations of theprotagonist who is an aspiringnovelist – that bring about threesuicides: by consuming arsenic,by being devoured in a fire and byjumping from the southern towerof Jama Masjid mosque.

Although Mr Soofi’s graphi-cally-depicted intimate scenescombine with an I-Me-Myself ob-session to create the impressionof a coming-of-age-declaration-disguised-as-a-fiction (his workhas already been compared byIndian critics to that of GonzaloDaveouz Melcón), the most mov-ing, revelatory and introspectivemoments in “Ruined by Reading”do not occur on the double bed oraround the family dining table;they are to be found in a sufishrine, at a Mughal emperor’stomb, in the ladies coach of ametro train.

Mr Soofi does a marvelousjob of conjuring the inner worldof a serious booklover, his sense

of hardbounds and first editions, the joy of re-readings, the pleasure of buying even if notreading those books, the frustration of notfinding the desired translation and a single-minded pursuit which wouldn’t care to con-sider the moral argument of stealingsomebody else’s precious volume. One of thepeculiarities of the protagonist is that hewould often “go to Mughal princess Jaha-nara’s tomb, sniff some hash, sprawl down onthe cool marble floor and sleep.”

Parallel to this love of reading, especiallythe works of Jane Austen and the novel ofArundhati Roy, runs a quest to find true love.Mr Soofi’s central character, other than rum-maging forgotten books in Delhi’s various in-dependently-owned bookstores, is almostfrantically hunting for a lover in the city’s var-ious ghettos, tombs, mosques, discos, cafés,parks, buses, markets and ruins and thereby,almost unconsciously, making this the mostdefinitive modern-day Delhi novel.

Through this young man’s egoisticalworld, we are introduced to his family, friendsand lovers. There is his comrade-in-writing,Geroge Wickham, a fellow Arundhati Royreader and an english teacher in BritishCouncil, who has come from england andmeets a terrible fate. There is his friend Abdul– who appears in the novel only after his un-timely death – and Abdul’s grief-strickenmother, a Jane Austen devotee. Both motherand son together speed up the growing mad-ness of our hero. And then there’s the sensibleLahore-born Jalal, the ice-cool Mr Darcy ofthis fast-paced, crazy novel, who is actually aDracula-in-disguise.

“Ruined by Reading” also raises questionsabout the craft of novel-writing. How much ofit can be soaked from the surrounding world?How much fact has to be peddled into a fic-tion and how to make the latter look real andyet not compromise with its novelistic dimen-sions? And is it ethical to discreetly borrowsnippets from the lives of real people andtransplant them into what is passed off as awork of art?

If Mr Soofi is assured in his narrativepace, the high melodramatic quotient be-comes a little overbearing and threatens tobring down the haunting magic of his remark-able tale. Towards the climax, the plot losesits remaining coherency and rushes to a racy,breathless, exhilarating motion blur wherefact becomes fiction (or is it otherwise?) andthe reader is left hanging in wonder as thenovel ends in a violent splash. Mr Soofi hasmade a promising debut and there is everyreason to look forward to his second novel.

Mayank Austen Soofi lives in a library.He has one website and four blogs. Thewebsite address: thedelhiwalla.com. Theblogs: Pakistan Paindabad, Ruined ByReading, Reading Arundhati Roy andMayank Austen Soofi Photos

Delhi CallingBy Mayank Austen Soofi

KHI 05-04-2012_Layout 1 4/5/2012 1:47 AM Page 9

Why did Salman avoidBig B?

MUMBAI: well, this was certainly expected.

Bollywood’s bad boy Salman Khan chose not

to bump into amitabh Bachchan during the

rehearsals of their IPl 5 opening ceremony

performances. the starry event saw many

Bollywood bigwigs gracing the mega event

that included the likes of Priyanka Chopra,

Kareena Kapoor and many others. It was

indeed a night when “so-called” foes shared

a common platform resulting in an awkward

situation. one such case was that of

Priyanka and Kareena Kapoor’s. But Salman

was quick enough to avoid a rendezvous. a

source said, “Since Salman got to the venue

around the time amitabh was rehearsing on

the stage, he chose to wait it out in his

vanity van before he came on the stage.” for

those who are wondering why Salman

avoided Big B, here’s the answer. Salman

was dating aishwarya rai, who is now Big

B’s daughter-in-law. Hence Salman’s

conscious effort to avoid the legendary

actor. meanwhile, Kolkata Knight rider

owner, Shah rukh Khan was conspicuous of

his absence at the event. was Salman the

reason? AGeNCIeS

14 thursday, 5 april, 2012

IN LIMELIGHT

NeW YoRK: Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewanperform during the 2012 Concert for theRainforest Fund. AFp

MUMBAI: Karishma Kapoor poses during thelaunch of the McDonald’s ‘SpongeBobSquarepants Happy Meal’. AFp

NeW YoRK: Meryl Streep performs during the2012 Concert for the Rainforest Fund. AFp

NeW YoRK: Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks attendthe after party for the 2012 Concert for theRainforest Fund. AFp

CHENNAIAGeNCIeS

BOLLYWOOD and cricket blendedseamlessly to make for a glitzyopening ceremony of the fifth edi-tion of the Indian Premier League(IPL) night with a special perform-

ance by Hollywood’s Katy Perry. Perry, whoseshort-lived marriage in India took place twoyears ago, injected energy into the crowd withher desi chic blingy choli, maang tikka andbindis and her top single ‘Teenage Dream’.Perry also adopted the colourful desi avatarfor her first performance in the country, whereshe tied the knot with now estranged husband

Russell Brand in 2010. Tens of thousands ofpeople at the YMCA ground cheered lustily asAmitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Prab-hudeva, Kareena Kapoor and PriyankaChopra went through their routines during apulsating two-hour colourful ceremony.Amitabh, who made his first large-scale publicappearance post his abdominal surgeries, setthe mood for the show by rendering a poempenned by Prasoon Joshi. His words wereaimed to bring the spirit of cricket alive, andBig B’s baritone only added more soul to it.Following this, musical duo Colonial Cousinsput together an energetic symphony of soundswith DJ Ravi Drums and Soth African percus-sionist group 1st Project. Priyanka put up amesmerising performance on her latest hits,and stunned the audience with an aerial act.She set the mood for some dancing as shemoved around in the audience, urging crick-eters to dance. Kareena was another star per-former. Be it ‘Chhammak chhallo’ or ‘Dil meramuft ka’, she stole the hearts of the audienceaway with her perfect moves and lively per-formance. It was Salman’s ‘Dhinka chika’ per-formance, which was truly Desi. Dressed inred pants, Salman made a dramatic entry atopa truck with dancers, and his own cutout high-lighted with bulbs. He danced on several of histracks like ‘Teri meri kahaani’, ‘Bodyguard’,‘Munni badnaam’, ‘You wanna partner’. Theopening ceremony set the tone for the tourna-ment beginning that features nine teams andsome of the world’s best cricketers.

Katy Perrystuns at IPLopening ceremony

LAHORE: This April marks the fifth consecutive PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week; the third yearof prêt a porter fashion by the Pakistan Fashion Design Council. The PFDC Sunsilk FashionWeek will take place in Lahore, from the 13th to 16th April. The fashion week will be showcasing24 luxury, prêt a porter designer collections across four days. The PFDC will also be holding two

days of designer voile shows on 14th and 15th April. For their fifth PFDCSunsilk Fashion Week the council has also diversified their styling portfolio

introducing three distinct make up and stylist teams: Toni and Guy,Khawar Riaz and Maram and Aabroo. This weeks’ luxury/prêt

participating design houses include: Adnan Pardesy, Akif, AliXeeshan, Ammar Belal, AZZA by Azeeza Desai Khan, Élan byKhadijah Shah, Fahad Hussayn, FnkAsia, HSY, Karma, Mohsin,Muse, Nickie Nina, Republic by Omar Farooq, Sadaf Malaterre,

Sania Maskatiya,, The House of Kamiar Rokni, Zara Shahjahan& Zonia Anwaar. HSY and his team will lead show

production including choreography with MaheenKardar Ali and Zara Shahjahan for front stagemanagement. Mohsin Ali and Akif Mahmood willmanagethe exhibition area with Fahad Hussayn andAli Xeeshan working alongside the style teams forhair and makeup. Kamiar Rokni and Asim Naeemwill oversee green room management. The event isbeing coordinated by the Rteam, with foreign media

management by Latitude and PR by Lotus. NeWS DeSK

PfDC Sunsilk to launch third fashion week

Karan Joharslams Priyanka and herfriends? MUMBAI: all is not well in Priyanka Chopra

land. even though the talented actress is trying

hard to steer away from all controversies about

her link up with Shah rukh Khan, the fiasco on

the alleged affair continues. So much so that

now, filmmaker Karan Johar has openly blasted

Priyanka. It all began when news of Priyanka’s

growing closeness to King Khan started doing

the rounds. gauri Khan and King Khan started

keeping a safe distance from her. and when

gauri and SrK started maintaining a distance,

how could good friend Karan Johar do anything

different? even though Karan Johar was on

extremely friendly terms with PC and had even

casted her in ‘agneepath’, thanks to her and

SrK’s strain relationship, Karan started ignoring Priyanka as well. In an interview to a tabloid, Priyanka’s friends

criticised Karan’s absurd behaviour stated that Priyanka was hurt by Karan’s change of attitude. “at a recent party

while he (Karan) was feeding her (PC) cupcakes, she heard rumours of him bitching her out,” the friend said. while

Karan’s name was nowhere mentioned in the article, it was very evident that her friends were discussing Johar.

without taking any name, Johar was ready with his repartee and tweeted, “Using their hired Pr machinery and

hiding behind so called “friends” to get news into tabloids is nothing but spineless and lame!!! Some people need to

wake up and smell the Koffee!!! get a reality check before its too late!!! grow up!!! and dont mess with

goodness....(sic)”. while Priyanka has maintained a stoic silence on the entire matter, her friend’s comments have

surely landed her in some trouble with the a-listers of the film industry. AGeNCIeS

AkshayKumarrubbishesNo1 raceMUMBAI: while Bollywood seems to

be obsessed with the number one

tag, akshay Kumar begs to differ.

the actor says he is not in the race

to be tagged as number one. “we all

work in this film industry. we all

work together. we are not horses at

mahalakshmi race course who are

tagged with nos. like one, two or

three,” akshay said. the actor

doesn’t like being compared to

Salman Khan, who gave hit action

films like ‘Dabangg’ and ‘Bodyguard’.

Sonakshi Sinha, who worked with

Salman and teams up with akshay

in ‘rowdy rathore’, feels the same.

