Continued on Page 7

Gwadar ultimately gets dueattention................................................Shahbaz visits green pastures................................................World must pay heed toGCC’s warning

See Page 04

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—The bearish trend continued torule the stock market sentiments here as theKSE-100 lost another 185points to close in red at 33757levels Monday.

Amid depressed trading ac-tivity reflected in the low volumeof 177 million shares traded theindications are for extendingbearish trend at the Karachi stockexchange on the back of pull outof foreign investment portfolioto the tune of $10 million duringlast ten days due to political dis-turbance.

However things might take a positive wayfollowing visiting of prime minister Nawazsharif to Karachi on Monday.

KSE-100 index loses 185 pointsThe volume leader of the day was Na-

tional Carrier PIA with 17 million sharestraded to while Fauji Cement and JahangirSiddiqi & Co were second and third volume

leaders with trading 16 million and 15 mil-lion shares respectively.

NELSON—Ireland pulled off the biggestshock of the World Cup so far when theydowned two-time champions West Indiesby four wickets in Nelson on Monday.

The victory, the first by a team battingsecond in five games so far, followed onfrom Ireland’s famous wins over Englandat the 2011 World Cup and Pakistan fouryears earlier.

Chasing 305 to win at Saxton Oval,they coasted home with Paul Stirling mak-ing 92, Ed Joyce 84 and Niall O´Brien notout on 79.

Earlier, Darren Sammy and LendlSimmons produced a counter-attackingpartnership to guide West Indies to 304 forseven.

S i m m o n s(102), thenephew ofI r e l a n dcoach Phil, and former cap-tain Sammy (89) managed torescue West Indies from acomplete debacle with a 154-run partnership as the pitchgot easier to bat on.

The pair had beenforced together at 87 for five

in the 24th over after the top order had struggled with thelack of pace from Ireland´s bowling attack.

Simmons and Andre Russell (27 not out) then put on

Ireland shock W Indies in World Cup

Ireland fans had plenty of reasons to smile and celebrate.

61 in five overs to give West Indies a total they had neverlooked likely to achieve earlier.

Left arm spinner GeorgeDockrell was the standout inan outstanding early bowling

effort by Ireland, who do not have anyone above mediumfast but kept the batsmen tied down with superb line andlength.

West Indies´ top order also looked tentative againstContinued on Page 7

See also Sports Page

IRFAN ALIGI

KARACHI—Prime Minister NawazSharif says that we have to winthe war against terrorism at allcosts to secure the country andfuture of the coming generations.

He was addressing a meet-ing of the Apex Committee ofSindh to review implementationof National Action Plan to weedout terrorism from the country.

The Prime Minister said fail-ure in the war against terrorismis not the option and we have toeliminate the scourge of terror-ism.

He said National Action Planhas not been prepared by just asingle party but had endorsementof all the political parties of thecountry. He said two points outof twenty point agenda have beenimplemented in the shape of pas-sage of twenty-first constitu-tional amendment and amend-ment in army act for setting upspecial trial courts.

Nawaz Sharif said ApexCommittees have been formed inthe provinces for implementation of Na-tional Action Plan. He said their meet-ings are held to review progress in thisregard.

The Prime Minister said people arelooking forward for tangible results ofthe National Action Plan. He said prob-lems and impediments in the way ofNational Action Plan implementation

Failure in fight againstterrorism not an option: PM

Nawaz, Zardari discuss political situationare expressed in the meetings and theyfind their solutions.

He termed the Baldia factory fire

as a grave incident. “Justice should beserved to the victims of Baldia townincident,” he said while asking theSindh chief secretary to give him abriefing on the incident.

The meeting reviewed the progressof the ongoing operation in Karachi. Hecriticized Sindh Police for not perform-ing effectively in combating terrorism.

Earlier during the day, Chief of ArmyStaff General Raheel Sharif and PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif separately ar-

rived in Karachi to review the city’ssecurity situation in the midst of a tar-geted operation to rid the city of crimi-nal and terrorist elements as well as theimplementation of the National ActionPlan in the aftermath of the attack onPeshawar’s Army Public School. Uponhis arrival at the Karachi Airport, thepremier was greeted by Sindh Gover-

nor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minis-ter Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

Prior to the provincial apex commit-

tee meeting, Prime Minister NawazSharif and Army Chief General RaheelSharif also held a meeting at the corpsheadquarters in Karachi. The meetingwas also attended by Corps CommanderKarachi Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar andDirector General of Inter-Services Intel-ligence (ISI), Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar.

KARACHI: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, flanked by former President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief Minister SyedQaim Ali Shah, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan chairing Apex Commit-tee meeting at Governor House on Monday.

Continued on Page 7

NEW DELHI—India sealed anuclear energy agreement withSri Lanka on Monday, its firstbreakthrough with the newgovernment of the tiny IndianOcean island where China hasbeen building ports and high-ways in a diplomatic push inrecent years.

Under the deal, India willhelp Sri Lanka build its nuclearenergy infrastructure, includingtraining of personnel, the In-dian foreign ministry said.

Later, India could also selllight small-scale nuclear reac-tors to Sri Lanka which wantsto establish 600 MW of nuclearcapacity by 2030, a Sri Lankanofficial said.

The deal came as SriLankan President MaithripalaSirisena began a visit to India,his first trip abroad since heswept to power in January,which has provided New Delhiwith an opening to repair tiesthat had become tense underhis predecessor.

“The bilateral agreementon civil nuclear cooperation isyet another demonstration ofour mutual trust,” Indian Prime

India seals nuclearenergy accordwith Sri Lanka

UNITED NATIONS—TheUnited Nations Security Coun-cil (UNSC) on Sunday votedto adopt a resolution that de-mands Houthi militia in Yemenwithdraw from government in-stitutions, calls for an end toforeign interference and threat-ens “further steps” if the vio-lence does not stop.

The 15-member Councilapproved the resolution,drafted by Jordan and Britain,unanimously. UN- led peacetalks have failed since a Houthitakeover ousted PresidentAbed Rabbo Mansour Hadiand his Cabinet last month.

