cMyk

SATURDAY MAY 18, 2013 RAJAB 07, 1434 I RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD I VOL, VI, NO. 29 I WWW.THESPOKESMAN.PK I PAGES 08 I PRICE RS. 10/-

Traders wantShahbaz as energy

minister

Plan to smuggleMush out?

PG| 06PG| 02

Sanjay will come outwith huge energy and

activeness: Mahesh

PG| 07TTOODDAAYY’’SS WWEEAATTHHEERR

Summerlikewith sunshine

HIGH: 44 LOW: 25

LLAAHHOORREE:: Information andBroadcasting Minister Arif Nizamion Friday hoped that the upcominggovernment will be sworn in beforeJune 1. Addressing a newsconference in Lahore‚ he saidelections were held‚ by and large‚ ina fair and transparent manner.The minister urged all political

parties to respect each other'smandate and avoid making generalelections controversial.He said there have been

complaints about irregularities inelections and the ElectionCommission is taking care of themas re-polling or recounting has beenordered in several cases.

The information minister said thecaretaker government has fulfilledits responsibility of holdingelections in a transparent manner.He said despite a host of challengesincluding threat of terrorism‚ theelections were held and no majoruntoward incident took place.He said the caretaker government

was able to maintain law and orderon the polling day without blockingmobile phone service as wasrepeatedly done in the past,harming commercial interests ofcompanies and creating problemsfor users. The minister said the nextstage of transfer of power would becompleted as soon as the Election

Commission completes formalities,especially official notification of thereturned candidates. He said thefuture political scenario is nowalmost clear as the PML-N hasattained simple majority in theNational Assembly to form thegovernment in the centre.The party has also achieved

majority in the Punjab Assemblywhile the PPP and the MQM wouldform governments in Sindh. ThePTI in cooperation with the Jamaat-e-Islami would form thegovernment in KPK while there areindications that the PML-N wouldform the government in Balochistanwith the help of other parties.

The information minister said as aresult of the elections‚ thedemocratic institutions would bestrengthened. He said for the firsttime, a smooth democratictransition is taking place from theone government to another.Referring to the forthcoming visit

of the Chinese prime minister toPakistan‚ he said this iseconomically and strategically veryimportant. He said the interimgovernment instituted anendowment fund to help families ofjournalists who laid down their livesduring performance of theirprofessional responsibilities inconflict zones. –ONLINE

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Dispelling rumours,presidential spokesperson SenatorFarhatullah Babar has announcedthat President Asif Ali Zardari willnot be resigning any time soon.Babar’s remarks come over

rumours that President Zardari wasplanning to resign following hisparty’s crushing defeat in the generalelection. There is no question ofZardari leaving the presidency,according to Babar.Despite suQering a historic defeat

at the Centre and in three provinces,the PPP has surprised many byretaining its earlier position in Sindhby again winning a simple majority.The party has bagged 67 seats in theprovince, according to unoPcialresults of the 2013 elections. It took68 in the 2008 elections. Someanalysts and politicians expectedthat the party will lose its mandatein Sindh owing to unpopular policiesit pursued during its reign.The incoming government of the

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz(PML-N) is in the process of

finalising a list of its cabinetmembers as well as various otherportfolios. Nawaz Sharif hasoPcially designated Senator IshaqDar as the federal minister forfinance and Sartaj Aziz as theadviser to the prime minister oneconomy and foreign aQairs, as thePML-N works towards finalising itscabinet. The Sharif brothers aredealing with various lobbies withinthe party to decide who gets whichcabinet slot. –ONLINE

KKAARRAACCHHII:: Atleast sevenpeople were gunned downincluding two politicalworkers in a fresh wave oftarget killings in the city onFriday. Some unidentifiedarmed assailants openedindiscriminate firing in thearea of Nazimabad 2.Resultantly, a man died onthe spot. Later on, thedeceased was identified AbidIlyas. While talking to TVchannels, Karachi Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer MuhammadHussain Mehanti said thatthe deceased was the formerUC Nazim of Liaquatabad.Mehanti condemned the

target killing and demandedimmediate arrest ofcriminals involved in thisheinous crime.In another incident, one

more injured member ofJamaat-e-Islami AbdulJabbar succumbed to injuresin Orangi town. A womannamely Bakhat Bibi and aman Shafi were shot dead onthe Mango Peer road whileHassan, 14, sustained severeinjuries when unidentifiedarmed persons openedunprovoked firing on them.Meanwhile, the body of a

man packed in a sack wasfound near Kala bridge.Some unidentified armedassailants stormed into ahouse in Mango Peer,Mianwali Colony, andopened indiscriminate firing.As a result, Karam Bibi, 50,Muhammad Shafi aliasDeweena and their sonMuhammad Zain, 10, died onthe spot. Upon receivinginformation, police reachedthe spot and shifted theinjured and dead to the AbbasiShaheed hospital. –ONLINE

TAHIR NIAZ

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Rejecting theMuttahida Qaumi Movement(MQM) plea for fresh polling inthe entire constituency, theElection Commission ofPakistan (ECP) on Fridayannounced to conduct re-pollingat 43 stations of NA-250-Karachi only.Amidst allegations of rigging,

polling was stopped at 43 pollingstations of NA-250 on May 11.The areas where re-polling, asordered by the ECP on Friday,will be held on May 19 alsoinclude the two Sindh Assemblyseats; PS-112 and PS-113. Thecolour of the ballot paper for theNational Assembly constituencywill be white while that for theprovincial assembly seats will begreen. On May 11, green ballotpapers were used for the NA seatswhile white for the PA seats. TheNA-250’s polling stations wherere-polling will be conductedinclude: 4, 7, 11, 48, 52, 56, 57, 58,60, 62, 78, 97, 98, 100, 101, 104,106, 109, 110, 113, 114, 115, 117,121, 122, 131, 135, 136, 137, 139,140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 148, 165,168, 175, 177, 179, 180 and 157. The ECP verdict said re-

polling will only occur at theearlier announced 43 pollingstations in the NA-250constituency on May 19. Newballot papers have been printedfor the re-poll and pollingmaterial will be dispatched tothe polling stations on May 18.The Commission also issuedorders to the Sindh Chief

Secretary and IG Sindh toensure proper security for re-polling at 43 selected pollingstations of the constituency. Inwake of ECP decision ofconducting re-poll at 43 pollingstations, the MQM soughtpolling in entire constituency.The party had also staged sit-inin Karachi against the ECPdecision of re-polling at 43polling stations only. MQMleader Farooq Sattar addressing

the media shortly after the ECPconfirmed its decision toconduct re-polling at 43 pollingstations said the remaining 142polling stations of NA-250experienced the same chaos the43 selected stations faced. Ballotboxes did not reach on time andin some cases, they neverreached at all. Farooq furtherstated it would be unfair to denythe same right to re-poll to allthe voters in the constituency.

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Islamabad hasauthorised the export of 100,000tonnes of wheat to Iran to settle duesfor electricity supplied to Pakistan'senergy-starved border areas, theCommerce Ministry said on Friday.The shipment of 100,000 tonnes

was to have been delivered to Iran inmid-February but was delayedbecause of preparations for the May 11elections. "Wheat is being given to Iranagainst the outstanding payment of$53 million for electricity supplied toPakistani border areas from theIranian grid," ministry spokesman

Mohammad Ashraf said. The EU andthe United States have imposedtoughened sanctions meant todiscourage Tehran's nuclearprogramme, which they say has amilitary purpose. Iran rejects thatclaim, saying its programme aims atpeaceful production of electricity.Western sanctions do not targetfood shipments but financialmeasures have frozen Iranian firmsout of much of the global bankingsystem, hindering payments forimports, on which Iran relies formuch of its food. –ONLINE

SAHTAK BALOCH

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The NationalElectric Power RegulatoryAuthority (NEPRA) has finallyissued notifications regarding lasteight month’s fuel priceadjustment (FPA) under whichrecovery from power consumerswill be made in monthly bills to beissued from June to October 2013.Islamabad High Court (IHC)’s

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui onOctober 24, 2012 had declared theFPA illegal, due to which issuanceof notification pertaining FPAcollection from electric powerconsumers was stopped. However,the IHC Division Bench on March21, 2013 heard an appeal by theelectricity distribution companies(DISCOs) against the said order,and temporarily allowed them tocharge FPA.“With eQect to regulator’s

decision coupled with recentlyissued notifications, collection offuel price adjustments of August2012 to March 2013 from the

consumers would start from Juneto October 2013,” said a senioroPcial at Water and PowerMinistry while talking to thisscribe. As per NEPRA’snotifications, eight month’sadjustments will be collected frompower consumers in monthly billsduring the ongoing year. As perdetails of fleecing of the consumerson account of monthly fuel priceadjustment, collection of FPAstarting from August to November2012 is going to be made inupcoming June 2013, while FPA ofDecember will be collected in themonthly bills of July 2013 and FPAof January 2013 is to be charged inAugust 2013. Furthermore, theFPA of February 2013 will becollected in September and that ofMarch to be charged in monthlybills of October 2013 from theconsumers already bearing heavybrunt of sky high power tariQ andhours long power outages for along time. The regulatoryauthority in its earlier decisionspertaining fuel price adjustments

of said eight months hadincreased the per unit price ofelectric power up to Rs 1.55/kWhwhile only Rs 0.5/unit decreasewas only made in August 2012. Asper regulator’s decision, powertariQ hike on account of FPA wasRs 1.33/unit for the month ofMarch 2013 while Rs 0.64/unitincrease for February 2013 and forJanuary 2013 Rs1.55/unit increasewas made.Similarly, the regulator also

increased the power price by Rs1.33/unit for December 2012, Rs0.91/unit for November 2012, Rs0.4/unit hike for October 2012while there was a decrease of Rs0.5/unit for August 2012. And, forSeptember 2012 a raise of Rs0.5/unit in electric power was alsodecided by the NEPRA.In this way, during last seven

months there was anaccumulative hike of Rs 5.85/unitwhile for one single month ofAugust there was a decrease of Rs0.5/unit in power price underhead fuel price adjustments.

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The powershortfall has climbed toover 5,500 megawatt,causing an acute loadshedding in the country.The Ministry of Water andPower said that the presentsupply of electricity stoodat 9,465 megawatt whiledemand had surged to15,000 megawatt,resulting in upto10-hourpower outages in rural and urban areas of thecountry. –ONLINE

Imran’s NA-122vote recountappeal rejectedLLAAHHOORREE:: The returningoPcer on Friday rejected PTIChairman Imran Khan’s appealfor vote re-count in NA-122constituency of Lahore.According to details, Imran’sappeal to recounting wasrejected from nationalassembly constituency NA-122due to lack to evidences. Imranhad demanded recounting ofvotes in six constituencies. ThePTI chief (84,417 votes) lostNA-122 Lahore-5 againstPML-N candidate Sardar AyazSadiq (93,362 votes). On theother hand, the PTI has beenstaging protest sit-in in Lahoresince May 12 against “rigging”in May 11 general elections.The sit-in is organised at LalikJan Chowk in DHA wheredozens of party workers andsupporters have camped outcalling for re-election in NA-122 to NA-125. –ONLINE

Muttahida boycotts‘selective polling’KKAARRAACCHHII:: The MuttahidaQaumi Movement (MQM)has announced that it willboycott the re-poll in NA-250.In a press conference held onFriday evening, MQM’s seniorleader Raza Haroon said thateQorts were made to snatchthe party’s mandate inKarachi. The press conferencewas held following anemergency meeting of MQM’scoordination committee inKarachi and London. Haroonalleged that it was aconspiracy to reject MQM’sapplication regarding re-polling in entire Karachi. Hefurther said that theElection Commission ofPakistan (ECP) should havethought of the well being ofthe masses. The move cameafter ECP rejected theMQM petition which soughtre-polling in the entire NA-250 constituency ofKarachi. –AGENCIES

MMAALLAAKKAANNDD:: At least 15people were killed andscores of others woundedwhen two bombs rippedthrough worshippers atseparate mosques inMalakand Agency on Friday.The death toll, it is feared,

could rise.The blast took place at the

time of Friday prayers inBazdara on the outskirts ofMalakand Agency,according to Levies forces.Security forces reached thescene and cordoned oQ theblast site. The dead and theinjured were shifted tohospitals in Dargai andBatkhela. Curfew wasimposed in the area after thetwin blasts. In a messageon popular social mediasite, PTI Chairman ImranKhan strongly condemnedthe blasts and condoledwith the families of thevictims. –ONLINE

KKAARRAACCHHII:: MMQQMM lleeaaddeerr RRaazzaa HHaarroooonn aaddddrreessssiinngg aa pprreessss ccoonnffeerreennccee aatt NNiinnee ZZeerroo.. –ONLINE

Election only at 43 polling stations on 19th

MQM’s NA-250poll plea rejected

President Zardarihas no plans to resign

2 blasts kill 15worshippersin Malakand

Newly-elected government to be sworn in before June 1

7 gunneddown intarget killingin Karachi

Power consumers to payarrears from June to Oct

Pakistan okays wheatfor Iran to pay for power

Shortfallexceeds5,500 MW

CMYK

CMYK

Venom Inc. This should not be heldagainst me in a court of law as Isolemnly declare that these are

absolute lies, dirty whispers and wildspeculation that I have heard while crawlingin the dark power corridors of the creepyCapital. You will believe them at your ownrisk Shh...If you have venom to spill pleasedon’t hesitate to share with us on our blog atwww.thespokesman.pk

omar r quraishi@omar_quraishi12mMaybe the people atthe PTI dharna atTeen Talwar thinkthat the vote count

also includes how many visit TeenTalwar?jahanara M wattoo@jahanarawattoo34mWell said "@omar_quraishi: It'salmost as if the voters who voted for aNaya Pakistan have no idea what it islike to vote in Pakistan"Abdul Manan �@manan18948mCh Aslam Ghuman who lodged FIRagainst Musharraf in judges'detention case about to withdraw hzcase against Musharraf. Both hvreconciled.Shahid Nazir �@MShahidNazir19hI'm now opening branches of my fishstall everywhere protest happeningin pakistan cm on ladies#DharnaNikaloMaryam A. �@maryamful21hIf you're making jokes about those whoare practically putting in eXort for thebetterment, thow a brick in your faceplease. #DharnaNikaloAsad Kharal �@AsadKharal1h#NABLeaks: Chairman NAB met

Nawaz Sharif last sunday and tried tobe his poodleIrfan Qamar �@MIrfanQamar7mWish Arslan Iftikhar wud havecontested and lose the Elections , atleast CJP would have taken suo motoby now.Sohaib �@sohaibgulbadan44mMeri fancy housing colony mein somegenerators are running on chori ki gassupply. Yet they passionately votedtabdeeli. Lolz.omar r quraishi @omar_quraishi34sPervaiz Khattak sahib,Taliban havekilled thousands of Paksoldiers,policemen and civilians - stillyou say "we have no enmity againstthem"Asad Munir �@asadmunir381m"We have no enmity with Taliban"because they killed 45,000 enemies ofPakistan including 4500 soldiers ofPak Army" #NayapakistanKamran Shafi �@KamranShafi464mShame on PTI's candidate for CM K-Pto say to TTP 'Yeh Pakistan aap ka hai'.Kis ka?Chechen/Uzbek/Uighur/Somali/MisriJihadeon ka? #SHAMEAli Dayan Hasan �@AliDayan45sTTP wins KP as #Pakistan's faces deathby a thousand cuts? "No enmity with

the Taliban" says PTI's KP CM-designate.umair haque �@umairh13mThe biggest mistake you can make islistening to people who've given up ontheir dreams telling you to give up onyours.S N J �@snjay_33mBoth Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khancall this War against Terrorism as US'sWar; Come on you hypocrites speak upagainst both or just STFU!Che™ �@Farrukhhussaini29mThose who still think #TTP is not ourenemy , go join them for a lunch or adinner, they will tell you what theythink of you..#ApologistsImran Jattala �@ijattala13 MayAll those saying 'Taliban couldn't stopelection' should know Taliban havewon. The threat was only if theircandidate was loosing...Faiz Baluch �@Faiz_Baluch11m“Ninety per cent of the elections werenot held in the province as people didnot come out of their homes to vote,”Hasni said. #BalochistanMaheen Taseer �@MaheenTaseer35mIts been said that theres one word thatwill free us from the weight & the painof life- that world is love. We cantunderestimate its power.

