Continued on Page 7

Just a call from White Housewas enough................................................See how unruly these MPs are!................................................Govt rectifies wrongs ofdubious postings

See Page 04

JEDDAH—Pakistan and Saudi Arabia onTuesday agreed to further strengthen bi-

lateral relations in all fields.This was decided at a meeting between

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharifand Saudi Crown Prince, Prince Salmanbin Abdul Aziz Al Saud in Jeddah.

During the meeting, the two leadersexpressed satisfaction at the status of bi-lateral relations.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said

Saudi Arabia is playing a unique and irre-placeable role in the Muslim world.

It was agreed that high level exchangesbetween the two countries are essential forfurther deepening bilateral relations.

Crown Prince Salman bin AbdulazizAl Saud hoped that relationship betweenthe two brotherly countries would furtherstrengthen.

Crown Prince Salman bin AbdulazizAl Saud hoped that relationship between

both the brotherly countries Pakistan andSaudi Arabia will further strengthen. Prime

Minister said that Saudi Arabia is playinga unique and irreplaceable role in the Mus-lim world.

It was agreed between two leaders thathigh level exchanges between the twocountries were essential for further deep-ening of relations between Pakistan andSaudi Arabia. The Crown Prince re-

JEDDAH: Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif calls on Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Crown Prince,Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence on late Monday night.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia tofurther expand bilateral tiesNawaz holds talks with Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz

Continued on Page 7

GAZA CITY—A series of Israeli air strikes earlyTuesday killed seven people in Gaza, includingfive members of the same family, emergencyservices spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra said.

The deaths hike the total Palestinian toll to583 since the Israeli military launched Opera-tion Protective Edge on July 8 in a bid to stampout rocket fire from Gaza.

Qudra said a strike on Deir el-Balah in cen-tral Gaza killed five family members, four ofthem women.Another person was killed in a strike in nearbyNusseirat, and one more died in the southerncity of Khan Yunis.

Many of those killed in the relentless Israelicampaign of shelling and airstrikes in the GazaStrip have been women and children, medicssay. On the Israeli side, 27 soldiers and two ci-vilians have been killed.

For almost two weeks, Israel practicallybristled with confidence and pride: The IronDome air defense system was dependably zap-ping incoming Hamas rockets from the skies,the military was successfully repelling infiltra-tion attempts on the ground and from the sea,and the conflict with Hamas was causing almostno casualties in Israel.

In a country where military service is man-datory for most citizens, and military losses areconsidered every bit as tragic as civilian ones,the reaction to the killing of 18 including troopswas electric. Newspapers and broadcasts havebeen dominated by images and tales of the fallen— mostly young faces barely out of high school— and interviews with parents concerned foroffspring so clearly now imperiled.

Angst over the highest military toll since the2006 Lebanon war now mixes with a cocktailof emotions: on one hand, a strong current ofdetermination to press on with efforts to end therocket fire from Gaza; on the other, the sinkingfeeling that a quagmire is at hand.

“It’s ugly and it’s no walk in the park,” saidAlon Geller, a 42-year-old legal intern from cen-tral Israel. “But we have to finish the operation.If we stop now before reaching our goals, thesoldiers will have died in vain.”

But the Haaretz newspaper warned againstmission creep and the “wholesale killing” of Pal-estinian civilians. “The soft Gaza sand ... couldturn into quicksand,” it said in its editorial Mon-day. “There can be no victory here. ... Israel mustlimit its time in the Strip.”

Israeli air strikes kill 7 morein Gaza, death toll 583

Israeli mood turns dark with mounting casualties

Relatives of Palestinian Mahmoud Shawamreh cries during his funeral on Tuesday whowas killed in Israeli air strike.

Continued on Page 7

KARACHI—Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is claiming more lives in Pakistan thanever, says a first-of-its-kind analysis of trenddata from 188 countries released on Monday.There has been an 11 per cent increase in mor-tality rates from HIV/AIDS in Pakistan, accord-ing to the study that examines data from 2000to 2013. However, it reports a decline in thedeath rates from tuberculosis (TB) and malariain Pakistan since 2000, when the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs) were establishedto stop the spread of these diseases by 2015.

Published in The Lancet, the study Glo-bal, regional, and national incidence and mor-tality for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria dur-ing 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for theGlobal Burden of Disease Study 2013 was con-

HIV/AIDS mortality rate rising by 11pc annually in Pakistanducted by an international consortium of re-searchers led by the Institute for Health Metricsand Evaluation (IHME) at the University ofWashington.

“Working closely with our WHO office,Pakistan has prioritised tackling tuberculosisand malaria, and I think we are seeing whathappens when you invest in improving theprompt diagnosis and treatment of these deadlydiseases. Now, we need to make sure that HIV/AIDS does not take more lives in Pakistan thanit already has,” said Prof Zulfiqar Bhutta,founding director of the Centre of Excellencein Women and Child Health at the Aga KhanUniversity and co-director at the Centre forGlobal Child Health at The Hospital for SickChildren, and one of the study’s co-authors.Worldwide, deaths from HIV/AIDS declined

at a rate of 1.5 per cent between 2000 and 2013,while tuberculosis deaths declined by 3.7pc.Pakistan, however, is experiencing the oppo-site with HIV/AIDS, according to the study.“Increasingly, more people have died fromHIV/AIDS since 1990. From 2000 to 2013,the country averaged a 15 per cent annual in-crease in rates of new HIV/AIDS infections,ultimately rising from less than 1 case per100,000 to 6.7 per 100,000. “Far more Paki-stanis die from TB each year (nearly 37,500were killed by TB in 2013), but the country’songoing progress in reducing TB mortalityrates starkly contrasts with its burgeoning HIV/AIDS burden,” the study says. After adjustingfor differences in population size and agesacross time, researchers found that there were277 cases of TB per 100,000 people in Paki-

stan for 2013. In terms of new cases, Pakistanrecorded 151 TB cases per 100,000 that year.

Mortality rates from HIV/AIDS in Paki-stan (1.5 deaths per 100,000), according to thestudy, were higher than what was found inAfghanistan and Iran for 2013 (each werefewer than one death per 100,000) but remainedlower than in India (6.6 deaths per 100,000).TB death rates in Pakistan (32 deaths per100,000) were lower than those in India (58deaths per 100,000), but were much higher thanthe TB mortality rates in Iran for 2013 (2.8deaths per 100,000). In comparison to manycountries in sub-Saharan Africa and SoutheastAsia, where malaria claims tens of thousandslives each year (over 260,000 people died frommalaria alone in Nigeria last year), malariaclaims relatively fewer lives in Pakistan.—INP

Karzai Govtdonates half

million dollarsfor Gaza victims

LIAQAT TOOR

ISLAMABAD—Walid A.M.Abu Ali, Ambassador of Stateof Palestine will leave here forKabul tomorrow to call on Af-ghan President Hamid Karzaiwho will present a cheque ofhalf million dollars to him forPalestinian victims in Gaza.

The Palestinian Ambassa-dor will undertake the visit onthe invitation extended byJanan Mosazai, Ambassador ofthe Islamic State of Afghani-stan.

Continued on Page 7

Imran shouldmotivate peoplefor service: PR

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—InformationMinister Pervaiz Rashid saidTuesday that Pakistan TehreekInsaf (PTI) chief Imran Khanshould motivate people to servethe country rather than riot.

Speaking to media repre-sentatives outside the Parlia-ment House in the federal capi-tal, Rashid said 307 membersof the National Assemblywould not participate in the PTIlong march scheduled to beheld on August 14 and addedthat with only 25 participatinglawmakers from the NA, thePTI’s tsunami would be a soloflight.

The information minister

AAMIR MAJEED

KARACHI—The Federal Ombudsman Secre-tariat in Karachi has smelled a rat in BenazirIncome Support Programme (BISP) after receiv-ing number of complaints regarding violationof rules and procedure of the programme, it isreliably learnt.

According to details, the Karachi secretariatof the federal ombudsman had received a largenumber of complaints from those who are will-ing to apply for the programme and those whohave got a certificate after completing the courseregarding ignorance of rules and procedure ofBISP. The complaints were received in the ten-ure of former Pakistan People Party (PPP)-ledcoalition government.

An official in the regional secretariat of fed-eral ombudsman in Karachi said that they gotcomplaints of favoritism during selection ofcandidates in different courses of theprogramme. “The willing candidates complainedthat they were not allowed to select a course inwhich they want training,” he added.

“Some of complainants claimed that theyhave got a certificate after completing courses

but they were not given jobs as promised,” hesaid, adding that “The government has signedMemorandum of Understandings (MoUs) witha number of trade associations and internationalchains including SITE, KATI, Daewoo Pakistanand Pizza Hut, with the purpose of impartingvocational training to the beneficiaries based onthe needs of the market and ensuring the jobplacement in the process.

“It was complained that some of the train-ers did not own any technical institute and theywere merely operating as middleman,” he dis-closed, adding that “A large number of com-plainants have claimed that they have not gotstipened as promised by the government.” “Alsothere were also complaints of ghost technicalschools,” he maintained.

Talking to Pakistan Observer, Federal Om-budsman Secretary Agha Nadeem confirmedthat they had got a large number of complaintsregrading BISP. “Most of the people have com-plained about violations of rules and procedureof the progarmme,” he added.

It may be pertinent to mention that BISPManagement Board has already decided to con-

Federal Ombudsmansmells rat in BISP

Continued on Page 7

PML-N MPAKhurram Gulfam

passes awayMUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—Pakistan MuslimLeague- Nawaz (PML-N)MPA Khurram Gulfam passedaway at the Services Hospitalin Lahore on Tuesday.

Gulfam, elected to PP-162(Sheikhupura-I), was declaredbrain dead last week, days af-ter he was brought to the hos-pital for a minor procedure.

At the hospital, his condi-tion turned critical during theoperation and the doctorsshifted him to the ICU.Born on February 6, 1979 inSheikhupura, Gulfam receivedhis early education fromLahore’s Aitchison College andlater graduated from Govern-ment College, Lahore.

He obtained the degree ofM.A. (English) in 2001 fromUniversity of the Punjab,Lahore and graduated in Lawin 2004 from Lahore’s PakistanCollege of Law.

Later in 2007, when he wasserving as Muridke tehsil’snaib nazim, an attempt wasmade on Gulfam’s life. Al-though he had managed to es-

Continued on Page 7

MOSCOW—President Vladimir Putin said onTuesday Russia would use its influence withseparatists in east Ukraine to allow a full inves-tigation into the downing of a Malaysian air-liner, but said the West must put pressure onKiev to end hostilities.

Putin also called on Western powers not tomeddle in Russia’s domestic affairs and saidsteps were needed to strengthen the country’smilitary capabilities because of moves by NATOand to protect the economy from “externalthreats”.

“We are being called on to use our influ-ence with the separatists in southeasternUkraine. We of course will do everything in ourpower but that is not nearly enough,” Putin saidat the start of a meeting with defense and secu-rity chiefs.

“Ultimately, there is a need to call on the

authorities in Kiev to respect basic norms ofdecency, and at least for a short time implementa ceasefire,” he said.

Putin’s comments were his first detailed re-sponse in public to Western criticism of Russia’srole in Ukraine since the Malaysian airliner wasbrought down on Thursday, killing 298 people.

Reading from notes at the head of a longtable with officials seated on each side, Putinspoke much more forcefully than during brieftelevised remarks on the plane’s downing firstreleased in the early hours of Monday, when hehad seemed less assured than usual.

Putin reiterated his belief that protests thattoppled Ukraine’s former Russian-backed leaderwere instigated and funded from abroad.

Despite Western sanctions, he said Moscowwould stand by separatists in eastern Ukraine

Russia’s capabilities tocounter NATO: Putin

Continued on Page 7 Continued on Page 7

ISLAMABAD—The SupremeCourt (SC) of Pakistan has or-dered identification of thepeople responsible for the anti-judiciary banners, which weredisplayed in and around thefederal capital a few monthsago.

Anti-judiciary banners

SC seeks identificationof real culprits

A two-member benchheaded by Chief Justice of Pa-kistan Nasirul Mulk heard theanti-judiciary banners case onTuesday. During the hearing,the Deputy Attorney Generaltold that court that the prime

Continued on Page 7

US tocontinue Paksupport, hopesFatemiWASHINGTON–SpecialAssistant to the PrimeMinister Syed Tariq Fatemihas said Pakistan would likethe United States to continueits funding in support of fightagainst terrorism in the shapeof Coalition Support Fund(CSF) after withdrawal of itsforces from Afghanistan.Talking to media persons hereon Monday, Tariq Fatemi,who is now in the US capitalfor important talks, said if theobjective of fighting againstterrorism is not achieved inthe next two years andPakistan continues to fightthe menace, Islamabad wouldexpect Washington tocontinue meeting theexpenditure as in the past.

Earlier speaking at theCarnegie Endowment forInternational Peace Mondayon “Pakistan’s vision forregional peace, prosperity,

Govt employeesto get salariesby 25th JulySTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—FinanceMinister Ishaq Dar hasdirected authorities to paysalaries to governmentemployees by 25th July onaccount of Eid-ul-Fitr.According to a private newschannel, the minister hasissued directives to Accoun-tant General of PakistanRevenues (AGPR) in thisregard. Eid-ul-Fitr is likely tobe celebrated in the countryon July 29.

The government hasalready announced fourholidays on account of Eidfrom July 29 (Tuesday) toAugust 1 (Friday).

Shiv Senaopposes talkswith Pakistan

NEW DELHI—Shiv Sena MPSanjay Raut has opposed anykind of talks with Pakistanmost recently after the killingof an Indian jawan by the Pa-kistani forces Slamming the‘sari and shawl’ diplomacy

Taliban shadowgovernoramong 9 killedin AfghanistanKABUL—Taliban shadowgovernor, Qari Fakhruddin,and nine other insurgentswere killed on Monday in aclash with Afghan securityforces in north-easternBadakhshan province, localofficials said on Tuesday.Five other insurgents wereinjured in the attack.

The clash took place inJurm district of the provinceafter the Taliban insurgentsbegan battling with theAfghan forces in which QariFakhurddin, who wasappointed as the shadowgovernor, and nine otherinsurgents were killed, saidGhulaam Haidar Haidari headof the 209th Shaheen MilitaryCorps in the north zone.

He said the Afghan forceshave seized the body of Qari

Continued on Page 7

Matric resulton Thursday

FAISALABAD—The Board ofIntermediate and SecondaryEducation (BISE) Faisalabadwill announce the result ofannual matriculation Exami-nation 2014 on July 25.

According to BISE Chair-man, Prof GhulamMuhammad Jaggar, variouscommittees have beenformed to complete neces-sary arrangements for in-timeannouncement of Matric re-sult.

He said that names of theposition holders would bereleased in the evening ofJuly 24 (Thursday) so thatparents and other relativescould participate in the resultannouncement ceremony inwhich position holderswould be decorated withmedals, prizes and certifi-cates.

He said that ProvincialMinister for Food BilalYaseen had been invited tograce the occasion as chiefguest whereas members ofprovincial and national as-semblies will participate inthe ceremony as guests ofhonours.

He further said that resultannouncing ceremony will beheld at BISE auditorium forwhich all arrangements arebeing finalised.

He said that result ga-zette would be available onthe CD at the rate of Rs 200from designated branches ofthe banks including UBLKotwali Road, UBL BankSquare, UBL Board Branchand MCB Jail Road.

The booking for resultCDs can be continued byJuly 24 whereas the result CDswill be provided at 10:15 amon July 25, he added.—AP

FESCO issuesshutdown

programmeFAISALABAD—FaisalabadElectric Supply Company(FESCO) has issued shut-down programme for neces-sary repair, maintenance andexpansion of electricity lines.

According to theprogramme issued by thecompany, power supply fromSultan Nagar feeder emanat-ing from 132-KV ChakJhumra grid station will re-main suspended from 6 amto 11 am whereas PhalahiWala feeder originating from132-KV Chak No 103-RB gridstation will observe shut-down from 6 am to 12 noonon July 23.—APP

DIG calls forcontingency Eid

securtiy planSUKKUR—The Deputy In-spector General of Police(DIG) Sukkur, Javed OdhoTuesday, directed for ensur-ing security arrangementsunder contingency plan onoccasion of Eid-ul-Fitr in theRegion. He directed all Su-perintendents of Police(SPs) of Sukkur region tomobilize resources and po-lice personnel to ensure pub-lic security at all mosques,Imambargahs, shoppingcentres and public recre-ational places in all districtsand towns of the Sukkur re-gion under the contingencyplan.—APP

‘Imran, Qadrishould show

responsibility’LAHORE—PML-N law-maker Khawaja AhmedImran Nazir has asked ImranKhan and Dr Tahirul Qadrito show responsibility in theprevalent situation.

In a press statement is-sued on Tuesday, he saidthe country was in a stateof war against terrorism andcould not afford anypolarisation. He said in-stead of staging rallies,Imran Khan and TahirulQadri should step forwardand help the government toface challenges.

He said those trying tograb powers through thebackdoor would be disap-pointed.—APP

PMA donatesone-day salary

SARGODHA—The PakistanMedical Association (PMA)Tuesday announced to do-nate one-day salary to inter-nally displaced persons.

This was announced byPMA President Dr SikandarHayyat Warraich during ameeting with District Coordi-nation Officer (DCO) SaqibManaan on Tuesday.

He said a counter hadbeen set up at District Head-quarters Hospital (DHQ) tocollect funds for IDPs.—APP

BANNU—Major General Akhtar JamilRao, General Officer Commanding of45 Engineers Division of the PakistanArmy, said on Tuesday that everypossible facility was being providedto the internally displace persons(IDPs) from the North Waziristan tribalregion.

Maj Gen Rao addressing the me-dia in Bannu said that 84 per cent ofthe affectees had reached Bannuwhereas 5,500 displaced families hadmoved to Dera Ismail Khan. He added

that more than 50,000 families couldnot be registered as they had not beenverified.

The GOC added that 74 per cent ofthe IDPs were women and children. Hesaid ration had been distributed to the650,000 displaced persons who hadreached Bannu and none of them wereleft hungry, adding that the aid washanded over to the head of each re-spective family.

Akhtar Rao said operation againstmilitants in North Waziristan was in-

evitable. “We have devised a three-pronged strategy to assist and reha-bilitate the IDPs,” he added. The Ma-jor General said the construction ofschools, document verification centresand sewerage facilities was underwayat the camp.

He said facilities would be pro-vided in North Waziristan on the samescale as Swat, adding that reconstruc-tion of North Waziristan would takeplace after the completion of the on-going operation in the region.—INP

No IDP to sleep hungry inBannu: Maj Gen Rao

FAISALABAD—A wicked youth gunneddown his mother over domestic disputes andfled away here on Tuesday.

Police said that the incident took placein Khurrianwala area of Faisalabad whereaccused after exchange of hot words with

Youth guns down mothermother opened fire at her killing her on thespot and escaped the scene. The body wasshifted to hospital and handed over to heirsafter medico-legal formalities while the po-lice registering a case against the murdererstarted raids for his arrest.—INP

Man electrocuted,three scorched in

Mian ChannuMIAN CHANNU—A manwas electrocuted to deathwhile three others werescorched when a trucktouch transmission linewires here on Tuesday. Po-lice said that in Ali Town areaof Mian Channu a goodsladen truck touched lowhanging high power trans-mission line wires. As a re-sult, one person was elec-trocuted while three otherswere scorched due to elec-tric shocks.

The local people ex-pressing concerns over theincident have criticizedLESCO for low lying trans-mission wires which poseserious life threat topeople.—INP

D I KHAN—Heydar Aliyev Foundation(HAF) of the Republic of Azerbaijan in col-laboration with AIMS Development Orga-nization (NGO) has arranged facility of cleandrinking water and Iftar dinner for the dis-placed families of North Waziristan at DeraIsmail Khan.

Faisal Karim Kundi, former DeputySpeaker, National Assembly of Pakistan andChief Patron of AIMS Development Orga-nization thanked First Lady of AzerbaijanMrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, President ofHeydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Am-bassador of UNESCO and ISESCO for the

HAF arranges clean drinkingwater, Iftar for IDPs

support of these families in the holy monthof Ramadan. The function was followed byiftar dinner.

Similar activity was also organized byHeydar Aliyev Foundation in collaborationwith Azerbaijan-Pakistan Youth Parliamentwherein orphan girls of Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal Sweet Home, Islamabad were givenIftar dinner. The event was attended byManaging Director of Bait-ul-Maal Barris-ter Waheed Sheikh, President of Azerbaijan-Pakistan Youth Parliament Mohammad AsifNoor and officials of Azerbaijan Embassyin Pakistan.—INP

IS L A M A B A D —The Islamic AdvisoryGroup for Polio Eradication is verypleased to see the intense efforts of theGovernment of Pakistan to vaccinatepeople who have not had access to po-lio vaccination for two years.

Health authorities in Pakistan havedeployed thousands of teams to admin-ister polio vaccines to children of inter-nally displaced persons (IDPs) as theyleave North Waziristan Agency and inhost communities where such affectedpersons have taken temporary resi-dence, says message received fromCairo.

The Group highly appreciates thiscampaign and encourages authoritiesto take this opportunity to deliverbroader health interventions, includingvaccination against measles, and nutri-tional supplements to children of bothdisplaced and host communities.

The IAG reiterates that “vacci-nation is a duty of Muslim parents andcommunit ies” as highlighted in theIslamabad Declaration and Fatwa is-sued by the International Ulama Con-ference on Polio Eradication on 15-16June 2014; and welcomes this initiative

to protect these vulnerable children.Anti-polio vaccines are not only

supported and encouraged by all majorIslamic institutions, scholars and ex-perts but are also considered the onlysafe and effective means of protectingchildren and societies at large againstthis crippling and potentially fatal dis-ease and an imperative route toward theeventual eradication of polio.

The campaign is especial ly wel-comed since it is helping reach childrenwho could not be previously reachedfor various reasons.

After a two-day conference inIslamabad last month, more than 60prominent Muslim scholars and medi-cal experts reaffirmed global Islamicsolidarity and support for protectingchildren from polio paralysis and life-long disability.

In this blessed month of Ramadan,the International Islamic AdvisoryGroup members pray to Allah Almightyin all sincerity for success in the polioeradication programs for all children ofthe world and hope to see our new gen-erations in the best of health and hap-piness .—Agencies

Islamic Advisory Grouphails polio vaccinations

GUL HAMAAD FAROOQI

CH I T R A L —Ex-UC nazim Abdul WaliKhan in press release pointed out threeimportant projects of Chitral and soughtattention of KPK government and PTIchief Imran Khan and said that thesethree projects are failing due to corrup-tion, using of sub standard material andpoor planning.

He said that Awami National party (ANP) government has approved GolainWater supply scheme for 50% popula-tion of Chitral Town and almost 500 mil-lion were spent on this scheme but dueto corruption and sub standard materialthis project failed badly just soon afterthe inauguration by MPA Saleem Khan.

It is note-worthy that provincial gov-ernment and National Accountability Bu-reau (NAB) official and Anti corruptiondepartment is silent on this issue whichis a question mark.

He said that a bridge is under con-struction in Morlain Goul Chitral sincelast year but due to sub standard mate-rial and corruption and poor planningthis project is failed in its initial stages.

Abdul Wali Khan Bypass road ofChitral town is also an example of substandard material and corruption sincelast few years.

He further added that collusion ofC&W and contractor is a slap on the faceof the government while NAB and Anticorruption is also a silent spectator onthis major mishap with the governmenttreasury. Although Anti corruption havelodged FIR against some offices and of-ficials as well as contractors of C&W butstern action should to take against thecorrupt mafia.

He further asked the PTI governmentthat if they could not bring3 any devel-opmental mega project in Chitral so theyshould to take action at least against thecorrupt mafia of Chitral and to investi-gate embezzlement in differentdevelopmenta plans of previous govern-ment.

He further added that PTI should tofulfill their promise of justice and theyshould action against corrupt mafia es-pecially corrupt officials who using de-lay tactics in developmental schemes ofChitra.

Sub-standard quality work inChitral schemes lamented

FATA—FATA Disaster Management Au-thority is continuing distribution of finan-cial assistance and non-food items amongIDPs in Bannu and D.I. Khan regions.

Participating in Nuqta-e-Nazar programof Radio Pakistan’s News and Current Af-fairs Channel, senior journalist ShamimShahid said: “IDPs are facing a number ofproblems including hot weather, poor ac-commodation but the government is tryingits best to provide maximum facilities tothem. International organizations like theUnited Nations are also involved in pro-viding relief to the IDPs. Registration pro-cess is in full swing.”

Former minister Dr. Ghazi Ghulab Jamalsaid: “Present government is taking many

steps to overcome the problems being facedby IDPs. Government has reiterated to re-construct the homes of IDPs in the reha-bilitation phase. Government will also tryto revive business activities so that IDPsdo not suffer when they return.”

Participating in the program, Air Mar-shal (Retd.) Masood Akhtar said: “Opera-tion has been launched in consultationswith all stakeholders and is gaining suc-cess. Drone attacks are not playing a pro-ductive role in national defense. Our forcesare fighting valiantly against the terroristsand sacrificing their lives for the nationalcause. Afghanistan should cooperate withPakistan in order to bring peace and stabil-ity in the region”. —Agencies

Efforts in full-swing to facilitate IDPs

HYDERABAD: Activists of nationalist parties stage sit-in at bypass against influx of NWA’s IDPs in Sindh.

BANNU: Former Punjab Governor Lieutenant General (Rtd) Khalid Maqbool distrib-uting packages among the IDPs of NWA donated by Jazba Foundation at a Food distri-bution point.

STAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR—KP Chief Min-ister Pervez Khattak has saidthat the PTI-led coalitiongovernment was fulfilling itseach electoral commitment,saying it not only achievedsuccess in the eradication ofcorruption and mission ofchange in the system, butalso took solid steps for rais-ing the life standard ofpeople particularly for thewelfare of poor.

He expressed theseviews while addressing theinaugural ceremony of thespecial package for provi-sion of subsidized flour andghee to poor in CM Secre-tariat on Tuesday. PTI chiefImran Khan attended thefunction as chief guestwhile provincial ministers,

KP govt fulfilling its commitment: CMMNA, MPAs, trader commu-nity, elite of the city andhigher officials of the pro-vincial government also at-tended.

He said his govt in thebudget for financial year2014-15, has promised thespecial package for provi-sion of subsidized flour andghee to the poor worth Rs 7Billion, which he said is be-ing implemented. Under theprogramme, he said, 5.6 mil-lion people identified aspoor would be given a sub-sidy of Rs.10 per kg on pur-chase of 40 kilogram flourand Rs.40 per kg on pur-

chase of five kg ghee permonth. The families, he saidwould be issued two vouch-ers of worth Rs.600 permonth through which theycould purchase these com-modities from their nearbyutility store.

Besides, this he said, theprovincial government hasalso arranged insurancepolicy for the head of eachpoor family. Under which hesaid an amount ofRs.0.1million would be paidin case of accidental deathand Rs.50,000/- in case ofphysical death to the heirsof decease persons.

QUETTA—Balochistan Minister for Homeand Tribal Affairs, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti Tues-day expressing his annoyance over acidattacks on women in the province andsought report from the law enforcementagencies and district administrations in thisregard.

“Increasing incidents of acid attacks onwomen in the province were denting thesoft image of Balochistan for which wewould not allow such elements to disre-

spect our women,” he said while talking toAPP here. No one has claimed the respon-sibility so far, he said adding stern actionwould be taken against the culprits.

He told that district administrations andlaw enforcement agencies had been askedto present him report as soon as possible.

Attack on women are against the normsof Baloch and Pashtuns, the culprits wouldbe brought to justice soon, the ministersaid.—APP

Home Minister distrubed overacid attacks on women

Rs 2.8 milliondistributed

among studentsQUETTA—Chairman Zakatand Usher CommitteeQuetta, Sardar ZainulAbidin Tuesday said that Rs2.8 million had been distrib-uted among the students ofschools and colleges duringthe year 2013-14.

“Rs 1.4 million were de-livered to the seminarieswhile medicines of Rs 30million were handed over tothe deserving and poor fami-lies,” he said while talkingto APP.

He urged the philanthro-pists of the society to helpthe poor in the holy monthof Ramazan and contributefor the celebration of Eid forthe children of poor fami-lies.—APP

Father, soninjured in firingQUETTA—Two personswere injured by unknownarmed men at Eastern By-pass area here on Tuesday.

According to police, thevictims identified as KhadimHussain and his son, ZafarHussain were on way tohome on a vehicle whenarmed assailants on a mo-torbike opened fire on themat Labour Colony area andfled from the scene. As a re-sult, they received injuriesand were shifted to civilhospital.—APP

Traffic staffdeputed at

shopping centresFAISALABAD—City trafficpolice has deputed addi-tional traffic staff at all im-portant shopping centers,markets and bazaars to main-tain a smooth flow of traffic.

Traffic wardens havebeen deputed on specialduty in all eight bazaars ofClock Tower, Regale CinemaRoad, Satiana Road, JalviMarket on Jarranwala Road,D-ground and Gulberg, aspokesman for city trafficpolice said.

He said that 114 trafficwardens and 12 inspectorshad been deputed on spe-cial duty while five DSPswould monitor them.—APP

Timber worthmillions of

rupees guttedCH I T R A L —Unidentif iedpeople set ablaze timberworth millions of rupeesdumped here in Forest De-velopment Corporation(FDC) Said Abad late Mon-day night as perpetrators ofthe incident managed to es-cape from the scene ofcrime.

According to stationhouse officer Ayon un-known people sprinkledpetrol on timber stored inFDC, as a result timberworth millions of rupees wasgutted.

Rescue services andpolice reached the spot ofincident upon informationof gatekeeper of the store.

Apart from rescue ser-vice and law enforcers vol-unteers also participated inthe rescue work as a resultof which fire was extin-guished without furtherlosses and damages.—APP

181 gastropatients

hospitalizedMULTAN—Some 181 pa-tients of gastroenteritiswere admitted to public hos-pitals of the city on Tues-day. Exactly 61 gastro caseswere brought to NishtarMedical Institute and 104patients to Children Com-plex. Ten patients reportedat Civil Hospital while six toFatima Jinnah Hospital forWomen, said an officialsource.

Meanwhile, 80 patientswere discharged while noAcute Watery Diarrhoea(AWD) case was reported to-day, the source added.—APP

PESHAWAR—Pakistan Peoples’ PartyLeader and former Deputy SpeakerNational Assembly, Faisal Karim KundiTuesday said that PPP would not be apart of any movement aimed at derail-ing democratic system in the country.

Kundi urged Imran Khan to post-pone his long march call on 14 th Au-gust as it was a national unity day.Talking to APP, the PPP leader em-phatically declared “that we are nei-ther supporting PTI’s Azadi Marchnor Qadri’s Inqilab. We are not partof any group and believe in promot-ing democracy and strengthening in-stitutions”.

However, he said ‘Dharnas’ (sitinns), and long marches were part ofdemocratic system but they shouldbe done within the constitutionalambit.

He said 14th August was the dayof national unity, cohesion and har-

mony and country cannot afford anymore unrest and political turmoil inthe wake of ongoing military opera-tion in North Waziristan Agency. Toa question, he said, despite reserva-tions against PML N, “we are sup-porting the present democratic Govtfor democracy and constitutional su-premacy”.

He said, Prime MinisterMuhammad Nawaz Sharif should alsoengage the political forces on mattersof national interest and importance.

“We are supporting only democ-racy and democratic system and notan individual or a political party,” hesaid, adding the founding leadersShaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto andBenazir Bhutto Shaheed had laid downtheir lives for the democracy and rightsof peoples.

Kundi said there was no harm ifImran Khan’s demand for recounting

in four constituencies was material-ized. Mr. Kundi termed the formationof committee on election reforms as apositive step towards conduct of free,fair and transparent election in thecountry. He also asked PTI to presentits reservations and suggestions inthe Electoral Reforms Committee(CRC).

He said giving representation toall political parties in the committeewould not only address the grievancesbut also strengthen democratic andelectoral system. He said political con-cerns should be taken up in the parlia-ment instead of showing agitation andcarrying out rallies.

The President, Prime Minister orMinisters can neither influence elec-tion commission nor order recountingof votes in any constituency. ECP isan independent body to take decisionin this regard, Kundi said.—APP

PPP not to allow derailing ofdemocratic system: Kundi

124 shopkeepersfined for

profiteeringFAISALABAD—Price Con-trol Magistrates have im-posed a fine of Rs 142,400on 124 shopkeepers forprofiteering during the last24 hours.

According to a spokes-man of the local administra-tion, the price control mag-istrates conducted surpriseraids in 82 bazaars, markets,shopping plazas and found124 shopkeepers involvedin overcharging.—APP

PESHAWAR—Inspector General of PoliceKhyber Pakhtunkhwa Nasir Khan Durranihas suspended SHO Police Station Kakki,in Bannu district and issued show causenotice for further departmental actionagainst him.