But the resolution fallsshort of invoking Chapter

UNSC demands Houthiswithdraw in Yemen

Continued on Page 7

MaldivesPresident due

this monthLIAQAT TOOR

I S L A M A B A D — A b d u l l aYameen Abdul Gayoom,President of the Maldives isdue to arrive here in the lastweek of this month tostrengthen bilateral relationswith Pakistan.

He was to pay a 3-day of-ficial visit to Pakistan in Junelast year but it was cancelledat the eleventh hour due toterror attack on Karachi air-port and other related securityissues.

Brother of former Presi-dent Maumoon AbdulGayoom, he was elected asPresident of this South AsianRepublic in 2013.

During his visit, PresidentAbdullah Yameen besidesmeeting with PresidentMamnoon Hussain, will holdimportant parleys with PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif to pro-mote economic and tradelinks between the two coun-tries.

A delegation will accom-pany him to interact with thePakistani corporate sector.

Egypt airstrikestarget ISIScamps in Libyaafter massbeheadingsCAIRO—Cairo carried out airstrikes against Islamic Stategroup targets in Libya onMonday after the jihadistsposted a video showing thebeheadings of 21 EgyptianChristians.

Egypt said a “toughintervention” was needed andwith France called on the UNSecurity Council to “take newmeasures” against thejihadists in neighbouringLibya.

With Monday’s airstrikes, Egypt opened a newfront against the jihadists,who it is already battling inthe Sinai Peninsula wherescores of troops have beenkilled since the army toppledIslamist president MohamedMorsi in July 2013.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the former army chiefwho overthrew Morsi and hasbeen criticised for a deadlycrackdown on dissent, haspresented Egypt as a keypartner in international effortsagainst the jihadists.

Monday’s early morningContinued on Page 7

Turkish PMarrives todayASHRAF ANSARI

ISLAMABAD—PrimeMinister Ahmet Davutoglu ofTurkey arrives here today(Tuesday) for a two dayofficial visitto Pakistan.He will beaccompa-nied by ahigh-leveldelegation,includingseveralCabinetministers and senior govern-ment officials. A representa-tive delegation of Turkey’stop businessmen will alsoaccompany the Turkish primeminister.

This will be PrimeMinister Ahmet’s first visit toPakistan since assuming thepresent office in August lastyear. Earlier, he visitedPakistan as foreign ministerof his country. The mainpurpose of his visit is to co-chair Pak-Turkey High Level

Continued on Page 7

Minister Narendra Modi said ina statement.

India had grown increas-ingly wary of former presidentMahinda Rajapaksa’s pursuitof closer ties with China, whichbecame a key supporter of theisland’s economy after its 26-year-civil war ended in 2009.

China has built a seaport inthe south of the country andsigned a deal to develop a $1.5billion port next to the commer-cial port in Colombo.TheRajapaksa government also al-lowed Chinese submarines todock last year.

Modi said the two coun-tries also agreed to expand de-fense cooperation, but gave nodetails. “This is my first visitand it has given very fruitfulresults,” Sirisena said.

Since coming to power lastyear, Modi has reached out toneighbors, offering to buildpower stations and ports.

Next month he plans totravel to Sri Lanka and theMaldives.

Sirisena has pledged topursue a more global foreignpolicy.—Agencies

Shahbaz points toinvestment scopein energy sector

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—A delegation of aChinese company in energysector met Punjab Chief Min-ister Muhammad ShahbazSharif, here Monday.

Matters regarding energyprojects and investment op-portunities in energy sector inPunjab were discussed in themeeting.

Talking to the Chinesedelegation, the Chief Minis-

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The Chief of Army Staff (COAS)General Raheel Sharif said peace and tranquil-lity in the metropolis could be ensured throughdepoliticising of police.

He was addressing a meeting at the Paki-stan Rangers Sindh Headquarters in the port cityMonday on his one day visit to the metropolis

COAS stresses depoliticisingof Sindh police

to attend the Apex Committee meeting to seethe progress on National Action Plan at theprovince’s level.

He said that the ongoing targeted operationin the port city was unavoidable and would con-tinue with full force without any discriminationas it was directly linked to peace and tranquil-lity in the country.

Continued on Page 7

M A KAISERIMAM

LONDON—Ruling out reportsof rifts within the PakistanPeople’s Party ranks, party’spatron-in-chief BilawalBhutto-Zardari on Mondayclaimed in atweet thatthe party isunited.

“ A n y -one claimingo t h e r w i s eand speakingagainst theleadership isno friend ofthe party,” said Bilawal.

The statement on socialmedia comes after the reporteddifferences with his father,former president and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

In a message on twitter, hesaid, “The PPP stands united,anyone claiming otherwise andspeaking against the leadershipis no friend of the party.”

PPP stands united,Bilawal rules out rifts

Bilawal’s statement comesthe day when disgruntled PPPleaders Amin Fahim andZulfiqar Mirza arrived in Lon-don, where he is staying.

Mirza had severely criti-cized the party leadership, es-pecially the co-chairman AsifAli Zardari for “destroying theparty”.

“Shaheed MohtarmaBenazir Bhutto did not sacri-fice her life to help Mr Zardaribecome a billionaire,” Mirzasaid a few days ago.

Except for Bilawal Bhutto,all the PPP leaders were on‘daily wages’, said Mirza, add-ing no amount to ‘graft money’could satisfy their ballooningbellies that were alwaysstretching to accommodatemore as if made of rubber.

Differences betweenFahim and Zardari surfacedafter the PPP leadership de-cided to appoint SherryRehman as Vice President of

Continued on Page 7

GovernorHouse Protocolofficer arrestedOBSERVER REPORT

LAHORE—Protocol Officerof Governor House, Punjab,Rana Akhtar, was arrested onMonday at Lahore Airport onthe charges of smugglingliquor and mobile phones.

Rana Akhtar on Mondayreached the plane to receive apassenger named NaeemSiddiqui who was coming backfrom Dubai. Customs officersstopped Rana Akhtar when hewas coming out of the greenchannel along with NaeemSiddiqui carrying two bags.

More than 100 mobilephones worth Rs. 3 millionand 8 bottles of liquor wererecovered from the bags.Customs officials arrestedRana Akhtar and NaeemSiddiqui.

According to Customsofficial, protocol officer RanaAkhtar was also drunk. Hesaid that the local police andAirport Security Force havebeen informed about RanaAkhtar’s condition.