She said: “Salman Khan is ‘Dabangg’

and akshay Kumar is ‘Khiladi’ of

Bollywood.” AGeNCIeS

KHI 05-04-2012_Layout 1 4/5/2012 1:48 AM Page 10

15

AMSTeRDAM: Wax figures of Britishprince William and Kate Middeltonare pictured at Madame Tussaudsduring their unveiling. AFp

SINGApoRe: JohnAbraham and AkshayKumar share a lightmoment at the worldpremiere of ‘Housefull2: The Dirty Dozen’.ReUTeRS

NeW YoRK: Rosanne Cash, Sir eltonJohn and Sting perform during the 2012Concert for the Rainforest Fund. AFp

LOS ANGELES AGeNCIeS

IF a film is ever made about Whitney Houston, Rihanna says she would be ho-noured to play her. While such a project has yet to be announced, speculationhas naturally run rampant since the February 11 passing of the music icon as towho would be the ideal candidate to take on such a role. In addition to the Bar-badian songstress, other names that have been thrown about include Jennifer

Hudson, Brandy, Jordin Sparks and ‘Californication’ actress Meagan Good, who re-cently said she and Houston had actually begun discussions about a possible movie forGood to star in. As for Rihanna, who has yet to receive any calls regarding a biopic,Britain’s The Telegraph quoted her as saying, “That would be something that I wouldhave to give my entire life to do because I would want to really pull it off. That’s a huge,huge role and whoever does it has to do a good job.” The singer went on to cite Houstonas one of her idols. “My first song that I remember falling in love with was a WhitneyHouston song-’I Will Always Love You.’ All of her music actually was always played inmy house, with Mariah Carey and Céline Dion.” Meanwhile, 24-year-old Rihanna willbe flexing her acting muscle in the soon-to-be-released ‘Battleship’.

Rihanna wants to portrayWhitney Houston

Brands Just Pretpresents fashionville 4

KARACHINeWS DeSK

Fashionville 4 was conducted at Brands Just Pret, a multi brandstore located at Dolmen Clifton Mall. Brands Just Pret hostsFashionville, a regular series of events conducted where a groupof designers come together to exhibit their products rangingfrom clothes, accessories, shoes, jewelry. Fashionville 4, thefourth in this series of events, was held at Brands Just Pret withfour designers. The designers were Amrah Khan, Bailin, NabilaMurtaza,Najma Zubair and SNL. Nabila Murtaza SAID: “This isa vibrant collection boosting an array of colours in smart sum-mer casuals. Simply a must have this season available at brandsjust pret.” Customers raved over the collections, and found theminnovative, interesting and reasonably priced. The collectionswere based on international Spring/Summer recommendations

such as a colorfulpalette made up ofcanary yellows,deep reds and vi-brant oranges suchas tangerine.Brands Just Pretopened at DolmenClifton Mall in De-cember, and sincethen has launchednumerous brandsat their flagshipstore designed byNajmi Bilgrami. Be-sides clothes, thestore also stocks ajewelry designerNaaj by Najia Anisas well as shoes byFlitz X and bags byLimited editionsBags and Clutches.

Country stars slam

Kutcher for aCM

appearanceLOS ANGELES

AGeNCIeS

Ashton Kutcher is really having akiller week. On Sunday, the actorsent the Internet into overdrivewhen it was announced he would beplaying Steve Jobs in an upcomingbiopic-thereby causing Apple enthu-siasts all over the world to scratchtheir heads in confusion and wonderif they had been a victim of thelamest April Fool’s prank ever. (Un-fortunately, it turns out the castingchoice is real and not some AprilFool’s ruse). And then later that day,the recently separated star showedup to Academy of Country Music

Awards, wearing a ten-gallon hat and over-the-top county westernwear, to present Female Vocalist of the Year award to MirandaLambert. In an interesting move, also opted to do his own terriblerendition of George Strait’s ‘I Cross My Heart’ and consequentlyoffended a lot of the country music community, who were still justwondering why Ashton, who has nothing to do with music let alonecountry music, was even on the stage. Apparently Lambert was notamused by the onstage antics. In fact, the singing sensationtweeted: “Was Ashton Kutcher making fun of country or is it justme? Watching it back now and I’m kinda wondering?” And Lam-bert wasn’t the only country crooner who was miffed by Mr ‘Twoand a Half Men’, singer Justin Moore tweeted his disdain from theMGM Grand Garden Arena, writing, “Seen Ashton kutcher at theacms tonight. What a douche! I don’t care for people making amockery of the way country artists’ dress.” So yes, Ashton’s ensem-ble was a stunt that fell flat, but let’s let cut the guy a little slack,he has a LOT of work ahead of him-like trying to get people to be-lieve that he can be a smart person.

neil Patrick Harris to

host tony awards

NEW YORKReUTeRS

Neil Patrick Harris will return to hostBroadway’s biggest night at the TonyAwards to be held in June, the CBSnetwork said. The annual Tony Awards,which honours Broadway’s best musicalsand plays, will be broadcast live on June10. Harris, 38, the emmy Award-winningstar of TV comedy ‘How I Met YourMother’ and numerous roles in Broadwaymusicals and plays, is hosting the awardsfor the third time. In a statement he saidhe was thrilled to again be “shining aspotlight” on Broadway’s most acclaimedshows.

tom Cruise to receiveentertainmentIcon award

LOS ANGELESAGeNCIeS

Tom Cruise is se to become the fourthperson in history to receive the FriarsClub’s highest honour, the entertainmentIcon Award. The 49-year-old heartthrobwill join the ranks of Hollywood legendsDouglas Fairbanks, Cary Grant and FrankSinatra when he picks up the gong at theFriars Foundation Gala at the Waldorf-Astoria on June 12. Club Abbot JerryLewis announced: “Tom Cruise will joinan elite group of only three otherentertainment legends who have receivedour Icon Award, and whose work hasmade a global impact on our industry andchanged the very face of cinema.”

Shah RukhKhan tospeak at Yale mUmBaI:: Shah rukh Khan has added yet another

feather to his well-feathered hat. the actor will soon

join the ranks of Presidents george w Bush, ronald

reagan and Jimmy Carter and filmmaker Sofia

Coppola, when he delivers a lecture at the Yale

University as a Chubb fellow on april 12. regarded as

one of Yale’s highest honours, the Chubb fellowship is

conferred on those who have inspired students to see

service to the public good as the highest calling, to

which a global citizen can aspire. apparently, they felt

that his films and philanthropy, are important examples

of the power of art to promote higher human ideals

and aspirations. “the faculty, students and staff of Yale

are honoured that SrK has agreed to speak at Yale.

‘Kabhi alvida naa Kehna’ was filmed at Yale in 2006

and we know his return visit will be even more

memorable,” said george Joseph, assistant Secretary,

International affairs, Yale University. the Shubert

theater where SrK will speak, has been called the

Birthplace of america’s Hits, and a number of films

have been shot around campus and town. AGeNCIeS

Sajid Khanpromises Asin herbiggestblockbustermUmBaI: Sajid Khan is confident that ‘Housefull 2’ will be a bigger

commercial hit than asin’s earlier two Bollywood blockbusters.

actress asin hopes that Sajid Khan manages to keep his word by

giving her a bigger hit in ‘Housefull 2’ - something that could beat

the record of ‘ghajini’ and ‘ready’. “Sajid actually gave me a letter

on the first day of the shoot, saying welcome to the biggest hit of

your career. I hope that comes true because you know there has

been ‘ghajini’ and ‘ready’ before. So I just wish what he says

comes true,” says asin. asin has been the only actress from

South who made it big in Bollywood in recent times.

Speaking about it she says, “I guess I have been lucky to

be accepted by both north as well as South audiences. It

is a tight rope walk to balance the taste and the likes of

the South and north Indian audience but I have been

lucky that I have so far managed to do that. I have done

three Hindi films - two of which are blockbusters.” asin is

confident about Sajid and ‘Housefull 2’ that’s releasing this

week. “Sajid is pretty confident about it so I am keeping

my fingers crossed. Sajid has a good pulse on

audience’s taste. So I hope he is right this time

around as well”, she concludes. AGeNCIeS

KHI 05-04-2012_Layout 1 4/5/2012 1:49 AM Page 11

thursday, 5 april, 2012

16 Foreign News

BEIRUTAFp

FIeRCe clashes in Syria killedat least 18 people Wednes-day, mostly in Homs, asregime forces stormed andshelled villages in fresh oper-

ations, monitors said.Seven people were killed in the cen-

tral city of Homs — four rebels who diedin clashes with the regular army in theneighbourhood of Qussur and threecivilians, including a man and his son,the Syrian Observatory of HumanRights said.

Also in Homs province, three civil-ians, including a woman were killed byrockets near the border with Lebanon,while a soldier was killed in heavy fight-ing in the rebel city of Qusayr.

In the province of Idlib in Jabal al-

Zawiya area a former political prisonerAhmed al-Othman and his brother werekilled as tank fire struck their car.

An elderly man was also killed in in-discriminate firing in the province ashouses were burned and raided in thevillage of Taftanaz, the Observatorysaid. In Deir ezzor, a rebel hiding in thevillage of Zibari was killed by gunfire,while in Damascus a “bomb under thecar of a pro-regime man” exploded caus-ing no casualties.

Three civilians were killed and 15wounded in an explosion in a buildingin the town of Beit Sahem.

And in the province of Daraa, thecradle of uprising against the regime ofPresident Bashar al-Assad, governmentforces stormed the village of Tafas andan arrest campaign was underway inInkhel.

The bloodshed in Syria continues

unabated despite the regime’s pledge toenforce a peace plan proposed by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, and atleast 80 civilians were killed on Tues-day. On Wednesday, Syrian forceslaunched fresh military operations,storming and shelling several towns orvillages, the Observatory said.

“From the Turkish border in thenortheast to Daraa in the south, militaryoperations are ongoing,” Rami AbdelRahman, head of the Britain-basedgroup, told AFP.

“Tanks are still shelling or stormingtowns and villages before going back totheir bases,” he added. “That does notmean they are withdrawing.”

The assaults were taking place de-spite Assad’s pledge to implement byApril 10 a peace plan brokered byAnnan.

Abdel Rahman said regime forces

early Wednesday stormed the village ofal-Mazareb, located near the Jordanianborder in Daraa province.

Clashes had also erupted in thetown of Khirbet Ghazale, in Daraaprovince.

Activists said the army overnightstormed the town of Latame, in centralHama, and Saraqeb in Idlib province.

They said demonstrators in the cityof Hama carried banners on Tuesdaythat read: “Despite all your shelling,nothing has died in us except fear.”

Annan on Monday told the UN Se-curity Council that Assad had agreed to“immediately” start pulling troops out ofprotest cities and complete a troop andheavy weapon withdrawal by April 10.

The revolt that broke out in Syria inMarch of last year has left more than9,000 people dead, according to theUnited Nations.

ANKARAAFp

Turkey’s landmark trial of thetwo surviving leaders of the 1980military coup opened onWednesday in an Ankara court,more than three decades after thearmy seized power for two years.