According to details the Inspector Gen-eral of Police had received various com-plaints through SMS against SHO PoliceStation Kakki of corruption and bad repu-tation.

The IGP checked these complaintsagainst the said SHO through Bannu po-lice officers who in their secret report termedthe complaints against the SHO correct.

The police chief in light of the secretreport of the Bannu police high ups sus-pended SHO police station Kakki, andasked to him to report to police line andissued show cause notice to him for fur-ther departmental action with immediateeffect.—APP

IGP suspends SHO Kakki overcorruption complaints

One killed,another injured

DERA MURAD JAMALI—Aman was killed and anotherinjured in two separate inci-dents in the area, on Tues-day. Police said that a manwas shot dead by armed menin village Goth DinMuhammad.The dead wasidentified as Abdul Majeed.

In another incident tookplace in area on NationalHighway lying within the ju-risdiction of Notal Police Sta-tion, unknown armed menopened fire at a truck, leavingthe driver injured. The assail-ants managed to escape fromthe scene.The injured wasidentified as Janiad Khan.

The police have been in-vestigating into the inci-dents.—APP

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Railways SaadRafique has said that Pakistan Railways willrun a special Independence Train for thewhole month of August.

The decision was taken in a meeting ofcabinet committee regarding IndependenceDay celebrations established on the in-structions of Prime Minister MuhammadNawaz Sharif.

The committee chaired by Khawaja SaadRafique reviewed in detail the events to beheld in connection with Independence Dayceremonies.

Saad said, “We will try that Indepen-dence Train should pass through every bigand small stations of Pakistan so thatpeople get a positive impression of hopeand happiness.—INP

Railways to run IndependenceTrain in August

MASTUNG—Unknown persons threw acidon two women in a shopping centre inBalochistan’s Mastung district on Tues-day.

District Police Officer Rauf Bareech saidarmed militants threw acid on the faces ofwomen on Chandni Road area of Mastungcity.

“The women were shopping in the mar-ket when attacked,” Bareech stated, add-ing that the assailants sped away on their

motorcycle after the attack.“Acid was sprayed on the faces of

women through syringe,” he said. The in-jured women were rushed to nearby hospi-tal for treatment and later shifted Quetta’sBolan Medical Complex Hospital as therewere no specialised burn treatment facilityin Mastung.

“They are being treated in Burn wardof BMC,” Dr. Hidayatullah, a doctor on dutyin Burn Ward. said.—INP

Two women wounded inMastung acid attack

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Meteorological De-partment (PMD) on Tuesday indicatedchances of rain-thundershower in Kashmir,Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala,Malakand, Hazara, Mirpurkhas divisions dur-ing next 24 hours. According to the synopticsituation, seasonal low was lying over northBaluchistan and its adjoining areas with itstrough extending northeastwards.

Weak moist currents fromArabian Sea and Bay of Ben-gal were penetrating into up-per parts of the country.Mainly hot and humidweather is expected in mostparts of the country duringthe next 24 hours.

The highest maximum temperatures re-corded during the last 24 hours were Nokkundi46 C, Sibbi, Dadu 45 C and Noorpur Thal 44 C.The maximum temperatures recorded in theother cities were Islamabad 37 C, Lahore 39 C,Karachi 35 C, Peshawar 41 C, Quetta 40 C,Skardu 37 C, Murree 25 C, Muzaffarabad 38 C,Gilgit 39 C, Faisalabad 40 C, Multan 40 C andHyderabad 39 C.

Meanwhile Met Office on Tuesday fore-

cast hot and dry weather for the city duringnext 24 hours.

The maximum temperature was recorded39 degree Centigrade and minimum tempera-ture was 19 degree Centigrade in the city.According to the Pakistan MeteorologicalDepartment (PMD), the maximum tempera-ture of different cities recorded during thelast 24 hours was: Sibbi 44 °C, Rohri,

Nokkundi, Dalbandin, Dadu,Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad43 °C. Mainly hot and humidweather is expected in mostparts of the country duringthe next twelve hours.

However, rain with thun-dershower is likely at one or

two places of Gujranwala division and Kash-mir.

Temperature of some major cities re-corded on Monday morning was. Islamabad26 degree centigrade, Lahore 28, Karachi andPeshawar 29, Quetta 19, Muzaffarabad 27,Gilgit 17 and Murree 18 degree centigrade.According to synoptic situation, seasonallow lies over north Baluchistan and its ad-joining areas. —APP

Rain likely at some places

OBSERVER REPORT

HYDERABAD—Sindh Chief Minister SyedQaim Ali Shah has said that the PakistanPeoples Party (PPP) has always worked tostrehgthen democracy in the country andwill support its continuity as it is the onlyway to steer the country out of crises.

“We also want all institutions to workwiting their parameters,” he said while speak-ing at the Ifitar dinner hosted in his honourby PPP Hyderabad chapter on Monday.

He said the nation saluted the armyJawans, who were sacrificing their lives forthe country in fight against terrorists. Hesaid the Sindh government had donated Rs150 million for the internally displaced per-sons (IDPs) of North Waziristan. The PPPhad also had extended financial support tothe IDPs.

He said the Sindh government had es-tablished camps to monitor the entry of IDPsinto the province.

Replying to a question, he said the PPPhad the credit to impose tax on services,which enabled the Sindh government tocollect Rs 45 billion. Earlier Sindh was trans-ferred Rs 4 billion from federal divisional pool

as share of taxes on services. He said thatthe government had surplus stock of rice,cotton and wheat which could be exportedto earn foreign exchange after fulfilling re-quirements at home.

Expressing concerns over the issues,including shortage of water and sanitationin Hyderabad, he said all the issues wouldbe resolved and all officers in all departmentsincluding HDA and WASA would be heldaccountable.

The people paid bills to HDA andWASA, but said amount was not transferredto WAPDA and other organizations whichwas a serious issue, he said and added thatan inquiry would be held in this regard. Thegovernment was trying to reduce unemploy-ment and poverty in the province and in thisregard various schemes of developmentwould be started in August, Qaim added.

Speaking on the occasion, former Pro-vincial Minister, Zahid Hussain Bhurgarisaid there was issue of water shortage, traf-fic and load-shedding in Hyderabad andadjoining areas.

Bhurgari said that Imran Khan and DrTahirul Qadri could not do any thing goodfor democracy.

PPP to support continuityof democracy: Qaim

MULTAN: People busy in purchasing fruits at Ramazan Bazzar.

FAISALABAD: Children participating in protest demonstration organized by Al-Muhammdia Roza Society againstIsraeli aggression in Gaga.

LARKANA: police officials presenting alleged criminals to media at a Press confer-ence at DIG office.

MULTAN—A sum of Rs 558.87 million willbe spent under two projects for increasingthe produce of vegetables and pulses inPunjab.

An amount of Rs 410.87 million will bespent on the project to enhance vegetablesproduction while another Rs 148 million forpulses, assistant director agriculture infor-mation Naveed Asmat Kahlon said in ameeting with progressive growers on Tues-day. The project for vegetables production,besides others, would mainly focused onenhancing production of potato, garlic, to-mato and chilli.

Kahlon said that vegetables and pulsesare an important part of our daily menu andlaunch of the project to increase their pro-duction would not only help bring food se-

curity but would also cut our bill on importof these items.

The two projects would help, to someextent, meet the food requirements of thegrowing population, he added.

Kahlon said that the pulses project waslaunched because most of the growers con-sider pulses unimportant and usually se-lect substandard land for their cultivation.

He said that production of pulses, con-sidered to be a high nutritional value foodafter meat, can be enhanced by adoptingmodern technology, balanced applicationof fertilizers and removal of weeds.

He said that farmers would undergotraining and media would be utilized to con-vey modern production technology tothem.—APP

Rs 558m to be spent onvegetables, pulses production

30 people hurt asbus falls into

ravine in MansehraMANSEHRA—At least 30people were injured on Tues-day when a bus fell into aravine near Balakot, inKhyber Pakhtoonkhwa.

The injured personswere immediately shifted toa hospital. Six of thewounded persons were saidto be in critical condition.Earlier in June, five people,including two Pakistan armysoldiers and a child,werekilled and 30 others were criti-cally injured when a speed-ing passenger bus had alsofallen into a ravine nearMansehra town.Meanwhile, At least 29 tour-ists sustained injuries whena bus fell into a deep ditchnear Balakot here on Tues-day, police said. The incidentoccurred at Kawai area onBalakot Road where thedriver of passenger bus car-rying tourists, lost controlover wheel steering due toover speeding and plungedinto deep ravine while nego-tiating a sharp turn..—INP

Just a call from WhiteHouse was enough

ISRAEL has crossed all limits in committing war crimes in Gaza but theinternational community in general and the so-called civilized world inparticular is guilty of passive response to the grave situation, which

amounts to colluding with the Jewish state. Forty more Palestinians losttheir lives on Monday in Israeli aggression in Gaza Strip, raising the deathtoll to 575 and the toll included over one hundred innocent children.

The criminal silence of the world community is intriguing as so farIsrael has also bombed three hospitals and on Monday 12 shells were firedat the Al Aqsa hospital in the town of Deir el-Balah, striking parts of thebuilding that included the intensive care unit and the surgery departmentand resulting into killing of four and injuries to sixty others including 30paramedics. Last week Al-Wafa hospital was targeted by a missile strike. Itis shameful that in the face of worst kind of brutalities and atrocities beingcommitted by Tel Aviv against defenceless Palestinians, the United Na-tions and members of the international community have not yet been ableto play their role in stopping the state-sponsored terrorism and blood-bathof innocent Palestinian children, women, patients and doctors. Secre-tary-General Ban Ki-Moon left New York three days back for the regionbut lost somewhere in-between while an appeal by the Security Councilfor immediate truce has fallen on deaf ears of blood thirsty Netanyahu.Barack Obama and US Secretary of State are also not showing the kind ofurgency needed and in fact, issuing statements that are encouraging Israelto persist with its killing spree. The departure for region of John Kerry isnothing but a mere PR exercise and photo opt, as ceasefire could havebeen ensured just by a firm call from White House. It is all the moreregrettable that the OIC that is there ostensibly to safeguard rights ofMuslims is totally irrelevant and unconcerned as it has miserably failedto mobilize Muslim states to evolve a strategy that works. Farcical, cus-tomary and eye-wash actions by the United States and other members ofthe international community are a sort of connivance with the power drunkJewish state and the history would not forgive them for this crime.

See how unrulythese MPs are!

PUNJAB Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif moved firmly to take action against MPA of the ruling party, who is accused of storming a po-

lice station in Faisalabad and getting three proclaimed offenders freed. Heissued directions for immediate arrest of Rana Shoaib Idrees and vowed tomake him resign after a thorough probe into the loathsome incident.

One must give credit to the Chief Minister for taking prompt actionagainst a lawmaker who took the law into his own hands. The action iftaken to its logical conclusion has the potential to serve as deterrence in theface of growing tendency of violation of law by the influential sections ofthe society. Lawmakers are supposed to frame pieces of legislation for pro-tection and well being of the people but here they themselves are makingmockery of the law and protecting declared criminals. There are frequentreports that majority of the elected representatives are either from the feu-dal class or have a feudal mindset, are harbouring criminals in their areasand are directly or indirectly behind most of the criminal activities takingplace in their constituencies. The Faisalabad incident has confirmed thispractice and calls for immediate measures by the authorities concerned torectify the situation. We have had enough of the VIP culture that is theroot cause of lack of supremacy of law and the Constitution in the coun-try. MPs should serve as role model but even the Supreme Court wascompelled to dub some of the legislators of former Balochistan Assemblyas thieves and criminals. How can the situation improve when we havesuch lots sitting in the assemblies to protect their vested interests? All thisis happening despite presence of Articles 62 and 63 of Constitution thatspecify qualifications and disqualifications of the candidates contestingelections. This means these articles are just on paper and therefore, thereis need to evolve a foolproof mechanism to ensure that people with dubi-ous character and background do not make it to the assemblies.

Govt rectifies wrongsof dubious postings

NAJAM Sethi, Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made acourageous decision by announcing his resignation from the post and

for not contesting the elections of the Board. The issue of appointment ofPCB Chairmen, their removal and restoration by the Courts at frequentintervals had become a source of criticism by the people at large and af-fected badly the sport of cricket in Pakistan in addition to bringing a badname to the country at the international level.

Najam Sethi during his tenure might have done some good things forthe cricket but somehow a perception had developed that he was beingrewarded for favour during the elections. Earlier this month Mustafa Ramdayresigned from his position as acting Advocate General of Punjab after sev-eral petitions were filed in the Lahore High Court challenging his exerciseof powers as Advocate General Punjab and his suspension of nine membersof Punjab Bar Council. Similarly Arsalan Iftikhar son of former Chief Jus-tice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, tendered his resignation to BalochistanChief Minister after his appointment as Vice Chairman Balochistan Boardof Investment drew strong criticism from the media, opposition politicalparties and civil society. It is a well known fact that traditionally peopleappointed at high level positions in Pakistan do not resign unless they arecalled upon to do so. The resignations by Najam Sethi and others reflectthat the government had given a serious thought over its magnanimousfavours in the right or left showering key posts and after realizing the mis-take asked them to quit. It is good for the administration and ruling partyalso that this culture of appointment of buddies to key positions shouldcome to an end. During the previous governments as well, many people hadbeen appointed to key posts for their proper connections either in politicalparties or in the establishment, without taking into consideration their quali-fications and experiences and that resulted in their dismissal either by thecourts or if they continued at the jobs, they caused immense losses to StateOwned Enterprises (SOEs). We would urge govt to widen net and similarother wrongs committed in dubious and unlawful postings be rectified.

Cyclic uncertainties in Afghanistan

Warfarein Libya

Tripoli is up for grabs

AS a number of militias staketheir claim for controllingthe capital, the status of life

has turned from worse to worst.Libyan Foreign Minister MohamedAbdulaziz is on record, saying thatthe country is heading towards be-coming a failed state. His warningto the United Nations SecurityCouncil, however, fell on deaf ears,as the world body and the powers-that-be have enough on theirsleeves, and the North Africancountry hardly pops up on their listof flashpoints! The city’s airport isthe theatre of action as two majorgroups fight on in what is beingdescribed as the worst fighting sincethe 2011 revolution that toppled ColMuammar Gaddafi. This is in ad-dition to several more such clashesin the countryside where mafias andmilitants rule the roost.

So miserable is thegovernment’s writ that it is now noteven in a position to handle oil sales,as several militia themselves tradeit in the international market. Simi-larly, a number of high profilepeople of the previous regime arein the hands of militants, includingSaif Gaddafi, whose trial is awaitedat the world court in The Hague.Last but not the least, is the mush-rooming of thugs who havevandalised the society by eating intoits vitals. The question is what willbe Libya’s fate, which was so cen-trally governed by Gaddafi. Beinga tribal society, it is nowunravelling. Two consecutive bal-lots in the last three years havefailed to breed a culture of toleranceand representation, and this is afrightening equation. Libya todayis the Afghanistan of 1990’s butwith the only difference that Tripoliis much weaker than what wasKabul in those days of fragmenta-tion. Until the state institutions, es-pecially the army asserts its writ,the Arab African country’s futureis doomed to say the least. —Khaleej Times

*****

Iran talksextension not ahint of failure

IRAN and the international community have agreed a four-month extension to the deadline

on finding a mutually agreed solu-tion to standoff over Iran’s nuclearprogramme and talks will now re-start in September, with a finaldeadline set for November 24. Theprocess will not be easy and a jointstatement from EU foreign policychief Catherine Ashton and Iran’sForeign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif said “there are still significantgaps on some core issues which willrequire more time and effort”.

But the extension is not in it-self an indication of failure, andmerely shows that the negotiationshave not gone as fast as they mighthave done. Nonetheless, the exten-sion obviously gives an opportunityto those like the Republicans andIsraelis who want the talks to fail.But the fact is that the two sideshave come very much closer thanthey were at the start and there is afair chance they can meet in themiddle. The crunch issue is howmuch capacity should Iran have toenrich uranium, which for yearsIran has insisted that is its right un-der the Non-Proliferation Treaty tosupply material for power plantsand medical research. The Ameri-cans only agreed to recognise thisright last year.

Now the argument is a debateover numbers, with the P5+1 (per-manent members of the UN Secu-rity Council plus Germany) sayingthat Iran should have between 500to 1,200 centrifuges, while Iran ac-tually has just under 10,000. Su-preme Leader Ayatollah AliKhamenei has muddled matters byclaiming two weeks ago that Iranneeded the equivalent of 190,000first generation centrifuges. How-ever, if this argument over numbersgets stuck, it is possible to changethe dialogue completely and use anew metric. For example, it wouldbe perfectly possible to have a verygood deal based on measuring howmany kilos of enriched uraniumIran should have, rather than thenumber of centrifuges. All the poli-ticians on both sides need to workto keep calm and find a successfulway through these very tortuous ne-gotiations. —Gulf News

MEDIA WATCH

MEHMOOD Achakzai hasmade an interesting revelation about the reasons

that prompted his last month’s visitto Kabul as Prime Minister’s spe-cial envoy: “The government re-ceived intelligence from very cred-ible sources that Kabul is planningsomething against Pakistan.” Andthe government asked him to dis-cuss the issue with PresidentHamid Karzai. Achakzai saidKabul was mulling a response tothe alleged cross-border attack byPakistani forces that left three Af-ghan National Army soldiers deadin Kunar in June. President Karzaihad reportedly instructed his secu-rity forces to prepare for a re-sponse to the attacks. In a firefighting pursuit, John Kerry wasable to work out a truce betweenAbdullah and Ashraf Ghani. Theyhave agreed to become partners-in-grabbing whatever is left ofAfghan state, society and treasure.If history is a guide, in Afghanculture such patch-ups are quickto come by and quicker to evapo-rate. Just days after Kerry brokeredan arrangement to end the crisis,deal has run into trouble becauseof disagreements among the tworival Presidential candidates.

Agreement was intended to re-solve an impasse that had threat-ened to split the country. Butimplementation of the deal washeld up due to confusion overwhether Afghan or internationalinstitutions will lead the inspectionof the 8.1 million votes cast dur-

Challenges for Narendra Modi

IF the first 50-odd day of the ruleby Prime Minister NarendraModi is any guide, it is the right-

ist government, which has takenover India. The Nehruvian ideol-ogy with tilt towards left has beenjettisoned. Once again, free enter-prise and unencumbered trade willmotivate people. This is a turnaround from the policies that hasguided the nation so far. The pub-lic sector will shrink and the richwill expand their area of influenceand operation. This is a logical con-sequence of a free economy. Howfar Modi will go to remove limita-tions on unplanned enterprise isdifficult to say, but there is no doubtin the governance by the rich andpowerful. It is bound to drive theweak to the wall because the capi-talist system knows no other wayto grow. Yet Modi should be pre-pared to face stiff opposition fromthe beneficiaries of the system,which is leftist in content.

However, there is nothing dy-namic about the programmes andpolicies, which Modi has un-folded. His election campaignpromised so much and aroused theaspirations of people to such alength that his budget is consid-ered inadequate to bring about thechanges, which are necessary togo forward. Modi’s rule so far hasbeen tepid and devoid of any spec-tacular step to pull India out fromthe mire of non-development inwhich it is stuck. The absence ofpush becomes all the more glar-ing when there is no lessening ofpoverty. Former RBI governorRangarajan’s report released a few

HURMAT GROUP OF PUBLICATIONSZahid Malik

President & Editor-in-ChiefPh: 051-2256006

Faisal Zahid MalikEditor

Ph: 021-35308445

Gauhar Zahid MalikExecutive Editor

Ph: 051-2853818

IslamabadPh Exchange: 051-2852027

Reporting Desk: 051-2852028, News Desk: 051-5879329Marketing: 051-2262254, 2852029 Fax: 051-2262258

Email: observer@pakobserver.net Website: www.pakobserver.net

KarachiFaisal Zahid Malik

EditorPh: 021-35308446-49Fax: 021-35308447

Email: obskhi@pakobserver.net

LahoreKhalid ButtResident Editor

Ph: 042-37424069, 37424089Marketing Ph: 042-37560900

Fax: 042-36300043Email: obslhr@pakobserver.net

QuettaGhulam TahirResident Editor

Mobile: 0333-7944760E-mail:obsqta@pakobserver.net

PeshawarTariq SaeedResident Editor

Mobile: 0321-9001476E-mail:obspwr@pakobserver.net

Weekly Magazine

Sadia Zahid MalikEditor

Ph: 2852027-8, Ext: 116Email: magazinesocialdiary@hotmail.com

Cynicism is humourin ill-health.

days ago finds three out of10 Indians below the pov-erty line. This is more thanwhat we inherited when theBritish left in August 1947.It is disappointing to seeModi government not tak-

ing concrete and immediate stepstowards bringing down inflation.After having experienced a longspell of non-governance under theCongress rule, I thought that theBJP government would spell outlegal and other measures to set thestrangled economy free to grow.The budget has not told us how andwhen. Instead, the governmentlooks too timid to take steps, whichwould be considered risky. Whenthe BJP on its own has a majorityin the Lok Sabha, it is difficult tomake out the reason for its haltingapproach. During the election cam-paign Modi had promised to cut redtape to ensure a rapid growth. Whenit comes to action there is hesita-tion, if not lethargy, on the part ofthe government.

The BJP should understand thatthe development can mitigate theparty’s parochial image. In an at-mosphere where the growth is slowpeople miss the pluralistic societyall the more. The only redeemingfactor is that the BJP governmenthas not underlined its communalagenda. Yet who knows whether theModi government will go back tothe policy of dividing people aftermaking them complacent. In fact,it looks as if Modi is going out ofthe way to give the impression thatafter becoming Prime Minister hehas changed his stance of promot-ing Hindu nationalism. His party,the BJP, talks about secularism allthe time as if there is no contradic-tion between a Hindu state and apluralistic society.

True, this is the line of the RSSthat believes that all those born in

India are Hindus irrespective ofwhatever faith they may be pursu-ing. Yet the BJP has kept a distancefrom the RSS because it is seen asan advocate of hard line. In fact, theRSS men are joining the BJP to getadvantage of comparatively betterimage it has. Modi remained withinlimits when he went to Srinagar afew days ago. He did not say thatthe state was an integral part of In-dia as he did earlier. He merely re-marked that he would pursueformer Prime Minister Atal BehariVajpayee’s line of humanism. Eventhe hartal in Srinagar on the day ofhis visit did not provoke him to re-act differently. Perhaps, he thoughtthat he had already sent a messageacross by visiting the state ofJammu and Kashmir within days ofhis taking over.

The problem with Modi is hisimage. He is considered anti-Mus-lim in a country, which has roughly18 million Muslims. They, indeed,feel insecure. They still recall hiscomplicity in anti-Muslim riots inGujarat in 2002. Although a specialinvestigation team (SIT) under thesupervision of the state High Courthas given him a clean chit, the tagof partisanship still pursues him. AsPrime Minister, he should go outof the way to win the confidence ofthe minorities. His accommodativeapproach towards the SAARCcountries—three of them are Mus-lim—is a step in the right direction.Yet he has to do more to win theirtrust as Vajpayee did. I do not seeyet any glaring false step in thegovernance. The voters who havereturned the BJP want to see theimplementation of promises madeby Modi. But then these are earlydays in his governance. We shouldwait for another 50-odd days to seebefore assessing his performancesince that is the target he has setfor himself and his ministers. Now

ing the run-off round; the recounthas, however, begun. Audit is anarduous task with embedded fault-lines. Earlier results had put AshrafGhani in the lead by about a mil-lion votes; this tally is fiercely dis-puted by Abdullah and also ques-tioned by independent observers.An ambitious deal to recount thevotes and form a national unity gov-ernment was clinched after mara-thon tripartite talks. Before rushingto Kabul on July 11, Kerry had saidthat the US had “enormous con-cerns” about Afghanistan. WhenAbdullah announced his intentionto declare a parallel government ifhis demands for auditing his rival’sballots were not met, PresidentBarack Obama called and warnedhim against violence and “extra-constitutional measures”.

Since the fall of the Taliban gov-ernment and massive internationalintervention, Afghans have been ona roller-coaster ride, at times risingto the heights of an ideal democracyand at others, lowered to survivalistwar-time politics and tribal tactics.Abdullah’s threats had already gonebeyond rhetoric to a plan of action.Some of Abdullah’s backers werepreparing to take over the centres ofthe government in at least threeProvinces, and occupy the Presiden-tial palace. Obama warned Abdullahnot to even consider seizing powerthis way. “Our commanders say wedo not need the palace key from theElection Commission, we can goand take it ourselves,” said FazalAhmad Manawi, a former SupremeCourt judge and an election adviserto Dr Abdullah. “If Dr Abdullah hadsaid yes, several Provinces includ-ing the palace would have fallen intothe hands of his team,” he added.

From the start, election observ-ers knew there were signs of large-scale fraud. After troubling reportsfrom the first round of voting inApril, things sharply escalated onthe day of run-off. Election Com-mission announced of seven millionpolled votes that day, it was farhigher than expected. Abdullahpressed accusations of systemicelection fraud, in which millions offalse ballots had been arranged in aconspiracy. Abdullah began unveil-ing evidence, including audio re-cordings of phone calls. The Inde-pendent Election Commission an-nounced preliminary results for therun-off, even as the candidates werestill negotiating with the UnitedNations on a broader investigationof fraudulent ballots.

The solution that pacified bothparties, at least for now, is an am-bitious one. The UN supervised re-count of all cast votes is designedto count off fake votes and softenthe blow for the losing candidateby introducing the idea of a unitygovernment in which there wouldbe both a President and a PrimeMinister. Vote audit is a mammothtask that could take weeks. UN spe-cial representative for AfghanistanJan Kubis has asked for a month’sdelay to the inauguration of a newpresident. Abdullah’s allies, largelydrawn from the Tajik minority, havesaid they will not necessarily acceptthe outcome of a recount if it goesthe same way as the preliminarytally. Mohammad Khan, Abdullah’sfirst vice president, said if therewere signs of further fraud, or if thecamp was not satisfied by the find-ings of the Independent ElectionCommission, the result would beunacceptable. “If we find any sign

of fraud ... we will not accept theresults. It’s too early to say whatour next plan is.” Even if Abdullahaccepted the recount, he may notbe able to control all of his sup-porters. In Afghanistan, where eth-nic divisions run deep, politicaldisputes can quickly descend intochaos. After the deal, Abdullah andGhani have visited each other’shomes in Kabul to map out the fu-ture course of action. They havediscussed a national unity govt thatwould include representatives oflosing camp.

Abdullah has commented thathis country was on the verge of a“very serious, serious situation”before he struck a US brokered dealwith his rival to avert the crisis byholding a fully audited vote count.Abdullah said it has taken Afghani-stan 13 years to reach a stage innation-building that is still “amess.” The devil lies in details con-vergence of a power sharing for-mula may not be easy to come by.In another development, a formerAfghan Taliban leader, Agha JanMutasim, has opposed the AfghanTaliban’s insurgency. “Fightingown people, own forces and owngovernment is useless…TheTaliban could justify their waragainst foreign forces… But if theTaliban want to continue the warafter the withdrawal of NATOforces it would amount to an anti-Islam action,” he said. He called foran intra-Afghan dialogue to avoidinstability in Afghanistan post-2014. However, he acknowledgedthat the Taliban could intensify theinsurgency and create problems inmost parts of the country.—The writer is consultant to IPRIon Policy and Strategic Response.

a word on Taliban and possiblejoint strategy of the stake holders.New Delhi should not forget thatthe Taliban would be at the Attari(Amritsar) border if they are notdefeated in Afghanistan itself. Ifit is embarrassing for the two coun-tries to talk about their strategy inthe open, they can establish a backchannel as they have done in thecase of Kashmir. The repercus-sions of Taliban gaining an upperhand, first in Afghanistan and thenin Pakistan, are so inimical to thedefence and development of Indiathat it should go out of the way tobefriend Pakistan on a joint ap-proach towards Afghanistan. Sinceno serious talk takes place betweenthe two because of Kashmir, theyshould keep this problem aside andallow the two army chiefs to sitacross the table and devise a long-term strategy which would enableAfghanistan to stay independent.New Delhi should take the initia-tive to get America on board re-garding anti-Taliban policy.

If and when they are defeatedin their designs both in Afghani-stan and Pakistan, they wouldcease to be a force which is begin-ning to loom large in other Islamiccountries where the Taliban-likethoughts have begun to assertthemselves. It is a pity that Indiais not seeing the writing on thewall. At least Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, said to be a strongruler, should pick up the threadswith Nawaz Sharif on his matter.Both hit it off well when they metin Delhi. Nawaz Sharif has evensaid so in a letter to Modi. Canthings in the same vein go aheadin the interest of policy to containthe Talibanisation, already quiteassertive in Pakistan?—The writer is a veteran Indianjournalist, syndicated columnist,human rights activist and author.

—H G WellsBritish writer

Email:kuldipnayar09@gmail.com

Kuldip Nayar

Iqbal KhanEmail:wonderous101@gmail.com

Voice of the People

Why Imran isbound to fail

USMAN ZIA

Pakistan’s unpleasant political his-tory is further marred by instancesof failed attempts at bringing abouta radical change under the flavourfulcontext of revolution. More oftenthan not, the call for revolution nei-ther had any ideological depth, nora political ground. Of all such fruit-less and often malicious endeavours,only four had any political or ideo-logical weight to them. Three ofthese four attempts were made un-der the military dictatorships ofAyub, Zia and Musharraf. ZulfiqarAli Bhutto was the only civilianruler to have generated a revolution-ary wave with mass support from arelatively wider spectrum of Paki-stani society. Ayub era’s economicdynamism and land reforms, Bhutto’ssuccess at creating broader politicalawareness with politics becomingmore mainstream, Zia’s forging of aconservative force to counter a pre-dominant leftist politics andMusharraf’s progressive mediapolicy are major legacies of theseregimes. In essence, they were allunable to bring envisioned change.

One common link to otherwisedistinct agendas has been the com-pulsion to accommodate the forcesof status quo at a sooner or laterstage. This was necessitated not onlyby the urge to protect the increas-ingly threatened political authority,but more importantly to preserve theunity of Federation. These forces arelargely composed of feudal land-lords and urban bosses often tiedstrongly in kinship bonds. This is atypical feature of Pakistani politicsand gives these forces a massive in-fluence over their subjects. If aggra-vated, they can shatter the founda-tions on which Federation exists.

Imran, with his promise of revo-lutionary change is subject to a com-parison with Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.Even if we were to assume thatImran is as charismatic a leader asBhutto with an equally pluralisticsupport, a couple of questions stillremain. With openness to debate, itcan be implied that his rhetoric ofcreating an Islamic welfare statewith a parallel agenda forwesternised democracy does illus-trate a certain degree of confusion.The other question with much sim-pler answer is whether he wouldever join the forces of status quo likehis predecessors in a call for change?The answer is, he already has. In factthis argument alone takes all the airout of his revolutionary balloon. Hisreliance on the likes of ShahMehmood Qureshi, Javed Hashmiand Khurshid Mehmood Kasuriamong others to create a politicalground for himself, is evidenceenough of his impending failure.

This gives credence to the ar-gument that if Imran is ever to seizepower, he will most likely be caughtup in traditional Pakistani politics ofpatronage and kinship networks.This patronage would come at theexpense and under the aegis of anever weakening state, as has alwaysbeen the case. If Khan is ever to suc-ceed, he will have to first and fore-most break away from these shack-les and come up with a clearer po-litical agenda. He would then be leftto face the harsh political realitiesof this country besides dealing withthe complexities of holding togethera Federation.—West Henrietta, NY

KE is nowKunda electricWAQAS ABDUL QAYYUM

It is requested to KE that they shouldtake serious action against corruptemployees of the company. Manyof the field work staff including in-spectors, meter readers, electriciansare involved in making money. Theyhave changed KESC into KE“Kunda Electric” as they easily con-vert illegal activities into legal in-cluding Kunda Connections, theft ofelectricity etc. This act will not onlyincrease load shedding but also allthe regular payers suffer in term of

Media and plight of IDPsNAUSHABA ABID

Migration isn’t an easy task at all but when you have only one option left for survival you shouldmove. So is the case with IDPs leaving their homes and belongings fro North Waziristan where

operation Zarb e Azb is in progress. Here I refer to the sufferings and plight of these IDPs who are avictim of non-seriousness of the administration and apathy of the media. If we go back and think ofSwat operation, media played tremendous role in creating awareness about the plight and other affairsof the then IDPs and added to the morale of these displaced people. There is no doubt about it thatmedia’s role is disappointing and it looks that they are not very much interested in IDPs’ Plight. It seemsas if it is less important issue in Pakistan right now but in fact it is not. Their sufferings are more thanone can imagine. It isn’t easy to leave your home with women and children for your and your family’slife. It is actually hunger of survival in peace. They have left their homes for peace of rest of the country,it is enough to get attention but our electronic media is not paying any serious attention to it. Theterrible condition in which these people are fasting is heart wrenching one should help them and mediashould play its role to create awareness among the people to donate as much as possible where we allknow that it is important and they are in need. These are our own brothers and sisters who havesacrificed their homes and everything for us. We all know that Zarb e Azab operation was our need andit is for our survival and security and peace.—Via email

DISCLAIMER

Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

THE articles, columns andletters are published on thesepages in good faith. However,the contents of these writingsmay not necessarily match theviews of the newspaper.