PML (N)may haveblundered

in its first politi-cal decision evenbefore their thirdgovernment bychoosing SardarSanaullah Zehrias its nomineefor Balochistan’sChief Minister-ship.The trouble-

some province needed somebodywho was less tainted in controversy,crime and corruption charges.True, he suffered a tragedy duringthe elections when his son, brotherand a nephew got killed in an am-bush. But this should not be thesole reason for anointing him forthe top job in Balochistan. Here’swhy:Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, almost as

Nawab Aslam Raisani before him,has feuds of blood running with halfof Baloch tribe. He has namedSardar Attaullah Mengal, AkhtarMengal, Khair Bakhsh Marri, amongothers, as accused in the FIRregistered for the triple murder of hisfamily. He has also registered cases ofmurders against his own brothers(Israr and Zafar), uncles and cousins.

In a tribal society ‘vengeance’ ispredominant code and the oWce ofthe Chief Minister will actuallyfacilitate him to fulfill his tribal‘obligation.’ This happened in thecase of former Chief Minister AslamRaisani when his sworn enemy, MPAYar Mohammad Rind remainedholed up in his village for five yearsas he feared for his life.Another trail of tribal feuding is

the last thing that the war-tornprovince needs at this stage.Sanaullah ascension will also putNawaz Sharif ’s eXort forreconciliation in Balochistan,particularly with moderates as AktarMengal. He took a risk by returningto the country but feels aggrievedthat he was wronged in the electionsby irregularities. His ire isparticularly directed at SanaullahZehri who aligned with Akhtar’sarch rivals in Khuzdar—NaseerMengal. Naseer two sons, AttaurRehman and Shafiq, contestedagainst Akhtar and are accused ofrunning a Rawalpindi-backedmilitant militia. Akhtar won theprovincial seat but the result on thenational seat in Khuzdar remainswithheld. But this rivalry is crucial toany eXort for peace in Balochistanand Sanaullah is seen as aligned toone group. He is the last person in

Balochistan who could initiate thepeace process, which everybodyexpects from the government.Aslam Raisani may have other

faults but was acceptable to allparties as a compromise candidates— even the Baloch extremists. Onecannot say this about SanaullahZehri.In any case, Sanaullah was not

particularly known for his honestyand good practices when he was aCabinet member (who was not) inthe last government. He too wastedRs 300 million annualdevelopment grant with the sameabandon as the others, He too wasaccused by a Police DIG (and hisown brother) for harboring armsgangs accused of kidnapping

people for ransom. He was as mucha symbol of mis-governance,corruption and lawlessness as werehis worthy colleagues in the lastgovernment.PML (N) could oblige somebody

from the National Party or AkhtarMengal’s BNP if it wants to showpolitical magnanimity—or even havea Pashtun Chief Minister fromMahmood Khan Achakzai’s PMAP,which won the largest number of(ten) seats. National Party’sPresident, Dr Malick has alreadysuggested that there should be aChief Minister by consensus,basically expressing his reservationsabout Sanaullah Baloch. And so hasMahmood Khan Achakzai who islikely to be a coalition partner of

PML (N).But if PML (N) wants to play

safe and have its own ChiefMinister it may have othercandidates in its ranks. TahirMehmood may not be acceptableas he is a Punjabi settler; AkbarAskani from Kech may not be agrandee that they might belooking for. Jan Jamali should fitthe criteria as he--being a formerChief Minister and DeputyChairman in the Senate-- knowspolitical ropes well.This decision is more important

than many in PML (N) may realise.Next time the trouble starts inBalochistan—be it in the form ofbomb explosions or sectarianviolence against Hazaras—NawazSharif will be in the eye of the stormeven before he settles down inIslamabad. Sanaullah Baloch will be the last

person that he will want at thehelm in such an eventuality. Half ofthe Baloch tribes will even refuseto talk to him—and for the otherhalf he will be a proverbial red flagthat will keep the fires of hatredaflame.PML (N) seems in alliance with

Rawalpindi as far Balochistan isconcerned. PML (N)’s ProvincialPresident Sanaullah Zehri was inelectoral alliance with MussallahDafa-i- Balochistan that, we all know,is backed by the ISI. PML (N) won allthe seats where the establishmentmatters. Lt General (Retd) GhulamQadir and the MPAs under him inthe crucial Avaran, Panjgur, Kechcould not have won without ‘Bhailog’—or even Changez Marri inKohlu.But then this may have been the

national plan all along. PTI mayjust have been the deflection as theestablishment’s baby. IfBalochistan is any guide, it is clearthat PML (N) is in partnershipwith Rawalpindi. And that just maybe the decisive factor in theselection of Sanaullah Zehri—Balochistan be damned.

Politically

Incorrect

Amir Mateen

Sanaullah Zehri as BalochistanCM—PML (N)'s first blunder?

Aslam Raisani may have other faults butwas acceptable to all parties as acompromise candidates — even the

Baloch extremists. One cannot say this aboutSanaullah Zehri. In any case, Sanaullah was notparticularly known for his honesty and goodpractices when he was a Cabinet member (whowas not) in the last government. He too wasted Rs300 million annual development grant with thesame abandon as the others, He too was accusedby a Police DIG (and his own brother) forharboring arms gangs accused ofkidnapping people for ransom

“

”

Plan to smuggleMush out?

Something isdefinitely cook-ing to get Per-

vaiz Musharraf out ofthe country beforethe new governmentcomes in. Thebiggest indication isthat the case aboutthe Judges detentionhas been withdrawnby the petitioner, Mr

Ghumman. It is yet to be seen if the courtswill let the general loose after the withdrawalof the case. Many believe that the case mayhave morphed into a bigger monster.The courts have implicated the General

into a case which comes under the purviewof a terrorist court, which is a crime againstthe state as opposed to a crime against theindividual. And then this is not the only casethat the general faces. It is the courts thathave put him on the ECL and it is them whocould bail him out. So far, the courts do notseem to have changed their mind. Theestablishment may be worried about hisfuture. Even Nawaz Sharif, we are told,prefers that he should not be put into thetrouble of having to prosecute him in atreason case as he professed in his electioncampaign. One, it may be political dangerousand put him in conflict with Rawalpindi tooearly. Two, He is said to be under pressurefrom the Saudis, the Americans, the Brits—even the Ukrainians, Somalians and whatnot—for letting him oX the hook.Meanwhile, the commando is having

sleepless nights ever since Nawaz Sharif gothis majority in the elections. SehbaMusharraf, we are told, even suggests that heshould run away through Afghanistan if pushcomes to shove. If he could run away from theSupreme Court, why not throughAfghanistan—she told him when he tried topose as a brave heart.

SAEED MINHAS

National Data Registration Authority (NDA) is usingdelaying tactics to response with any amount ofclarity to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)

regarding verification of thumb impressions from thecounterfoils of the ballot papers, revealed inside authorities.Insiders believe that NDARA claims to have biometric

technology and has even won various contracts fromregional countries like Bangladesh and even Africancontinent but is not sure that how credible that technologyis. “Since we will be using it for the first time at such a largeras well as minute scale, therefore, we are not sure about theaccuracy of the same,” agreed a senior oWcial seekinganonymity. However, to buy some time and workout someface saving solutions, NADRA has asked the ECP to providethem the ballot stubs so that they can initiate testing themagainst their machines.Sensing the uncertainty on part of NADRA, ECP had to

brush aside the mounting pressure from Imran Khan’s PTIregarding the verification of ballot papers through thumbimpressions by announcing that it would not be able toverify the thumbs within four days. Instead, ECP hasannounced that it will take the mandatory 120 days. ImranKhan’s party had announced to wage countrywide sit-in

protests, if his demand of verification within four days wasnot met. PTI party leaders seems to have been wonderingthat how long they will be able to sustain the sit-ins foralmost four months across Pakistan especially when themercury levels are touching mid 40s Celsius.This has also raised many questions about the ability and

preparations of ECP in conducting free and fair electionswith all the new gadgetry. Delay in announcing electionresults despite having millions of dollars of funding in thename of up gradation is already haunting the ECP. Resultsin most of the constituencies did not arrive after three daysof polling day.

Biometric verifications near impossible

ZEESHAN JAVAID

ISLAMABAD: The Caretaker PrimeMinister’s blue-eyed newly appointedchairman National Electric PowerRegulatory Authority (NEPRA)Justice (retd) Ahmed Khan Lashari onFriday put the enormous unjustifiedfinancial burden of billions of rupeesover the innocent electricityconsumers, who paid hefty billsagainst interrupted non-consumedelectricity.The caretaker chief executive of the

country, Justice (R) Mir Hazar KhanKhoso Who was nominated by thePakistan People’s Party (PPP)leadership instead of conducting freeand fair election in the country theprime responsibility of any caretakersetup, turned it down towardsfacilitating his favorites and pleased tounseen lords.The caretaker premier where

inducted his blue-eyed associates inthe top slots of most profitableorganizations including Oil and GasDevelopment Company (OGDC),National Highway Authority (NHA)and other autonomous bodies asviolating the rules of services, there oneprime example of premier’sperformance could observe by

appointing a retired judge to fill thepost of chairman in National ElectricPower Regulatory Authority(NEPRA), which was vacant for lastthirteen months.Apparently, The newly appointed

chairman NEPRA Justice (R) AhmedKhan Lashari increased the powertariX up to Rs. 5.62 per unit in thename of Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA)just after twelve days of holdingNEPRA oWce without thorough studyof technical information provided byCentral Power Purchase Agency(CPPA) in more than five petitionsfiled with NEPRA, however thereplications of NEPRA’s recentdecision could be face by upcomingPML-N government, who alreadymade big claims to provide relief byeliminating power crisis during itselection campaigns and publicmeetings.The former secretary, Establishment

division Nargis Sethi, who refusedpremier Khoso to send the summaryfor appointment of Mr. Lashari aschairman NEPRA, was later onaccommodated by recommendation ofprinciple secretary to premier,Khawaja Siddique Akbar.PS Akbar, who went into hot water,

when managing director Sui Northern

Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) raidrefused him to supply uninterruptedgas supply to his textile mill by nameof Khawaja Cloths in Gujranwala,resultantly caretaker premier Khosoissued an executive order to sack MDSNGPL Arif Hameed, which was lateron challenged in Lahore High Court(LHC) by eXectee MD SNGPL andrestore till further verdict of superiorcourt.

The former coalition ledgovernment also faced the musicwhen the Supreme Court raisedobjections on several appointments.For example, appointment of AdnanKhawaja as Managing Director Oiland Gas Development CompanyLimited, Tauqeer Saddiq chairman oiland gas regulatory authority (OGRA)etc had raised questions due to whichpopularity graph of former coalition

has touched rock bottom level.Similarly, the appointment of ownbuddy as chairman NEPRA bycaretaker PM has also raisedquestions and made the selectioncontroversial.According to NEPRA Act 1997, the

chairman of NEPRA shall be aneminent professional of knownintegrity and competence with atleast twenty years of relatedexperience in law, business,engineering, finance, accounting,economics, the electric utilitybusiness, public administration ormanagement, however the blue-eyedold man didn’t full fill the criteria asdescribed in NEPRA rules instead ofhaving experience of judiciary.The NEPRA authority, whose prime

responsibility is to determine powertariX, licensing of power relatedcompanies and other relative businessremained a shelter for retired, sackedand favorites of country’s primeinstitutions.Similarly The former chairman

NEPRA, Khalid Saeed who wasappointed as chairman NEPRA oneleventh hour of natural demise ofMusharaf government on February2008, Mr. Saeed who served asprinciple secretary of former Prime

Minister Shaukat Aziz, wasaccommodated by executive order offormer president Gen (R) PervaizAshraf.Similarly the former secretary

environment, Khawaja MuhammadNaeem who has been enjoying dualcharge as acting chairman/memberPunjab NEPRA was one of those whowas found guilty in an inquiry madeby the high level committee to probethe issue regarded the facilitation toIndia iin construction of controversialNimo Bazgo 45MW hydropowerproject.However despite the reports of top

spy agencies of Pakistan MilitaryIntelligence (MI) and Inter ServicesIntelligence (ISI), the former secretaryenvironment and commissioner forIndus waters Syed Jamaat Ali Shahfound negligent in said issue.Later on, this former blue-eyed guy

was facilitated in NEPRA as memberPunjab and now an additionalportfolio of acting chairmanNEPRA.Surprisingly, another blue-eyed guy

Major (R) Haroon Rashid wasaccommodated in NEPRA asmember Balochistan, however earlierhe was served at key post in PresidentHouse.