Former general Kenan evren,94, and his co-defendant TahsinSahinkaya, 86, are absent fromthe trial due to their poor health,are charged with ousting thecivilian government on Septem-ber 12, 1980.

Hundreds of demonstrators,mostly from left-wing politicalparties, staged a protest in frontof the courthouse, chanting slo-gans demanding justice for thevictims of the coup and brandish-ing banners. “This case is notabandoned,” one of the bannersread. “Those who resisted willhave the final say.”

A small child waved a bannerapparently revealing that his

grandfather was a victim of thecoup: “Coup leaders, listen to me!My name is Umut (Hope). I willnot abandon my grandfather.”

Another victim, 56-year-oldAli Imer, told AFP how he was ar-rested on September 12, the dayof the coup and tortured.

“I was jailed for four years formembership of a left-wing politi-cal party. I had been tortured for87 days,” he said. “They threat-ened to rape my wife if I refused tospeak. I was given electro-shock.”

Several parliamentarians alsojoined the protest.

“This is a landmark case forTurkey’s recent history, but itshouldn’t be superficial,” saidSezgin Tanrikulu, lawmaker fromthe opposition Republican Peo-ple’s Party (CHP). “Not onlyevren and Sahinkaya, but alsothose who ordered the tortureshould be tried,” he said.

The pair face life imprison-ment if convicted of committingcrimes against the state — the

heaviest punishment availablesince Turkey abolished the deathpenalty in 2002.

The military, which has longseen itself as the guarantor ofsecularism in Turkey, stagedthree coups in 1960, 1971 and1980 as well as pressuring an Is-lamist-rooted government to re-linquish power in 1997.

But the 1980 coup was thebloodiest of them all. Hundreds ofthousands of people were arrested,about 250,000 were charged, 50were executed, dozens more weretortured to death and tens of thou-sands were exiled.

“This trial offers an impor-tant opportunity to deliver justicefor the gross human rights viola-tions that followed the coup —most notably, mass torture anddeaths in custody, which amountto crimes against humanity underthe present Turkish Penal Code”,said emma Sinclair-Webb,Turkey researcher at HumanRights Watch.

fresh fightingerupts inwest libya

ZUWARAHAFp

Fresh fighting erupted in west Libya onWednesday after two days of deadlyclashes near the border with Tunisia, butthere were no reports of new casualties,an AFP journalist said.Former rebels from the western town ofZuwarah have clashed sporadically withfighters from the nearby towns of Reg-dalin and Jamil since Monday despite ef-forts by the interim Libyan authorities tomediate a lasting truce.The clashes since Monday have left up to18 people killed, according to officials.On Wednesday, a column of black smokerose over Regdalin and Jamil, just 10kilometres (six miles) south of Zuwarah,the journalist reported, adding that heavygunfire was exchanged. Fierce fightingerupted late Monday after former rebelsfrom Zuwarah, who say they were pa-trolling the border region under ordersfrom the ministry of defence, were de-tained as they passed the town of Jamil.The interim authorities said Tuesday thatthey had intervened and obtained theirrelease but on-and-off fighting betweenthe two camps continued.Fighting resumed on Wednesday after theterms of a 12-hour truce negotiated by theauthorities went unmet, Zuwarah resi-dents told AFP. “We gave them until 11am (0900 GMT) — the time has passed,so I must head to the front to fight now,”Zuwarah resident Shukri Mansur said.Former rebels were stripped of theirweapons and armoured vehicles whenthey were detained in Jamil and nowwant them back, Zuwarah residents said.Shukri al-Arabi, head of the sole clinic inthe town, told AFP that eight Zuwarahresidents died and 142 others werewounded in combat.The interim authorities said Tuesday that10 people were killed in Regdalin andJamil, while four were killed in Zuwarah,100 kilometres (60 miles) west of Tripoli.Since the collapse of slain leader MoamerKadhafi’s regime last October, tensionshave festered in and around Zuwarah,where residents belong to the Amazighminority and fought to oust the dictator.Residents of Regdalin are accused by for-mer rebels of standing by the regime ofKadhafi during the 2011 conflict.

Bombs killsix in Iraq

BAGHDADAFp

A car bomb apparently targeting a localpolice chief killed five people andwounded 10, while another bomb left oneman dead in central Iraq on Wednesday,police and medical officials said.“Five people were killed and 10 woundedby a car bomb” that exploded near thetown of Dhuluiyah, 70 kilometres (45miles) north of Baghdad, a senior policeofficer in nearby Samarra said.The five dead were all civilians, he said.A medical official in Dhuluiyah hospitalconfirmed that the facility received fivedead and 10 wounded.The police officer said the explosion tookplace at about 8:30 am (5:30 GMT) asDhuluiyah police chief Colonel QandilKhalil’s convoy was passing by.It was the second attack against Khalil’sconvoy this year, after a previous carbombing in January that he also survived.Dhuluiyah is part of Sunni-majority Sala-heddin province. It was an Al-Qaedastronghold after the 2003 US-led inva-sion before the government took controlwith the help of tribal militias.Meanwhile, a man was killed by a mag-netic “sticky bomb” attached to a car incentral Baquba, northeast of Baghdad, apolice lieutenant colonel said. Dr AhmedIbrahim of Baquba general hospital con-firmed the man’s death.Violence is down from its peak in 2006and 2007, but attacks remain common,killing 112 Iraqis in March.

GAZA CITY: A palestinian woman shouts during the funeral of palestinian youth Hashem Saed, as his dead body is taken from his home for burial on Wednesday after he

was shot overnight close along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel by Israeli soldiers. afp

18 killed in Syrian clashes, mostly in Homs

Landmark trial of 1980 Turkish

coup leaders opens in ankara

135 states agree

anti-tobacco

trafficking deal: wHoGENEVA

AFp

Negotiators from 135 nations sealed Wednesday aglobal deal to stem the illegal tobacco trade that couldnet governments $50 billion more annually in tax rev-enues, the World Health Organisation said.“Illicit trade in tobacco is one of the most dangeroustrades at the moment, it’s a way of getting cheap, illegalcigarettes into the hands of young people, poor people,people who are in a vulnerable position,” said Ian Wal-ton-George, who chaired the negotiations.The protocol, to be put to a ministerial meeting in No-vember in Seoul for adoption, would not only have ahealth impact, but could also help governments recoverbetween $40 and $50 billion in duties lost in smuggling.It would require signatory states to establish a trackingmechanism that could help detect and investigate any il-legal trade in tobacco products. Companies involved inthe trade, including agents, suppliers and tobacco man-ufacturers, would have to be licensed under the deal.Manufacturers would also have to carry out checks ontheir customers to ensure that they are genuine or ifthey have associations with criminal organisations. Theproducts themselves would also have identificationmarkings showing where they were produced, when theywere produced and who were their first customers.

KHI 05-04-2012_Layout 1 4/5/2012 1:49 AM Page 12

Foreign News 17thursday, 5 april, 2012

TEHRANAFp

Crucial nuclear talks due to take placenext week between Iran and worldpowers have run into disagreementover the host city, with Tehran onWednesday saying it no longer wantsIstanbul as the venue. Instead, ac-cording to Iraq’s foreign ministry,Iran has asked Baghdad to host theApril 13-14 negotiations.

That contradicts an announcementby US Secretary of State Hillary Clin-ton last weekend that the talks wouldbe held on those dates in Istanbul —the Turkish city which Iran had ini-tially proposed as its favoured option.Iranian Foreign Minister Ali AkbarSalehi stressed on Wednesday that“this issue has to be agreed on by bothsides,” explaining that “Baghdad andalso China were proposed” as venues,according to the website of Iranianstate television. The down-to-the-wirewrangling over the location was a signof the high-stakes negotiating posi-tions ahead of the talks involving Iranand the P5+1 group comprising thefive permanent UN Security Councilmembers plus Germany.

Iran’s sudden about-face on Is-tanbul also hinted at animosity to-wards Turkey over its position onSyria, the Islamic republic’s principalally in the Middle east.

Turkey, which has called for Syr-ian President Bashar al-Assad to stepdown to end the year-long bloodystrife in his country, on Sundayhosted a “Friends of Syria” conferencesympathetic to Syrian rebels and crit-icised by Tehran.

Turkey, a NATO member, has alsojoined a US-imposed sanctions pushto cut purchases of Iranian oil.

“Turkey is now excluded,” AladinBorujerdi, the head of the Iranian par-liament’s foreign affairs commission,told the Iranian channel Al-Alam.

“That is the position of parliamentand the government. We have pro-posed Baghdad, and if the other sideaccepts, it will be Baghdad,” he said.

“Taking into account the extrem-ist and illogical position of Turkey onSyria and the recent conference onSyria, Turkey has de facto lost anycompetence to host the meeting,”Borujerdi added. A Turkish diplomatin Ankara speaking to AFP on condi-tion of anonymity said his countryhad been ready to welcome the talksbut “we didn’t receive any formal de-mand from both sides and so wedidn’t commit to anything concrete.”

Salehi, who had said several timeslast month that Istanbul would be the“best place” for the Iran/P5+1 talks,explained: “Holding negotiations inIstanbul was our preliminary sugges-tion which the europeans first re-

jected and later accepted. But by thattime we had other countries in mind.”

He added: “More important thanthe date and the venue is the topic ofdiscussions. And I think that the up-coming talks, compared to the ones inthe past, will be better and progresswill be made.” The last round of talksbetween Iran and the P5+1 was heldin Istanbul in January 2011 and endedin failure. The new round of negotia-tions is seen as an important opportu-nity to lower tensions over Iran’snuclear programme that have beencoloured by threats from Israel andthe United States of military action.

Washington and its allies believeIran’s nuclear activities include adrive towards atomic weapons capa-bility and have imposed a raft of sanc-tions to punish Tehran.

Iran denies there is any militarycomponent to its programme and saysit will not bow to sanctions pressure.

Iraq’s foreign ministry issued astatement saying an Iranian delega-tion led by deputy nuclear negotiatorAli Baqeri “expressed the desire forIraq to host the international meetingon the Iranian nuclear file.”

It said it “welcomed the Iranianproposal” and Iraqi Foreign Minis-ter Hoshyar Zebari “confirmed thathe will undertake the necessary con-tacts with the relevant parties on theproposal.”