Seven of the UN Charter al-lowing for military enforce-ment, a measure demanded bythe Gulf Cooperation Council,a six-nation bloc comprisingGulf states.

Since seizing power inJanuary, the Houthis have dis-solved parliament and set uptheir own ruling body.

They say they are carryingout a “revolution” against cor-rupt officials and economicruin. The president and hisministers remain under rebelhouse arrest.

The UN has warned thatYemen is collapsing. ShiaHouthi fighters have sidelined

CorpsCommander

tells PM aboutSindh govt’sinefficiencySTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The Corps Com-mander of Karachi on Mon-day complained Prime Min-ister Nawaz Sharif about in-competence of Sindh govern-ment. Prime Minister NawazSharif visited Corps head-quarters in Karachi and helda meeting with Chief of ArmyStaff General Raheel Sharif.DG ISI and Corps Com-mander were also present onthe occasion.

The Prime Minister wasgiven briefing on implemen-tation of National Action Planto eliminate terrorism fromthe country.

According to reports, onoccasion, Corps CommanderKarachi Lt. Gen. NaveedMukhtar told the Prime Min-ister that management ineffi-ciency of Sindh governmenthurting efforts against terror-ism. He said that inefficiencyof Sindh government causesdifficulties to run the mattersin war against terrorism.Mukhtar said that the provin-cial government has changedthree home secretaries in onemonth alone which causesdifficulties to handle the mat-ters. It is important to men-tion here that Sindh govern-ment in last month has sackedthree home secretaries includ-ing Mumtaz Shah, NiazAbbasi and Abdul RahimSomro.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Special prosecu-tor Shazia Hanjra separatedherself from the Baldia Towncase and sent a written notifi-cation in this regard to theSindh government on Monday.

Hanjra confirmed to mediathat she has submitted her res-ignation to the Ministry of Law.A private practicing lawyer,Hanjra was appointed specialpublic prosecutor for the BaldiaTown factory fire case on be-

Prosecutor in Baldiafactory fire case resigns

half of the state.Hanjra said investigating

authorities had not been co-operating with her and that In-vestigating Officer Sub-In-spector Jehanzeb had given ano objection certificate to thefactory owners’ bail applica-tion. She added that the Inves-tigating Officer had still notgiven her a copy of investi-gation documents.

The prosecutor expressedher concerns regarding the de-

Continued on Page 7

PESHAWAR—Sehat KaIttehad, a comprehensiveand effective polio vaccina-tion campaign was launchedtoday (Monday) to eradicatethe disease from KhyberPukhtunkhwa and FederallyAdministered Tribal Areas(FATA).

This campaign hasstarted simultaneously innook and corner of KhyberPakhtunkhwa and FATA toreach each and every childunder 5 years of age withspecial focus on IDPs’ chil-dren. During the campaign,polio drops will be adminis-tered to more than 3.5 mil-lion children in Peshawar,Nowshera, Mardan,Charsadda, Swabi, Kohat,Karak, Hangu, DI Khan,Bannu, Lakki Marwat, FRBannu, FR Peshawar, SouthWaziristan and NorthWaziristan.Multan: A three day Na-tional Immunization Day(NID) anti-polio campaignbegan on Monday duringwhich around 7,96000 chil-dren up to five would bevaccinated in 131 UnionCouncils of Multan District..Larkana: Three-day anti-polio drive kicked-off hereMonday to administer OralPolio Vaccine (OPV) to1,178,250 children upto theage of five years. Anti-polio

Man arrested for firing on polio team

3-day anti-polio campaign begins

SUKKUR: A policeman guarding a lady health worker who is administering polio drops to a child during three dayspolio immunization drive in Dera Allah Yar.vaccination teams will visit door-to-door, specially in re-mote and far-flung areas of the districts include Kamber-Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Kandhkot-Kashmore districts till Feb 18.

Chaman: A three-day anti-polio drive was kicked off inQila Abdullah Chaman district, here on Monday. Addi-tional Deputy Commissioner, Hafiz Muhammad Qasim and

District Health Officer, Dr Abdul Rasheed Khan Nasarinaugurated the anti-polio campaign by administering anti-

polio drops to children at District Headquarters HospitalChaman. They said that 135,000 children would be admin-istered anti-polio drops in 32 union councils of the districtduring the drive, for which 330 teams have been formed.Bahawalpur: Three-day anti-polio campaign will start fromFebruary, 16 in district. Executive District Officer (EDO)Health, Dr. Shahid Khaleeq told APP that as many as587,831 children of less than 5 years age would be admin-istered anti-polio vaccines.—Agencies

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Punjab Chief MinisterMuhammad Shahbaz Sharif during a highlevel meeting through video link, here Mon-day, reviewed various proposals for savingcrops and property from devastation causedby floodwater nullahs including Aik, Palkhu,Dek, Bhaid, Busantar and others. He alsogave approval to a phased programme forimprovement of floodwater nullahs of Sialkot,Gujranwala, and Kamoke.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Min-ister directed concerned authorities to im-mediately start work on a short-term plan forthe improvement of floodwater nullahs inGujranwala division before the monsoonseason so that losses could be controlled.He said that preventive measures should betaken for saving the life and property of thepeople of the concerned districts from floodwater so that damage due to floods in flood-water nullahs during monsoon season couldbe minimized. He said that the short-term planapproved for the improvement of floodwa-ter nullahs of Gujranwala division should becompleted at any cost before the rainy sea-son. He said that speedy efforts will have tobe made for the execution of the short-termproject. The Chief Minister said that con-cerned departments should work efficientlyfor the implementation of the project of con-trolling losses caused by floodwater nullahsand the work should be completed on emer-gent basis. He said that all protective mea-

All resources for improvementof floodwater nullahs: Shahbaz

sures should be finalized before the comingmonsoon season. He said that this impor-tant project will have to be executed througheffective coordination and Provincial Minis-ter for Irrigation, Secretary Irrigation, con-cerned institutions as well as administrationshould evolve comprehensive planning forthe timely completion of the project. He saidthat work on medium and long term projectswith regard to improvement of floodwaternullahs should also be undertaken so thatdamages due to floods could be checked onpermanent basis. He said that all out re-sources will be utilized for the improvementof floodwater nullahs and no laxity will betolerated in this regard.

