Continued on Page 6

Continued on Page 6

Continued on Page 6

ISLAMABAD—Taliban supremeleader, Mullah MuhmmadOmar, will appoint a high-levelteam for formal talks with theUnited States followingprogress in the ‘exploratorytalks’ with American officials inQatar, a Taliban spokespersonsaid on Thursday.

Suhail Shaheen, Talibanspokesperson for the Qatar po-litical office, told media via tele-phone from Doha, that thepresent Taliban team in the Gulfstate will hold preliminary talkswith the Americans and key is-

sues will be discussed later informal dialogue.

Taliban sources say thatnearly 30 Taliban representatives,including six members of the topleadership, are currently in Qatar.They include head of the teamSyed Tayeb Agha, Qari DinMuhammad Hanif, HajiMuhammad Zahid Ahmadzai,Maulvi Nek Muhammad andSher Muhammad StankaziShaheen said the Taliban will firsthold talks with the US as it is themajor party to the conflict. Con-tentious issues such as Taliban

prisoners in US custody will bediscussed. Shaheen said theywill insist on the release of theirprisoners in Guantanamo andother US prisons as the releaseof Taliban prisoners will be a bigconfidence-building measure forthe talks. “We will ask for theimmediate release of our prison-ers. The Taliban are willing todiscuss exchange of the lone USsoldier in Taliban custody for therelease of the Taliban detainees,”Shaheen said.

The Taliban had captured USArmy Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in

2009. Deadlock over the pris-oners was believed to be one ofthe reasons that led to break-down of talks between the USand Taliban in Qatar in Marchlast year.

Asked when the Taliban willtalk to the Karzai-backed peacecouncil, Shaheen said, “Time isnot ripe for such talks and talkswith the Afghan side will comelater,” he said. He added thatnegotiations were not scheduledon Thursday, contradicting ear-lier media reports. “American

Continued on Page 6

Continued on Page 6

Omar to name team for formal US talks

Afghan peacetalks shouldnot cross ‘redlines’: IndiaBAGHDAD—India hascautioned Afghanistan overpeace talks with the Taliban,saying the new initiative shouldnot violate the “red lines”drawn up by the internationalcommunity.

“We have from time to timereminded all stakeholders aboutthe red lines that was drawn bythe world community andcertainly by the participantsshould not be touched, shouldnot be erased and should not beviolated,” external affairsminister Salman Khurshid told

Continued on Page 6

Gold dropsto near3-year lowSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The price of goldin the local market has seen asharp decline due to a decreasein price in the internationalmarket. The per tola price ofgold saw a Rs 1,800 decreaseand was sold at Rs 50,500 inthe local market.

Internationally, goldslumped close to a three-yearlow after the US FederalReserve signalled it wouldwind down its massive stimulusprogramme this year, dealerssaid.

On the London BullionMarket, the price of goldtumbled as low as $1,287.91 anounce as the dollar weakened— the precious metal striking a

One of Altaf’shouses in Londonsearched for 55 hrsLONDON—In connection withDr Imran Farooq’s murderinvestigation, MetropolitanPolice Counter TerrorismCommand Unit Thursdayconcluded a 55-hour search intwo North West London“residential addresses” —oneof them belonging to MuttahidaQaumi Movement (MQM)chief, Altaf Hussain, reported aprivate Tv channel.

Civil armed forces to bewithdrawn from VIP duty

Security forces not supposed to be guards: NisarISLAMABAD—A high-levelmeeting held here deliberated onlaw and order situation and final-ized priorities to improve secu-rity across the country, FederalInterior Minister Chaudhry NisarAli Khan said on Thursday.

Addressing a press confer-ence, Interior Minister ChaudhryNisar Ali Khan said that civilarmed forces will be withdrawnfrom VIP security.

“Our security forces are notsupposed to be guards. They donot belong to a private securityagency. They have duties to ful-fill.” He said that the governmentwas working to formulate a chan-nel through which security to the

citizens will be ensured. “Wewant to make it a transparentprocess,” he said.

Ch Nisar said that two taskforces are being created. “One

would address security con-cerns of the citizens while theother will be tasked with theresponsibility of working onthe missing persons issue,”Nisar explained.

“The citizens of the countryfeel insecure,” he said. Furtherexplaining how the process ofensuring security can be mademore transparent, he said “If anincident of security lapse occurs,it would be investigated and thereport would be presented tothe public.” He saidthat a report on the Quettaattack will be presented be-fore the Senate and the Na-tional Assembly. “When anFIR is registered, 14 stationswill be notified and not just afew,” Nisar added.

The interior minister furthersaid that all the records of thepolice stations in Islamabad willbe computerised within three

ISLAMABAD: Interior Min-ister Ch Nisar Ali Khan talk-ing to media.

Asif: Privileged class to paymore for electricity

No more cheap gas for fertilizer sector; Quotafor CNG stations to be curtailed

ISLAMABAD—Federal Ministerfor Water and Power KhwajaMohammad Asif Thursday saidthat power tariff for the privi-leged class would be raised soonand supply of gas to CNG sta-tions would be curtailed.

Addressing a conference onenergy reforms organized byIESCO here on Thursday, theminister said that supply of cheapgas to fertilizer factories has alsobeen stopped. He said negotia-tions are going on for the importof 2000MW of electricity fromIndia. He said Pakistan is the only

country which generates 50% ofelectricity through furnace oilwhich would be converted intocoal and other sources in the nexttwo years. He said countries likeChina and India were generatingelectricity through hydel, coaland other resources.

The minister expressed hisanger that power connection ofan ordinary consumer is discon-nected if he does not pay duesfor one month whereas default-ers of big companies and institu-tions were not being punishedand they continue to get the elec-

tricity. Similarly, loadshedding isnot being implemented in feed-ers where members of board ofdistribution companies reside.

He said power subsidy wasbeing enjoyed by those using 100units and 1000 units but now thesubsidy would be given to poorpeople only.

Khawaja Mohammad Asifsaid massive crimes were com-mitted in the last 14 years in thepower sector. Rental PowerPlants project was launched topocket billions of rupees for

Continued on Page 6

Afghan allegations ofterror sanctuaries rejectedIslamabad supports reconciliation process

UNITED NATIONS—Pakistanon Thursday categorically re-jected Afghan accusations overexistence of terrorist sanctuarieson Pakistani soil in the UnitedNations Security Council, reiter-ating peace and stability in Af-ghanistan is a key constituent ofIslamabad’s foreign policy.

“I reject most emphatically(Afghan) Ambassador (Zahir)Tanin’s argument – root, trunkand branch – that terrorist sanc-tuaries exist in Pakistan and someelements continue to use terror-ism as an instrument of foreignpolicy,” Pakistan’s permanent

Ambassador to the UN MasoodKhan said during the 15-mem-ber Council’s debate on the re-port of United Nations AssistanceMission in Afghanistan.

“No, sir, this is not true; andyou know this is not true,” he saidlooking towards his Afghancounterpart. “And this is not gooddiplomacy. By using such argu-ments, you cast aspersions on oursincerity.”

Khan said that Pakistan op-erates as one state where all in-stitutions of the state have con-sensus that terrorism is a threat

Continued on Page 6

ECP ready tohold LG

polls: EbrahimSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Chief Election Com-missioner Fakhruddin GEbrahim on Thursday said thatthe Election Commission of Pa-kistan (ECP) was ready to holdlocal bodies election.

Talking to media personshere at the Lahore High Court,he said that it happened first timein the country that power wastransferred from one democraticgovernment to another.

He said that some mistakesmight had been committed inelectoral process, but they weremade undeliberately. For the first

Continued on Page 6

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Increase in Gen-eral Sales Tax had led to rise inthe prices of food items, ChiefJustice Iftikhar MuhammadChaudhry observed on Thursday.The Chief Justice made this ob-servation while hearing a case

against the increase in generalsales tax and petroleum prices.

The case is being heard by athree-judge bench, headed by thechief justice.

The chief justice said that oneper cent increase in the sales taxcaused 15% surge in the prices.He further questioned why would

people look up to parliament ifthe rulers kept imposing taxes onthem.

Chief Justice IftikharMuhammad Chaudhry remarkedthe way interim sales tax has beenimposed is not acceptable andparliament role will come to end

Increase in sales tax led tobigger food price hike: CJP

Continued on Page 6

OUR CORRESPONDENT

SOUTH WAZIRISTAN—Chiefof Army Staff General AshfaqPervez Kayani said on Thursdaythat Pakistan Army will stay inWaziristan till complete peace isrestored there. Gen Kayani said“the army is engaged in the areato bring peace and provide pro-tection to the people so that theycould live peacefully.”

Gen Kayani was speakingduring the inauguration cer-emony of 50-kilometre-long roadfrom Wana to Angoor Aadda.The army chief further said thatdue to the efforts of the army, theoperation against terrorists wascompleted in a month.

He went on to appeal to thepeople of the area – who migratedbecause of the military action –to return to their homes and re-sume their life business activities.

General Kayani added thatthe government was working on

a plan to ensure development ofthe area by providing civicamenities to the people and con-struction of roads to link the areawith the rest of the country.

The Pakistan Army com-pleted the third trade corridor onthe Pakistan-Afghanistan borderin South Waziristan Agency toimprove the communication net-work and facilitate the people.

The road from Wana to AngoorAdda was completed at a cost ofabout $40 million dollars with thefinancial assistance of UAE.Later, Gen Kayani, along withUAE ambassador in Pakistan,inaugurated this facility.

Meanwhile, as the fight forTirah valley in Khyber agencycontinues, the Chief of ArmyStaff General Ashfaq ParvezKayani visited the agency to take

Army to stay in Waziristantill peace restored: KayaniCOAS visits KA, lauds troops

PM, DG ISIdiscuss law, orderISLAMABAD—Inter Services In-telligence chief Major GeneralZaheerul Islam held a meetingwith Prime Minister NawazSharif to discuss the deteriorat-ing law and order situation inQuetta and Karachi on Thursday.

The prime minister held adetailed discussion with the DGISI over the matters pertaining tothe new national security policybeing formulated by the civil-military leadership, the deterio-

Picture on Back Page

Sindh govt givenone month to end

target killingSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The Sindh gov-ernment has been given onemonth to end target killing in the

Continued on Page 6

Muttahida holdsreferendum on

joining govtOUR CORRESPODENT

HYDERABAD—On the call ofthe Chief of Muttahida QaumiMovement Altaf Hussain, a gen-eral referendum of his party’ssupporters was held on Thursdayunder the aegis of MQM with one

Continued on Page 6

Continued on Page 6

Rivers Kabul,Punjkora in low

flood: FFCPESHAWAR—The IrrigationDepartment Flood Forecast-ing Cell (FFC) here Thurs-day reported low flood inRiver Kabul and RiverPunjkora while others riversin Khyber Pakthunkhwawere flowing normal.

The Spokesman of theCell told APP that River Kabulat Nowshera and Warsak wasin low flood where 66,300 and38,130 cusecs water dis-charged thursday morningrespectively.

Similarly, low flood wasalso recorded at Punjkora atDir where water outflow re-mained 11592 cusec. RiversSwat at Khwazakhela, ShahAlam at Takhtabad andKhayali at Charsadda Roadwere flowing normal where14462, 1184 and 19292 cusecwater was discharged re-spectively. The other riversof Khyber Pakthunkhwawere flowing normal.—APP

Dr Bahadarassumes charge ofVC BB University

ShringalDIR UPPER—Senior acade-mician, Professor Dr KhanBahadar assumed the chargeof vice chancellor ShaheedBenazir Bhutto UniversityShringal. He was appointedVC of the University uponthe retirement of Dr JehandadKhan.

Prof Dr Khan Bahadar hasa vast educational and man-agement experience and isserved as VC Agriculture Uni-versity Peshawar. Uponreaching to Shringal Univer-sity here, he was was warmlyreceived by the academicians,professors, lecturers and stu-dents of the University. DrKhan Bahadar will continueto serve as VC AgricultureUniversity Peshawar till Au-gust and an additional chargeof VC Benazir Bhutto ShaheedUniversity Shringal was as-signed to him. —APP

Minister urgesUlema to promotepeace in society

P E S H A W A R — K h y b e rPakhtunkhwa Minister forZakat, Auqaf and ReligiousAffairs Habibur Rehman urgedUlema to inculcate true normsof Islam in people and makeefforts to eradicate menace ofsectarianism from our socialedifice. Talking to a delegationof Anjume Ulema Auqaf at CivilSecretariat, he said that Ulemashould promote peace, broth-erhood and tolerance throughtheir preaching and play an ef-fective role for the establish-ment of a congenial society.

He said that efforts wouldbe made for setting up modelseminaries in the province be-sides ensuring provision ofcontemporary education facili-ties to students of madrassas.He said that we are not oblivi-ous of the problems of religiousinstitutions and discussion hasbeen done with the concernedauthorities in this regard. Theminister said that property ofAuqaf Department would beretrieved from encroachersadding fare of the propertywould be made compatible withthe market rates.—APP

P E S H A W A R — K h y b e rPakhtunkhwa Minister forCommunication and Works(C&W) Yousuf Ayub Khanon Thursday said the KPgovernment would take revo-lutionary measures for thewelfare of people and devel-opment of province. Talkingto formers ministersMakhdoom Murid KazimShah, Habibullah KhanKundi, newly elected MPAJaved Akbar Khan and a del-egation from Haripur here athis office, he assured allavailable resources would beutilized for uplift of provinceand people would witness itby themselves.

He informed the visitingdelegates that steps have al-

ready been initiated to elimi-nate corruption, unjustice,price-hike and violation ofmerit, adding that the KPgovernment would rise up tothe expectation of thepeople. The minister said thatKP government is deter-mined to put the province onpath of development andprosperity. He asserted thatpeople would soon feel a con-siderable change in the soci-ety due to the policies andmeasures of the sitting gov-ernment. He said the provin-cial government is not onlyrecognize of masses’ issuesbut also have comprehen-sive strategy and planning toaddress these on permanentbasis.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—“Our regionalenvironment demands anever vigilant role for PAF.Presently, in the face of se-curity challenges, our pre-paredness and response hasto be precise and expeditious.It is through the rigoroustraining imparted by exer-

cises like Saffron Bandit thatwe look forward to maintainthe cutting edge of thePAF”, said the Air Chief atthe closing ceremony of PAFTriennial Command level AirExercise Saffron Bandit at anoperational Air Base today.

Air Chief Marshal TahirRafique Butt, Chief of the AirStaff, Pakistan Air Force, was

the chief guest on the occa-sion. While addressing thecombat crew, the Air Chiefsaid, “We are a peace-lovingnation; but fully prepared todefend the integrity and soli-darity of our motherland”.While accentuating the na-ture of the aerial warfare theAir Chief emphasized, “Com-bat training in the PAF is

SALAHUDDIN HAIDER

PRIME Minister NawazSharif has given a newguideline to Pakistani

m i s s i o n sabroad topursue apolicy of“ e c o n o m i cdiplomacy”and marketthe countryas invest-ment andtrade friendly. This was statedby the Pakistan ambassadorIn Germany Abdul Basit in aspeech before the Karachi

Council on Foreign Relationshere on Wednesday evening.He said the paradigm shift fromsecurity oriented to economyoriented foreign policy willhave tremendous effect andshould keep our ambassadorsand diplomats abroad on theirtoes.

As for himself, he saidthat he had directed all hisofficers in Germany to reachout to the people, establishbetter public to public rela-tionship, seek their opinionsand present Pakistan inproper perspective. The Pa-kistani missions do sufferfrom certain constraints, in-

cluding financial and man-power, but that should notdeter them from completingthe mission assigned tothem. Abassador Basit felthappy that the current politi-cal leadership in the countrywas alive to the needs andrequirements of the country,and wanted it to be projectedproperly to outside world.

Repeating his earlier as-sertions expressed at variousfunctions during the last twodays of his presence inKarachi, Basit referred towhat he called a “diaspora”of 7 million Pakistanis abroadwho should be motivated to

invest at home and guidedon scientific lines, which un-fortunately had been missingtill date Giving an overviewof the country’s foreignpolicy, he said the new lead-ership was keen to resolvethe problems which in turnshould yield handsome divi-dends. Basit said that Paki-stan could be the gateway toCentral Asian Republic andexit to south east Asia, whichhas placed it in tremendouspositions. The locationshould be exploited to ourmaximum gain.” Pakistan canhave a very meaningful placein the world, and Germany

can help us reach that goal”.Dr Tino Klinner, the con-

sul general of Germany alsospoke. Earlier the guests werewelcomed by Secretary gen-eral and the CEO of theKarachi Council for ForeignRelations Mukhtar AhsanZuberi who felt happy thatthe organization, formed in2003, has successfully com-pleted ten years .It is playingits due role in promoting re-gional cooperation by invit-ing ambassadors /high com-missioners or SAARC, LatinAmerica, ASEAN, Africanand European Union coun-tries to enlighten its members

who should be in near fu-ture turn into a “ThinkTank” for the benefit of thegovernment and the coun-try. So far the Council hasinvited more than 110 for-eign envoys from Islamabadto express themselves ontheir country’s foreign andeconomic policies.

He added that “we in Pa-kistan hold the German na-tion in a very high esteem.Germany has played a vitalrole in Pakistan’s develop-ment”. Since 9/11 our twocountries came closer stilland were working for thegoodwill and world peace.

Pursue economic diplomacy: PM Directive

maintained at the highestpedestal of realism and re-sponsiveness to meet thecontemporary challenges.You must utilize the experi-ences gained in the best pos-sible manner.

While our quest to mod-ernize PAF continues, wemust remember that our gen-eration will have to work even

harder and offer greater sac-rifices than the earlier ones”.The Air Chief further said,“The nature of aerial warfarecontinues to rise in complex-ity under a time compressedenvironment, and PAF beinga professional outfit is totallyfocused on it. As the nationpins high hopes in PakFazaia, and we must never letit down”. The eight monthslong Exercise Saffron Banditcommenced in October, 2012and is conducted in PAFsince 1994.

This time, the environ-ment was unique where mod-ern capabilities of PAF wereoperating under one um-brella for the first time. PakArmy Aviation and Army AirDefence were also deployedfor undertaking the exercise.The prime objective of theexercise is to excel in the aircombat capability with focuson Air Power employment inany future conflict.

The hallmark of the exer-cise was the participation ofJF-17 Thunders in the conclud-ing cycle of exercise SaffronBandit for the first time. Thecombat crew from various op-erational squadrons compris-ing F-7PGs, Mirages, F-16sand JF-17 Thunders partici-pated in the Air Exercise. JF-17Thunders operated in multipleconfigurations alongside otherPAF platforms in various com-bat / support roles which en-compassed all spheres of aerialwarfare in near war like envi-ronments.

Our regional environment demandsever-vigilant role for PAF: Air Chief

ISLAMABAD: JF-17 thunders taking off during exercise Saffron Bandit at an operation Air Base.

DERA GHAZI KHAN—Theconstruction of seven bar-rage-like structures will becompleted in DG Khan nextmonth at a cost of Rs 940 mil-lion to regulate Wadoor hilltorrent water and irrigate15,200-acre area besides sav-ing life and property againstfloods. This was stated byofficials in a briefing to anofficial team deputed by ChiefMinister Mian MuhammadShahbaz Sharif and led byPunjab Irrigation Minister

Mian Yawar Zaman duringvisits to hill-torrent-affectedparts of DG Khan and thosehit by land erosion by theRiver Indus.

The minister was in-formed that small barrageshad already been built intehsil Taunsa Sharif to regu-late water of hill torrents, in-cluding Sanghar, Kora andVehoa. The governmentwould be requested to com-pensate those whose landwas utilized in these

projects, officials said.Yawar Zaman also visitedareas affected by the Indusriver erosion in Jakhar ImamShah and Basti Rindaanproject at Wadoor hill tor-rent.

He was informed thatschemes worth Rs 500 millionhad been sent to the govern-ment for construction ofspurs at Basti Rindan to savepeople from flood threat bydiverting a flow of the RiverIndus.—APP

KP Govt to takerevolutionary steps forwelfare: Yousuf Ayub

Seven barrage-like structuresto be completed next month

SWAT—The annual budget ofthe University of Swat hasbeen presented with a totalvolume of Rs.1,335 million forthe fiscal year 2013-14. Thebudget was presented in ameeting of the Finance andPlanning Committee of theUniversity with Prof.Mohammad Jahanzeb Khan,Vice Chancellor, in the chair.It was attended byMuhammad Naeem, DeputySecretary Higher EducationDepartment, Miss FazeelatJahan, Budget Officer FinanceDepartment KhyberPakhtunkhwa, MuhammadKhalid, Treasurer University

Rs 1,335m Swat Varsitybudget presented

of Swat, Mehboob ur RahmanRegistrar, University of Swat,and Dr. Fazli Rabbi DirectorInstitute of Economics andDevelopment Studies.

The Treasurer Universityof Swat presented the budgetfor the fiscal year 2013-14 whichshowed a deficit of Rs.794 mil-lion. Addressing the meeting,the Vice Chancellor said thatausterity measures had beenadopted to reduce the deficit.The Higher Education Commis-sion and the Higher EducationDepartment, KhyberPakhtunkhwa have been re-quested to allocate additionalfunds, he added.—APP

PESHAWAR—Speakers atfunction here Thursdayhighly eulogized the role,commitment and efforts ofthe government of Pakistanand its people for accommo-dation, hospitality and ex-tending better services toover 1.6 million Afghan refu-gees during their 33-year inPakistan. These views wereexpressed by speakers dur-ing a function in connectionwith the World Refugees’Day here at University ofPeshawar.

Special Secretary Homeand Tribal Affairs, SyedAlamgir Khan was the chiefguest on the occasion. Com-missioner Afghan RefugeesKhyber Pakthunkhwa, ZiauRehman and representativesof Afghan refugees at-tended the function in largenumber. Speaking on theoccasion, Special Home Sec-retary, Syed Alamgir Khansaid Pakistan had providedall out support to Afghanrefugees in their 33 yearsstay despite limited re-sources looke after them likebrothers.

In spite of challenges oflaw & order, he said, the gov-ernment of Pakistan and itspeople had taken utmost careof their Afghan brothers inthe hour of need and sharedwith them all major facilities.He said role of UNHCR forsmooth and dignified repa-triation of Afghan refugeesand their settlement in theirhome country are very impor-

tant. Alamgir Khan saidsmooth and dignified repa-triation of afghan refugees totheir home country would befacilitated.

The Official also com-mended the efforts of gov-ernment of Pakistan,Khyber Pakthunkhwa,United Nations High Com-mission for Refugees(UNHCR) and its partnersfor providing extensivequality services to afghanrefugees in our country.Ziaur Rehman,Commissionar Afghan Refu-gees KP informed that Pa-kistan will continue to pro-vide better services to Af-ghan refugees. He said noother country can match thehospitality and care pro-vided by people of Pakistanto afghan refugees. ZiaurRehman expressed the hopethat UNCHCR and othersrefugees agencies wouldutilize all available re-sources for smooth anddignified return of afghan

refugees to their homeland.On this occasion, the

UNHCR officials com-mended the efforts of Paki-stan and its people for look-ing after the afghan refugeesfor so long. According to aUN Refugee Agency reporton occasion of world refugeeday, more than 45.2 millionpeople are in situations ofdisplacement, compare to42.5million at the end of 2011.