SAINT pIeRRe: France’s incumbent president and right-wing ruling party Union for a popular Movement (UMp) candidate for the French 2012 presidential election Nicolas

Sarkozy shakes hands with supporters in a street of Saint-Denis de La Reunion in the French overseas island of La Reunion on Wednesday. afp

Venue disaccord overIran nuclear talks

Israel’s netanyahu

to meet Palestinian

Pm fayyadJERUSALEM

AFp

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne-tanyahu will meet with Palestinian pre-mier Salam Fayyad in the coming weeks,Israeli and Palestinian officials said onWednesday. “Prime Minister Netanyahuwill meet with Palestinian prime ministerFayyad,” the Israeli premier’s spokesmanOfir Gendelman said in a statementposted on his official Twitter feed.He had initially said the meeting wouldtake place next week, but later clarifiedthat it would occur after the Jewish holi-day of Passover, which begins at sundownon Friday and ends on April 13.Palestinian officials confirmed the meet-ing and said Fayyad would hand Ne-tanyahu a letter from Palestinianpresident Mahmud Abbas about thestalled peace process.“A Palestinian delegation will take a letterto Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne-tanyahu,” Nimr Hammad, an advisor toAbbas told AFP on Wednesday.He said Fayyad would be joined by seniorPalestinian official Yasser Abed Rabboand negotiator Saeb erakat. Gendelmansaid Netanyahu would send his own letterto Abbas after the talks. “Prime minister’senvoy (Yitzhak) Molcho will deliver a let-ter from the prime minister to presidentAbbas following the meeting,” he wrote.

taiwan delays cuts

to armed forcesTAIPEI

AFp

Taiwan’s plan to cut its armed forces by afifth has been held up by political wran-gling, a lawmaker said Wednesday, delay-ing by a year a military reduction drivenby improved ties with China.Taiwan’s defence ministry launched theambitious plan in 2011, aiming to slashthe number of service personnel in thearmy, navy and air force to a record low of215,000, from 275,000. But lawmaker LinYu-fang, who sits on parliament’s defencecommittee, said the cuts would now becomplete in 2015, not 2014 as originallyenvisaged. The defence ministry “for thefirst time admits that the target cannot bereached as scheduled”, he said in a state-ment, citing a report to be read by DefenceMinister Kao Hua-chu during a committeemeeting Thursday. The hold-up was dueto a delay in amending the legislation thatsets out the shape of Taiwan’s armedforces amid disagreements between MPs,said the lawmaker. The plan is part of adefence review that will also see compul-sory military service scrapped. Presently,all men aged over 20 are required tospend a year in the armed forces.

Iran ‘advises’ arab neighbours

against missile shieldTEHRAN

AFp

Iranian Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidion Wednesday “advised” neighbouringArab states in the Gulf not to adopt amissile shield project being promoted bythe United States. “From the start wehave rejected such a project, which iscontrary to regional security, and we ad-vise our friends to not take part in sucha game,” Vahidi was quoted as saying bythe Fars news agency. “The anti-missileshield in the Persian Gulf is an Ameri-can-Zionist project and anybody whogoes into that project will be playing thegame of the Americans and Israel,” hesaid. US Secretary of State Hillary Clin-ton last Saturday promoted the missileshield idea at a Gulf-US security forumin Saudi Arabia. US officials have said itis their “priority” to help the six Gulf Co-operation Council states build a “re-gional missile defence architecture”against what they see as a looming ballis-tic missile threat from Iran.

MAZAR-I-SHARIFAFp

Asuicide bomber attackedforeign military forces innorthern Afghanistan onWednesday, killing up to 12people, officials said. The

Taliban claimed responsibility for theattack on foreign troops filming inter-views in a park in Maymana, the capitalof Faryab province, as NATO’s fatalitiesin the decade-long conflict passed the100 mark for 2012.

NATO’s US-led International Secu-rity Assistance Force (ISAF) said onlythat three service members died after anexplosion in northern Afghanistan, with-out officially confirming that it was thesame incident or giving nationalities.

“A suicide bomber targeted a group

of foreign friends,” Faryab governorAbdul Haq Shafaq told AFP. “They weremilitary. There are casualties, dead andwounded.”

Faryab, which borders Turk-menistan, is far from centres of the Tal-iban-led insurgency in Afghanistan’ssouth and east, but it suffers sporadicattacks. There were conflicting reportsabout the exact death toll and the iden-tity of the victims after the suicidebomber, who police said was riding anexplosives-packed motorcycle, blewhimself up.

Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, policespokesman for northern Afghanistan,described the blast as “powerful” andput the death toll at 10. He said six civil-ians and four policemen were killed,with 20 people wounded, including fourpolice.

“A suicide bomber with a suicidevest full of explosives and on a explo-sive-laden motorcycle targeted someforeign forces near a UN compound inMaymana,” he said.

Most foreign troops in Faryab areNorwegian and Lieutenant ColonelJohn espen Lien, a spokesman for Nor-way’s armed forces, told AFP there were“at least 12 killed, but this number is notdefinitive”.

No Norwegian ISAF personnel werenearby at the time, he added.

A doctor at the town’s hospital saidthe bodies of five civilians had beenbrought in, and 26 people werewounded.

In a statement on its website theTaliban claimed responsibility for theattack, saying eight foreign soldierswere killed and six wounded, while

Afghan troops also suffered casualties.The Taliban routinely exaggerate theirclaims.

NATO has 130,000 soldiers helpingAfghan President Hamid Karzai’s gov-ernment fight the Taliban, but is sched-uled to hand responsibility for securityacross the country to Afghans and with-draw most of its troops by the end of2014.

But relations between the allies havebeen strained this year by a series ofkillings of Western troops by Afghan se-curity personnel, a massacre of 17 civil-ians blamed on a US soldier and theburning of Korans at a US base.

Night raids by special forces againstinsurgent hideouts have also triggeredpopular anger and long been a source offriction with Karzai, who has denouncedthe NATO operations as reckless.

Suicide bomber kills 12 in northern Afghanistan

Somali female

bomber kills olympic,

football chiefsMOGADISHU

AFp

A young woman strapped with explosivesblew herself up Wednesday at a ceremonyin the Somali national theatre, killing thecountry’s Olympic and football bosses.She detonated her suicide belt as PrimeMinister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali was on apodium addressing 200 people gatheredto mark the first anniversary of the coun-try’s satellite TV network, an AFP re-porter who witnessed the incident said.Several witnesses said Somali OlympicCommittee president Aden Yabarow Wiishand Somali Football Federation chief SaidMohamed Nur were killed in the blast.The prime minister, and seven other min-isters standing beside him when the youngwoman set off her explosives, were un-harmed. “The bodies of the two peoplekilled in the blast have been taken by theSomali police,” police officer MohamedAbdi told AFP. Seconds after the blast,chaos filled the venue as the dead and thewounded could be seen slumped on theirchairs and lying on the floor while policeescorted some of the injured to awaitingambulances. Somalia’s Chinese-built na-tional theatre was re-opened last monthby President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and theprime minister for the first time in 20years. The two killed officials had lastweek inspected the reconstruction of thenational stadium in Mogadishu, a citywhich had slowly been coming back to lifesince Somali and African Union forces se-cured most of it late last year.

KHI 05-04-2012_Layout 1 4/5/2012 1:49 AM Page 13

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

THe Pakistan Hockey Federa-tion has postponed the three-nation hockey series it hadplanned later in the month in

its buildup for the London Olympics,owning to the last minute withdrawal ofIndia from the tournament.

Malaysia was the third team to par-ticipate in the event expected to beplayed in the second week of April.

The Indian Hockey Federation afterinitial conformations has now refused toparticipate due to security concerns.

PHF secretary Asif Bajwa said thedecision by the IHF is not only ‘painful’for the people of Pakistan but for thelovers of sport around the world.

He said that he was assured by thePakistan government that foolproof se-curity will be provided to the teams in

Lahore during the April 9-13 tournamentin which Malaysia was also participating.

Major international teams havestayed away from Pakistan since gun-men attacked the Sri Lanka cricket teambus at Lahore in March 2009.

"It is with deep regret that we haveto announce that India has said it can`tsend its team for the competition," PHFsecretary Asif Bajwa said.

"In the last two years, we have beento India several times and have invitedthem to come to Pakistan and assuredthem full hospitality and security. Un-fortunately neither the federation northeir government has responded to us inthe same way," a disappointed Bajwasaid. He said the IHF informed the PHFthat their foreign ministry had advisedthem not to send the team to Pakistandue to security concerns.

"The Indian foreign ministry feels se-curity situation in Pakistan are not ideal

for international hockey that iswhy India is not coming," hesaid. Bajwa said that theyplanned the tournamentin Lahore only after get-ting confirmations fromIndia and Malaysia."Both teams said theywould send their team.But we will not losehope and try to keep onmaking efforts to or-ganize internationalevents in Pakistan. Thetour by China in Decem-ber last year showed thatthere were no security is-sues for international teamsplaying in Pakistan. "We areobviously disappointed withthis development becauseMalaysia had also firstconfirmed they

would take part in theevent and then

pulled out twodays back," he

added. Bajwasaid afterM a l a y s i a ` swithdrawal thePHF was hop-ing for a testseries againstIndia. "We

were hopefulthat we could at

least host Testseries with all

m a t c h e splanned in

Lahore," hesaid.

Thursday, 5 April, 2012

Page 21

williams sisterscruise at Charleston

India’s pull out forces PHFto postpone 3-nation series

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

Pakistan team coach Dav Whatmore has started his mission totake Pakistan to one of the top Test playing nations as he sug-gested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to establish a biome-chanics lab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). The basicpurpose of his suggestion to establish the scientific lab is to check

not only illegal bowling actions but also the techniques of Pak-istani batsmen, sources were quoted as saying by a website TheS-portsencounter. Sources said that Whatmore had asked the PCBauthorities to install the biomechanics lab at the NCA. “ActuallyWhatmore is not a conventional coach rather he usually spendshis time with video analyst. We can call him a scientific coach andhe got worried when saw the stuff to be used in the biomechanicslab languishing in a store room,” sources added.

It is important to mention here that the PCB had pur-chased biomechanics instruments during tenure of NaseemAshraf which include over 16 cameras as well as other stuff andits value is more than Rs30 to Rs40 million. Sources stated:“Naseem wanted to install this mega project and made an in-frastructure for this by booking NCA’s indoor cricket practicearea and painting its roof and walls with black colours. But assoon as Naseem left the office, the incoming PCB chief Ijaz Butthalted the project.” If the PCB makes its biomechanics lab v,then it would become only the third cricket board to have sucha scientific lab installed other than Cricket Australia andCricket South Africa. Sources said the coaches can fully utilisethis lab to work on the bowlers’ actions and the discrepanciesin their bowling styles. Moreover, they can also gauge the rea-sons why their speed is not augmenting, they added.

The sources mentioned that the biomechanics lab will alsoprove beneficial to the batsman as coaches can help them bet-ter their techniques by showing them their videos and com-paring it with the top batsmen in the world, thus showing thedifference and pinpointing the areas to work on. Now the ballis in PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf’s court to decide whether thisproject is going to live or not. “If Zaka says yes to the biome-chanics lab, then it would require four to five months to getinstalled and become fully operational.” Sources said: “If Pak-istan makes it operational then other Asian region countriesincluding India can send their cricketers to get the bowling ac-tions of their bowlers checked in this lab”.