The Chief Minister issued instructionsfor setting up a steering committee forspeedy implementation of the project anddirected that the steering committee shouldtake all necessary measures in this regard.Secretary Irrigation gave a briefing on im-provement of floodwater nullahs and mini-mizing the losses. Provincial Irrigation Min-ister Mian Yawar Zaman, Member ProvincialAssembly Waheed Gull, Senior MemberBoard of Revenue, concerned secretaries,Commissioner Indus Water and concernedsenior officers were present at the meetingat Civil Secretariat whereas Members Na-tional and Provincial Assemblies, Commis-sioner Gujranwala, DCOs of Gujranwala,Sialkot and Narowal districts attended themeeting through video link from the office ofCommissioner Gujranwala.

BANNU: In-charge TDPs of NWA Brig Mukhtar addressing a press conference atBaka Khel camp.

ANP to form govt in KP

again: Haider HotiPESHAWAR—ANP Provin-cial President and formerChief Minsiter, AmeerHaider Khan Hoti said thatparty would emerge victori-ous in southern region andagain form its government inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He expressed theseviews while addressing themeeting of party’s Presidentsand General Secretaries atBaacha Khan Markaz hereMonday. Provincial Parlia-mentary Leader, SardarHussain Babak, KhurshidKhan, Hussaini Sahib,Mussarat Shafi andKhurshid Begum were alsopresent.

On the occasion, officebearers of southern districtspresented their performancereport and discussed mattersrelated with organizationalstructure in existing sce-nario.

Ameer Haider Khan Hotiexpressed satisfaction overperformance and directedparty’s organizations to speedup their activities with the fo-cus to contact people at grassroot level. He urged them tohold meetings on regular ba-sis and maintain strong liai-son for strengthening partyin the area.—APP

School teacher shotdead in Ghotki

GHOTKI—A teacher at aprivate school in Ghotki wasshot dead Monday morningwhile three other femaleteachers were injured. Threeunidentified miscreants -riding a motorcycle - tar-geted Abdul Hafeez Qazi,outside al Mehran PublicSchool located nearQadirpur road and escapedsoon after. The firing createdpanic due to which three fe-male students were injuredin a stampede. The body ofthe deceased and the in-jured were taken to a nearbyhospital.

Police also cordoned offthe area right after the attackand the school was shutdown. It is suspected that thekilling was a result of per-sonal enmity, however, thishas not been confirmed yet.Soon after the incident thefamily members of the victimstook to the street and blockedthe road due to which trafficremained suspended on im-portant roads.

The citizens protestingagainst the incident askedthe govt to immediately ar-rest the culprits. The policeregistered the case and havestarted a search operationto trace out the culprits. Ac-cording to hospital sources,one dead body and three in-jured were bought to hospi-tal. The injured teacherswere later discharged fromthe hospital after treat-ment.—Online

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister forHousing and Works Muhammad AkramKhan Durrani has said that low costHousing Units under the PrimeMinister’s Housing Scheme would beconstructed on fast track basis inIslamabad and all the four provinces.

He said the houses would be givento the deserving and low income peopleon easy monthly installments. The min-ister chaired Board of Directors (ApnaGhar Limited) meeting here on Mon-day and said that time is short and we

ISLAMABAD—Saudi Arabia islaunching constructionprojects to help the people ofPakistan affected by lastyear’s floods in their areas.The Construction projectswhich would be completed inthe flood-hit areas includeSchools, Basic Health Units,Low Cost Houses, and Wa-ter Supply Schemes.

The task of constructionof Schools (07), BHUs (02),Low Cost Houses (191), Wa-ter Supply Schemes (23), andother projects would be ac-complished through a Saudiorganization “KingAbdullah’s Relief Campaignfor Pakistani People(KARCPP). The work on re-construction of affected dis-tricts would be started soonwith a cost of Rs.395.2 mil-lion rupees. This was statedby Dr. Khalid M. Al-Othmani,the Regional Director of KingAbdullah Relief Campaign forPakistani People while talk-

KSA launching newprojects to help Punjabaffectees: Al-Othmani

ing to reporters here. He saidthe team of KARCPP withthe cooperation of NationalDisaster Management Au-thority (NDMA), wouldlaunch the projects inMuzaffargarh, Ranjanpur,D.G.Khan, Mianwali,Khanewal, Bahawalpur andLayyah areas, to express soli-darity with the affectedpeople of Pakistan.

He added that severalother projects would also bestarted in other provinces ofPakistan to facilitate thefamilies affected by naturalcalamity in their areas.

Saudi Arabia had an-nounced to launch relief andconstruction projects worthmillions of US dollars whichwould be completed underthe supervision ofMuhammad Bin Naif , thesecond Crown Prince, Min-ister of Interior of SaudiArabia and Petron-in-Chiefof KARCPP, he said. —INP

NAP being fullyimplemented

H Y D E R A B A D — T h eHyderabad Range police isvigorously implementing theNational Action Plan (NAP) toeliminate terrorism, said DIGPDr Sanaullah Abbassi whiletalking to APP here Monday.

He informed that 518Afghanis had been arrestedand booked in 82 FIRs in thenine districts.

National ID cards of 313had been sent to NADRA forverification, he added. Ac-cording to the DIGP, as manyas 445 madaris including 227Deoband, 185 Barelvi, 10 Shia,13 Ahl-e-Hadith and 1 of an-other sect, had been registeredwith the Auqaf and they hadprovided details to the policewhile another 175 including 76Deoband, 71 Barelvi, 18 Shia,7 Ahl-e-Hadith and 3 others arestill unregistered.—APP

LAHORE—A Lahore HighCourt division bench onMonday dismissed a bail ap-plication of an accused in-volved in distributing hatematerial against the Pak army.The post arrest bail applica-tion was filed by accusedGhulam Mujtiba, a resident ofAkbari Mundi here.

Earlier, the defence coun-sel arguing before the courtsubmitted that the Lohari Gatepolice arrested the accusedafter registration of a case fordistributing material againstthe army. He submitted thatthe accused distributed mate-rial based on his opinion un-der freedom of expression butthe police registered a base-less against him. He pleadedthe court to grant benefit ofthe bail to the accused. How-ever, Deputy Prosecutor

Khurram Khan opposed therequest and told the court thatthe accused was arrestedwhile distributing material in-cluding two books against thearmy. He pleaded the court todismiss bail application of theaccused.