—Editor

Dynamics of 19th July

EVERY year, Kashmiris livingon both sides of the Line ofControl and Pakistan including

rest of the world celebrate July 19 asKashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day.As regards the dynamics of the day,on this very day in 1947, the histori-cal resolution was adopted by the AllJammu and Kashmir Muslim Confer-ence in Abi Guzar, Srinagar during anemergency convention at the residenceof Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan.It was presided over by ChaudhryHamid Ullah Khan, and was presentedby Khawaja Ghulam-ud-Din Wani andAbdul Rahim Wani, with 59 promi-nent leaders in attendance. The reso-lution was unanimously adopted, in-dicating that existing religious, geo-graphical, cultural, economic ties andthe aspirations of millions ofKashmiri Muslims warrant accessionof the State of Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) with Pakistan. During the par-tition of the Sub-continent, the peopleof the State (J&K) which comprisedMuslim majority decided to join Pa-kistan according to the British-ledformula. But, Dogra Raja, Sir HariSingh, a Hindu who was ruling overthe J&K, in connivance with the In-dian Prime Minister JawaharlalNehru and Governor General LordMountbatten, joined India.

The design to forcibly wrestKashmir began to unfold on August16, 1947, with the announcement ofthe Radcliffe Boundary Award. Itgave the Gurdaspur District - a ma-jority Muslim area to India to pro-vide a land route to the Indian armedforces to move into Kashmir. There

was a rebellion in the stateforces, which revolted againstthe Maharaja and were joinedby Pathan tribesmen. LordMountbatten ordered armedforces to land in Srinagar.When Pakistan responded

militarily against the Indian aggres-sion, on December 31, 1947, Indiamade an appeal to the UN SecurityCouncil to intervene, and a ceasefireultimately came into effect on Janu-ary 01, 1949, following UN resolu-tions calling for a plebiscite in Kash-mir. On February 5, 1964, Indiabacked out of its promise of holdingplebiscite. Instead, in March 1965, theIndian Parliament passed a bill, de-claring Kashmir a Province of India.

It is notable that since 1947, in or-der to maintain its illegal control, In-dia has continued its repressive regimein the Occupied Kashmir through vari-ous machinations. In this regard,India’s so-called-Instrument of Acces-sion of October 27, 1947 is illegal andremains controversial. India has alsobeen acting upon ethnic cleansing andconspiracies to alter the demographyof the Indian-held Kashmir. In thiscontext, Indian establishment hasmilitarised the princely state of Kash-mir since its illegitimate occupation.In 1947, the Muslims constituted 77%,while the Hindu population was 23%.The ratio is now 64.19% to 32.24%due to unabated killings and other con-troversial acts like settlement of non-Muslim migrants (Hindus and Sikhs)from Punjab.

For the purpose, illegal land-grabbing is being practised by Indiansecurity forces such as Army, CRPF,ITB, and BSF in the Indian occupiedKashmir, using lease and acquisition.Nevertheless, various sorts of stateterrorism have been part of a deliber-ate campaign by the Indian army andparamilitary forces against Muslim

Kashmiris, especially since 1989.According to a report on human rightsviolations in the Indian OccupiedKashmir, from January 1989 to De-cember 2013, there have been deathsof 93,984 innocent Kashmiris, 7,014custodial killings, 1,22,771 arrests,1,05,996 destruction of houses orbuildings, 22,776 women widowed,1,07,466 children orphaned and10,086 women gang-raped/molested.Indian brutal security forces havecontinued these atrocities – extra-ju-dicial killings in one way or the other.From January 1 to June 15, 2014,there have been deaths of 54 inno-cent Kashmiris, 09 custodial killings,3438 arrests, 08 destruction of housesor buildings, 02 women widowed, 03children orphaned and 34 womengang-raped/molested.

In fact, Indian forces have em-ployed various draconian and contro-versial laws like Armed Forces Spe-cial Powers Act (AFSPA) and thePublic Safety Act (PSA) etc. in kill-ing the Kashmiri people, and arbi-trarily arrest of any individual for anindefinite period. Besides HumanRights Watch, in its various reports,Amnesty International has alsopointed out grave human rights vio-lations in the Indian controlled Kash-mir, indicating, “The Muslim major-ity population in the Kashmir Valleysuffers from the repressive tactics ofthe security forces. Under the Jammuand Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act,and the Armed Forces Special Pow-ers Act and Public Safety Act, secu-rity forces personnel have extraordi-nary powers to shoot suspected per-sons.” While, under the cover of dra-conian laws, most of the times, ma-jority of the popular pro-movementleadership is detained or house-ar-rested by the Indian security forces,and mostly, without prior orders fromthe higher authorities. As per a

Kashmiri human rights group, Voiceof Victim (VOV), a total of 1 471torture centres are operating in theoccupied Kashmir where arrestedKashmiri leaders and the youth aresubjected to severe torture.

It is of particular attention that in2008, a rights group reported un-marked graves in 55 villages acrossthe northern regions of the Indian-controlled Kashmir. Then research-ers and other groups reported findingthousands of mass graves withoutmarkers. In this regard, in the last fewyears, rights groups discovered nearly3,000 unnamed graves in the variousdistricts of Kashmir. In this respect,in August, 2011, Indian Jammu andKashmir State Human Rights Com-mission (SHRC) officially acknowl-edged in its report that innocent ci-vilians killed in the two-decade con-flict have been buried in unmarkedgraves. The report pointed out 2,156unidentified bodies, which werefound in mass graves in various re-gions of the Indian-held Kashmir.

It seems that non-condemnationof these Indian massive human rightsviolations and non-interference forthe settlement of Kashmir issue bythe US-led civilized internationalcommunity, have further encouragedNew Delhi to keep on going with itsstate terrorism on the armlessKashmiri masses. Ignorance of theissue by them involves the risk ofnuclear war between Pakistan andIndia. Nonetheless, every year, theKashmiris and their brethren in Pa-kistan, and those living all over theworld observe July 19 as Kashmir’sAccession to Pakistan Day to re-af-firm their commitment to continuetheir struggle against Indian illicitoccupation, and till the attainmentof this liberation.—The writer is Lahore-basedfreelance columnist.

Views From Abroad

Does Ukraine have a future?West and Russia should cooperate to keep Kiev afloat

WHEN one sets out to answerthe riddle about the futureof Ukraine the answers that

come depend to some extent on howfar back one goes, but even if historycasts a long shadow it is the eventsof the last half year, shaped by youngdemonstrators, mobs and militias,that dominate the narrative. One cango back to the 10th century when theOrthodox Church made Ukraine andRussia one. Or one can go back tothe Soviet Union of which Ukrainewas an important part. One can goback to the end of the Soviet Unionwhen three men, including BorisYeltsin, had a huddle in the woodsand decided to give Ukraine its inde-pendence. One can go back to theOrange Revolution 10 years agowhen true democracy won out onlyto be undermined by crude politick-ing and corruption.

Or one can go back to Februarythis year when politically innocentprotestors — rather like those inEgypt — gathered in large numbersin Kiev’s main square — only to beout-maneuvered by fascist-inclinedmilitants who violently precipitatedthe final, violent, showdown thatousted a democratic elected president,

Viktor Yanukovych, who could havebeen voted out next January when hislegal term expired. As in Egypt thehardliners markedly increased theirinfluence, the last thing the “inno-cent” expected. As for the Americansand the Europeans they have workedbehind the scenes to install a govern-ment of their own persuasion. Theresult was an interim government thatcalled elections that led to the elect-ing of a president, Petro Poroshenko,a man who earned his spurs amass-ing a fortune from chocolate making— a great grooming for running acountry.

But the government has an over-dose of quasi-fascists who havecome from the ranks of the ultra-na-tionalist Svoboda party that wononly two per cent of the vote in theJune election. The vice-presidentand three other ministers areSvoboda people, including the pros-ecutor-general. Svoboda’s leader,Oleh Tyahnybok, once called for anation purged of the “Moscow-Jew-ish mafia”. On March 18, Svobodaparliamentarians beat the actingpresident of the Ukrainian Statebroadcaster, OleksanderPanteleymonov, trying to force himto sign a resignation letter becausehe decided to broadcast Crimea’sjoining the Russian Federation cer-emony in Moscow. I have little time

for Russian President, VladimirPutin, who orchestrated the succes-sion of Crimea with a referendumthat was given only two weeks’ no-tice. (Compare this with the 18months run up to the Scottish suc-cession referendum.) But I also havelittle time for the way the US andthe EU have conducted their diplo-macy in Ukraine. A full frontal at-tack on president Yanukovych’s gov-ernment over its last minute refusalto take a path that would one daylead to EU membership was coun-terproductive. Unless they make itabsolutely clear that they don’t wantto see Ukraine in Nato, that the Rus-sian language is equal to Ukrainianand that there is devolution similarto Scotland in the UK today, theirdiplomacy will be seriously tarnished.

The fact that this is what Putinwants to see should not be a reasonfor embracing these precepts. TheWest has maneuvered itself into astate of confrontation with Russia.Only Germany of the always-wiseChancellor Angel Merkel, supportedby ex-chancellors, Helmut Schmidtand Gerhard Schroder, the authors ofthe creation of Germany’s great eco-nomic power house, stand against theWestern tide. Now the battle for con-trol of Russian-speaking territoryrages with pro-Russia and pro-Kievmilitias beginning to destroy parts of

Jonathan Powercities, as in Syria. On May 2, anorganised pro-Kiev mob chasedpro-Russian protestors into a build-ing, setting it on fire. Some 40people perished in flames. MostWestern nations turned a lazy eye.Now we see pro-Kiev and pro-Mos-cow militias precipitating fleeing ofthousands of refugees to Russia.

Yet the West dreams on. IfUkraine could not find stability andgood, uncorrupt, selfless leaderswith an uncompromised parliamentin the years following the OrangeRevolution how can it now after allthe turbulence and polarisation ofthis year’s events? The West doesnot have any more money than itdid before to try and engineerUkraine’s stability and growth. Theonly way to keep Ukraine uprightis for the West and Russia to coop-erate. Ukraine should be encour-aged to pursue membership of theEU over the next decade, negotiatea favourable entry to Russia’s Eur-asian Union and the West shouldloudly reject any plans for Ukraine’sNato membership. Meanwhile,President Poroshenko must sack hisSvoboda-inclined ministers. Other-wise it will be impasse. The Westwon’t suffer. Neither will Russia.But Ukraine will.The writer is a veteran analyst—Courtesy: Khaleej Times

high payment to KE. KE should alsoconstitute a Disciplinary Board man-dated to look into the complainsagainst corrupt staff. It is practicalthat policy of “checks & balances”makes the organization and peoplemore sincere towards work. Manyactions are needed to make the KEand Karachi brighter.—Karachi

Where should Iseek justice?

KHURRAM AZIZ

Witnessing all hopes and pleas beingdashed to the ground and finding noway other than this I in a plight ofgross despondency and grimness putforward my case, though not new ofits kind, here as the last straw. As perthe policy of the Education Depart-ment, Government of Sindh, NationalTesting Service was tasked to sift thecompetent candidates for the vacan-cies of PST, JST, and HST teachersrespectively through its traditionaltesting mechanism in which I man-aged to do well, scoring 92% and thusstanding first, not merely my Tehsilbut in entire Jacobabad District.

In view of the score, I shouldhave been given the offer- order dulyon the merit basis while the orderswere being distributed by the Provin-cial Education Minister Nisar Khuhroin Shikarpur, ruefully slaughtering themeritocracy and trampling on myright which I am wholly qualified for.My case has deliberately and brazenlybeen halted on the ‘under consider-ation’ pretext in a bid to adjust fewdesired candidates having back-stairsinfluence and who are lagging too farbehind on merit. D.E.O veryunashamedly revoking my name onthe list is colluding to accommodatea candidate even with 82 marks inexchange for bribery, and to pleasesome ‘big guns’.I am a son of retiredteacher who despite very meagre andmoderate income took pains to edu-cate me in the hope that someday Iwould be on the job to shoulder theburden of the family but now I withthe wet eyes see his dreams shatteredwith me due to grave injustice by thebrittle and sold-out authorities, at-tempting to deprive the poor of theright to survive.

I have not money to grease theirpalms, neither do I have any acquain-tance with the high-profiles to begthem to do me a favour in my case. Iam fed up with wandering around inthe offices and crying in the wilder-ness with my outcries and grievancesredressed by none. I pin no hope onany authority other than the ChiefJustice of the apex court to do mejustice and bring to the book thetainted and corrupt officials, becauseI am pleading for what is my genu-ine right and my solicitation if turneddown this time and if I am destinedto be deprived of my right, I will setmyself ablaze posing a question markon the application of the fundamen-tal rights of the law of the land, thejust are assigned to carry out.—Jacobabad

A letter from IsraelWAJID MUNIR

Dear Pakistani friends! Why you al-ways castigate us? We are not attack-ing your homes; we are defending ourcountry as our inordinate friend(agent/servant) USA is doing in thename of “war on terror”. Why don’tyou learn from your Arab brotherswho never uttered even a single wordagainst us. MashAllah they are civi-lized now! We are also trying to makeother countries as civilized as theseArab countries with the help of ‘our’funded NGOs, media and friends likeAl-Sisi. We are happy they are doingcommendable services for us. We willcontinue to dole out funds for them.However, we do not understand whyyou are so impressed from Turkey!Yes, Tayyip Erdogan is creating lotof troubles for us but we are tryingour best to oust him—don’t you no-tice our efforts? Bhutto, King Faisaland Morsi also tried to strangulate usand you know what we did to them.

One thing we cannot understandyou always fume over your govern-ments and west. But what are youdoing for your country or Palestine -

The spiritual poverty

HUMAN lives have two aspects of i.e. the internal, expressed through morals and

religion and the external guided andshaped by the influence of devices,techniques, mechanisms and instru-mentalities. The modern man hasbuilt airplanes and spaceships thathave squeezed distances and arrestedthe flight of the time. He can alsodeservedly boast of raising sky-scrapers, architectural marvels andbehemoth bridges. He has producedthinking machines and instrumentsthat peer into the unfathomableranges of interstellar space.

He has within his grasp infinitevistas of scientific and technologi-cal advancement. The hallmark ofthis external and modern life, withpredominantly materialistic outlook,is that it has suppressed the internalfacet of human life, which is the rootcause of all the problems faced bythe mankind. The phenomenon de-scribed as ‘spiritual poverty’ by DrMartin Luther King, has landed theworld into intractable problems likeinjustice, poverty and conflict. Theglobal economic order erected on

purely materialistic consider-ations is exploitative in natureand heavily tilted towards themore developed and techno-logically advanced nations.Similarly the predominanceof the same materialistic phi-

losophy within societies and stateshas created unbridgeable gulf be-tween haves and have nots, more soin the third world countries like Pa-kistan where political and economicpower is in the hands of the landedaristocracy and the elite classes. Thesystem of governance, a legacy of thecolonial era, has inbuilt avenues ofcorruption by the political elite. Theyhave created islands of affluence.They refuse to acknowledge and ac-cept the adage that islands of afflu-ence cannot exist in the oceans ofpoverty. They remain stubbornlyoblivious to the fact that the tensionsgenerated by this injustice and exploi-tation are bound to generate conflictwithin the society. The solution liesin bridging and narrowing the gapbetween the haves and have-nots.John F Kennedy echoed a similarwarning in these words “If a free anddemocratic society cannot help themany who are poor, it cannot savethe few who are rich”

Pakistan needs to address ‘spiri-tual poverty’ without any further lossof time and choreograph a systemof governance which is truly repre-

sentative in nature and is capable ofdelivering justice. People are yearn-ing for change which can only comethrough breaking the hold of land-lords and elite on the political power.Under the present system, no mat-ter how many elections are held, theresults will not be different as itwould bring back the same peopleto the assemblies; people with dubi-ous credentials having myriad ofskeletons in their cupboards. Ac-cording to Einstein doing the samething again and again and expectingdifferent results is insanity. This in-sanity must end now.

There is no doubt that people ofPakistan want continuation andstrengthening of democracy in thecountry but they want a system ofparticipatory democracy which en-sures fair distribution of the nationalwealth and guarantees social justiceto all the segments of the society andalso ensures sharing of politicalpower by the middle and poor classes.There is almost a national consensuson the electoral reforms and a Parlia-mentary Committee has also beenconstituted by the government andrightly so. But judging by the debatethat has been going on, it seems thatthe focus of this effort is only on re-forming the Election Commissionand some electoral laws. These cos-metic changes are not going to helpand address the real issue. The real

issue is the way we elect our legis-lators. The single constituency sys-tem prevalent in the country is thereal culprit which has perpetuatedthe archaic colonial system of gov-ernance and strengthened the holdof the landlords and elite classes onthe political power. To get out of theirsuffocating stranglehold, the bestrecipe available is to switch over tothe proportional representation sys-tem. There is also a dire and imme-diate need for land reforms, bring-ing each and every sector of theeconomy under the umbrella of thetax regime, introduction of univer-sal health insurance and uniformsyllabus in the educational institu-tions, upgrading and expanding thesocial security net.

Immediate installation of thelocal government in line with thespirit of article 140A of the Consti-tution which says “ Each Provinceshall, by law, establish a local gov-ernment system and devolve politi-cal, administrative and financial re-sponsibility and authority to theelected representatives of the localgovernments” is also absolutely es-sential to address disconnect be-tween rulers and ruled. The PML-Ngovt has taken some positive initia-tives in expanding social security netbut these steps can create desiredimpact only when all systemic mala-dies are done away with.

except donation of thousands oftweets to Palestinians! We all workreally hard to “save Israel”, fromdawn to dusk, what you do? What youhave in your country—sectarianism,corruption, nepotism and destitutionto name a few and you claim to con-quer Palestine! What is your literacyrate? How many noble laureates haveyou ever produced? How strong isyour technology? You are 200 yearsbehind us. You devour McDonaldburgers, drink Coca Cola, Nestle andStarbucks, wear our LOREAL per-fumes, watch Walt Disney picturesand then burn our flags! Of course,you cannot conquer Palestine in thisstate of torpor.

Last year you killed your ownpeople during protest against blasphe-mous caricature! We were so happy,at the same time surprised, that youwere killing yourself so no need towaste our energies and money! Ourexperts researched that you are anemotional nation and we decided totake advantage of it. Today look atthe performance of our ISIS and TTP!Interestingly, we got millions of sup-porters of ISIS and TTP!—Islamabad

A tale of a cityMUHAMMAD WAJID MUNIR

Gaza is burning. Whole world is merespectator. For Israeli citizens it is funto butcher Palestinian children—likegladiator show. For UN it’s anotherinterpretation of “Just war theory”.International Law, International Hu-manitarian law, Camp David Accordand Geneva Convention—who cares!Where is Pope who seems to have agentle heart when he watches “ago-nies” of christians, minorities andMalala Yosufzai? Perhaps Palestin-ian citizens are not humans in theirpoint of view.

As per jaundiced Western media“innocent Israeli people” are fightingin self-defence! Muslim world issnoozing; some have their own prob-lems, other rich Arabs are happy intheir citadels. Likewise west has notdangled dollars to be gawk at, so lib-erals are busy in “human rights vio-lations” in Pakistan. I can pull in herethese few words of “Gulliver’s trav-els” by Jonathan Swift “Bulk of yournatives to be the most pernicious raceof little odious vermin that nature hasever suffered to crawl upon on thesurface of earth”—Islamabad

Ramazan showsFARRUKH AZIZ ANSARI

Regrettably, Ramazan, the monthbringing boons for the Muslims tobeg pardon for their sins committedthroughout the year, and earn thefavours of Almighty by spending themost of their time in worship, remem-brance and supplication to Allah, has,as usual, brazenly beencommoditized by the buffoons andso-called religious scholars togetherunder the guise of religion solely fortheir self gains of minting money.

Whenever one happens to switchTV on, the acrobats and self-pro-claimed religious scholars sitting withunveiled women having put on ab-surd makeup on their faces anddressed up immodestly appear not touphold the sanctity of the holy month.What matter most are not only thesap-headed TV hosts and anchorsostensibly so reacting as to be wellversed in Islamic knowledge, but alsothe Ulema, the guardians of faith,seen endorsing the breach of normsby the scholar-hosts by being part ofsuch indecorous carnival projectionof the faith and the Muslims.—Islamabad

Sajjad ShaukatEmail: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Malik M AshrafEmail:ashrafazim2000@yahoo.com

Ukrainian soldiers and Ukrainian Defense Minister Valery Heletey, third from right, raise a Ukrainian flag in downtownSlovyansk, eastern Ukraine.

RAMESH THAKUR

THE BRICS (Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa) have just concluded their sixth annual meeting in Bra-

zil. The major deliverable was economic inform and content, but its major significance isprimarily geopolitical.

Last October, President Dilma Rousseffwas to be the first Brazilian leader to attend aWhite House state dinner in two decades. In-stead, angered by revelations that her phonecalls and email had been intercepted by theNational Security Agency (NSA), she becamethe first leader to cancel a state dinner hostedby a U.S. president, lambasting U.S. surveil-lance as a violation of international law and a“totally unacceptable” infringement of Brazil’ssovereignty.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is rou-tinely demonized these days by American po-litical leaders and media commentators. India’sPrime Minister Narendra Modi was on the U.S.visa denial list for nine years (2005-14). It takesskill to position oneself offside simultaneouslywith three of the most important leaders fromthe emerging powers.

Russia is being subjected to sanctions forits annexation of Crimea — which was Rus-sian for several centuries and was voluntarily“gifted” to the Ukraine by Soviet leader NikitaKhrushchev — despite the concrete threats toits Russian-speaking majority population andto Russia’s core national security interests,despite a referendum whose margins of resultsmay be questioned but not the overall outcome,and despite not one fatality resulting from theoperation.In the Ukrainian crisis, provocationsfrom Europe, the West and Kiev, and humani-tarian atrocities by the latter, are generally ig-

Geopolitics trumps economicsnored. And the countries censuring Russia andimposing sanctions on it are those responsiblefor the Iraq war in 2003 — whose legal andsecurity justification was far more tenuous,whose theater was geographically distant andwhose humanitarian and geopolitical conse-quences were far more horrific anddestabilizing.Last December in the U.S., a jun-ior Indian diplomat was arrested and strip-searched over labor laws and wage disputes ina deliberate subordination of international con-ventions to domestic U.S. law, when U.S. dip-lomats posted abroad have been muscularlyshielded from domestic laws even when theyhave killed host nationals. In the case of Chinaits citizens have been charged with cyber-es-pionage after the public revelations of the in-dustrial-scale surveillance activities of theNSA around the world and within the U.S.Espionage by the U.S. has even resulted in theexpulsion of two Americans from Germany,as solid a U.S. ally as any in the world. Beijingis told to solve its maritime disputes in accor-dance with the U.N. Convention on the Lawof the Sea — to which Washington is not party.

The hubris and arrogance of the U.S.-ledWest is so breathtaking as to be scarcely be-lievable. It’s as though they have simply lostthe capacity, and/or are indifferent, to see howothers see them. They just don’t care.

That same insensitivity toward others’voices, values and interests lies behind thecreation, consolidation and evolution ofBRICS. The grouping was a shorthandproxy to describe the shift in market powerand geopolitical clout from the Group ofSeven (Canada, France, Germany, Italy,Japan, United Kingdom and U.S.) towardthe large and populous emerging marketeconomies.

BRICS is important because it clubs to-gether the big emerging markets whose eco-nomic growth will outstrip and anchor the restof the world, and because of the diversity andspread of continents, political systems, valuesand economic models. They make up two-fifths of world population, one-fifth of worldGDP, one-seventh of world trade and two-thirds of world growth.

By 2025 the Group of Eight — the world’seight biggest economies — is likely to be, inorder, the United States, China, India, Japan,Germany, U.K., France and Russia.

At the 2013 Durban summit, SouthAfrica’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan re-marked that the “roots of the World Bank andthe IMF still lie” in the post-1945 equations.Before the first Russia summit in 2009, Brazil’sPresident Lula da Silva wrote of “broken para-digms and failing multilateral institutions.” Thesystem that privileges Western powers andtheir biases is trapped in the old paradigm andout of sync with the new realities. The defi-ciencies eroded the legitimacy and credibilityof the international financial institutions andfostered mistrust between the North and South.

At the 2012 Delhi summit, BRICS ad-vanced from simply an expression of frus-trated entitlement to sketching the outlinesof an alternative configuration of globalgovernance. They underlined the urgencyof enhancing “the voice and representationof emerging market and developing coun-tries” in the Bretton Woods institutions inorder to “better reflect economic weights.”The criticisms of the voting formula, fund-ing priorities and executive directorship ofthe International Monetary Fund and WorldBank reflected both frustrations at how theyare run and growing self-confidence in their

own roles as responsible stakeholder-man-agers of the system of global economicgovernance.

The five thus warned they meant to usetheir demographic and economic clout to chal-lenge and change the way the world is gov-erned through formal multilateral machineryand informal groupings. Yet BRICS is also ofuncertain unity, coherence and staying powerbecause of a lack of unifying values, principles,goals and interests among its members. Crit-ics dismissed the BRICS for lacking the nec-essary cement to bind them together.

A critical test of whether BRICS couldmake the transition from a critic of the West-led system of global economic governance tocreating and managing an alternative systemof, by and for developing countries waswhether the idea of a BRICS developmentbank, floated for study at the Delhi summit,was successfully implemented.

At Fortaleza on July 15-16, four issueswere up for discussion about the proposedbank: name, location, presidency andshareholding. All four were settled by con-sensus. It will be called the BRICS NewDevelopment Bank and headquartered inShanghai. The inaugural president willcome from India.

To avoid the problems of the IMF andWorld Bank, shareholding will be equal.The bank is to be capitalized initially at $50billion (and subsequently at double thatamount), with each country contributing$10 billion over the next seven to eightyears.

—Courtesy: Japan Times.[Ramesh Thakur is a professor at the

Crawford School of Public Policy, Austra-lian National University]

Conspiracy theoriesabout MH17

RAJINDER PURI

THE shooting down of the Malaysian airplane by a surfaceto air missile which killed 283 on board has sparked conspiracy theories. Russia is blaming the Ukrainians, Ukraine

is blaming the Russians, and the separatist Russian rebels insideUkraine are being blamed by others.

The weapons system that shot down the plane was made inRussia. Russia, Ukraine and the rebels all had access to the weap-ons system. The actual shooting it is generally acknowledged couldhave been done only by the rebels who control territory where theplane was shot down. Conspiracy would exist if someone put upthe rebels to commit the act. Did such a conspiracy exist?If so,who could be the conspirator? Speculation would be endless. Buta few curious facts merit attention.A transcript of conversationpurportedly between the rebels and the Russian army intelligenceofficer controlling them was released by the Ukrainiangovernment.In the dialogue the rebel says that the wrong planewas shot by them. By error they shot down a civilian plane. Howdid this transcript reach the Ukrainians? Was it leaked by the Rus-sian authorities, by the rebels, or was procured through intercep-tion by either the Ukrainian authorities of by a third party?Thedialogue suggests that a different non-civilian plane was the in-tended target.Subsequently, for almost an entire day the state-ownedRussian TV propagated a theory that the intended victim was Presi-dent Putin whose plane was on the same route.

But at the end of the day this theory was abandoned after it tran-spired that President Putin took an altogether different route. Therewas reportedly an Air India flight close on the heels of the Malaysianplane. But that too was a civilian plane. The only non civilian planethat took the same route a little after the shootout was the plane carry-ing Prime Minister Modi. Several questions need credible answers.Was the transcript between the rebels and Russian Army intelligencegenuine? How was it procured? Why did Russia’s state-owned TVtried to project that President Putin was the target when the possibilitydid not exist? Was Prime Minister Modi the real target?

There are widespread demands that there should be a credibleinvestigation of the plane shootout by giving full access to investi-gators from different nations to examine the site of the fallen planein order to probe the crash.However the Indian government shoulddemand a full fledged investigation of the conspiracy angle underthe aegis of the United Nations in which governments concernedshould be compelled to fully cooperate. Security concerns in thelight of events make such a probe imperative.

—Courtesy: Statesman.

A sinking presidency,deeper afterNovember?

J.T. YOUNG

IF you think President Obama’s administration has unraveled,the denouement could be just beginning. Its real consequencewould come when congressional Democrats, who have re-

mained extremely loyal to the president, begin to split from him.If they do — and November election losses could drive that —America could see a presidency come apart.

The latest nationwide Quinnipiac poll shows Mr. Obama’sdeepening trouble. A plurality of respondents (45 percent) saidthe country would have been better off if Mitt Romney had wonin 2012, and Mr. Obama rated first (33 percent) in voting forAmerica’s worst post-World War II president.

Mr. Obama’s overall approval rating was just 40 percent,and was only this high because 79 percent of Democrats stillapprove of him. In comparison, only 31 percent of independentsand 10 percent of Republicans do.

Not only have Democratic voters remained supportive of thepresident, but congressional Democrats have largely done so,too — despite many needing more than Democrats’ votes to wintheir elections.Why are so many congressional Democrats re-maining loyal to Mr. Obama as he sinks with the general elector-ate? First, Mr. Obama demands liberals’ loyalty. In 2012, theywere 25 percent of voters, but 86 percent of those who voted forhim. Second: money. No one raises money like Mr. Obama. Heis an irreplaceable ATM for Democrats, and as voter satisfactionfalls, money’s importance rises. Finally, Mr. Obama wields poli-tics’ biggest loudspeaker. No one has a larger pulpit than his, andif Democrats are to have a chance in November, they need himto provide the message.

In short, Democrats are largely stuck with the president. Thereis little time to separate from him before November and nowhereelse to go to get the liberals, lucre and loudspeaker he offers. Fornow, they must hope Mr. Obama can re-create his 2012 magicand avoid a reprise of 2010’s debacle. Mr. Obama alone offersDemocrats a chance to avoid a negative national election.

However, after November, everything changes. If Republi-cans take the Senate and add to their House majority, Demo-crats’ motivation could quickly change.

Then Mr. Obama’s election magic will be over. He can nolonger save them at the polls, because he will never again be ona ballot — and it conclusively will have been shown that withouthim on the ballot, Mr. Obama cannot pull his supporters to thepolls. Mr. Obama will also be a lame duck. This happens to allpresidents in the second half of their final term, regardless ofhow they perform. However, should he confront a Republican-controlled Congress with his already-low public approval rat-ings, he will be the lamest of ducks. Then the question will notbe as much what he does as what the GOP will do.

Republicans can immediately begin crafting legislation thatwill not only put Mr. Obama in a difficult position, but legisla-tion that will start dividing his congressional Democrats fromhim. Approving the Keystone XL pipeline would likely just bethe beginning of an energy initiative that will split Democratsand unions from the White House. Tough votes on Obamacareand immigration could do the same.

Republicans could also go after scandals — existing onesand any arising ones — and put investigations in motion thatwould further depress Mr. Obama’s public support. The VeteranAffairs scandal, Benghazi and Internal Revenue Service politi-cal targeting are all examples of issues that have already hurt theWhite House — this despite special prosecutors or bicameralinvestigations not pursuing them.It is overlooked how symbioticthe relationship between Mr. Obama and congressional Demo-crats has been. The president’s contribution to congressionalDemocrats has been clear — just as his rising threat to them isnow. Overlooked has been the important role Democrats haveplayed to sustaining Mr. Obama’s presidency. Democratic con-trol of the Senate has protected the president from tough legisla-tion and wide-ranging investigations.

If November produces dual Republican majorities, this pro-tection vanishes for both Democrats and their leader. With Mr.Obama having hurt them once more in a midterm election, withlame-duck status diminishing his current prospects, and littlechance he can help them in the future, congressional Democratscould quickly break with the White House — especially whenRepublicans actively acerbate such divisions.

A foundering ship can be kept afloat through the efforts ofits crew. However, once its seaworthiness is fully compromised,the vessel once a sanctuary becomes a trap. Even proximity to itbecomes dangerous as the sinking hulk pulls down those aroundit. Without hands onboard, it sinks even more quickly. The goodship Obama could quickly find itself in just such a predicamentin November.J.T. Young served in the Treasury Department andthe Office of Management and Budget from 2001 to 2004 and asa congressional staff member from 1987 to 2000.