This includes 15.4millionrefugees, 937000 asylumseekers and 28.8millionpeople forced to flee withinthe borders of their owncountries. Afghanistan re-mains the world largestsource of refugees. On aver-age, one out of every fourrefugees worldwide is anafghan, with 95 percent ofthis population located inPakistan and Iran. Pakistanhas continued to host morerefugees than any other na-tion (1.6million) followed byIran (868,200) and Germany(589,700).—APP

QUETTA: Activists of Bloch Human Rights Organizationhold a protest rally in favour of their demands.

Pak efforts for facilitating 1.6mAfghan refugees eulogized

HYDERABAD: A woman casting her vote during MQM’s referendum on whether theyjoin the Sindh government or settle on the opposition benches.

Dost Foundationelected as CRM

secretariatPESHAWAR—Rotational elec-tion for Provincial Secretariat ofChild Rights Movement (CRM)where held in which Dost Wel-fare Foundation elected as pro-vincial secretariat for the sec-ond consecutive year. To dealwith the exploitative and abu-sive situation of children in Pa-kistan, a group of likemindedNGOs realized that there is anurgent need to start a childrights movement in the coun-try to tackle the widespreadviolence, abuse, neglect andexploitation of children.

The movement could notbe created without the activeparticipation of all civil soci-ety actors coming together ona single forum. It is also im-portant to note that countrieswhere comparative progresshas been made to addresschildren’s issues have doneit through strong civil societyadvocacy monitoring and byworking collectively towardsa common goal.

The Child Rights Move-ment (CRM) was establishedwith the aim to work jointlyfor the promotion and protec-tion of child rights in Paki-stan. For this purpose na-tional secretariat was estab-lished in Islamabad and pro-vincial level chapters in capi-tals of the four provinces.

In the Thursday gather-ing new organizations werealso invited to join the move-ment as members, memberstressed on playing livelyrole for the movement as theybelieve that the issues can’tbe tackled alone.—APP

Peace imperative for developmentISLAMABAD—Senator and leader ofPakistan Muslim League Nawaz, TariqAzeem, has said that progress and pros-perity can be achieved after the com-plete elimination of terrorism. He saidthat there is no harm to call All PartiesConference (APC) by any party, stake-holders but it must be result oriented.He stressed the need for eliminating ter-rorism to achieve peace, progress, pros-perity and development for the people

of this region. Talking to Pakistan Television channel, heurged all the stakeholders and parties to sit together forthe resolution of issues confronted the nation. MemberNational Assembly of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf Sharyar Afridisaid that all the political parties, religious organizationsand stakeholders should come forward to address the is-sue of terrorism and extremism in this region. He said thatinitiating talks with Taliban would help flush out terrorism.He was of the view that security and law enforcement agen-cies should evolve a comprehensive strategy after the in-volvement of all stakeholders to maintain peace and tran-quility in the country. Secretary Information of PakistanPeoples Party Qamar Zaman Kaira said that dialogue is theonly way to bring improvement in any matter or issue. Hesaid that talks with Taliban through dialogue process wouldhelp resolve the issues. He said that there must be a clearpolicy before holding talks with Taliban.—APP

Probe orderedStaff Reporter

PESHAWAR—The Khyber PakhtunkhwaMinister for Health and Spokesman ofthe Provincial Government, Shaukat AliYousafzai has directed the health au-thorities to conduct probe into the useof hepatitis affected instruments, takeaction against those involved in thismalpractice and in this connection getguidelines from the already held factfinding inquiry. He expressed theseviews while attending a briefing on

health department in Peshawar on Thursday. SecretaryHealth, Abid Ali briefed the minister on the activities of thehealth department, its different projects, healthcare facili-ties being provided to the people and steps taken for im-proving the work of state run hospitals in detail. Speakingon the occasion the minister health stated that theyshouldn’t forget that healthcare was one of the basic hu-man rights, state regulated, state controlled and state man-aged. He said under the 18th Constitutional Amendment,it was the devolved subject and therefore, they had towork to enhance their capacity to efficiently cope with thenew challenges. The Health Minister declared that therewould be no political interference in the government af-fairs and they only wanted best results and selfless ser-vices to the common man. He said the government func-tionaries should exercise their delegated powers whole-heartedly for the welfare of the masses. He maintained thatthey were focusing on the upgradation of the facilitiesinstead of constructing new buildings. Shaukat Yousafzaialso directed for carrying out crack down in the markets aswell as hospitals against the substandard and spuriousdrugs and awarding exemplary punishment to those in-volved in this illegal business. He further directed to makethe burn units and other institutions working against thefatal diseases like hepatitis, cancer and AIDS etc more ef-fective. Similarly, he asked the doctors and other staff toensure their presence in the hospitals and focus on emer-gency services, cleanliness and services delivery.

Liberation gaining momentumISLAMABAD—The veteran KashmiriHurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has saidthat the ongoing struggle is gainingmomentum and getting stronger withmore and more educated youth joiningit. According to KMS, Ali Gilani said thatNew Delhi had used its all tactics to sup-press the ongoing Kashmir liberationmovement but achieved nothing exceptdespondency and disappointment’. Hesaid that the public reaction to the ex-

ecution of Muhammad Afzal Guru proved that their decep-tive methods and plots would fail to change the thinking offreedom-loving people. While lauding the role played byeducated youth, Geelani said, “The credit goes to our edu-cated youth, who with their commitment to and practicalparticipation in the struggle despite repressive measures byemployed by the government, carried on the struggle suc-cessfully.” Ali Gilani lauded the role of Kashmir Universitystudents to convey in a dignified and peaceful manner toChief Justice of India and other participants that India hadno legal or moral right over the Jammu and Kashmir. Gilanisaid as students and faculty members of KU’s Law depart-ment do not stand when anthem of India is being played, hepersonally feels happy and satisfied. “The students haveconveyed that through its power India may rule and run thestate affairs but can neither conquer our hearts nor sup-press our passion for our birth right,” the veteran Hurrieytleader said. Complete strike was observed in the Islamabadtown on the 19th martyrdom anniversary of prominentKashmiri scholar, Qazi Nisar Ahmad in occupied Kashmir.The spokesperson of Ummat-e-Islami in a statement saidthat Indian police authorities had imposed strict restrictionsin the town and the people and party activists of Ummat-e-Islami were not allowed to pay tribute to their leader atDiyalgam area where Qazi Nisar Ahmad was martyred, KMSreported. He also expressed serious concern over decorat-ing health of the party chairman, Qazi Yasir Ahmad, the sonof the martyred scholar who was arrested on June 7. He saidthat the Indian agencies were involved in the killing of QaziNisar Ahmad.—APP

THIS is undoubtedly going to be a page withno Unlike button! As

the founder of The Art ofLiving, Sri Sri Ravi Shankarspiritualizes Facebook byturning it into a tool of mean-ingful dialogue for transfor-mation, it will be ‘liked’ byover a million people acrossthe globe both online andoffline. He is not to be con-fused with his namesake, therenowned sitar maestro.Mark the page of this elec-trifying event aimed at pro-moting his vision of creat-ing a violence-free, stress-free society.

The Face2Face eventon Facebook with Sri Srigoes live 7.30pm to 9pm on23rd June 2013, Says thelive-wire Zarmina Durrani,local representative of theglobal movement, anddaughter of my old friendS.U. Durrani, a former MDof PIA. The idea is to make

a global connection of re-sponsible citizens, mainlyyouth who are willing to dotheir bit for peace and har-

mony. This is not the first timethat Sri Sri is using socialmedia networks to share andspread his vision for a “OneWorld Family”.

On January 26 this year,he used the platform ofGoogle Hang Out to reachout to millions across the

globe with his call for volun-teering for a better society.The electrifying event de-scribed as one of biggest

online gatherings drew civilsociety members, artists,sportsmen, journalists,policy makers from countrieslike Oman, Taiwan, Paraguay,Zimbabwe, Slovenia, USA,Italy, Germany, Sweden, Ar-gentina, Israel, India and Pa-kistan. “Technology has

shrunk the world into a glo-bal village and spiritualitywill turn it into a global fam-ily,” Sri Sri often says high-lighting the synergy betweentechnology and spirituality.

Sri Sri is now making it hap-pen by providing people in thetechnological space with a plat-form to participate in the spiri-tual pursuit of building a stress-free and violence-free world.“If we can get rid of the stressand anxiety, then the dream ofa one world family is not faraway,” he had remarked dur-ing the Google Hangoutevent. “Social media such asFacebook are a very effectivemedium for connecting withyouth of today. The efficacyof such medium will be en-hanced when it’s used by in-fluential people like Sri Sri toenergize them for a good cause.Youth all over the world arerestless to make their voicesheard and do something tobetter the world. But often their

energy ebbs, as there is nosense of direction.

This Facebook event willhelp them find their own ways

and means to contribute inbuilding a better society. It willmake them feel empowered,”explained Uzair Khan, MediaRep, The Art of Living. Dur-ing the Facebook event, SriSri will answer questions fromdiverse topics of interest. Theevent will have four seg-

ments—Sri Sri’s personallife, Success and Creativity,Global Issues and Love andRelationships. Each segmentwill be peppered with inter-esting anecdotes, cartoonstrips, video clips, etc. Theevent will also include anonline-guided mediation,which is expected to bejoined in by over 1 millionpeople worldwide.

Participants can post theirquestions on the event pagein Facebook, on the Art of Liv-ing website, or on Twitter withthe hashtag #Ask SriSri. Thebest questions will be selectedand grouped by a panel basedon an online poll for the ques-tions. The selected questionswill be posed to Sri Sri by ahost on behalf of the ques-tioner during the event andthere will be multiple modera-tors from around the world.The event can be viewed (likea webcast) on SriSri’sFacebook page.

A global pitch for peace and harmony on FaceBook

P E S H A W A R — K h y b e rPakhtunkhwa Senior Minis-ter for Finance Sirajul Haqhas demanded of the federalgovernment to pay net hydelprofit, its arrears and the fro-zen funds on priority to theprovince so that it couldmeet its development needs.He was addressing a pressconference at KhyberPakhtunkhwa House,Islamabad on Wednesday.Secretary Finance

Sahibazada Saeed Ahmadand Secretary InformationAzmat Hanif Orakzai werealso present on the occasion.The senior minister saidthough the provincial gov-ernment had presented a tax-free budget but paucity ofresources was the main issuein which the net hydel profitwas a matter of life and deathfor the people of this prov-ince. He said due to poor in-dustrial activities and law and

order situation the people ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa wereunable to bear additional taxesand were looking towards nethydel profit. He said the PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif had as-sured of giving them their duerights and expressed the hopethat when the province wasgiven its due share from nethydel profit along with arrears,public confidence would be re-stored and new avenues ofprosperity would open in the

province. Highlighting salientfeatures of the KP budgetSirajul Haq said it had beendivided into three componentsincluding welfare, develop-ment and administrative forwhich Rs. 162 billion, Rs. 118billion and Rs. 63 billion re-spectively had been allocated.

He said according to theprevailing conditions of theprovince, emergency hadbeen imposed in education.—APP

OBSERVER REPORT

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan’s art-ist, philanthropist and socialworker Jimmy Engineer’s artworks and paintings were ondisplay at the Exhibition “Pa-kistan-Singapore Bridge ofGoodwill–A tribute toSingapore” at the Art HouseGallery from 20 June to 25June 2013, says a report re-ceived from Singapore.

The Exhibition is beingorganized by Pakistan HighCommission in Singapore.Speaking at the inauguration

of the Exhibition, High Com-missioner for Pakistan inSingapore Syed HasanJaved stated that JimmyEngineer’s paintings and artworks are reflection ofdeeper feelings of humanrelationship, passion, love,solidarity, compassion andstruggle. Introducing theartist, the High Commis-sioner said that Jimmy Engi-neer represents the soul ofPakistan and his works havebeen exhibited extensivelynot only in Pakistan but in anumber of other countries.

Sirajul Haq asks Centre topay net hydel profit, arrears

Pakistan’s Art captivatesSingaporeans

ISLAMABAD—Around sevenmillion children of five to 16years age are not attendingschools due to multiple rea-sons. It was stated by I-SAPresearcher Ahmed Ali duringa special budget briefinghere organized by the Insti-tute of Social and Policy Sci-ences (I-SAF) in collabora-tion with the Department forInternational Development(DFID).

Parliamentarians fromtreasury and oppositionbenches, including DaniyalAziz, Nafeesa Khattak,Amjad Niazi, Raja AamerZaman, Advocate, Ch AkhterNawaz, Sajid Nawaz andSenator Saeeda Iqbal at-tended the briefing. AhmedAli said three per cent ruralschools were deprived ofbasic facilities, includingdrinking water and absenceof washrooms. Surprisingly3.4 per cent primary schoolsin the country have no

Seven million childrennot attending schools

boundary wall, he added.He said that Pakistan had

been spending from 1.8 to 2.7per cent of its gross domesticproducts (GDP) on educationover the years, which was lowas compared to other SouthAsian countries. Literacy ratehas increased from 67 to 69pc and Net Enrollment Rate(NER) from 60 to 61 pc, with amarked improvement in enroll-ment at middle, secondary,higher secondary and highereducation, he added.

He said that in the outgo-ing fiscal year, Rs 12.07 mil-lion had been allocated to pro-vide books free of charges tothe students of private andgovernment schools in theFederal Capital, but in the nextfiscal year budget no such al-location had been made. Allthe parliamentarians dis-cussed the educational is-sues of the Federal Capitalafter the presentation ofAhmed Ali.—APP HYDERABAD: Residents of Dumra Goth Qasimabad protesting against encroachment on their temporary homes.

PM gives impetus toNeelum-Jhelum projectONE of the first things that the new Prime Minister has done is to

visit a project which is deeply linked to the economic development of the country and also has strategic importance, which sig-

nifies the priority that Mian Nawaz Sharif attaches to speedy implemen-tation of various projects. It has been hallmark of the incumbent PrimeMinister to visualize projects and programmes of far-reaching impor-tance and oversee their implementation so as to remove bottlenecks.

Neelum-Jhelum hydro-power projects, which would also help estab-lish the country’s priority water rights under the Indus-Basin Treaty, wasconceived 29 long years back when its cost was estimated at Rs. 40 bil-lion but the criminal delay has led to escalation of the cost to an alarmingfigure of Rs. 275 billion. What we have done with NJ, Thar Coal andeven Diamer-Bhasha Dam is manifestation of the style of governance,misplaced priorities, and lack of vision and interest on the part of ourplanners and leaders. It is good that Mian Nawaz Sharif is wasting notime and has started the process of much-needed oversight of vital na-tional projects and his direction to the authorities concerned to ensurecompletion of NJ project one year ahead of schedule is manifestation ofhis cherished desire to put the economy back on track at the earliest.Nawaz Sharif is rightly perceived development oriented and industry andbusiness friendly Prime Minister and we are sure he would take similarinterest to get work initiated or accelerated on other important but mori-bund projects. Work on Diamer-Bhasha Dam was initiated during the eraof President Musharraf and re-launched by the then Prime Minister Gilanibut practically there is no progress towards its implementation as thethen top leadership had other priorities and a long-time Chairman WAPDAhad more interest in another project than in Diamer Dam because of vestedinterest. We hope that the Prime Minister and his active Minister forWater and Power Khawaja Asif would remove all obstacles in the way ofstart of real construction work. Similarly, some bureaucratic circles, atthe behest of oil lobbies, are hindering efforts aimed at exploitation ofThar Coal reserves and personal attention of PM could help clear theroad-blocks. The announcement of the PM that a team of Pakistani offi-cials would leave for China on June 24 for talks on proposed Kashghar-Gwadar railway link shows he is in a hurry to get things moved and doneand that augurs well for the country.

Imran displays maturity,far-sightedness

CONTRARY to apprehensions that in his maiden speech in the National Assembly, PTI Chief Imran Khan may adopt an acrimonious

approach, triggering further tension in the national politics, his remarksand tone and tenor sent positive signals and credit also goes to InteriorMinister Ch. Nisar Ali, who demonstrated wisdom and cool-mindednessin responding to the points raised by PTI leader.

The speech of Imran Khan reflected that he is a changed man whobelieves in real world politics and not fantasies, bickering and mud-slinging. The line adopted by Imran was much different from some ofhis party-men, majority of whom understandably belonged to KPK,who preferred to spew venom even during their first speeches in theNational Assembly conveying traditional anti-Punjab mindset, likeremarks of an MNA from Peshawar who castigated Sasti Roti Schemeof the Punjab Government (despite the fact that the scheme waslaunched by Punjab from its own budget and nobody prevented KPKGovernment from initiating such a scheme) and smuggling of wheatflour to Central Asia, forgetting who were the smugglers. Anyhow,we are glad that PTI Chairman is mindful of the fact that no party alonecan resolve the serious challenges facing the country and hopefully hisparty would play a positive and constructive role, rather than doingopposition for the sake of opposition.

Undocumented Afghans,others in Pakistan

WHILE the international community observed World Refugees Dayon Thursday, the problems for host countries with limited resources

are multiplying for giving shelter to a large number of people. The refu-gees are a big burden, as they have to be provided shelter and fed by thehost governments because the international community is not forthcom-ing to extend assistance for an indefinite period.

According to estimates Pakistan is currently hosting more than 1.6million registered and over one million unregistered Afghan refugees inaddition to a large number of undocumented foreigners. They are a bigstrain on meagre resources and have also occupied jobs, which is theright of Pakistani nationals. In addition they are creating security andother problems as they indulge in street crimes including kidnapping,target killing and theft. In fact Pakistan has been made a refugee countrywhere every one can come freely and once he makes it to cities, he istotally free as there is no system of checking of foreigners. One reasonfor the worsening law and order situation in the mega city of Karachiis the presence of foreigners including Afghanis and Bangladeshis. Inthe past, the authorities made half-hearted attempts to register and ex-pel the foreigners staying illegally but without success. Under an agree-ment with the UNHCR and Afghan government, all refugees were tobe repatriated to Afghanistan by the end of 2012 but that too has beenput in the cold storage. On the other hand almost all the countries havestringent laws and illegal foreigners are either put behind the bar orforcibly expelled. Therefore we would stress that the government mustdevise a comprehensive strategy to expel all the foreigners staying ille-gally in Pakistan as that would help address some of our problems to anextent including law and order and unemployment.

Why is Bashar Assad silent?

Inflation in theSixties was anuisance to beendured, likevaricose veins orFrench foreignpolicy.

NegotiatingAfghanistan’s

future

The key to ending America’swar in Afghanistan has longbeen a negotiated deal with

the Taliban. Finally, such talks willbegin Thursday in Qatar. USPresident Barack Obama saidWednesday he always expected“friction” at Afghan reconciliationtalks but voiced hope they couldstill take place. If they go well, thetalks will serve primarily as a testof how much the Taliban have ac-cepted the new realities ofprogress in Afghanistan and else-where. Much has changed since2001 when the militant group’sruthless rule ended with an Ameri-can-led invasion to oust Al Qaeda.

The talks, however, will alsobe a test of President Obama’s ideaof keeping an “open door” to ne-gotiating with even the most re-pressive, violent groups and coun-tries. He laid out this strategy in a2009 speech, saying jihadistgroups like the Taliban should bewilling to accept that the purpose-ful killing of innocents goesagainst every major religion.Peace, he said, relies on the goldenrule of doing unto others as wewould have them do unto us. “Ad-hering to this law of love has al-ways been the core struggle ofhuman nature,” he said. With theTaliban’s move to open talks, Mr.Obama said this is “an importantfirst step towards reconciliation”among Afghans. The Taliban hasshown a few signs that they mayhave altered their ways. To meet aUS condition for the talks, theycommitted to a peaceful end to thewar. And they agreed that theynever want “to pose harm to othercountries from [their] soil,” al-though that falls short of cuttingties to a much-weakened AlQaeda. They also dropped theirdemand that US troops leave Af-ghanistan before talks start.

In addition, the group’s fight-ing capability is down from a fewyears ago, while the capability ofAfghan forces has improved. Theyhave lost some support from Pa-kistan, where civilian rule, democ-racy, and a desire for economicgrowth have strengthened, weak-ening the military’s ability to usethe Taliban as a strategic toolagainst India. In fact, no majorcountry in the region – China,Iran, Russia, and India – wantsthe Taliban to return to power.The world has grown more wearyof jihadism, especially since thekilling of Osama bin Laden andthe promise of the Arab Springamong Muslim youth. TheTaliban also face a very differentAfghanistan. During their rule,few girls were allowed in school;today there are 2.6 million ofthem in classrooms. Women runbusinesses and work in govern-ment. Most Afghans usecellphones and watch TV. Insteadof having 37 miles of paved roadsas during Taliban rule, the coun-try has nearly 8,000 miles today.Most of all, such advances havehelped to create a stronger Afghanidentity and a better understand-ing of universal values, lesseningthe tribal and ethnic differences.

Yet despite all this, muchdoubt remains that the Taliban willgive up their arms and operate asa political group under the currentConstitution – especially the partthat protects women from dis-crimination. Without that conces-sion, Obama will find it difficultto withdraw all US military pres-ence after 2014, when he plans toend the American combat role.Another potential stumbling blockis the Afghan government. Presi-dent Hamid Karzai fears his bar-gaining ability has been undercutby the way the United Statesstarted the talks with the Talibanwith only the hope of bringing himinto negotiations later. The USwill need to better deal with hisconcerns. The newly elected gov-ernment of Nawaz Sharif in Pa-kistan also needs to be courted inorder to bolster its support of thetalks. Obama warned the talksmay be bumpy. Yet even if theyfail, they may have the effect ofweakening the morale of lower-level Taliban fighters, furthersplintering the militants. A mili-tant group that is stuck in the pastand unaware of what brings peacecan’t last for long.— The Christian Science Monitor

MEDIA WATCH

— Bernard LevinBritish journalist

Old habits die hard. There issomething about the atmosphere in London that

changes the willpower of an indi-vidual and makes him or her moresusceptible to looking at events froman alien viewpoint. Saif Kaddafy,now being daily taunted in a prisoncell in Zintan, Libya, fancied thatthose in the UK who clusteredaround him and grabbed his father’scash would stand by him in a crisis.Instead, they joined those whoformed the lynch mob which finallyensured that the Libyan dictator diedin the same manner as former Presi-dent Najibullah of Afghanistan wasin 1996,publicly and in painful andhumiliating circumstances.

Those familiar with Kaddafy’spolicymaking groups know that itwas Saif who planted false confi-dence in Muammar Kaddafy that hecould escape from the predicamentthat NATO had created for him bymaking concessions to that alliance.What took place was that each con-cession was immediately followedby a demand for more, until therewas nothing left to give. The ex-amples of Saddam Hussein andMuammar Kaddafy demonstrateNATO’s penchant for going after re-gimes, but only after it has been en-sured that they cannot fight back.The UN was used as cover to gainwhat extra intelligence input wasneeded to launch attacks, thatorganisation’s “peacekeeping”mechanism being dominated byNATO member-states. In a finalburst of irony, it is precisely thecountry that most relies on brute

PM and energy security

HURMAT GROUP OF PUBLICATIONSZahid Malik

President & Editor-in-ChiefPh: 051-2256006

Faisal Zahid MalikEditor

Ph: 021-32631102

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: 021-32211777, 32635403

Fax: 021-32626902Email: obskhi@pakobserver.net

LahoreKhalid ButtResident Editor

Ph: 042-37593341, 37566702Marketing Ph: 37597364

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

MuzaffarabadAbdul Hameed Shaheen

Resident EditorPh: 051-2852028, Mobile: 0315-5010791

Email: obsmzd@pakobserver.net / abdulhameedshaheen@yahoo.com

Sunday Magazine

Sadia Zahid MalikEditor

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

An outline of government’senergy plan has startedemerging. Nawaz Sharif has

talked about long-term energy se-curity, invited foreign companies toinstall solar plants in Pakistan andincrease power generation throughenergy mix including alternate en-ergy. He also called for taking prov-inces onboard in [energy] consul-tative process. Similarly, the gov-ernment has come up with a three-pronged plan to overcome energycrisis, end circular debt and increaseenergy generation (Energy plan,June 16). However, following mea-sures/changes are necessary if PMand his government are serious toend load shedding, adopt alternateenergy and build energy security.