THe fifth IPL is on with nine teamscrisscrossing the country over 54days and 74 matches but the fitness

and bench strength will hold the key in thisyear’s edition. With all the travel involvedand summer upon us, fitness will be key.Hence bench strength and fitness levels

will be crucial. It will be interesting to seehow senior Indian players like (Sourav)Ganguly, (Rahul) Dravid, (Sachin) Ten-dulkar, (Virender) Sehwag and Zaheer(Khan) cope up. They all have major rolesto play for their respective teams.

The pressure will be enormous onRavindra Jadega who will look to justifythe amount Chennai shelled out for him.

The IPL-5 will tell us how muchRavindra Jadeja has evolved as a crick-eter. He started promisingly on the Aus-tralian tour but faded out. He may havetalent but he now has to justify the pricethat Chennai paid to acquire him. Jadejareally has to get his act together and thepressure will be enormous.

At the same time, Virat Kohli will beunder pressure to continue his goodform. He has been a revelation so far forIndian cricket and deserves all the adula-

tion he is getting on and off the field.Kohli now needs to keep his feet firmlygrounded and enforce the belief that he isIndia captaincy material.

Looking at the weaknesses and abili-ties of Kolkota Knight Riders and RoyalChallengers Bangalore, they have a brightchance to make the qualifiers. Besides,usual favourites Chennai Super Kingsand Mumbai Indians might come as agreat surprise.

It is difficult to predict which teamswill end up as top four. The IPL has al-ways thrown surprises and it has made ormarred reputations. But looking at teamcombinations and back-up staff strength,Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Mum-bai should go all the way till the qualifiersand eliminators.

I am hoping to see New ZealanderBrendon McCullum deliver the goods for

KKR. Personally, I will like Brendon Mc-Cullum to fire for KKR. I am sure the pug-nacious Kiwi will deliver better underGautam Gambhir. There will be no person-ality clashes and both Gambhir and Mc-Cullum are professional enough to knowwhat`s best for Kolkata.

every IPL has had its share of heroesand zeroes. Chris Gayle took IPL-4 bystorm. This is a good opportunity forKevin Pietersen to justify the faith Delhihave in him.

The KKR’s strength lies in its balance.Kolkata has had a change of coach. I be-lieve Trevor Bayliss did extremely well forSydney Sixers, who won the Big BashLeague in Australia. Having coached SriLanka in the last World Cup, Baylissknows the culture of sub-continent teams.He should be a good influence.

But KKR`s strength lies in its balance.

They have a good skipper and the rightcombination of youth and experience.Manoj Tiwary, Yusuf Pathan and IqbalAbdulla are extremely capable. Pros likeJacques Kallis, Ryan ten Doeschate, Mc-Cullum and eoin Morgan provide thedepth and variety.

The IPL will provide the Indian fansan opportunity to have some fun, after thedisastrous showings of the national teamin recent times.

The IPL has always exposed new play-ers and I am sure this year`s tournamentwill be no exception. But the focus will al-ways be on the marquee players and the`costliest` ones will be closely monitoredby critics and fans alike.

But there is no substitute for experi-ence and cricket, irrespective of its for-mat, always respects the person whofollows its grammar.

Ptf unmoved onSamir’s availabilityrequest

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

The Pakistan Tennis Federation has noteven bothered to reply to the availability let-ter of Pakistan tennis prodigy Samir Iftikharfor Davis Cup tie against the Philippines.Samir, who is on a scholarship studies inAmerica, made himself available for the na-tional duty after Pakistan tennis aceAisamul Haq Qureshi withdrew from the tiedue to knee injury. The team on Tuesdayleft for the Philippines but the PTF did notreply to letter Samir’s father, TayyabIftikhar, who is also a former Davis Cupperwrote to the PTF president. The Philippine,however, called their top tennis payer Fran-cis Casey Alcantara for the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group II tie against Pakistan slatedfor April 6-8 at the Philippine ColumbianAssociation’s clay court. The 20-year-old Al-cantara, who has an athletic scholarship atUS NCAA Division I Fresno State, hasagreed to play for the Phl team taking overfrom the injury-stricken Jeson Patrombon.The Philippines leads Pakistan in theirDavis Cup meetings, 4-1.

PCB’s PPl initiativeattracts companies

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

The launching of Pakistan Premier League(PPL) received a boost when four compa-nies expressed interests in the project. ThePakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has beenworking on the proposal to launch an inter-national Twenty20 league in Pakistan since2007. Director International PCB, IntikhabAlam in an interview on a television that 4-5companies are interested in the PPL and wehave invited them for a presentation nextweek to discuss modalities of the tourna-ment. 'It could be held anytime after theT20 World Cup later this year.' COO PCBSubhan Ahmed noted that the Board is veryserious in organizing the league and work-ing hard to attract huge investment. Pak-istan has been unable to host internationalcricket since March 2009, when Sri Lanka'swas attacked while going towards stadium.

PCB gets a dozenapplications forbowling coach’s job

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

The Pakistan Cricket Board received ap-plications from 10 to 12 candidates forthe post of bowling coach with the na-tional cricket academy and the nationalteam. Till the March 23rd deadline, aPCB official confirmed the coachingcommittee received around 12 applica-tions including some from foreignbased coaches. "The coaching commit-tee will be meeting this week to scruti-nise the list of candidates who haveapplied for the bowling coach position,"the official said.Pakistan are on the hunt for a bowlingcoach after Aaqib Javed resigned duringthe recent series against england totake up a position of chief coach withthe UAe team. "Some foreigners haveapplied for the post but now the coach-ing committee has to sit down andshortlist the best possible candidates,"the official reported to have sadi.He said that chief coach, Dav Whatmorewould be involved in the process of se-lecting the bowling coach."The appointment will be made well be-fore the next series of the Pakistan teamwhich is in Sri Lanka in June-July," hesaid. "We want to have the bowlingcoach in place during the conditioningcamp to be organised soon by What-more," he said.

Bench strength and fitness levels will be crucial

waSIm aKram

expeRT CoMMeNT

Whatmore wantsbiomechanics at NCa

KHI 05-04-2012_Layout 1 4/5/2012 1:50 AM Page 14

Sports 19thursday, 5 april, 2012

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

UNBeATeN Sami Aslamcracked a double centuryto steer Pakistan under-19to a big win of 302 runs

against the British University teamhere at the Gaddafi Stadium onWednesday. As Sami’s double andUmar Waheed century laid a solidfoundation of 388 runs for two in 50overs, Pakistan bowlers kept a tightleash to keep the British Universities XIin control. Their to the line and accu-rate bowling not only made things dif-ficult for the visiting team batsmen butbowled them out for just 86 runs.

Batting first, Pakistan under-19 afterhaving a first blow at one for 15 went onto score the big total. Sami smacked 22boundaries and three sixes in his 155balls innings and also shared two standsof 120 runs with Imam-ul-Haq for thesecond and 253 runs unbeaten for thethird wickets with Waheed. Waheed,who also remained not out at 100, tookjust 88 balls to reach his century. Andlater Mohammad Nawaz with a five

wickets haul kept the British studentsfrom going after runs freely. The onlybatsman who have got to the highestscore of 24 was their opener BrendanMckerchar. Looking at the factual situa-tion of the match it was the hot conditionthat took toll of the British players anddid not allow them to play up to their po-

tential. Usman Qadir with his spin gotthree wickets to further the misery ofthe visiting team. The teams will playtheir second match, a T20 game at 6pmat Gaddafi Stadium on April 6. Thematch will be broadcast live on PTVSports and live Ball by Ball coverage willalso be available on www.pcb.com.pk.

laHore: the PCB Under-19 and British Universities teams before the start of their match at the gaddafi Stadium. STaff pHOTO

Sami cracks double tonin Pak U-19’s big win

pCBU-19s xI

Sami Aslam not out 207

Babar Azam c Aamer b James 1

Imam-ul-Haq lbw James Kostoris 51

Umar Waheed not out 100

Did not bat: Mohammad Irfan, Salman Afridi, Saad Ali,

Usman Qadir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mir Hamza, Zia-ul-Haq

extra b 4, lb 1, w 24 29

Total 2 wickets; 50.0 overs; 388

Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Babar Azam, 3.1); 2-135 (Imam-ul-Haq,

23.1)

Bowling: Maxwell McAclister 10.0-0-89-0; James Roditi

Harrow 10.0-0-78-1; Mumtaz Habib 8.0-0-60-0; James

Kostoris 10.0-0-45-1; Brendan Mckerchar 4.0-0-38-0; Shahid

Ilyas 6.0-0-42-0; Samuel outram 2.0-0-31-0

British Universities Charity xI

Brendan Mckerchar lbw Nawaz 24

Spencer Crawley c Usman b Hamza 9

Aamer Khan lbw Usman 10

Mumtaz Habib c & b Nawaz 0

Maxwell McAclister c Salman b Irfan 9

James Kostoris c Irfan b Nawaz 14

Umair Javed c Hamza b Nawaz 1

Shmail Khan c Hamza b Usman 0

Samuel outram lbw Qadir 0

Shahid Ilyas not out 9

James Roditi Harrow c Sami b Nawaz 2

extra lb 1, w 6, nb 1 8

Total (10 wkts; 27.0 overs) 86

Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Spencer Crawley 9.3 ); 2-49 (Aamer

Khan, 13.0); 3-49 (Brendan Mckerchar, 13.1); 4-50 (Mumtaz

Habib, 13.5); 5-59 (Maxwell McAclister, 16.2); 6-64 (Umair

Javed, 17.5); 7-68 (Shmail Khan, 19.2); 8-68 (Samuel outram,

19.4); 9-82 (James Kostoris, 25.0); 10-86 (James Roditi

Harrow, 27.0)

Bowling

Zia-ul-Haq 5.0-0-11-0; Mir Hamza 6.0-2-21-1; Usman Qadir

6.0-2-31-3; Mohammad Nawaz 6.0-4-2-5; Mohammad Irfan

4.0-0-20-1.

Toss: pakistan Cricket Board Under 19s xI, who chose to bat

Series: pakistan Under-19 won by 302 runs

player of Match: Sami Aslam (pakistan Cricket Board Under

19s xI)

Umpires: Ahsan Raza (pakistan) and Shozab Raza (pakistan)

TV Umpire: Zameer Haider (pakistan)

SCoReBoARD

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

The Pakistan Cricket Board has on Wednesday welcomed theBangladesh efforts of convincing the foreign team to tour Pak-istan. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President MustafaKamal is on a special mission here in India, which is to try andconvince the other nations to tour Pakistan.

An official of the PCB said that it’s a welcome gesture theBCB has taken. “Pakistan has always stood with Bangladesh andwill always support it. And hope for a similar backing fromBangladesh,” he maintained. Kamal said that he is in India towitness the IPL and will also talk to other teams to visit Pak-istan. “Due to political reasons, the Indian team is not touringPakistan. But I shall try to convince the other boards like SouthAfrica, england etc to send their teams to Pakistan,” he said.