Khoso continues to pile up issues for Nawaz

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

The NEPRAauthority,

whose primeresponsibility is todetermine powertariX, licensing ofpower relatedcompanies and otherrelative businessremained a shelter for retired, sackedand favorites ofcountry’sprimeinstitutions

“

”

SALMAN ABBAS

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The Islamabad High Court onFriday suspended the notification issued torepatriate PEMRA Executive Director AbdulJabbar to his parent department and sought replyfrom the PEMRA chairman within two weeksover the issue.Chief Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasiwas hearing the case filed by Abdul Jabbarthrough his counsel Barrister ZaLarullah. Thecounsel for the petitioner adopted before thecourt that his client was an employee of thePakistan Telecommunication Authority and wasappointed in PEMRA during April 2005.“The competent committee of PEMRA, whilehearing the application of Abdul Jabbar, issued

the notification for his appointment as directorgeneral technical in PEMRA and also issued thenotification in this regard on February 6th,2008,” contended the counsel. On July 7, 2009,the Information Ministry promoted AbdulJabbar as executive director at PEMRA inGrade 21.Despite being a permanent official of PEMRAsince 2008, Abdul Jabbar was repatriated toPTA on May 15, 2013. The counsel said that thenotification of Jabbar’s repatriation was illegaland was similar to injustice. He prayed beforethe court to declare the notification ofrepatriation as nullified and unlawful. Afterhearing arguments, the court sought reply fromall the respondents including PEMRA chairmanand adjourned the hearing.

IHC suspends notification torepatriate top PEMRA oKcial

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Faculty of Engineeringand Technology of International IslamicUniversity Islamabad organised 4thannual Open House here on Friday. The4th annual house was attended by theProfessionals from Industry,organizations, institutions andacademies. Students presented theirinnovative projects on the occasion.Event, in both male and femalecampuses of the university was dulyappreciated.Speaking on the occasion, Dr. AneesAhmed was being chief guest said thatPakistan posses a valuable potential ofknowledge, we must equip our youthwith solid research. “We should

encourage solid research and discourageplagiarism; this would certainly improveour criteria of education” he maintained.He lauded the projects presented byyoung students and urged them to giveequal importance to theory and practicalapplication of their degree subjects.Speech of Dr. Masoom Yasinzai was asource of creating a milieu of devotionfor knowledge among the students; hecongratulated the students onorganizing successful Open House. Hesaid science and technology plays vitalrole in the progress of developingcountries that is why IIUI keenly focuseson further improving its engineeringfaculty. “IIUI students of engineering

getting education integrated withteachings of Islam, this would preparepersonalities better than others and willhelp them to fight with thecontemporary challenges in a betterway” IIUI Reactor said.He stressed upon the students todevote their selves for knowledge andassured them of every possible supportfrom IIUI in the regard of creative andunique projects. Later, shield waspresented by Dr. Al-Draiweesh to Dr.Anees Ahmed while certificates andshields were also distributed among thestudents who clinched positions in thecompetition of stalls. Closing ceremonyof the open house was attended by Dr.

Anees Ahmed Vice Chancellor RIPHAHInternational University Islamabad, Dr.Masoom Yasinzai Rector IIUI, Dr.Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh PresidentIIUI, Sahibzada Sajid ur Rehman VicePresident IIUI, Dr. Mumtaz AhmedVice President (academics) IIUI and alarge number of students.Later on, Rector and President IIUIalong with Vice Presidents of theuniversity visited the stalls arranged bythe students and appreciated the eLortsand creativity of the students. Meanwhile, closing ceremony of the4th annual open house held at FemaleCampus of the university was joined bymany noted people. �ONLINE

IIUI organises 4th annual open house

CMYK

CMYK

Pickpockets make hay in I-11 vegetable marketIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The incidents ofpicking pockets are on rise invegetable market I-11 due tonegligence of the police. The criminalshave devised novel tactics of pick-pocketing and looting the buyers. Thepopular method being employed bythem is that they hit their victim withhand pushed cart. This way the victimfalls down and people start gatheringaround him. The criminals takeadvantage of the crowd and deprivenot only their victim of the money buta lot of other people also fall to theirtricks and return home withoutbringing vegetable or fruit as theirwallets are picked away during pickpocketing spree unleashed by thecriminals. �ONLINE

Residents demand trains to all major cities IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The residents of thefederal capital have demandedlaunching of train service to all majorcities of the country from Islamabadrailway station. Train service iscontinuing from Islamabad railwaystation only for a single major city ofLahore. On the other hand thepresence of the passengers at railwaystation is thin due to lack of publictransport arrangement to bring themto railway station from various sectorsas no public transport route has beenapproved from any venue of federalcapital to railway station. The studentsof International Islamic university saidthat Islamabad railway station islocated very close to their universityand train service suits them best totravel to their home towns but thisservice has been introduced only forone major city Lahore and all othermajor cities including Multan,Sargodha, Karachi, Faisalabad andPeshawar have been ignored by therailway authorities. �ONLINE

Lack of staff in ruraldispensaries irks citizensIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Lack of paramedicalstaff and laboratories in all the ruraldispensaries of federal capital hascaused embarrassment to citizens.The rural dispensaries operating inthe areas of Shahzad Town, ChathaBakhtawar, Bhara Kahu, Rawal Town,Jagiot Morian and certain other ruraldispensaries are no more thanrefuges of stray dogs and addicts aslack of paramedical staff and nonavailability of medicines andlaboratories therein has reduced theattendance of the patients next to nil.Even the first aid facility is notavailable and in emergency, thepatients have to be taken to privatehospitals. Several patients succumb to injuries on their way toprivate clinics being located inremote areas. �ONLINE

SALMAN ABBAS

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The delay in completion of theGhazi Brotha Water Supply Project, which wasstarted several years ago to meet the waterdemand of twin cities, has once again put theCapital Development Authority into dilemmawhich is now struggling hard to overcome thewater shortage during the peak summer season.A senior CDA oKcial told The Spokesmanthat the water related problems have beenamplifying in the federal capital with the

increase in mercury level but the civic bodyseems helpless to cope up with the situation.“Main reason behind all the issue is that theCDA management was somehow relying onGhazi Brotha Water Supply project which couldnot be completed this year due to shortage offunds,” said the oKcial. In order to meet the water demand of twincities, Ghazi Barotha project was considered in2005 under which the water will be shared fromIndus River for Islamabad. However, due to somereservation by the provinces, particularly from

Sindh, the project could not be executed. But inJune 2012, the CDA had signed a memorandumof understanding with the Chinese governmentto assist the authority in channeling of 200million gallons per day for twin cities. The MoU was signed by the former CDAChairman Farkhand Iqbal in Beijing. Accordingto the plan, the work on said project was to bestarted from September 2012. The source saidthat the concessional loan was not provided to thecivic body from Chinese government due towhich the no headway could be made in this

regard. He said that the residents of city wouldhave to endure the same water related issues thissummer too. Currently, the CDA supplies only 65Million Gallons per Day (MGD) to the residentsof the city from Simly Dam, Khanpur Dam andtube wells, making the shortfall of 85 MGD. Theaverage demand of water in Islamabad is 176million gallons per day but the CDA faces ashortage of around 106 MGD in the summers.CDA oKcial said that the formermanagement had diverted all of its attentiontowards the Ghazi Brotha project and did not

pay heed towards exploring some other waysto end the water crisis. Ironic is the fact thatthe CDA’s engineering wing, which is headedby Sanaullah Aman, has also virtually failed tomake proper arrangements for meeting waterdemand of the city. Poor performance of the engineering wingtowards improving the conditions of allavailable resources for water supply has alsobeen adding to the miseries of people, said thesource. Sanaullah was not available for hisviews on the issue.

Delay in Ghazi Brotha project becomes CDA dilemma

BBaannkk ssttaa33 aanndd aaccccoouunntt--hhoollddeerrss ggaatthheerr oouuttssiiddee UUBBLL’’ss JJiinnnnaahh AAvveennuuee bbrraanncchh aafftteerr aa bboommbb hhooaaxx.. �ONLINE

MUZAMMIL HUSSAIN SYED

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The Drugs Regulatory Authorityhas failed to achieve its role in drugs licencingand registration procedures that are riddled withirregularities as shown in recent scandals. The DRA has failed to institute properprocedures with a view to determining the safety,quality and aLordability of new, applied-for-registration drugs before waving them through.According to the reports, the pharmaceuticalindustry pushing the DRA to rush through14,000 pending applications for new drugs.There is no clarity on the matter of drugsregistration and licensing boards which decidedthe registration and licensed new medicines.According to the DRA, its failure is due to someflaws in the DRA act that due to lack ofmechanism they are unable to make sure thesafety, quality and aLordability of medicines,which is the major public health challenge facingPakistan.In new Drugs Regulatory Act, the stress seemsto be on the pharmaceutical industry rather thanon preventing the public from being exposed tounsafe or substandard drugs. The DRA isenvisaged as regulating the import, manufacture,storage, licensing, registration and pricing of

therapeutic drugs and medical devices in linewith the act 1976. However, unlike other national regulatoryauthorities, the language of the ordinance, whichappears to be reflected in the bill, is verymechanical and does not set great store by publicprotection. No wider consultation involving civilsociety and citizen watchdog groups seems tohave been conducted. With such uncertain funding base, whatexpectation can we entertain from the DRAbeing autonomous and independent? Moreimportantly, with uncertain funding, it would bea tall order to field an enhanced enforcementforce that is crucial to the functioning andlegitimacy of the new authority. The composition of the DRA is also lopsided interms of being representative. Its policy board iscomposed of representatives from key ministries,the provinces and six experts to be drawn fromthe public and private sectors. While on theselection time, one inquires about the selectionof six other members, most of them are to bedrawn from the pharmaceutical industry with asprinkling of public-health specialists. There aresuggestions that one member may be from thearmy medical corps.This is quite a lopsided selection as it does not

include any representative from an array ofpatients, health rights researchers and advocacybodies, consumer groups and citizens bodies thatare overwhelmingly aLected by the newlegislation. Moreover, any inclusion of a member from thearmy medical corps would be unnecessary. Ifsuch a suggestion has been triggered by therecent ephedrine scandal, there are many ways toaddress it.It is mentioned here, the demand for a nationaldrugs regulatory authority has been on theagenda since 2005 when the federal cabinet gavethe nod to its formation. Since then, a tussle hasbeen waged among various stakeholders over itscomposition, jurisdiction and functions. Thisongoing discussion was given new urgency by thepassage of the 18th amendment which devolveddrugs and medicine to provincial governments.However, the area of drugs was thought fit to bereverted to a national mandate.The passed bill fulfils this requirement.However, there was much toeing betweendiLerent interests in the run-up to its passage,which showed up in three diLerent drafts jostlingfor favorable placement in the final document.Press reports regarding the purpose andcomposition of the DRA raise serious questions.

HOMER BALOCH

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Police were called toscene on Friday after a bomb threatcreated panic in the staL and account-holders present in the Jinnah Avenuebranch of the United Bank Limited onFriday. The police, however, returnedwith no clues of the prankster.Around 3 pm, an anonymous call wasreceived to Humayun Khan, the branchmanager of the bank. “The caller toldHumayun that there is a bomb placedat the 14th floor of the building,”according to an employee, working inthe building. “The branch managerimmediately informed the Kohsarpolice about the call, which reachedalong with bomb disposal squad afterhalf an hour,” he said.He further said that all the staLworking in the building was sent outside of the building after which thepolice and the bomb disposal squadtook the building’s control. AssistantSub Inspector Siddique Ahmad toldThe Spokesman that the building wasinspected completely including its allfloors and basement, but nothingsuspicious was found.He said that police along with thebranch manager also visited a franchiseof a cellular company to trace the caller.“After approaching to the franchise, thepolice learnt that the call was madefrom a phone booth which is currentlynot possible to trace for us,” the policeoKcial said.

Prankster playshoax withbankers, police

Act lays stress on pharmas,ignores use of unsafe drugs

JJ SSaalllliikk lleeaaddiinngg aa mmiinnoorriittiieess rraallllyy iinn FF--66 nneeaarr SSuuppeerr MMaarrkkeett.. �THE SPOKESMAN

RRaawwaallppiinnddii AArrttss CCoouunncciill RReessiiddeennttaall DDiirreeccttoorr WWaaqqaarr AAhhmmaadd ggiivveess aa cceerrttiifificcaattee ttoo aa wwoommaann wwhhoo ppaarrttiicciippaatteeddiinn tthhee tthhrreeee--ddaayy WWoooodd AArrtt WWoorrkksshhoopp.. �THE SPOKESMAN

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: A constitutional petitionseeking probe into controversial electoralresults and rigging allegations has beenfiled in the Supreme Court.Sources said the petitioner Tariq Asadadvocate had made election commission,NADRA, speakers of national andprovincial assemblies, federal governmentand anchor persons of private TVchannels in the petition filed by him on Friday.The petitioner has taken the plea thatallegations of rigging are being levelledby the political parties with respect to theMay 11 general election, which isperverting the political scenario of thecountry. “It will be better that verification ofthumb impressions be carried out inrespect of the votes cast in the pollingstations and constituencies where any suchcontroversy has arisen. Everything willcome to light this way,” he added. �ONLINE

SC moved forverification ofthumbprints

PPTTII’’ss HHiinnaa MMaannzzoooorr,, aa ccaannddiiddaattee ffrroomm NNAA--5544,,bbrriieeiiffnngg aa pprreessss ccoonnffrreennccee.. �THE SPOKESMAN