—Courtesy: Washington Times.

LAGOS, (NIGERIA) — About a dozen parentsof the more than 200 kidnapped Nigerian school-girls will never see their daughters again.

Since the mass abduction of the schoolgirlsby Islamic extremists three months ago, at least11 of their parents have died and their home-town, Chibok, is under siege from the militants,residents report.

Seven fathers of kidnapped girls wereamong 51 bodies brought to Chibok hospitalafter an attack on the nearby village of Kautakarithis month, said a health worker who insistedon anonymity for fear of reprisals by theextremists.At least four more parents have diedof heart failure, high blood pressure and otherillnesses that the community blames on traumadue to the mass abduction 100 days ago, saidcommunity leader Pogu Bitrus, who providedtheir names.

“One father of two of the girls kidnappedjust went into a kind of coma and kept repeat-ing the names of his daughters, until life lefthim,” said Bitrus.

Chibok is cut off because of frequent attackson the roads that are studded with burned outvehicles. Commercial flights no longer go intothe troubled area and the government has haltedcharter flights.Through numerous phone callsto Chibok and the surrounding area, The Asso-ciated Press has gathered information about thesituation in the town where the students werekidnapped from their school.

More danger is on the horizon.

Eleven parents of abducted gilrs dieBoko Haram is closing in on Chibok, attackingvillages ever closer to the town. Villagers whosurvive the assaults are swarming into the town,swelling its population and straining resources.A food crisis looms, along with shortages ofmoney and fuel, said community leader Bitrus.

On the bright side, some of the young womenwho escaped are recovering, said a health worker,who insisted on anonymity because he fearedreprisals from Boko Haram. Girls who had firstrefused to discuss their experience, now are talk-ing about it and taking part in therapeutic singingand drawing — a few drew homes, some paintedflowers and one young woman drew a picture ofa soldier with a gun last week.

Girls who said they would never go backto school now are thinking about how to con-tinue their education, he said.Counseling isbeing offered to families of those abductedand to some of the 57 students who man-aged to escape in the first few days, said thehealth worker. He is among 36 newly trainedin grief and rape counseling, under a pro-gram funded by USAID.

All the escapees remain deeply concernedabout their schoolmates who did not get away.

A presidential committee investigating thekidnappings said 219 girls still are missing. Butthe community says there are more becausesome parents refused to give the committee theirdaughters’ names, fearing the stigma involved.

Boko Haram filmed a video in which theythreatened to sell the students into slavery and

as child brides. It also showed a couple of thegirls describing their “conversion” from Chris-tianity to Islam.At least two have died of snakebites, a mediator who was liaising with BokoHaram told AP two months ago. At that time hesaid at least 20 of the girls were ill — not sur-prising given that they are probably being heldin an area infested with malarial mosquitoes,poisonous snakes and spiders, and relying onunclean water from rivers.

Most of the schoolgirls are still believed to beheld in the Sambisa Forest — a wildlife reservethat includes almost impenetrably thick jungle aswell as more open savannah. The forest borderson sand dunes marking the edge of the SaharaDesert. Sightings of the girls and their captors havebeen reported in neighboring Cameroon and Chad.

In Chibok, the town’s population is understress.“There are families that are putting up fourand five other families,” local leader Bitrus said,adding that food stocks are depleted. Livestockhas been looted by Boko Haram so villagers arearriving empty handed. Worst of all, no one isplanting though it is the rainy season, he said.

“There is a famine looming,” he warned.Chibok and nearby villages are targets becausethey are enclaves of staunch Christians in pre-dominantly Muslim north Nigeria.

The number of soldiers guarding Chibok hasincreased from 15 to about 200 since the kid-napping but they have done little to increasesecurity in Chibok, said Bitrus. The soldiersoften refuse to deploy to villages under attack

though there is advance warning 90 percentof the time, he said.

Last month the extremists took controland raised their black flags over two vil-lages within 30 kilometers (18 miles) ofChibok. Last week they ordered residentsof another village just 16 kilometers (10miles) away to clear out, Bitrus said. Everyvillage in the neighboring Damboa area hasbeen attacked and sacked, and all the vil-lages bordering Cameroon have beenburned and are deserted, Bitrus said, quot-ing residents who fled. The attacks continuedespite the fact the military placed the areaunder a state of emergency in May2013.Residents feel so abandoned that theyappealed this month for the United Nationsto send troops to protect them. The U.N.has repeatedly urged Nigeria’s governmentto live up to its international responsibilityto protect citizens.President GoodluckJonathan insists his government and mili-tary are doing everything possible to ensurethe girls’ release. The Defense Ministry saysit knows where they are but fears any mili-tary campaign could lead to their deaths.Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in anew video released this week repeated hisdemands that Jonathan release detained ex-tremists in exchange for the girls — an of-fer Jonathan has so far refused. After threemonths, few Chibok residents believe allthe schoolgirls will ever return home—AP.

Prabowo quitsIndonesia

presidentialrace

JAKARTA—Indonesia’s presi-dential candidate PrabowoSubianto said on Tuesday thathe was rejecting the electoralprocess, citing flaws, in a movethat could likely see his camptaking the challenge to the Con-stitutional Court.

“The process of electioncarried out by the ElectionCommission (KPU) is flawed,not democratic.... and KPU, asthe executor is not fair andopen,” said Prabowo, readingoff a two-page statement, lessthan an hour before the officialresult was due to be announced.

The former general wasflanked by his coalition part-ners Golkar chairman AburizalBakrie and former chairman ofUnited Development PartySuryadharma Ali.

“There has been a massive,structured and systematic fraudin this election,” Prabowoadded, saying that his legalteam also has proof of foreignintervention in the July 9election.His comments cometwo days after a large coalitionmeeting on Sunday where hiscoalition also expressed simi-lar sentiments, claiming theyhave detailed evidence of theseirregularities and fraud.

“We will use our constitu-tional rights to reject this elec-tion and pull out from ongoingprocess,” said Prabowo, to cheersfrom his supporters at RumahPolonia, which resembled hisbasecamp where supporters hadgathered during thecampaigning.Asking his sup-porters to remain calm, he said:“We are not going to sacrifice themandate we have been given tobe played out or be manipulated.We are ready to win or lose in ademocratic and respectable way.We ask you to be calm becausewe won’t allow our democraticrights to be snatched—ANN.

I no longertalk to Obama:

ErdoganISTANBUL—Turkish PrimeMinister Recep TayyipErdogan said he has stoppedtalking to US President BarackObama on the phone, amidgrowing strains between An-kara and Washington overSyria and the Gaza conflict.

Turkey, a fierce opponent ofSyrian President Bashar al-Assadand an open supporter of armedrebel fighters, felt betrayed whenthe United States backed awayfrom military action against Dam-ascus in September.“In the past, Iwas calling him (Obama) directly.Because I can’t get the expectedresults on Syria, our foreign min-isters are now talking to eachother,” Erdogan said in a live in-terview on pro-government ATVchannel late Monday.“And I havetalked to (US Vice President Joe)Biden. He calls me and I call him.

“I expect justice in this pro-cess. I couldn’t imagine some-thing like this from those who arechampioning justice,” Erdoganadded without elaborating, in anapparent jibe at Washington.Thelast phone conversation betweenthe two leaders took place on Feb-ruary 20 after which the WhiteHouse released a statement accus-ing Erdogan of misrepresentingthe content of the conversation.

A staunch advocate of thePalestinian cause, Erdogan hasrecently been at loggerheadswith Washington over Israel’soffensive in the besieged GazaStrip that has killed more than580 Palestinians in two weeks.

Erdogan accused the Jewishstate of carrying out “state terror-ism” and a “genocide” of Pales-tinians and criticised the UnitedStates for defending Israel’s “dis-proportionate” tactics.The USState Department branded hiscomments on Israel “offensiveand wrong” but the prime minis-ter hit back by saying the UnitedStates needed to engage in “self-criticism—AFP.

Pro-Russia rebels release planecrash dead bodies

KIEV—Bowing to international pressure,pro-Moscow separatists released a trainpacked with bodies and handed over theblack boxes from the downed MalaysiaAirlines plane, four days after it plungedinto rebel-held eastern Ukraine.

With body parts decaying in swelter-ing heat and signs that evidence at the crashsite was mishandled, anger in Westerncapitals has mounted at the rebels and theirallies in Moscow. Their reluctant coopera-tion will soothe mourning families andhelp investigators, but may do little to rec-oncile the East-West powers strugglingover Ukraine’s future.Russia’s DefenseMinistry said it saw no evidence a missilewas fired and denied involvement in thedowning of Flight 17 — and suggested the

Ukrainian military was at fault. PresidentVladimir Putin spoke out but showed nosign of abandoning the separatists as fight-ing flared anew near the site of the crash.

President Barack Obama accused therebels of tampering with evidence and in-sulting victims’ families, warning of newsanctions. Europeans will consider theirown sanctions Tuesday.The bodies of the298 victims, most from the Netherlands,have become a part of the conflict inUkraine because they could hold evidenceof what brought the plane down on July17 as it was flying from Amsterdam toKuala Lumpur.

Grief turned to anger as familiesbegged to get the bodies of their loved onesback, while the separatists held on to the

remains.“Bodies are just lying there for three

days in the hot sun. There are people whohave this on their conscience,” said SileneFredriksz-Hoogzand, whose son, Bryce,and his girlfriend Daisy Oehlers died ontheir way to a vacation in Bali, in an inter-view with The Associated Press in theNetherlands. “When I am in my bed atnight, I see my son lying on the ground. . .. They have to come home, not only thosetwo. Everybody has to come home.”

International forensics experts finallygained access to the crash site Monday —an emotional experience for the head ofthe Dutch National Forensic InvestigationsTeam, Peter Van Vliet. Seeing the wreck-age gave him goosebumps, he said—JT.

and economic development”Tariq Fatemi underscoredPakistan’s commitment tobuilding a peaceful neighbor-hood for regional peace, secu-rity and prosperity. The specialassistant highlighted thegovernment’s commitment tocombating terrorism and ex-tremism in all its forms througha comprehensive and consen-sus based approach.

He further said that the on-going military operation in NorthWaziristan will continue till thearea is cleared of all terroristswithout any distinction or dis-crimination. On Pakistan-US re-lations, the special assistant notedthat Prime Minister MohammadNawaz Sharif’s visit to Washing-ton last year in October was ahigh point and the meeting withPresident Obama helped set thetone, agenda and direction for therelationship, which happily nowis on an upward and stable tra-jectory.

While emphasizing the im-portance of enhanced marketaccess, and greater investmentflows, the Special Assistant alsothanked the US government forits valuable assistance to Paki-stan for its various developmentprojects especially those in theenergy sector. —INP

US to continueFrom Page 1

There was always near-consensus amongIsraelis for the airstrikes aimed at ending therocket fire, which they considered unreasonableand outrageous. The Palestinian fatalities causedby the airstrikes — over 500 in two weeks, manyof them civilians — are generally blamed hereon Hamas, for locating launchers in civilian ar-eas and for proving to be cynical and nihilistic,to Israeli eyes, at every turn.

But a ground invasion of Gaza is anotherstory, and the government had clearly hesitatedto take the risk. House-to-house fighting, tanksexposed in fields, the danger of a soldier beingkidnapped, to be traded for thousands after yearsin captivity: It is an untidy and dispiriting affair.

The government felt it necessary to takesuch a risky step because despite all the dam-age being inflicted on Gaza by the airstrikes,the Hamas rocket fire simply did not stop. Is-raeli officials also felt world opinion would un-derstand after Hamas rejected a cease-fire pro-posal that Israel had accepted.

Complicating the situation from Israel’sperspective, Hamas does not seem to be com-ing under significant pressure from the peopleof Gaza despite the devastation they are en-during. While Gaza is no democracy andHamas rules by force, this seems to reflectgenuine support for Hamas’ aim of breakingthe blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt onthe strip.

Emboldened, Hamas ratcheted up attemptsto carry out deadly attacks against Israeli bor-der communities through tunnels dug under-neath the fence separating Israel from Gaza.For Israelis, that raised a terrifying specter offamilies in placid farming areas on the edge ofthe Negev desert waking up to find swarms ofIslamic militants in their midst.

This brought it home that they are out tokill us and we have to stop them,” said YehudaBen-Meir, a political analyst at the Institutefor National Security Studies. “No one can

Israeli air strikes kill 7 From Page 1

said PTI’s march was a one-dayevent which would transforminto a quick march.

He further said work of theCapital Development Author-ity (CDA) would be increasedas a result of the march.

Rashid appealed to the PTIchief that the present time wasnot suitable for a long marchbut for the welfare of IDPsfrom North Waziristan.

He said Khan should livepeacefully and allow others todo the same.

ImranFrom Page 1

sponded that Pakistan was like his second home.Earlier Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul AzizAl Saud warmly received Prime Minister andwelcomed him to Saudi Arabia. He also con-veyed his greetings to the Prime Minister Sharifon performance of Umrah. The Prime Ministerexpressed his gratitude to HRH Prince Salmanbin Abdul Aziz Al Saudi for his sentiments andthanked him for the hospitality extended duringhis visit. Prime Minister was accompanied inthe meeting by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar andHussain Nawaz. Prime Minister MuhammadNawaz Sharif also called on Prince Muqrin binAbdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Crown Prince, Sec-ond Deputy Premier, Advisor and Special En-voy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosqueshere Monday night.

On his arrival for the meeting the PrimeMinister Mohammed Nawaz Sharif was verywarmly welcomed by the Prince Muqrin. Boththe leaders discussed bilateral and regional is-sues. They expressed complete satisfaction overthe relationships between two brotherly coun-tries.

Both the leaders agreed that relations be-tween Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are excellentat all levels and bond of brotherhood has tran-scended the vicissitude of time. It was agreedthat both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy com-monality of views on regional and internationalmatters. Prime Minister said that relationshipwas not based on political expediency; rather itis etched deep in the hearts of every Pakistaniand Saudi national.—NNI

Pakistan, Saudi ArabiaFrom Page 1

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—The first meetingof the PML-N provincial com-mittee set up to celebrate theIndependence Day in a befit-ting manner was held under thechairmanship of Punjab PML-N Secretary General and LaborMinister Raja Ashfaq Sarwarhere. The body set up underthe direction of Chief MinisterShahbaz Sharif has been named‘Mah-e-Azadi Committee’which comprises provincialministers Malik NadeemKamran, Ch MuhammadShafiq, Khalil Tahir Sindhu,Mohtarma Zakiya ShahNawaz, Adviser to CM KhwajaSalman Rafiq, PML-N CityPresident Muhammad PervezMalik, MNAs and MPAs RanaMuhammad Arshad and ZaeemHussain Qadri, Taufeeq Butt,Amjad Javed Ch and RameshSingh Arora, and others as

PML-N body starts arrangementsto celebrate Independence Day

members.The meeting decided that

on the Independence Day thesanctity of the national flagwould be held high and no onewould be allowed to show anydisrespect in this regard. Min-ister Labour expressing hisviews stated that the ideologyof Pakistan would be high-lighted and the celebrationswould knitted together in amanner that they come out as asymbol of unity. United standof the whole nation to purge thecountry of the scourge of ter-rorism, work for peace, andmake the country forward look-ing and progressive whereinthe whole nation share its ef-forts, he further said.

The provincial ministerssuggested that people would bemotivated to promote national-ism by rising above regional-ism or linguistic thinking. Themeeting decided to involve the

party organizations at everylevel in the Independence Daycelebrations would continuethroughout the month. The fullblown celebration would beginto pick up from August 12 andreach the climax on August 14,and later on continue in the restof the month.

The meeting also decidedto raise national flags at everypublic place as well as to pro-vide national flag of paper andfabric free of cost to the peopleon the roads, street, shops andat their residences.

The meeting also decidedto involve the eminent per-sonalities who won the laurelsin the various walks of life inthe Independence Day festivi-ties, besides holdingprogrammes on the nationalsongs, poetry of Allama Iqbal,and the dramatic presentationof that, seminars, sympo-siums, quiz programmes, etc.

say he (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu)was trigger-happy. It convinced the Israelipublic that the decision taken by Netanyahucame from a sense of ‘we have no otherchoice.’”

Despite the absence of panic Monday, itis clear that if soldiers continue to be killedat this rate, the flexibility enjoyed byNetanyahu to date will likely be replaced bya growing sense of urgency to stop the casu-alties. Many Israeli leftists will demand anend to the operation. Hard-liners will demandmore radical action, up to and including atakeover of Gaza. That will add to the alreadymounting pressure from an outside worldhorrified by the carnage on the Palestinianside.

The prime minister is probably mindfulthat the popularity tipping point for his pre-decessor, Ehud Olmert, came when the pub-lic concluded too many soldiers were beingkilled and that the military was not fully pre-pared during the 2006 war.

Some — in the government and on thestreet — are already calling for a total inva-sion aimed at ousting Hamas, even if thisleaves Israel again occupying a hostile and im-poverished population of 1.8 million, as it didfor nearly four uncomfortable decades until itspullout from Gaza in 2005. For the momentthe ground operation is mostly limited to ar-eas relatively near the Israeli border, where Is-rael is shutting down tunnels and hunting forrocket launchers; a takeover of Gaza Citywould probably be much more costly still.

“I hate war. I’m pained by every death,”said Haviv Shabtai, a 61-year-old Jerusalembus driver who has served in several wars,has a son currently called up, and had op-posed a ground invasion because of the risk.Shabtai said he took the losses personallyand was even physically overwhelmed at thenews. —AP

cape unhurt in the attack nearFatehwali village, one of hisguards was severely injured.Gulfam had later told reportersthat the attack was ordered byhis political rivals.

PML-N MPAFrom Page 1

suspect of the case namedRashid has been arrested. Atthis, the chief justice ques-tioned is the arrested man realculprit, to which the DeputyAttorney General said the ac-cused confessed before themagistrate. Meanwhile, JusticeDost Muhammad said that onlya single person was botheredwith the judiciary all over thecountry.

The DAG said the ac-cused had also displayedbanners against a journalistin the past. The chief justicesaid that a confessional state-ment cannot be trustedblindly and there are count-less ways to identify real fac-tors. Moreover, the court or-dered the police to determinethe actual perpetrators anddirected to submit the reporton August 19. —INP

SC seeksFrom Page 1

with Pakistan, ruling NDA constituent Shiv Senasaid government should have no talks with Pa-kistan and give it a “befitting” reply after thekilling of a jawan in shelling at the Line of Con-trol.

“What is this sari and shawl diplomacy?There should be no talks with Pakistan andthis has been our stand yesterday and eventoday when we are in the government,” ShivSena MP Sanjay Raut told reporters in NewDelhi. “Should we continue to keep countingour dead soliders? If they have killed our onesoldier, we should kill (their) ten (soldiers)and this would be a befitting reply to Paki-stan,” he said.

Fakhurddin along with weap-ons.

The Afghan forces havelaunched a military operationin Jurm district in the past 20days to clear the area of insur-gents, he added.

However, he did not pro-vide details about the casual-ties of the Afghan forces dur-ing the operation. The Talibanhave not yet commented aboutthe operation.—INP

duct tracer study before releas-ing the payment to the trainers.On the basis of the study, thepayments are being processedand would be made to the train-ing providers as soon as thefirst tranche of new budget isreleased for BISP.

Shiv Sena opposes talksFrom Page 1

Raut’s remarks were a jibe at the gesture ofPakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to senda white sari for the mother of his Indian coun-terpart Narendra Modi who had gifted a shawlfor Sharif’s mother, when the Pakistani leadervisited India to attend Modi’s swearing in cer-emony.

Shiv Sena has steadfastly opposed any talksbetween India and Pakistan. Asked how wouldthe party take up the issue now that it is in power,Raut, who is also the editor of party mouthpiece‘Samanna’, said, “It is we who raised this issuein the House today and now that we are in thegovernment we will also take it up with the gov-ernment.”—INP

Taliban shadowFrom Page 1

FederalOmbudsman

From Page 1

OBSERVER REPORT

LAHORE—Philanthropists, industrialists,traders, assembly members and people ofvarious walks of life met Punjab ChiefMinister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif hereTuesday and presented cheques for 16crore rupees towards Chief Minister’sRelief Fund for the IDPs.

Philanthropists of Lahore gavecheques worth Rs. 3.50 crore while in-dustrialists presented cheques for Rs.1.35 crore for Chief Minister’s ReliefFund which include Rs. 25 lakh by GuardGroup, Rs. 25 lakh by SK Brothers, Rs.30 lakh by Master Paint and Rs. 25 lakhby Packages.

A business group presented chequefor Rs. 10 crore, Principal DPS SahiwalBrig. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kirmani Rs. 5.25lakh, Member Provincial Assembly Dr.Nadia Aziz Rs. eight lakh, Pir GhulamFarid MPA Rs. five lakh, Shazia Wattoo

Philanthropists present chequesworth Rs 16 crore to CM for IDPs

MNA Rs. one lakh, Sirdar Zulfiqar Rs.10 lakh, Chief Executive Officer AsiaPoultry Feed Ghulam Nabi Chaudhry Rs.50 lakh, Vice Chancellor Veterinary Uni-versity Lahore Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha Rs.11 lakh, Mian Waqar Rs. 10 lakh andSaleem Ghauri Rs. 10 lakh.

Speaking on the occasion, the ChiefMinister said that a large number ofpeople of various walks of life are do-nating funds for IDPs in response to hisappeal. He said that every penny ofmoney donated towards Chief Minister’sRelief Fund will be spent in a transpar-ent manner.

He said that this spirit of help to dis-tressed people is highly commendable andthey are earning the blessings of AlmightyAllah by helping IDPs. He said thatPakhtun brothers and sisters of NorthWaziristan displaced due to war againstterrorists are great Pakistanis. ShahbazSharif said that those forced to migrate are

facing problems and difficulties for thesake of peace in Pakistan. He said thathelping every affected family in this hourof distress is the obligation of every Paki-stani. He vowed that Punjab governmentwill spare no effort in providing assistanceto displaced brothers and sisters and theirrehabilitation. He said that the people andPunjab government will not rest contenttill return and complete rehabilitation ofaffected families to their houses.

The Chief Minister said that reliefitems worth crores of rupees have beensent to Bannu from Punjab. He said thatfodder is also being dispatched fromPunjab for the livestock of affectees.Member National Assembly PervaizMalik, Members Provincial AssemblyChaudhry Shahbaz, Bao Akhtar, AdvisorKhawaja Ahmed Hasaan, Senior Mem-ber Board of Revenue, DCO Lahore andother concerned officials were alsopresent on the occasion.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Minister for Excise & Taxation andFinance, Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman has said thatparamedics and nurses play vital role in provi-sion of the healthcare facilities to the patientstherefore, they are the backbone of ourhealthcare system.

He said that government has created 3000new posts of nurses and Rs. 1.43 billion havebeen allocated for this purpose in the currentfiscal year whereas the recruitment process hasbeen initiated. He said that in recognition of theirservices, the curricula and training of the para-medics needs to be upgraded.

He said that paramedics and nurses shouldaware of the changes in the world regarding theirfield therefore they should be given opportuni-ties of refresher courses so that they can be able

Focus of Govt onhealthcare: Mujtaba

to provide healthcare facilities to the patients ina better way.

Talking to delegations of nurses, paramedicsand party workers, Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehmansaid that focus of the government is upon pri-mary and protective healthcare so that to achievethe Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), toachieve the targets the community midwiferyhomes will be established at the far flung areasof the province to provide basic health facilitiesto child & mother and to look after their healthas well as to minimize the maternal & neonatalmortality rate during the child birth. He said thatgovernment has provided record funds to healthsector for imparting modern healthcare facilities.

He said that by increasing the health bud-get up to 121.80 billion rupees, the present gov-ernment has ensured modern health facilities andfree medicines to poor and resource-less people.

whom, he described as part ofa popular rising against an il-legal coup.

“Russia is being presentedwith what is almost an ultima-tum: ‘Let us destroy this partof the population that is ethni-cally and historically close toRussia and we will not imposesanctions against you,” Putinsaid. “This is a strange andunacceptable logic.”

He did not, however, di-rectly address the question ofwhether Russia has been armingthe rebels - he has denied suchaccusations before.—Reuters

Russia’scapabilities

From Page 1

JakartagovernorwinspresidentialpollsJAKARTA —Jakartagovernor Joko Widodo,who captured the hearts ofmillions of Indonesians withhis common man image,won the country’s presiden-tial election with 53 percentof the vote, final resultsshowed Tuesday. Widodo,a former furniture exporterknown to most as “Jokowi,”is the first candidate in adirect presidential electionwith no ties to the formerdictator Suharto, who ruledfor 30 years before beingoverthrown in 1998. Theother contender, formergeneral Prabowo Subianto,declared he was withdraw-ing from the contestshortly before the numberswere released by theElection Commission,saying there was massivefraud during the electionand that it was unfair andundemocratic.—AP

Gullu Butt’sbail plearejectedLAHORE—Theanti-terrorismcourt (ATC) on Tuesdayrejected bail application ofGullu Butt, the notoriouscharacter of Model Townincident. During thehearing, Butt’s counselpresented the stance thathis client was beingaccused to implicate him infalse cases. He said Buttshould be granted bail sothat he could respond tothe allegations against him.Justice Haroon said thatsuch an individual, whospread fear amongstpeople, should not bereleased in any case. —INP

AustralianSenator’sideal man:rich and‘well-hung’SYDNEY—An Australiansenator who told breakfastradio she would only datemen who were rich and“well-hung” apologisedTuesday, saying she hadtried to hide her embar-rassment with a joke.Jacqui Lambie, who tookher seat in the nationalparliament’s upper houseearlier this month, toldTasmania’s Heart 107.3that she had not been in arelationship for more thana decade. When thebreakfast hosts suggestedthey help her find love,she replied: “Now theymust have heaps of cashand they’ve got to have apackage between theirlegs, let’s be honest. “AndI don’t need them tospeak, they don’t evenneed to speak.” —AFP

NEW YORK—The sun hasgone quiet. Almost tooquiet. A few weeks ago itwas teeming with sun-spots, as you would expectsince we are supposed tobe in the middle of solarmaximum-the time in thesun’s 11-year cycle whenit is the most active.

But now, there is hardlya sunspot in sight. In animage taken Friday byNASA’s Solar DynamicsObservatory, there is a tinysmidgen of brown justright of center where asmall sunspot appears tobe developing. But justone day before, there wasnothing. It was a totallyspotless day.

So what’s going onhere? Is the “All QuietEvent” as solar physicistTony Phillips dubbed it, a

Where did the sunspots go?big deal, or not?

“It is weird, but it’s notsuper weird,” said Phillips,who writes about solar ac-tivity on his web siteSpaceWeather.com. “Tohave a spotless day duringsolar maximum is odd, butthen again, this solar maxi-mum we are in has been verywimpy.”Phillips notes that this is theweakest solar maximum tohave been observed in thespace age, and it is shakingout to be the weakest onein the past 100 years, so thespotless day was not so to-tally out of left field.

“It all underlines thatsolar physicists reallydon’t know what the heckis happening on the sun,”Phillips said. “We just don’tknow how to predict thesun, that is the take away

message of this event.”Sunspots are interesting tosolar observers because

they are the region of thesun where solar activitysuch as solar flares (giant

flashes of light) and coro-nal mass ejections (whenmaterial from the sun goesshooting off into space)originate.

They are caused byhighly concentrated mag-netic fields that are slightlycooler than the surroundingsurface of the sun, which iswhy they appear dark to us.Those intense magneticfields can get twisted upand tangled, which causesa lot of energy to build up.Solar flares and coronalmass ejections occur whenthat energy is released in avery explosive way.

Alex Young, aheliophysicist at GoddardSpace Flight Center, said itis hard to say what is andisn’t unusual when it comesto the sun.

“We’ve only been ob-

serving the sun in lots ofdetail in the last 50 years,”he said. “That’s not thatlong considering it’s beenaround for 4.5 billionyears.”

And it’s not like as-tronomers have neverseen the sun this quietbefore. Three years ago,on Aug. 14, 2011 it wascompletely free of sun-spots. And, as Phillipspoints out, that yearturned out to have rela-tively high solar activityoverall with several X-class flares. So in that case,the spotless sun was justa “temporary intermis-sion,” as he writes on hisweb site.

Whether this quiet pe-riod will be similarly short-lived or if it will last longerremains to be seen. —AP

BEIRUT—The Western-backed NationalCoalition of Syrian opposition memberssaid on Tuesday it had voted to force outits “interim government” and form a newone within a month.

Attempts to form a viable government-in-exile for Syria’s opposition have beenhamstrung by rivalries between its backersand among its members as well as by itsinability to establish itself inside Syria.

The National Coalition is designated asthe main body representing the oppositionby the United States and other major pow-ers but it has little influence over rebelsfighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

The group said in a statement on Tues-day it was dissolving its interim cabinet to“create new ground for work on the basisof moving the government into the interioras soon as possible, and employing Syrian

Syrian opposition coalitiondissolves interim govt

PARIS/ST NAZAIRE—President FrancoisHollande won broad domestic applause onTuesday for defying allies Britain and theUnited States by confirming plans to delivera helicopter carrier to Russia, with one backerdismissing their objections as hypocritical.

Speaking on the eve of an EU meeting todiscuss sanctions on Moscow over thedowning of a civilian airliner over Ukraine,Hollande said late on Monday that a firstMistral warship would be handed over onschedule in October but a decision on a sec-ond would depend on Russia’s attitude.

It was the clearest signal yet that Pariswill go through with the controversial deal

France to deliver firstwarship to Russia

despite the Ukraine crisis and came onlyhours after British Prime Minister DavidCameron said it would be “unthinkable” forhis country to fulfill such an order.

“Hollande is not backing down. He isdelivering the first (ship) despite the fact heis being asked not to,” Jean-ChristopheCambadelis, head of Hollande’s ruling So-cialist Party, told Tele television on Tues-day.

“This is a false debate led by hypocrites... When you see how many (Russian) oli-garchs have sought refuge in London,David Cameron should start by cleaning uphis own backyard.” —Reuters

FAISLABAD—The intelli-gence agencies on Tues-day forwarded a report ofthe alleged attack on po-lice station by the PML-NMPA Rana Shoaib Idreesto Chief Minister PunjabShahbaz Sharif.

According to the re-port, Rana Shoaib Idreeshas been declared guiltyand has also been accusedof backing drug dealers.

The PML-N lawmakeron Saturday attackedKhurianwala Police Stationwith several armed menand took away RanaZulfiqar Bhutto and histhree accomplices chargedin a murder case.

The intelligence agen-

Intel agencies declareMPA Rana Shoaib guilty

Report forwarded to CM

IS L A M A B A D—ChairmanPTI, Imran Khan, Tuesdaycondemned the Israeli ag-gression against Palestin-ians in Gaza which has ledto over 500 innocentpeople including childrenbeing massacred and thou-sands more injured.

“It was absolutelyshameful how Israel is al-lowed to transgress all in-ternational laws and vio-late basic human rights en-shrined in the UN Charterand the powerful of theworld allow it to do so”,Imran said in a statement.

Khan further said neverwas the principle of self de-fence as enshrined inChapter VII Article 51 ofthe UN Charter so abusedas it has been by Israelwhich has indulged in stateterrorism against thepeople of Gaza. Nor is thisthe first time Israel hasabused this principle. TheICJ Advisory Opinion onthe Israeli Wall had alsofound Israel guilty of abus-ing the principle of self de-fence.

Khan also stronglycriticised the leaders ofMuslim states who’s si-lence he said was as inex-plicable as it was inexcus-

Imran slams Israeli aggressionagainst Palestinians in Gaza

able. Egypt’s refusal to al-low medical assistance togo in to Gaza and to pre-vent the fleeing Palestin-ians from entering into thesafety of its bordersshows the moral bank-ruptcy of the Arab leader-ship today.

The Pakistangovernment’s apologeticapproach is equally damn-ing. Muslims are beingprosecuted across theglobe from Palestine toMyanmar and Muslimleaders remain silent spec-tators or actual abettors.

Khan said the US andEuropean democracies’leaders have also exposedtheir hypocrisy and dual-ity of standards by tryingto defend Israel’s massa-cre of the Palestinians inGaza. He added that hewas full of admiration forthe public in these coun-tries who had and are con-tinuing to protest in theirthousands against Israel’sbrutality.

Chairman Imran Khansaid it is time for the peopleof the world to unite andforce their governments tostand up against violationsof human rights and op-pression. —INP

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister forState and Frontier Regions General(r) Abdul Qadir Baloch denied thatcivilians were killed in last week’sair strikes conducted in Shawal val-ley in North Waziristan.

“There is a very small civil popu-lation in Shawal valley which is yetto be evacuated, but I assure you

No civilian deaths in Shawal air strikes: Safron

cies have submitted the re-port of the incident to thechief minister.