Criteria should be made for re-newable energy companies to workin Pakistan. It should include theirworld ranking, international marketshare and sustainability of theirproducts. Their products should becertified by established and publiclyrecognized international testing or-ganizations (Solar Pv output/ 25years and Wind turbines Betz’ Limit59.3% maximum attainable en-ergy). The alternate energy productsare categorized as residential, agri-culture, commercial and utilityscale (or commercial). World’s topten companies from China (5), USA(2), South Korea (1) and Norway(1) can be asked to publish details

force to enforce its will onformer colonies, France, thatleads the UN’s “peacekeep-ing” efforts.

Like Saif Kaddafy,President Bashar Assad ofSyria too has spent long andhappy years in London,which is presumably whythe man who has beenmarked by his foes for a

Kaddafy-style execution still protectsthe interests, not of the populationwithin NATO member-states, but ofthe very policymaking groups that arethirsting for his head. Years ago, whenhis government had evidence of sev-eral dozen UK nationals being amongthose engaged in acts of violenceacross West Asia, President Assadkept silent when British Prime Min-ister Tony Blair passed off such in-volvement as limited to a single indi-vidual. Had Assad released the de-tails in his posession of the UK na-tionals active in Wahabbi terrorgroups, it would have shown thepeople of the UK - who share withtheir other European peoples an over-whelming commitment to fair playand to honesty - that Tony Blair wasa liar, the same man who led them toa disastrous war in Iraq on the backof obvious untruths.

But Assad kept silent, just as hedoes now when his government haswithin its prisons dozens of nation-als of EU countries, all captured asa result of the ongoing war betweenthe NATO-backed Ankara-Doha-Riyadh coalition and Damascus-Te-heran-Moscow.

Releasing information aboutthese prisoners and the circumstancesof their capture would demonstratethe unpardonable manner in whichDavid Cameron and William Hagueare bending before Ankara, Doha andRiyadh in backing groups that con-tain individuals to whom BasharAssad’s regime is just the appetizer.The main course, once Syria gets sub-dued, will be the countries whosepassports they flash. The Baath

Party, whether in Iraq during SaddamHussein’s time or in Syria during thelong reign of the Assad family, isknown for its administrative incom-petence and its obsessive secrecy.Releasing information is anathema toBaathists, even when such transpar-ency can serve their cause. In thechronicles of conflict between NATOmember-states and Third World mili-taries, it was only Ho Chi Minh’sVietnam that succeeded in defeatingits enemy in Infowar.

Of course, Ho had a powerfultaliwind assisting him, which wasthe Draft. Had the US military beenan all-volunteer force the way it isnow, it is unlikely that campusesacross the US would have risen upin anger against the war in Vietnam.However, such advantages do notdetract from the fact that “UncleHo” came across as what he was, agallant nationalist and indomitablefighter, who defeated first theFrench and later the US itself, thisduring an era when the US mili-tary had not yet been defeated bya small band of thugs in Afghani-stan. What is being witnesssed inthat country is the retreat of a su-perpower, anxious to make what-ever compromise is needed in or-der to prevent the killing of moreof its soldiers, no matter that thedance of Barack Obama withMullah Omar is pushing back theprospect of the Afghan peoplethemselves defeating the designsof the Taliban to once again takeover power in Kabul on the back ofa terrified US administration.

Had India been gifted the goodfortune to have a government led bythose not in thrall to NATO, by nowboth Julian Assange and EdwardSnowden would have found homesin this country. However, rather thanmaking India a haven of free speechand of internet freedom, theManmohan Singh administration,dominated as it is by World Banklogic that sees obedience to US dic-tates as the natural course to take, has

sought to throttle internet freedom.And as for connectivity, India hasthe lowest percentage of people whoare internet-enabled among all ma-jor powers, while bandwidth andspeeds are derisory. India’s Informa-tion Superhighway is as creaky anddysfunctional as its road network.

However, Manmohan Singhand his political superior SoniaGandhi are not the only individualsdancing to the tune of NATO. TheAssad family is in danger of losingnot only their liberty but their livesas a consequence of NATO actions,the most recent being the Kerry-Cameron-Hollande plan to giveweapons to the Al Nusra frontthrough the fiction of routing itthrough rootless wonders with zeroinfluence on the ground.

Bashar Assad has to get thepeople of the US and the EU to un-derstand the forces that their gov-ernments are unleashing. The onlyway this can be achieved is by fulltransparency on the composition ofthe so-called “freedom fighter”groups.In particular, the nation-alities of the Al Nusra front whohave been captured by the Syrianarmy (and which include citizensof India) need to be revealed. Sofar ,however, Bashar Assad seemsdetermined to follow the exampleof Saif Kaddafy, who tailored hisactions to suit the needs of his tor-mentors. Going public with de-tails on his prisoners would goagainst the Baath code of secrecyand backroom deals, but wouldserve the interests of the peopleof the globe, who seek a stableand prosperous future free of theviolence that extremists inflict onthem with support from govern-ments who should know better, andwho in course of time (when it istoo late), will.—The writer is Vice-Chair,Manipal Advanced ResearchGroup, UNESCO Peace Chair &Professor of Geopolitics, ManipalUniversity, Haryana State, India.

of their products includingprices, output, and life for the in-formation of consumers, inves-tors and government.

Legislation can help over-come energy crisis. China haspassed laws for selling alternate

energy to national grid and buying itfrom consumers. According to thelaw, one kWh can be sold to nationaland state grids between 0.41 Yuanand 1Yuan, and 6 kW is maximumlimit for residences (household Pv).18 million homes are using renew-able energy in America. Every 60thGerman is selling electricity to na-tional grid. Global solar output willexceed 100GW in 2013. Our parlia-ment can pass laws on similar linesto end load shedding between 3months to two years. The laws couldinclude shifting of 70-80 % of en-ergy mix to alternate sources (1st 3months = 20%, 2nd & 3rd 6-8months= 25% each).

Incentives for renewable energybring down per unit price to Rs. 5.National Saving Centers (NSC) cangive low interest loans (2-3%) to shiftto renewables so that Pakistan canbenefit from strategic decision ofduty free imports of alternate energyequipment. The loans can be returnedbetween 6-8 years in monthly install-ments instead of paying bills to en-ergy companies. Chinese investorsexpect to recoup cost of 6kW house-hold Pv setup in 8-12 years. Afterthat, the return rate is expected to be9.3 percent. Chinese homeowners arealso given 1 to 1 credit when elec-tricity production exceeds home con-sumption (generating interest inhomegrown power, June 14, ChinaDaily). It will allow government to

bring down per unit price to Rs. 6.50from 9 (proposed Rs. 11.50 from 1stJuly & later Rs. 14/15), raise Rs. 350-450bn (projected Rs 100-150bn) andend consumption-based per unitprice.

There can be surplus gas andelectricity by implementing commer-cial sector license agreements. Thecommercial users are required to shiftto independent energy generation asper their licensing agreements andmajor industries older than ten yearsor more cannot be given electricityfrom national grid. By implementingenergy related clauses, governmentcan save 50% of the national outputbeing consumed by manufacturingand services sector. It should auto-matically end load-shedding, 90 % oftheft/line losses, have surplus gas in-cluding CNG for transport sector andend corruption. It should free bulk oftotal national gas/ electricity outputs,reduce fuel imports by 60%, and bol-ster foreign reserves, and cut result-ant inflation and fuel poverty accord-ingly. The surplus energy can be usedin agriculture sector, employ millionsof people in SMEs, and cottage in-dustry to empower women and endchild labor.

The government instead of up-holding the law is using foreign re-serves and public resources to fundsurplus energy generation for com-mercial users, and maintain 50%larger energy and allied setups. Ifthese indirect costs were counted,price of a commercial unit would beseven times more. The commercialusers are not generating energy andprofiting from cheap energy, theftsand corruption despite license restric-tions. Unfortunately, the Supreme

Court also failed to see through theploy, which could have ended loadshedding to provide relief to the pub-lic, saved public funds and directedgovernment to uphold law to so thatcommercial consumers generatetheir own energy.

It would have ended need forspending Rs. 506bn tax money oncircular debt, save private powerproducers, corruption and foreignvested stakes including import ofenergy from neighboring coun-tries. Otherwise, also, the plan isflawed because it will increase perunit price of electricity, fuel im-ports, re-accumulate circular debt,and lacks breakdown of energymix. Corruption and failed policiesin energy sector has already costPakistan Rs. 1400bn. The load-shedding judgment of the Courtmerits review to rights of public,state and economy.

Universities should serve com-munities. Peking university stu-dents majoring in architecture, en-gineering, electronics, journalismand law are making solar house incollaboration with foreign univer-sity to compete in Solar Decathlonin July 2013 arranged by NationalEnergy Administration and USEnergy Department. Chinese PMalready called for more innovationin solar technology to boost its do-mestic after EU standoff. Our gov-ernment, universities, energy sec-tor, engineers, planners, housingsector, civil society and media musthelp agriculture, manufacturing andservices sectors to adoptrenewables to generate millions ofjobs, save trillions in costs, and pro-tect energy security.

M D NalapatEmail: mgnalapat@gmail.com

GeopoliticalGeopoliticalGeopoliticalGeopoliticalGeopoliticalnotes from Indianotes from Indianotes from Indianotes from Indianotes from India

Rizwan Ghani Email:sadcat44@hotmail.com

Voice of the PeopleNAT needs

recalibrationTOOBA MANSOOR

Victor Asal and Bryan Early fromthe University at Albany - SUNYutilize a Nuclear AnnihilationThreat (NAT) Index published aNuclear Annihilation Threat(NAT) Index on …. NAT is an in-teresting way of systematicallyand empirically assessing the ex-istential threat that nuclear weaponstates (NWS) and potentialnuclear-weapon states pose to oneanother. NAT Index is a relational-metric that draws on four factorsin determining these existentialthreats. One, the potential damagea country’s nuclear arsenal couldcause to a target’s population.Two, the ability of a country tostrike a target with ballistic mis-siles. Three, the presence of a stra-tegic rivalry between the twocountries. Four, the risk of statefailure in the country that is hypo-thetically attacking a target.

According to NAT Index,China and Russia pose a greaterthreat to U.S. national security thatmay lead to nuclear annihilation.France, U.K. and Pakistan are atthird place in terms of posing anuclear annihilation threat. Indiaand Israel are at sixth place, whileIran and North Korea, the “roguestates” are at eighth place

The reasons behind generatingthe NAT seem political than a ra-tional assessment of the situation.This NAT Index needsrecalibration in ranking the coun-tries because now the situation hasbeen changed. Iran now poses agreater threat to the U.S., becauseit is pursuing to develop a nuclearweapon. Interestingly, Iran’snuclear program began with theU.S. support. After the death ofShah of Iran and Khomeini com-ing into power altered the natureof cooperation. If it was not forthe regime, the U.S. would haveslapped Tehran on the wrist for en-riching uranium to 20% and wouldconsider it as a step towardsnuclear program. Israel considersIran the greatest threat to the U.S.If a committed ally, the U.S. sup-ports the existence of Israel bysafeguarding its security interestsand its own economic interests inthe region.

The NAT Index does not takeinto account the non-State threatto the U.S. if 2001 offers a lesson;it is the threat from the non-stateactors. Hence, once the Asal andEarly or some another think tankissues another NAT index, it maydo a better job choosing the rightsamples.—Via email

Between culprits& accomplices

KHAN FEROZ-UDDIN

Another day breaks acrossPakistan’s largest province, butlittle hope accompanies it. Paki-stan has again been bruised by aseries of well-coordinated, imple-mented and executed events of ter-rorism on horrifying magnitude.The newly elected democraticgovernment of Mr Sharif hashardly stepped into the corridorsof influence but it has become evi-dent that neither time nor the tideof terrorism and internal feuds willlet them settle peacefully.

Sharif is not new to Pakistan’sproblems nor will Baluchistancome as a surprise to him. Fornearly a decade in exile and in op-position he had ample time to wit-ness and assess the situation onground, and it is about time that hethrough his actions and wisdomrises to the occasion. For many rea-sons all the ills of Baluchistan havebeen placed in the bucket ofPakistan’s military and associatedintelligence agencies for quite sometime, without mentioning that onpaper at least a fully functionaldemocratic provincial setup hasbeen running for as long as I couldrecall my less than capablememory. Yes, you got me. The fa-mous tagline of all exist that theywere never the representatives intrue form and hand chosen. Agreed.But let us not forget that all ofthem, from time to time hailedfrom the most notable clans andfamilies of Baluchistan, whetherit be Marri, Bugti, Raisani orMengal. In different eras and termsthey all have representedBaluchistan where it matters(Governorships/ Chief Minister)and yet I have not seen one of themresigning on the context of non-cooperation from certain forcesaway from Baluchistan (May be asingle odd example exists).

Baluchistan and its perils havebeen framed through a smokescreen as if they have no remedyor reason although based on facts,it stands out to be a simple issue

Hajj under debtCOL. RIAZ JAFRI (RETD)

As the nitty gritty of the budget and the monetary affairs of Pakistan are being discussed threadbare daily over the media by the

financial pundits and economic gurus, it has transpired that the stateof our economy couldn’t be worse and we would have to go onceagain to the IMF with the begging bowl for a loan of 5 billion dollarsto survive. According to these financial whiz kids we Pakistanis as anation are under such a colossal internal and external debt that theshare of each and every citizen of Pakistan comes to Rs. 18,000/- perhead which will increase further with the fresh loan from the IMF.This has greatly disturbed me as according to some Hajj is not obliga-tory for a person under debt. About 2 million Pakistanis (nativesand ex-pats) are expected to go for Hajj this year and each one ofthem would spend approximately Rs. 4 lacs, thus spending a totalamount of Rs. 800,000,000,000 (Rs. 800 billions!!) and that too mostlyin foreign exchange. In the l ight of above relaxation while underdebt could the religious authorities kindly throw some light on it?Are we as a people under debt not exempt from this obligation tillwe clear our debts?—Rawalpindi

READERS

Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

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

—Editor

Obama stalls in Syria

Critics are correct when they argue that President Obamadoesn’t have a strategy for

military victory in Syria. The realityis that, despite his decision last weekto arm the opposition there, Obamais still playing for a negotiated diplo-matic transition.

It’s a confusing policy with mul-tiple objectives: Obama wants to bol-ster moderate opposition forces un-der Gen. Salim Idriss until they’restrong enough to negotiate a transi-tional government. He wants tocounter recent offensives byHezbollah and other Iranian-backedforces aiding President Bashar al-Assad. And he wants to keep Arabnations from bolting the US-led coa-lition backing Idriss and instead arm-ing radical jihadists.

Obama doesn’t want the rebelsto overrun Damascus if the jihadistsare the strongest faction. As he toldPBS’s Charlie Rose in an interviewbroadcast Monday, “One of the chal-lenges that we have is that some ofthe most effective fighters within theopposition have been those whofrankly are not particularly [friendly]towards the United States.” To

counter the jihadists’ influence,Obama has been trying to build upIdriss, so far with limited success.

The public rationale for Obama’sdecision to arm the rebels wasAssad’s use of chemical weapons.But the basic evidence to support thischarge had been available for weeks.The real trigger was a new uptick inthe Sunni-Shiite regional war that isdriving the Syrian conflict.

This escalation began June 5,when Hezbollah joined Assad’sforces in sweeping the rebels fromQusair, a strategic town along theLebanese border. Idriss warned a fewdays later that 5,000 Hezbollah andother Iranian-backed fighters weremassing near rebel strongholds inAleppo. As the situation deterio-rated, Saudi Arabia and Qatar beganpulling away from the US-led“Friends of Syria” coalition backingIdriss and moving instead to supportjihadist groups in Syria, figuring thatthey had a better chance of stoppingthe Iranian proxies.

Obama’s announcement that theUnited States would arm the rebelswas an attempt to draw the Saudis andQataris back in the fold. A new meet-ing of the Friends of Syria is likelysoon, where the United States hopesfor a renewed public commitment byall the Arabs to channel aid through

Idriss rather than the extremists.Critics such as Sen. John

McCain have chastised Obama fornaively backing Idriss without giv-ing him the military tools to win,such as a no-fly zone. But it couldalso be argued that the policy con-tains a cynical dose of realpolitik:Obama doesn’t want Assad to col-lapse too soon, before Idriss and hismoderate forces have become strongenough to control the country.

For administration officials, thebiggest worry may be that Syria willsimply collapse, creating a powervacuum like what happened afterSaddam Hussein was toppled in Iraqin 2003. Even as they support therebels, US officials want the Syrianarmy, police and civil service to re-main intact — so that they could joinin a transitional government afterAssad is gone. The US strategy ofaiding Idriss is based partly on hispublic statements that he’s ready towork with reconcilable elements ofthe regime in such a transitional gov-ernment. “The way these situations getresolved is politically,” Obama said inhis interview with Rose. He noted thatthe opposition is made up of “carpen-ters and blacksmiths and dentists.These aren’t professional fighters.”The unstated message was: This takestime. It’s telling that even after last

Views From Abroad

week’s announcement of military aidto the rebels, US officials were stillstudying the fine print of last June’sGeneva agreement with Russia,China and other leading nations for aSyrian-led transition. This documentcalls for a “neutral environment inwhich the transition can take place,”which US officials see as code forthe Assad clan’s departure.

The Obama policy on Syria isn’tquite as feckless as it may look. Butit has the fundamental flaw of pastcovert-action programs, which isthat the United States is seeking adecisive political change throughproxy forces that have limited powerand popular support — and couldeasily be overwhelmed by otherswho have a stronger ideological orreligious motivation. It’s not an ac-cident that the jihadists have beenthe best fighters among the rebels:They’re the most passionate abouttheir cause.

If Obama’s goal is a negotiatedsettlement, rather than a win on thebattlefield, it’s paradoxically allthe more urgent to help Idriss. Heneeds to appear to Syrians as astrong leader heading a disciplinedforce. Otherwise, Syria’s futurewill be shaped by extremists, oneway or another. — Courtesy: The Washington Post

which requires will and mettle. Tostart with, agencies have to to oper-ate in Baluchistan as they are doingacross Pakistan within their definedperimeters and jurisdiction. Onecannot have peace in their absencenor in their absolute domination. Wecome across on routine, thanks toflashing media screens and talkshows, of them being involved inacts ranging from disappearances tokillings and harboring of elementswhich have now shaped into a mafianot to be challenged by the admin-istration and government at all. Ihave all the heart to absorb argu-ments like these on daily basis butsomething toward the end of the dayamazes me.

I see Pakistani military and itsagencies stretched to the maximumof their limitation in the last one de-cade, courtesy a restless Durand line,FATA, tribal agencies and Afghani-stan. On the absolute terms militaryand its agencies have disengagedthemselves from politics in everyform and nature in the past 5 years,truly reflected by the first democratictransition of power in Pakistan. Hav-ing done all goods, what has keptthem glued to Baluchistan whereclearly they have a past, a troubledpresent and an uncertain future? Sothe answer goes beyond this point-less campaigning of boys in uniformdoing all the bad’s in Baluchistan.Also, all political forces have con-sensus that it’s a consortium of glo-bal intelligence, from Delhi to TelAviv which are “hot” in Baluchistan.In a case like this, does Baluchistanrequire a government without ac-cepted ears and eyes or vice versa?.Attack on Quaid’s symbol is an at-tack on Pakistan.

The reconciliation we talk somuch is a truly accepted appease-ment of BLA/ BRA. The only rec-onciliation Baluchistan requires isthe integration of ordinary Baluchiinto the accepted norms of gover-nance that stands out to be politics,services, rights and justice.—Via email

Dauntingchallenges for govt

M. FAZAL ELAHI

The PML (N) Government led byPrime Minister, Mian MuhammadNawaz Sharif has taken the reignsof this country, once again. Thingshave drastically changed in thecountry, for the worse, since PMNawaz Sharif’s last governmentwas dislodged, thirteen years ago,in 1999. One wouldn’t be wrongat all if one says that everything isin shambles.

The incumbent PM and histeam, I am sure, are fully awarethat the challenges their govern-ment is facing are indeed daunting,and governing today’s Pakistan,where almost every department andinstitution is in a state of absolutedisarray, will truly be a gigantictask. PM Nawaz Sharif and hiscabinet colleagues must be passingthrough sleepless nights. Becausethe problems they are confrontedwith are multifarious and are of amagnitude beyond the stretch ofone’s imagination.

Steering the sinking ship of thestate out of the troubled waters thatit is in today, must be persistentlyhaunting their minds. That shouldnot, however, be a cause for get-ting cowed down. In fact, the prob-lems should be taken as challenges,and sincere endeavors must bemade to resolve them, one by one,in order of priority. Foremost ofall the problems is none but therapidly sinking economy.

Massive power outage thathas a direct bearing on theeconomy, and has taken a heavytoll on it, is an equally importantand serious problem. The govern-ment must seek to address thesetwo critical problems, on prior-ity basis, followed by other veryimportant issues like education,health, corruption, law and order,terrorism, inflation, unemploy-ment etc. Pulling the country outof the economic morass and bringit to safer shores will require astrong will to take some stringentmeasures and make personal sac-

Prophets and BooksAccording to a report in

Musnad Ahmed collectionof Ahadith, the Holy Prophet

(PBUH), said: “From Adam to me,Allah sent a hundred and twenty-four thousand Prophets, of whomthree hundred and fifteen were en-trusted with a Book.” The questionis why were there so many moreProphets than Books?

To reflect on this is to gain anunderstanding about the very insti-tution of Prophethood. If the role ofa Prophet were simply to deliver theBook, as some misguided people inour time try to argue, there shouldhave been as many Books as Proph-ets. But the very fact that there havebeen many Prophets without a newBook, firmly establishes the need forthe Prophets as a source of guidancein its own rights.

It had to be so because life emu-lates life. We need live human be-ings to inspire us; to show right fromwrong in every day struggles of life;to confront us and pose questions;to answer questions; to clarify mis-conceptions; to hold our hand; to bethe model. We certainly need prin-ciples to guide our thoughts and ac-

tions. But we also need real life ex-amples to relate the principles to reallife situations.

For most of our living experi-ence involvesjudgment calls.Politeness is a de-sirable moralvalue. But whendoes politenessturn into weak-ness? Firmness isalso a desirable at-tribute. But whendoes it turn intoarrogance? Howdo we balance ourduties towards Al-lah with those to-wards other hu-man beings? Howdo we balance both with duties to-wards ourselves?

We are constantly faced withconflicting claims on our re-sources, energies, and attention.How do we resolve those conflicts,without doing any injustice? Theseare real life questions that requirereal life answers.

This point is beautifully estab-

lished in the Opening Chapter(Surah Fatiha) of Qur’an. It is ashort surah, consisting of onlyseven verses, and it consists of a

prayer for guid-ance: O’ Allah!Show us theStraight Path. Yettwo of the sevenverses are used todescribe theStraight Path interms of people.“The path of thoseon whom Thou hasbestowed ThyGrace. Not thepath of those whoearn Thine wrathnor of those whogo astray.”