“For how long can we neglect Pakistan? How long can they

host their ‘home’ series at neutral venues?” he asked. “We can-not ignore Pakistan like this.” According to Mustafa,Bangladesh does not have any issue relating to neutral or non-neutral match officials for the Pakistan tour, but the BCB obvi-ously is looking for whole-hearted support from the ICCregarding the tour. “Our team will tour Pakistan. I don’t knowwhen it would happen. What if we go there only and otherboards continue to ignore Pakistan,” he said. “I shall take upthis issue in the ICC board meeting. I want a full-fledged ap-proval from the ICC for the tour,” added Mustafa. “Yes, we havereceived security report from government of Bangladesh (thereport has not been prepared by the BCB). It is a neutral report.It is neither positive nor negative,” he informed.

Since the Lahore attack, Pakistan have had to play all their‘home’ matches on foreign soil, mostly in the United Arab emi-rates, and their share of 2011 World Cup games was moved outof the country for security reasons.

pCB welcomes BCB efforts

COLOMBOAFp

Under-pressure skipper Andrew Straussand Alastair Cook hit gutsy half-cen-turies as england made a confident replyto Sri Lanka's 275 in the second Test inColombo on Wednesday. The left-handed openers compiled a 122-runpartnership as england combated SriLanka's pace and spin attack to reach154-1 by stumps on the second day at theP. Sara Oval in Colombo.

Strauss, under fire for his batting andleadership skills, roared back to form with61, before he attempted to cut off-spinnerTillakaratne Dilshan and edged a catch tothe wicket-keeper in the final session.

It was his best score on england's for-gettable Asian sojourn so far this year, inwhich they were routed 3-0 by Pakistan in

the United Arab emirates before losing atGalle in the first Test. Cook returned un-beaten on 77, but was fortunate to be stillthere after Lahiru Thirimanne floored asharp chance at forward short-leg off

Rangana Herath when the batsman wason 20. Jonathan Trott was the other bats-man at the crease, on 15, as the touriststrailed by just 121 runs on the first inningswith nine wickets in hand.

mt Club scorerecord win overYoung Krishan nagar

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

Model Town Club scored highest total ofSprite League against Young KrishanNagar on Wednesday at the IttefaqGround. LCCA Model Town Club beatYoung Krishan Nagar Club by a big mar-gin of 462 runs and set many records inlimited overs cricket of the League. ModelTown scored a total of 550/2 in 40 overswith help of double centuries of SohailAhmed (250) not out on just 132 balls andHaroon Rasheed (250) on 110 balls. So-hail hit 45 fours and 3 sixes while Haroongot 44 fours and 6 sixes in his inning.Young Krishan Nagar Club could manageonly 25.1 overs and bowled out on just 88runs. Saad Naseem took 3/8 in 4.5 overs,Mustafa Iqbal took 2/39 and MohsinNaveed took 2/10 for Model Town Club.

gCU-HmC excel inClimbing Contest

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

The Government College University LahoreHiking and Mountaineering Club (GCUHMC) has excelled in the two-day 60-feetAll Punjab Wall Climbing Competition or-ganized by Sui Northern Gas PipelinesLimited (SNGPL) in DHA-eMe Lahore.Kashif Fayyaz, a member HMC-GCU, se-cured the extraordinary performanceaward in boys and Wishal Naveed, a jointsecretary of HMC-GCU got third positionin girls. GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr.Muhammad Khaleeq ur Rahman congratu-lated the winners and appreciated the ef-forts of adviser and team of the GCU HMC.

BCB to inform aboutoDI series today

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

The Bangladesh Cricket Board is likely toinform the Pakistan cricket Board onThursday about the fate of the one-dayseries planned in Pakistan later thismonth. PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf on Wednes-day said that BCB had left the decision inthe hands of Bangladesh Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina Wajid. "We contacted them to find out what ishappening and they said their PM willnow decide whether to send theBangladesh team to Pakistan or not,"Ashraf said. He said the PCB had on its part doneeverything to satisfy the BCB and its se-curity delegation that their players wouldbe well looked after in Pakistan if theyplayed the series this month. Pakistan has invited Bangladesh to playthree ODIs later this month. If Bangladesh agrees to come, they willbecome the first Test playing nation tovisit Pakistan since the March, 2009 at-tack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore byIslamic militants.

lahore welcomesfirst foreign sidesince attacks

LAHOREAFp

Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium opened itsgates to a foreign team on Wednesday forthe first time since a terror attack on theSri Lankan team bus forced a halt to in-ternational cricket in Pakistan.It was near the Gaddafi Stadium -- Pak-istan's cricket headquarters -- that mili-tants opened fire on the visiting SriLankans as they made their way to theground for the third day of the secondTest in March 2009.eight people were killed and seven tour-ing players and their assistant coachwere wounded. No internationals havebeen played in Pakistan since.A British Universities side took on a Pak-istan Cricket Board Under-19 XI at theGaddafi on Wednesday, losing the 50-over match by a huge 302-run margin.While the contest may have been one-sided, Pakistani officials hope the pres-ence of an overseas side will encourageothers to follow -- and ultimately lead toa return of international fixtures to thecricket-mad country. "It's a great devel-opment that some foreign players, nomatter University players, have played acricket match at Gaddafi Stadium and itwill give them a positive picture aboutPakistan," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)director Intikhab Alam told AFP.The attacks meant Pakistan also losthosting rights for their World Cupmatches last year, and the team havebeen forced to play their "home" matchesat neutral venues, mostly in the UnitedArab emirates. The PCB is trying to con-vince international teams to return andhas invited Bangladesh to play a limited-overs series later this month. earlier thismonth the Bangladesh Cricket Boardsent a delegation to assess security fortheir team and said they were awaitinggovernment clearance on the tour.

wins for monnooPolo, Quicklink

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

Monnoo Polo and Quicklink registeredwins in the Members Polo Cup beingplayed here at the LPC ground onWednesday. Monnoo Polo beat Lotto Car-pets 6-5 while Quicklink made a quickwork of Garrison 8-4. earlier on the open-ing day, Daimond Paints-Dewa defeatedWi Teribe Shahawars 7-2 and Pessi beatMegic River 5-4 ½.

mumbai Indianswin IPl opener

SPORTS DESK

Mumbai Indians won the openingmatch of the Indian Premier League by8 wickets against Chennai Super Kings.Super Kings got 112 in 19.5 overs whileMumbai Indians completed 115 for twowith 19 balls to spare.

Strauss fights back to lift England

Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight 238-6):

L. Thirimanne lbw b Anderson 8

T. Dilshan c prior b Anderson 14

K. Sangakkara c Strauss b Anderson 0

M. Jayawardene lbw b Swann 105

T. Samaraweera lbw b Bresnan 54

A. Mathews c Strauss b Swann 57

p. Jayawardene c prior b Finn 7

S. Randiv c pietersen b Swann 12

D. prasad not out 12

R. Herath c prior b Bresnan 2

S. Lakmal b Swann 0

extras: (b4) 4

Total (all out, 111.1 overs) 275

Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Dilshan), 2-21 (Sangakkara), 3-30

(Thirimanne), 4-154 (Samaraweera), 5-216 (M. Jayawardene), 6-

227 (p. Jayawardene), 7-258 (Randiv), 8-261 (Mathews), 9-270

(Herath), 10-275 (Lakmal).

Bowling: Anderson 22-5-62-3, Finn 22-4-51-1, Bresnan 21-3-47-

2, patel 16-3-32-0, Swann 28.1-4-75-4, pietersen 2-0-4-0.

england 1st innings:

A. Strauss c p. Jayawardene b Dilshan 61

A. Cook not out 77

J. Trott not out 15

extras: (nb1) 1

Total (for one wicket, 66 overs) 154

Fall of wicket: 1-122 (Strauss).

Bowling: Lakmal 13-3-34-0 (nb1), prasad 9-4-24-0, Herath 19-2-

46-0, Dilshan 8-1-16-1, Randiv 17-4-34-0.

Toss: Sri Lanka

Umpires: Asad Rauf (pAK) and Bruce oxenford (AUS), TV umpire:

Rod Tucker (AUS), Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)

SCoReBoARD

ColomBo: england's alastair Cook (l) and captain andrew Strauss (r) run between the wicketsduring the second day of their second and final test match at the P. Sara oval Stadium. afp

KHI 05-04-2012_Layout 1 4/5/2012 1:50 AM Page 15

Sports20thursday, 5 april, 2012

CHENNAI: The Indian

Premier League cricket

team captains are seen

onstage during the IPL

2012 opening night

function and concert

held at the YMCA

College of Physical

Education Grounds. AFP

Punjab College ofCommerce winlahore Board athletic

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

Punjab College of Commerce won the La-hore Board Athletics Championship 2012.Mohsin Ali of PCC set a new record in100 mtres race by covering the distancein 10.82 seconds. Punjab College of Com-merce won with 133 points. All colleges ofLahore participated in the event. The PCCplayers who performed exceptionally wellwere: Rao Adil Muneer, MohammadImran, Mohsin Ali, Wheed Ashraf, ImranAli, Samson, Mohammad Afzal, Moham-mad Ishfaque, Asif Ali, Ijaz Ahmad andSyed Nauman Ali Shah. Prof. SohailAfzal, executive Directot, Punjab Groupof Colleges and Prof. Agha Tahir Ijaz,Principal, PCC gave away cash prizes tothe winning team and congratulated Mr.Shafaqat Ali, Coach for his hardwork.

PrU selectionpanel announced

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

Fawzi Kawaja, President Pakistan RugbyUnion on Wednesday announced the selec-tion committee to pick the national team forAsian 5 National Tournament which is to beplayed in May at Kuala Lumpur. The selec-tion committee’s work will be to evaluate theplayers performance in pre season camps.THe CoMMITTee CoMpRISeS: rizwan malik, na-tional coach (Chairman), maj omar (army), muzam-mil Khan waziri (muzafar ghar), Salman m wain(Punjab), malik fahad ali (Punjab).

Pakistan plays there first match againstIndia in A5N on May 30. Fawzi announcesanother important policy on foreign play-ers/remote location players is as follows:previously capped players will be eligible tobe selected based on past internationalperformance and continued rugby activity,and may join the team at the final campstage, or get a waiver upon application tothe PRU. Uncapped players can presentthemselves at a camp upon arrangementwith the PRU at their own cost and be eval-uated for selection. The decision on anydispensation will rest with the selectioncommittee, he added. Players that havebeen dropped by the scouting committeecan be reintroduced to the squad based onthe judgment of the chairman of selectors,and they will then be evaluated by the se-lection committee on merit, he said.