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

THE SPOKESMANChief Editor: Huma Ali

Resident Editor: Saeed Minhas

Islamophobia and violence in America

I saw a video on Youtube of a mancutting out, and then eating,another man's heart. He was aSyrian man. The heart belonged toanother Syrian man. The man wasclearly aware of the camera. He cutthe heart out of the man's chest as ifhe was field dressing a deer. Hespoke, but I couldn't hear what hewas saying. It sounded like the maninvoked the name of God. My firstresponse was, this is fuel forIslamophobes?The initial report was broadcast

on my local Public Radio station.When I searched "man eats heart"on CNN, I found a clip of a newsitem, “Shocking Video AllegesAtrocity In Syria”, reported byMohammed Jamjoom, who is ajournalist stationed in Lebanon.The pictures shown were blurred.When I looked on Youtube therewere a few postings on the topicwhich were barely watched, therewere only a few thousand hits.Although the CNN news report I

saw proclaimed its disgust and tookdistance of the matter by blurringthe images, it was clear the newsvalue was the obscenity of the scene,and not the fact that a person diedon the battle field.Violence fills a large portion of the

daily news in the United States. Thedaily local news shows the latestmurders, fires, deadly accidents,and violent acts of nature.Television, movies and video gamesalso show a good share of violence.There is so much violence that thereis even a national organisation thatwants to make parents aware of theeffects of violence in video games,Mothers Against Video GameAddiction and Violence.The numbers in this country are

staggering. According to theNational Violent Death ReportingSystem, a subsidiary of the Centerfor Disease Control that monitorsviolence, 55.000 people in the US

die violently either by homicide orsuicide. Add to that more than32.000 fatalities in traffic annually.Personally the latter is just as worseas acts of violence, many trafficdeaths in my opinion are acts ofinsolence.Sports games are remnants of our

not so distant, male dominated,live-or-die, violent past. When Icoached my son's soccer team myobjective was to teach the childrenthe game of soccer. I also thought itwas important for them to have agood time. The parents disagreedwith my priorities, they only wantedtheir sons to win. I like to win as

much as anyone else, but it is myphilosophy that winning isn't thefirst priority until the boys knowhow to play the game.High schools and colleges

compete with each other in a sportreferred to as American Football.This is a highly physical sport inwhich the healthiest and strongestyoung men of the community fightfor the school's honor. The sport is arepresentation of a battle duringwhich an object needs to be taken toa safe area in order to score a point.The other team's goal is to steal thisobject. The players wear armory andhelmets. Practice consists of

incessantly repeating drills in orderto perfect movements on the field.During the fall of each year

parents, friends and family witnessin droves how these young men arebeing mauled. In professionalfootball it's considered anaccomplishment if a player is able totackle a key player in such a waythat he has to leave the game.Most of the people I have met,

during the years I have lived in theUnited States, who played the gameof football, insisted I promised themnever to let my kids play. Manyfootball players are hurt severelyand are not able to play any sports

the rest of their lives. This is ashame, I personally think thesecond half of life is the best part.In addition, many former

professional players have sufferedtoo many concussions and are nowdealing with memory loss,headaches and dementia. Some ofthem have committed suicidebecause of brain damage.I was afraid the video clip would

start another wave of Islamophobicrants from people on the socialmedia. This happens after everyattack, like the Boston MarathonBombing a few weeks ago.The rants don't seem to have

much effect. According to a recentsurvey of the Pew Research Centerfor the People and the Press, thenumber of people who believe thatIslam is "more likely" to supportviolence than other religions, hasn'tgone up in the last decade; aboutforty per cent of the Americanpopulation believes this right now.Almost 50 percent doesn't thinkIslam is more likely to supportviolence.Policy makers look at trends not

so much the numbers, which arepretty disturbing. 120 million of the300 million people here believeIslam is likely to support violence.The reason why this number stays

high is that because people grow upwith violence, they also feel the needto consume it. That is one of thereasons news channels show imagesof violent “Islamic” men with beardsand guns when they run an itemabout the Middle East or Pakistan.If they would show pictures offriendly people on their way to workstopping for some chai, theaudience would be confused and notinterested. First because the picturedoesn't suggest any violence, andsecondly it doesn't comply with thestereotype.This also explains why the video

on Youtube of the man eatinganother man's heart is notcontributing to Islamophobia. Theact is so extreme, we are not able toencode it. We can't comprehend theact and if we would generalise thiseating through the mechanismcalled “illusory correlation” wewould have to expand it to all thefighters in Syria, and that would beimpossible to process. It seemseven the hardcore Islamophobesare letting this one rest. What Iwould prefer to see is a ;video of aman planting a garden, tending tohis animals or eating a pie.

GERALD VANWILGEN IS A DUTCH

WRITER WHO LIVES AND WORKS IN THE

UNITED STATES

Block 11, G-6/1, Aabpara, Islamabad

Telephone: 051 260 7153-4

Fax: 051 260 7498

www.thespokesman.pk

ce@thespokesman.pk

News channels show images ofviolent “Islamic” men with beardsand guns when they run an itemabout the Middle East or Pakistan.If they would show pictures offriendly people on their way towork stopping for some chai, theaudience would be confused andnot interested

PML-N and sectarianismI was alarmed by the election result onmany counts but themost worrisomeaspect of the PML-N’s victory is theirassociation with Saudi Arabia andextremist sectarian organisations.It is no secret that in the election the

PML-N had entered into a seatadjustment arrangement with AhleSunnatWal Jamaat (ASWJ) and the

PML-N leaders have been seenhobnobbing with the leaders of evenbanned organisations like the Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lahkar-e-Jhangvi.The indebtedness of the Sharif family,

that is actually like the royal familywhen it comes to the dynamics of thePML-N, to the Saudi royal family forrescuing them from the claws of deathand imprisonment byMusharaf is nosecret either.This is a lethal combination. It is now

obvious that Saudi Arabia and otherAmerican proxies in theMiddle Eastare the engines of sectarianism in theworld. It goes back to the Afghan“jihad” against the Soviet Union.Wehave seen it in Libya how themilitantextremists were supported, given air-cover and strategic guidance besidessophisticated weapons by theWesterncountries and their partners in crime,theUS-backedMiddle Easternmonarchies; Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAEandKuwait.We see a replay in Syria, with Turkey

and Jordan joining in as well. More

than 80,000 people have been killed inthis game of death staged by theseStates to overthrow the Assad regime inSyria. And themilitant groupsperpetrating this carnage have theirroots in the American proxies in theMiddle East and follow an extremistsectarian ideology that considers everyother sect ofMuslims as heretics liableto be killed. In fact, these barbarichordes profess that killing these fellowMuslims not subscribing to theirideology pleases God.Obviously, those holding such views

are ignorant of the basics of Islamwhich is the religion of peace andforbids the slaying of innocents underany circumstances. They have broughta bad name to Islam and are actuallythe enemies of our religion.My concern is the support they enjoy

within the PML-N andwith the partycoming to power, I fear that they willget the patronage of the cominggovernment andwill be emboldened tospread their hateful sectarian agenda.This does not bode well for the country

and our society and I pray to God tosave us from their fitna.Though pessimism is a sin, I have no

hope in the PML-N leadership to curbthese inclinations andwork towardsstamping out the extremist sectariangroups. This is not actually pessimism,but I feel it is being realistic.We shouldbe aware of the dangers we face underthe coming dispensation so that we cantake appropriatemeasures to keepthese dangerous tendencies of thePML-N in check.

SAJIDMALIK

ISLAMABAD

My First VoteMsHafsa Siddique’s account of herfirst voting experience in NA-250Karachi was an eye-openener.Though I’d read about thecontroversy and seen reports about iton television, the first-hand account,describing the details of whathappened to the writer in her attempt

to exercise her democratic right, gavea very clear picture of what washappening that day. I am happy thatthe Election Commission has orderedre-polling on the aLected pollingstations. It is important to restorecredibility to the electoral process.Otherwise, the large number of youthand educated people who came out tovote this time will lose all faith in itand it will be a big loss to thedemocratic process in the country.

FARIDA KAMRANISLAMABAD

Chaudhry Nisar goes downThe people's wrath continues to bringdown the heavy weights and unseatthem from their strong holds. It is theperformance based results. this is thebest revenge that democracy can visitupon the corrupt and arrogantindividuals.This means that results were

engineered by the invisible hand,

because earlier he was declaredsuccessful from this constituency. Butin the recount he has lost the electionand the seat. It is a great setback to hisparty and family.Obviously in politics even defeat can

bring luck to the vanquished. They justhave some ways to survive in thepolitical field. They do not die easilyjust like the Shakespearean charactersbefore delivering a long speech andfarewell to arms.The days of political pharaohs are

gone and over. Now it is the newbeginning with a clean slate. Let us nottarnish the image of people’srepresentatives and keep them honestand away from the evil temptation ofcorruption and wrongdoings. Let thejustice be done to the people.

JAVAID BASHIRLAHORE

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

Like other developing countries especially where democratictraditions have not taken root, the experience of elections in Pakistanhas not been very pleasant. Whether elections were held undermilitary dictators or under democratic dispensations, elections wereoften rigged. This time round, the Election Commission of Pakistan(ECP) had all the opportunities for showing a sterling performance,but together with the caretaker government it has left the citizenrylargely unimpressed, dazed and dissatisfied. The ECP as well as thecaretaker government had vowed to ensure that the defaulters, thecorrupt and tax evaders would have no chance to participate in theelections, as strict scrutiny would be carried out to screen them.Unfortunately, the Election Commission of Pakistan failed toimplement articles 62 and 63, which they had promised to do; anddefaulters of all sorts escaped the net. In case of fake degree holders,only 11 ex-MPs were disqualified out of more than 100 fake degreeholders. They were let off the hook easily and remained very much inthe race to the astonishment of the people.With its massive participation in the face of threats of bloodshed on

the polling day by the militants, the electorate remained undauntedand came out in droves to cast their votes. But professionalpoliticians, who invest in elections to get reelected to save the illegalwealth they have amassed, are experienced and are well-versed in allthe tricks to clinch a win. And they have won in large numbers toreturn to the legislatures and the governments. But voters in manyconstituencies are agitating against the rigging and foul play. Ofcourse, their grouses are genuine because they are asking whathappened to the votes they’d cast to change the status quo. Thecandidates have chosen to seek redress to their complaints and theyare knocking at the doors of the election authority, and if they are notsatisfied they have the right to approach the judiciary, which isindependent. Interestingly, the winners in one part of the country areclamouring of poll rigging in the other where they lost.During the last five years, the people have suffered due to rampant

corruption unparalleled in the history of Pakistan. For a majority ofthe people, it has become difficult to keep their body and soultogether. The endless dark night of the masses’ neglect should indeedcome to an end and the era of public welfare must dawn on them.They have rejected the PPP because it failed to deliver on all counts.People were not amused by the 18th, 19th and 20th amendments tothe Constitution, as those were in fact power-sharing formulaebetween the PPP and the PML-N basically. If they have voted for thePML-N, it is not because that they have faith in its leadership, butbecause they were viewed as a workable option. Anyhow, it has to beconceded that wrongs did occur in the polling process, and inabundance. The election commission should hence attend to thepolling complaints and provide relief wherever it is due quickly, aspeople want that the government should focus on solving theirproblems and give them immediate relief.

Rigging and the ECP

As we know, Candidate Obama in ’08pledged to close Guantanamo; PresidentObama, now in his Second Term, as we alsoknow, lied so egregiously, on a matter ofextreme importance to the every meaningof the rule of law (because puking onMagna Charta and centuries ofjurisprudential wisdom and morality bysanctioning and adopting the practice ofindefinite detention - and all that follows,from denial of habeas corpus to affordingthe accused the right of counsel), thatanything he says must be viewed withskepticism, if not worse.We have lived through some pretty

horrible presidencies as measured by thestandards of democratic government,liberal as well as conservative, whichprovides irrefutable proof of bipartisaninjustice in American life, but Obama issomething special, a summation of theworst of each, primarily because he hasoperated on such a fundamental level -from abrogation of civil liberties to globalparamilitary operations - that so far hasslid under the radar screen, largely throughthe silence of liberals and progressives.Republican obstructionism is welcome,

because it allows him to pursue, throughseemingly standing still, the reactionaryalternatives to all policy issues (such ashealth care, social safety net reductions,favorable tax structures for the verywealthy, oil drilling as per usual, etc.) underthe pretext that nothing can be done.

Welcome, too, because the resultingparalysis in government ideally preventsgenuine social welfare measures anddemocratisation of class, income, andpower in America.There are no late or early, partial or full,

affronts to democracy under his leadership,but rather the seamless web of continuity, aunified policy-context of Reaction, which,gaining personal confidence, especially bymeans of working closely with and gainingthe soldierly regard and respect of, thewhole national-security establishment(particularly the intelligence and SpecialOps communities), Obama is actuallygrowing steadily worse, more aggressive,more arrogant, more hubristic, with no endin sight.This sustained course, elements of which

could be seen from the moment of takingoffice, as in faking health reform (to thedelight of health insurers and Big Pharma),installing weak cabinet agency heads,compliant with and often championing theinterests of those ostensibly to be regulated(Geithner and Salazar, Treasury andInterior, to say the obvious) and, ofmoment here, a combination of DOJ-NSCleadership, Holder and Brennan, useful inneutralising the law itself in ensuring themilitarisation, done with impunity, of

public policy at large, the armed dronetransgressive of all legal restraints, theperfect symbol of prevailing despoticpractices.Whether Guantanamo, covert operations,

assassination, wiretaps, surveillance, nonestands alone, as the US embarks on a phaseof counterrevolution made more urgent, andconducted more deftly - the liberalisation ofattempted hegemonic retention - thanperhaps ever before, because of the changingnature of the world system.America is no longer the center of the

universe, and the more it tries to be suchthe greater its ultimate isolation andretrogression via the political-ideological-structural process of blowback. Obama issitting on a powder keg of America’s ownmaking. Willful blindness to the socialmisery and destruction caused others onlyhastens the decline in international powerand stature.For now, the eyes of the world have

focused on Guantanamo and drones asintegrated aspects of and integral to the USframework of policy and power, whileAmericans persist in viewing them asdiscrete and of secondary importance (forsome, of course, rather, both as being wiselypragmatic and highly satisfying, testifyingto the nation’s courage and superiority).

Increasingly, however, not only thevictims of US policy, but major nationsclassified as “friends and allies”, are havingsobering thoughts, on moral grounds andfor fear of the precedents now created forrendering the world order a playground ofdestructive impulses.Enter Harold Koh, Yale Law and former

State Department councillor, whom theNew York Times (May 8) reported nowcriticises the Obama Administration for thedrone-warfare program, which at State hehad favored - and even to this day (hardlyearning the Times’s encomiums) finds faultnot with the program, includingassassination, but with the lack of publicityand candor concerning its legal (?)rationale. Thus spake the modern liberal -substance is irrelevant, just gussy up theappearance.Here follows my Times Comment (May

9): ‘Harold Koh in his Oxford speechcannot undo the harm he has previouslydone by giving his name and reputation insupport of the drone program. I should liketo see F. Scott Fitzgerald’s statementinscribed on his Yale School office door:There are no second chances. This isparticularly true here, an equivocation,straddle, call it what one likes, whichmerely continues the practice of drones

AND indefinite detention, the torture anddenial of habeas corpus rights to detainees,that is Guantanamo, both inseparable -apermanent blight on America’s civil-liberties record’.Koh wants clarification, not abolition, so

that illegal practices can be dressed up aslegitimate. Rather than outrightcondemnation of the Obamaadministration (which necessarily followsfrom the contempt it demonstrates for therule of law), he wants to sprinkle flowers onthe graves of the victims. Not good enough,by the standards of moral decency and firstprinciples of jurisprudence. A RobertsCourt may look on indulgently, but not, Ithink, the Warren Court and, in particular,Mr Justice Brennan.Guantanamo and drones are the forward

edge to America’s slide intoauthoritarianism under Obama (I try tospeak in moderation and will avoid the f-word - fascism - for the present), because ofthe amoral barbarism which has broughtthem into existence, and because theAmerican people sit passively by, if not inan attitude of complicity and/orcondonation, at their very existence andcontinuation.