The report states thatRana Shoaib Idrees accom-panied by 40 men enteredthe police station by forceand attacked SHO KhalidPervaiz.

During the violent at-tack, an assistant sub in-spector (ASI) lost histeeth.

The report furtherstates that Rana ShoaibIdrees has been backingdrug dealers and has beeninvolved in extortion.

According to the re-port, Rana Zulfiqar Bhuttowho has been rescuedfrom the police station had

one lakh head money onhis head.The party has decided toseek resignation from RanaShoaib Idrees. He agreed tohis arrest following ShahbazSharif’s direction. —INP

Zardari corruption,Sadiq appointment

cases adjourned,ISLAMABAD—Islamabad Ac-countability Court adjournedthe hearing of two corruptioncases against Former Presi-dent Asif Ali Zardari as thedefendant’s lawyer Farooq HNaek falls ill. Reference againstsix including the former PrimeMinisters Yousaf Raza Gillaniand Raja Pervaiz Ashraf alsocould not be heard today(Tuesday). Judge of theIslamabad AccountabilityCourt, Muhammad Bashir,heard the references of Ursustractor and ARY Gold againstAsif Zardari. His lawyer re-quested to lend some moretime on the excuse of sickness.

The Court accepted therequest and adjourned thehearing till September 8. Boththe cases are to be argued inthe next hearing session. Onthe other hand, six includingthe former Prime MinistersYousaf Raza Gillani and RajaPervaiz Ashraf could not beindicted in the case regardingthe appointment of FormerChairman Oil and Gas Regu-larity Authority (OGRA),Tauqeer Sadiq. The hearinghas been adjourned till Sep-tember 9. —INP

Strikeobserved in

interior Sindhagainst arrival

of IDPsOBSERVER REPORT

HYDERABAD—A strike,called by an alliance ofSindh Nationalist Parties,was observed throughoutinterior Sindh, to protestagainst incoming internallydisplaced persons (IDPs)from North Waziristan, onTuesday.

On July 20, SindhBachayo Committee, an alli-ance of Sindh NationalistParties, had called for awheel-jam strike across theprovince today.

The alliance expressedconcern that the influx ofIDPs may jeopardise thefragile demographic balanceof Sindh and the displacedmight permanently settle inthe province.

Members of the alliancepointed out that during theSwat operation of 2009,many migrated to Sindh andnever went back. They fearedthat along with innocentpeople, militants might alsoenter the province anddestabilise the law and ordersituation of the province.

Eid moon likely tobe sighted on 28

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Chief Meteo-rologist Tausif Alam hassaid Shawal moon was likelyto be sighted on July 28.

He said that though skywould be overcast on Mon-day in Karachi, there wereclear chances of moonsighting.

According to the chiefmeteorologist, the moonwould be 40 hour and 2minute old on Monday atthe time of sunset.

Arsalan Iftikharwrites to CII

regarding ImranSTAFF REPORTER

I S L A M A B A D — A r s l a nIftikhar has written a letterto the Council of Islamic Ide-ology (CII) regarding ImranKhan.

Arsalan the son ofPakistan’s former Chief Jus-tice Iftikar MuhammadChaudhry states that Paki-stan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)chairman Imran Khan has adaughter with Sita Whiteborn out of wedlock.

The letter further statesthat Imran Khan has neverdenied the birth of this childand questions if this is animmoral act.

Ukrainian parliamentary deputies tussle during a session in Parliament in Kiev on Tuesday.

revolutionary capabilities”.The coalition’s interim Prime Minister

Ahmed Toumeh and other ministers wouldcontinue as caretakers until the new gov-ernment was formed, it said. Nominationswould be open for two weeks and a newgovernment formed within 30 days.

The dissolution of the governmentcomes two weeks after the group electedHadi al-Bahra, a U.S.-trained industrial en-gineer, to replace its president, AhmadJarba, after he served his maximum two six-month terms.

Both Bahra and Jarba have close ties toSaudi Arabia, one of the main backers ofthe rebels trying to overthrow Syrian Presi-dent Bashar al-Assad.

Bahra had also been chief negotiator atU.S. and Russian-sponsored peace talks inSwitzerland, which stalled after two roundsin January and February. —Reuters

there were no reports of civilian ca-sualties”, Baloch told a news con-ference in Islamabad.

He also said that MullahFazaullah-led militants hiding in Af-ghanistan were planning attacks onthe Bajaur tribal region.

He added that Pakistan Armywould foil their plans of capturingBajaur agency.

General (Retd)) Baloch further

said targeted operations against mili-tants’ hubs in Islamabad, Lahore andKarachi would also be carried outby Police, Rangers and FC. He addedthat the military could also partici-pate if needed.

Baloch claimed the ongoing op-eration in North Waziristan was “big-ger than the war of 1971” and vic-tory was the only option against ter-rorists.

AN anti-cancer drug made by the U.S.biotech firm Celgene can re-activatehidden HIV in patients so that it can be

detected, bringing researchers closer to beingable to treat it, Danish scientists said on Tues-day. In a small study pre-sented at an internationalAIDS conference in Austra-lia, the researchers said thefinding was a “step in theright direction” toward find-ing a cure for the viral dis-ease but that many years ofresearch are still needed.

“There is still a longway to go and many ob-stacles to overcome beforewe can start talking abouta cure against HIV,” saidOle Schmeltz Sogaard,who led the research teamfrom Aarhus Universityand Aarhus UniversityHospital in Denmark, in astatement. The drug,known generically asromidepsin and under thebrand name Istodax, is licensed to treat a typeof cancer called T-cell lymphoma. In thisstudy, however, it was investigated as a po-tential HIV therapy.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)infection can be kept at very low levels by anti-AIDS drugs, but there is still no cure that caneradicate HIV from the body. Some 35 millionpeople worldwide are infected with HIV, andthe global AIDS epidemic has killed 39 mil-lion since it began in the 1980s, according tothe latest data from the United Nations AIDSprogram, UNAIDS.

Scientists working to find a cure know thevirus can hide in a state of hibernation in cells

called CD4 cells, which are part of the body’simmune system. CD4 cells cannot fight theAIDS virus themselves, but killer T-cells canif they are able to tell whether or not a CD4cell contains the hibernating HIV.

Sharon Lewin, co-chairof the AIDS2014 conference inMelbourne Australia and a pro-fessor of infectious diseaseswho was not directly involvedin this study, said the results ofthe study were significant andencouraging because theyshowed “we can wake up thevirus reservoir and makeenough of (it) to leave the cell,making it visible to an immuneresponse”.The Danish teamgave three once-weekly infu-sions of romidepsin to six HIV-positive adult patients whowere already takingantiretroviral AIDS drugs andwhose so-called “viral load”was undetectable.

They found thatromidepsin increased the virus

production in HIV-infected cells between 2.1and 3.9 times above normal and that the vi-ral load in the blood increased to measur-able levels in five out of six patients. “Wehave now shown that we can activate a hi-bernating virus with romidepsin and that theactivated virus moves into the bloodstreamin large amounts,” Schmeltz Sogaard saidin a statement about the results.

When the virus is activated and movestoward the bloodstream it leaves a trace onthe outside of the infected CD4 cells, he ex-plained. In principle, this means killer T-cellswould be able to trace and destroy the HIV-infected CD4 cells.

Celgene drug candrive HIV out of hiding

Ambassador of Argentine Rodolfo Martin Saravia handing over boxes of water purificationtablets for the internally displaced persons of North Waziristan.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

Federal Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan chairing a meeting of heads of attached departments of the Ministry.

ZUBAIR QURESHI

ISLAMABAD—After a recentUS (Florida) court’s judg-ment directing America’sNo.2 cigarette maker com-pany ‘RJ Reynolds’ to pay$23.6 billion (around PakRs230 billion) to the widowof a smoker who died of lungcancer at the age of 36, thereis a worldwide demand forsuch penalties and fines overthe cigarette companies.

TheNetwork for ConsumerProtection, a non-governmentnon-profit organization work-ing for rights of consumers,while hailing the US court’sdecision has appealed toPakistan’s health professionalsand the legal fraternity to fol-low the suit and encourage thetobacco victims as well astheir families to file damagesagainst the tobacco industry.

Quoting the US court’scase Nadeem Iqbal said the

Florida jury completed thehearing and announced judg-ment in record four weekstime which demonstrates thatthe US society is well awareof the seriousness of the mat-ter. They fully know its dete-riorating effects on people’shealth, said Nadeem Iqbal.“We hope and wish that inPakistan too, tobacco victimsand their families will sue thetobacco companies and seekheavy damages from them for

causing diseases like cancer,lung cancer, cardiac ailments,bronchitis and other respira-tory disorders to their lovedones,” said Nadeem Iqbal. Itmay be mentioned here thatthe punitive damages an-nounced by the US court havebeen the largest of any indi-vidual case in the US history.

Nadeem Iqbal further saidthat the health professionals(doctors) should also recognizetheir duties and inform the pa-

tients suffering from tobacco-related diseases that they couldrecover all the expenses of theirtreatment from the tobacco in-dustry. It is also a social respon-sibility of the bar councils andlawyers’ associations to pro-vide free legal support to thetobacco victims and their fami-lies, he added. “Providingaid— health or legal— to suchpatients against the monopoliz-ing tobacco industry is not onlyour collective responsibility, it

can also save our future gen-eration from the deadly dis-eases caused by tobacco,” hesaid. Not only lawyers but thejudiciary and the governmentcan also play their role in sav-ing lives of hundreds and thou-sands of people, especially theyouth from falling prey tosmoking, he further said.

Smoking in Pakistan hasturned into an epidemic as1,200 Pakistani children be-tween the age of 6-15 start

smoking every day. Everydayaround 301 people die due tosmoking. Tobacco is a majorcause of cancer, respiratorydisorders and cardiac diseasesin the country. In Pakistan 22million adults use tobacco in-cluding smokeless tobaccolike gutka, naswar and paanand die prematurely.

Among the smokers 32.4percent men use either form oftobacco while in women theratio is 5.7 percent. In Karachi

alone, 17.5 percent of to-bacco users are boys while9.5 percent tobacco users aregirls, he revealed WHO re-cent statistics. “We think af-ter the US court’s decisionour judiciary and legal fra-ternity will pro-activelymonitor the tobaccoindustry’s tactics and willhalt all their efforts to spreaddeath and disease in the formof inhaling tobacco or itsproducts,” said he.

US court’s landmark judgment

Civil society for similar penalties on tobacco industry in Pakistan

ZUBAIR QURESHI

ISLAMABAD—Islamabad High Court (IHC)while setting aside Prime Minister’s ordersfor not promoting a number of senior bureau-crats from grade-20 to grade-21 has directedthe government to promote the officers in ac-cordance with the recommendations of theCentral Selection Board (CSB).

Chief Justice of IHC Muhammad AnwarKhan Kasi on Tuesday gave these orderswhile hearing a number of petitions filed bythose officers of the grade-20 who were notbeing promoted to the next grade despite therecommendations of the CSB.

It may be mentioned here that the Cen-tral Selection Board in February this year hadrecommended promotions of a number of of-ficers from grade-20 to grade-21. The list in-cluded: 44 officers of the Pakistan Adminis-trative Services, 11 officers of the Police Ser-vice of Pakistan, 20 officers of Foreign Ser-vice.

However Prime Minister Office with-held promotion of 26 officers of the Paki-stan Administrative Services, 6 of the Po-lice Group and eight of the Foreign Servicesand resent their names to the board for re-consideration.

Upon learning about the Prime MinisterOffice’s decision, the affected officers ap-proached the Islamabad High Court throughAdvocate Supreme Court of Pakistan AsmaJahangir. Those officers who had challengedthe Prime Minister’s directive included AftabAhmed Maneka, Abdul Jalil Rashid, BashirMazari, Muhammad Aslam Hayat, MukhtarAhmed Soomro and Iqbal Ahmed Jillani. Allthese officers belong to the AdministrativeService Group. Police service officers whohad challenged the directive are Bashir KhanAfridi, Amir Hamza Mehsud.

Foreign Service’s Burhanul Islam andother officers Muhammad Aslam Khan andMuhammad Aqil Nadeem were also amongthe petitioners.

PM Office’s directive set aside

Court directs promotionof grade-20 officers

Transporters to facemusic if fares on

Eid increased: RTASTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI—Regional Transport Authority(RTAs) of the twin cities onTuesday said that inter-citytransporters will have to facethe music if they increasedfares on the occasion of Eid ulFitr. An official of RTAIslamabad told APP that theauthority would deploy theirofficials at various bus standsincluding Karachi Companyand particularly Faizabad forkeeping check on the transport-ers.

Secretary RTA RawalpindiOwais Manzoor Tarar said thatthe passengers can register theircomplaints at a controll room setup in this regard on telephonenumber 9270011 from 9:00 a.mto 8:00 pm. He said that a threemember special team had alsobeen formed to keep check ontransporters plying on inter-cityroutes during Eid ul Fitr.

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Inte-rior and Narcotics Control Chaudhry NisarAli Khan directed the Islamabad Admin-istration and police to take foolproof secu-rity measures in last days of Ramazan andespecially on the eve of Eid ul Fitr. He saidthis while chairing a meeting of heads ofattached departments of Ministry of Inte-rior here on Tuesday.

The minister asked the IG ICT to formcommittee consisting of police and civil-ian officers to check pickets and directedto improve the security checking of pick-ets especially on sensitive roads likeMargalla Road, Murree Road, KashmirHighway and in Red Zone.

IG ICT informed the Minister that apro-active approach is being followed re-garding the security of Islamabad.

He added that rigorous search opera-tions are being conducted on weekly basisto check unlawful elements especially insuburbs of Islamabad. The minister saidthat he is committed to ensure the cultureof honesty and hard work in all attacheddepartments of the Ministry. The ministerexhorted all officials to commit themselvesto equal application of law and uphold high-est standards in their decision making atall levels.

The Minister gave certain directivesfor improving administrative working ofthe attached departments. He directed theofficers to strictly follow the rules ofbusiness while interacting with otherministries and foreigners. The Ministertook strong notice of recent incident ofhuman smuggling from Islamabad Air-port and said that strict action will betaken against those officials who prove

inefficient or unwilling to stop these il-legal activities.

The meeting also discussed variousmeasures to check and deter such activi-ties of illegal immigration in future thatbring bad name to the country. The minis-ter emphasized that incompetence, dishon-esty and lack of commitment will not betolerated in any government department.Chairman NADRA informed the meetingthat household survey in seven out 21 sec-tors of Islamabad has been completed withthe help of Islamabad police and registra-tion in rest of sectors will be completed bythe end of November.

The minister directed to simulta-neously analyze the data collected in thisregistration process according to the secu-rity point of view and added that the datacollected from the sub-urban abadis mustbe properly analyzed and the periphery of

Islamabad be properly secured. ChairmanNADRA also informed that constructionwork on safe city project is continuing. Hesaid that sites for installing cameras havebeen finalized in consultation with police.He expressed confidence that the projectwill be completed in its time frame andIslamabad will soon become the first cityof Pakistan which has been secured throughlatest technology.

The Minister directed the officers torise to the occasion and work beyond thecall of their duty and keep deliveringprogress in terms of strict deadlines in view.Secretary Interior, DG FIA, ChairmanNADRA, Secretary Narcotics, IG ICT,Chief Commissioner ICT, NC NACTA,DG Immigration and Passports, DG CivilDefence, DG National Police Bureau andDG National Police Foundation attendedthe meeting.

Nisar directs police to ensure securityduring Ramazan, Eidul Fitr

Muslim countries urged to evolvejoint strategy against Israel

CITY REPORTER

RAWALPINDI—Ulema from differentschools of thought on Tuesday urged theMuslim countries to send their troops forthe protection of innocent people in Pal-estine, facing barbaric Israeli aggres-sion.

Addressing a joint news conference atRawalpindi Press Club here, they ex-pressed solidarity with the Palestinians anddemanded of Muslim countries to evolvea joint strategy against Israel occupyingPalestinian territory for last 50 years.

They also called for terminatingIsrael’s membership from the United Na-tions and stressed to convene an urgentmeeting of Organization of Islamic Coop-

eration (OIC) to look into the prevailingand sensitive issue of Palestine.

Secretary General Muttahida UlemaMahaz Allama Muhammad Amin Ansari,Chairman Markazi Imam Hussain CouncilDr Ghazanfar Mehdi, Allama Syed IzharBukhari, Maulana Abdul JaleelNaqashbandi, Allama Nisar-ul-MustafaBaghdoori, Allama Pir Azmatulla SultanQadri, Mufti Abdul Shakoor Farooqi,Allama Haider Alvi, Allama Saleem Haiderand Allama Ali Moosvi addressed the pressconference.

They announced to observe Youm-al-Quds on Friday with religious zeal andfervour, condemning Israeli attack on un-armed innocent people of Palestine.

After Friday prayers, they said, pro-

tests and rallies would be held in supportof the Palestinian brethren struggling forgetting rid of decades’ long Israeli subju-gation.

Ulema also paid tribute to PakistanArmy for successful launch of operationZarb-e-Azb against terrorists challengingthe writ of the state and carrying out sub-versive activities in different parts of thecountry.

Entire nation, they said, includingUlema stood with the armed forces todefeat the anti-state elements.

They saluted martyrs of PakistanArmy, who sacrificed their lives in safe-guarding the motherland and flushing outmiscreants terrifying innocent people fortheir nefarious designs.

Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs & National Security Sartaj Aziz, US Ambassador Richard Olson and Ambassador ofEgypt Said Hindam with the host during Iftar Dinner hosted by CEO Serena Hotels Aziz Boolani.—PO photo by SultanBashir

03:50 01:3005:30

09:15

Zohr

Asr

Isha

Fajar

Meghrab at Sunset

Brothers in Islamestablish regularprayers & charity

People standing in a long queue to get reservation tickets for travelling to their native cities before Eid.

Chairman NDMA Maj Gen Saeed Aleem during handing/taking over ceremony of relief goods for the IDPs by ToyotaIndus Motors Company.

Minister of State for Education, Trainings and Standards in Higher Education Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman discussingthe opportunities to enhance education cooperation with the Ambassador of Morocco Mustapha Saladine.

July 25

EXHIBITION by PreciousChicken Kari’s (chiffon & cot-ton) stoles, tussar silk susits,jaipur chunri dupattas, saris(banarsi, silk, chunri, tissuetec.,) jewellry (american dia-mond, kundan, pholki, etc.)Cussions-all from India n lotsmore come visit house No. 8,F-8/3 Islamabad July 20-25,2014, from 11am to 5:30 pm.

STAFF REPORTER

IS L A M A B A D—Pakistan and Moroccowould enhance the level of cooperation ineducation sector between the two countriesto create new avenues of educational op-portunities for the students.

Minister of State for Education, Train-ing and Standards in Higher Education, En-gineer Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman saidthis in a meeting with Ambassador of Mo-rocco, Mustapha Saladine held here Tues-day.

The minister hoped to find out ways andmeans for greater cooperation in the ex-change programmes of students, teachersand the faculty.

He said experience sharing broadens thevision and enhance the capacity and givesan opportunity to understand each other andexpressed his resolve to work together.

Baligh-ur-Rehman asked the officials ofthe ministry to make all the arrangementsfor the delegation of Morocco students

likely to visit Pakistan.The minister said despite faced with nu-

merous challenges in improving the educa-tion sector “we are committed and doing ev-ery effort for elevating the standard of edu-cation and hope to get good results soon.

The ambassador said that Morocco en-joys good relations with Pakistan and thereare many common fields where both thecountries can enhance the cooperation espe-cially there is greater space to cooperate inthe field of education.

He said that in 2008 MOU was signedbetween the two countries to have close co-operation and also to find the ways how boththe countries can improve cooperation.

He pointed out that Pakistan and Mo-rocco had many fields of experience sharingespecially student exchange program,scholar exchange program and teacher ex-change program.

He also pointed out that there is languagebarrier but that should not be a stumblingblock in furthering cooperation.

Pakistan, Morocco for closercooperation in education

ISLAMABAD—The Metro Bus project,being executed for the convenience ofresidents of the twin cities, has exposedmany weaknesses and wrong doing do-ings of the Capital Development Au-thority in the execution of its severalprojects particularly the roads network.

The CDA constructed the 9th Av-enue dual carriageway to reduce trafficcongestion on the Faizabad-Zero pointExpress way but after the passage of acouple of years, this avenue became asource of traffic jams at Peshawar more.No flyover was planned at the timeofconstruction of the 9th avenue and nowwith Metro bus lanes being laid, oneside of the entire road from double roadupto Peshawar more has been broken.

The situation at Peshawar More iseven worse as construction activity istaking its time and it has affected move-

ment of traffic on Kashmir highway.Another weakness of the authority

is the lack of sense of responsibility be-ing displayed by its various director-ates. The sewerage system in the capi-tal was model as it was completely anew city but with the passage of timethe sanitation is becoming a nuisance.

As part of metro project traffic di-version plan, the traffic from zero pointflyover has been diverted from Kash-mir highway towards H-8 graveyardand AIOU that also crosses a round-about. There is heavy rush of vehiclesand traffic moves very slowly but whatirks the commuters is overflowing man-holes at this roundabout. That spreadsstink in the entire area and every onepasses his comments against the CDAwhile passing through the dirty water.

One is sure that atleast some offi-

cials of the Sanitation department mustbe passing through this area but it islamentable that no one has taken the re-sponsibility to deploy some sanitaryworkers to clear the blockage of thesewerage line.

The citizens, who traveled on Tues-day at the zero point round about toldINP that one cannot blame the CDAchairman as he cannot travel to eachand every corner of the expanding capi-tal, but the concerned sanitary supervi-sor and director must be asked to ex-plain their irresponsible attitude. Theseare just a few examples. The manholesthat drain out the rain water on Fazl-e-Haq road were cleaned a couple of daysback but the mud is still lying there andif there is rain, that would again go intothe manholes and block the draining outof water.—INP

Metro bus project exposesshortcomings in CDA planning

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Shaban Khalid, Presi-dent, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce& Industry has been selected for 10thDraper Hills Summer Fellowship train-ing program by the Stanford University,USA being held at Stanford’s campusin Palo Alto, California.

He has been selected from over 500applicants holding outstanding civicrecords and occupying high-impact po-sitions in the policy, development andsocial sectors of their countries and isthe only Pakistani to represent his coun-try this year in said program.

Shaban Khalid will be joining a di-verse and outstanding group of leadershailing from 25 countries around theworld working to achieve or strengthen

democracy, accountability, social jus-tice and economic development underchallenging circumstances.

He will be able to connect with aglobal community of over 230 DraperHills Summer Fellows alumni networkfrom over 60 developing democraciesworldwide.

Launched in 2005, the Draper HillsSummer Fellowship on Democracy andDevelopment Program (DHSFDD) is athree-week academic training programthat is hosted annually at StanfordUniversity’s Center on Democracy, De-velopment, and the Rule of Law.

The program brings together agroup of 25 to 30 professionals in law,politics, government, private enter-prise, civil society, and international de-velopment from transitioning countries.

This training program provides aunique forum for emerging leaders toconnect, exchange experiences, and re-ceive academic training to enrich theirknowledge and advance their work.

Previous Draper Hills Summer Fel-lows have served as presidential advi-sors, senators, attorneys general, law-yers, journalists, civic activists, entre-preneurs, judges, think-tank directors,and influential members of the inter-national development community.

The program is highly selective andreceives over 500 applications fromvarious countries out of which only 25to 30 applicants are selected.

The program is always looking toidentify strong leaders working to ad-vance change in their local communi-ties.

Shaban Khalid to represent Pakistan inDraper Hills Summer Fellows program

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Murtaza Javed Abbasi,Deputy Speaker National Assembly leftfrom Benazir Bhutto International Airport,Islamabad for Tehran Tuesday to attend themeeting of the Parliamentary Union ofOIC Members Countries (PUIC) beingheld in Tehran, from today.

During his stay in Tehran, he will par-

ticipate in the meeting of the Parliamen-tary Union of OIC Members Countries(PUIC) on the ongoing brutalization andinnocent killings being waged by the Zi-onist regime on the Palestinian people inGaza Strip and Israeli occupied Palestin-ian territories.

The primary purpose of the meet-ing is not only to express solidarity withthe Palestinian nation but also condemn

the barbarism and flagrant violation ofthe international law by the Israeliforces.

In this meeting, Member Parliamentsof the PUIC will urge international com-munity and United Nations to take effec-tive and appropriate political measures inorder to stop the extensive killing of theinnocent people of Gaza, destruction oftheir houses and their urban installations.

NA Dy Speaker leaves for Tehranfor PUIC meeting

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The British High Commis-sion issues today a guide on applying fora student tier-4 visa for the UK.

The guidance is part of an ongoingawareness campaign on the British HighCommission’s Facebook and Twitter pagesthroughout June and July. The campaignaims to share useful information and tipsfor Pakistanis applying for UK visas.

Launching the guide, the British HighCommission’s Head of Visas and Immi-

gration, Claire Murray said, “The UK isopen for genuine students and we want toattract the brightest and the best to studyin our universities. Every year we receivetens of thousands of applications for UKvisas, the majority of which are issued.

Claire Murray said, “The summer al-ways sees a surge in UK visa applications,as students apply for their visas to beginuniversity courses in September and Oc-tober. Through this awareness campaign,we are sharing tips and advice to all pro-spective UK visa applicants on what types

of visas to apply for, what documents werequire and the likely turnaround times. Wehave also invited applicants to send us theirquestions, via Facebook and Twitter, forour Visas and Immigration team to answerduring a Q/A session on Friday 25 July.

“There are many myths surround-ing the UK visa application process.Through this guide for students and theoverall awareness campaign, we aim todispel these and signpost to applicantsall the information they need to submitan application.”

Guidelines for students applyingfor UK visa

Seven injuredin firing

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—At least sevenyouths were injured in firingover a minor dispute hereMonday-Tuesday night.

The incident took place inRawal Dam Colony in Secretariatpolice station jurisdiction wheretwo groups of youths exchangedhot words over ownership of amobile phone SIM. The verbalclash turned violent after whichmembers of one group open fireat other injuring seven. The in-jured were shifted to Federal Gov-ernment Services Hospital (PolyClinic) for treatment. Somesources claimed that the incidenttook place after one group allegedmember of other group for mak-ing bogus calls and sms to a rela-tive girl of first group member.

Police have registered acase into the incident andstarted search for the attackeryouths who managed to escapeafter committing the crime.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Toyota Indus MotorsCompany Tuesday handed over reliefconsignment worth Rs 5 million to Na-tional Disaster Management Authority(NDMA) for the Internally displacedpersons (IDPs) of North WaziristanAgency.

Resident Director Niazi and Gen-eral Manager HR & CSR Tariq HussainKhan handed over humanitarian assis-tance to Chairman National DisasterManagement Authority (NDMA), MajGen Saeed Aleem.

The consignment comprised of tentruckloads with one thousand hampersof relief goods for the displaced per-sons. The humanitarian aid includesfood items like flour, pulses, oil, saltand biscuits for displaced families liv-ing in camps in Bannu.

While talking to media Tariq in-formed that Toyota Company has beenactively participating in the relief ef-forts during past years as well like dur-ing earthquake and floods. He alsothanked NDMA for their support andassistance.

Chairman NDMA thanked the com-

pany for the compassionate gesture andgenerous contribution for the noblecause. Chairman NDMA lauded the na-tional spirit to stand by their brethrenand supporting the displaced persons.

He reiterated governments resolveto use all available resources to addressthe IDPs issue and commitment to en-sure provision of timely relief assis-tance in accordance with the needs ofthe affectees affected in the course ofthe military operation.

He also assured of all out supportto government and IDPs in their hourof need.

All available resources toaddress the IDPs issue

RAWALPINDI—The city district governmentand administration of Rawalpindi CantonmentBoard have failed to eliminate rapidly increas-ing encroachments from the bazaars and mar-kets of the town ahead of Eid ul Fitr.

The encroachments are not only causingproblems for the pedestrians but also creatinghurdles in smooth flow of traffic, a survey ofbazaars in the city conducted by APP revealed.

“These rapidly increasing unlawful “Rehri”bazaars in the markets are being set up by push-cart vendors without the permission of any au-thority and further they are not being checkedby the security personnel for security point ofview especially ahead of Eid when a large num-ber of citizens visit the markets for shopping,”said traders of different markets.

It was witnessed during the survey that un-countable stalls, set up by the shopkeepers infront of their shops as well as illegal “Rehribazaars” on roadsides in almost all the main

shopping areas and in the major markets of thecity have not only made the corridors of bazaarsnarrowed but also resulted in frequent trafficjams.

Most of the encroached stalls and rehri ba-zaars were being set up on behalf of the shop-keepers by violating the orders of the authori-ties concerned.

Further, pushcart vendors in fact are takingadvantage of the relaxation, given by the au-thorities concerned of CDG ahead of Eid, whorelaxed them despite knowing that they are cre-ating problems for the visitors.

The shoppers also have thronged the ba-zaars, markets and shopping malls for Eid shop-ping which is also resulting in parking problemsand long queues of vehicles could be witnessedat the major markets of the city particularlyTench Bhatta, Lalkurti, Moti Bazaar, ChotaBazaar, Saddar Bazaar, Bank road, Raja Bazaarand other commercial areas.—APP

Encroachments hit bazaarsahead of Eid

RAWALPINDI—Police under its operationagainst anti-social elements have busted abrothel and arrested seven accused includingfive females and two males who were allegedlyinvolved in immoral activities.

According to details, Sadiqabad police act-ing on a tip-off conducted a raid at a brothelhouse being run in Al-Noor Colony and nettedIsrar, Khurram, Yasmeen Akhtar, Tania, IramBibi, Shakeela Noreen and Rajin Bibi.—APP

Brothel busted, seven arrested

President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Mohammad Yaqub Khan, flanked by Mr Ishaq MLA and CEO of amineral development company Ch Khadim Ali Mandla.

DR. IKRAM AZAM

Hope in humanlife affairs is a

need and necessitywhich keeps one go-ing. Peace makes itwell-nigh “obses-s ive-compuls ive’”the persistent thirst

for Peace. Hope and Optimism arenatural twins. It is in this spirit that Iwill base this essay on the followingtwo sensible sources, which I rereadlately: 1. Kashmir: A DisputedLegacy: 1846-1990. by Alastair Lamb.2.. Kashmir: In The Crossfire. by:Victoria Schofield.

Indo-Pak. Antagonism: Ac-cording to Alastair Lamb: “One un-derlying reason for this’ (diver-gence between India and Paki-stan), perhaps, indeed, the mostimportant, is undoubtedly to befound in the consequences of thedispute over possession of theState of Jammu and Kashmir’…..“In essence, the nature of theKashmir dispute is very simple:though the complexities of its de-tails are indeed formidable. TheIndian Princely State of Jammu andKashmir, with a predominantlyMuslim population under a HinduMaharaja, was so si tuated geo-graphically that i t could havejoined either Pakistan or India, fol-lowing the British departure from

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Ch Muhammad Barjees Tahir presidingover meeting of AJ&K Council Annual Development Programme-2014.

the subcontinent in 1947. The logicbehind the partition of the IndianEmpire into Muslim and non-Mus-lim portions suggested that Kash-mir ought to go to Pakistan. In theevent, the Maharaja decided to ac-cede to India. His decision was sup-ported overtly by Indian arms andchallenged somewhat less overtlyby the arms of Pakistan’…..“Untilthe key issues of 1947 are resolved,i t is more than probable that theKashmir dispute will continue todamage seriously the health of thebodies politic of both India and Pa-kistan’….. “At the very heart of thematter is the decision made by theMaharaja of Jammu and Kashmir inOctober, 1947, to accede to India.From this all else has flowed; andits consequences are still with us”.(Introductory: pp. 1-3).

The above is a candid narrationof the historical legacy and the cur-rent-continues reality. It is a leeringlegacy, and a bitter reality worsenedby the several skirmishes and threeIndo-Pak. Wars over Kashmir, thelast in 1971 over East Pakistan re-sulting in Bangladesh with all of itunforgettable lessons — whichprevent Pakistan from trusting In-dia. Alastair Lamb’s Final Word:Back to Sir Owen Dixon: “What isbeyond doubt is that the State has

now effectively been broken up intofragments which do not differ fun-damentally from the various com-ponents examined by Sir OwenDixon when he devised his regionalplebiscite proposals in 1950. Jammuis a Hindu tract bearing the addedpurden of Hindu refugees from theVale of Kashmir. Ladalakh….. is theIndian rear echelon to the greatSino-Indian confrontation along theWestern Sector of the disputed bor-der between the world’s two mostpopulous nations…. The bulk ofPoonch (but less Poonch City), theheart of Azad Kashmir, along withMirpur and Muzaffarabad, is wed-ded in its close alliance to Pakistan:only external force could lead todivorce. The Northern Areas, theold Gilgit Agency, and its depen-dencies plus the conquests inBaltistan of 1947-48, has to all in-tents and purposes been integratedinto Pakistan, to which it providesthe strategically vital road link withChina. The real area of conflict (ifwe exclude the somewhat contrivedbatt le-ground of the Siachin gla-cier) , is confined to the Vale ofKashmir, on the Indian side of thecease-fire line”; (p. 342).