The bench after hearingarguments of both parties dis-missed the bail application ofaccused. Meanwhile, theLahore High Court on Mon-day granted bail to ZafarIqbal Gondal, involved in a Rs130 million Employees Old-Age benefits Institution(EOBI) land purchase scam.The court ordered the ac-cused to submit two suretiesof Rs one million to avail thebail. Justice Ali Baqar Najfipassed the orders while ac-cepting a post arrest bail ofthe accused. —APP

Hate material against Army

LHC dismissesaccused bail plea

Saad reviewsrailways’ PDSP

LAHORE—Pakistan RailwaysMinister Khawaja SaadRafique chaired a meeting toreview Public Sector Devel-opment Program of the rail-ways at PR Headquarters hereon Monday. PR General Man-ager Operation Javaid AnwarBoobak, former PR GM AnjumPervaiz and all project man-agers attended the meeting.The minister was briefedabout the ongoing and pro-posed programs and alloca-tion of amounts for theprojects on which the minis-ter issued directions by dis-cussing each of the project indetails. The minister also ex-pressed his annoyance onslow work of some projectsand ordered to complete theprojects on time.—APP

Victim families ofKohat terroristsattack demandcompensation

KOHAT—Families of fiveCustoms officials martyred interrorists’ attack in Kohathave demanded of the federaland provincial governmentsto be financially compensatedfrom “ Shuhada Package”.

Three gunmen had shotdead five Customs officialswhen they were patrolling inKohat on February 3. Fourofficials had died on the spotand another succumbed tohis injuries in hospital. Allthose killed belonged to dis-trict Karak and Kohat.

Widow of Customs In-spector Abdul WahabKhattak said her husbandwas martyred in the line ofduty but so far neither pro-vincial nor federal govern-ment had announced any fi-nancial compensation forthe family from “ShuhadaPackage.” —APP

JI, PTI to contestLG election

jointly: SaaidA B B O T TA B A D — K h y b e rPakhtunkhwa Finance Min-ister, Saaid Zaffar on Mon-day said that Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) will jointly contestthe forthcoming local bodieselection in May this year.

Talking to APP here Mon-day, he said the provincialgovernment has allocated ahuge amount of Rs 30 billionfor construction of 350 smalldams in KPK which will bringa revolution in the economyof the province.

He said the provincialgovernment has also allo-cated Rs 01 Billion for smallloan schemes and in this re-gard a large number of loanapplications have been scru-tinized, he added.

Replying to a question,the minister said that electioncommission does not allowopen balloting for any sortof elections.—APP

Fahim to meet BilawalK A R A C H I — P a k i s t a nPeople’s Party senior leaderAmin Fahim has left for Lon-don to meet party chairmanBilwal Bhutto to discuss cur-rent political issues and theproblems of senior leaders.

According to sourcesAmin Fahim would persuadeBilawal Bhutto Zardari to re-turn to Pakistan as his ab-sence was leading to all sortsof speculations including hisdifferences with formerPresident Asif Ali Zardari.

Sources said BilawalBhutto Zardari gives lot ofrespect to the senior PPPleader Amin Fahimandkeeping that in view thePPP leader has been askedto play his role because theparty supporters are worrieddue to state of affairs in the

Party. According to reports,Fahim also has reservationswith the party leadership, es-pecially with Asif Zadadri.

Few days ago, formerSindh home minister ZulfikarMirza also bitterly criticizedZardari for destroying thePPP.

“Shaheed MohtarmaBenazir Bhutto did not sac-rifice her life to help MrZardari become a billion-aire,” Mirza said talking tomedia a few days ago.

Except for BilawalBhutto, all the PPP leaderswere on ‘daily wages’, saidMirza, adding no amount to‘graft money’ could satisfytheir ballooning bellies thatwere always stretching toaccommodate more as ifmade of rubber. —INP

0.5m low cost housing unitson fast track basis: Durrani

have to proceed quickly to constructfive lac Housing Units as per govern-ment commitment with the people.

He said that formalities should notbe made a hurdle in the way of imple-mentation for early execution of theproject.The work which needs to bedone in months, should be done in weektime rather than in months,he added.

The minister directed the boardmembers to complete the project withinthe government’s tenure so that com-mitment made by the government with

the people should be fulfilled. He was informed that in KPK sites

for the project have been identified inDistrict Bannu, Laki Marwat, D.I.Khanand Charsadda.

He said in Punjab, sites have al-ready been identified in Districts ofJhelum and Lahore, similarly, Govern-ment of Balochistan has identifiedsites for the project near Quetta.Thesites for project in Sindh has beenidentified in Karachi andHyderabad,he added.—APP

FAISALABAD: People protesting against gas load-shedding outside SNGPL office.

QUETTA: Secretary Information SEDA Employees Action Committee addressing apress conference at hunger strike camp.

Collective efforts require to winwar against corruption: Qamar

SUKKUR—Chairman, Na-tional Accountability Bu-reau (NAB), Chaudhry onMonday said only thosenations have developed andremained successful whohave rooted out corruptionand injustice from their so-cieties.

“In a similar manner, if wein Pakistan want to becomea developed nation it canonly be possible if we up-root corruption and showzero tolerance against it,” hesaid this while addressing aceremony organized byNAB Sukkur in collaborationwith Institute of BusinessAdministration (IBA). Di-rector General NAB Sukkur,Director IBA and others at-tended the ceremony.

The Chairman said cor-ruption is a plague that has awide range of corrosive ef-fects on societies as it un-dermines development andthe rule of law, leads to viola-tions of human rights, erodesquality of life, distorts mar-kets and ultimately affects theeconomic development ofthe society and nation. Hesaid there is no denying thefact that corruption makes thesociety to pay in a variety ofways, with extremely detri-mental effects as it eats intothe economic prospects of adeveloping country like oursis particular.

“Corruption can takemany forms that vary in de-gree from the minor use ofinfluence to institutionalizedbribery,” he said and addedit provides the breedingground for organized crime

SUKKUR: Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry speaking during the inauguration ceremony of NAB SukkurRegional Bureau.

in the society perpetuates inefficien-cies in the system and therefore, spear-heads regress and decoy.