It would have been simpler tojust refer to the Straight path as thePath of the Qur’an. But the longerdescription has been used to em-phasis the fact that human beingsneed a human model to providecomplete guidance.

Of course Prophets were sentto provide the needed guidance. Itis also obvious that whatever a

Prophet declares is binding on allhis followers. “To accept a per-son as a Prophet of God and thento refuse to accept his commands,is so ridiculous that I would nothave believed any sensible personwould ever offer this proposi-tion,” says prominent Hadithscholar Maulana ManzoorNaumani. But this most irratio-nal of ideas has been promulgatedby a segment of Western educatedMuslims. They say, without asense of irony, that we accept theQur’an but not the Hadith.

Anyone who says that he ac-cepts the Qur’an but rejects thehadith cannot be serious. Or he hasnot read the Qur’an either. For theQur’an says: “And We have sentdown unto you the Message so thatyou may explain clearly to thepeople what is sent for them andso that they may give thought.”(Al-Nahal 16:44). So it is the jobof the Prophet (PBUH),to explainthe Qur’an. And it is the job of thebelievers to obey him.”He whoobeys the Messenger obeys Allahindeed” (Nisa 4:80).— Courtesy: Albalagh.com

History books tell us thatmany years ago, nationssigned secret treaties with

each other, which were revealedwhen war broke out between twocountries. The Russian EnglishTreaty of 1916 being one andBismarks Pax Britannica being an-other among hundreds of others.With the world becoming a globalvillage and information becomingmore transparent, the general pub-lic is under the misconception thedays of secret treaties are over. They

are not, not in our country anyway:“Secret pacts are being made be-

tween all political parties right now,so whatever the outcome, they willtry to come to power,” said a seniorleader of the opposition. “Will theNCP and BJP join hands?” I asked.

“Well in the secret treaty Pawarhas signed with Modi, the NCP willsupport the BJP at the Center in casethere is a hung Parliament with MrPawar getting the defense ministry.

“What about Mulayam?” Iasked. “In the pact signed by MrMulayam and Mr Modi, theSamajwadi Party will be part of theNDA and will support the BJP withMr. Mulayam retaining the DefenseMinistry.” “Both have been prom-ised the defense ministry!” I ex-claimed. “That is because this secret

treaty rests on the result of the secretpact the NCP has made with the BJPin Maharashtra.”

“And what is that?” I asked.“That in case the BJP-Shiv Sena com-bine does not manage to wrest enoughseats in the assembly elections, theNCP will also join and give supportto the state units.”

“That means Pawar is a certaintyas defense minister?” “Not really,”said the senior leader of the opposi-tion. “Unfortunately and known tovery few, except Mr Mulayam, thepact was signed by Mr Pawar’sdeputy and they feel by the time theelections happen, the deputy wouldhave started his OBC party and thetreaty signed by him for the NCP willbe null and void.”

“Pawar is too shrewd a man to

Pacts and treaties…!let this pass,” I said. “Very true,”said the senior opposition leader.“Mr. Pawar is already in touch withMr. Naidu. Mr Naidu’s voice is stillheard by BJP leaders, and Mr Pawarand Mr Naidu will soon be signinga secret treaty.”

“What have Naidu and MrPawar agreed upon?” I asked, in-trigued. Mr Pawar will support MrNaidu for the deputy primeministership!” “Does Modi knowabout this?” “Yes, he does but he has signed apact that will send the deputy PMto the Andaman and Nicobar Islandson a permanent holiday!” “Andwhat about the Congress?” “We willsoon start, once Soniajee learns tosign in Hindi..!”—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com

David Ignatius

rifices.Drastic cuts will have to be im-

posed on wasteful expenditures.Luxury, pomp and show will haveto be done away with in every as-pect of the lives of particularlythose who are now at the helm inthe government.

Resources saved by virtue ofimposing these cuts should be di-verted towards the development ofthe country and welfare of itsdowntrodden masses. Yet anotherextremely important measure thatthe government would need to takeis to build its resource base bybroadening of the tax base. Toachieve this vital objective it willhave to bring the opulent segmentof the society, who have beenevading tax since decades, in thetax net.

The challenges are no doubtdaunting, but with a comfortablemajority, credibility, and goodpast track record, taking the coun-try out of its current extremelycritical predicaments should not beas difficult the PM and his gov-ernment as it was for his prede-cessor. Nations prayers and bestwishes are with him and his gov-ernment.—Via email

Regime changein Iran

HASAN EHTISHAM

Iran’s new elected PresidentRowhani pledged to “build trust”and wants to open possibilities fordialogue to ease tensions overTehran’s disputed nuclear pro-gram. In my view the evidencesand posture of Iran’s nuclearprogramme are suggesting someambiguity in their peaceful use ofnuclear energy. But it has to benoted any unilateral or bilateralmilitary action against Iran willcreate excuses for her to withdrawfrom NPT and to proliferate peace-ful nuclear energy to nuclearweapons. On the other hand USAcould raise this issue of Iran’sprogress towards nuclear weaponsbut ironically Israel is highlight-ing nuclear proliferation of Iranwith respect to NPT, though Israelis herself a denial of NPT.

Israel which is widely believedto have nuclear weapons is a greaterthreat to West Asia. The greatestthreat to the world is clearly nuclear-armed Israel with its almost dailythreats to launch an attack on Iran,inevitably involving the USA in apotentially catastrophic Middle Eastwar. Continually threatened by Is-rael, with its 200+ nuclear weapons,and with nuclear-armed neighbors— American allies Pakistan and In-dia — Iran has every reason to armitself in equal measure, althoughU.S. intelligence believes it has notyet decided to do so.

Global powers especially USAmust have to restrain themselvesfor a regime change in Iran. USAhad once tried for a regime changein Iran by supporting Iraq in Iran-Iraq war of 1980s. That supportdidn’t jolt revolutionary govern-ment in Iran. But USA favour cre-ated immense implications on re-gional and global security. Afterthat Middle East region becamethe largest importer of weaponsand international terrorismemerged from this region.

The best way to stop Iran fromgoing nuclear is to turn the entire re-gion into a nuclear-free zone, start-ing with Israel which never signedthe nuclear non-proliferation treaty.Other option which is most probableis Iran should get the bomb as Ken-neth Waltz argues that, “NuclearBalancing [between Israel and Iran]Would Mean Stability.”—Via emai

Yearning desire for stable Afghanistan

The conflict in Afghanistan affects, and under certain conditions, will exacerbate the

region’s instabilities - ethnic and re-ligious conflict, Islamic extremism,transnational criminal activities, drugtrafficking, resource exploitation is-sues, poor governance, and greatpower rivalries. As Afghanistan isunder severe unrest and turmoil sincemore than 30 years, an active partici-pation is needed from all the regionalstakeholders for securing and stabi-lized Afghanistan. No decision forAfghanistan can be made without thefacilitating role in terms of active po-litico-economic and diplomatic onesby the regional countries. No doubtnumbers of regional conferences overAfghan peace and stability have beenheld. But no tangible outcome hasbeen seen yet now due to lack of se-rious efforts taken by the regionalpowers for the solution of Afghani-stan issue. Unfortunately, the di-

lemma with Afghanistan is that allneighbouring countries distinguishtheir personal interests rather than tounite on common grounds for Afghanand regional stability. A small initia-tive can be made on regional level ifthe countries encourage themselvesto work for the stability of Afghani-stan and accepts a stable Afghan inthe interest of whole region.

The three decades of instabilityand war in Afghanistan has had a se-rious spill over effects on Pakistan’seconomy, security, law and order situ-ation in particular to Pakistan and ad-verse affects on Pakistan’s image as awhole. At present two and a half mil-lion Afghan spread from north to southaround the country. Pakistan is yearn-ing always and wants friendly politi-cal relationship with Afghanistan butunfortunately it become a naive dreamthat could not get the colours of real-ity if the prevailing situation of mis-trust continues to grow. However, thewestern backed Karzai government’sdouble edged strategies are respon-sible for unreliable policies towardsPakistan and the region as well.

While focusing the reconciliation

process, Pakistan’s role is of utmostimportance as it played a prudentlyindispensable role in Afghan recon-ciliation process. Pakistan alwayspreferred to the regional approachespecially the role of Afghan andneighbouring countries for the peace-ful and long-term resolution of Af-ghanistan. President Karzai in hisjoint press conference with the formerPrime Minister of Pakistan, YousufRaza Gilani, said that it was not pos-sible to reach at any conclusion andto achieve peace and stability in Af-ghanistan without the cooperationand positive role of Pakistan.

Pakistan showed full support in re-solving the Afghan entanglement andcontributed to the highest levels withthe western powers while having com-plaints with grievances but still open-ing Ground Lines of Communication(GLOCs) for the US-NATO-ISAFforces. Though, Pakistan’s position inoutlining the future of Afghanistan waspreviously being denied in the regionalpolitics but is accepted en bloc as afrontline ally and a partner, withoutwhom the reconciliation and exit strat-egy cannot be put forward.

Pakistan always preferred Af-ghanistan to be a stable country hav-ing properly functional politico-eco-nomic systems and behaving like asovereign and responsible regionaland international players. Neverthe-less, the new regional geo-strategicand political realities demand thatPakistan needs to enhance its re-gional relations to fulfil its RegionalConversion of Interest (RCI) whichshould be preferably restrain by allthe regional players for the peaceand better security of the regionaldevelopment. Though, the destiny ofPakistan and Afghanistan isinterlinked due to its cultural, eth-nic, religious and historical linkstherefore, instability in Afghanistanwould cause adverse sufferings toPakistan, thus Pakistan’s utmost in-terest would be a stable and progres-sive Afghanistan. AlthoughIslamabad and Kabul have not keptsame area of regional interest but thegeo-strategic compulsions forcethem to work out on common goalsfor peace and development..—Research Associate for StrategicVision Institute, Islamabad.

Beenish AltafEmail:beenish@thestrategicvision.com

The Spirit Of Islam

Khalid Baig

A profile of Hassan RohaniFrom Back Page

During the Iran-Iraq War in the1980s, Rohani headed a regionalcommand post and later wascommander of National Air De-fense. After the war, he began hislong term as secretary of the Su-preme National Security Coun-cil.

Mr Rohani served as a mem-ber of the Supreme DefenseCouncil (1982-1988), member ofthe High Council for SupportingWar and headed its ExecutiveCommittee (1986-1988), deputycommander of the war (1983-1985), commander of theKhatam-ol-Anbiya OperationCenter (1985-1988), and com-mander of the Iran Air DefenseForce (1986-1991). He was ap-pointed as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forcesbetween1988 to1989.

After the Constitution of theIslamic Republic of Iran wasamended and the Supreme Na-tional Security Council (SNSC)came into being up to the presenttime, he has been representativeof the Leader, AyatollahKhamenei, at the council.

Mr Rohani was the first sec-retary of the SNSC and kept itfor 16 years (from 1989 to 2005).He was also national securityadvisor – to President Hashemiand President Khatami – for 13years (from 1989 to 1997 andfrom 2000 to 2005).

In 1991, Mr Rohani was ap-pointed to the Expediency Coun-

cil and has kept that post up tothe present time. He heads Po-litical, Defense, and SecurityCommittee of the ExpediencyCouncil.

In addition to executive posts,Hassan Mr Rohani has kept uphis scientific activities. From1995 to 1999, he has been amember of the Board of Trust-ees of Tehran Universities andNorth Region.

Mr Rohani has been runningthe Center for Strategic Researchsince 1991. Having the rank ofresearch professor, he has writ-ten many books and articles inPersian, English and Arabic. Heis the managing editor of threescientific and research quarterliesin Persian and English, whichinclude Rahbord (Strategy), For-eign Relations, and Iranian Re-view of Foreign Affairs.

Hassan Mr Rohani was sec-retary of the Supreme NationalSecurity Council for 16 years.His career at the Council beganunder President HashemiRafsanjani and continued underhis successor, President Khatami.

Mr Rohani and his team,whose members had been intro-duced by Velayati and Kharrazias the best diplomats in the Ira-nian Foreign Ministry, basedtheir efforts on dialogue and con-fidence building due to politicaland security conditions as wellas strong propaganda againstIran. As a first step, they pre-

vented further escalation of ac-cusations against Iran in order toprevent reporting Iran’s nuclearcase to the United Nations Secu-rity Council. Therefore, and forthe purpose of confidence build-ing, certain parts of Iran’s nuclearactivities were voluntarily sus-pended at several junctures.

In addition to building con-fidence, insisting on Iran’srights, reducing internationalpressures and preventing Iran’scase from being reported to theUN Security Council, Iran suc-ceeded in completing its nuclearfuel cycle and tookgroundbreaking steps.

Following the election ofMahmoud Ahmadinejad as presi-dent, Mr Rohani resigned his postas secretary of the Supreme Na-tional Security Council after 16years on August 15, 2005, andwas succeeded by Ali Larijani asthe new secretary who also tookcharge of Iran’s nuclear case.

Larijani, likewise, resignedhis post on October 20, 2007, tobe replaced by Saeed Jalili.

Although Hassan Mr Rohanihad already appeared as a diplo-mat and taken part in many meet-ings and negotiations with for-eign officials as Majlis deputyspeaker or the secretary of theSupreme National SecurityCouncil, it was his leading rolein the nuclear negotiations whichbrought him the nickname of“diplomat Sheikh.”

reporters.Khurshid’s comments came

a day after the Afghan Talibanannounced opening of its politi-cal office in Qatari capital Dohaand expressed willingness to holdpeace talks with Afghan Presi-dent Hamid Karzai’s governmentand other stakeholders.

“The talks are being heldbetween the high peace counciland the chosen representatives ofTaliban. Of course, the US hadits role in encouraging this, per-haps even in precipitating this,”said Khurshid, who is inBaghdad on a two-day officialvisit. —INP

point last seen in late Septem-ber 2010.

Meanwhile, London’sbenchmark FTSE 100 index slid2.04 percent to stand at 6,219.47points in late morning deals,Frankfurt’s DAX 30 dived 2.08percent to 8,027.23 points and inParis the CAC 40 shed 2.02 per-cent to 3,761.82.

The European single cur-rency fell to a 10-day low at$1.3183, down from $1.3297 inNew York late on Wednesday.

However, in a news confer-ence, Fed chairman BenBernanke said that the US cen-tral bank’s policy committee“currently anticipates that itwould be appropriate to moder-ate the monthly pace of pur-chases later this year” if the eco-nomic outlook continued to im-prove.

“Ben Bernanke has put thecat well and truly among the pi-geons with his statement that as-set purchases would begin slow-ing by the end of this year,” saidanalyst Yusuf Heusen at tradingfirm IG.

“It does feel as if the Fedchairman has pulled the rug fromunderneath the stock marketrally, and he certainly seems tohave dealt a killer blow to gold.”

officials have not contacted us forthe Thursday talks,” he said.Asked when the preliminary talkscould start, he did not give anyexact timing but said they couldtake place on Friday, the day af-ter or within a week.

Shaheen further said aceasefire will not be possible be-cause if the foreign forces attackthe Taliban in Afghanistan, add-ing the Taliban will fight back.“It is not an easy issue to resolvein the first meeting,” saidShaheen, who had previouslyserved as a diplomat when Af-ghanistan was in Taliban con-trol.—AP

Omar to nameFrom Page 1

Afghan peaceFrom Page 1

Gold dropsFrom Page 1

Shahbaz to changePatwari, Thana culture

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Punjab Chief Min-ister Muhammad ShahbazSharif has said that people havegiven mandate to Pakistan Mus-lim League-N to change Patwariand Thana culture, eliminatecorruption and resolve energycrisis and it will come up to theexpectations of the masses. Hesaid that country will be steeredout of the quagmire of problemsand put on the road to progressand prosperity. He said thatpower will be used to providejustice to the weak, upholdrights of widows and orphans,supremacy of justice and eradi-cation of crime. The Chief Min-ister said that local bodies’ elec-tions will soon be held after con-sultation with the party and sucha local government system willbe introduced as will empowerthe masses and their problemswill be resolved at the locallevel. He said that the energycrisis being faced by the coun-try has badly affected nationaleconomy, industries, agricul-ture, education, health and othersectors. Shahbaz Sharif said thatcoping with the energy problemis a big challenge and PML-Ngovernment is taking measureson war footing to resolve thiscrisis. He said that the govern-

ment will diffenately succeed inridding the masses of energycrisis with the consultation ofassembly members, experts andits tireless efforts.

This was stated by him dur-ing meetings with MembersPunjab Assembly belonging toBahawalpur and Multan divi-sions on Thursday. ProvincialMinisters Rana Sanaullah Khan,Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan,Iqbal Channar, Khalil TahirSindhu, Ch. MuhammadShafique, Dr. Farrukh Javed,Asif Saeed Khan Manais, TanvirAslam Malik, Chief Secretary,IG Police, Secretaries of variousdepartments, administrative andpolice officers of Bahawalpurand Multan divisions were alsopresent on the occasion. Assem-bly Members apprised the ChiefMinister of developmentschemes and problems of theirrespective areas and he issuedon the spot orders in some cases.Speaking on the occasion.

Shahbaz Sharif said that thehistoric mandate given by thenation to PML-N demands thatno effort should be spared in theservice of the people, resolvingproblems of the masses and rais-ing their living standard. He saidthat provincial ministers, assem-bly members and officers serv-ing the people are our pride

whereas those who have no in-terest in this regard have no rightto stay on their posts. He saidthat people of south Punjab havealso ensured victory of MuslimLeague-N with thumping major-ity and rejected corrupt ele-ments. The Chief Minister saidthat people of South Punjabhave remembered the public ser-vice of PML-N during floodsand repaid it with its gloriousvictory. He said that solid mea-sures are being taken for the de-velopment of health, educationand infrastructure in southPunjab and compared to its 31percent population, 32 percentdevelopment funds have beenallocated for this region. He saidthat missing facilities will beprovided in all schools of SouthPunjab within a year.

The Chief Minister said po-litical and economic depriva-tions are not the destiny of thecountry and Pakistan will betransformed into a prosperousand developed country throughcollective wisdom, tireless ef-forts and commitment. He saidthat the course of the history canbe changed by adopting the vir-tues of simplicity, honesty andhard work. He said that the cul-ture of austerity has been startedby curtailing the expenditure ofChief Minister Office.

PM: Change with changingtimes, adopt e-governance

ISLAMABAD—Prime MinisterMuhammad Nawaz Sharif hasunderlined the need to bringabout a positive change in themindsets of people serving inpublic sector for their adoptionof e-governance in order to im-prove efficiency and enhancecoordination in thegovernment’s working.

The Prime Minister ex-pressed these views while chair-ing a high level meeting on e-governance at the PrimeMinister’s Office on Thursday.

The prime minister said thatfor the attainment of the presentgovernment’s agenda of goodgovernance, the implementationof e-governance in public sec-tor is necessary.

The Prime Minister furthersaid that with the use of tech-nology and adoption of e-gov-ernance, we can overcome re-dundancies, enhance efficien-cies and promote transparency

and accountability which werethe hallmarks of good gover-nance.

The meeting was informed byMinister of State for InformationTechnology Ms. Anusha Rehmanthat Pakistan stood 156thin theinternational e-governance rank-ing. Terming it a sorry state of af-fairs, the Prime Minister empha-sized that in order to take Paki-stan forward, we need to imme-diately start implementing e-gov-ernance and the first stage in thisconnection, he said, was to auto-mate Ministries and Departmentsfor fast track and knowledgebased decision making.

Underscoring the need tochange with the changing times,The Prime Minister said that Pa-kistan cannot afford to lag be-hind in bringing into use the lat-est techniques and methodolo-gies to the system of gover-nance.

He further said that his gov-

ernment has always attachedhigh priority to the induction ofinnovations and modernizationin the public sector and recalledthat the Pakistan MuslimLeague (N) - led governmentfrom 1997-99 gave the first ITpolicy to the country.

The meeting also discussedvarious proposals and means tomove forward in the direction ofcomplete implementation of e-governance in the public sector.Overall reforms of the publicsector also came under discus-sion during the meeting.

Mr. Ahsan Iqbal Minister forPlanning & Development, Ms.Anusha Rehman Minister ofState for Information Technol-ogy, Eng. Khurram Dastagir,Minister of State for Science &Technology, Mr. Shaukat Tarinand senior officials of the Min-istry of IT and the PrimeMinister’s Office also attendedthe meeting.—INP

Saudi Arab to expel Hezbollahsupporters over Syria war

BEIRUT — Saudi Arabia plansto deport Lebanese citizens whosupport Hezbollah because of themilitant group’s role in the Syr-ian civil war, the kingdom’s en-voy to Lebanon said.

The warning comes amidHezbollah’s increasingly promi-nent participation in the Syrianconflict, with members of thegroup fighting on the side ofPresident Bashar Assad’s govern-ment forces. Saudi Arabia is astrong backer of the mostly-Sunni Syrian opposition trying toremove Assad from power. Assadbelongs to the minority Alawitesect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

Shiite Hezbollah fighterswere instrumental in a recent re-gime victory when Syrian gov-ernment forces regained controlof the strategic town of Qusairnear the Lebanese border. SaudiArabia will deport “those who

financially support this party,”Ambassador Ali Awad Assiri toldLebanon’s Future TV lateWednesday.

He added that Hezbollahbears full responsibility for recentrestrictive measures adopted byGulf Arab countries against thegroup. The Gulf CooperationCouncil — which includes SaudiArabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar,Oman and the United Arab Emir-ates — earlier this month saidthey would revoke residency per-mits for Hezbollah members inthe Gulf and limit their “finan-cial and business transactions.”

For its part, Hezbollah saysit has no businesses in the Gulfnations.

However, there are morethan half a million Lebaneseworking in the Gulf Arab nations,including tens of thousands inSaudi Arabia.—AP

time, the turnout was 60 per centand women in large numbers,also exercised their right to vote,he added.

Replying to a question re-garding Imran Khan’s allega-tions, he said that it was possiblethat negligence might have takenplace in some constituencies. Ifanybody had complaint then heshould approach election tribu-nals, whichb were authorised toorder re-polling, he added.

Answering another questionregarding use of electronic vot-ing machine, he said that threemachines were being tested forthe purpose and the suitable onewould be utilized in by-polls ornext general elections.

ECP readyFrom Page 1

to both Pakistan and Afghanistanand therefore both countriesshould work together to eliminatethis scourge. “Peace and stabil-ity in Afghanistan is a key con-stituent of Pakistan’s foreignpolicy, which is supported by allstate institutions.”

The ambassador insisted thatsuccess of the policy requiresreciprocity, trust and goodwill.He made it clear that his rejoin-der was not a tit-for-tat response.

“I have said this to highlightthat terrorists operate on bothsides of the porous border. Manyattacks against Pakistan areplanned on Afghan soil. That iswhy we need more aggressivepolicing and surveillance of theborder. This will also help stopthe shelling. We must not allowterrorists manipulate and dividethe people of Afghanistan andPakistan.” Insisting that politicaltrust needs to be built, Khan saidthat the joint commission,chaired by Pakistan’s Prime Min-ister and the President of Af-ghanistan, is the best forum forpursuing this objective.

Earlier, the Afghan ambassa-dor spoke of about continued actsof terrorism in his country, say-ing the people of Afghanistan“are still the main victims of thisheinous (that) continue to existin Pakistan’s soil and some ele-ments continue to use terrorismas an instrument of foreignpolicy.”