Karachi asim beat

amjad in Veterans CupLAHORE

STAFF RepoRT

Karachi Asim beat Karachi Amjad by 54runs in the 14th National Veteran SeniorsCricket Cup at the TMC Cricket Ground onSunday. The tournament is being organ-ized by Pakistan Veterans Cricket Associa-tion. Karachi Asim scored 225 runs for 4in 25 overs. Sajid Ali scored 124 not outand Ghulam Ali 33. Amjad Ali Akber took2 wickets for 57 runs. In reply KarachiAmjad could only managed 181 runs for 8wickets in 25 overs. Mujahid Hussain 67runs and Irfan ullah 33. Asim MuhammadNasir took 3 wickets for 17 and Shujaat Ali2 for 29. Sajid Ali of Karachi Asim was de-clared Man of the Match.

AUGUSTAAFp

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy havebrought extra attention from beyond thetypical golf fans to the 76th Masters, butthey are far from the only players with achance to win the green jacket.

There's an intensity at Augusta Na-tional Golf Club this week far beyond theheat that led flower blooms to fall early, di-minishing the course's natural beauty butremoving none of the stern test offered bythe year's first Major. "With the top playerswinning big events and Tiger coming back

into form, it has whipped up a bit of afrenzy," World No. 3 Lee Westwood said.

Tension comes from an on-form field oftop contenders that also includes World No.1 Luke Donald, england's Westwood, three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson, de-fending champion Charl Schwartzel and ahost of others. "A lot of people can win thisweek," McIlroy said. "There's a lot of greatpeople in this field and a lot of people withgreat chances to win. I'm just looking for-ward to hopefully getting in contention andgiving myself a chance." Westwood, a top-three finisher in five of the past 10 majorsstill seeking his first major title at 38, says

nearly one-third of the field of 96 have asolid chance to capture the title. "You cannarrow it down to 30 people probably whosegames are suited," he said. "Rory has neverwon here. Tiger has not won here since2005. So I think everybody would have to benaive to think it was a two-horse race.

"I think Phil might have a little bit ofsomething to say about that. Luke might.I might." Woods, a 14-time major winnerchasing the all-time record of 18 majorswon by Jack Nicklaus, snapped a 2 1/2-year US PGA win drought two weeks agoat Bay Hill but has not won a major titlesince the 2008 US Open.

lHC issuesnotice to PCB

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

The LahoreHigh Court onWednesday is-sued notice tothe PakistanCricket Board forMay 9 andsought reply onawarding the Na-tional T20 Supereight Cricket Tournament broadcastingrights to Geo Super (a private sportschannel) without bidding. Justice UmarAta Bandial sought reply after it was toldto the court by Pakistan Television Cor-poration's counsel during hearing of apetition submitted that the PCB awardednational T20 broadcasting rights to theprivate channel without holding any bid.The court was hearing a petition filed byIndependent Music Group (Geo Super)seeking directions for PTVC to hold a re-bidding for sub-licensing of broadcast-ing rights for ICC cricket during2012-2015. Independent Music Group(IMC), in his petition, stated that PTVChad rights to broadcast ICC cricketevents for period 2012-15. He submittedthat the court ordered the PTVC to holda bid for sub-licensing of broadcastingrights for ICC cricket during 2012-2015,on a petition filed by the petitioner.However, the respondent (PTVC) failedto ensure transparency and declaredthe Taj limited (Ten Sports) as a suc-cessful bidder and IMC's offer was notaccepted, he added. The petitionerpleaded the court to issue directions fora transparent re-bidding. On Wednes-day, the court partly heard argumentsof both the parties and issuing noticesfor May 9 to PCB adjourned the matter.

MOGADISHUAFp

A young woman strapped with explosivesblew herself up Wednesday during an ad-dress by Somalia's prime minister in Mo-gadishu, killing four people, including thecountry's Olympic and football bosses.

She detonated her suicide belt asPrime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Aliwas on a podium addressing 200 peoplegathered to mark the first anniversary ofthe Somalia's satellite TV network, anAFP reporter who witnessed the incidentsaid. Somali Olympic Committee presi-dent Aden Yabarow Wiish and SomaliFootball Federation chief Said MohamedNur were killed in the blast.

The prime minister, and seven otherministers standing beside him when theyoung woman set off her explosives, wereunharmed. "There are four dead, includ-

ing the president of the Olympic commit-tee and the president of the football fed-eration," Abdirahman Omar Osman, theSomali prime minister's spokesman, toldAFP. Osman could not give the identityof the two other victims.

Seconds after the blast, chaos filledthe venue as the dead and the woundedcould be seen slumped on their chairs andlying on the floor while police escortedsome of the injured to awaiting ambu-lances. The Islamist Shebab rebels whohave carried out similar attacks in thepast stopped short of claiming direct re-sponsibility. "The action was carried outby people who support the Shebab,"Sheikh Ali Mohamed Rage, the group'sspokesman, told a pro-Shebab radio.

Somalia's Information Minister Ab-dulkadir Hussein Mohamed howeverlaid the blame squarely on the AlQaeda-linked group. "The cowardly at-

tack was carried out by Shebab non-be-lievers," Mohamed told Radio Mo-gadishu. "The attack is contrary to theteaching of Islam."

Somalia's Chinese-built national the-atre was re-opened last month by Presi-dent Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and the primeminister for the first time in 20 years. Thepresident of the world's governing body,Sepp Blatter, expressed shock at the deathof the two Somali sports chiefs.

"I knew both men personally andcan only say good things about theirendless efforts to promote sport andfootball in their country. They will besorely missed," the FIFA president said.

The pair had last week inspectedthe reconstruction of the national sta-dium in Mogadishu, a city which hadslowly been coming back to life sinceSomali and African Union forces se-cured most of it late last year.

female bomber killsSomali sports chiefs

Wide open Masters field brings major tension

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Sports 21thursday, 5 april, 2012

WaTch iT LivE

GEO SUPERIPL-5: Kolkatav Delhi at Kolkata 07:30PM

TEN SPORTS2ND TEST:Sri Lanka v England09:15AM

CHARLESTONAFp

SeReNA and Venus Williams made a suc-cessful transition to clay on Tuesday, easingthrough their opening matches withstraight-set victories at the WTA Tour's

Charleston tournament. Fifth seed Serena, the 2008Charleston champion, hammered 11 aces in overpow-ering last year's runner-up elena Vesnina, 6-3, 6-4, ina second-round match at the $740,000 event.

"I really love the clay. I feel like it suits my game,"said Serena, who was playing her first match on thesurface in almost two years. "I don't have to go crazyand move my feet so much. "And it's no different fromhard or grass -- I should be able to play the same anddo the same, if not better, because I have more time."

World No. 87 Venus, who returned to the tour lastmonth in Miami after being out seven months due toillness, needed just 79 minutes to dispatch qualifierIveta Benesova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-3, in thefirst round. Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venusis fresh off an impressive comeback showing inMiami, where she won her first four matches of herreturn. "Miami was definitely a whirlwind," Venussaid Tuesday. "A lot of times I ended up the victor atthe end of these matches and I didn't really know howit happened." The Williams sisters did not play in last

month's prestigious Indian Wells tournament becauseof a boycott that began in 2001 when fans booed them.Venus received a wild card invitation into the draw ofCharleston, which she won in 2004. She booked aclash with seventh-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic,who enjoyed a first-round bye. Venus will be put tothe test on Wednesday as Jankovic has won their lastfour matches on clay and holds a 6-5 lead in careercontests. Jankovic routed Venus 6-0, 6-1, in their mostrecent meeting, two years ago in Rome on clay. "It's agreat surface for her and she always gets comfortableon clay, so I know I have to play well," Venus said."We've had some things we've been dealing with, withinjuries, so it'll be an important match for both of us.

"I'll definitely have to be patient and try to move for-ward the best I can." Venus finished out of the top 100in the world last year for the first time in 15 years after aseason plagued by injury and illness. She withdrew fromthe second round of the US Open, where she revealedshe had been diagnosed with the auto-immune disorderSjogren syndrome, and did not play again until makingit to the quarter-finals at Miami. Serena, who was givena bye through the first round here, saved six of sevenbreak points chances and won 73 percent of her first-serve points in the 85-minute match. The Russian Ves-nina was runner-up to Denmark's Caroline Wozniackiin Charleston last year. Serena will play either 17th seedMarina erakovic of New Zealand or unseeded AnnaTatishvili in the third round. In other matches Tuesday,

a pair of Aussies won their second-round contests in straight sets. Sec-

ond seeded Samantha Stosurbeat American Jamie Hampton,6-0, 7-5 and fellow AustralianAnastasia Rodionova sur-prised 10th seeded AnabelMedina Garrigues 7-5, 6-3.

Stosur compiled a 5-2 lead in thesecond set then had to hold on

for the victory. "I'm reallylooking forward to

this part of the sea-son. I hope I can

have a goodw e e k

h e r e , "Stosursaid.

Williams sisterscruise at Charleston

all top seeds confirmparticipation inHonda Cup tennis

LAHORESTAFF RepoRT

All the seeded players of the county haveconfirmed their participation in theHonda Cup Tennis Championship to beplayed here at the lush green tenniscourts of Model Town K 21 Club fromApril 9 to 15. Aqeel Khan, Jalil Khan andYasir Khan who are currently in Philip-pines in connection with Davis Cup Tiehave also confirmed their participation. Rao Akbar Latif, President K-21 Club whois also advisor to PTF on school and col-lege tennis, said that the event is now be-coming part of National Ranking TennisChampionship. “It will be suggested toPTF that ranking system should beadopted for school and colleges as it ex-ists in other categories,” “This will be atremendous boost to Pakistan tennis andyouth will be more involved with greatenthusiasm and this will lead to createsignificant difference to uplift the game,”he added. Categories to be contested in-clude men’s singles, men’s doubles, ladiessingles, boys singles a u-18, boys singlesu-15, boys singles u-12, school/collegeteams u-18 and veteran doubles over 60years. The registration will close on April7 and after that the final lists will be pre-pared to carry out the draws.

Pga champ hitsmasters havingnever lost a major

AUGUSTAAFp

Keegan Bradley has a novel approach tohis Masters debut, one seldom seen evenat historic Augusta National Golf Club."I've won every major I've ever played in,"Bradley said with a grin. "I don't think it'sthat hard to be honest."The 25-year-old American, whose aunt isLPGA legend Pat Bradley, captured lastyear's PGA Championship at Atlanta Ath-letic Club, trailing by five shots with threeholes to play but rallying to beat JasonDufner in a playoff.Bradley became only the third man to winin his major debut after Ben Curtis at the2003 British Open and Francis Ouimet atthe 1913 US Open.But after touring the famed Augusta Na-tional layout, Bradley knows he will havean epic challenge to keep his unbeatenmajor status come next week and make ittwo-for-two in major titles, an unprece-dented feat.

AUGUSTAAFp

Tiger Woods has found the form thatmade him a 14-time major winner, but the36-year-old legend also finds himself out-driven by younger, larger rivals and givingMasters advice to newcomers. Woods teesoff Thursday morning at Augusta Nationalfor the 76th Masters seeking a fifth greenjacket, his first Major win since the 2008US Open and one step closer to the record18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus.