The Chairman said Almighty hasblessed Pakistan with abundant natu-ral resources and excellent brains butcorruption is jeopardizing the use offull potential of these resources, add-ing that this malaise has been grow-ing in Pakistan for the last 67 yearsand despite numerous legislationsstarting from The Prevention of Cor-ruption Act, 1947 over 50 plus lawsenacted on the subject corruption has

continued to increase and has nowseeped down to grassroots level. “Ourexperience at fighting corruption hasled us to understand that enforcementalone cannot be cure to corruption. Itrequires a coordinated and a concertedeffort with a three pronged strategyof Awareness, Prevention and En-forcement,” Qamar Zaman Ch. said.

He said an environment where cor-ruption is endemic, Anti CorruptionAgencies in isolation cannot effec-tively counter the threat so posed. Itrequires active and complete support

of the entire society to curb it. Eachand every segment of the society mustsupplement the anti corruption effort,he added. He said the responsibilityto educate public on ill-effects of cor-ruption and to make it aware of its ad-verse effects lies greatly with the me-dia.

“It is important while we ensurethat all those guilty of corruption aretaken to task. It is equally importantto ensure that the innocent are notmade to suffer. —APP

Campaign launchedto curb violenceagainst women

FAISALABAD—The govern-ment should take measuresto devise an efficient moni-toring mechanism to checkviolation of anti-harassmentlaw, and ensure a safe work-ing environment for women.

This was demanded bythe participants of a protestdemonstration under ‘SexualHarassment out (SHout)Campaign’ arranged by theAssociation of Women forAwareness & Motivation(AWAM) and Peace andHuman Development (PHD)Foundation here on Monday.The participants of the rallywere holding placards to ex-press their oppositionagainst sexual harassment.

Speaking on the occa-sion, a women rights activ-ist, Amina Zaman said thatanti-sexual harassment lawaims at creating a workingenvironment that is safe fromharassment, abuse and intimi-dation and enables womenacross the country to maxi-mize their work productivityand contribute towards thecountry’s development.

Director AWAM NaziaSardar said that vast major-ity of sexual offences go un-reported and of those that arereported few result in pros-ecutions and even fewer inconvictions, due to stigmaattributed to victims.—APP

No loadsheddingby 2017: Abid

SUKKUR—Minister of Statefor Water and PowerChaudhry Abid Sher Ali hassaid that the government iscommitted to overcomepower crises and there wouldbe no load shedding in Paki-stan by 2017.

He said all power projectslaunched by the governmentwould be completed on time.

Talking to media after in-augurating a 132-KV grid sta-tion in Arain Road near hereon Monday, the Minister saidthat the grid station wouldhelp in reducing load shed-ding and line losses, increasein economic growth, employ-ment opportunitis and helppoverty alleviation in the area.

He said that 1800 MegaWatt of electricity will beadded to the national gridbefore summer season.

The minister further saidthat K-Electric has to payRs.100 billion to Federalgovernment and new dealwould be done after recov-ery of old dues. —APP

Gypsy kids getnew school

DG KHAN—District admin-istration established a schoolfor gypsy kids to impart edu-cation to the neglected seg-ment of the society.

Commissioner DG KhanDivision Muhammad SaqibAziz inaugurated the schoolfor the gypsies at cattle mar-ket near general bus stand onMonday.

Initially, 75 kids havebeen enroled in the schools,said EDO Education AhmedKhan Leghari while givingbriefing to the Commissioner.

The school was namedafter great saint of sub-con-tinent Hazrat Ahmed Sultanalias Hazrat Sakhi Sarwar, headded. He also informed thatRs 250/month would be pro-vided to each enroled kid.

Commissioner Saqib Azizurged upon philanthropiststo extend donations to buybooks, clothes and encour-age the kids, adding theywould establish moreschools for gypsy kidsacross the district.

District Manager NCHDMuhammad Younis Khetran,Registrar Ghazi UniversityNajeeb Haider Malghani, ASPShahbaz Elahi and other offic-ers were also present.—APP

More manpowersought to retrieveforestland from

illegal occupantsRAJANPUR—District govern-ment has sought more man-power from the forest depart-ment of other districts as itmoved forward with the on-going grand operation foreviction of illegal occupantsof thousands of acres land inRajanpur district.

DCO Ghazi Amanullahsaid that operation against theillegal occupants of the forestdepartment will continue with-out any discrimination and sofar 2091 acre forest depart-ment land has been retrieved.

Illegal structures at 105places have been demolishedand 25 ground water liftingfacilities closed, says an offi-cial release. The grand opera-tion was now in progress atRakh Kotla Sher Muhammadwhere over 200 policemen,besides officials of forest, rev-enue, and other departmentsequipped with heavy machin-ery were engaged in evictingillegal occupants and remov-ing illegal structures from theoccupied state land. DCOsaid that the retrieved land willbe utilized for extensive affor-estation to give a rich greenerlook to Rajanpur landscapeand improve environmentthere.

DCO warned that thosefound involved in repeating theoffense would be dealt withiron hands and added that moreforest department officialshave been summoned fromother districts to intensify theoperation.—APP

SHAFFAAT MALIK

TALAGANG—Teshil Mu-nicipal AdministrationTalagang organized a walkand seminar to show soli-darity with Shuhada-e-ArmyPublic School Peshawar andin the support of PakistanArmy on Monday. A num-ber of students, journalists,civil society members, gov-ernment officials, teachers,social workers and youthfrom numerous institutionsparticipated in the walk andseminar.

Hum tum ko nain bholyThey chanted slogans

against the terrorism andsaid that we will never for-get the blood of APSPeshawar martyrs.

Participants said thatcruel people are spreadingterrorism. Nation is fully sup-porting the government andPak Army for the eradicationof terrorism and terroristscould never succeed in theirnefarious designs, theyadded. They said that wesalute our Pak Amry for theiracts of bravery and nationalservice.