(COUNTERPUNCH)

Liberal apologetics for Obama’s criminality

The video on Youtube of the man eating another man's heart is notcontributing to Islamophobia. The act is so extreme we are not able to encode it.It seems even the hardcore Islamophobes are letting this one rest

NORMAN POLLACK Guantanamo and drones are the forward edge to America’s slide into authoritarianism under Obama becauseof the amoral barbarism which has brought them into existence, and because the American people sit passivelyby, if not in an attitude of complicity

GERALD VAN WILGEN

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

WWAASSHHIINNGGTTOONN:: The US Congress isrethinking the broad authority it gavepresidents to wage a war on terror afterthe September 11, 2001, terroristattacks in light of how PresidentBarack Obama has used the power totarget suspected terrorists with lethaldrone strikes.Senior Defence Department oOcials

insisted that the law should remainunchanged as the nation remains inarmed conflict with al-Qaeda and itsaOliates. But Republicans andDemocrats fear that they have giventhe president unrestricted power to usemilitary force worldwide."This authority ... has grown way out

of proportion and is no longerapplicable to the conditions thatprevailed, that motivated the USCongress to pass the authorization forthe use of military force that we did in2001," Senator John McCain, anopposition Republican, said during a

Senate hearing. He told PentagonoOcials that "basically you've got carteblanche as to what you are doingthroughout the world."When McCain asked whether the law

gives the administration the authorityto use lethal force against al-Qaedaassociates if they are identified in Mali,Libya and Syria, the Pentagon's actinggeneral counsel, Robert Taylor, said theUS has the authority.Michael Sheehan, assistant secretary

of defence for special operations andlow-intensity conflict, told the SenateArmed Services Committee that for thewar against al-Qaeda, the Taliban andother terrorist groups, the 2001Authorization for the Use of MilitaryForce serves its purpose. "Ultimately(al-Qaeda) will end up on the ash heapof history, as with other groups ... butthat day, unfortunately, is a long wayoP," Sheehan said.Congress enacted the law days after

the attacks on the World Trade Centerand Pentagon. It gave PresidentGeorge W Bush the authority to launchthe invasion of Afghanistan and targetal-Qaeda, saying the commander-in-chief has the authority to attacknations, organisations or persons hedetermines planned, authorized,committed or aided the terroristattacks that occurred on September 11,2001, or harbored such organizationsor persons, in order to prevent anyfuture acts of international terrorismagainst the US by such nations,organizations or persons.Emerging threats beyond the

borders of Afghanistan, and thepresident's use of unmanned dronestrikes, have raised questions aboutthe relevance of a law nearly 12 yearslater. Dick Durbin, the No 2Democrat in the Senate, summed upthe frustration of many in Congresswho backed the law in 2001, but now

wonder whether they went too far. "Idon't believe many, if any, of usbelieved when we voted for that – andI did vote for it – that we were votingfor the longest war in the history ofthe US and putting a stamp ofapproval on a war policy againstterrorism that, 10 years-plus later,we're still using," Durbin said.The issue came to the forefront

earlier this year as Senator Rand Paul,a Republican and possible contenderfor president in 2016, made a nearly 13hour speech against John Brennan'snomination for CIA director over thepresident's authority to use drones inthe US. The Senate eventuallyconfirmed Brennan. The president haspromised to explain his drone policy,but members of Congress argue that hehas been less than forthcoming aboutthe secret program, the existence ofwhich the government only publiclyacknowledged last year.

The administration has neverpublicly described the ePectiveness ofthe programme. However,independent groups, relying on newsreports and other information, havecompiled estimates on the attacks. TheNew America Foundation, aWashington-based think tank,estimates the US has launched 420strikes in Pakistan and Yemen – thetwo countries where the strikes arebelieved to occur most frequently –since 2004. Between 2,424 and 3,967people are believed to have been killedby US drones, the majority in Pakistan.Three Americans were killed in

strikes in Yemen in 2011. The target ofthe first strike was US-born al-Qaedaleader Anwar al-Awlaki. AmericanSamir Khan, an al-Qaedapropagandist, was killed in the sameattack, and al-Awlaki's son,Abdulrahman, was killed the followingmonth. The attack has raised questions

about the president's power to orderthe killing of US citizens overseas.Senator Joe Donnelly, a Democrat,

questioned the Pentagon oOcials abouthow the United States would treat theextremist group Jabhat al-Nusra, oneof the most powerful and ePective rebelgroups in Syria battling the regime ofPresident Bashar Assad. The group,which the United States has designateda terrorist organization, has pledged itsallegiance to al-Qaeda.Sheehan said the threshold would be

an organized force aOliated with al-Qaeda that has threated the US. Thetestimony prompted incredulity fromSenator Angus King, an independent."I've only been here five months, butthis is the most astounding and mostastoundingly disturbing hearing thatI've been to since I've been here," Kingtold the witnesses. "You guys haveessentially rewritten the Constitutionhere today." �AGENCIES

Twelve years after Twin Towers fell

US Congress rethinks 9/11 law on military force� Lawmakers question whether law granting president broad powers to target terror still appropriate

SSOOCCHHII,, RRuussssiiaa:: A proposedinternational conference to try to stopSyria's civil war should be held as soonas possible, UN Secretary General BanKi-moon said on Friday, but no datehas yet been agreed for a meeting thatappears to face growing obstacles.Ban spoke as UN oOcials announced

that the number of refugees fleeing thefighting in Syria, a conflict that hasclaimed the lives of 80,000 people overthe past two years, had exceeded 1.5million as conditions there deterioraterapidly. Western leaders have beencautious about the prospects of thetalks achieving any breakthrough, andRussia's desire that Iran should attendcould complicate matters because ofpotential opposition from the West.The main Syrian opposition,

expected to decide its stance next week,has previously demanded PresidentBashar al-Assad's exit before any talks.A rising death toll, new reports ofatrocities by both sides, suspicion thatchemical arms may have been used andthe absence of prospects for a militarysolution have all pushed Washingtonand Moscow to agree to convene theconference."We should not lose the momentum,"

Ban said of the proposal to bring theSyrian government and opposition

representatives to the conference table."There is a high expectation that thismeeting should be held as soon aspossible," he said after talks withRussian Foreign Minister SergeiLavrov. "The sooner the better," Lavrovtold a joint news conference with Ban.Iran is a US foe and the main

regional ally of Assad's government,which has also received support fromRussia. "Moscow proceeds from theposition that all the neighbouringcountries, Iran and Saudi Arabia, andthe participants of the first Genevaconference, must be invited," Lavrovsaid, referring to an internationalmeeting on Syria held last June.Last year's Geneva talks produced an

agreement that a transitionalgovernment should be created in Syria,but the US and Russia disagreed overwhether that meant Assad must leavepower. Moscow says his exit must notbe a precondition for a politicalsolution, but most Syrian oppositionfigures have ruled out talks unlessAssad and his inner circle are excludedfrom any future transitionalgovernment.Lavrov said opposition participation

would be crucial. "The main thing nowis to understand who, from the Syriansides, is ready to take part in this

conference - without that, nothing willhappen at all," he said. "And the secondtask is to determine the circle ofparticipants from other countries inaddition to Syria." The US said that itwas not ruling anyone in or out of theconference, while France voicedopposition to Iranian participation.

Pressure has grown on Westerncountries to act after reports thatAssad's forces used chemical weapons,which US President Barack Obamaand other Western leaders havedescribed as a red line. The WhiteHouse says it believes Syrian forcesprobably used poison gas but theevidence is not certain. Assad and therebels both have accused each other ofusing chemical weapons in Aleppo inMarch and in Homs in December.Syria is not a party to international

treaties banning poison gas but says itwould never use it in an internalconflict. The rebels say they have noaccess to it. A team of UN-ledchemical weapons experts has beenready for more than a month toinvestigate the rival allegations, buthas been held up by diplomaticwrangling and safety concerns. Banurged Syria on Friday to give theexperts unfettered access. �AGENCIES

Hold Syrian peace talkssoon, says UN chief

BBAASSRRAA:: FFaammiillyy mmeemmbbeerrss ooff MMoohhaammmmeedd AAbboouudd,, cchhaanntt ssllooggaannss aaggaaiinnsstt tthhee FFrreeee SSyyrriiaann AArrmmyy rreebbeell ggrroouupp aanndd tthhee aall--QQaaiiddaa--aa,,lliiaatteedd JJaabbhhaatt aall--NNuussrraadduurriinngg hhiiss ffuunneerraall iinn IIrraaqq''ss sseeccoonndd--llaarrggeesstt cciittyy,, 555500 kkiilloommeettrreess ssoouutthheeaasstt ooff BBaagghhddaadd,, IIrraaqq.. HHuunnddrreeddss ooff IIrraaqqiiss hhaavvee aatttteennddeedd tthhee ffuunneerraall ooff ttwwoofifigghhtteerrss kkiilllleedd iinn SSyyrriiaa.. RReellaattiivveess ooff AAbboouudd ssaayy hhee wwaass kkiilllleedd bbyy aa ssnniippeerr fifirree nneeaarr tthhee sshhrriinnee oouuttssiiddee tthhee ccaappiittaall ooff DDaammaassccuuss fifivvee ddaayyss aaggoo.. �AGENCIES

TTEEHHRRAANN:: Iran’s next president will not bea woman. No surprise there, but a seniorreligious figure Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdimade it oOcial in comments to a group ofclerics and theology students.The ayatollah shot down the argument

that Iran’s constitution is sufficientlyvague on the point to open the door to afemale president of the Islamic Republic.“Women cannot be president,” theayatollah declared. More than 30 womenare among the almost 700 Iranians whohave signed up as potential presidentialcandidates in June 14 balloting.But the actual number of candidates will

be reduced significantly through a strictvetting process, based on criteria such asloyalty to the Islamic Republic, religiousstanding and experience. Yazdi, a clericfrom the holy city of Qom, sits on thepowerful Guardian Council, a panel of 12clerics and jurists that vets office-seekers.He is one of six top clergymen on the

panel appointed by Iran’s supreme leaderAyatollah Ali Khamenei. Parliament

names the other six based on nominationsfrom the judiciary branch. The council isexpected to narrow the field to about 10presidential candidates (all men) byTuesday. That will leave about three weeksfor oOcial campaigning.Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women

activists have endeavored to enshrine genderequality in Iran’s constitution, with mixedresults. Women do hold other elected postsin Iran and have more rights than in someother Islamic nations, notably Saudi Arabia,where women have campaigned for the rightto vote and to drive. Iranian women alsorepresent more than 60% of the universitypopulation.In a 2012 report, the World Economic

Forum ranked Iran 127th out of 135nations graded according to their successat reducing gender disparities. Toppingthe list were Iceland, Finland, Norwayand Sweden. Iran was listed above Mali,Morocco, Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia, Syria,Chad, Pakistan and, at number 135,Yemen. �AGENCIES

Women can’t be presidentin Iran, says cleric

BBEEIIJJIINNGG:: During his firstinternational trip as a governmenthead, Chinese Prime Minister LiKeqiang will pay oOcial visits to India,Pakistan, Switzerland and Germanyfrom May 19 to 27. "Li's visit is animportant diplomatic activity of thenew Chinese government towardsneighbouring countries and Europe,”Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao said ata press briefing. Starting with Indiaand Pakistan, the arrangement of Li'strip shows the great importance thenew government has attached torelations with the two closeneighbours, Song said.With Asia's status rising on the global

stage, it is important for China andIndia to increase political mutual trust,deepen pragmatic cooperation andenhance coordination in internationaland regional aPairs, said the viceminister. During his visit to India, Liwill meet with Indian President PranabMukherjee and hold talks with Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh. He willalso deliver a keynote speech on China-India relations and attend theChina-India Business CooperationSummit.Vice Commerce Minister Jiang

Yaoping said the two sides wereplanning to sign a number ofdocuments on economic and tradecooperation. A trade and investmentpromotion group will also visit Indiaduring the same period, said Jiang."China hopes the upcoming visit willcement the bilateral strategiccooperative partnership and beef upcooperation in mutual investment,trade and infrastructure," said Song.According to statistics from the

Ministry of Commerce, the bilateraltrade volume reached 66.5 billion USdollars in 2012. "At such a growth rate,the two sides are expected to hit thedesignated target of 100 billion USdollars on schedule," Jiang said,referring to the bilateral trade volume

goal for 2015. Li's visit to Pakistan willcome just as Pakistan has recentlyconcluded its general election, which isa sign of the high level of mutual trustand the special friendship between thetwo countries, said Song. He said Chinahopes the upcoming visit would sendpositive signals to the people of bothcountries and the internationalcommunity that China values itsrelations with Pakistan.During his visit to Pakistan, Li will

meet President Asif Ali Zardari aswell as leaders from the country'sparliament, political parties andmilitary, including Nawaz Sharif,president of the Pakistan MuslimLeague-N. During Li's visit to Pakistan, the

two sides are scheduled to sign threeintergovernmental deals on economicand trade cooperation, and China's trade and investmentpromotion group will also visit thecountry. �AGENCIES

Li’s first foreign trip highlightsmulti-faceted diplomacy

GGAAZZAA:: Egyptian policeblocked the crossing into theGaza Strip on Friday inprotest against thekidnapping of seven of theircolleagues by Islamistgunmen, witnesses said.OOcers strung barbed wire

across the Rafah border postand chained up the gates,leaving hundreds ofPalestinians stranded on bothsides of the fence, locals toldReuters. Gunmen abductedthe seven police and soldierson a road between the Sinaitowns of el-Arish and Rafahon Thursday, demanding therelease of imprisonedmilitants in exchange for themen.Three of those abducted

have worked at the crossing,locals said. Hardline groupsbased in North Sinai haveexploited the collapse of stateauthority after the 2011uprising that toppled formerPresident Hosni Mubarak tolaunch attacks across theborder into Israel and onEgyptian targets. Theprotesting police called onEgypt's President MohamedMursi to help free theircolleagues. They said theywould not open the crossinguntil the men were released,state news agency MENAreported. �AGENCIES