After Woods won his first major title15 years ago at Augusta, courses becamelonger and players became stronger tomeet the challenge he posed. Now on thecomeback trail in a world he created,Woods comes into the Masters havingsnapped a 2 1/2-year US PGA windrought last month at Bay Hill in the af-termath of injuries and his infamous sex

scandal. While it has been a long timesince Woods played so well, the winner of72 career titles still paints himself insomething of an underdog role comparedto younger, stronger players.

"Consistently, with this type of control,it has been a few years," Woods said. "Asfar as having the speed and the pop in mygame, it has been a very long time. "I thinkI have more shots than I did in 2000. Iguess I'm not driving the ball as far, but I'mlonger than I was in 2000. So it's a differ-ent game. The guys are much taller, muchbigger, much more athletic.

"The game has become bigger andstronger. Before, when I played back in2000, the big carry was 280 (yards). Thatwas a big carry over a corner. Now that hasbeen moved out to 315, 320. It's just a dif-ferent number now." Woods in 2000 wasin the heart of his "Tiger Slam" run of fourmajor titles in a row. Despite two major

swing changes since, Woods finds his mas-tery of shotmaking similar to his glorydays. "As far as controlling my game, I feellike I'm hitting the ball just as consistentlyday in and day out as I did then," he said.

With a victory on Sunday, Woodscould also match Nicklaus for second onthe all-time US PGA win list with a 73rdoverall crown, nine shy of Sam Snead'sall-time record. "I would like the greenjacket more," Woods said. "I know the 73would be a by-product of it, but I'm herefor the green jacket." Woods is also at Au-gusta National to dispense advice, muchthe way he learned secrets of the coursefrom Arnold Palmer and Nicklaus in by-gone days, such as a practice round withNicklaus in 1995 as an amateur. "Jackthat year told me some of the putts he hashit over the years, the strategy on how toplay certain flags," Woods said. "At thetime it was all about the different angles."

AUGUSTAAFp

Rory McIlroy is counting on some parentalguidance to take his revenge on AugustaNational at the Masters tournament thisweek. Mum and Dad, Rosie and Gerry,were not on hand last year when the Irish-man endured one of the biggest Sundaymeltdowns in Masters history.

Leading by four shots going into thefinal round shoot-out and seemingly on theway to his first major title at the age of 21,the Irishman was consumed by a tumultouscollapse. When the dust had settled, McIl-roy had fired an 80 and slumped down thestandings to a tie for 15th place as SouthAfrica's Charl Schwartzel swooped in underthe radar to steal the prize. Many at the time

wondered what the long-term effect wouldbe on McIlroy, but famously he came outeight weeks later to win the US Open byeight shots and since then he has assumedthe world number one ranking, albeit forjust two weeks. A year on from that darkestof days in his young career, McIlroy saysthat he has learned a lot about his golf andhimself, but having his parents with himthis week could be the clincher. "Dad isa very laid back type of person, very easygoing. Wouldn't get sort of stressed oruptight aboutanything," hesaid. "even justthat sort of aura that he gives off,having him around, it sort ofmakes everything seem a littlebit more relaxed. "So it's defi-

nitely nice to have him around. Andwhether it's just having breakfast with himor having dinner, it's just nice to have bothof my parents here. "Maybe at the end ofthe week, that may be the difference orcould be a big help in helping me try to win

this tournament." McIlroy, who enjoyedtwo weeks as the world's top-ranked player last month before

Luke Donald unseated him, saidthat he and his entourage hadgone over what happened a year

ago "a milliont i m e s "and that

he hadcome tothe con-

c l u s i o n

that he had allowed the occasion to get tohim. "I was trying to be too focused, too per-fect," he said. "For me, I feel like myself, I'mmore relaxed. I sort of have a bounce in mystep and sort of a heads up looking aroundat other people. "That day, I felt like fromwatching the tape back, I was always look-ing at the ground. I was very insular. "Myshoulders were a little bit (hunched over),sort of like I didn't want the outside worldto get in instead of embracing the situationand saying, 'You know, I've got a four-shotlead at the Masters, let's enjoy this.' Thatwas the real difference." McIlroy started offthe year in fine style at Abu Dhabi in lateJanuary, going out with Donald and TigerWoods on the Thursday and Friday andclosing well to eventually take second placebehind upset winner Robert Rock.

family counts for confident McIlroy

Time marches on while Tiger turns back the clock

aUgUSta: tiger woods (r) his caddie Joe laCava and caddie Brian Smith looks on during a practiceround prior to the start of the 2012 masters tournament at augusta national golf Club. afp

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thursday, 5 april, 2012

22

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

Seven killedin Jamrudcar bombing

PESHAWARAFp/STAFF RepoRT

A bomb ripped through a passenger van inKhyber Agency on Wednesday, killing atleast seven people, including a tribal elder,and wounding six others.The van was carrying 15 men from Khur-rakai village to Jamrud, the main town inKhyber district when it was hit while pass-ing through a ravine.“The passengers, including Malik GulabKokikhel, were going to town for shopping.So far we can confirm the death of sevenpeople while nine others are injured,” Sha-keel Khan Umarzai, a senior administra-tion official, said.“Three people are seriously injured. It isunclear that the blast was caused by an IeDor a planted bomb in the van but explosiveswere used,” he said.A doctor at the local government hospitalwhere the dead and the injured were takenalso confirmed the casualties.“We are treating six other passengers whowere wounded while three seriously injuredhave been shifted to Peshawar,” Mo-hammed Anas said.

ISLAMABADTAHIR NIAZ

SeeKING ‘similar facil-ities as extended toMansoor Ijaz’ to recordhis statement beforethe memo commission

via video link from London, for-mer ambassador to United StatesHusain Haqqani on Wednesdayasked the commission to adjournthe proceedings until his applica-tion is decided by the SupremeCourt and “till such time as andwhen he gets clearance from hisdoctors for performing as stressfula task as recording of statement”.

According to sources,Haqqani submitted an applica-tion before the commission a daybefore its meeting here at the Is-lamabad High Court through hiscounsel Zahid Bukhari, statingthat he had been a patient at the

Advanced Cardiology Center forthe past three years and was un-dergoing cardiac treatment. Thecommission is meeting here today(Thursday). Haqqani said he isscheduled for a MRI/CT at theNational Institute of Health of theUnited States on April 4. He alsosubmitted the certificate fromPractice Administrator, AdvancedCardiology Center of USA in sup-port of his case.

Haqqani submitted before thecommission that he had submitteda petition before the SupremeCourt of Pakistan to allow him ‘torecord his statement before memocommission in the same mannerwith similar facilities as extendedto Mr Mansoor Ijaz’.

He said on March 29, 2012the Supreme Court adjourned thematter without deciding his appli-cation for recording of his state-ment via video link, adding theproceedings be adjourned till theapplication is decided by the SCand till such time he gets clear-ance from his doctors for per-forming as stressful a task asrecording of statement.

On the last hearing, the memocommission had directed Haqqanito appear before it on the next dateas he had declined to appear in Is-lamabad due to security reasons.

Haqqani seeksadjournment on‘medical grounds’

g former envoy to USseeks ‘similar facilities asextended to Mansoor Ijaz’to record his statementbefore memo commissionvia video link

Saeed’s linkswith osamaled to USbounty: report

NEW DELHIoNLINe

Hard evidence that Pakistan-basedLashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed was com-municating with Osama bin Laden througha courier led Washington to put a $10 mil-lion bounty on Saeed’s head, Indian mediareported on Wednesday.The evidence also points to the then al-Qaeda chief, Bin Laden, having played a keyrole in the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai in 2008that killed 166 people and injured morethan 300, Hindustan-Times quoting offi-cials said. All this was unearthed by US Spe-cial Forces last May when they killed BinLaden in his hideout in Abbottabad, Pak-istan, and took back bagfuls of his docu-ments and computer equipment. Bruce Riedel, Pakistan terrorism expert andformer AfPak advisor to US PresidentBarack Obama, told HT, “The documentsand files found in Abbottabad showed aclose connection between Bin Laden andSaeed, right up to May 2011.” Riedel saidthe Abbottabad information also “suggesteda much larger direct al Qaeda role in theplanning of the Mumbai attacks than manyassumed.” He said the US now has evidencethat Bin Laden may have seen the recon-naissance reports of David Headley,Lashkar’s scout for the 26/11 attacks.Indian experts on Lashkar, pointing out therelationship between the outfit and al Qaedahas been known for years, presumed thatthe US had additional motives when it sud-denly announced the bounty under its Re-wards for Justice programme on Monday.RAW’s former deputy director Rana Baner-jee said Saeed has been assuming a largerprofile in Pakistan, preparing the ground fora political career. “The US is forcing himunderground. It has silenced him for awhile,” he said. Documentation onLashkar’s ties with al Qaeda would also ex-plain the $2-million bounty on Adbul Rah-man Makki, Lashkar’s financial secretary.Makki, said Banerjee, is the only personSaeed trusts with funds and was the liaisonfor Lashkar’s global tie-ups. Lashkar has also attracted US anger, saidanalyst Wilson John, author of Caliphate’sSoldiers: The Lashkar-e-Tayebba’s LongWar, by openly helping militants fightingUS troops in Afghanistan. “Members of theHaqqani network have trained at Lashkarcamps,” he said.

WASHINGTONAFp

The United States Wednesday unveiledcharges against the self-proclaimed master-mind of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mo-hammed, along with four alleged plotters,vowing to seek the death penalty in a long-de-layed military trial.

The announcement set the stage for amuch-awaited trial of Mohammed and theother accused conspirators, who have beenheld for years at the US-run prison in Guan-tanamo Bay, Cuba, amid a legal and politicalbattle in the United States over how andwhere to prosecute them. “The charges allegethat the five accused are responsible for theplanning and execution of the attacks of Sept.11, 2001, in New York and Washington DC,and Shanksville, Pa., resulting in the killing of2,976 people,” the Defense Department saidin a statement.

“The convening authority referred the caseto a capital military commission, meaningthat, if convicted, the five accused could besentenced to death.”

The 46-year-old Mohammed, along with

Walid bin Attash of Saudi Arabia, Yemen’sRamzi Binalshibh, Pakistan’s Ali Abd al-AzizAli — also known as Ammar al-Baluchi —and Mustapha Ahmed al-Hawsawi of SaudiArabia are due to appear in court for ar-raignment proceedings within 30 days, thePentagon said.

The joint trial, which could be monthsaway, will be held at the US naval base inGuantanamo Bay, where the US governmenthas set up special military commissions to tryterror suspects.

Stage set for trial of 9/11mastermind, four others

peSHAWAR: people look at the wreckage of a passenger van following a roadside bombing in Jamrud on Wednesday. STaff pHOTO

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