PESHAWAR—The Khyber Pakhtunkhwapolice in the ongoing search operationagainst the criminals and anti-social ele-ments rounded up 215 suspects and recov-ered huge quantity of arms and ammuni-tion. According to police statement here onMonday, the police during operation con-ducted in different parts of the provincerecovered 30 arms and ammunition of dif-ferent kinds and 358 rounds.

During the operation 433 houses and188 hotels were checked and four caseswere registered against the violators. Dur-ing snap checking on 136 check points, 184suspects were held and recovered 17 armsof different kind and 211 cartridges.

During action against illegal Afghans atotal of 42 persons were detained on viola-tion and 21 cases were registered againstthem. Similarly 8 persons were arrested onviolation of illegal use of loudspeaker and 8loudspeaker were hold while 7 cases wereregistered against the violators.

Police arrest 255 suspectsSecurity inspections of 662 educational

institution were also carried out and vari-ous institutions were advised to furtherbeef up security arrangements.SWAT: Deputy Inspector General of Police(DIG) Monday claimed to have arrested 34absconders and six unregistered Afghanrefugees during search and strike operationin Malakand division. The police deputychief Azad Khan said that police teams con-ducted search operations in Swat, Bunner,Shangla, Dir Upper, Dir Lower and Chitralareas and arrested a total 124 suspects in-cluding 34 absconders and six unregisteredAfghans along with huge cache of arms andammunition.

He said that 12 kg explosive material,four AK-47, 67 pistols, 29 rifles,1,263 bul-lets, 35 chargers, one hand-grenade, fourmortars, , 88 liters liquor and 24.9 gramheroin. The police have registered casesagainst the arrested persons, he added.—APP

Man claiming to have killed more than01.m giant rodents, gets job as Rat Killer

PESHAWAR—A city dweller who has madehis mission of killing rats and claimed tohave killed more than 100,000 rodents, gota job in Municipal Corporation Peshawar(MCP) as ‘Rat Killer. Naseer Ahmad hasmade it his mission to provide relief to thedenizens of Peshawar from a new breed ofgiant rats which have started appearing forthe last few years and posed a serioushealth problem to populace besides dam-aging household items. “It is my missionand I took it on after I saw my friend takinghis wife to hospital after being bitten by arat,” Ahmad said talking to mediamen inJanuary. After appearance of NaseerAhmad’s claim in press that he is killingrats, we approached him and provided hima job to continue his mission with officialsupport,informed General Manager Opera-tion, Water and Sanitation ServicePeshawar (WSSP), Engr Nasir Ghafoor.

“I had taken notice of increasing num-ber of black giant rats in the city and wasconcerned about the threat to publichealth,â•” said Nasir Ghafoor said talkingto APP. Engr Nasir said he was contem-plating different plans as to how to tacklethis new breed of rats which is so aggres-sive that the rodents attack humans. “As Iwatched news report about Naseer Ahmad,

I immediately contacted him to benefit fromhis experience in eliminating themenace,â•• he continued. GM OperationWSSP said for the first time in the historyof MCP, the post of Rat Killer has beencreated and a person appointed. Now ourRat Killer, assisted by MCP staff, is carry-ing killing of rates in different localities ofPeshawar on complaints.

Naseer is also training the assistingstaff to learn how to kill the rodents whichis resilient enough due to its huge size andcannot be killed by ordinary procedure andmedicines. During operation, Rat Killer takesaround 100 bread, tomatoes, sprinkles sugaron it and sprays it with a chemical mixture.As a precautionary measures, the areawhere operation is carried out, dwellers areespecially informed to keep their pet ani-mals like chickens, livestock, dogs etc in-door.

Each operation which coasts upto Rs.Three to Four thousand,results in the kill-ing of around 1500 to 2000 rats. The killedrats are collected and disposed off prop-erly by the team members, Nasir Ghafooradded.

He expressed the hope that appointing‘Rat Killer will bear fruit and the city resi-dents wll get relief from the menace.—APP

Tevta to trainminority studentsLAHORE—Technical Educa-tion & Vocational TrainingAuthority (Tevta) will providefree technical and vocationaltraining to the minority youthin its institutes across thePunjab.

Addressing a meeting atits Secretariat here on Mon-day Chairperson Tevta IrfanQaiser Shaikh said this deci-sion was taken in pursuanceof a policy of the Punjab gov-ernment to empower minoritycommunities of the province.

He said minority studentswould be enroled on 5 percentreserved quota after observ-ing all codal formalities of ad-mission criteria, adding thatthey would also be providedopportunity to get admissionin one year and short dura-tion courses. They may di-rectly apply to the nearestTevta institute all over Punjab,he added.

The chairperson said ef-fort to provide employableskills to male and female youthof minority communitieswould endorse the ‘HunarMund Punjab’ mission of thechief minister Punjab.

He said it would enablethem to become financially in-dependent and help becomea useful member of society,adding that it would also helpto meet the shortage of trainedmanpower in the local and in-ternational job markets.

Minority students, wish-ing to get admission, may con-tact the nearest Tevta instituteor website: www.tevta.gop.pkfor further assistance, he con-cluded.—APP

ISLAMABAD—The Met of-fice has predicted more win-ter rains with snowfall overthe hills in upper parts of thecountry from Monday toThursday and in most partsof the country during Fridayto Sunday.

According to details,another westerly wave islikely to enter Pakistan Mon-day night and expected topersist in upper parts of thecountry till Thursday. Scat-tered rain with snowfall overthe hills is expected in up-per parts of the country withoccasional gaps while at iso-lated places in NorthBalochistan and SouthPunjab during Monday toThursday.

Scattered rain and snowover the hills with occasionalgaps is predicted inIslamabad, upper and cen-tral Punjab’s Rawalpindi,Sargodha, Faisalabad,Sahiwal, Gujranwala and

Lahore divisions, KhyberPakhtunkhwa’s Peshawar,Kohat, Malakand, Mardanand Hazara divisions, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir fromSunday night to Thursday.

This system would beaccompanied with a strongwesterly weather system

which is likely to approachPakistan throughBalochistan on Friday.

Under the influence ofthis system widespread rainsassociated with isolatedthunderstorms are expectedin Punjab’s Rawalpindi,Lahore, Gujranwala,Faisalabad, Sargodha andSahiwal divisions and Gilgit-Baltistan—APP

More rain, snowfall predicted

MULTAN—Senior politician MakhdoomJaved Hashmi on Monday extended offer todonate more land for establishment of medi-cal and agriculture universities at MakhdoomRasheed.