Preventable Water Wars : Futur-ists and Futuristic Institutions andOrganizations, led by the UN, itself,

have been warning for decadesnow, that future wars could well beover fast deplet ing natural re-sources: Eco-Wars — Environmen-tal-Ecological — over Water — thelife-blood of the Natural Life Sup-port System. The Quaid-e-Azamhad foresightedly called KashmirPakistan’s jugular vein — or life-line.

It was and is because Pakistan’smajor water-sources lie in IndianCaptive Kashmir — where India isbuilding countless dams and waterreservoirs — in flagrant violationof the International Law and Norms.It can, thereby, both desertify andflood Pakistan at will. Tomorrow’s“Terrorists” could well target thesedams — not with nuclear weapons— but any other kind of covert“dirty bomb”. This, alone, is soundreason for both sides, as well as theinternational community, to try toresolve this historical Kashmir dis-pute, justly, fairly and permanently.The way is Eco Ethics: Philosophy,Geosociology and Psychology forJust Peace — to forestall a Just Waras Jihad.

Return To The Basics: AlastairLamb believes that: “There are pow-erful arguments, indeed, for a returnto basics, to the situation as it ex-isted at the time of the Transfer of

Power in India in 1947, and to theexploration of fresh approaches tothe problem of the future of theState of Jammu and Kashmir. In areal sense this is what Sir OwenDixon tried to do in 1950, when heanalysed the structure of the Stateand demonstrated that it consistedof a variety of components, eachcapable of being dealt with in a dif-ferent way. Whether sufficient ob-jectivity on the part of the politi-cians of the subcontinent is todaypracticable, remains to be seen.Without i t , however, one can besure that the unhappy Kashmirsaga will continue to the benefit ofnone and the detriment of all”; (p.343).

The Historical Roots: In a veryserious sense, the Future lies in thePast, which creates the Present, andthrough it, the Future. Life is a Con-tinuum. It is a manifestation of theContinuum called Time. History isboth a reflection of Life and of Time.History, too, is a Continuum. If wedon’t learn Lessons From History,it repeats itself tragically-traumati-cally, either cyclically or spirallyperhaps both ways. The History ofthe Indo-Pak. Relations which is re-ally the History of the Kashmir Is-sue urges upon both sides to settlethe stalemate, peacefully and per-

manently. Failing that, there willbe little hope of Peace in SouthAsia in the Foreseeable Future.Kashmir At The Crossroads ofHistory and Destiny: VictoriaSchofield has asked the follow-ing key questions and concernsat the beginning of her book un-der reference, and answered themsearchingly successfully, in i t :“Why then is Kashmir so spe-cial?’….. being at ` the cross-roads of communication betweenChina, Central Asia and the sub-continent”….. (Preface: p. xii).

Fail ing that , the History ofWar, as engineered and domi-nated by the West, is largely theHistory of Humankind. But i tshould never be allowed to be-come the Human Destiny in Fu-ture. The choice is ours India,Pakistan, Kashmir, and the Glo-bal Community as in the UN towrite our Future History in andfor Sustainable Perpetual Peace.“Jihad” or not, as the last resort,the Bangladesh precedent is a liv-ing reality. And the option of theUDI: Unilateral Declaration of In-dependence is always available tothe Indian Captive Kashmiris .Sound suggestions are also avail-able in The Untold Story of thePeople of Azad Kashmir, byChristopher Snedden

.

[The writer is Hony. Co-Chair-person; Co-Founder and Donor,The PFI & MVs.]

Kashmir: The Best Way Forward!

4 Amaranthpilgrims killedin gas cylinder

blastBALTAL (IHK)—Fourpeople were killed Tuesdaywhen a cooking gas cylinder(LPG) exploded in a commu-nity kitchen in Kashmir’sBaltal base camp of theAmarnath pilgrimage, policesaid. A cooking gas cylinderexploded accidentally in ShivShakti free kitchen in Baltalbase camp, police said. “Theexplosion resulted in deathof four relatives of volunteersat the kitchen,” a police of-ficer said here.

Free community kitchensset up by various religiousorganisations to serve foodto all the visitors for free.Meanwhile, the pilgrimage iscontinuing smoothly onBaltal and Pahalgam routes.So far, over three lakh pil-grims have participated in thepilgrimage which startedJune 28. The pilgrimage willend Aug 10.—KD

SRINAGAR—Following widespreadanti-Israeli protests against the Israeliassault on Gaza, police confirmed overa dozen arrests during nocturnal raidsfrom different localities of the Srinagar,downtown. Most of the arrests havebeen made in connection with the al-leged attack on Nowhatta police sta-tion, police said.

Hundreds of youth on Thursdayevening had attacked Nowhatta po-lice station with stones and ‘tried totorch’ it. During the attack, police re-sorted to aerial firing and teargasshelling to disperse the youth. Follow-ing the attack, police had registeredseveral cases under FIR number 68/2014 under section 147, 141, 149, 336,427 RPC and had said that they haveidentified youths who were ‘leading’attackers.

A small group of masked youthhad even raised the flag of Iraq basedIslamic State terror group atop theouter gate of Srinagar’s historic GrndMosque. Police official said the youthwere arrested during nocturnal raidsin various areas of the Old City. He

12 Kashmiri youtharrested in night raids

said they have been imprisoned in dif-ferent police stations of the Old City.The official said apart from 12 youth,two more youth have been detainedin connection with the torching of acop’s scooter. Last week on Friday,when anti-Israel clashes were goingon in Nowhatta, youths nabbed a copin civvies and thrashed him ruthlessly.The cop’s scooter was also torchedby youth. “We have identified fouryouth who are involved in the inci-dent,” the official said, adding rightnow we are questioning two people inthis regard.

Meanwhile, the Senior Superinten-dent of Police Srinagar, Amit Kumarhas confirmed the arrests. Meanwhile,Chairman of Hurriyat Conference M,Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has stated thatthe use of firepower against the peace-ful protesters and murdering youngKashmiris has become the inalienablepart of duties of police and other gov-ernment forces stationed in Kashmir.

Mirwaiz said that police and othergovernment forces were misusing thespecial powers granted to them by the

state. He stated that government wantsto repeat 2010 like incidents when theymartyred more than 120 youth in peace-ful azaadi protests. He stated that tar-get killing of youth, blasting of houses,use of force against peaceful protest-ers, wanton arrests, and imposition ofcurfews were some of the Israeli typetactics being used by Indian forces inKashmir.

Addressing a gathering at Kanelmasjid Mahraj Gunj, Mirwaiz termedthe recent killing of Suhail Ahmad loneof Kulgam, injuring of scores of othersby government forces, and wanton ar-rest of youth from old city as a clearcase of state sponsored terrorism.Mirwaiz stated that governmentsaround the world have not used forceto stop or kill the protesters demon-strating against naked aggression ofIsraelis against Palestinians,. Ironically,he said, it had become the habit of stategovernment in Kashmir to suppress thepeaceful protests and they followed thesame policy of killing and arrestingKashmiris for expressing solidarity withthe Palestinians.—KO

JAMMU—Former Member Parliament (MP)from Udhampur-Kathua Parliamentary Con-stituency Choudhary Lal Singh Tuesdayalleged that the former Union MinisterGhulam Nabu Azad ditched him during LokSabha polls as his name was almost final-ized as candidate from the constituency bythe high command. Leveling serious alle-gations on former Union Minister andLeader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha,Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Congress MP andformer Health Minister of J&K, ChoudharyLal Singh announced his ‘quit’ from party.

“I am quitting Congress because ofGhulam Nabi Azad and now have decided tocontest upcoming assembly elections fromBasohli constituency of Kathua district, ei-ther Independent or after joining any otherparty,” Singh said while addressing a pressconference along with his wife Kanta Andotra,who was also former Congress MLA fromBasohli. “Azad had ditched him”, he said,adding, “he (Azad) only is the person behindhis decision to quit from the party. I’ll cam-paign against Azad and Congress in entireJ&K in the next assembly polls and exposethe real face of Azad before people.”

“I am quitting party on my own because I

Azad responsible formess in Cong: Lal Singh

was feeling suffocated in Congress, especiallyafter Azad ditched me on several occasions,”said Singh further accusing Azad for not onlyplaying a vital role in cancellation of his ticketfrom Udhampur seat, but also manipulatedthings, when Congress president Sonia Gandhiand vice-president Rahul Gandhi assured himabout MLC seat to him. Lal Singh told Azadwants to see every Congress leader and worksubservient to him. “I have my vote bank andsupport and I am not among those who will bealways at Azad’s beck and call,” Singh saidadding it was Azad who paved the defeat forCongress party in Jammu.

Lal Singh also disclosed that he will becontesting from Basohli, however, he didn’tdisclose the future plans to join any nationalor regional political party. Meantime there arespeculations that Lal Singh is soon joining PDPor BJP, but both the parties have not com-mented on the entry of Singh into their respec-tive political organizations. Pertinently, Ch LalSingh had held Health Minister’s portfolio inMufti Mohammad Sayeed led Congress-PDPcoalition Government from year 2002-04, laterhe was elected as MP from Udhampur con-stituency in 2004 Lok Sabha polls and again in2009 Lok Sabha polls.—KT

SRINAGAR—In a major policy initiative, NewDelhi has asked the Srinagar administrationto initiate steps to counter militancy by en-suring private investment in the statethrough private-public partnership projects.In a letter written recently by a Joint Secre-tary level official in the Union Home Minis-try to the state administration it has beenconveyed that the state should take stepsto strengthen the private-public partnershipprojects here.

Principal Secretary Home, SureshKumar, said the Industries and Commercedepartment has been informed to take stepsfor starting private-public partnershipprojects here. In the letter, Union HomeMinistry has informed the state that thesteps should be taken to control militancyby roping in youth for different projectssupported by the government. The HomeMinistry has asked for filing an action takenreport over the matter to be placed beforethe union cabinet for effective steps to con-trol militancy here.

Officials see the thrust of Home Ministryto increase employability as a new counter-insurgency measure which is in line with thepolicy of different public initiatives launchedby the security forces here to tackle militancy.“In a bid to bring the people into the main-stream, the security forces have been orga-nizing the visits of people outside the stateand have been holding different health camps.

Take steps to countermilitancy: Delhi to Srinagar

Providing the employment is a new counter-insurgency measure,” officials said.

According to officials, earlier no seri-ous efforts were taken to strengthen theprivate-public partnership here, but withHome Ministry asking for a detailed reportover the matter now, the state governmentefforts are likely to receive impetus. Topgovernment officials said there was not onlythe scope to improve on private-public part-nership initiatives here in the areas indus-trial development but also in sectors ofhealth and education.

“There are many educational companieswhich are ready to invest on private-publicpartnership mode, but this requires a seri-ous consideration from the government andthere are even entrepreneurs who are readyto invest in health and industrial projects,”said an official. The government’s effortsfor public-private partnership tie-up will fo-cus mainly on educated unemployed youth.

As per the government statistics, thereare over 1 lakh unemployed graduates andpost graduates here, besides nearly 25,000unemployed degree and diploma holdersin different disciplines including engineer-ing disciplines. For the last few years, offi-cials said that the work participation rate ofpeople of the state has also been low hereand the number of registered job seekershas increased by nearly five times in lastfour years.—RK

SRINAGAR—The forum patronized by theveteran Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, hasexpressed shock over the killing of morethan 100 citizens of Gaza on a single day byIsrael. The forum spokesman in a statementissued in Srinagar said that the world com-munity had failed in ending the bloodshedof innocent people of Palestine and itproved that jungle raj was prevailing in thewhole world. He said that Israel on the ba-sis of its power was brutally killing the chil-dren, women and elderly people in Pales-tine and no one was there to support thePalestinians.

The forum reiterated its appeal for ob-serving the last Friday of holy month ofRamadan (Juma-tul-Wida) as Youm-e-Quds and staging peaceful protest dem-onstrations against the Israeli state ter-rorism. It expressed sorrow and surprisethat the puppet regime was not allowingthe people even to express their sympa-thy with their Palestinian brethren. Thespokesman said that after observing thegrave situation in Gaza, it looked as if theimperialistic powers of the world from TelAviv to Washington, London, Paris and

Gilani’s forum shockedover fresh Gaza killings

New Delhi had unanimously signed a se-cret agreement in which the bloodshedof Muslims had been termed legal andMuslims did not have any human rightsand nor were they allowed to live as Mus-lims in the world. He said that Indian rul-ers were the strategic partners to the Zi-onist conspiracy of Israel and both thesenations were on the forefront of anti-Muslim activities.

The spokesman further said that what-ever was happening in Palestine, if it hap-pened with people living in London, Parisor Washington, they would also becomesuicide bombers and would definitely re-act. Criticizing the inaction of the Organiza-tion of Islamic Cooperation, the spokesmansaid that this organization had become life-less institution which was still in deep slum-ber and the present situation of Gaza hadalso failed to activate it. “We are not seeingany active role of this institution beyondholding meetings, sessions and passingresolutions and taking cue from this situa-tion, Israel is proving more and more ag-gressive with each passing day,” he de-plored.—KMS

India usingIsraeli tactics inIHK: Mirwaiz

RAJBAGH (IHK)—TheChairman of All PartiesHurriyet Conference, MirwaizUmar Farooq, has stronglycondemned the open aggres-sion of Indian troops andpolice against the innocentKashmiris. The APHC Chair-man addressing a gatheringat Kanel Masjid in MahrajGunj area of Srinagar said thatthe use of firepower againstthe peaceful protesters andmurdering young Kashmirishad become the inalienablepart of duties of Indian forces’personnel deployed in the oc-cupied territory. He termed therecent killing of Suhail AhmadLone of Kulgam, injuring ofscores of other people by thetroops and police.

The Mirwaiz maintainedthat governments around theworld had not used force tostop or kill the protesters dem-onstrating against naked ag-gression of Israelis againstPalestinians. Ironically, he saidthat it had become the habit ofpuppet administration in oc-cupied Kashmir to suppressthe peaceful protests and theyfollowed the same policy ofkilling and arresting Kashmirisfor expressing solidarity withthe Palestinians.—KMS

Body of guerrillafound near

Kashmir borderKATHUA (IHK)—The Bor-der Security Force (BSF)Tuesday recovered thebody of a slain guerrilla af-ter an infiltration bid wasfoiled in Kathua district ofJammu and Kashmir, policesaid. “The body of the in-truder, who was killed in fir-ing by the BSF near KarolMathura border outpost inHiranagar sector, has beenrecovered,” a senior policeofficer told IANS here.“Nothing was recoveredfrom the body,” he said.

On Monday, the BSFfoiled an infiltration bid af-ter a group of intruders whowere forced to withdraw intoPakistan. While the IndianArmy guards the Line ofControl in Jammu and Kash-mir, the international borderin the state is guarded bythe BSF.—KD

Some people workhard in this busi-ness and become

really popular,really big stars butthey never receive

an award fromwithin the busi-ness. Somehow,when your col-

leagues andfriends believe inyou to the point of

handing you anaward it means so

much more.

—Sharon Stone

BoP becomesprofitable

organizationSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The Bank ofPunjab (BoP) is well on thepath of progress and prosper-ity. Not only bank assets havebeen reached to Rs. 325 bil-lion but bank has also recov-ered debts of Rs.4.5 billion inthe shortest period of twoyears. The Bank of Punjabis rapidly gaining the statusof top bank and planningopen branches in the re-gional countries. Accordingto a 6-month report pre-sented to the Chief Minis-ter Punjab Mian ShahbazSharif, the Bank of Punjabhas become profitable orga-nization and a sufficientraise in its assets has beenrecorded in recent years.

According to report,Bank of Punjab has askedState Bank of Pakistan allowfees for Directors of the bankand optimistically, an-nouncement would be madein the finance results to beannounced in August 2014.The Board of Directors ofthe Bank of Punjab has al-ready favored the proposal.Report has revealed the inthe last two years, the bankhas registered a phenom-enal growth in its deposits,which reflects the trust of itsclients in the bank.

OBSERVER REPORT

LAHORE—Installation of125 KW Solar PowerProject at Wah Nobel ReonEnergy Solutions has beencompleted. The inaugura-tion of the project was heldon July 14, 2014. Membersof the higher managementof both companies and se-

nior officials attended theceremony. The successfulcompletion of the projectbears testament to Reon’scapability as a world-classrenewable energy solu-tions provider and also re-iterates Wah Nobel as aleader in adopting newtechnologies of high qual-ity, safety & reliability.

Chairman POF & WahNobel Board, Lt. Gen.Muhammad AhsanMahmood, HI (M) ap-plauded the completion ofthe project and said, “I con-gratulate Wah Nobel andReon Energy Solutions onthe opening of this project

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—Pakistan’s top brands besides othersmade in Pakistan products in a swarm like situa-tion have registered their seat in the made in Paki-stan exhibition to be held in Mumbai. In fact therush for registration is on the back of great suc-cess of the first exhibition where Indians were psy-chologically fascinated by Pakistan productswhere spot sale was allowed. So far some 80 topcompanies and brand names have so far registeredthemselves to represent Pakistan in the 2nd Madein Pakistan Exhibition being held in Mumbai (In-dia) from August 31, to September 5, 2014.

After the great success of the 1st edition ofMade in Pakistan Expo Mumbai in April 2014; Pa-kistan Readymade Garments Manufacturer and

Festival of friendship in Mumbai: Pakistan’stop brands outshines in exhibition

Exporters Association (PRGMEA) with the sup-port of Association of Indian Industries are orga-nizing the 2nd edition of Made in Pakistan ExpoMumbai titled “Festival of Friendship” from Au-gust 31 to September 5, 2014 at World Trade Cen-tre, Mumbai. During the six-day event, besides theexhibition, delegation of high-profile Pakistanibusinessmen would also be visiting India to ex-plore bilateral trade opportunities in various sec-tors. He was confident that the event will not onlypromote trade but also offer a chance for the peopleto feel and own the highest quality Pakistani prod-ucts.

He further informed that alongside the exhibi-tion, there will be a ‘Pakistan Fashion Show’ ofleading Pakistani designers where they will showcase their latest lines of top-end designer wear. A

six-day ‘Art Exhibition’ will enable the visitors toacquaint themselves with the works of famousPakistani artistes while a ‘Pakistan food court’will serve the best in Pakistani cuisine to visitors.Arshad Aziz appreciated the support of ministryof commerce and ministry of textiles. The suc-cess was only possible, due to the support ofsecretary Textiles Rukhsana Shah to lead the del-egation and support it which leads it to a suc-cess. Aziz underlined that Pakistan’s economyand exports were showing a remarkable recoveryand growth.

This had been achieved with the hard workand efforts undertaken by the business commu-nity with the full support of the government ofPrime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif. He saidthe people of Pakistan had been showing ex-

traordinary resilience in the face of multiple chal-lenges. Pakistan was destined to become a re-gional economic and commercial hub, given itslocation and enormous resources. Referring tothe first meeting between the Prime Ministers ofPakistan and India in New Delhi on 27th May,2014 the Chairman PRGMEA said that leadersfrom both the countries had articulated theirmutual desire for peace and development. It wasnow important to move forward towards realiz-ing their vision. He emphasized that Pakistanwas committed to exploring all possible avenuesfor enhancingmutual understanding and bilat-eral cooperation, adding that the time has cometo move beyond the rhetoric and transform thebilateral relationship into one of peace, coop-eration and prosperity.

PR reduces faresby 50 percent forEid-ul-FitrLAHORE—As a specialdiscount on the occa-sion of Eid-ul-Fitr,Pakistan Railways (PR)on Tuesday decided toreduce fares by fiftypercent. The discountwill be given to FirstClass, Economy, AC,Sleeper and passengersof other categories.Special discount will begiven on more than 100trains on first andsecond day of Eid. Newnotification regardingdiscount will be issuedin next two days. GMRailways Anjum Pervezsaid that passengers canalso make advancebooking for the first andsecond day of Eid-ul-Fitr.—INP

ISE-10 index staysbearishISLAMABAD—TheIslamabad Stock Ex-change (ISE) on Tuesdaywitnessed bearish trendas the ISE-10 index wasdown by 7.98 points toclose at 4764.52 points. Atotal of 3,000 shares weretraded, which showed anegative growth of111,500 shares, whencompared with previousday’s trading of 114,500shares. Out of 132companies, share pricesof 62 companies recordedincrease while those of 70companies decreased.The share price of FazalTextile increased by Rs20.8 while that of PakistanTobacco decreased by Rs55.99 per share. AskariBank, Fauji CementCompany and Silkbankremained the top tradingcompanies with 1,000shares each.—APP

Transparent utilizationof PSDP funds urgedRAWALPINDI—RawalpindiChamber of Commerce andIndustry (RCCI) onTuesday highlighted theneed for ensuringtransparent spending offunds allocated under thePublic Sector Develop-ment Projects for 2014-15.President RCCI Dr ShimailDaud Arain talking to adelegation of traderspointed out that alloca-tions under PSDP for thefinancial year are Rs. 525billion whereas thecountry’s population hasswelled to over 190 milliontherefore there is a greaterneed for utilizing funds ina transparent manner elsethis allocation wouldprove to be meager.—APP

Conversion ratesKARACHI—The followingrates will be applicable forconversion into rupees ofForeign CurrencyDeposits, Dollar BearerCertificates, ForeignCurrency Bearer Certifi-cates, Special U.S. DollarBonds and profits thereonby all banks and forproviding Forward Coveron Foreign CurrencyDeposits (excluding F.E-25 deposits) by the StateBank on July 23, 2014. Therates are U.S. Dollar Rs.98.8324, Japanese Yen Rs.0.9734, Pound Sterling Rs.168.6477 and Euro Rs.133.2261.—APP

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan has increased focus on ex-panding regional trade, besides developing andstrengthening economic relations withneighbouring and regional countries as it is one ofthe top priorities of the present Government. A se-nior official of the Finance Ministry told APP onTuesday that the policies and strategies devisedto achieve this objective included improving bor-der crossing point infrastructure, equipment andprocedures to reduce cargo dwell time, increasethroughputs, reduce cost of doing business andfacilitate movement of people in a secure manner.

“Improving border crossing points are partof the strategy to develop more efficient trans-port corridors for robust economic activity,” headded. However, he said that the current bordercrossing points were not fit for the purpose be-cause they could no longer process the currentvolumes of export, import and transit cargo andpedestrians. More than 1300 trucks crossedTorkham border alone on a daily basis, he added.The official said the cargo dwell times were longand commercial trucks and pedestrians suffereddue to long queues wasting time, often in chal-lenging climatic environments.

Pakistan focuses on regional economic connectivity, integrationKarachi’s Jinnah International Airport, he said,

was the busiest airport of the country as it handledaround 20,000 passengers daily. “A lot of peopleuse Torkham border in peak hours daily. Ensuringsecurity of the people and goods moving acrossthe borders has become a challenging task,” heremarked. He said the border crossings were cer-tainly not ready for expected increase in regionaltrade in future. The official said exploring the ex-port markets of Central Asia, realizing the dream ofPakistan becoming a regional transit hub, and ex-ploiting the shortest sea routes for the land-lockedcountries were hampered by the dearth of suitablefacilities at the borders.

Some estimates suggested that more than 70%of the travel time for moving cargo in the regionwas spent at the border crossing points, he ob-served. He said the Federal Board of Revenue(FBR), with the approval of the Prime Minister, hadinitiated an Integrated Trade and Transit Manage-ment System to address some of the challengesand work towards reducing cargo dwell times andincreasing throughput as part of a strategy to getbetter road and rail connectivity with neighbouringtrading partners and with Central Asia. “A high-

powered steering committee, headed by FinanceMinister Senator Ishaq Dar and having all keyministries like Foreign Affairs, Defence, Communi-cation, Railways, Finance, Interior and EconomicAffairs as members, has been constituted to over-see the development and implementation of Inte-grated Transit Trade Systems (ITTMS)”, he added.

He said the Asian Development Bank (ADB),through a technical assistance grant, was assist-ing the Federal Board of Revenue for convertingthe vision of Pakistan becoming a regional tradehub into reality. He said a detailed project had beenprepared envisioning new design and layout op-tions for the Wagha, Torkham and Chaman roadborder crossing points, under which new worldclass infrastructure would be built, equipped withthe latest technology. The project, he said, alsorecommended use of international good export prac-tices, import and transit processes.

Under the project, he said, a comprehensivetraining programme would be launched for all agen-cies deployed at the border terminals. “The projectwill help Pakistan meet its international commit-ments on trade facilitation like Revised Kyoto Con-vention and also help prepare recommendations

for TIR Convention implementation”, he remarked.He added that the ADB planned to invest $150million to implement this strategically importantproject.The second meeting of the ITTMS Steer-ing Committee held on July 16 this year, approvedthe overall layouts agreed between the stakehold-ers and the Finance Minister instructed all the de-partments concerned to expedite the processingof project. The official said that the five CentralAsian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan had acollective population of 66 million people, with thepotential to develop into a significant exportingmarket for Pakistani commodities and investmentdestination for its businessmen.

Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan, he said, ex-ceeded $2 billion in 2012-13, while its trade poten-tial with India was estimated to be over $18 billion.“Developing the border infrastructure and enhanc-ing facilitaties at Torkham, Wagha, and Chamanwill go a long way in the economic development ofthe country as it will enhance trade, generate addi-tional revenues, create additional job opportuni-ties, facilitate passengers and boost Pakistan’simage worldover”, he added.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Com-merce Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan hassaid that the Ministry of Commerce in col-laboration with other government organi-zations have initiated the reformsprogramme in a bid to double the country’sexports. “In this regard reforms would beintroduced in various areas including tradeinfrastructure, tariff system, subsidy andmechanism of international trade market-ing”, the Commerce Minister said in a state-ment issued here on Tuesday.

He further said that the Commerce Min-istry was evolving a strategy to enhanceexports in non-traditional sectors includingpharmaceutical, gems and jewellery, agricul-ture products, engineering and chemicals

Govt starts reforms to doublecountry’s exports: Khurram

sectors. Furthermore, he said that the minis-try was also engaged in exploring non-tradi-tional trade markets abroad. The minister saidthat for early solution of trader’s issues, theinstitutes concerned are being consulted toremove hurdles being faced by the business-men. He was of the view that after six monthsof implementation of GSP Plus status, posi-tive results are coming on the surface.

“Despite challenges of terrorism and gasand energy crisis, the improvement in thecountry’s trade as compared to the last yearis encouraging”, he added. Earlier, while giv-ing briefing to the minister, S.M. Muneer,Chief Executive Trade Development Author-ity of Pakistan (TAP) informed him that thecountry’s exports were increased from US$24.5 billion in the year 2012-13 to $25.2 bil-lion during the fiscal year 2013-14.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—The Lahore Chamber of Com-merce & Industry (LCCI) will continue tostrive for the creation of an enabling busi-ness atmosphere in the country. This wasstated by LCCI Vice President Kashif Anwarwhile talking to President All Pakistan Res-taurants Association Shahid Butt and Chair-man All Private Schools Council FayyazKhan. The LCCI Vice President while assur-ing them of his full support said that theLCCI was well aware of the complicated taxa-tion procedures and high rate of taxes.

Kashif Anwar said that increase in prop-erty tax on private schools would put a nega-

125 KW solar powerproject completed

and wish both firms goodluck in their future plans.”Shahid Pracha, Chairman ofDawood Lawrencepur Lim-ited (DLL), Tenaga GenerasiLimited and Reon EnergySolutions & Chief Executiveof DH Corporation (DawoodHercules Corp) appreciatedPOF’s initiative of commis-sioning the solar project. He

said in his address, “Solaris a new technology for Pa-kistan and the POF follow-ing on its rich tradition ofinnovation leadership hasbeen amongst the first toembrace it in a significantway.

It takes courage of con-viction and strategic fore-sight to be a pioneer; andwe congratulate and saluteyou and your colleagues fortaking this timely initiative.”Mr. Syed Naseem Raza,Chief Executive, WAHNobel Group was very en-thusiastic in his appreciationof the successful installationof the solar energy project.

LCCI to strive for creation of anenabling business atmosphere

tive impact on government’s efforts aimedat promotion of education in the country.He said that this decision should be with-drawn without any further delay. The LCCIVice President said that no country in theworld could not achieve its economic tar-get without education. He said that role ofprivate schools in education promotion issignificant therefore, government shouldprovide facilities to them instead of impos-ing new taxes. Earlier, President All Paki-stan Restaurants Association Shahid Buttand Chairman All Private Schools CouncilFayyaz Khan lauded the efforts of theLahore Chamber of Commerce & Industryin promotion of economic activities.

S M Munirnominated as

memberBoD EPZA

KARACHI—Prominent leaderof the business community,S.M.Munir has been nomi-nated as Member, Board ofDirectors of Export Process-ing Zone Authority (EPZA).A notification has been is-sued by Federal Ministry ofIndustries and Productionthat Chief Executive, TDAPS.M.Muneer has been givenadditional responsibilities asmember Board of DirectorsEPZA, said a statement is-sued on Tuesday.

President, Karachi Indus-trial Alliance, Mian ZahidHussain, President KATI,Syed Farukh Mazhar, and oth-ers have congratulatedS.M.Muneer on becoming themember, Board of Directors-EPZA and said that giving re-sponsibilities to the people ofgood repute is a good sign.

Mian Zahid Hussain saidthat S.M.Muneer would playactive role to improve theperformance of EPZA due tohis vast experience and ex-ports of the country wouldalso be increased. It is notedthat S.M.Muneer has beenappointed as Chief Execu-tive, Trade DevelopmentAuthority of Pakistan beforefew months by Prime Minis-ter.—APP

ISLAMABAD: Country Managing Director Shaheen Airlines, Air Commodore (Retd) Khalid Bashir Anjum award-ing prize to photojournalist Asim in a Lucky Draw of Dubai’s return ticket of airline.

QUETTA: A vendor arranging and displaying bangals to attract customers at his road-side setup in connection with upcoming Eid-ul-Fitar.

Round the clockATM services

during Eidholidays

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—All commercialbanks have been advisedby the State Bank of Paki-stan to ensure round theclock ATM services avail-ability during Eid Holi-days.

The State Bank of Pa-kistan has directed banksto take necessary mea-sures in order to ensuremaximum availability ofATM services and avoidpublic inconvenience dur-ing the Eid holidays. In acircular letter, banks havebeen instructed to ensureround-the-clock availabil-ity, consistent monitoringof ATMs and mobilize maxi-mum resources to timelyresolve ATM issues likeATM out of cash, hard-ware/software problems,power outages and con-nectivity/Network issues.

Banks have furtherbeen advised to establishspecial help desks / con-tact centres operatinground-the-clock for ATMrelated complaints. SBPhas directed banks to en-sure that the publishedhelp desk numbers are vis-ibly placed at all ATMbooths and remain opera-tional round the clock andadvertise contact detailsin newspapers before Eidholidays for customerawareness.

Oil prices upin Asian trade

SINGAPORE—Oil pricesrose in Asia Tuesdayagainst the backdrop ofgeopolitical tensions fu-elled by a warning oftougher sanctions againstRussia over the downingof a Malaysian airliner andfierce fighting in Gaza. USbenchmark West TexasIntermediate (WTI) forAugust delivery was up54 cents at $105.13 at mid-day, and Brent crude forSeptember climbed 26cents to $107.95.

Five days after Malay-sia Airlines flight MH17crashed in Ukraine, pro-Russian separatists con-ceded to a furious inter-national clamour andhanded over the bodies ofvictims and the plane’sblack boxes, helping easetensions and lifting Asianequities. A train carryingthe remains of 280 of the298 people killed in the di-saster was finally allowedto leave a rebel-held re-gion in eastern Ukraine asthe militants declared atruce Tuesday around thecrash site.