Pakistan Thursday con-firmed that it facilitated openingof Taliban Office in Doha as it ispart of the larger process of rec-

Afghan allegations rejectedFrom Page 1which he had to knock the door

of the Supreme Court. He said anumber of people were comingto him for giving suggestions,some of which are good whileothers have their own designs. Hesaid annual corruption of Rs207billion was taking place in Paki-stan in energy sector alone. Hedid not agree with estimates thatpower companies were sufferinglosses of 2.2% and said thesewere much higher. He saidpeople do not get response on 118helpline as no body picks up thetelephone.

Khawaja Asif said on 16thJune, he received fifty calls fromKarachi and Punjab after whichtheir complaints were addressed.

The Water and Power min-ister said an end to energy crisiswas essential for the security ofthe country and the prime minis-ter would announce the energypolicy in the next 15 days.

He said a policy would soonbe introduced to close markets at8:00 PM to conserve electricity,gas would be provided to sectorswhere it is more required.

“The electricity crisis is likea patient who is still in the ICUand efforts were on to shift itfrom ICU to ward and then bringit back home” the minister re-marked.—INP

Asif: PrivilegedFrom Page 1

if permission is accorded to levytax in interim way. “We are notrestraining the government fromlevying tax. Government shouldhave adopted legal and constitu-tional mode. Government cannotrun without charging tax.

The way interim sales tax hasbeen slapped is not acceptable.If levying of taxes in interim wayis allowed then parliament rolewill come to end. No one willresort to parliament if the rulersimpose taxes on their own”, hegave these remarks while presid-ing over a 3-member bench ofSupreme Court during the courseof hearing of suo motu case onimposition of General Sales Taxhere Thursday.

Attorney General Munir AMalik, Ikram Chaudhry, SulemanAkram Raja and Rana Shamim,counsel for FBR, completed theirarguments.

At the inception of hearingCJP remarked “ tell us how canthe prices be increased in pro-posed declaration.

Suleman Akram Raja saidthis tax has been imposed by thegovernment. The CJP observed”we are not preventing govern-ment from imposing taxes. Gov-ernments run on taxes. Presidentcan promulgate ordinance on the

advice of Prime Minister. Stateis responsible for the welfare ofthe people. This money is spentfor the sake of welfare of thepeople. Government increasedone percent tax and the inflationsoared high fifteen fold. SalesTax details are required to be filedby July 14.

Iftikhar Chaudhry remarked“if FBR works properly then toomuch amount can be collected.If government raises this tax thenwhat work will be left for parlia-ment to do. Amendment in thesales tax act can be made subjectto approval of Finance Bill Thehighest level of sales tax is 16percent. How can it be chargedat the rate of 25 percent?

Ikram Chaudhry advocateargued “the issue started from thebudget speech of finance minis-ter. After his speech prices of allcommodities were increased and1931 advance tax collection actis in clash with article 77

The CJP observed “stateshould go to extreme end forprotection of rights of the people.Tax slapped on CNG is wrong.

The state can survive onlywhen the rights of the people areprotected. The money chargedillegally should be returned.Ikram Chaudhry said “ the prices

of commodities decrease on thereligious festivals of other reli-gions but it is regretted to say thatprices of commodities surge tohighest mark during the holymonth of Ramadan.

Raja Shamim, counsel forFBR argued “the impression ofrecovering of 26 percent tax iswrong and it is only 16 percenttax. The CJP remarked “ youhave to recover 16 percent tax atevery cost.

Consumers are not respon-sible for the loss or expenses ofowners of petrol pumps. The taxratio has climbed to 25 percentafter recovering 16 percent addi-tional tax.

The AG said the rules whichshow you the way to levy addi-tional taxes, are in conflict withthe constitution and a flagrantbreach of it. Pump owners chargeadditional tax to compensate forthe arrears and amount paid bythem under other heads to gascompany.

The Attorney General prayed“ if court is determined to blowup 1931 act then this decision beimplemented from prospectiveand not from retrospective ef-fect. The court reserved the judg-ment which will be pronouncedtoday.—Online

Increase in sales tax led to biggerFrom Page 1

stock of operations against terror-ists.The army has been locked ina stiff battle in the mountainousborder region with militants whomade swift initial gains, thatforced thousands of families toflee from the area and prompt anoffensive by the army, backed bythe air force. On Thursday,Kayani visited the area accom-panied by Commander PeshawarCorps Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani.This is the first time the armychief visited the area since mili-tants launched a fresh offensivein the district in April.

According to an Inter-Ser-vices Public Relations release, helauded troops for their swift andsuccessful completion of opera-tions and eviction of terrorists,local and foreign. He speciallyappreciated their resolve, com-mitment and sacrifices made dur-ing these operations.

Army to stayFrom Page 1

months.Adding to a point about

misdemeanour of the youth thathampers civil life, he said, “Reck-less and under-age driving willnot be given a free pass, even ifthe children of member of par-liament are involved.”

Chaudhry Nisar also ex-panded on measures introducedfor ensuring sanitary conditionsof the roads, regularisation ofhealth care and checking tax eva-sion. “Medicines should be soldwith the name of pharmaceuti-cal company and dealer stampedon it, so that they can be trackeddown if the medicines prove tobe sub-standard,” he said.

The minister said that secu-rity affairs were discussed withthe heads of security agencies andrelevant departments during themeeting and the governmentwould soon announce the Na-tional Security Policy.

Deployment of Rangers andFC as part of the VIPs’ protocolswould be withdrawn, however,they would continue to serve thePresident, the Prime Minister andthe Chief Justice, Nisar said.

The interior minister alsoannounced to launch a grand op-eration against non-registeredvehicles and underage drivers innext three days, saying that ac-tion would be taken against lawviolators. “We have to bringspoilt children on the right track,”Nisar said referring to the youthwho loiter outside public placesin the capital. Traffic laws willbe strictly observed initially onthree major roads of Islamabadin the first phase and later thestrict observation would be un-folded onto other roads.

A mass transit metro busprogramme, from Rawalpindi toIslamabad would be formulatedon an urgent basis. A fly-overfrom Bara-Kahu will be con-structed as a joint project be-tween Islamabad and the Punjabgovernment, Nisar said.

The interior minister said alist of ‘most notorious’ officialsof Islamabad Capital Territoryand Capital Development Au-thority would be prepared andthey would be sidelined.

Civil armedFrom Page 1

onciliation in Afghanistan.Spokesman Aizaz Ahmad

Chaudhary said at the weeklynews briefing on Thursday thatPakistan has been supportive ofan all inclusive intra-Afghan dia-logue and it is in that spirit that itextended support to the Dohaprocess.

He expressed confidence thatthe process of reconciliation willhelp bring the war to an end andalso lead to lasting peace in Af-ghanistan. He said earlier whenthe Afghan High Peace Councildelegation visited Pakistan andrequested for release of Talibanprisoners in order to allow themto join the reconciliation process,Pakistan had released 26 Talibanprisoners at that time. He saidPakistan will be ready to considerall steps and efforts that can fur-ther the reconciliation in Af-ghanistan.

To a question he said Paki-stan has been talking to both theUS and Afghanistan governmentled by President Hamid Karzai.He said Pakistan recognizes theGovernment of President Karzaias the legitimate Government ofAfghanistan.

About nature and details ofDoha office of Taliban, he saidPakistan just facilitated the pro-cess and the matter of openingof office was between Qatar,Taliban and United States.

Responding to a question, hesaid Prime Minister NawazSharif has already stated that Pa-kistan is ready for talks withTaliban.About drone strikes, thespokesman said Pakistan be-

lieved these must come to an end.He said Pakistan is giving highpriority to the issue and the mat-ter has been taken up at the high-est level with the US Govern-ment on the instructions of thePrime Minister. He said there isacross the board political consen-sus on the position of the Gov-ernment of Pakistan on drones.

To a question he said the visitof the US Secretary of State JohnKerry to Pakistan has been de-layed due to developments in theMiddle East. He would visit Pa-kistan soon and the dates are be-ing worked out.

He denied that there wereany unpleasant exchanges whenAmerican Charge d’Affaires wassummoned to Foreign Office bySpecial Assistant to the PrimeMinister Tariq Fatemi to registerstrong protest over drone strikes.He said the meeting proceededas per normal diplomatic courte-sies and there was no mishap orany discourtesy. —AP

The New Scotland Yard,which raided the houses yester-day, ransacked both the apart-ments during the painstakingsearch.

According to sources, AltafHussain is the proprietor of oneof the two houses, which the po-lice combed for more than twodays leaving no stone unturned.

Dr Farooq, the former con-vener of the Muttahida QaumiMovement (MQM) was stabbedto death outside his home on 16thSeptember 2010 as he was return-ing home. It has been learnt thatthe raid started on Tuesday 19June at around 6am at two impor-tant addresses in the area close towhere Dr Farooq was killed inEdgware, London. —INP

One of AltafFrom Page 1

Huge foreigncurrencyrecoveredSHAFFAAT MALIK

TALAGANG—Talagang Policeseized huge amount of foreigncurrency at Nala Ankar nearTalagang.

Foreign currency notesworth Rs.150 millions wereseized by Talagang Police whiledoing the spot check.

The staff of Nala AnkarChoki, Incharge Hawaldar AmirSultan, Sepoy Ahmed Hayat andTasawar Hussain, stopped theblack corolla car for regular se-curity check and recovered.

2561450 Saudi Riyal, 81000British pounds, 616050 Norwe-gian Krones, 371645 Euros,2000 Kuwaiti Dinars, 17000Omani Riyal, 927000 JapaneseYen, 100000 Qatari Riyal,45000 Danish Krone from thecar during the search.

province. During a high-level lawand order meeting chaired by In-terior Minister Chauhdry NisarAli Khan, it was decided that ifthe Sindh government failed tomake any headway, the issuewould be taken up by the federalgovernment.

The meeting was also briefedabout the security situation inBalochistan and a nexus betweendifferent militant groups.

Sindh govtFrom Page 1

rating state of law and order inthe country with particular refer-ence to the situation in Karachiand Quetta after the recent waveof terrorist attacks and overall se-curity situation in the region.

According to the officialbrief, Prime Minister NawazSharif also discussed ways andmeans to improve the law andorder situation in Karachi.

PM, DG ISIFrom Page 1

question whether MQM repre-sentatives should join the SindhGovernment or play the role ofopposition.

Speaking on the occasion,Shabbir Ahmed Qaimi said thathis party always respected theopinion of masses and joining ofSindh Government or sitting inopposition depends on the deci-sion of the people.

He said the MQM will an-nounce its future strategy afterthe results of the referendum andadded that the party is waiting forthe decision of the voters. Theresult will be announced today.

Muttahida holdsFrom Page 1

MUMBAI—Nadir Shah, thesuspended Bangladeshi um-pire is likely to have beensuggested by his lawyers towrite a mercy letter to theBangladesh Cricket Board(BCB), which has suspendedhim for 10 years for his al-leged links with the bookies.This has been hinted by hisbrother, Jahangir ShahBadshah, who had playedfive ODIs for his country.

The 50-year-old umpire,who initially was to chal-lenge the ban, has now writ-ten a mercy letter in which ithas been requested to waivethe ban or reduce the punish-ment.

“Yes, you can say it hisacceptance of the guilt, butnow it is up to the authori-ties to consider his appeal”,the brother said over tele-

Lawyers suggested Nadir Shahto write a mercy letter to BCB

phone from Dhaka.“He spoke to me a day be-

fore submitting his letter to theBoard”.

“He was trapped by the In-dian TV people in sting opera-tion. Otherwise, he has been agood umpire and would havebeen even on ICC’s Elite Panelwhere no umpire from Indiafigures”.

The sting-operation by aTV channel in India claimed tohave exposed the several first-class umpires fromBangladesh, Pakistan and SriLanka who were reported to bewilling to give decisionsfavouring players for a fixedfee.

“He was liked by all cur-rent and former players, com-mentators. Even SunilGavaskar and Ravi Shastriused to respect him”.

“Probably because of hismixing nature with othersmade him to be indulged inthis business”.

“He is youngest in thefamily and was born with asilver spoon in mouth. Hehad been framed and didn’tdo it as a greedy-man”, thebrother maintained.

Nadir Shah, when con-tacted in Dhaka, remainedhopeful. “The ban on ICLplayers was lifted, the ban onAta-ur-Rahman was re-voked, I see no reason whymy punishment can not bereduced”.

It is however, unlikely.The Pakistani pacerMohammad Amir too haspleaded guilty but still fac-ing ban. The ICC unlikely torecommend the reduction inpunishment.

Tayyab beatsAustrian player in

main round of POFSquash trophySPORTS REPORTER

WAH CANTT—The mainround of PSF POF Pakistan In-ternational Squash Circuit-II forChairman POF Trophy 2013was held on Thursday atJahangir Khan Squash ComplexWah Cantt.

Chief executive Wah NobelGroup Syed Naseem Raza, wasthe chief guest on the occasioninaugurated the main round. Theopening match was contestedbetween Tayyab Aslam of Paki-stan and Austria’s AqeelRehman, which the former wonby 3-2 after a tough fight.

Vice President POF SportsControl Col. (R) InamullahKhan in his welcome addresssaid that POF had been contrib-uting a lot in the promotion ofsports and games in the coun-try.

He said that the tournamenthad been organized on the spe-cial instructions of ChairmanPOF Board.

He also thanked the man-agement of Wah Nobel Group,the main sponsors of the eventand Pakistan Squash Federationfor their cooperation.

Secretary Pakistan SquashFederation Wing CommanderAbdul Wahab Marwat, Interna-tional Referee Faheem Gul anda large number of sports loverswitnessed the main round ofchampionship. The quarterfinalswill be held on Friday, semifi-nals on Saturday and the finalon Sunday.

CARDIFF: Mahela Jayawardene sweeps the ball during India vs Sri Lanka Champions Trophy 2nd semi-final on Thursday.

RECIFE—Italy booked theirplace in the semi-finals of theConfederations Cup here with athrilling come-from-behind 4-3win over Japan that also sentBrazil into the last four.

The Italians looked to beheading for a shock defeat aftergoing 2-0 down to Japan mid-way through the first half, withKeisuke Honda slotting a 21st-minute penalty before Manches-ter United star Shinji Kagawadoubled the lead for the Asianchampions.

However, Italy fought backwith a three-goal blast eitherside of half-time, courtesy ofstrikes from Daniele De Rossi,an own-goal from AtsutoUchida and a Mario Balotellispot-kick to make it 3-2.

Japan levelled at 3-3 cour-tesy of a thumping header fromShinji Okazaki on 69 minutes asthe momentum shifted againbefore Italy substitute SebastianGiovinco sealed a dramatic en-counter with the winner four

minutes from time.The result saw Japan elimi-

nated along with Mexico, whileBrazil and Italy will now faceeach other Saturday in Salvadorin the final pool match to deter-mine who qualifies as groupwinners - the runners-up willlikely face world championsSpain.

It was an agonising exit forJapan, whose coach AlbertoZaccheroni had challenged histeam to take the game to his Ital-ian countrymen after a lacklustredisplay in their opening defeatto Brazil. “I think we did showwe have a lot of personality butwe need to accumulate moreexperience,” Zaccheroni con-ceded. “I hope Italy now winsthe Cup since we are not goingto be in the semi-finals. I hopethey win.”

Italy coach Cesare Prandellisaid he had had to reshuffle hispack after their poor start, with-drawing Alberto Aquilani andsending on striker Giovinco. “It

was a difficult game for us, wesuffered. We knew Japan hadone extra day to rest and itshowed.”

For 40 minutes Japanseemed destined to score a firstever success over the Azzurri.Ryoichi Maeda had almostdrawn first blood with a headeron seven minutes but GianluigiBuffon made a smart stop.

Kagawa then fired a left footeffort goalwards in the 19thminute that Buffon parried tosafety.

But two minutes later, Japantook the lead from the spot asBuffon clattered into a 50-50challenge with Okazaki and ref-eree Diego Abal of Argentinaruled the Italian veteran hadimpeded his rival.

Honda, whose penalty-tak-ing exploits earlier this monthhad ensured qualification fornext year’s World Cup in Bra-zil, drilled his kick low toBuffon’s left and just inside thepost.

Confederations Cup: Italy eliminateJapan in thriller, Brazil advance

RECIFE: Japanese goalkeeper trying to save the goal but in vain as Italy booked their placein the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup.

Thereafter, Japan enjoyed apurple patch and after 33 min-utes it was 2-0, Kagawa swivel-ling in the box to plant a left-foot shot low past Buffon.

Italian midfielder De Rossiearned a booking for trippingHonda as the Japanese, theirconfidence suddenly sky-highand playing neat one-touch foot-ball that brought shouts of ‘ole’from the crowd, looked to go forthe kill.

Against an Italian side thathad before Wednesday lost onlyone of 23 competitive gamesunder Prandelli, they failed tofind the coup de grace.

And Andrea Pirlo gave Italyhope when he arrowed in a cor-ner that was met by a powerfulDe Rossi header just before half-time for 2-1.

In what was turning into asuperlative advert for attackingfootball Giaccherini then saw alow drive come back off the baseof the post with almost the lastkick of the first half.

The second half was no lessaction packed and soon after therestart Giaccherini beat MayaYoshida and saw his low crossturned into his own net by aUchida.

Three minutes afterUchida’s faux pas Balotelliscored from the spot afterMakoto Hasebe handballed inthe box.

But Japanese heads did notdrop and they made it 3-3 in the69th minute when YasuhitoEndo crossed for Okazaki tohead in.

In an astonishing finaleOkazaki hit the post and, withBuffon stranded, Kagawa sawhis header bounce onto the barwhen it seemed he must score.

With four minutes left of apulsating match Giovinco net-ted from close range fromClaudio Marchisio’s cross,meaning the pressure is off forthe Italians as they go on to meetfellow Group A qualifiers Bra-zil in their final pool match onSaturday in Salvador.—AFP

LONDON—Ricky Ponting, theformer Australia captain and oneof the greatest batsmen of themodern age, will retire from allcricket in October. The 38-year-old is currently in England play-ing county cricket for Surrey buthe has said that the ChampionsLeague T20 campaign withMumbai Indians, winners of thisyear’s IPL, will be his last com-petitive outing.

“While I’m enjoying mycricket as much as ever, it justfeels like the right time to finishplaying,” Ponting told the DailyMail. “My body and mind arein great shape and I know I’mgoing to really enjoy these lastfew months before the nextstage of life begins.”

Ponting announced his Testretirement during Australia’shome series against South Af-rica last year, making a farewellappearance in the defeat atPerth. In 168 Test matches heamassed 13378 runs, secondonly to Sachin Tendulkar, aswell as 13704 runs in ODIs,winning three World Cups, twoas captain.

In what has turned out to behis final season in Australia,Ponting helped Tasmania to vic-tory in the Sheffield Shield - andfinished as the competition’sleading run-scorer - before head-ing to the IPL. He is scheduledto leave Surrey in July and take

part in the inaugural CaribbeanPremier League, with theAntigua Hawksbills.

“To win the Sheffield Shieldwith Tasmania in my last gamein Australia played atBlundstone Arena, will foreverbe a memory close to my heart.It’s one of a lifetime of memo-ries that will become even more

special to me in retirement,” hesaid. “I’m so grateful for theopportunities that the game ofcricket has given to me. I’veplayed with so many outstand-ing people at all levels of cricketwith lifelong friendships made.”

Although Ponting struggledin his final Test series, accumu-lating just 32 runs in threematches against South Africa,

uncertainty about Australia’sbatting line-up ahead of theAshes had led to talk of a pos-sible recall. Ponting appeared toencourage such speculationshortly after arriving in Englandto join up with Surrey - “I wouldnever say never,” he said in anewspaper interview - but helater clarified that he would notbe coming out of retirement. Hedid however make a return to thedressing room to offer supportas Australia went out of theChampions Trophy with defeatto Sri Lanka at The Oval onMonday.

He made 192 on his first-class debut for Surrey last month,proving his continued appetite formaking big scores, but it will bein T20 cricket that he makes hisfinal bow. He is one of the mar-quee signings for the CPL andwill be expected to play his lastinnings in the blue of Mumbai,despite dropping himself fromthe team and handing over thecaptaincy to Rohit Sharma dur-ing their run to the IPL title.

He will then begin life as aretired professional cricketer,with promoting an autobiogra-phy the first job on his list.Ponting said he was looking for-ward to spending more timewith his wife, Rianna, and theirtwo daughters, as well as work-ing with their cancer fundraisingcharity.—AP

Ponting to retire from all cricket LucrativeRs 5.1m forCNS Golf

ChampionshipKARACHI—Record purse of Rs5.1 million will be at the offerin the 18th Chief of Naval Staff(CNS) Golf Championship be-ing staged at Karachi Golf Club(KGC) from June 27 to 30,Organisers announced on Thurs-day.

Addressing a news confer-ence at KGC, Vice AdmiralKhawaja Muzaffar Hussain,Commodore Amjad, Sindh GolfAssociation (SGA) Vice AhmedAbdul Bari, said country’s top-notch golfers will be taking inthe 72-hole competition.

A brand new car will also beat the offer for hole-in-one in theevent.

Big names on Pakistan golfincluding Shabbir Iqbal,Muhammad Munir, MatloobAhmed, Shahid Javed Khan,Waheed Baloch, Javed Inayat,Muhammad Tariq and otherswill be seen in action,

Unfancied golferMuhammad Asif of LahoreGymkhana Club achieved therare distinction of hole-in-one toclaim prize of Toyota Altisworth Rs 1.89 million lastyear.—APP

KARACHI—Pakistan hockeyteam manager-cum-chief coachAkhtar Rasool has said as perthe new format qualifying fornext year’s World Cup is a bigchallenge but a grand effort isbeing made to prepare them forWorld Cup League.

Top three teams from 8-team contest will qualify for theevent being played in JoharBahru (Malaysia) from June 29to July 7.

“Our first target would be toqualify for the semi-finals andthan plan things”, former Paki-stani captain said.

2010 Guangzhou AsianGames Champion Pakistan isdrawn in group “B” with En-

Qualifying for World Cupbig challenge: Akthar

gland, South Africa and hostsMalaysia.

“Every match will be crucialfor us and we have told the boysthat every match will be like afinal”, he pointed. He said noteam can be taken lightly.

He said all three teams intheir pool play the game in toughway.

“I am expecting contribu-tion from both the forwards andas well via penalty corner con-version”, he said.

Akhtar said in veteranShakeel Abbasi, Shafqat Rasool,Waqas Sharif, Rizwan andHaseem Khan, Pakistan gotgood forwards whileMuhammad Imran, Muhammad

Ateeq are good penalty cornerstrikers.

“They must play with theirfull potential and must click asteam”, he commented.

He said Pakistan could notdo well in Azlan Shah Cup assenior players like were restedbut all of them are back.

He said an 18-membersquad will be finalized by Fri-day on basis of form and fitness.No trials be conducted by theteam management, AkhtarRasool added.

He expressed the hope thatplayers will feel their responsi-bility to give their best and helpPakistan to qualify for the WorldCup.—APP

Judge summonsMessi in taxfraud case

MADRID—A Spanish judge hasnamed Barcelona star LionelMessi as a suspect in a tax fraudprobe and summoned him toappear in court on September17, a spokesman for the publicprosecutor’s office in Barcelonasaid Thursday.