ProtestingEgyptianpolice blockGaza crossing

BBAAGGHHDDAADD:: At least 35 people werekilled and 45 others injured in twoblasts, which hit almostsimultaneously on Friday in Baquba,capital of eastern Iraq's Diyalaprovince, after the Friday prayer, anoOcial said.The two roadside bombs exploded

near the Saroya mosque in Baquba, 65km northeast of Iraq's capital ofBaghdad, and hit the Sunni worshipersas they were leaving the mosque afterprayer, the city's mayor AbdullahHayali told Xinhua.Initial reports said 30 were killed and

some 40 were wounded. A day ago, atleast 12 people were killed and 25others injured as a suicide bomberblew himself up at a Shiite mosque innorthern Iraq's Kirkuk. Violence is still common in Iraq

despite the dramatic decrease since itspeak in 2006 and 2007 when thecountry was engulfed in sectariankillings. �AGENCIES

CCAAIIRROO:: Hundreds of protestersflocked Friday to central TahrirSquare in Egyptian capital of Cairo tojoin demonstrations condemning therule of President Mohamed Morsiand ruling Muslim Brotherhoodgroup. The demonstrations dubbed asback to square were called by somepolitical movements, including April 6movement and Revolutionary YouthCoalition as well as some liberal partieslike Dostour Party. "Down MuslimBrotherhood," chanted the protesters."We won't leave the state for the

Muslim Brotherhood," the protestersshouted. The recent "Tamarrud"(Arabic for "rebel") campaign that aimsto put pressure on Morsi to call for anearly presidential election also joinedthe demonstrations to collect anti-Morsi signatures from the protesters.In anticipation of any clashes, intensivesecurity measures have been taken inthe vicinity of the al-EtahdeyaPresidential palace. �AGENCIES

AANNKKAARRAA:: Turkish police havedetained a prime suspect involving inpurchasing two vehicles that wereblown up last week in Reyhanli townof southern Hatay province near theborder with Syria, Turkish Today'sZaman reported Friday."We captured last night one of the

main perpetrators involving in theincident," Celalettin Lekesiz, thegovernor of Hatay told reporters,adding that the two vehicles used in thebombings were registered to thedetainee. The suspect was caught whilehe was trying to cross into Syria, hesaid, noting there are still another twofugitive.So far, the Turkish police have

detained 16 people in relation to thebombings, who are all Turkishnationals, the governor said.Meanwhile, the police chief of Reyhanlihas been sacked Friday, followingdebates over the possible neglect oflocal police authority. �AGENCIES

35 killed, 45injured in blastsin eastern Iraq

Hundreds ofEgyptians rallyagainst Morsi

Turkey detainsmajor suspectover bombing

IISSTTAANNBBUULL:: Saeed Jalili ishimself a candidate in thenext month’s Iranianpresidential election but forthe moment, he is busyleading Iran’s negotiationson its nuclear dispute. Hehas been meeting EUforeign policy headCatherine Ashton in Istanbul. “As an active member of thenon-proliferation treaty weare ready to cooperate withthe IAEA, as always, tokeep the closest eye on Iran’s nuclear activities,” he said in aninterview. �AGENCIES

Nuclear issuesunaffected byIran polling

LHC rejects plea forrecounting in NA-57LLAAHHOORREE:: Lahore High Court’sRawalpindi bench on Friday turneddown a plea of recounting the votes inNA-57‚ Attock. According to mediareports, the court heard both partiestoday and decided that recountingcould not be held until and unless solidcomplaint against rigging is presented.Earlier‚ the election commission hadordered recounting of votes in theconstituency on the application ofMalik Amin Aslam who lost elections inthe constituency. �ONLINE

SC allows Ephedrine caseaccused to hire lawyersIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The Supreme Courtwhile allowing the accused persons tohire the services of counsels hasadjourned the hearing of Ephedrinecase for two weeks. A 3-member benchof SC headed by Justice Nasirul Mulktook up the Ephedrine case for hearingon Friday. The concerned ANF oPcers,senior oPcers of health departmentand counsels for the accused appearedin the court. The court was told thatcertain accused persons have to hire theservices of counsels, therefore, thehearing of the case be put oQ. �ONLINE

Three permanent judges of SHC sworn inKKAARRAACCHHII:: Three Judges of SindhHigh Court Mr. Justice Abdul RasoolMemon‚ Mr. Justice NaimatullahPhulpoto and Mr. Justice SadiqHussain Bhatti‚ were sworn-in aspermanent judges at a ceremony inKarachi on Friday. According to MediaReports, the Chief Justice of the SindhHigh Court‚ Mr. Justice Mushir Alam‚administered the oath. �ONLINE

Measles claims anothervictim in LahoreLLAAHHOORREE:: Another girl died of measlesin Punjab on Friday, increasing theoverall death toll in the province to 87.Despite launching an anti-measlescampaign, the Punjab HealthDepartment failed to eradicate thedisease. Fatima, one and a half-year oldgirl, succumbed to the disease at ahospital today. The Lahore High Courtsummoned medical superintendents ofthree hospitals in Lahore over theirfailure to prevent measles-relateddeaths. A petitioner argued that ant-measles vaccine was fake. �ONLINE

Khayaban-e-Sir Syedplunges into darknessRRAAWWAALLPPIINNDDII:: The streetlightsinstalled in Khayaban-e-Sir Syed areahave become dysfunctional plungingseveral adjoining areas into darknessand creating inconvenience for theresidents. The residents complainedthat the out of order streetlights posesproblem for them while the incidents ofstreet crimes have also increased intheir areas. Residents complained thatwith advent of evening the whole areasinks into darkness and causesinconvenience for transporters andresidents. The residents havedemanded of the TMA to repair the outof order streetlights on priority. �ONLINE

Give Karachi to one agency alone, says SHCKKAARRAACCHHII:: Sindh High Court ChiefJustice Mushir Alam on Fridayremarked that the law and orderresponsibility be assigned to only oneinstitution in Karachi. “Responsibilityof maintaining law and ordersituation in Karachi should be givento only one institution. Ifresponsibility of law and order isassigned to more than one institution,it means no one is responsible,” hesaid this while talking to media menhere Friday. He hoped that the newgovernment would assign theresponsibility of maintaining law andorder situation to only one institution.He told that action is being takenagainst corruption in the sub-ordinatecourts and many judicial officers havebeen removed and others were issuedshowcause notices on corruptioncharges. �ONLINE

LLAAHHOORREE:: WWoommeenn aa//lliiaatteedd wwiitthh DDHHAA RReessiiddeennttss AAssssoocciiaattiioonn ddeemmoonnssttrraattiinngg aaggaaiinnsstt PPTTII wwoorrkkeerrss.. �ONLINE

FAUZEE KHAN MOHMAND

GGHHAALLAANNAAII:: Most of the boys and girlsstudents have compelled to leave the schoolsdue to the lack of primary facilities inHazara area of the Haleemzai of Mohmand. Hazara is a far flung and backward area

of tehsil Haleemzai with low literacy ratesituated on the last border of Utmanziaarea of Pandiali. Rahim Khan, a residentof the area told that they have set up aMadrassah in the tent for their children inthe area on self behalf and one of teachersteaching the religious knowledge there.He said that most of the students were

facing problems because they covered 4kilometers distance to go to school inHashim Kore in Pandiali. There was nosingle primary school for girls as well asboys due to which the girl education in thearea is at zero level. Residents of the areaalso complaints that there is no any healthfacility and even a patient have to rush toPeshawar. They also said that there was noproper road to the area due to which thepeople cut oQ from other areas of theagency. They said that they had requested several

times to the administration as well aseducation department but in vain. “Neithergovernment nor the parliamentariansresolve basic problems like school, healthand others problems “said Rahim Khan.When contacted, education oPcer ofMohmand agency Mohammad khan saidthat the ADP is working on some primaryschools to continue basic education whilewe shall see the feasibility of the area for aprimary school.

Lack of facilitiescompels studentsto leave schools

LLAAHHOORREE:: All Pakistan Anjuman-e-TajiranCentral General Secretary Naeem Mir onFriday said the business community wantedShahbaz Sharif to become the country’s newenergy minister.“We have full faith in skills and selflessness

of the former chief minister [of Punjab] whocan resolve the power crisis engineered by theformer government,” he said. Talking to Dr Murtaza Mughal, President of

the Pakistan Economy Watch, Naeem Mir saidthat Pakistan braved massive mismanagementand corruption for years which triggeredinflation, unemployment and economic

meltdown.The former governments wasted billions of

rupees of taxpayers’ money only to furtherdeteriorate ailing power sector and publicsector enterprises. Mir demanded impositionof power emergency and giving control ofpower distribution companies to provinces.He said that tax amnesty schemes are

counterproductive as budget deficit can onlybe bridged if big evaders are brought to book.Government should initiate legislation toforfeit assets of tax evaders and to bring stolenfunds back from the Swiss banks, hedemanded.

At the occasion, Dr Murtaza Mughal saidthat bilateral trade with India stands at $ 2billion which can be jacked up to $ 10 billionthrough confidence building measures. Hesaid that all the bleeding PSEs should beprivatised without any delay and that smallchambers may attract some 80 million tradersto get NTNs.Resolution to the many problems faced by

Islamic countries lies in the increased bilateraltrade, he said. Dr Mughal said that countryneeds widely credited 61-years-old politicianand he should not go for a record 4th term aschief minister. �ONLINE

Traders want Shahbaz as energy minister

SHANEL KHALIQ

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Almost 78 per cent ofthe population does not have access tohealth coverage, as Pakistan spendsabout 3.4 per cent of its GDP on healthannually.Caretaker Health Minister Dr Sania

Nishtar, founder and president of theHeartfile, a non-profit healththinktank, revealed these alarmingstatistics at the launch of a major newseries on health transitions in Pakistan,by The Lancet, one of the leading

medical journals of the world. Thisseries aims to analyse country’s pastand present performance in health,and calling for a unified vision foruniversal and equitable health accessacross the nation.While briefing the gathering about

the research carried out by their team,she said that the federal structure of thecountry was crucial in determining andanalysing the scenario of healthcare.She also said that the success of thisseries would depend upon howeQectively transparency was engrained

in the system following the recentelection. She said that it was imperativefor accountability to beinstitutionalised if the health sectorwants to progress.Comparing Pakistan to 12 culturally,

geographically, or demographicallysimilar countries, the authors of thepaper identify health financing as oneof the key reasons why Pakistan has notkept pace with its peers. Between 1990and 2010, total health expenditure perperson (including public and privateexpenditure) in Pakistan increased less

than the average for all 12 countriesincluded in the analysis.Speaking on the occasion, The

Lancet Editor Dr Richard Horton saidthat all has not been lost with regardsto the health sector. He said that theaverage life expectancy for males andfemales has risen over the past fewdecades, rising from 52 years in 1970 to64 in 2010. He linked this lifeexpectancy to improved growth as welland said that research has shown thatfor every one year increase in lifeexpectancy a 4% growth was caused in

GDP. One of the leading authors of theteam, Professor Zulfiqar Bhuttahighlighted the low availability of thehealth personnel in the far-flungdistricts. He also emphasised key issuessuch as child and maternal mortality.“The cycle of unfettered populationgrowth and poor health of mothers andtheir children has impeded Pakistan’sprogress in health and development inrecent decades, and as a result, we nowlag behind many similar countries inthe region, even those with fewerresources,” he said.

The series calls for leaders to finallyrecognise health as a political priority,as Pakistan faces a turning point inhealthcare. According to Prof Bhutta,in a rapidly changing environment,rarely have the Pakistani people hadthe luxury to take stock and generatethe political and public support toaddress the closely intertwined issuesof health, human security, anddevelopment. “We now have theopportunity to undertake an analysis ofthe past and present, and oQer optionsfor the future,” he said.

World class medical journal launches new series on health� The Lancet analyses healthcare, calls for a unified vision for equitable health access � Dr Horton points out towards increase in average life expectancy

STAFF REPORTER

RRAAWWAALLPPIINNDDII:: The Rawalpindi Arts Council organised a three-daywood art workshop for its students. Saleem Mughal, a renowned woodartist, gave training to students who also got certificates from the RACResident Director Waqar Ahmed at the completion of their workshop.Various wood art pieces prepared by Saleem Mughal were also

displayed at the art council. The art pieces including wood model ofBadshahi Mosque, calligraphy pieces and portraits of renowned leadersremained focus of the visitors. The students made small wood modelsduring training. They learnt the use of tools to carve wood models. Speaking at the

certificates distribution ceremony, Waqar Ahmed said the councilorganised such workshops for its students to introduce various formsof art. He said the talented students of council had taken keen interestin the workshop and they have even made small wood models andcalligraphy pieces. He said such workshops would also be organised in the future.

Saleem Mughal said the students could earn a respectable living aftergetting wood art training because wood models were popular inmarket. He thanked the Rawalpindi Arts Council for organising the workshop.

QQUUEETTTTAA:: CChhaaiirrmmaann ooff HHaazzaarraa DDeemmooccrraattiicc PPaarrttyy,, AAbbdduull KKhhaalliiqquuee HHaazzaarraa sshhoowwiinnggggeenneerraall eelleeccttiioonn bbaalllloott ppaappeerr ooff PPBB--22 wwhhiicchh ffoouunndd ffrroomm ggaarrbbaaggee dduummpp iinn GGuulliissttaannTToowwnn,, dduurriinngg aa ddeemmoonnssttrraattiioonn aaggaaiinnsstt rriiggggiinngg iinn eelleeccttiioonnss oonn FFrriiddaayy.. �ONLINE

RAC organises woodworkshop for students

MUZAMMIL HUSSAIN SYED

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The ElectionCommission said on Friday that anysuccessful candidate, including thecandidates for seats reserved for womenand non-Muslims, shall not be notifiedin the oPcial gazette, unless he/shedeposits the returns of election expensesas required under the law.

The ECP has directed all thesuccessful candidates for the generalelections to file their returns latest byMay 20, 2013 with the returning oPcersconcerned. The candidates who shall beelected against reserved seats for womenand minorities shall also file theirreturns of the election expenses with thereturning oPcers concerned.The ECP has also directed all the

independent candidates to submit anaPdavit stating that each one of them isjoining a particular political partyvoluntarily and without any coercion.The aPdavit shall be duly sworn beforethe oath commissioner and shall bedeposited with the provincial electioncommissioner concerned.