The devices, whichrecord cockpit activityand flight data, werehanded to Malaysian of-ficials by the prime minis-ter of the self-proclaimedDonetsk People’s Repub-lic, Alexander Borodai, infront of scores of journal-ists. “The backdrop con-tinues to be one of a cau-tious nature as geopoliti-cal issues remain at theforefront,” Singapore’sUnited Overseas Banksaid in a note. The US hasaccused Russia of supply-ing the weapons allegedlyused to shoot down thepassenger jet and Euro-pean leaders readied newsanctions against Mos-cow, which has denied anyinvolvement.—AFP

Currency Selling Buying

Daily opening& closing ratesTotal Volume (Lots): 10,544Traded Value (Rs): 2,371,504,837

Commodity ......................... Price Quotation .................... Open .............. CloseCRUDE OIL ........................ $ Per Barrel ............................. 102.97 ............. 103.12SILVER ................................ $ Per Ounce ............................ 21.008 ............. 20.862GOLD .................................. $ Per Ounce ............................ 1,315.4 ............ 1,306.4GOLD .................................. Rs Per 10 gms ......................... 41,838 ............. 41,554MTOLAGOLD ................... Rs Per Tola ............................. 50,105 ............. 49,694GOLD .................................. Rs Per Tola ............................. 50,105 ............. 49,694RICEIRRI6 .......................... Rs Per 100 kg .......................... 3,650 ............... 3,649PALMOLEIN ..................... Rs Per Maund ........................ 4,279 ............... 4,278SUGAR ............................... Rs Per kg ................................. 49.06 ............... 49.05ICOTTON ........................... US Cents per pound ............. 68.70 ............... 69.28WHEAT .............................. Rs Per 100 kg .......................... 3,454 ............... 3,453

On Tuesday at Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMEX) value traded increased toPKR 2.372 billion from PKR 2.315 billion registered in Monday, up 2.45 percent.Number of lots traded was 10,544 and PMEX Commodity Index closed at 3,080.Major business was contributed by crude oil amounting to PKR 1.619 billion, fol-lowed by gold at PKR 696 million, up 32 percent and silver at PKR 56 million.

BoI holdsminutes

approval meetingISLAMABAD—The 2nd meet-ing of Approvals Committeeof Board of Investment(BOI) was held here onTuesday under the Chair-manship of Dr. Miftah Ismail.Three agenda items werediscussed in the meeting.Two of them were regardingthe confirmation of the min-utes of first meeting of Ap-provals Committee, Imple-mentation status of deci-sions of the first meetingand the third item was re-lated to the deliberations onfollowing applications re-ceived from Sindh for SEZdeclaration of Bin QasimSpecial Economic Zone andKorangi Creek Special Eco-nomic Zone.

In the Bin Qasim Spe-cial Economic Zone, theBin Qasim Industrial Parkis spread over an area of930 acres near Port Qasim,adjacent to Arabian SeaCountry Club, Bin QasimTown, Karachi, Sindh. Theestimated project cost isRs. 9.8 billion and theproject is envisioned tobring Rs.50 Billion directinvestment, contributePKR 100 billion to the GDPand generate direct em-ployment for 50,000 indi-viduals.

The project has been de-signed to cater for the needsof medium and large entre-preneurs aspiring to investespecially in the engineeringand downstream steel indus-try of Pakistan. The pro-posed industrial clusters un-der the SEZ included Engi-neering & Equipments, AutoVendors, Foundries & SteelFabricating units, Light En-gineering Units and Furni-ture & Wood workings,Chemicals & Food: Pharma-ceuticals, Food & BeverageIndustry and Chemicals, Lo-gistics: Warehousing / Lo-gistics Consumer Goods:Plastic Industry and Electri-cal / consumer electronic in-dustry.

The Korangi Creek Spe-cial Economic Zone in-cluded the Korangi CreekIndustrial Park developedon 240 acres of land is lo-cated in sector 38 of KorangiIndustrial area, Karachi. Theestimated project cost is Rs.3.8 billion. The project isenvisioned to bring Rs.20billion direct Investment,contribute PKR 40 billion tothe GDP and generate directemployment for 30,000 indi-viduals.—APP

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—ABAD International Expo 2014will provide Pakistan’s Builders, Real Es-tate Developers and Construction MaterialIndustries a unique platform to exhibit be-fore business buyers as well as the endusers. Haris Ali Mithani, Chairman (SR)ABAD at an Iftar party said that Associa-tion of Pakistan Builders and Developers(ABAD) International Expo provides ex-cellent option for investments and insightsinto the real estate market trends in Paki-stan. The Event brings together develop-ers, Real Estate brokers, private and insti-tutional investors from Pakistan, MiddleEast, and Asia Pacific region, to open upnew doors of investment opportunities.”

He added “The construction sector isuniquely placed to support economic growthand social change. Capital spent through thesector brings direct and tangible multiple re-

ABAD International Expo 2014

We need encouragement fromgovt instead of any help: Mithani

turns to Pakistan as well as, our ability to em-ploy and train a wide cross-section of theworkforce is un-matched. We understand howdifficult a set of choices Government faces atthe moment, so we are not asking for help,we’re offering the support and can-do attitudeof the sector to drive growth and employment”.said Haris Ali Mithani, Chairman (SR) ABADduring Iftar party held in honor of media ar-ranged by Badar Expo Solutions the Co Orga-nizer and Event Management Company of theABAD International Expo 2014.

He further said that “By using existing lo-cal arrangements, current projects in the pipe-line can be mobilized very quickly. We applaudthe Prime Minister’s action on such projectsand we stand ready to support theGovernment’s economic recovery plans includ-ing your vision for the low cost housing facil-ity for the poor. We also urge local decisionmakers to look at the potential of constructionactivity to kick start economic growth”.

ISLAMABAD—Production of petroleum products increasedby 9.08 percent during the first eleven months of the fiscalyear 2013-14 compared to the corresponding period of lastyear. On year-on-year basis, the production surged by19.97 percent in May 2014 compared to the production ofMay 2013, according to the data of Pakistan Bureau ofStatistics (PBS). The products that contributed in the posi-tive growth of petroleum production included jet fuel oil,output of which increased by 7.09 percent. Similarly, theproduction of motor spirits increased by 6.45 percentwhereas the production of high speed diesel increased by12.39 percent during the period under review.

The production of diesel oil and furnace oil also in-creased by 53.05 percent and 10.21 percent respectivelywhereas the output of lubricating oil witnessed positivegrowth of 1.35 percent and the output of solvant napthaincreased by 10.86 percent. The industrial items that wit-nessed negative growth in production included keroseneoil, output of which decreased by 3.79 percent and jutebatching oil, production of which decreased by 17.47 per-cent. Meanwhile, on year-on-year basis, the productionof jet fuel increased by 11.88 percent in May 2014 com-pared to May 2013 whereas the output of motor spiritsincreased by 13.70 percent.

According to the data, the production of kerosene oilin May 2014 increased by 14.31 percent, high speed diesel

Petroleum production up 9.08pcin 11 months of FY 2013-14

by 25.08 percent, diesel oil by 9.53 percent, furnace oil by19.40 percent, lubricating oil by 1.96 percent, solvant napthaby 28.98 percent and LPG by 8.45 percent. The only indus-trial product that witnessed negative growth was includedbatching oil, output of which decreased by 40.69 percent.It is pertinent to mention that the country’s Large-ScaleManufacturing (LSM) output grew by 4.15 percent duringthe first eleven months of fiscal year 2013-14 compared tothe corresponding period of last year.

On year-on-year basis, the LSM grew by 2.35 per-cent in May 2014 compared to May 2013. However, onmonth-on-month basis, the LSM witnessed negativegrowth of 3.8 percent in May when compared to thegrowth of 123.17 points in April 2014. The QIN showsindustrial productivity of 100 items received from OilCompanies Advisory Committee (OCAC), Ministry ofIndustries and Production, and provincial bureaus ofstatistics. The OCAC provides data of 11 items, theMinistry of Industries and Production of 35 items whilethe provincial bureaus of statistics has been providingdata of 54 items.The official data for petroleum prod-ucts compiled by OCAC showed positive growth of 0.54percent in 2013-14 while that of provide by Ministry ofIndustry showed growth 2.2 percent and the indicesmonitored by Provincial Bureaus of Statistics (PoS) in-creased by 1.41 percent.—APP

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Technical Education and Voca-tional Training Authority (TEVTA) is mak-ing all out efforts to provide trained man-power according to the requirement of theindustry. To promote technical educationand vocational training, during the last fiveyears, TEVTA has established 72 new Tech-nical and Vocational Institutes across theprovince of the Punjab, including six Col-leges of Technologies at Taxila, Mianwali,Bhakkar, Sangla Hill, Kamalia and PindiBhattian, eight Technical Training Institutesat Bhalwal, Shorekot, Bhera, Jalalpur Pirwala,Chakwal, Chowk Sarwar Shaheed, Joharabadand Faqirwali, six Vocational Training Insti-tutes for Women at Chakwal, Mianwali,Chowk Sarwar Shaheed, Sukheki, Rahwaliand Kangun pur and fifty two TechnicalTraining Centers at tehsil level have beenset up. A number of 18125 new male andfemale students have started getting techni-cal education and vocational training at thesenewly established colleges and institutes.

According to the press release issued

TEVTA gears up efforts to providetrained manpower to industry

by TEVTA, the spokesman of the Author-ity said that we have also started threemonths vocational training courses for theprisoners at Lahore and Multan Jails as apilot project while the same will shortly belaunched at other jails of the province ofthe Punjab. Vocational training courses arealso being offered at selected 30 DeeniMadars and 11534 Deeni students have gotvocational training in 12 trades. TEVTA withthe with the technical and financial assis-tance collaboration of China have upgradedLight Engineering Service Center atGujranwala and Cutlery Center at Wazirabadwhile Leather Service Center at Kasur,Hoseiry and Finishing Training Center atFaisalabad and Woolen Center at Jhanghave been rehabilitated. Moreover, MetalIndustries Development Center at Sialkot,Center for Agriculture Machinery Industriesat Mian Channu and Institute of LeatherTechnology at Gujranwala have also beenupgraded. GIZ, a German organization, hasfunded Rs. 140 million for the promotion ofTunnel Farming, home appliances and so-lar panel training at TEVTA Institutes.

Ufone bagged the ‘Call Centre Leader of the Year’ award in United States. Picture showsAsad Butt, General Manager Customer Operations, Ufone receiving award from therepresentatives of International Quality and Productivity Centre.

MULTAN: Ambassador of Denmark, Jesper Moller Sorensen a local Mango Pulp Plant.

STAFF REPORTER

CREATING livelihood opportunities is a long-term investmentin society. By doing so, people and communities are empowered to drive and sustain their own development and

ultimately build better futures for themselves. The rate ofunemployment in Pakistan was reported at 6.0% accordingto the Labour Force Survey 2013, an increase from previ-ous years’ downward trends (2006-7 it was 5.1%). Whileunemployment trends seem to indicate a slow-down andinability of the economy to absorb millions of young peoplejoining Pakistan’s workforce every year, a number of non-traditional career and employment options are growingthroughout the country in the most interesting places.

Fatima Tandai belongs to a small village called Bijorain Sindh. Over a few years she has transformed her lifefrom barely being able to put food on the table for herfamily, to being a micro-solar entrepreneur, distributingand demonstrating solar-powered lamps to people in hercommunity.

“My village does not have electricity, and people travel verylong distances to charge their mobile phones. After receiving en-terprise generation training from Shell’s Tameer programme, I am

Creating livelihood opportunities long term investmentnow providing my neighbors with something they really need andthat makes a big difference to their lives.” While Fatima’s busi-ness is empowering her to change her life, the story of SalmaRahim illustrates how enterprise generation can bring about a sig-

nificant positivesocial impact andhelp change the fu-ture of hundreds ofpeople.

Wanting toescape poverty andinspire women inher community todo the same, Salmaremembers goingdoor to door in hervillage of Dera Jattato recruit a smallteam of women whoshe trained to em-

broider and embellish clothing. “Training is essential to polish anyskill, and in this business only practice improves how detail-ori-ented and creative you are,” says Salma. In an effort to ensure she

and her team continued to polish and master their art, Salma com-pleted a local vocational training diploma course, and in the pro-cess was introduced to a fashion designer from Karachi who ap-prenticed her to developing her team’s skills further and help herproduct line into urban markets. Five year after it began, ZardoziBridal Wear employs over 150 women from Derra Jutta and sur-rounding villages, and embellishes for some of the top design housesin the country.

To make working easier for the women she employs, Zardozioffers transportation services to and from work. “Women in mycommunity have very few opportunities to earn a livelihood andimprove their lives and feeling of self-worth, so I really hope that mybusiness helps them realise how much they are capable of,” saysSalma. Salma was among a number of entrepreneurs discovered atthe Shell Tameer Awards, where entrepreneurial efforts and achieve-ment are recognised and showcased, allowing them to build theirnetworks and their business and inspire others to do the same.

Providing enterprise generation opportunities helps peopleestablish their own businesses and gives them the chance to notjust build their own futures but also transform lives of manymore. By doing so, enterprise generation creates wealth anddrives change in marginalized communities, enabling people towork their way out of poverty.

MULTAN—A sum of Rs 558.87 million willbe spent under two projects for increas-ing the produce of vegetables and pulsesin Punjab. An amount of Rs 410.87 millionwill be spent on the project to enhancevegetables production while another Rs148 million for pulses, assistant directoragriculture information Naveed AsmatKahlon said in a meeting with progressivegrowers on Tuesday. The project for veg-etables production, besides others, wouldmainly focused on enhancing productionof potato, garlic, tomato and chilli.

Kahlon said that vegetables andpulses are an important part of our dailymenu and launch of the project to increasetheir production would not only help bring

Rs 558m to be spent forvegetables, pulses produce

food security but would also cut our billon import of these items. The two projectswould help, to some extent, meet the foodrequirements of the growing population,he added. Kahlon said that the pulsesproject was launched because most of thegrowers consider pulses unimportant andusually select substandard land for theircultivation.

He said that production of pulses, con-sidered to be a high nutritional value foodafter meat, can be enhanced by adoptingmodern technology, balanced applicationof fertilizers and removal of weeds. He saidthat farmers would undergo training andmedia would be utilized to convey modernproduction technology to them.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—National Highways andMotorway Police (NH&MP) and NestléPakistan jointly broke ground for a RoadSafety Institute Karachi. This is the sec-ond collaboration between Nestlé Pakistanand the NH&MP. In 2009, the first Drivers’Training Facility was established inSheikhupura. So far 14,000 drivers fromacross the country have been trained.

The foundation for the institute – whichwill be located on the Super Highway – waslaid by Zulfiqar Ahmed Cheema, theNH&MP Inspector General, and a team from

Nestle Pakistan, National Highway, Motorwaypolice join hands for driver’s training program

Nestlé Pakistan. “Nestlé Pakistan’s supportto the institute reinforces its emphasis onthe safety and well-being of the communi-ties it operates in,” said Waqar Ahmad, theHead of Corporate Affairs at Nestlé Paki-stan. “We need to focus on driver trainingto ensure safety of the general public andthe drivers themselves.”

IG Zulfiqar Cheema expressed apprecia-tion towards Nestlé’s committed support to-wards training of drivers. “We need organi-zations to step up just like Nestlé has. Roadaccident figures are increasing exponentiallyand imparting training to those behind thewheel can make a huge difference.

USA 98.60 98.40

UK 168.58 168.23

Euro 133.42 133.15

Canada 91.82 91.64

Switzerland 109.79 109.56

Australia 92.57 92.38

Sweden 14.42 14.39

Japan 0.9735 0.9715

Norway 15.93 15.90

Singapore 79.43 79.27

Denmark 17.89 17.86

Saudi Arabia 26.29 26.24

Hong Kong 12.72 12.69

Kuwait 349.16 348.45

Malaysia 31.04 30.97

Newzealand 85.82 85.64

Qatar 27.08 27.03

UAE 26.84 26.79

Kr. Won 0.0959 0.0957

Thailand 3.078 3.072

MULTAN: Players in action during the IDPs Fund Raising Cricket match between Pakistan-A and Multan-II played at Multan Cricket Stadium.

Cook will neverimprove: Ponting

SYDNEY—Former Austra-lia captain Ricky Pontingpiled more pressure on un-der-fire England skipperAlastair Cook Tuesday bysaying he will not improveas a player for the rest ofhis career.

England’s 95-run de-feat by India in the secondTest at Lord’s on Mondaymade it 10 successive Testmatches without victoryfor the team—their worstwinless streak in the for-mat for 21 years.

Cook, 29, has failed toscore a Test hundred in 27innings and has totalled ameagre 129 runs in nineTest innings this calendaryear, sparking calls for himto be fired.

Ponting, who retiredlast year after playing 168Test matches, said mostplayers find it hard to per-form after their first 100Tests.

“He’ll try and find waysto sort of hang on andmaintain a certain level,” hetold the Australian Broad-casting Corporation.

“There’s no doubt thatthe struggles of his teamwill be having a big impacton the way that he’s play-ing.

“I don’t think he’s go-ing to get any better as aplayer.”

Former England cap-tain Nasser Hussain hasurged Cook to stand down,although immediately afterthe match he said he hadno intention of resigning.

Michael Vaughan,Hussain’s successor asEngland skipper, has alsobeen scathing about theway England have beenplaying under Cook.

“It’s been absolutelypathetic from England,” hetold BBC Radio’s TestMatch Special.—AFP

MULTAN—A friendly cricket match betweenMultan Tigers and Pakistan XI helped to col-lect about Rs 20 million funds for the inter-nally displaced people (IDPs) of NorthWazirastan Agency.

Pakistan XI won the toss and elected tobat first in a T-20 match played at almost jam-packed picturesque Multan cricket stadiumon Monday night after a period of eight yearswhich not only provided a great festivity toMultanities but also raised a handsomeamount for IDPs.

Playing first Pakistan XI made 195 runsfrom 20 overs at a loss of five wickets. FaisalIqbal and Sami Aslam were top scorers asthey contributed 47 runs each to set a targetof 196. Muhammad Rameez of Multan Tigersgrabbed two wickets while Amir Yamin, KumailAbbas and Hafiz Habib Ullah took one wicketeach. Chasing the target of 196, Multan Ti-gers scored 180 runs by losing six wickets inthe allotted overs. Babar Ali was the top scoreras he made 35 runs while Zeshan Ashraf 27,Gulraiz 27 and Zeshan Ali contributed 22 runs.Karamat Ali of Pakistan XI grabbed four wick-ets while Atta Ullah took two wickets.

Former Pakistani captain Inzamam-Ul-Haqwas given LBW on the first ball.

Led by Inzamam-Ul-Haq, Multan Tigersincluded national cricketer Sohaib Maqsood,Muhammad Shabir, Zeshan Ashraf, GulraizSadaf, Amir Yamin, Muhammad Rameez,Kumail Abbas, Babar Ali, Zeshan Ali,Maqbool Ahmed, Ahmed Rasheed and HafizHabib Ullah.

National cricketer Faisal Iqbal was thecaptain of Pakistan XI while Karamat Ali,Sharjeel Khan, Sami Aslam, Adnan Akmal,Bilawal Bhatti, Hamad Azam, Anwar Ali, Imam-Ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Zia-Ul-Haq and AttaUllah were his teammates.

On this occasion, Faisal Movers (Dream

Rs 20m raised forIDPs in cricket match

Warid nationalranking tourney

from Aug 2ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Ten-nis Federation will holdWarid National RankingTennis Tournament fromAugust 2 to 7 at PakistanTennis Federation (PTF)Complex Garden Avenue,Islamabad.

There will be contests ofdifferent categories includ-ing men’s singles, men’sdoubles, junior under 18,boys under 14 and ladiessingles.

According to thespokesman of PTF, a prizepurse of Rs 200,000 will bedis t r ibuted as pr izemoney in addition to freeaccommodat ion a t PTFComplex and daily allow-ance to a l l out s ta t ionplayers .

The PTF has nominatedMuhammad Arif Qureshi,ITF White Badge as referee,while Shahzad Akhtar Alviwill act as chief of umpires.All the interested playershave been asked to senttheir entries to ShahzadAkhtar Alvi before July31.—APP

Gardens) gave a cheque for Rs 2 million, an-other cheque for Rs 200,000 on behalf ofInzamam-Ul-Haq while special persons gavea cheque for Rs 100,000 for the Chief Ministerrelief fund for IDPs.

Provincial Law and Sports Minister RanaMashood Ahmad Khan distributed trophiesbetween the winner and runner up teams. Pro-vincial Minister for Prisons Chaudhry AbdulWaheed Arrain, PML (N) MNA Abdul GhafarDogar, former MNAs Sheikh Tariq Rasheedand Rana Mehmood-Ul-Hassan, MPA AhsanUddin Qureshi, DCO Zahid Saleem Gondal,CPO Multan Sultan Ahmed Chaudhry andother officials also attended the match.

Meanwhile, Former captain PakistanCricket team Inzamam-Ul-Haq said that ev-erybody should come forward to help the in-ternally displaced persons (IDPs) of NorthWazirastan.

Talking to the media here at Multan cricketstadium on Monday night during a fund rais-ing match for IDPs between Pakistan XI andMultan Tigers, he said that Pakistani crickethas become professional.

Inzamam said that players would have towork hard as there was no shortcut to be onthe national squad. He said it was tradition ofMuslims to help their Muslim brethrenthrough thick and thin.

Inzamam said that he was very happy thatMultan cricket academy was being namedafter him and added that his services werereadily available for the promotion of cricket.Later, talking to media national cricketerSohaib Maqsood said that the on-going op-eration Zarb-e-Azb at North Wazirastan wasimportant for our safety and security. He urgedmasses to move forward for the help of IDPs.

He said that international cricket wouldbe revived if such kind of matches werearranged in the country.—AFP

LAHORE: Former Chief Selector Pakistan Cricket Board, Muhammad Ilyas address-ing press conference.

LAHORE—The Pakistan Cricket Board onTuesday announced formation of two BidCommittees, for Media Rights and PakistanSuper League (PSL), each chaired by a highprofile personality of unimpeachable integ-rity and proven competence with membersalso possessing of exceptional track recordin terms of expertise and uprightness.

Following last year’s transparent bidprocess in awarding media rights, the PCBhas initiated another bid process, invitingpotential bidders through high circulationnewspapers from broadcasters or compa-nies of international repute which may wishto acquire the Media Rights for the upcom-ing Pakistan vs. Australia and Pakistan vs.New Zealand series from October to De-cember 2014, to be hosted by PCB in UAE,said a spokesman of PCB here.

He said the he Bid Committee for Me-dia Rights will be headed byformer ICC President EhsanMani and its members willinclude amongst othersformer Federal FinanceMinister Dr. Salman Shah.Ehsan Mani has success-fully conducted the MediaRights bid process for PCBon multiple occasions in thepast. The entire processwill be monitored by an in-dependent audit firm whichwill submit its report afterdue process to the PCB’smanagement.

“Last year, the PCB’splans to organize PSL hadto be shelved due to vari-ous reasons. This year thePCB has, after a thoroughreview of the modalities, de-cided to adopt the outrightsale model and in this regardan advertisement in localand international newspa-pers has been published in-viting parties to acquire thebids for the PSL rightswhich is tentatively sched-uled in December 2014 andJanuary 2015", he asserted

The Bids Committeeformed for PSL rights isheaded by former PCB

PCB forms committees formedia rights & PSL

Chief Executive and cricket commentatorChishty Mujahid and will include amongothers Dr. Salman Shah. The entire processwill be monitored by an independent auditfirm of international standing, he said

(Bid Committee for International MediaRights) Chairman:Ehsan Mani, Members: Dr.Salman Shah, Subhan Ahmad, COO, BadarM. Khan, CFO, Badar Refaie, Director Mar-keting, Ahmad Hosain, Legal Consultant;Mr. Salman Naseer (Secretary); M/s. Ernst& Young (Independent External Auditors)

(Bid Committee for the PSL Rights):Chairman,Chishty Mujahid, Members: Dr.Salman Shah, Zaheer Abbas, Member MC;Subhan Ahmad, COO; Badar M. Khan,CFO; Badar Refaie, Director Marketing; ZakiRehman, Legal Consultant; Salman Naseer(Secretary); M/s. Ernst & Young (Indepen-dent External Auditors).—APP

LAHORE: National Cricket team coach Waqar Younis talking to media persons before sending relief goods to theIDPs of North Waziristan Agency.

GLASGOW—The 2014 CommonwealthGames in Glasgow kick off on today(Wednesday) with the much-anticipatedopening ceremony at Celtic Park.

Ahead of 11 days of competition in17 different sporting disciplines, the cer-emony in Glasgow will feature an array ofScottish performing talent as well as theparading of the athletes set to take partin the Games.

The host nation’s flag will be carriedby judo veteran Euan Burton, as con-firmed by Team Scotland:

Glasgow plays host tothe Commonwealth Gamesfor the first ever time withEdinburgh having broughtthe event to Scotland ontwo previous occasions.

For its 20th edition, theGames will be participatedin by 4,500 athletes fromthe 71 participating na-tions, all of whom will beon display in Wednesday’sevent at Celtic Park, witheach country being intro-duced by a different citizenof Glasgow.

A reported 40,000 spectators will taketheir seats at the home of the ScottishPremier League champions as 3,000 vol-unteer cast members put on a show aimedat celebrating “the commonality andshared qualities of the Commonwealth –the true spirit of unity and diversity,”

A variety of Scottish musical acts andicons will take to the stage to perform atthe event, including Rod Stewart, SusanBoyle and Amy McDonald.

Glasgow 2014 head of ceremoniesDavid Zolkwer has promised that the

Commonwealth Gamesopen today in Glasgow

show will reflect the nature of the hostcity.

The overall aim of the event is, ofcourse, to officially open the Gamesahead of the coming days in which ath-letes will compete in everything form lawnbowls and judo to cycling and athletics.

And indeed, the Queen herself willdeclare the opening of the Games by read-ing a message contained in the batonwhich has been at the centre of the190,000 kilometre, 288-day relay through

each competing nation.It is sure to be a spectacular show

and a fitting opening to the 20th Com-monwealth Games in Glasgow. After thesuccess of London 2012, there is a posi-tive feeling that the same kind of excite-ment can be generated for this event.

With some top-quality competitorsset to be on show in the coming days,including the likes of Mo Farah and UsainBolt, there is much to be excited about,and it all gets under way in Glasgow onWednesday.—AFP

Peace Cup Cricket

KA R A C H I—Seasoned cricketer BabarAgha smashed a fighting half centuryto guide Pakistan Cricket Club in the fi-nal of RLCA Ramazan Twenty 20 CricketTournament when they routedMuhammad Hussain CC by 34 runs atGulburg Ground here on Monday night.

Pakistan CC which is hot favorites tolift the title, helped by enterprising 56off 39 deliveries with half a dozen bound-

aries andsix, mus-tered 152for the lossof eightwickets intheir 20overs .

Pak i -stan CC infact s tageda grand re-covery af-ter beingreduced to33-3 in the7th over af-ter insertedto bat f irstb yMuhammadH u s s a i nCC. Slowleft arms p i n n e rA b d u lQ a d i rcaused thet r o u b l ewith hisd o u b l estrike.

Qadirf irst re-moved in-

Babar steers Pakistan CC inRLCA Ramazan cricket final

ternational Rameez Raja for quick 22which included one towering six and onehit to the boundary and then got rid ofNadeem Javed (3) while Fazal Subhanwent after making two runs.

When Muhamad Waqas joined Babarat the crease, Pakistan CC was in deepwaters. But the pair revived their inningsthrough a solid 95-run fourth wicketstand to frustrate Muhammad HussainCC bowlers.

Waqas made a compact run a ball 33with five strikes to the boundary andMisbah Khan chipped in with 8-ball 19which was laced with two boundariesand one six in the death overs.

Qadir bowled smartly to end with fig-ures of four wickets for 24 runs fourovers. But in the end his effort to waste.

Muhammad Hussain CC in reply wasbowled out for 118 with nine balls tospare. Opener Abdul Saad hit a valiant42 off 27 balls with five boundaries andthree sixes.

Imran Javed made 23 in 25 balls withtwo boundaries.

But after their departure rest of theirbat t ing crumbled agains t the spin ofFawad Khan and pace of Rumman Khan.Fawad took three wickets for 25 runsand lef t a rm paceman Rumman RaisKhan snapped-up three wickets for 27runs .

The fourth quarter-f inal betweenMalir Gymkhana and Alamgir Gymkhanahas been reschedule due to non- avail-ability of the teams which are featuringin other ramazan events.

Summarized scores:Pakistan CC 152/8 in 20 overs (Babar

Agha 56, M.Waqas 33, Ramiz Raja 22,Abdul Qadir 4/24. Nauman Salim 2/39).M.Hussain CC 118 all out in 18.3 overs(Abdul Saad 42, Imran Javed 23, FawadKhan 3/25, Rumman Khan 3/27).—APP

Faraz, Nabeelexcel as Alamgir

Gymkhanaenters semis

KARACHI—The duo FarazAli and Nabeel Hashmi ex-celled with the bat and ballas Alamgir Gymkhana ad-vanced in the semi-final ofsecond Peace CupRamazan T-20 Cricket Tour-nament when they over-powered Haideri Tradersby 13-run in the first quar-ter-final at the Lawai Sta-dium Naya Nazimabad hereon Monday night.

Faraz hammered anawesome 85 in 45 ballsstudded with five bound-aries and as many sixes asAlamgir Gymkhana scored157 for the loss of fivewickets in 20 overs. SaudShakeel hit two boundariesand one sixer in his 29 off26 balls and Jazhid Aliscored 26 in 30 deliveriesincluded one six and onefour.

Slow left arm spinnerMohibullah continued hisfine run in the event bygrabbing three wickets for20 runs.

Off-spinner NabeelHashmi captured four wick-ets for 19 runs in a deadlyfour overs spell as HaideriTraders was restricted to144 for the loss of ninewickets at the end of their20 overs.

Left arm spinner SaudShakeel extended himgood support by finishingwith three wickets for 33runs.

Mir Waiz emerged asthe top-scorer with 42 in 37balls spiced with threefours and brace of sixes.Veteran first class cricketerSaeed Bin Nasir hit fourboundaries in his 33 off 26balls. Chairman CPLCAhmed Chinoy and Chair-man Arif Habib Group, ArifHabib presented theawards.—APP

Tim Bresnan bowls to Chris Rogers, Yorkshire v Middlesex, County Championship, Division One, Scarborough, 4th day.

BIPIN DANI

OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT

MUMBAI—Former India cricketer ChanduBorde, who completed 80 years on Mon-day, believes that his birthday was a spe-cial one.

“It coincided with Team India’s vic-tory and that too at Lord’s. It was a doubledelight for me”, he said over telephonefrom his Pune residence.

“I went for prayers at YMCA in themorning and prayed for my wish to getfulfilled”, he added.

“Believe me, I sensed Dhoni’s victoryon day one itself after seeing Lord’s wicketon TV. India had better attack thanEngland’s batting which seemed weak”.

“If India continues to play like this,the series win would be not far away”, hehoped.

Back home in Delhi, Ishant Sharma’sfamily didn’t celebrate their son’s splen-did bowling which won him a Man of the

It was my special birthday,says Chandu Borde

Match (MoM) award.“No, we didn’t celebrate his perfor-

mance, the father, Vijay Sharma said overtelephone.

“We are happy with Team India’svictory which has come after so manyyears but will hold the party only if ourteam wins the series abroad”, the dadadded.

“We didn’t watch the match to-day.Being an auspicious Monday and our onetime fasting, we went out on walks withfriends and only there I received a callfrom someone congratulating me onIndia’s victory and Ishant’s MoM per-formance”.

“Me and Ishant’s mother, Grishawould now watch the highlights of thematch”, he added.

Ishant’s performance has enabled himto have his name on Lord’s HonoursBoard.

Ishant Sharma is the only batsmanamong Lord’s 22 players who has neverscored 50 in Test innings.

LONDON—India captain Mahendra SinghDhoni hailed his side’s determination inforcing the collapse of England who facednew trouble Tuesday when wicketkeeperMatt Prior withdrew for at least the rest ofthe season.

India head towards the third Test inSouthampton on Sunday in a dominantposition against a demoralised England—crushed by 95 runs at Lord’s on Monday.

Ishant Sharma, not the fastest bowlerin world cricket and not renowned for hisuse of the short ball, bounced out a suc-cession of England batsmen after Dhoni,playing his last Test at Lord’s, finally per-suaded him to drop short.

The result was a devastating burst offive wickets for 24 runs in 33 balls eitherside of lunch that led Sharma to finish withTest-best figures of seven for 74.

India ended a woeful sequence of 15successive Tests without an away victory.England have now not won in 10 Tests.

Dhoni rejoices as demoralisedEngland lose Prior

Now India will hope for a ‘win’ off thefield when Ravindra Jadeja takes part Tues-day in a preliminary hearing on InternationalCricket Council disciplinary charges aris-ing from his alleged confrontation withEngland’s James Anderson during the firstTest in Nottingham.

The pair shook hands at Lord’s afterJadeja ran out Anderson to seal only India’ssecond Test win at the ‘home of cricket’ in82 years of trying following ar five-wicketvictory back in 1986.

“This is a result of hard effort... and itwas fantastic to see the determination theguys showed,” said Dhoni.

“It seems it will be my last at Lord’s, forsure... so it’s definitely memorable,” the 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman added.