The 25-year-old four timeWorld Player of the Year and hisfather Jorge Horacio are accusedof defrauding the Spanish taxauthorities of more than fourmillion euros ($5 million, #3.4million).—AFP

PCB considering‘performance basedpay’ for Pak playersafter ‘disastrous’ CTKARACHI—The PakistanCricket Board (PCB) is report-edly mulling over introducing aperformance based pay packagefor players in the wake of thenational team’s disastrous per-formance in the ongoing ICCChampions Trophy in England.

Although PCB has since lastyear twice given pay raises tothe players in their central con-tracts and match fees, this hasnot reflected in their perfor-mances, with Pakistan losing inall its three group matches tocrash out of the tournament.

The ANI quoting a PCBsource reported Thursday thatdespite the presence of confu-sion over the appointment of aninterim chairman following thesuspension of chairman ZakaAshraf by the Islamabad HighCourt, the Board officials arethinking as to whether a perfor-mance based pay package canbe introduced for the players ornot.

Stating that PCB rewardsplayers with bonuses for winsand individual performances,the source further said that theboard is now thinking that thepayment slab system shouldbe according to players‘ per-formance in series and tour-nament-to-tournament basisinstead of long-term con-tracts.—INP

SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani during his visit to South Waziristan withTribal elders after inaugurating 50 km long road.

Crackdown onillegal phonenetworksISLAMABAD—The Govern-ment has decided to launch acrackdown on the installationand running of illegal tele-phone networks in the country.According to the sources, inthis connection a strategy isbeing evolved to conduct thecrackdown. About 800 milliondollars are expected by be re-ceived to the government byclosing the illegal telephonenetworks operating currentlyin the country.—NNI

Portfolios ofSindh ministersKARACHI—The Sindh govern-ment assigned portfolios to itsministers on Thursday. Two PPPveterans, former speaker NisarAhmed Khuhro and ManzoorAhmed Wassan have been giveneducation and jails departments,respectively. Earlier, only twoministers and an advisor,Sharjeel Memon, Syed MuradAli Shah and Sikandar Mendhrowere assigned portfolios whilethe remaining were workingwithout departments.—INP

Baloch poetescapes attackGWADAR—House of a localBaloch poet was attacked withhand grenades in Balochistan’sGwadar distract on Thursday.Mubarak Qazi remained safe inthe blast. Officials said the mis-creants hurled hand grenades onMubarak Qazi’s residence lo-cated in Pasni, a medium-sizedtown and a fishing port inGwadar district of Balochistanon Thursday morning. Qazi, re-mained safe as he was notpresent in his home at the timeof blast, whereas his wife wasinjured. The house was partiallydamaged.—NNI

Woman burnt byin-lawsFAISALABAD—A woman wasshifted to hospital in a criticalcondition after she was burnt byher in-laws over domestic is-sues here on Thursday. Policearrested husband of the woman,Najmal, and registered the case.Doctors of Allied Hospital saidthat 70% of the woman’s bodywas burnt. Mother and brotherof the woman told media thatshe was never happy ever sinceshe got married. On the otherhand, police said that thewoman herself told that she wasburnt as the stove of housecaught fire.—NNI

School blown upin HanguHANGU—Miscreants blew upanother school at KarboghaSharif in the suburb of Hangucity in terrorism hit province ofKhyber Pakhtunkhaw. On theother hand, terrorists destroyeda house with remote controlbomb; however, no casualty hasbeen reported. Militants ofbanned TTP have blown up hun-dreds of schools.—Online

COMPILED BY OUR

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

HASSAN Rohani wasborn on 12 November1948 in Sorkheh, a city

in Iran’s northern SemnanProvince. He began his semi-nary education in 1960 inSemnan, before moving on toQom. Later, he studied law atTehran University.

Mr Rohani did his Ph.D. inConstitutional Law, GlasgowCaledonian University, UK andM. Phil. Law, GlasgowCaledonian University, UK.

Hassan Rohani completedKharij Fiqh and Usul (Prin-ciples of Islamic Jurisprudenceunder the guidance of renowed

A profile of Hassan Rohani – Iranian President-electIslamic scholars such as Lategrand Ayatollah Seyed

Mohammad Mohaqqeq Damad,

Late grand Ayatollah SheikhMorteza Haeri, and Late grandAyatollah Seyed MohammadReza Golpayegani.

He had the honor to receiveAdvanced Studies by Late grandAyatollah Soltani, Late grandAyatollah Fazel Lankarani, andLate grand Ayatollah SheikhMohammad Shahabadi.

Hassan Rohani is the authorof more than 100 books and 700important strategic studies withpolicy recommendations includ-ing ‘National Security andNuclear Diplomacy”; “NationalSecurity and Economic Systemof Iran”; “Islamic PoliticalThought; Vol. 1: ConceptualFramework – December 2009”“Islamic Political Thought; Vol.

2: Foreign Policy”; Islamic Po-litical Thought”; Introduction toIslamic Countries”; “IslamicRevolution; Roots and Chal-lenges”; “Fundaments of Politi-cal Thoughts of ImamKhomeini” and “National Secu-rity and Foreign Policy”.

He has been a member of theAssembly of Experts since1999, member of the IslamicRepublic of Iran’s ExpediencyCouncil since 1991, member ofthe Supreme National SecurityCouncil since 1989, and head ofthe Center for Strategic Re-search since 1992.

Rohani has been also deputyspeaker of the 4th and 5th termsof the Islamic Consultative As-sembly (Majlis) and secretary of

the Supreme National SecurityCouncil from 1989 to 2005. Inthis capacity, he was also head-ing Iran’s former nuclear nego-tiating team and was thecountry’s top negotiator with theEU-3 – UK, France, and Ger-many – on the Iran’s nuclearprogram.

As a young cleric HassanMr Rohani started his politicalactivities by following ImamKhomeini during the beginningof the Iranian Islamic Revolu-tion.

Rohani was prosecuted bythe SAVAK (during former re-gime of Shah) and at that timeAyatollah Mohammad Beheshtiand Ayatollah Motahhari ad-vised him to leave the country.

Once outside Iran he made pub-lic speeches to Iranian studentsstudying abroad and joinedKhomeini upon arriving inParis.

Following the victory of theIslamic Revolution in Iran,Hassan Rohani, who had beenengaged in revolutionarystruggles for about two decades,did his best to stabilize the na-scent Islamic Revolution and asa first step, he started with or-ganizing the disorderly Iranianarmy and military bases.

He was elected to the Is-lamic Consultative Assembly(Majlis) in 1980. During fiveterms in the Majlis and for a to-tal period of 20 years (from 1980to 2000), he served in various

capacities including deputyspeaker of the Majlis (in 4thand 5th terms), as well as thehead of defense committee (1stand 2nd terms), and foreignpolicy committee (4th and 5thterms).

His close relations with Su-preme Leaders AyatollahRuhollah Khomeini and Aya-tollah Ali Khamenei are wellestablished.

During his work as Su-preme National Security Coun-cil secretary he had developeda close working relationshipwith Presidents AkbarHashemi Rafsanjani andMohammad Khatami.

Continued on Page 6

US militarythrowing away

$7b inAfghanistan

WASHINGTON—The U.S. issimply abandoning tons of equip-ment because shipping it homewould cost too much The decade-long Afghan war has cost theU.S. a fortune. And withdrawingfrom the country, which stillfaces regular insurgent attacks,won’t be a bargain, either.

Military planners have de-cided to leave behind $7 billionworth of equipment, The Wash-ington Post reports, because it isno longer needed or simply is notworth the cost of shipping home.

The military, rushing toclear out on schedule at the endof 2014, has destroyed morethan 170 million pounds of ve-hicles and other military equip-ment — including 2,000 of thePentagon’s 11,000 million-dol-lar Mine-Resistant Ambush Pro-tected personnel carriers, whichwere rushed into service in 2007to protect troops from roadsidebombs.—Agencies

PTI MNA forQadri’s release

OBSERVER REPORT

ISLAMABAD—A PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf MNA called forthe release of Malik MumtazQadri, the man who gunneddown Punjab Governor SalmaanTaseer in 2011. PTI MNA fromMardan, Mujahid Ali Khan madethe demand during a debate onthe budget in the National As-sembly. Khan had won the NA-11 seat in the May 11 elections.

Another PTI MNA Arif Alviclarified that Khan had madethis demand in his personal ca-pacity, and this had nothing todo with the party.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Leader of theHouse Raja Zafarul Haq has saidthat Pakistan has welcomed thedialogue between Taliban andthe United States in Doha andparliament would be taken intoconfidence regarding talks withTaliban .

Responding to a point oforder of Raza Rabbani and oth-ers regarding Pakistan status inthe dialogue, Leader of theHouse Raja Zafarul Haq said theParliament would be taken intoconfidence on any developmentin this regard. He said Pakistanhas always been apart of theconsultations and will also havea role in the current process.

The House also resumeddiscussion on the motion movedby Finance Minister Ishaq Darto make recommendations to theNational Assembly on the Fi-nance Bill, 2013-14.

Initiating the debate, Farah

Aqil said that the steps includ-ing programmes for the youthand enhancement in HEC fundsare worth appreciation. He pro-posed that more funds must beallocated for Balochistan to im-prove law and order situation inthe province. Mohsin Leghariappreciated fifty percent in-crease in the Public Sector De-velopment Programme. Hesaid the extra burden on the tax-payers and one percent increasein the GST is unfair.

Saleem H. Mandviwala saidthat ten percent increase in the sala-ries of the government employeesdoes not meet the inflation. He alsocriticized the thirty percent cut inthe expenditures of the ministriesand said that this would result inthe collapse of the ministries. Heproposed the minimum wagesmust be fixed at twelve thousandrupees. Haji Ghulam Ali said criti-cized the increase in the GST andsaid that it will result inflation inthe country. —Online

Taliban talks

Raja: Parliament to betaken into confidence

STAFF REPORTER

MUZAFFARABAD—A tax freebudget of Azad Jammu andKashmir of over 55.680 billionrupees was presented in the AJKLegislative Assembly inMuzaffarabad on Thursday.

Finance Minister ChaudryLatif Akbar told the house thattotal outlay of the budget is 55.680billion rupees. He said over 10.5billion rupees have been ear-marked for development projects.

“An amount of 10,500.00million rupee has been allocatedfor development sector with Rs.45,185.00 million recurrent bud-get for the coming fiscal year,”he informed the House.

The AJ&K assembly wastold that the development bud-get has been increased aroundnine percent for next fiscal,

compared to the financialyear2011-12. In his key noteaddress to the AJ&K lawmak-ers, he said that the PPP govern-ment has presented a well bal-anced and public friendly bud-get for the fiscal year 2013-14of its five years term, and almostall the sectors have been fo-cused.

He said the new budget pro-vides solid foundation for thesocio-economic uplift of thepeople by providing maximumfacilities to them and accelerat-ing pace of developmental ac-tivities in Azad Jammu andKashmir. He said that the AJKgovernment would generate 45billion 18 crore and 50 lakh ru-pees from its own resources,while the remaining amountwould be provided by the Fed-eral Government.

AJK tax-free 55.680bbudget presented

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif has said that Pa-kistan attaches high priority toits relations with Japan and ex-pressed the desire to take theserelations to further heights.

He was talking to Japan’sambassador, H.E Hiroshi Oe,who paid a farewell call on himat Prime Minister’s office onThursday.

The Prime Minister said thatPakistan-Japan relations are ofgreat importance to Pakistan andthat Pakistan regards Japan as animportant friend and a develop-ment partner.

Underlining the need toraise the level of trade betweenthe two countries which is cur-rently at $ 2.1 billion, the PrimeMinister noted with concernthat the trade balance is heavilytilted against Pakistan and ex-

pressed the desire for its recti-fication through concrete mea-sures.

Nawaz Sharif said that theexisting trade imbalance can beaddressed by lowering tariffrates for Pakistan textiles.

The Prime Minister ex-pressed his gratitude to thegovernment of Japan for itsassistance in up gradation ofUnit 1 and Unit 4 of ManglaDam.—INP

PM seeks Japanese aid to build dams

Palestinian PMsubmits resignationThe office of the new Palestin-ian prime minister says he hassubmitted his resignation afterjust two weeks on the job be-cause of a conflict over author-ity, though it remains unclearwhether he will actually stepdown.

Former university deanRami Hamdallah took office onJune 6 after being picked byPresident Mahmoud Abbas toreplace internationally knownSalam Fayyad.

Abbas gave Hamdallah twodeputies, one for political andone for economic affairs, appar-ently to make up for his politi-cal inexperience.

Hamdallah’s office said onThursday that he submitted hisresignation to Abbas because ofa “conflict over authority.”

It was not clear whetherAbbas would accept the resig-nation. His office declined com-ment.—AP

Indian nationwideplan to tap

emails, phonesNEW DELHI—India haslaunched a wide-ranging sur-veillance program that will giveits security agencies and evenincome tax officials the abilityto tap directly into e-mails andphone calls without oversight bycourts or parliament, severalsources said.

The expanded surveillancein the world’s most populouscountry, which the governmentsays will help safeguard nationalsecurity, has alarmed privacyadvocates at a time when alle-gations of massive US digitalsnooping beyond Americanshores has set off a global furor.

“If India doesn’t want to looklike an authoritarian regime, itneeds to be transparent aboutwho will be authorized to collectdata, what data will be collected,how it will be used, and how theright to privacy will be pro-tected,” said Cynthia Wong, anInternet researcher at New York-based Human Rights Watch. Thegovernment started to quietlyroll the system out state by statein April this year, according togovernment officials.—INP

WASHINGTON—The US wel-comes India as a rising power andbacks its inclusion as a perma-nent member of a reformed andexpanded UN Security Council,Secretary of State John Kerry hassaid ahead of his maiden visit toNew Delhi.

In a video message for Indi-ans ahead of the next week’sIndo-US strategic dialogue,Kerry said that this is a criticalongoing conversation betweenthe two countries.

“It’s one that demonstratesour firm belief that a strong In-dia is in America’s national in-terest. The United States not onlywelcomes India as a rising power,we fervently support it,” Kerrysaid in his nearly five minutevideo message, which he startswith Namaskar.

“That’s why PresidentObama and I support India’s in-clusion as a member, a perma-nent member, of a reformed and

expanded United Nations Secu-rity Council (UNSC),” he said.He said it is safe to say that In-dia-US collaboration has neverbeen more important than it istoday.

“As President Obama hassaid, the friendship between ourtwo nations is one of the defin-ing partnerships of the 21st cen-tury,” Kerry said.

“Today, the US and Indiacollaborate closely in almost ev-ery field of human endeavour.Together, we are tackling sharedchallenges and making the mostof new opportunities.

From higher education toclean energy, from counter-ter-rorism to space science, we areseizing new opportunities towork together, and in doing so,we’re increasing the prosperityand security of both of ourpeoples,” he said.

He said the US and Indiashare a strong and enduring com-

mitment to Afghanistan’s peaceand prosperity.

“India is making importantcontributions through its recon-struction and development work.And we also welcome India’sleadership in the Asia-Pacific re-gion,” Kerry said.

This is the time for both theUS and India to challenge them-selves in order to reach higher,in order to strengthen the bonds,and to realise the full potential ofpartnership, he said.

Meanwhile, the USA hassaid there has been no change inits position on Kashmir and en-courages India and Pakistan toresolve its differences bilaterally.

She was responding to ques-tions on the ceasefire violationsby Pakistan along the line of con-trol. “Our position has notchanged on Kashmir. And thosediscussions are up to the govern-ments of India and Pakistan,” MsPsaki said.—Online\INP

Kerry: US to support India aspermanent UNSC member

No change in position on Kashmir

Rs 198.395b Balochistanbudget 2013-14 unveiled

OBSERVER REPORT

QUETTA—The coalition gov-ernment of Balochistan pre-sented Rs 198.395 billion defi-cit budget for financial year2013-14 here in the assemblysession on Thursday.

Speaker Mir JanMuhammad Jamali presidedover the budget session.Balochistan Chief Minister Dr.Abdul Malik Baloch presentedRs 198.395 billion deficit bud-get for fiscal year 2013-14.

The 15 percent increase insalaries of government employ-ees from BPS-1 to 16 and 10percent for BPS-17 and above.The 15 percent increase wasmade in head of pension of gov-ernment employees. The 4493

new vacancies were announcedin the budget. Rs 7.942 billiondeficit was shown in the budget.

Delivering his budgetspeech, Chief Minister Dr.Abdul Malik said the new bud-get includes Rs 43.913 billion ofAnnual Development Programand Rs 154.482 billion of Non-Development expenditures. Itwas first annual budget pre-sented by Dr. Abdul Malik ledcoalition government of Paki-stan Muslim League-N,Pashtoonkhawa Milli AwamiParty and National Party.

Provincial Minister and Par-liamentary leader of PML-N,Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, Provin-cial Minister and Parliamentaryleader of PkMAP AbdulRaheem Ziaratwal, Parliamen-

tary Leader of Jamiat Ulema Is-lam-Fazl Maulana Abdul Wasey,Parliamentary Leader of PML-Q Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhel andother lawmakers were present inthe house.

The mover Dr. Abdul Maliksaid that about 4493 new jobshave been created in differentgovernment departments in-cluding education, health andothers and the federal govern-ment has promised financialsupport for providing jobs toyouth of Balochistan in federalinstitutions.

Chief Minister Dr. AbdulMalik said that Rs 16.236 bil-lion have been allocated in thebudget for maintenance of lawand order and for departmentspertaining to law and order.

ppage08

IT’S no secret that smoking increasesthe risk of heart disease, but now anew study suggests that puffing on

cigarettes also raises the risk of suddencardiac death in people who already haveheart disease.

But for people whoare able to kick the habit,the increased risk of sud-den death seems to dis-appear immediately, re-searchers report.

Sudden cardiac deathoccurs when a person’sheart abruptly stopsbeating, and coronaryartery disease - the clog-ging of arteries supply-ing the heart with blood- is the most commoncause.

Smoking increasesthe risk of developingcoronary artery disease,but it has been uncertainwhether smoking in-creases the risk of sudden cardiac deathin people who already have artery dis-ease.

The current study, described in thejournal Archives of Internal Medicine,included more than 3,000 people withcoronary artery disease.

Everyone in the study had either hada heart attack or had heart-related anginapain. Dr. Ilan Goldenberg of the ChaimSheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer,followed the participants for an averageof about 8 years.

Current smokers were more than twiceas likely to experience sudden cardiac

death during the study than people whohad never smoked, the researchers re-port.

In encouraging news for people whoare able to quit smoking, however, the

study found that formersmokers had a similar riskof sudden cardiac death aspeople who had neversmoked. No matter howlong it had been since theyquit, former smokers didnot have an increased riskof sudden cardiac death.

“Our data indicate thatcontinued cigarette smok-ing significantly elevatesthe risk of sudden cardiacdeath in patients with coro-nary artery disease,”Goldenberg’s team con-cludes.

The results underscorehow important it is forpeople with heart diseaseto quit smoking, according

to the researchers. They stress that “thedecline in the risk of sudden cardiacdeath with smoking cessation is imme-diate.”

According to the report, the fact thatthe increased risk of sudden cardiacdeath virtually disappears after a per-son stops smoking suggests that some-thing in cigarette smoke has a direct toxiceffect that increases the risk of suddencardiac death.

One possibility, the authors sug-gest, is that nicotine somehow triggersan irregular heart rhythm that can causesudden cardiac death.

Stop smoking, preventsudden death

RAWALPINDI: Passengers are bargaining with taxi drivers to reach their destinations as public transport was not available due to transporters’ strike.

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Algeria Dr. Ahmed Benflis presenting a shield to outgo-ing High Commissioner of Kenya Mrs. Mishi M Mwatsahu during a farewell ceremonyheld on Thursday.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

ISLAMABAD: Nasreen Chima talking about Peshawar’s Qissa Khawani Bazaar dur-ing storytelling sessions at Kuch Khaas.—PO photo

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—A 40-mem-ber delegation comprisingstudents from various uni-versities of Bangladeshvisited Higher EducationCommission (HEC) here atIslamabad as part of theirstudy tour to Pakistan.

Speaking on the occa-sion, Chairperson HigherEducation Commission Pa-kistan Dr. Javaid R. Lagharisaid that universities havea leadership role in society.Modern universities are anintegral part of the commu-nity and the region in whichthey are located.

The HEC, in MediumTerm Development Frame-work 2011 – 15, has paidspecial and strategic onuniversities building lead-ership, communities andeconomies so that the uni-versities may serve as anengine of growth for thesocio-economic develop-ment of region. He alsoemphasized the students tocontribute for the economicprosperity of region.

The students in their

BD Universities students visit HEC, FJWU

ISLAMABAD: Dr Javaid R Laghari Chairperson HEC is presenting souvenir to Head ofBangladeshi Students Delegation on their visit to HEC.

remarks greatly admired thequality of teaching, research,infrastructure, digital libraryfacility and development inhigher education sector ofPakistan.

The delegation of stu-dents from Bangladesh also

visited Fatima JinnahWomen University as part oftheir study tour in Pakistan.The visit was arranged bythe Higher Education Com-mission, Islamabad and con-sisted of students from Uni-versity of Dhaka, Rajshahi

University, University ofChittagong, JahangirnagarUniversity. Delegation wasled by Dr. Aslam Hussain,Deputy Registrar RajshahiUniversity and students be-longed to Social SciencesDepartments.

While addressing thestudents, Vice Chancellor,Prof. Dr. Samina AminQadir said that such studytours are always very fruit-ful in knowing each other’sacademic environment andculture. After that Ms.Humaira Sadia, PlacementOfficer gave presentationon introduction of the uni-versity and briefed themabout the different Depart-ments and the Scholar-ships offered by University

Dr. Aslam Hussain,spoke about the role of theuniversities in developmentof Bangladesh and informedthat there are thirty four Pub-lic Sector and fifty two Pri-vate Universities inBangladesh which are im-parting quality education toits students. He said coop-eration in academics and re-search will prove to be ben-eficial for both the countriesbecause the two are strug-gling to achieve success inall walks of life. He stressedthat such visit would helpto promote harmony andgoodwill between Pakistanand Bangladesh.

Trafficviolators fined

RAWALPINDI—City TrafficPolice (CTP) Rawalpindi is-sued 1,118 tickets to violatorsof traffic rules, besides impos-ing sum of Rs 3,96,500 as fine.

According to the trafficpolice, around 146 vehiclesand motorcycles were im-pounded in different policestations. Chief Traffic Officer(CTO) Syed Ishtiaq HussainShah told that a special traf-fic campaign has beenlaunched to maintain trafficflow in the city.

Similarly, taking actionagainst the tinted glassespolice issued 265 tickets tothe violators. He said thatCity traffic police issued 62tickets for over speeding andrash driving. CTO also ssued410 tickets who are not us-ing helmets.—APP

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Absence ofpublic transport in the twincities of Rawalpindi andIslamabad has multiplied themiseries of the commutersdue to strike of the localtransporters against the banon more than one cylinder intheir vehicles.

While, taxis drivers ex-ploiting the situation chargedaccording to their own will bytaking advantage of the strikeare seeking escalated faresfrom the distressed public.

A commuter, KarimMadad told Pakistan Ob-

Commuters suffer astransporters go on strike

server, that due to absenceof public transport,he has nochoice but to hire a taxi whocharged Rs. 400 fromSadiqabad to Zero Point.

He claimed that no traf-fic police was also availableon the roads giving morechances of violation to thetransporters and taxis driv-ers. The strike impaired lifein the twin cities, making itdifficult for citizens to reachoffices and homes.