MPs’ notificationslinked to expensedeclaration

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

ZEESHAN JAVAID

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Senate’s Standing Committee onDefence and Defence Production on Fridaydecided to properly investigate the sale of landby the Karachi Port Trust and the Port QasimAuthority on Defence Housing Authority on Rs2.50 and Rs 2 per square meter respectively.The committee also apprehended that there

are some kick backs in the sale of land becausethe sale and purchase of the land transactionwas held in 2007. Senator Farhatullah Babersaid during that year, there was no land acrossthe country on such a lowest rate.Such a transaction in lowest rate create doubt

that both the government departments havemade some alleged agreement for giving plotsto some oPcials. The senator suggested that theboth the departments KPT and PQA should beinvited and properly investigated the matter.

DHA administrator told the committee thatthe court already has taken action over thismatter. He said the land was sold to DHA byboth the departments on lease but not a singlepenny was deposited in national exchequer thatis why the court takes action. The committeewas told that the lease of 881 acres executedbetween DHA and KPT on Aug 2, 2007.All the leases were registered by the Sindh

government through their sub registrar and noclaim was initiated by the provincialgovernment. The committee chaired by SenatorMushahid Hussain Sayed said the matter wouldbe taking up in the next meeting. Thecommittee also briefed about the issue ofbuilding rights by the Cantonment BoardRawalpindi to owners of plots near old jail inthe light of court verdict and earlierdeliberations.The committee was told that objection was

raised on C-Block by security agencies in therespective areas. The land was sold to privatepeople for construction of houses in 1995 but themilitary objected in 1998. Senator FarhatullahBaber said that the court gave verdict to allowpeople to construct their houses but the orderwas not implemented. Director General (MI&C)General Tahir told the committee that 25 peoplewere still left for giving compensation by thePunjab government.He said the court has directed the Punjab

government to return people their money alongwith developmental charges. The committeewas also briefed over CSD shops, its setting upand operational procedures etc. CSD Chief MajGen (retired) Anwar Saeed said that it runs asprivate entity and could not get any subsidy likethe Utility Stores Corporation. He said that allits shops are open to all and welcomes allcustomers for all purchases.

Land sale by KPT, PQA inDHA to be investigated

LLAAHHOORREE:: The sit-in protest by thesupporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insafagainst the alleged riggings in NA 125, aLahore constituency, entered its sixthday on Friday. The PTI supportershaving camps in the city’s area ofDefence are not willing to go back homein defiance of the directives given bytheir party leaders who announced two-hour daily schedule for the protestdemonstration. �ONLINE

PTI’s Lahore sit-inenters 6th day

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

rapper Honey Singh booked for vulgar songsNEWDELHI:With the Punjab andHaryana High Court coming down heavilyon the lewd lyrics of songs sung by singer-rapper Honey Singh, the Punjab PoliceFriday booked him for singing vulgar songs in public. A case was registeredagainst the singer under provisions of Section 294 (singing, reciting or utteringany obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place) of the IndianPenal Code in Punjab's Nawanshahr town, some 80 km from here, a policeoPcial said. "We have registered a case against singer Honey Singh for his vulgarsongs following the high court directions," Superintendent of Police S.S. Bhangootold IANS over phone fromNawanshahr. The police oPcer was, however, evasivewhen asked as to why a case was not registered against the singer when acomplaint against him was filed by an NGO earlier this year. The Punjab andHaryana High Court had Tuesday directed the Punjab Police to book HoneySingh for singing songs based on sexual themes and innuendoes. -SHOWBIZ DESK

i don’t want fame anymore: Paris HiltonLONDON: Paris Hilton has claimed that she is not interested in fame any more andwants to focus on being a ‘tough business woman’ and establishing her own chain ofhotels. The 32-year-old star said that she has lost all interest in fame since an intrudertried to break into her Los Angeles home with a knife in August 2010, Contactmusicreported. She said that she is determined to follow the footsteps of her family and wantsto develop her own successful chain of hotels. Talking about the unfortunate incident,she told The Sun newspaper that it was a terrifying experience, something that she hadnever experienced before and that it shook the foundations of her world. The ‘House ofWax’ star said that she was certain that he would kill her if he got inside. “Seeingsomeone with such hate in their eyes-someone who wants to kill you makes you questionthings, and it made me wonder about the price of fame,” she said. -SHOWBIZ DESK

CMYK

MUMBAI: Actor JohnAbraham anddirector SanjayGuptawill be teaming upfor 'an epic revenge saga' that promises togive Bollywood its ownRambo, the iconicHollywood character. After the box-oPcesuccess of just-released Shootout atWadala, Gupta and John are keen tocome together again for a filmwhich willbe an epic revenge saga. It will be on thelines of Hollywood blockbusters like KillBill andDjangoUnchained, a statementsaid here today. Themakers promise togive this untitled venture a similar statusthat actor SunnyDeol's Ghayal enjoyed.It will see John doing some highadrenaline stunts. "The revenge saga ison the lines of a BollywoodRambo.When dabbling with the script thedirector could think of no one better thanJohn to essay the role of the protagonistsince he has the physique to carry oQ thecharacter and is synonymous withaction," the statement said. -SHOWBIZ DESK

MUMBAI: Aditi Rao Hydari, who gaveup her girl-next-door image for hersensual avatar inMurder 3 claims thatsuccess changed her life, but she willalways try to do diQerent things. In aconversation with TOI, the actressspeaks about her career, critical acclaimand her opinion onmale dominatedBollywood and the changing situationfor women in the industry. when askedabout how has life changed after thesuccess of Murder 3, Aditi said: 'I amhappy and it feels great. I think for anactor gets success it's a good feeling.There is always something more to thegood feeling, I don't have filmbackground so I should be thankful topeople for their support. -SHOWBIZ DESK

John Abraham to work as'Bollywood rambo'

LOS ANGELES: Gwyneth Paltrow, whorecently released her second cook book,'It's All Good', launched an oQer onGroupon.com, inviting 60 fans to spend2,000 dollars to attend her exclusivecooking class in New York, on Tuesday.The tickets of the "epic trip" to Paltrow'sVIP event sold out in less than 24 hours,Contactmusic reported. The 40-year-oldactress' package also included a round-trip airfare from anywhere in the U.S. orCanada to New York, airport transfers,two nights at a Hilton hotel, spatreatments and dinner at a upmarketFrench restaurant in the city. The adread: "You and a friend are invited to theprivate goop event, which begins at 6p.m. on Friday, June 14. You canmunchon appetizers and sip cocktails beforegoop editor-in-chief Gwyneth gives acooking demonstration. You'll leave witha signed cookbook." -SHOWBIZ DESK

Fans pay $2,000 to meetGwyneth Paltrow

CANNES: EmmaWatson woves her magic on the red carpet on Day2 of the 66th Cannes Film Festival looking stunning in amonochrome Chanel gown at the The Bling Ring premiere.

SHOWBIZ DESK

MUMBAI: Bollywood filmmakerMahesh Bhatt, who stood by SanjayDutt during his trying times, isconfident the actor will make afresh start after completing his jailterm. Sanjay surrendered at theTADA Court Thursday to serve hisremaining three-and-a-half yearjail term in the 1993Mumbai serialbomb blast case. The actor will bemoved to Pune's Yerwada jail."Sanjay has decided that he willface his jail sentence with dignity.He will come out with huge energyand activeness. He will again do hisbest and lead life with a new

beginning," Bhatt, whomade filmslike 'Naam' and 'Sadak' withSanjay, said here Thursday in aninterview. Mahesh Bhatt: Sanjaywill come out with huge energySanjay was sentenced to six years

jail in 2007, but had his sentencereduced by a year. The SupremeCourt in its March 21 decision, gavea final verdict on Sanjay's part in1993Mumbai bomb blasts.Initially, Sanjay was sentenced tosix years jail in 2007, but had hissentence reduced by a year. Theactor has already undergone one-and-half years of imprisonmentand now he has to complete theremaining jail term.

Bollywood is a maledominated industry: Aditi

SHOWBIZ DESK

Isbeing a person of colour acardinal sin in theWest, still?There is a moment in the film

when the protagonist looks at a TVscreen showing one of the mostdevastating moments of this century,and his instant reaction is horrormixed with, yes, stunned admiration.The response is involuntary. Whataudacity, he thinks, and the voiceover lets us into his thoughts. Theimage is that of the twin towersunder attack inManhattan, thoseplanes crashing, that leaping fire: thefilm takes us elsewhere after this, butthose of us who saw those sameimages on the screen in real time,have an indelible spot in our eyes,and how the world changed, post9/11. This mixed reaction and thevoicing of it is the central triumph ofMira Nair's The ReluctantFundamentalist, based on the novelof the same name byMohsin Hamid(the author shares screenplay credit,too). It comes from Changez Khan(Ahmed), a young Pakistani whorealizes his American dream is abubble, that he is not and never will

be an American despite his fancy IvyLeague degree and his earningcapacity of those coveted greenbacksvia his employment at one of themost prestigious firms onWallStreet. As far as America goes afterthe attacks of 9/11, and that's notvery far at all, the brown-skinned,possibly-bearded Changez is and willalways remain a suspicious person,who will always be asked to "stepaside, sir" at an immigration queue.As far as America is concerned,Changez will always be a potentialterrorist.The place that he reaches, instead,

as a 'reluctant fundamentalist,' iswhere the film falters, and adoptssome of the stiltedness of Hamid'sslim novel.The tacked-on staginess is Nair's,

and it is most evident in the movie'sbook-ends, if you like. The beginningand the end take place in Lahore,where Changez has engaged hisvisitor, the blue-eyed, straw-hairedhusky American Bobby (Schreiber)in a conversation that loops back andforth in time, over tea and oldfashioned Lahori courtesy laced withmenace. This is where the 'thriller'

part of the film is meant to beconcentrated, and this is where itgets flabby, focusing on a kidnap-and-rescue operation which endsbadly.Nair's film speaks to the

complicated times we live in, in theway it shows us an America whoseown responses went into a tailspinafter the Twin Towers came down:either you were with them in their'war against terror' or you wereagainst them. Changez's veryreluctant fundamentalist shows thatthere is a place in between that isgetting larger and larger, and thatboth victims and aggressors arepeople with their own sets of beliefs.The films that have come out post-9/11 have beenmany and various,but Changez's conflicted individualat the centre of the narrative feelsboth vital and important.The film could have done with

more finesse in the way it begins andends, but there are enough subtleshifts in the main act to keepmewith it. After MonsoonWedding andThe Namesake, The ReluctantFundamentalist is Nair's mostengaging work.

CANNES:More than $1 million worthof jewels due to be lent to movie starsat the Cannes film festival were stolenfrom a hotel room in the FrenchRiviera town, a police source said. Thejewels were in the safe of the roomrented by an employee of Chopard, aluxury jeweler, the source said oncondition of anonymity. The incidentat the hotel in central Cannes tookplace on the night of Thursday toFriday as the festival got under way,drawing thousands of movie stars, filmindustry executives and journalists tothe fabled resort. -SHOWBIZ DESK

Jewels for Cannesmovie starsstolen from hotel

Sanjay will come out with hugeenergy and activeness:Mahesh

SHOWBIZ DESK

GAZA: Filmmakers in Gaza have finishedmaking what is believed to be the firstPalestinian animated feature in 3D in a bid toshow a fresh perspective on life through achild's eyes. Called "The Scarecrow", the 40-minute production tells the story of anine-year-old orphan named Rima and thescarecrow she was given by her parents whodied in a car crash. One day, the scarecrowwho represents the guardian of Palestinianland is taken away by an Israeli soldier fromthe family's land near the border, and Rimasets oQ with her school friends on amissionto find it. It is a story which evokes some ofthe suQering of Palestinian refugees, saysdirector Khalil al-Mazen. "The world is used

to seeing Palestinian children surrounded bydeath, destruction and war, but this filmfocuses on their simple dreams," he toldAgence France Presse."Judgement (on the conflict) is left to the

viewer," saysMazen, who holds a diploma infilm-making from the Saint PetersburgAcademy in Russia and has alreadymadeseveral films and documentaries.For designer and lighting specialist Usayd

Madi, 23, themain aim of the featurette is tocommunicate the "brutality of occupation,which doesn't spare children".It took a team of 12 local animators and

designers ninemonths of training indirection and production to complete theWorld Bank-funded film, at a cost of$147,000 (112,500 euros).