Dhoni said Sharma needed some per-suading a plan he’d hatched in conjunc-tion with India coach Duncan Fletcher, for-merly in charge of England. “To start with itwas very difficult to convince him.—AFP

LAHORE—As the Najam Sethi-ZakaAshraf saga finally ends, Pakistancricket is set to turn another corner inthe right direction with the implemen-tation of its new ‘independently-drafted’ constitution, a copy of whichwas made public on Tuesday.

The Pakistan CricketBoard’s constitution hasbeen rewritten, changing thestructure of the governingboard and making the ap-pointment of the chairmanmore democratic. The care-taker set-up, due in sevendays, will implement the newconstitution and hold theelection for the chairman.This is the fourth constitu-tion since 1995 and the sec-ond in the past year.

According to the 27-page constitution, the PrimeMinister of the country shallbe the chief patron of theboard and may give the PCB“general policy directions”.Historically, the President of Pakistanhas been the patron-in-chief and hasbeen appointing the chairman directly.The post of chairman still holds sig-nificant value though the board ofgovernors (BoG) will now elect onefrom among its ten members.

Any member within the board canbe eligible only if he holds a bachelordegree, is a citizen of Pakistan, has noconviction of any offence involvingmoral turpitude, and has never beenadjudged insolvent by competent

New PCB constitutionretains chairman’s power

court of law. One can’t hold the officeif one is incapable of dischargingone’s functions for reasons of physi-cal or mental incapability.

The eligibility of the chairman hadnever been well defined in past con-stitutions. The new constitution hasnot only strengthened the BoG but

also made it moreaccountable andmore transparent.Though the chair-man will beelected for tenureof three years theBoG can removehim with a no-confidence voteagainst him. Oth-erwise, the chair-man shall be eli-gible for re-elec-tion for one fur-ther term of threeyears but will notbe entitled for thethird term.

The PCB has been criticised in thepast because its constitution allowedthe chairman near-dictatorial powers.The amended constitution maintainsthat status quo as the elected chair-man can control and oversee incomeand expenditure, constitute the selec-tion committee, make appointmentsincluding the heads of such commit-tees, the captains, vice-captains of thenational cricket teams (men andwomen) and hold power for final ap-proval and finalise cricket teams picked

by the selection committees.The composition of the BoG was

also restructured, reducing the mem-bers from 14 to 10. The body will in-clude four regional representations(top four teams from the Quaid-e-AzamTrophy), four representatives of ser-vices organizations (top four depart-ment teams) and two members to benominated by the patron in his discre-tion. The federal secretary of the min-istry of inter-provincial coordinationor any other officer nominated by himshall be an ex officio, non-voting 11thmember. The term of each member ofthe BoG is three years - equivalent toone term of the chairman in a bid toinduce continuity in the set-up.

The new constitution saw an in-crease of regional associations from15 to 16, with full status to AzadJammu and Kashmir.

The constitution offered plans forgrassroots cricket. Regional associa-tions will be handed a model constitu-tion and allowed to grow and buildtheir capacity. The regional associa-tions may receive annual funds fromthe board but the constitution encour-aged them to generate money throughtheir own efforts for their utilizationand for onward transmission to thedistrict/zonal and city associations.

“The Regional Cricket Associa-tions shall ensure proper and trans-parent application of the funds andshall provide audited accounts thereofto the Board otherwise the future grantfor the said Region may be withheld,”the constitution said.—Agencies

Football: Brazil’sWanderson awaits

Russia callMOSCOW—Brazilian for-ward Francisco Wanderson,who plays for Russian topflight side FC Krasnodar,said Tuesday he was readyto play for Russia in the fu-ture.

Russia manager FabioCapello has called on thenational football union toconsider selecting foreignplayers in order to boost thenational squad.

And Wanderson,along with compatriotMario Fernandes, whoplays for CSKA Moscow,have both said they wouldbe interested in playing forRussia.

“I will definitely accepta proposal to play for Rus-sia if I receive it,” the ITAR-TASS news agency quotedWanderson as saying.

The 28-year-old, whohad played for Brazilian clubFortaleza and Swedish sec-ond division outfit GAISbefore joining FC Krasnodarin 2012, won the Russianleague top scorer’s title inhis inaugural season.

Defender Fernandes,23, played 58 times andscored one goal for Brazil-ian side Gremio beforeCSKA Moscow signed himin 2012.—AFP

South Africaaim to end SriLanka series

jinxCOLOMBO—An upbeatSouth Africa will look tocarry their winning momen-tum in the second Testagainst Sri Lanka beginningon Thursday, and break a21-year-old jinx on the is-land.

The Proteas, the currentworld number two, have notwon a Test series in Sri Lankasince 1993 when they firsttoured the country and beatthe hosts 1-0.

On their next three tours,they won one Test while los-ing two series and drawingone.

But a new dawn seemsto be beckoning for thevisitors after they won thefirst Test in Galle on Sun-day by 153 runs to take a1-0 lead in the two-Testseries, and hand HashimAmla a winning start to hiscaptaincy.

“Not many teams havecome here and won a Testseries so it’s obviously onthe back of our minds,” saidAmla, the first non-whiteplayer to lead South Africain a full-time capacity.

Amla, 31, was namedcaptain last month followingthe retirement of GraemeSmith who led the Proteasin a record 109 Tests.—AFP

Tennis: Querrey,Sela advancewhile Monfils

withdrawsATLANTA—Israel’s DudiSela and American SamQuerrey advanced to thesecond round of the ATPAtlanta Open with victoriesMonday while French thirdseed Gael Monfils withdrewfrom the event.

Sela ousted AmericanDonald Young 6-3, 6-0 whileQuerrey blasted 20 aces ineliminating countrymanSteve Johnson 7-6 (7/3), 7-5in the $568,000 hardcourtevent, an early warm-uptournament for the US Open.

Querrey, who won in 92minutes after taking the onlybreak of the match in the fi-nal game, and Sela will meetin the second round with thewinner in line to face Cana-dian fourth seed VasekPospisil in the quarter-finals.

Monfils, who has beennagged by a right knee in-jury, was replaced in thedraw by New Zealand quali-fier Michael Venus.

Venus, ranked 349th inthe world, enjoys a first-round bye in quest of the$103,000 top prize. He willface either American JackSock or Colombia’sAlejandro Gonzalez in thesecond round.—AFP

Waratahs tostart Potgieter

in SuperRugby semi

SYDNEY—South African lockJacques Potgieter will start forthe New South WalesWaratahs in their Super Rugbysemi-final against the ACTBrumbies this weekend, coachMichael Cheika said on Tues-day. The former Springboksecond row has got the nodahead of hulking Wallaby WillSkelton for the starting spotalongside Kane Douglas forSaturday’s match, which willdecide who faces the Canter-bury Crusaders or SouthAfrica’s Sharks in the final.

Fullback Israel Folau andwinger Rob Horne both re-turn to the side after missingthe final match of the regularseason against theQueensland Reds because ofa thigh problem and flu re-spectively. Skelton is almostcertain to start on the benchbut there will be no placeamong the replacements forPeter Betham, with Cheikafeeling the winger neededmore gametime at club levelafter returning from a frac-tured foot.—APP

Belarus’ Vasil Kiryienka leads a breakaway during the 237.5 km 16th stage of the101st edition of the Tour de France between Carcassonne and Bagneres-de-Luchon.

MADRID—Former Barcelona presidentSandro Rosell was questioned in a Spanishcourt on Monday over the 86-million-euro($117 million) signing of Brazilian strikerNeymar.

Rosell did not speak to journalists ashe arrived at the Madrid headquarters ofthe National Court, Spain’s top criminalcourt, to be questioned by investigatingjudge Pablo Ruz.

The judge in June issued a summonsfor Rosell and the football club, through itslegal representatives, to appear in court astax crime suspects over the Neymar deal.

The Spanish taxman lost out on up to11.8 million euros in total, according the thesummons. A tax office report cited by thejudge listed lost revenues of 2.4 million eu-ros in 2011; 6.8 million euros in 2013 and asmuch as 2.6 million euros in 2014.

Court quizzes Ex-Barca bossover Neymar case

Rosell resigned from Barcelona in Janu-ary as he faced legal action accusing him ofmisappropriation of funds for not disclos-ing the destination of all the money spenton bringing the 22-year-old Brazilian for-ward to the club last summer.

Subsequently, the club revealed all thefigures and clauses involved in the deal,which totalled 86.2 million euros, far abovethe 57-million-euro price tag the club origi-nally announced.

As a result Barcelona were then indictedfor alleged tax fraud linked to the signing.

The Catalan giants made a voluntarytax payment of 13.5 million euros in Febru-ary over the signing to avoid the club’sname being tarnished.

But Barcelona have protested their in-nocence and say they are confident of get-ting that money back.—AFP

COLOMBO—Sri Lanka´s frontline seamerShaminda Eranga was Tuesday ruled outof the deciding second Test against SouthAfrica due to a hand injury, dealing a freshblow to the beleaguered hosts.

Eranga, 28, tore the webbing betweenthe thumb and index finger of his right handwhile fielding on day one of the first Test inGalle which Sri Lanka lost by 153 runs to godown 1-0 in the two-Test rubber.

He bowled just nine overs in the game,with his injury requiring eightstitches.”Eranga is definitely out of the sec-ond Test. The selectors are decidingwhether to rope in a replacement for him inthe squad,” Sri Lankan media managerRajith Fernando told AFP.

Eranga´s absence will be sorely felt bySri Lanka as he has been the most effectivebowler for them this year, taking 25 wicketsat an average of 27.64.Sri Lanka, who re-cently lost the one-day series against South

Sri Lanka pacer Erangaruled out of second Test

Africa 2-1, have Dhammika Prasad and left-armer Chanaka Welegedara as fast-bowl-ing cover.

Meanwhile, South Africa have calledin former coach Gary Kirsten for some bat-ting and strategic advice as they seek theirfirst Test series win on the island in 21years.

Kirsten relinquished his head coachposition with the national team last yearbut he has been used as a consultant on anad hoc basis.

“The arrangement (for him to join theteam in Sri Lanka) was confirmed prior tothe start of the two-Test series, and willcontinue throughout the season,” CricketSouth Africa said in a news release.

Kirsten, a former South Africa batsman,will be with the team in Colombo until thesecond day of the Test match which is setto begin at the Sinhalese Sports Clubground on Thursday.—AFP

BOGOTA—Bernard Tomic climbed from124 to 70 in the latest ATP rankings onthe strength of his second career win inBogota.

The 21-year-old defeated defendingchampion Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-6(7/4) in the final to add to his victory inthe Sydney International in 2014.

Tomic’s career had taken a downwardturn since making the fourth round ofthe 2012 Austral ian Open, a declinewhich saw his ATP ranking slip from 27.

The only change in the top 10 headedby Serbia’s Novak Djokovic involvedSpain’s David Ferrer, who jumped oneplace into sixth.

There are six Australians in the top100. Lleyton Hewitt is up to 40, NickKyrgios has risen to 65.

Matt Ebden has slipped five places andis ranked 86, while Sam Groth has im-proved seven places and is 92nd.—AFP

Bernard Tomic climbs 54 places onATP rankings after Bogota win

Bernard Tomic at the Sydney Interna-tional.

AN anti-cancer drug made by the U.S.biotech firm Celgene can re-activate hidden HIV in patients so that it can be de-

tected, bringing researchers closer to being ableto treat it, Danish scientists said on Tuesday. Ina small study presented at aninternational AIDS confer-ence in Australia, the re-searchers said the findingwas a “step in the right di-rection” toward finding acure for the viral disease butthat many years of researchare still needed.

“There is still a long wayto go and many obstacles toovercome before we can starttalking about a cure againstHIV,” said Ole SchmeltzSogaard, who led the re-search team from AarhusUniversity and Aarhus Uni-versity Hospital in Denmark,in a statement. The drug,known generically asromidepsin and under thebrand name Istodax, is licensed to treat a typeof cancer called T-cell lymphoma. In this study,however, it was investigated as a potential HIVtherapy.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in-fection can be kept at very low levels by anti-AIDS drugs, but there is still no cure that caneradicate HIV from the body. Some 35 millionpeople worldwide are infected with HIV, andthe global AIDS epidemic has killed 39 millionsince it began in the 1980s, according to the lat-est data from the United Nations AIDS program,UNAIDS.

Scientists working to find a cure know thevirus can hide in a state of hibernation in cells

called CD4 cells, which are part of the body’simmune system. CD4 cells cannot fight theAIDS virus themselves, but killer T-cells canif they are able to tell whether or not a CD4cell contains the hibernating HIV.

Sharon Lewin, co-chairof the AIDS2014 conference inMelbourne Australia and a pro-fessor of infectious diseases whowas not directly involved in thisstudy, said the results of thestudy were significant and en-couraging because they showed“we can wake up the virus res-ervoir and make enough of (it)to leave the cell, making it vis-ible to an immuneresponse”.The Danish teamgave three once-weekly infu-sions of romidepsin to six HIV-positive adult patients who werealready taking antiretroviralAIDS drugs and whose so-called “viral load” was undetect-able.

They found thatromidepsin increased the virus production inHIV-infected cells between 2.1 and 3.9 timesabove normal and that the viral load in theblood increased to measurable levels in fiveout of six patients. “We have now shown thatwe can activate a hibernating virus withromidepsin and that the activated virus movesinto the bloodstream in large amounts,”Schmeltz Sogaard said in a statement aboutthe results. When the virus is activated andmoves toward the bloodstream it leaves a traceon the outside of the infected CD4 cells, heexplained. In principle, this means killer T-cells would be able to trace and destroy theHIV-infected CD4 cells.

Celgene drug can driveHIV out of hiding

Prominent writer, Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi presenting a book to President Mamnoon Hussain, at his residence on Tuesday.

Traders of Zanib Market have blocked the road during a protest demonstration on Tuesday.

IGP Sindh, Ghulam Haider Jamali presiding over a law & order meeting at CPO. —PO photo Sultan Chaki

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—Sindh government and Police authori-ties had since day one been claiming that they at-tained best results from ongoing targeted operationagainst criminals and terrorist in Karachi. In this re-gard, Rs 8 billion were sanctioned for procuringarmoured personnel carriers (APC) bullet proof vestsand helmets. Sindh government had also inducted700 retired army personnel as cops while special newsections were created in Sindh Police especially therapid response Police force.

However, such tall claims could be judged formthe on ground factual situation, the Police culture atPolice Stations, wild chasing efforts of Police ofmany areas concerned and special Police force onmotorcycles for minting money from the bikers, trad-

ers, fruit and vegetable venders and citizens. Theefficiency of Police could also be judged throughprovisioning fuel for Police cars required for patrol-ling purposes. The shocking situation was that pro-visioning of fuel (Diesel) for Sindh Police vans hadnot been available since June 26.

A Police officer had on condition of anonymitytold this scribe that only 2 litres of diesel was pro-vided to Police and the authorities wanted to seePolice vans on patrol round the clock, which expenseswere met through ‘Special Police Action, on streetson pretext of snap checking. Bikers were an easytarget for meeting daily expenses.

He said that a minimum of 22 litres of dieselwas need to keep Police cars on wheels round theclock, which had cost Rs 2200 per 24 hours. Hun-dreds of Police vans needed that quantity of 22 litres

of diesel per 24 hours and they were the bikers andcitizens of Karachi, who were forced to pay that hugesum of money so that Police might be at work.

Meanwhile, another cop on condition of anonym-ity told this scribe that cops injured in Police en-counters with hardened criminals were admitted at alocal hospital and Police authorities had fixed a sumof Rs25, 000 as medical budget of the injured cop.After the budget was spent, a Deputy Inspector Gen-eral rank officer had to approve another tranche sothat the hospital could continue to providing medi-cines and other facilities to the injured cops admit-ted at the hospital.

In many cases, hospital management had stoppedprovisioning the medicine and other facilities till asecond approval in form of a letter duly signed bythe DIG concerned was reached the management.

Ongoing target operation in Karachi

Supply of fuel for Police vansstopped since one month

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—Corruption at its heightwhere fitness certificates are issued to theshabby vehicles even having no seats,windowpanes and extremely hazardousto human life on roads.

Karachi Chamber of Commerce andIndustry while point out such buses dan-gerous to human life and road safety saidthat when the government departmentsand officials are miserably failed to checkthese vehicles, at least CNG filling sta-tions should play a role and deny to pro-vide CNG to such buses which are play-ing with the life and dignity of the people.

Acting President of the KarachiChamber of Commerce and Industry(KCCI), Muhammad Idrees, while ex-pressing deep concern over loss of pre-cious lives due to a blast in CNG cylin-der of a bus at Rashid Minhas Road, de-manded that strict ban must be imposedon filling of CNG in those buses whichare not bearing fitness certificates.

In a statement issued, MuhammadIdrees said that every day people are dy-ing in such CNG blasts due to lack ofmaintenance by transporters but the con-cerned authorities are not paying any at-tention to this issue and lives of millionsof people including men, women, chil-

dren and senior citizens are at stake asthey travel in these dilapidated busesevery day.

Muhammad Idrees urged PrimeMinister, Mian Muhammad NawazSharif, Federal Minister for Petroleum& Natural Resources, Shahid KhaqanAbbasi, Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat ulEbad Khan, Chief Minister Sindh SyedQaim Ali Shah, Acting IG Sindh,Ghulam Haider Jamali and other con-cerned Ministers of Sindh andIslamabad to take notice of the incidentand order strict ban on filling of CNGin public transport which do not bearfitness certificate.

Fitness certificate of vehicles a joke

Keep off unfit commercialvehicles from CNG: KCCI

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Four new and equipped ambu-lances have been inducted in the “ambulancefleet” of Al-Khidmat Foundation Pakistan.

According to the details, President Al-Khidmat Foundation Pakistan Dr Hafeez-ur-Rehman with the auspices of “ICNA ReliefCanada” handed over the keys of ambulancesto the office –bearers of Sindh andBalochistan.

In a handout issued here on Tuesday,three ambulances were handed over to AsimAli, office bearer of Al-Khidmat, Balochistanand one ambulance was handed over toNaseer Ansari, office bearer of DistrictTharparkar, Sindh. Assistant Secretary Gen-eral Engineer Abdul Aziz and Naib Ameer

JI Karachi Rashid Qureshi were also presenton the occasion.

Talking to media, Dr Hafeez-ur-Rehmanbriefed about the activities of Al-KhidmatFoundation and said that the ambulances arebeing used to shift the patients to the hospi-tals in any untoward incident.

“Al-Khidmat is being look after the ail-ing people and IDPs within its limited re-sources, adding that it is being struggled hardto reach at those destinations where publicfacilities are not being reached properly”, headded.

Dr Hafeez-ur-Rehman further said thatthe Al-Khidmat was the voice of the lessprivileged and deprived people who werefacing difficulties and problems in far flungareas.

Al-Khidmat ambulancefleet expanded

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Karachi Metro-politan Corporation (KMC)Administrator Rauf Akhtar

Farooqui said media has gainedmuch importance now due to itspower in our society; it was likea mirror to us through which weget to serve our city in a betterway. Problems facing byKarachi city could be solvedeasily if its inhabitants “own”their city. He expressed theseviews while addressing as chiefguest at the Iftar dinner held byKMC Officers Welfare Associa-

tion (KMCOWA) in honor ofthe journalists and members ofKMCOWA Monday.

Metropolitan Commis-sioner (MC) Sajjad HussainAbbasi and other KMC officersalso attended the program withthe members of media commu-nity. Appreciating the role ofmedia in the progress and de-velopment of the city, Farooquisaid these have provided a

friendly working environmentthrough providing valuableguidance for the solution ofcivic problems. The people werealways informed about the up-lift projects which had been car-ried out in Karachi to providebetter civic facilities to citizensand to raise their standard of liv-ing.He said the formation ofKMC Officers Welfare Associa-tion was a good step and it

should be expanded further sothat its members and their fami-lies could avail maximum facili-ties here.

Speaking on this occasion,the President of KMCOWAMuhammad Rehan Khan andGeneral Secretary Mazhar Khanthanked the KMC Administra-tor, MC, media representativesand members of KMCOWA toattend the Iftar dinner.

Problems can be solved if peopleown Karachi: KMC Administrator

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—A Two-Member Delegation consisting of TeshuKondo, Consul and Security Officer, Consulate General of Ja-pan and Maki Mizusawa, of Southwest Asia Division, South-east and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, Asian andOceanian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs called onAdditional IGP Karachi Ghulam Qadir Thebo at CPO Tuesday.

The delegation remained there for some time and discussedmatters of mutual interest.

AIG Karachi informed delegation about the working ofKarachi police with special reference to ongoing targeted op-eration against terrorists and criminal elements.

He said that the terrorists were targeting Karachi to stabi-lize the peace in the city.

He said with the starting of Zarb e Azab Operation againstterrorists by armed forces IDPs were being coming to the Karachifor which special arrangements have been made.

He said with the success of Zarb e Azab Operation IDPswill be returned back to their native places.

Delegation of Japan CG calls on Thebo

AN anti-cancer drug made by the U.S.biotech firm Celgene can re-activate hidden HIV in patients so that it can be de-

tected, bringing researchers closer to being ableto treat it, Danish scientists said on Tuesday. Ina small study presented at aninternational AIDS confer-ence in Australia, the re-searchers said the findingwas a “step in the right di-rection” toward finding acure for the viral disease butthat many years of researchare still needed.

“There is still a long wayto go and many obstacles toovercome before we can starttalking about a cure againstHIV,” said Ole SchmeltzSogaard, who led the re-search team from AarhusUniversity and Aarhus Uni-versity Hospital in Denmark,in a statement. The drug,known generically asromidepsin and under thebrand name Istodax, is licensed to treat a typeof cancer called T-cell lymphoma. In this study,however, it was investigated as a potential HIVtherapy.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in-fection can be kept at very low levels by anti-AIDS drugs, but there is still no cure that caneradicate HIV from the body. Some 35 millionpeople worldwide are infected with HIV, andthe global AIDS epidemic has killed 39 millionsince it began in the 1980s, according to the lat-est data from the United Nations AIDS program,UNAIDS.

Scientists working to find a cure know thevirus can hide in a state of hibernation in cells

called CD4 cells, which are part of the body’simmune system. CD4 cells cannot fight theAIDS virus themselves, but killer T-cells canif they are able to tell whether or not a CD4cell contains the hibernating HIV.

Sharon Lewin, co-chairof the AIDS2014 conference inMelbourne Australia and a pro-fessor of infectious diseases whowas not directly involved in thisstudy, said the results of thestudy were significant and en-couraging because they showed“we can wake up the virus res-ervoir and make enough of (it)to leave the cell, making it vis-ible to an immuneresponse”.The Danish teamgave three once-weekly infu-sions of romidepsin to six HIV-positive adult patients who werealready taking antiretroviralAIDS drugs and whose so-called “viral load” was undetect-able.

They found thatromidepsin increased the virus production inHIV-infected cells between 2.1 and 3.9 timesabove normal and that the viral load in theblood increased to measurable levels in fiveout of six patients. “We have now shown thatwe can activate a hibernating virus withromidepsin and that the activated virus movesinto the bloodstream in large amounts,”Schmeltz Sogaard said in a statement aboutthe results. When the virus is activated andmoves toward the bloodstream it leaves a traceon the outside of the infected CD4 cells, heexplained. In principle, this means killer T-cells would be able to trace and destroy theHIV-infected CD4 cells.

Celgene drug can driveHIV out of hiding

Minister for Food Bilal Yasin distributing food items among deserving people.

A delegation of Mianwali Bar Association led by its President Liaqat Ali Malik with ChiefJustice Lahore High Court, Justice Khwaja Imtiaz Ahmed after their meeting.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Minister for Excise & Taxationand Finance, Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman hassaid that paramedics and nurses play vital rolein provision of the healthcare facilities to thepatients therefore, they are the backbone ofour healthcare system.

He said that government has created 3000new posts of nurses and Rs. 1.43 billion havebeen allocated for this purpose in the currentfiscal year whereas the recruitment processhas been initiated. He said that in recogni-tion of their services, the curricula and train-ing of the paramedics needs to be upgraded.

He said that paramedics and nursesshould aware of the changes in the world re-garding their field therefore they should begiven opportunities of refresher courses sothat they can be able to provide healthcarefacilities to the patients in a better way.

Talking to delegations of nurses, para-medics and party workers, Mujtaba Shuja urRehman said that focus of the government is

upon primary and protective healthcare sothat to achieve the Millennium DevelopmentGoals (MDGs), to achieve the targets thecommunity midwifery homes will be estab-lished at the far flung areas of the provinceto provide basic health facilities to child &mother and to look after their health as wellas to minimize the maternal & neonatal mor-tality rate during the child birth. He said thatgovernment has provided record funds tohealth sector for imparting modern healthcarefacilities.

He said that by increasing the health bud-get up to 121.80 billion rupees, the presentgovernment has ensured modern health fa-cilities and free medicines to poor and re-source-less people.

Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman aid that thegovernment was appointing trained ladyhealth workers, LHVs and community mid-wives at health centers, especially in remoteareas so that infants and mothers could besaved from fatal diseases, whereas, LHWswere being appointed in remote areas.

Focus of Govt onhealthcare: Mujtaba

MUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—Lahore Waste ManagementCompany (LWMC) launched a specialcleanliness operation at fruit and veg-etable market, Iqbal Town on the requestof its administrator after reports of per-sistent issues of sanitations due to lackof any SWM services in the market.

LWMC removed and transferredmore than 150 tons of waste to dumpsiteduring a day night operation.

Cleanliness operation has been ex-ecuted to coordinate with CDGL andadministration of Vegetable Market andwas supervised by Manager OperationsSohail Anwar Malik, Deputy ManagerOperation Fahad Aslam and Zonal Of-ficer Muhammad Tayyab.

The LWMC deputed 9 dumpers, twoloaders, two mini dumpers and 25 work-ers to ensure maximum cleanliness of themarket. The workers and machinery ofthe LWMC have taken part in this opera-

tion in order to provide shopkeepers,buyers and Traders a healthy and cleanenvironment during Ramzan ul Mubarik.

This cleanup operation was con-ducted on the special instructions of MDLWMC Khalid Majeed keeping in con-sideration the preparations for Eid ul Fitr.The Administrator of Sabzi Mandi re-marked appreciation for the activity andsaid this a very positive initiative by theLWMC and have expressed satisfactionover the cleanliness operation.

150 tons of waste removedfrom Sabzi Mandi, Iqbal Town

OBSERVER REPORT

LAHORE—Philanthropists, industrialists, traders,assembly members and people of various walks oflife met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad ShahbazSharif here Tuesday and presented cheques for 16crore rupees towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fundfor the IDPs.

Philanthropists of Lahore gave cheques worth Rs.3.50 crore while industrialists presented cheques forRs. 1.35 crore for Chief Minister’s Relief Fund whichinclude Rs. 25 lakh by Guard Group, Rs. 25 lakh bySK Brothers, Rs. 30 lakh by Master Paint and Rs. 25lakh by Packages.

A business group presented cheque for Rs. 10crore, Principal DPS Sahiwal Brig. Anwaar-ul-HaqKirmani Rs. 5.25 lakh, Member Provincial Assem-bly Dr. Nadia Aziz Rs. eight lakh, Pir Ghulam Farid

MPA Rs. five lakh, Shazia Wattoo MNA Rs. one lakh,Sirdar Zulfiqar Rs. 10 lakh, Chief Executive OfficerAsia Poultry Feed Ghulam Nabi Chaudhry Rs. 50lakh, Vice Chancellor Veterinary University LahoreDr. Talat Naseer Pasha Rs. 11 lakh, Mian Waqar Rs.10 lakh and Saleem Ghauri Rs. 10 lakh.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister saidthat a large number of people of various walks of lifeare donating funds for IDPs in response to his ap-peal. He said that every penny of money donated to-wards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund will be spent ina transparent manner.

He said that this spirit of help to distressed peopleis highly commendable and they are earning the bless-ings of Almighty Allah by helping IDPs. He said thatPakhtun brothers and sisters of North Waziristan dis-placed due to war against terrorists are great Paki-stanis. Shahbaz Sharif said that those forced to mi-

grate are facing problems and difficulties for the sakeof peace in Pakistan. He said that helping every af-fected family in this hour of distress is the obligationof every Pakistani. He vowed that Punjab govern-ment will spare no effort in providing assistance todisplaced brothers and sisters and their rehabilitation.He said that the people and Punjab government willnot rest content till return and complete rehabilita-tion of affected families to their houses.

The Chief Minister said that relief items worthcrores of rupees have been sent to Bannu from Punjab.He said that fodder is also being dispatched fromPunjab for the livestock of affectees. Member Na-tional Assembly Pervaiz Malik, Members ProvincialAssembly Chaudhry Shahbaz, Bao Akhtar, AdvisorKhawaja Ahmed Hasaan, Senior Member Board ofRevenue, DCO Lahore and other concerned officialswere also present on the occasion.

Philanthropists present chequesworth Rs 16 crore to CM for IDPs

PML-N Body starts arrangementsto celebrate Independence Day

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—The first meeting ofthe PML-N provincial commit-tee set up to celebrate the Inde-pendence Day in a befittingmanner was held under thechairmanship of Punjab PML-N Secretary General and LaborMinister Raja Ashfaq Sarwarhere. The body set up underthe direction of Chief MinisterShahbaz Sharif has been named‘Mah-e-Azadi Committee’

which comprises provincialministers Malik NadeemKamran, Ch MuhammadShafiq, Khalil Tahir Sindhu,Mohtarma Zakiya ShahNawaz, Adviser to CM KhwajaSalman Rafiq, PML-N CityPresident Muhammad PervezMalik, MNAs and MPAs RanaMuhammad Arshad and ZaeemHussain Qadri, Taufeeq Butt,Amjad Javed Ch and RameshSingh Arora, and others asmembers.

The meeting decided that onthe Independence Day the sanc-tity of the national flag wouldbe held high and no one wouldbe allowed to show any disre-spect in this regard. MinisterLabour expressing his viewsstated that the ideology of Paki-

stan would be highlighted andthe celebrations would knittedtogether in a manner that theycome out as a symbol of unity.United stand of the whole na-tion to purge the country of thescourge of terrorism, work forpeace, and make the countryforward looking and progressivewherein the whole nation shareits efforts, he further said. Theprovincial ministers suggestedthat people would be motivatedto promote nationalism by ris-ing above regionalism or lin-guistic thinking. The meetingdecided to involve the party or-ganizations at every level in theIndependence Day celebrationswould continue throughout themonth. The full blown celebra-tion would begin to pick up from

August 12 and reach the climaxon August 14, and later on con-tinue in the rest of the month.The meeting also decided toraise national flags at every pub-lic place as well as to providenational flag of paper and fab-ric free of cost to the people onthe roads, street, shops and attheir residences.

The meeting also decidedto involve the eminent person-alities who won the laurels inthe various walks of life in theIndependence Day festivities,besides holding programmeson the national songs, poetry ofAllama Iqbal, and the dramaticpresentation of that, seminars,symposiums,quiz programmes,etc. Raja Ashfaq Sarwar saidthat the committee would meet

again on Thursday to give finalshape to the Independence Dayprogrammes with the participa-tion of the district presidents ofthe party organisations.

Parliamentary Secretary inthe Punjab Assembly RanaMuhammad Arshad said theparty wants to send a messageto the world that the whole na-tion stands like a rock behindour armed forces which arefighting terrorism with a strongcommitment. He said the cel-ebrations would also representunity and oneness against inter-nal and the external forceswhich are out to create distur-bance in the country and wantto hamper the progress and pros-perity which country has begunto attain under PML-N rule.

PU passes resolution againstIsrael’s barbaric attack

MUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday rejectedthe bail application of Gullu Butt, the main accused in theModel Town vandalism incident.

During the hearing, Butt’s counsel presented the stancethat his client was being accused to implicate him in falsecases. He said Butt should be granted bail so that he could

respond to the allegations against him. Justice Haroon saidthat such an individual — who spread fear amongst people —should not be released in any case.

Gullu Butt, also known as Sher-i-Lahore, came into thelimelight after he was caught on cameras brazenly damagingseveral vehicles in the presence of police, during the clashbetween Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers and police inLahore’s Model Town on June 17.

Model Town vandalism: ATCrejects Gullu Butt’s plea for bail

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof DrMujahid Kamran on Tuesday presided over a meeting of allheads of departments in which deans, principals, directors andchairpersons of various institutions and administrative offic-ers participated.

The meeting passed a unanimous resolution against Israel’sbarbaric attack on innocent Palestinians and condemned the

brutalities of Israeli army. The participants called upon Islamiccountries to play their role in stopping Israeli atrocities againstthe Palestinians and especially urged the Pakistan governmentto strengthen Pakistan militarily and technologically. The meet-ing was also informed about various measures taken to helpIDPs. The meeting also reviewed security arrangements ofPunjab University and heads of institutions were directed toadopt standard operating procedures to deal with any emer-gency and install fire extinguishers at sensitive places.