A large number ofpeople, especially office-goers were seen waiting atbus stops, as the publictransport vehicles went off

the road. The commuters while de-

manding proper public trans-port system complained thatthe public transport vehicles,especially vans lift passen-gers only up to a particulardestination instead of com-pleting their routes.

Similarly, the transport-ers were fleecing the passen-gers, as they have to changedifferent vehicles and paymore than double fare toreach their destination. Alarge number of people, com-ing from outside of the city,use public transport to reachtheir destination.

CITY REPORTER

I S L A M A B A D — C h a i r m a nCDA, Syed Tahir Shahbazsaid that “Clean and GreenIslamabad” Campaign hashelped out in resolving thebasic civic amenities faced bythe citizens of the federalcapital.

On Thursday at inaugu-ral ceremony of “Clean andGreen Islamabad” Campaignhere at G-6 Civic Center(Melody Market) he said thatunder the ongoing campaign,the CDA would establishFlowers Market and wouldalso install Water FiltrationPlant in G-6 Civic Center(Melody Market).

On this occasion ChiefCoordinator of campaign andMember Planning and De-

Clean and Green Islamabadcompletes first phase

sign, Syed Mustafain Kazmi,Member Engineering,Sanaullah Aman, coordina-tor, Rawal Khan Maitla, of-ficers of the authority andPresident Melody MarketTrader’s Community, AdilAnis were also present.

Chairman CDA said thatthe purpose of Campaignwas to make direct and effec-tive coordination betweenthe officers of authority andpublic, adding that residentsof the city have been filingtheir complaints in connec-tion with their grievances di-rectly at camp office.

He directed the officers ofdifferent formations of the au-thority to resolve the problemsof the residents of Sector G-6and remains present in thecamp office for three day.

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—InternationalIslamic University Islamabad(IIUI) is the leading institu-tion which has always en-rolled maximum studentsfrom Baluchistan in compari-son of other universities ofPakistan, the province wasignored since emergence ofthe country but now specialmeasures taken by thepresent government show

IIUI to accommodate students ofBalochistan on priority basis

that it really desires to im-prove the situation of prov-ince on priority basis.

These views were ex-pressed by Dr. MumtazAhmed, Acting President ofthe university during 15thIslamic training program forthe students of Baluchistanorganized by Children’ Lit-erature Department ofDawah Academy and IqbalInstitute for Research andDialogue.

Dr Mumtaz Ahmed saidit is quite unfortunate that af-ter 1972 no representativegovernment was formed inthe province due to that situ-ation of Baluchistan couldnot improve. On the occa-sion, he assured that IIUIwould not only accommo-date students fromBaluchistan on priority basisbut university would alsocooperate with them accord-ing to its financial resources.

Suspension ofwater supply toHFH resented

RAWA L P I N D I—Persistentsuspension of water supplyhas added to the miseries ofpatients in the Holy FamilyHospital.

Water supply stands sus-pended since the last threedays even to Intensive CareUnits (ICU) including Medi-cal ICU, Surgical ICU, CCUand PACU and care unit. Pa-tients at ENT and Eye wardsare also facing this situationas water is not even availableat baths and lavatory of thesewards. The beds of the pa-tients have gone so filthy thatit is feared some fatal epidemicmay erupt.—Online

Power suspensionschedule

ISLAMABAD—The IslamabadElectric Supply Company(IESCO) on Thursday issuedpower suspensionprogramme for various areasof its region due to necessarymaintenance and routine de-velopment work.

According to the IESCOSpokesman, the power sup-ply of the following feederswould remain suspended asunder: June 26 (Wednesday)From 9 am to 1pm, Scheme-IIFeeder, Chak Shahzad Feeder,NIH Feeder, Chak ShahzadForm, Kurri, Chak Shezad, NIH(Independent) and surround-ing areas.—APP

Kulsoom’sphotographicwork attracts

visitorsISLAMABAD—The exhibitionof photographic masterpieces of the Wazir KhanMosque’ architecture cap-tured by Kulsoom Aftabcontinues to attract the artlovers at Nomad Gallery.

A number of visitorsthronged the gallery to see theeye-catching photographicimages carrying traditional andhistorical look. “The artist hasvery skillfully captured the his-torical images exploring themost attractive dimensions”, avisitor said. “Many artistshave earlier captured thesescenes but these photographshave left deep impact on mymind with the unique angling”,the visitor said.—APP

“Customers, I realized,don’t care about

functions or specificactivities that occurwithin our organiza-

tion. The end game iswhether they aregetting the right

product at the righttime at a competitive

price.”

— Max Guinn,

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—HBL entered intoan agreement with Atlas HondaLtd. to offer its salary accountholders a personal loan facilityfor the purchase of Atlas Hondamotorbikes.

The agreement was signedby Nauman K. Dar, Presidentand CEO HBL and Saquib HShirazi, CEO Atlas Honda Ltd.,during a ceremony held at theHBL Head Office in Karachi.Also present on the occasionwere Ms. Sima Kamil, Head –Retail & Consumer BankingHBL, Aamir Irshad, Head –Corporate Banking HBL and theAtlas Honda Ltd. team compris-ing of Suhail Ahmed, Vice Presi-dent Marketing, Kashif Yasin,CFO.

Speaking at the occasion,Nauman K. Dar said, “Thiscollaboration with AtlasHonda demonstrates our abil-ity to leverage our corporaterelationships and to provideour corporate customers a con-duit to market the large retailcustomer base of HBL, result-

HBL signs agreementwith Atlas Honda

ing in a product offering whichis tailored to add value toboth.”

Saquib H. Shirazi, CEO ofAtlas Honda Ltd., the largestproducer of motorbikes acrossPakistan stated that this is an-other step to expand andstrengthen the existing rela-tions between Atlas Groupand HBL and this endeavour

will facilitate the consumersin the form of availability ofcredit for purchasing qualitymotorcycles on easyinstalments.

Through this strategic alli-ance, HBL will move forwardtowards delivering innovativeproducts to its customers andcontinue to fortify its relation-ship with corporate entities.

KARACHI: Nauman Dar, President & CEO of HBL SaquibH Shirazi, CEO of Atlas Honda at the signing ceremony.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Bankers, busi-nessmen and economic ex-perts urged masses to adoptSharia-based banking and in-surance in their need of dailylives and businesses being analternative and interest-freefinancial system witnessingtremendous growth globallyand across the country.

Speaking at the Second Is-lamic Financial Expo and Con-ference (IFEC) held at localhotel on Thursday, they en-lightened participants of vari-ous walk of lives about the po-

tential of Islamic banking andtheir advantages in the world andhereafter underlining the need ofawareness and penetration of Is-lamic banking and Takaful ser-vices across the country.

Islamic Banking Industry(IBI) is not only flourishing byleaps and bounds in the worldbut in Pakistan as well despiteof the fact there are lot of chal-lenges regarding policy-makingof the government for its pro-moting and misconception aboutits modalities among the masses.

There is a widespread mis-conception about the Islamicbanking services among the

masses but people are reluctantto get awareness and doing re-search on the importance ofSharia-based banking system intheir lives which is much betterthan of conventional or interest-based banking system, FaizanAhmed Memon, Head of Prod-ucts Development, HBL IslamicBanking Division said.

Though the growth of Is-lamic Banking Industry is su-perb in Pakistan but it pace isstill slow keeping in view therelevance of religion with ma-jority of population and Islamicwelfare state, he said. The ac-ceptable of Islamic banking is

not encouraging among themasses because Muslims of ourcountry have forgotten theteaching of religion but preferadopting non-Islamic ways fortheir financial needs.

Memon urged the partici-pants of the conference goingthrough the financial system ofIslamic which is not only com-prehensive for their worldlyneeds but it helps them avoid-ing major sins of involving inriba or interest.

Rizwan Atta, Head of Is-lamic Banking, Bank AlfalahLimited, said Islam is a com-plete code of life and it could not

avoid addressing the financialaspect of the people, which ismost important for them in theworld.

He said that Islamic finan-cial system is very old and it iscompatible in the present timesand alternative of different in-terest-based and non-Islamic fi-nancial system. The system isbased on roots tracing back from70 to 80 decades and even attimes of the ProphetMuhammad (PBUH) where wehad history of financing andpartnership.

Atta said that Islamic bank-ers are very active in introduc-

ing different products to the cus-tomers which are not only meetstheir demands at commercialand domestic levels but it mustfulfill Sharia principle equally.

He added that bankers haveintroduced different productsand services under the head ofconsumers and trade financingto facilitate the commercial sec-tor as well as masses to availbanking services as per theirneeds.

Mufti Ibrahim Essa, ShariaAdvisor Ernst and Young FordRhodes Sidat Hyder said theconfusion and negative mindsetof the people is the biggest im-

pediment towards the expansionof Islamic Banking industry inthe country but scholars andeducation institutions must dotheir job to change the mind ofpeople towards the adoption ofIslamic banking services.

He said the renownedUlemas of the country are ShariaAdvisors of the banks which arenot involve in any corruption norin any financial scam or moralscandal but people are shyingaway to follow them who are pro-moting financial system of Islam.

There must be loopholes in theIslamic banking industry whichmust be addressed mutually by

banks, regulator and the govern-ment, otherwise, people are leftto use interest-based banking sys-tem despite of the fact Islamic fi-nancial system is stronger andbetter than any other financial andeconomic system of the world.

Qazi Abdul Samad, ShariaAdvisor Bank of Khyber, SaqibZeeshan, Head of DistributionPak-Qatar Family Takaful Lim-ited, Muhammad Faisal Shaikh,Head of Products Development,Bank Islamic, Majyd Aziz,former president KCCI, KaiserWaheed, Executive Member ofPPMA, and Naeem Quershi alsospoke on the occasion.

Masses moot urged to promote Islamic financial system in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Secretary Commerce Munir Qureshi addressing the seminar on the theme,‘Trade in Services – issues and prospects’ organized by the WTO Wing.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Punjab Chief Min-ister Muhammad ShahbazSharif has said that Punjab gov-ernment was taking concretemeasures for promotion of ag-riculture and farmers’ problemswould be resolved on prioritybasis.

He said provincial minis-ters and concerned authoritiesshould sit together and reviewthe resolution of farmer’s prob-lems including electricity bills,tariff, and other problems.Shahbaz Sharif said that hehimself would talk to federalgovernment for resolving theproblems of farmers. He wastalking to the delegation offarmers led by President Paki-stan Kisan Ittehad KhalidMehmood Khokhar at ModelTown.

Shahbaz assured the farm-ers that Punjab governmentwould sincerely take all possible

Farmers issuesto be settled

steps for resolving problems ofthe farmers. The delegation in-formed the Chief Minister aboutelectricity bills, tariff and otherproblems being faced by smallfarmers upon which, ShahbazSharif assured that sincere ef-forts would be made for resolv-ing all problems of farmingcommunity including electricitytariff.

Referring electricity crisis,Shahbaz said “we have madepromise with the people ofovercoming energy crisis andwe all have to work day andnight for eliminatingloadshedding. We are consid-ering to setting up 15 and 20mega watt plants of biogas andbiomass through public privatepartnership.”

He said utility of technologyfor generating electricitythrough biogas and biomass hadproved in various countries and“we will also take full benefitfrom this technology.”

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Science and Technology, Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan chairing a meeting to review theperformance of PCSIR.

4th session of JTC betweenPakistan, Australia heldSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Secretary Minis-try of Commerce, in his inaugu-ral address, emphasized the needfor further expansion of bilateraleconomic and trade relations.Secretary Commerce mentionedthat in order to address reducethe imbalance in bilateral trade,a closer and more intensive co-operation is required in areas oftrade and investment.

The JTC deliberated on thepossible measures to enhanceexisting trade between the twocountries in sectors includingTextile, Agriculture, Light En-gineering and SMEs. Both sidesagreed to increase collaborationamongst relevant organizationson both sides to effectively planfor visits of business delegationsand participation in exhibitions.The Australian side agreed forexchanging cooperation in tradeand investment and assistingPakistan in capacity building

and skill enhancement,through curriculum develop-ment, training of trainers andaccreditation of institutions.

The meeting also discussedthe progress made so far in ex-porting mangoes from Pakistanto Australia. The Audit Team ofthe Department of Agriculture,Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF),Australia would visit Pakistanin the 1st week of July 2013.This would result in export ofmangoes from Pakistan to Aus-tralia. The Australian side alsoagreed to extend similar sup-port for other horticulture prod-ucts, particularly citrus. PressRelease

The 4th session of JointTrade Committee (JTC) be-tween Pakistan and Australiawas held in Islamabad on June19, 2013. Secretary Ministry ofCommerce, in his inauguraladdress, emphasized the needfor further expansion of bilateraleconomic and trade relations.

Airblue Jeddahroute launch

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Airblue hasannounced the launch of di-rect flights to Jeddah startingJuly 2013. According to theschedule, there will be threeweekly flights from Karachiand four weekly flights fromLahore.

Director Commercial Mr.Raheel Ahmed said that airbluehas achieved yet another greatmilestone with launch of Jeddahflights and believes that this stepwill help facilitate the growth,propel healthy competitionwithin the aviation industry inPakistan, and provide passen-gers with an additional option offlying directly to Jeddah with-out the hassle of any stopoversin between.

He also said that airblue as-pires to continue to be the air-line of choice, by providing itscustomers with best value andoptimum convenience for atruly pleasant traveling experi-ence.

TARIQ KHATTAK

ISLAMABAD—The InitialPublic Offering of LalpirPower Limited, has beenoversubscribed by Six Timesas the offer drew substantialinterest from investors andtotal bids for around 170 mil-lion shares were receivedduring the book-buildingportion against an offering of28.488 million Ordinaryshares.

The strike price deter-mined via Dutch AuctionMethod was rupees 22 pershare against a set floor priceof rupees 15 per share.

“Nishat Group appreciatesand acknowledges the strongsupport by investors withinPakistan and foreign fundsabroad who participated in thebook building process of

Lalpir power’s IPO oversubscribedLalpir Power Ltd IPO,” said byMr. Ali Munir, Group Head Stra-tegic Planning & Investment,MCB Bank Ltd.

“Oversubscription ofLalpir Power indicates tremen-dous investor confidence inNishat Group which has a solidtrack record of paying regulardividends to shareholders ofeach of its companies and inits ability to meet stakeholderexpectations,” he furtheradded.

“Nishat Group has been apioneer in power generation inthe private sector of the coun-try and with the generous sup-port and visibility of investors,it is expected that the companywill strengthen its books andearnings and will reflect apositive gain for other compa-nies under the umbrella ofNishat Group”, said by Najam

Ali, CEO, Next Capital.Lalpir’s principal activity

is to own, operate and main-tain oil fired power station,with a gross generation capac-ity of 362 MW and net genera-tion capacity of 350 MW.

The company was estab-lished in 1994 as an Indepen-dent Power Producer (IPP) andcommenced its operations inNovember 1997. The plant islocated in Mehmood Kot,Muzaffargarh, Punjab, Paki-stan.

Next Capital Limited andAKD Securities Limited (“Fi-nancial Advisors & Arrang-ers”) have been retained to pro-vide financial advisory and ar-rangement services to LalpirPower Limited for the pro-posed listing of LPL at theKarachi and Lahore Stock Ex-change.

Foreign reservesdecrease to $11.34006bStaff ReporterKARACHI—Total foreignreserves of the country havedecreased to dollars 11.34006billion against the previousweek’s balance of $ 11.446billion, said State Bank ofPakistan (SBP). According toSBP weekly statement here onThursday, the foreign reservesheld by State Bank on 14th ofthis month amounted $ 6,239million. The net foreignreserves held by banks otherthan SBP were $ 5,101.6million.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Minister forWater and Power KhawajaMuhammad Asif on Thursdayunderlined the need for makingcollective efforts to overcomepower shortage in the country.

“It is the responsibility ofeveryone including the privi-leged and underprivilegedclasses of the society to play rolefor improving power situationthat has gone from bad to worseover the past years,” the minis-ter remarked while addressing anational conference on powersector reforms, organized byIESCO and Islamabad Chamberof Commerce and Industry, here.

However, he was of theview the privileged class shouldnot be allowed to have goodtimes at the expense of the un-derprivileged one and the lattershould be protected from undueburden who had been subjected

Collective efforts stressedto overcome power crisis

to it in past.He lamented that a single

person, referring to Gen(R)Pervez Musharraf exploited thenational’s resources for nineyears and the country’s eliteclass showed submission, pav-ing way for him to prolong hisrule at the cost of the commonman. He said it was a criminalnegligence that power situationdeteriorated, giving rife to cor-ruption, indiscrimination andprojects’ over-costs, taking mas-sive toll on the nationaleconomy.

He said the government wastaking solid measures to weedout culture of nepotism, favor-itism in postings and transfersmatters of employees besides,making it best serivce-orientedentity for the consumers.

He said there should be tar-iff rationalization without anydiscrimination and each con-sumer had to pay it in order to

effectively ameliorate powersituation in the country.

He added the governmentwas equally treating all sectorsand anomalies in taxation shouldbe removed to achieve nationalprosperity, adding the provincesshould also follow the suit.

He said the governmentwould accord priority in fuelprovision to only those sectorswhich were efficiently workingand had long term benefits forthe national development.

Thus, he added, the govern-ment could not afford to supplyaround 500mmcfd gas to theCNG sector or to provide thefuel to the fertilizer company atthe present rate.

He said the government wasdevising an energy policy whichmight be finalized within a fort-night period, and soon he wouldapprise the nation about theroadmap and the steps in this re-gard in his upcoming address.

KBP rejects Sindh,Punjab budgetsStaff ReporterLAHORE—Kisan BoardPakistan (KBP) CentralPresident Sardar Zafar HussainKhan reacting to provincialbudgets announced by thePunjab and Sindh alleged thatthe provincial governmentshave totally neglected thefarmers’ community. He saidthat the Punjab governmentprovided subsidy on electricitytariff for agricultural tubewells in the past whichprovided a much requiredrelief to the growers butwithdrawal of subsidy in newbudget would multiply thehardships of the farmers. Zafarclaimed that all the countriesacross globe provide subsidyto farming sector for fetchingdesired positive results but itseemed rulers had taken thedecision to strangulateagriculture in the country butnot extending any kind ofsubsidy. He said there hadbeen a need to introduce flatrates for agricultural tubewells on the pattern ofBalochistan.

PQ shipping activityKARACHI—Brisk shippingactivity was observed at thePort where five ships C.VCMA CGM Strauss, C.V AI-Noof. M.V Zhe Hai-505, M.VMu Dan Song and M.T Akakischeduled to load/ offloadcontainers, rice, project cargoand furnace oil were allottedberths at Qasim InternationalContainer Terminal, Grain &Fertilizer Terminal, MultiPurpose Terminal and FOTCOOil Terminal respectively atPort Qasim on Wednesday,port sources said here onThursday. According to portsources five more ships withcontainers. chemicals, soyabean and bitumen also arrivedat the outer anchorage of PortQasim during the last 24hours. Berth occupancy wasmaintained at the Port at 64%on Wednesday where nineships namely C.V CMA CGMStrauss, C.V AI-Noof. C.VMSC Clementina, M.V SamTiger, M.V Titan, M.V ZheHoi-505, M.V Mu Don Song,M.T Akak.—APP

Decision to allowduty-free import ofhybrid cars lauded

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—All Pakistan MotorDealers Association (APMDA)has welcomed the government’sdecision to allow duty-free importof hybrid cars. In a letter to theFinance Minister, Ishaq Dar,Chairman APMDA, H MShahzad urged that hybrids shouldbe introduced as public transportas buses, vans and coasters, to getthe most benefit from fuel saving.

The Association maintainsthat age limit for used importedcars should also be increased tofive years from three years. “Asyou are aware, the PPP govern-ment reduced the age limit ofimported used cars from 5 to 3years with consequential reduc-tion in depreciation to 2 years.

This has almost made im-port of used cars unfeasible andgovernment is being deprived ofRs 40 to 50 billion revenue,” heclaimed in the letter.

Govt’s role informing IT-friendly

policies soughtSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The Pakistan Soft-ware Houses Association(P@SHA) stresses on the impor-tance of the government’s rolein formulating ‘IT-friendly’ poli-cies that will aid innovation inthe local industry and help it toflourish.

The P@SHA, feels that ifproperly cultivated and nour-ished, the local IT sector canplay a vital role in creating highpaid jobs for Pakistan’s youngpopulation. Furthermore, it canalso contribute to building up aneffective and transparent gov-ernment and abet a stronggrowth in GDP. However, stepsneed to be taken by governmentto ensure that IT is a “priorityitem” on their agenda.

Naseer Akhtar, ChairmanP@SHA, expressed his willing-ness to extend the organization’ssupport, with the consent of allthe stakeholders, towards con-structive policy-making, espe-cially in the local IT sector. Heobserved that nothing has hurtthe growth of the local IT indus-try as much as ineffectivepolicy-making, which was whyP@SHA extended its full sup-port to the new Minister of IT& Telecom in formulating newpolicies and overcoming loop-holes in previous ones.

Punjab cutsallocationsSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The Punjab govern-ment has drastically cut downdevelopment funds of severaldepartments including cultural,religious affair, social welfare,environment departments in FY2013-14 budget and did not in-clude any new schemes of theseessential sectors.

The annual allocations oflocal government & commu-nity development including theKatchi Abadies DevelopmentProgramme has been reducedfrom Rs. 7.2 billion to Rs. 3.9billion. The annual allocationfor promotion and conserva-tion of language, art and cul-ture of the Punjab on sustain-able basis has been cut fromRs. 200 million to mere Rs.106 million.

The budget of Auqaf andReligious Affairs departmenthas been curtailed from Rs.185 million to Rs. 36 millionfor the year 2013-14. Similarlyfunds for archaeology depart-ment have been downsizedfrom Rs. 350 million to Rs.294 million.

IT’S no secret that smoking increases therisk of heart disease, but now a new studysuggests that puffing on cigarettes also

raises the risk of sudden cardiac death inpeople who already have heart disease.

But for people whoare able to kick the habit,the increased risk of sud-den death seems to disap-pear immediately, re-searchers report.

Sudden cardiac deathoccurs when a person’sheart abruptly stops beat-ing, and coronary arterydisease - the clogging ofarteries supplying theheart with blood - is themost common cause.

Smoking increasesthe risk of developingcoronary artery disease,but it has been uncertainwhether smoking in-creases the risk of suddencardiac death in people who already haveartery disease.

The current study, described in thejournal Archives of Internal Medicine, in-cluded more than 3,000 people with coro-nary artery disease. Everyone in the studyhad either had a heart attack or had heart-related angina pain. Dr. Ilan Goldenbergof the Chaim Sheba Medical Center inTel Hashomer, followed the participantsfor an average of about 8 years.

Current smokers were more thantwice as likely to experience sudden car-diac death during the study than people

who had never smoked, the researchersreport.

In encouraging news for people whoare able to quit smoking, however, thestudy found that former smokers had a

similar risk of sudden car-diac death as people whohad never smoked. No mat-ter how long it had beensince they quit, formersmokers did not have anincreased risk of suddencardiac death.

“Our data indicate thatcontinued cigarette smok-ing significantly elevatesthe risk of sudden cardiacdeath in patients with coro-nary artery disease,”Goldenberg’s team con-cludes.

The results underscorehow important it is forpeople with heart diseaseto quit smoking, according

to the researchers. They stress that “thedecline in the risk of sudden cardiacdeath with smoking cessation is imme-diate.”