High Hopes for Palestinian 3DAnimated ‘Scarecrow’ Film

moviE rEviEw

TheReluctant Fundamentalist isMiraNair’smost engagingwork

Kat Edmonson gets creative with financing her musicSHOWBIZ DESK

LONDON: If Kat Edmonson ever becomesa household name, she can put it down notjust to her talent as a jazz singer, but tosome decidedly modern financing as well.The 29-year-old Texan, an old-schoolchanteuse with a contemporary lilt, hasfunded production of her second album viaa community workshop and throughcrowd-sourcing, essentially getting thepeople who like her to pay for it.The album, "Way Down Low", has now

been picked up by Sony which is"launching" the singer outside the United

States as an up-and-comer in a moretraditional manner. It is a far cry from herfirst album, which Edmonson simplycharged to her credit card."Go into debt and pay it back (was the

idea)," the singer told Reuters in aninterview after performing at a church incentral London. The 2009 albumwasrelatively successful and she garneredenough attention to appear with LyleLovett on Jay Leno's "The Tonight Show"on U.S. television but she was still prettystrapped for cash. So her second albumcame about diQerently.First, she hooked up withMETAlliance, a

MUMBAI:When itcomes to fashion andstyle, Deepika Padukoneputs the best foot forward.The model-turned-actressfeels it is good to keep upwith the times, butsuggests fashion trendsshould not be followedblindly."Don’t try and follow

fashion blindly. Yes, ofcourse, trends keepchanging, fashion keepschanging and peoplebelieve that you shouldkeep up with the timesand I don`t think that`s a bad thing to do. But think at thesame time, you should not forget your own personality, theperson that you are, your body type, your confidence leveland dress accordingly," said the actress while sharingfashion tips at an event. "The worst thing that you can doto yourself is to be uncomfortable in something that youare wearing. That discomfort will always show in yourbody language and on your face," added the 27-year-old.Deepika will next be seen in `Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani`,releasingMay 31, along with Ranbir Kapoor. -SHOWBIZ DESK

Deepika doesn't followsfashion trends blindly

Haider Gilani’s kidnappersgang leader arrestedNNOOWWSSHHEERRAA:: The gang chief of thekidnappers of Ali Haider Gilani, the sonof former prime minister Yusuf RazaGilani, has been arrested. According tomedia reports, police said that anoperation was launched in Charsaddafor the recovery of Ali Haider Gilani,which resulted in the arrest of thekidnappers’ gang chief, Wazir, whileentering into Mardan from Charsaddaand trying to escape to Afghanistan.Accused Wazir is an Afghan refugeeand was wanted by police for beinginvolved in several criminal incidentsand he has now been shifted to anunknown place for grilling. –ONLINE

chinese Pm toaddress Senate on 23rdIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Chinese Premier LiKeqiang will address the upper houseof the parliament on May 23(Thursday) at the parliament house at10am. According to the PresidentialSpokesman Farhatullah Babar, theSenate session will be addressed bythe visiting Chinese Premier LiKeqiang. President Asif Ali Zardarihas summoned the session of theSenate to meet in the ParliamentHouse in Islamabad on Thursday at10:00 am. –STAFF REPORT

Former JI nazimgunned down in KarachiKKAARRAACCHHII:: Abid Ilyas, a former UCnazim of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), was shotdead by unidentified armed men lateThursday night. Police said that formerUC Nazim of Liaquatabad was gunneddown in the Nazimabad No 2 area ofthe city. His body was shifted to AbbasiShaheed Hospital for medico-legalformalities. JI leader MuhammadHussain Mehnti rushed to the medicalfacility and condemned the killing ofhis party leader. He said that Ilyashouse was also attacked a few days ago.Mehnti said that the killing was aimedat stopping ongoing protests againstpoll rigging in Karachi. He said that theprotest would continue despite thethreats. –ONLINE

PTI shrinks as PmL-N’s mehdiwins NA seat in recountingVVEEHHAARRII:: PML-N candidate from NA-168 secured 15,000 votes lead inrecounting of votes. According todetails, recounting to votes was held inNA-168 (Vehari) constituency onThursday.Pakistan Muslim League-NawazSajid Mehdi Shah retained theseat by beating Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insafcandidate Ishaq Khan Khakwani with amargin of 15,000 votes. –ONLINE

Indian firing createspanic in border areasSSIIAALLKKOOTT:: Indian forces openedindiscriminate firing on Friday morningin Charwah Sector while the ChenabRangers in retaliation silenced the gunsof Indian forces. Media reports saidthat the Indian forces fired rocketsshells in the sector but no loss of lifewas reported. The firing created fearand panic among the residents but theChenab Rangers in retaliation keptsilent guns from Indian side, sourcesadded. –ONLINE

Two security personskilled in terror attacksPPEESSHHAAWWAARR//LLOORRAALLAAII:: Two securitypersons were killed while anotherinjured here on Friday when terroristsopened indiscriminate firing on asecurity caravan. According to InterServices Public Relation (ISPR), terroristattacked on security forces caravan nearMattani in which two security personaldied on the spot while another sustainedserious injuries. In another incident, fourmore cops were injured when terroristtargeted police vehicles that were onroutine patrolling in the Maryam Zaiarea. After the initial information, policearrived on the spot and rushed theinjured personals to LRH hospital formedical treatment. –ONLINE

Abducted US citizenrecovered from KarachiKKAARRAACCHHII:: The Citizens-Police Liaisoncommittee (CPLC) and Karachi policeundertook a joint operation in the cityarea of Defence moments after themidnight and recovered Pakistan-originUS citizen, media reports said. At leastthree abductors were killed in theaction. CPLC chief Ahmed Chinoy saidAmir Hamza was abducted from thecity area of Boat Basin on the nightbetween April 13 and 14 and themiscreants demanded Rs 20 million inransom for his release. –ONLINE

SATURDAYMAY 18, 2013THE SPOKESMAN - RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD

cmyK

Published by Ahmad Waleed from Yasmeen Majeed Printing Press 69 Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi.

HOMER BALOCH

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: To facilitate Gen(retd) Pervez Musharraf ’speaceful departure, AdvocateChaudhry Aslam Ghumman hasfinally surrendered to pressurefrom the establishment, andwithdrew a case registeredagainst Musharraf on November3, 2007 for detaining 60Supreme Court judges.He announced his withdrawalduring a press conference held in alocal hotel. He said that there isalready enough chaos in thecountry and he does not want toincrease it. “I took the step bykeeping the national interest in mymind”, said Advocate Ghumman.

While answering questions, hesaid, “Every man has his ownmind. I had registered the FIR in2007 as I thought it was the rightstep at that time, and now I amwithdrawing it because now Ithink it is the right decision”. Hesaid he has no pressure fromanyone regarding his step.On 3rd November, 2007,Advocate Ghumman hadregistered the FIR with theSecretariat Police Station ofIslamabad, against the thenpresident Pervez Musharraf fordetaining 60 judges of theSupreme Court. In his FIR, hehad stated that the formerpresident not only detained thejudges but also harmed their

families by sealing their housesand deputing police force there.He said that even the children ofdetained judges were not allowedto continue their studies. In hisFIR, he also gave the reference ofthe first session of the NationalAssembly in which PrimeMinister Yousuf Raza Gilani hadordered the departmentconcerned to free the judges.On 18th April, the IslamabadHigh Court had issued an order toarrest Musharraf in the judgesdetention case, but Musharraffled the court and moved to hisfarmhouse. The capitaladministration instead ofarresting him declared hisfarmhouse as a sub-jail.

OUR STAFF REPORTER

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Religious partiesonce again failed to get publicrecognition in the GeneralElections 2013 by securing just 5per cent of the total votes cast. On the other hand, liberal andother mainstream political partiesgot the major share of votes.According to accumulatedstatistics, the overall popularity ofreligious political parties slumpedto less than five percent. PakistanPeoples’ Party (PPP), which couldnot get as many seats as expected,was able to secure 15.7 per centvotes. Imran Khan’s PTI, which

bagged fewer seats than PPP,emerged as the second largestparty at the national level bygetting 17.8 per cent votes. ThePML-N gained the maximumnumber of seats at the centre andin Punjab. But its overall vote ratioremained at 35 per cent. MQM,largely an urban partyrepresenting Karachi andHyderabad, secured 6.6 per centvotes. JUI-F got 2.9 per cent voteswhile JI ended up by having 1.1per cent votes. Meanwhile, caretaker InteriorMinister, Malik MuhammadHabib Khan said that media andthe masses played a vital role in

achieving about 60 percentturnout in May 11 elections.Addressing a police Darbar,rangers and FC in Islamabad, theminister said that despiteterrorist threats, the caretakergovernment succeeded inaccomplishing its task ofconducting free, fair andtransparent elections. He saidthat the government had madefoolproof security arrangementsfor elections while there wereperceptions that polls would bebloody. The minister lauded thecooperation of provincialcaretaker governments, ElectionCommission of Pakistan, law

enforcement agencies andpolitical leadership ofthe country inmaking theelection processpossible. Hesaid the interiorministry hadacted upon theplan given by theECP forpeaceful, freeand transparentpolls. MalikHabid said thatthe lawenforcement agenciesextended full cooperation to

masses and resolved theirproblems on urgent basis. Hesaid that he had taken

severaldecisions onthe basis ofhisexperienceswhich provedfruitful tomaintain lawand orderduring polls.Earlier, theMinisterreviewed guardof honour uponarrival at Liaquat

Gymnasium, SportsComplex Islamabad.

MONITORING DESK

LLAAHHOORREE:: PakistanTehrik-i-Insaf (PTI)chief Imran Khan hasurged the British HighCommissioner AdamThompson to take noticeof comments made byMuttahida QaumiMovement (MQM) chiefAltaf Hussain,DawnNews reported.The British HighCommissioner had arrivedat Shaukat KhanumMemorial Hospital to visitthe PTI chief, who isrecovering from an injurysuLered during hiselection campaign.Imran Khanreportedly toldThompson that AltafHussain’s statementswere against Britishlaw and that actionshould be taken againstit. He also told theBritish HighCommissioner that theUK government shouldissue a warning to theMQM chief. TheLondon Metropolitanpolice has alreadylaunched aninvestigation againstMQM chief AltafHussain aftercomplaints byhundreds of British andPakistani citizens.

LLAAHHOORREE:: PML-N chief NawazSharif has urged the nation and allpolitical parties to join hands for theprogress of the country. Talking to newsmen afterthanksgiving prayers for party'svictory in elections on Friday‚ he saidsteering the country out of crises andensuring sustainable socio-economicdevelopment will be the priority ofthe PML-N government. Nawaz said his party has finalizedpriorities and expressed theconfidence that it will producepositive results within one hundreddays after assuming power. Earlier,Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz SharifoLered Nawafil at Raiwind andprayed that Almighty Allah givecourage to them to resolve allproblems faced by the people.People, especially workers of PML-N, oLered Nawafil after Jumaprayers and prayed forstrengthening of democracy‚progress and prosperity of thecountry and the people. Online OnFriday, the National People’s Party(NPP) announced its merger withthe PML-N.

Addressing a news conferencealong with PML-N leader ShahbazSharif in Lahore on Friday‚ NPPPresident Ghulam Murtaza Jatoiannounced the merger of his party inPML-N. He expressed confidence inthe leadership of Mian NawazSharif. Murtaza Jatoi hoped that thePML-N will focus on the revival ofnational institutions destroyed bythe previous government. Speakingon the occasion‚ Shahbaz Sharifvowed to focus on acceleratingdevelopment projects‚ overcomingenergy crisis and creating jobopportunities. Meanwhile, recently successfulindependent candidates forNational Assembly Awais Leghariand Jamal Leghari of Dera GhaziKhan joined the PML-N. Accordingto media reports, the sons of formerpresident Farooq Leghari, AwaisLeghari and Jamal Leghari, alongwith three independent candidatesmet Nawaz Sharif at Raiwind. Onthe occasion, the Legharisexpressed confidence in the PML-N leadership and announced tojoin it. –ONLINE

KKAARRAACCHHII:: The Pakistan People’sParty (PPP) would not allow anyother party’s chief minister inSindh, as PPP holds strongposition for the formation ofSindh government, said the scoresof leaders of the party addressingpress conferences here on Friday.However, the leaders differed onwhat should be the criteria forchoosing a Sindh chief ministerfrom within the party, some leftthe decision on the partyleadership, while the otherswished he should be younginstead of the old one. PPP duringthe last five years appeared tohave one voice, but now it seemsto be a little disintegrated.Taking the lead in holding hostsof PPP news conferences here,former Sindh informationminister Sharjeel Memon saidthat since PPP holding themajority the CM would also befrom his party.

Former chief minister SyedQaim Ali Shah along with OwaisMuzaffar and several otherleaders in a subsequent pressconference said that the theirparty has reservations on thePunjab elections’ results, but hasaccepted it for the democracy.Later, PPP leader known for hisday dreaming, Manzoor Wasancouldn’t hold himself back onseeing the flashing cameras stoodup and disclosed that BB Shaheedcame in his dream and told himthat now Sindh would witnessgood governance and the CMwould not be old one, but young.PPP veteran ND Khan and TajHaider also rushed in to join themelee along with Shazia Murreeand said that several letters werewritten to the ElectionCommission, but none washeeded to. PPP won 80 seats, butefforts afoot to bring this numberdown. –ONLINE

QQUUEETTTTAA:: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), National Party andPakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party(PkMAP) have decided to form a coalitiongovernment in the province.Akram Shah Khan, the Central SecretaryGeneral, PkMAP while addressing a jointpress conference said that the slot of chiefminister would be given to the PML-N.“It has been decided in principle to forman exemplary coalition government,” Khansaid. He said all out eLorts would be madeby coalition partners to address thegrievances of the Baloch masses.Responding to a question, the newlynominated parliamentary leader of PML-N, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri said that hewould make all possible eLorts to take allpolitical forces on board for durable peacein the violence-stricken province. “Peace ismy first priority,” Zehri said.Chief of National Party, Dr Malik Balochsaid that new coalition partners aredetermined to ensure good governance inthe province. “Despite the odds, we willdeliver,” Baloch added.“We believe in dialogue not use of force,”he responded to a question regardinginitiating possible talks with Balochresistance fighters in Balochistan.Baloch said that they want peace and forthis purpose meaningful dialogue wouldbe started with all political forces.Meanwhile, the PML-N has nominatedSardar Sanaullah Zehri for Balochistanchief minister position after it became the

largest party in the provincial assemblywith the joining of other parties andindependent candidates. PML-N’sBalochistan leaders will meet in Quetta todiscuss potential candidates for topprovincial slot. Meanwhile, PML-N’sposition has strengthened in Balochistanafter the unconditional support of PML-QMPAs. Four independent candidates havealso joined the N-league. PML-N’sprovincial parliamentary party will discussmodalities to form the government inBalochistan. –AGENCIES

QQUUEETTTTAA:: HHaazzaarraa DDeemmooccrraattiicc PPaarrttyy aaccttiivviissttss ssttaaggee aa ddeemmoonnssttrraattiioonn aaggaaiinnsstt tthhrroowwiinngg ooff ggeenneerraall eelleeccttiioonn bbaalllloott ppaappeerrss ooff PPBB--22 iinnggaarrbbaaggee dduummpp aanndd rriiggggiinngg eelleeccttiioonnss.. –ONLINE

Balochistan to get3-party coalition

Nawaz urgesall to join handsfor prosperity

Ghumman withdraws FIR against Musharraf

� National People’s Party, Legharis join PML-N

PPP won’t allowany other party’sCM in Sindh

Imran urgesBritish HCto warn Altaf

Voters rejected religious parties in 2013 polls

Fazl again rejectsPTI’s mandate in KPIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) head Maulana FazlurRahman has said that PTI’s so-calledmandate will hurt peace process inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa. The PTIemerged as the leading party with 35seats in the restive province. The JUI-Fmanaged to win 13 seats. Speaking toreporters after meeting US envoyRichard Olson here on Friday, FalzurRahman termed the alleged rigging asan attempt to sabotage peace process inKP. To a question, he said the JUI-F’scentral executive committee (CECI)would decide on PML-N’s oLer to joincentral government. Meanwhile, the USambassador felicitated Maulana Fazl forhis party’s success in the election. –ONLINE

� PML-N, PkMAP and National Party decide to joinhands � Sanaullah Zehri all set to become chief minister

� Media, masses played vital role in achieving 60 percent turnout: Malik Habib