According to the report, the fact thatthe increased risk of sudden cardiacdeath virtually disappears after a personstops smoking suggests that somethingin cigarette smoke has a direct toxic ef-fect that increases the risk of suddencardiac death. One possibility, the au-thors suggest, is that nicotine somehowtriggers an irregular heart rhythm thatcan cause sudden cardiac death.

Stop Smoking, PreventSudden Death

KARACHI: Seats seen empty during token boycott of Sindh Assembly session by MQM MPAs against the killing of party workers.

KARACHI: German Consulate General in Karachi Dr. Tilo Klinner, Dr. Julie Reviere, Prin-cipal Advisor GIZ Education Projects and others on the occasion of launching ceremony of‘Germany Pakistan Training Initiative’.—PO photo by Sultan Chaki

KARACHI: People offering fateha for the rest of soul of former Prime Minister BenazirBhutto on the eve of her birthday anniversary, organized by PPP Women at People’sSecretariat.

KARACHI: Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon briefing to media at SindhAssembly.—PO photo

KARACHI—A senior memberof Pakistan Medical Associa-tion (PMA) and an Ex-memberof Pakistan Medical and Den-tal Council (PMDC) Dr.Shershah Syed, has soughtearly intervention to counterdeteriorating standards ofmedical education in the coun-try.

Talking to media Thursday,he appreciated (PML-N)government’s concern towardsdeteriorating standard of medi-cal education and the mush-room growth of medical col-leges in the country.

Dr. Shershah said thatthere is growing realisation

Intervention to control deterioratingstandards of medical education sought

about the urgency to re-organisePMDC so that it may regulatemedical education without pres-sure and any influence of groupswith vested interests.

“It was heartening to knowthat Prime Minister MianMohammad Nawaz Sharif isseriously concerned aboutPMDC’s affairs,” he said.

The senior activist allegedthat this was all the more im-portant as the medical educationsystem has deteriorated becauseof incompetence prevalentwithin PMDC.

Dr. Shershah Syed also re-iterated that the government hasto take some initiatives regard-

ing medical education in thecountry.

He alleged that strongpresence of vested interestgroups in the government andprivate sector medical collegesis responsible for blatant cor-ruption and this must be dulyinvestigated.

“Almost all members ofPMA believe that a high pow-ered Commission should inves-tigate the irregularities commit-ted by PMDC regarding recog-nition of medical colleges allover Pakistan,” he said.

This, he said was extremelyimportant as these “so-called”medical colleges are responsible

to produce glorified MBBSquacks playing havoc in healthcare system, he alleged.

Dr. Shershah said therewas need to regularise all as-pects of medical education andtraining in the country.

He also expressed his con-cern about the functioning ofMedical Universities runningaffiliated colleges and differentdepartments without properfaculties.

Some of the medical uni-versities are needlessly in-volved in construction ofbuildings and procurementof expensive equipment, healleged.—APP

CM orders inquiryin LUH

maladministrationSTAFF REPORTER

KA R A C H I—Sindh ChiefMinister (CM) Syed Qaim AliShah while taking serious no-tice of a news item about mal-administration corruption andpolitical interference inLiaquat University HospitalHyderabad has sought reportfrom the Secretary Health im-mediately. He has also directedChairman of CM’s inspectionteam (CMIT) for urgent in-quiry into the matter.

The CM expressing his dis-satisfaction and displeasureover the reported situation ofthe hospital, said that LiaquatUniversity Hospital was one ofthe most important hospitalwhich was catering the needsof hundreds of poor and needypatients of province especiallyinterior Sindh on daily basisMaladministration, corruptionand political interference wouldnot be tolerated at any cost” headded.

He further directed the pro-vincial health authorities to takeprompt measures to improve thesituation and suffering poor andneedy patients may be providedrelief on urgent basis.He asked the Secretary Healthto personally visit the hospitalto ascertain the situation on theground and initiate departmen-tal action against the negligentofficers and officials oftheHospital.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Karachi Metropoli-tan Corporation (KMC) Admin-istrator Syed Hashim Raza Zaidisaid that KMC budget had beenfinalized for upcoming fiscal yearand printing of budget documen-tation had started which will becompleted soon and budget willbe presented. KMC budget for fis-cal year 2013-14 would be a real-istic one in which distribution ofresources would be made accord-ing to requirements and only realgoals will be included in budgetfor expected income of KMC.

He said this while addressinga meeting held on KMC budgetpreparation. On this occasion Fi-

KMC administrator addressmeeting on budget preparation

nancial Advisor Khalid Shaikh,Director Budget Nasir Mehmoodand other concerned officers werepresent.

The Administrator said thatevery possible effort while final-izing budget for forthcoming fis-cal year has been made that thebalance between income and ex-penditure will remain so thatKMC could have financial stabil-ity and get out of current finan-cial crunch.

He said that KMC budget pre-sents real picture of financial con-dition of the organization there-fore it should be realistic. Socialsector has been given much im-portance in budget for next finan-cial year and suitable amount for

health, cleanliness, social welfare,recreation and sports activitiessectors has been allocated so thatcommon citizens could be facili-tated as much as possible andoverall condition of cleanliness,health, education, sports, recre-ation and social welfare couldimprove.

He said that KMC budget fornext fiscal year 2013-14 has beenprepared in the light of Sindh Lo-cal Government Ordinance 1979whereas guidance has also beentaken from next fiscal year bud-get of Provincial Government andfull effort has been made that im-portant development projects forthe city could be carried on in bud-get and be completed in less time.

MQM can’t befinished byoppression,

conspiracies: AltafSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The Founder andLeader of Muttahida QaumiMovement (MQM) AltafHussain has said that the move-ment of truth and justice cannotbe suppressed by oppression.The workers and sympathizersof the MQM have shown bytheir unity and steadfastness inevery difficult time that theywere strongly with the MQM.He said this while talking to theMQM workers and office-bear-ers on telephone on the occasionof the public referendum forobtaining public opinion onjoining the Sindh government.

He asked about the detailsof the referendum and paid trib-ute to the office-bearers andworkers busy in the process. TheMQM workers told him aboutthe zeal and fervour shown bythe public in expressing theiropinion on joining the Sindhgovernment. Talking to theworkers, he said that the MQMwanted to uproot the archaic feu-dal system for establishing therule of poor and middle-classpeople. He said that the MQMis a public movement and it wasnurtured by the blood of themartyrs. The MQM workers hadshown once again by exhibitingexemplary unity that the move-ment could not be finished.

He praised the MQM work-ers and asked them not to getdisappointed by the force of cir-cumstances. He asked them toremain determined and continuetheir struggle.

Nine more loselives in

Karachi unrestKARACHI—At least ninepeople including a woman werekilled in different gunfire andviolence incidents in differentmetropolis areas.

A man was gunned down inMauripur. Meantime, a four-dayold body was recovered from ahouse located in Lines Area.

Another limb-tied body wasfound from Mewa Shah Cem-etery. A school van came underdrive-by shooting by motorcy-clist assailants in North Karachi’ssector 5C-2. The van driver 35-year-old Imran was killed in thegun assault; however, the schoolchildren escaped unhurt in theattack. Two more bodies withtorture marks were found oneeach from Juna Market andMauripur. Two youths headingfor picnic were abducted at Na-tional Highway in the limit ofMalir City Police Station. A littlelater, Raja Pervez’s body withtorture marks was found fromnearby village and the otherabductee was in critical state.A man was shot dead in BhittaiColony, Korangi. Body of awoman who seems to have beentortured was found from a housein Surjani Town’s Khuda kibasti. Police registered cases ofthe incidents and started inves-tigations. NNI

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The Deputy Con-vener of the Central CoordinationCommittee Dr Khalid MaqboolSiddiqi said that today’s PublicReferendum of 20th June 2013was the beginning of the newchapter of democracy in Pakistan.MQM had laid the foundation ofstrong Pakistan and stable democ-racy by including the opinion ofmasses in important decisionmaking process. All the politicalparties of the country should fol-low the role model of MQM.Many such instances of stabledemocratic values could be ob-served since the time MQM prac-tically started its political journey.

He expressed these views ina press briefing at Nine Zero onthe occasion of “Public Referen-dum 2013” conducted to seekpublic opinion if MQM shouldjoin the Sindh government or not?

He said that only few daysback soon after getting the invi-tation from Sindh government tojoin them we had committed be-fore media in this regard to seekpublic and workers opinion

Public referendum beginningof new chapter of democracy

whether to join the governmentor not and take our decision inthe light of the majority votes.

Dr Siddiqui said that media isthe witness that people enthusias-tically participated in today’s Ref-erendum. MQM had introduced astrong and stable democratic sys-tem and its practical proof was theamazing and pleasant participationof the public in this Referendumthroughout the Sindh.

He said that Ex-Member ofNational Assembly Dr AbdulQadir Khanzada was appointedas the Chief of Election Com-mission of this Public Referen-dum while renowned intellectualLong Khan Channa, Professorand poet Khawaja RafiqueAnjum and Hameed Uz Zafar arethe members of the electioncommissioner and they will dothe counting of the votes.

He said that today both thecamera’s eyes and people of Pa-kistan had observed the practicalproof of “masses involvement” inentire Sindh including Karachi.Today’s Referendum conductedto seek public opinion whether tojoin the government or not is the

practical beginning of the newchapter of the democracy in Pa-kistan. MQM had set a uniqueexample of real, durable and par-ticipatory democracy, which wasa role model for other politicalparties of the country to includepublic participation on the vergeof difficult decision making.

While thanking to all theworkers and peoples who partici-pated in Referendum and usedtheir right of self-determinationsaid that “you have not only as-sisted us but also helped Pakistanand democracy.Afterwards re-plying to the journalist’s ques-tions Dr. Khalid said that peoplewere the true judge and the deci-sion would be taken on basis ofpeople’s mandate.He said that 5million ballot papers wereprinted but it seems after watch-ing public interest that more pa-pers will be required. MQM hadgiven significance to the publicopinion rather than accepting anypressure to join government ornot. MQM would take its finaldecision now in this context af-ter taking into consideration themajority public opinion.

Stop smoking, preventsudden death

LAHORE: Women MPAs coming to attend budget session at Punjab Assembly.

LAHORE: Chief Election Commissioner, Fakharuddin G Ebrahim with lawyers during his visit to Lahore HighCourt.

IT’S no secret that smoking increasesthe risk of heart disease, but now anew study suggests that puffing on

cigarettes also raises the risk of suddencardiac death in people who already haveheart disease.

But for people whoare able to kick the habit,the increased risk of sud-den death seems to disap-pear immediately, re-searchers report.

Sudden cardiac deathoccurs when a person’sheart abruptly stops beat-ing, and coronary arterydisease - the clogging ofarteries supplying theheart with blood - is themost common cause.

Smoking increasesthe risk of developingcoronary artery disease,but it has been uncertainwhether smoking in-creases the risk of suddencardiac death in peoplewho already have artery disease.

The current study, described in the jour-nal Archives of Internal Medicine, includedmore than 3,000 people with coronary ar-tery disease. Everyone in the study had ei-ther had a heart attack or had heart-relatedangina pain.

Dr. Ilan Goldenberg of the ChaimSheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer,followed the participants for an averageof about 8 years.

Current smokers were more thantwice as likely to experience sudden car-diac death during the study than people

who had never smoked, the researchersreport.

In encouraging news for people whoare able to quit smoking, however, thestudy found that former smokers had a

similar risk of sudden car-diac death as people whohad never smoked.

No matter how long ithad been since they quit,former smokers did nothave an increased risk ofsudden cardiac death.

“Our data indicate thatcontinued cigarette smok-ing significantly elevatesthe risk of sudden cardiacdeath in patients with coro-nary artery disease,”Goldenberg’s team con-cludes.

The results underscorehow important i t is forpeople with heart disease toquit smoking, according tothe researchers.

They stress that “thedecline in the risk of sudden cardiacdeath with smoking cessation is imme-diate.”

According to the report, the fact thatthe increased risk of sudden cardiacdeath virtually disappears after a per-son stops smoking suggests that some-thing in cigarette smoke has a directtoxic effect that increases the risk ofsudden cardiac death.

One possibility, the authors suggest,is that nicotine somehow triggers an ir-regular heart rhythm that can cause sud-den cardiac death.

LAHORE: Men oblivious of World Music Day, preparing musical instruments .

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Secretary GeneralPPP, Latif Khosa, has said thatit was the constitutional re-sponsibility of the PunjabGovernment to hold local bod-ies’ elections asalsoemphasized by the Punjableader of opposition. Article140 (A) of the constitutionmakes it obligatory to hold lo-cal bodies elections, he said.

He pointed out that theKPK government was con-templating to hold local bod-ies’ elections in the provincefor which they have allocatedfunds in the budget.

No such funds have beenallocated in the Punjab Bud-get which explicitly unfoldedtheir mala fides regarding theholding of local bodies’ elec-t ions in the province ofPunjab.

He expressed his appre-hension that the new PunjabGovernment led by PunjabChief Minister would delay

Shahbaz not serious inholding LB polls: Khosa

the elections on one pretext oranother like during the lasttenure and would thus deprivethe people of rural areas fromthe development they wereentitled todevoted for theimprovement of their civiclife.

He said that that the Au-ditor General pointed out thatthe funds allocated for theLocal Bodies to the tune ofRs, 350 billion could not bereconciled because the fundswere spent on other ostenta-tious project and money sospent was devoid of validcharge.

He said that the ChiefMinister was responsible forthe depriving the people atvillage, town, Tehsile anddistrict levels from the devel-opment which was thei rright.

The Chief Minister in-stead spent their funds onflawed schemes like sasti roti,yellow cabs, laptops, AshianaHousing Scheme, metro bus,

Danish schools etc.Mr. Latif Khosa said that

the people were also deniedthe valuable experience andtraining at the local levelswhich they would have gotthrough the functioning of thelocal institutions devoted toprovide health, education andcounseling services.

Such training is abso-lutely important to groom theleadership for the provincialand later for the nationallevel, he observed.

He said that the ChiefMinister of Punjab would re-peat the previous practice be-cause he was known forimplementing his own flawedpriorities at the expense oflegitimate and legal prioritiesof the rural population.

He is known for assumingall powers to himself, at oddwith the spirit of democracy.Democracy thrives on collec-tive wisdom and empower-ment of the people at all lev-els, he concluded.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The Lahore Elec-tric Supply Company (Lesco)in collaboration with USAID isintroducing a most modernmonitoring system that wouldimprove the supply of electric-ity in particular to the industrialareas.

This was stated by LescoChief Engineer MuhammadSaleem speaking at the LahoreChamber of Commerce and In-dustry. LCCI president FarooqIftikhar, Senior Vice PresidentIrfan Iqbal Sheikh, Vice Presi-dent Mian Abuzar Shad, formerPresident Mian MuhammadAshraf, President QIE Board MI Kurram, Ahsan MehmoodButt of Sunder Industrial Es-tate, Almas Haider, PresidentKatarBund Industrial EstateMehmood Gaznavi, Hassan

Lesco introducing mostmodern monitoring system

Shahzad of Ferozepur Road In-dustrial Estate, LCCI ExecutiveCommittee Members MianZahid Javaid, Waqar AhmadMian and former ChairmanLTIA Iftikhar Ahmad Bashiralso spoke on the occasion.

The meeting, which contin-ued for well over two hours,discussed a host of electricitysupply-related issues. Stagger-ing holidays for trade and in-dustry to cope with the short-age and to ensure longer hourspower supply was also takenup.

The Lesco Chief said thatthe very objective of the instal-lation of new Monitoring sys-tem was to ensure equitablesupply of electricity to all partsof the city. He said that apartfrom this system, the provincialgovernment has also started 24-hour feeder-wise monitoring

that would help bring improve-ment in the system.

He also announced forma-tion of a two-member commit-tee comprising LCCI VicePresident Mian Abuzar Shadand Chief Engineer LescoMehboob Ahmad on load man-agement and for meeting withtrade and industry representa-tives to gather their feedback onelectricity supply.

The Lesco Chief categori-cally said that there would beno unannounced loadsheddingin Lahore and the industrywould be provided with 14hours power supply at everycost.

He said that the LESCOwas getting only 2200/2300MW of electricity against a de-mand of 4500/4700 MW butwas supplying 14 hours of elec-tricity only.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Punjab UniversityAcademic Staff Association(ASA) has demanded of theAmerican people to pressurizeObama government for refrain-ing it from funding and backingterrorists in Pakistan and alsoasked Pakistani government andmedia to impose ban on USAIDadvertisements. The ASA onThursday took out a rally againstattack on residency of Father ofthe Nation Quaid-e-AzamMuhammad Ali Jinnah from In-stitute of Chemistry to Instituteof Education and Research inwhich a large number of teach-ers participated. The participantswere holding banners and plac-ards inscribed with the slogansthat “Quaid’s love cannot be

PU teachers rally againstterrorist attacks

eliminated from our hearts”,“US must stop funding terror-ists in Pakistan and let Muslimslive a peaceful life” and “Gov-ernment and Media must banUSAID advertisements instan-taneously”.

Earlier, in a meeting of itsexecutive body attended byPresident Dr Ehsan Sharif, Sec-retary Javed Sami and manyother teachers, the ASA whilecondemning attack on Quaid’sresidency demanded of the gov-ernment to build models ofQuaid’s residency in all theprovinces in order to give strongmessage to anti-state elements.The teachers also requested PUvice chancellor to let them buildthe model of Quaid’s residencyon their own expenses. Thehouse unanimously passed a

resolution that “the meeting ex-presses serious concern over at-tack on Quaid-e-Azam’s resi-dency and killing of female stu-dents of Bahadur Khan Univer-sity Quetta and demands Gov-ernment of Pakistan andBalochistan government im-prove security arrangements toavoid such brutal incidents infuture. Ziarat Residency be re-instated in its original shape assoon as possible. The meetingalso expresses solidarity withthe families of deceased and in-jured female students and as-sured its full support to them.

Female teachers while con-demning also passed a unani-mous resolution against a femaleteacher who discussed personalaffairs using non parliamentarylanguage instead of agenda item.

MUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—Punjab Agricul-ture & Meat Company hasdistributed Rs 125 million asfinancial assistance among2800 livestock farmers in alldistricts of Punjabagainst51544 saved animals under“Quality Meat EnhancementProgram” in the province.1151 Livestock farmers reg-istered 21000 calves andsaved 20311 in Save the Calfproject, Rs 70 million weredistr ibuted among themwhereas other component ofthe project was Feedlot Fat-

2800 livestock farmers get financial assistancetening, in this project 1648farmers registered their 32000animals and fattened 31233and received subsidy amount-ing Rs. 55 million.

For healthy and hygienicmeat production in the prov-ince for local use and for ex-port to the globe, Governmentof Punjab has reserved Rs 670million for Punjab Agriculture& Meat Company’s projectsSave the Calf and Feedlot Fat-tening which would be dis-tributed to farmers in differ-ent phases.

PAMCO distr ibutescheques at farmers’ doorstep

to avoid them travel and otherexpenses.

While talking on a cer-emony at Lahore, CEOPAMCO said that Govern-ment of Punjab is working onpro-farmers policies and fa-cilitating them with importedmaterial and cash incentives.PAMCO is also educating thefarmers about new farmingtrends in this sector alongwithfinancial assistance and freevaccination and tagging, headded.He further said that PAMCOis triggering the meat exportsector as we have established

a modern slaughterhouse forexport and for backward sup-ply chain, we are producingquali ty animals and incentivizing the investorsabout meat and by-productsexport.

While talking on the oc-casion Dr Kanwar Naeem, Se-nior Manager Meat produc-tion said that cash incentiveshave encouraged the farmersand they are rearing their ani-mals more effectively. He fur-ther said that livestock farm-ing gradually is becoming anindustry which would befruitful for meat sector.

Knowledgesource of power:

PU VCSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Punjab UniversityVice Chancellor Prof DrMujahid Kamran has said thatknowledge was the source ofpower and respect and around750 verses of Holy Quran,which is 1/8th of the Holy Book,stressed to focus on resolvingmysteries of the universe whilethe verses related to legislationwere around 225, which re-flected that how much importantthe knowledge was before Al-lah.

He was addressing a work-shop on environmental pollutionawareness organized by Instituteof Chemical Engineering andTechnology at Al Raazi Hallhere on Thursday. Dean Facultyof Engineering and TechnologyProf Dr Taqi Zahid Butt, Direc-tor ICET Prof Dr Ejaz Ahmed,Principal College of Engineer-ing and Emerging TechnologiesProf Dr Rafique Ahmed, Prof DrMuhammad Ali, faculty mem-bers and a large number of stu-dents were present on the occa-sion.

The VC said that the cabalof rich families wanted to estab-lish one world government andfor the purpose they introducedthe system of usury, dividedmankind and imposed wars. Hesaid that the abolishment ofusury was equal to the abolish-ment of their power.

7 out of 18commercial,

residential buildingscases approvedSTAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—District coordina-tion Officer (DCO) LahoreNaseem Sadiq chaired HighLevel Design Committeemeeting at Town Hall onThursday and discussed 18commercial and Residentialbuildings cases, which weresubmitted by people for ob-taining permission.

DCO Lahore Naseem Sadiqapproved seven maps of com-mercial and residential buildingsi.e. commercial plaza Iqbal Av-enue residential house, Masjidmap, commercial plaza atchuburgi, commercial plaza atIqbal Town.

He also postponed 8 casesover technical mistakes andasked DO (SP) to visit the spotand submit their reports in nextmeeting.

He also rejected the maps oftwo buildings while he asked thepeople concerned to change mapand submit it again.

LHC noticesmurder of minor

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Lahore High Courton Thursday took notice of thenews published in a section ofpress that a student of 9th classwas done to death after unnatu-ral act in Factory Area. District& Sessions Judge, Lahore hasbeen directed to probe into thematter and submit a detailed re-port regarding steps taken by thelocal police along with his owncomments.

According to details, KashifMehmood son of Feroz Din,resident of Yasin Town GhaziRoad went out on an evening inconnection with some work anddid not turn up.

His family got worried andstarted search. When he wasnot found, his elder brotherShafaqat lodged a complaintwith factory area police. Butthe very next day, some peoplesaw a hanged body in a nearbyplaza and informed police.Police informed the family ofKashif who identified theirson’s body.

According to news reports,police said that some unidenti-fied accused kidnapped Kashifand after alleged Sodomisingkilled the victim and threw hisbody in plaza for fear of beingcaught.

Fire at PICbrought undercontrol after

one hourLAHORE—The fire whichbroke out at the Punjab Instituteof Cardiology (PIC) on earlyThursday morning has beenbrought under control after hec-tic efforts.

According to details, firebroke out at the AngiographyWard of the Punjab Institute ofCardiology (PIC) due to shortcircuit as a result smoke accu-mulated in the ward.—INP

E-votingsystem on the

anvil: CECLAHORE—Following an up-roar over rigging during polls,Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) Fakhruddin G Ebrahimseems to be awaken after along sleep saying electronicvoting system is under devel-opment.

The CEC says that comput-ers are being developed havingvote facility and it is expectedthat these would be ready for theby-elections.

“All efforts are underway tointroduce electronic voting sys-tem in the country,” he saidwhile talking to newsmen inLahore.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other main-stream political parties havecomplained massive rigging inKarachi, Punjab and Sindh.

To a query about the alle-gation leveled on the ElectionCommission that they failed tocontrol rigging in the generalelections, the CEC said thosewho have reservations on thefairness of the elections mightgo to the election tribunals withevidences and get the electionscancelled.—INP