Addressing a press conference at his resi-dence here, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi saidthat the allegation levelled against his familyregarding occupation of land at MakhdoomRasheed area were baseless and fake. He re-called that he himself had donated the landfor establishment of medical and agricultureuniversities. He claimed that he had donatedthe land for benefits of the local people, afterconsultation with members of his family. He

Hashmi offers more land for universitiessaid that his elders had been occupying theland after court orders since 1922.

Hashmi informed that funds worth Rs fivebillion have already been allocated for theproject of universities. He alleged that Auqafdepartment was selling the land to people af-ter its own choice. He added that Auqaf de-partment was not issuing NOC for launchingof the projects.

He demanded of the provincial govern-ment to complete the projects of universitiesotherwise they would launch a protest fromthe coming Friday by making hand chains ofabove 20,000 people from Multan to villageLaar via Makhdoom Rasheed.—APP

DI KHAN—The district administration onMonday kicked off a week-long cleanlinessdrive to keep the city clean and promote civicsense about cleanliness among the citizens.Provincial Minister for Revenue Sardar AliAmin Khan Gandapur was the chief guest atthe inauguration ceremony which was alsoattended by officials of the district adminis-tration.

Addressing on the occasion, the ministersaid the drive had been launched as part ofefforts to ensure pollution-free environmentand would feature different awareness rais-ing activities besides cleaning the thorough-fares and removing garages from differentplaces of the city.

He said the provincial government wasallocating hefty resources for the develop-ment of the southern district including DeraIsmail Khan to raise living standard of massesof those areas. He said elaborate measureswere being taken to provide all basic necessi-ties of life to the people of the district, adding

development work as part of beautificationcampaign was also carried out within the city.Moreover, he added solid efforts were alsobeing made to build recreational facilities andconstruction of the wildlife park was a testa-ment to this fact, the minister added.

He also directed the local administrationto take every possible step to make the cam-paign successful and keep the entire cityclean from all kind of waste. The campaign isinvolving Municipal Committee, district coun-cil and other relevant departments to mobilizetheir staff to clean routes and desilt drainspassing through areas sprawling around cir-cular like Gird road, old vegetable market,Muryali and Tauseef Abad besides otherplaces.

Chief Municipal Officer (CMO) AttiqurRehman said district had been divided intoseven parts to be put to the cleanliness driveand supervised by Assistant CommissionerSuleman Lodhi in coordination with heads ofthe concerned departments.—APP

Weeklong cleanliness drive kicked off

Govt allocating hefty resourcesfor southern districts: Gandapur

Gwadar ultimatelygets due attention

AFTER a long time, welcome news is trickling down about theneglected Gwadar Port indicating that it might ultimately becomeoperational in mid-April this year. According to the Managing

Director of the Gwadar Port Authority, commercial activities at the deepseaport will start by that time as they have acquired possession of land forestablishing free-trade zones.

Gwadar Port is a tale of missed opportunities, conspiracies and lackof interest and commitment on the part of those at the helm of affairsduring the last several decades. Pakistan identified Gwadar as port siteway back in 1954 when the area formed part of Sultanate of Oman. Itformed part of the country in 1958 but construction of the deep seaportstarted in 2002 and completed in December 2006. However, it is quiteintriguing that the port has remained almost dormant since then due to ahost of internal and external factors. Some reports blame some foreigncountries for hatching conspiracies against success of the port but it isalso a fact that we too did not attach due importance and priority to itsproper functioning. This is evident from the fact that the port authoritieshave been able to acquire land in nine long years for establishing free-trade zones whereas most of the required infrastructure is still lackingincluding road and railway network, vital for transportation of goods toand from the port to various destinations. This is despite the fact thatGwadar port is situated at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, just outside theStrait of Hormuz, near the key shipping routes for two-thirds of the worldoil supply. The port, at the crown of the Arabian Sea, has provided Paki-stan with a unique opportunity to claim its status as an important mari-time power but we are criminally slow in responding to investment offersrelating to development of the port. The present Government deservescredit for taking steps to make the port fully operational and we are con-fident that the projects under China-Pakistan Corridor, especially thoserelating to the port, would be implemented on priority basis in view of itsimmense potential to transform economic landscape of Pakistan.

Shahbaz visitsgreen pastures

AFTER giving final touches to some of the highly beneficial projectsin the Province, Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has dashed

to Qatar with the objective of seeking more investment from the brotherlycountry. His meeting with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Althani in Doha was quite productive as the two leaders agreed to promotePak-Qatar relations and cooperation in economic and trade sectors.

It was all the more important to note that Emir of Qatar held out anassurance that his country would invest in various sectors of nationaldevelopment in Pakistan and extend all-out cooperation to cope with theenergy crisis. The Emir certainly won hearts of people of Pakistan bydeclaring that Qatar fully realizes the problems of Pakistan and will ex-tend full support in overcoming these problems. The brotherly country isalready cooperating with Pakistan in different sectors and only recentlythe two countries signed an agreement for import of LNG, which wouldgo a long way in mitigating the crippling energy crisis in Pakistan. Qataris in a position to make substantial investment in Pakistan for mutualbenefit, provided enabling environment is created for the purpose. Thetwo countries have many commonalities to build a strong partnership indifferent spheres of life. Qatar has repeatedly said that it was keen tomaintain a strategic relationship with Pakistan regardless of the tacticalcalculation of profits and losses. However, this commitment could not beturned into reality properly mainly because of bureaucratic approach ap-plied by our policy makers towards exploitation of opportunities offeredby our friends like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey and China. Asboth Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif are deter-mined to bring about an economic revolution in the country, we are surethey would move forward with speed to take advantage of such oppor-tunities. Verbal commitments and signing of MoUs are something elseand their practical implementation is something quite different.

World must pay heedto GCC’s warning

IN an unequivocal and strongly worded warning, Foreign Ministers ofthe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have asked the UN Security Council

to intervene in Yemen where the rebels took over the capital, dissolved Parlia-ment and forced the President to resign last month. The six nation GCC madeit clear that if the world fails to act, it would be forced to take whatever actionsit deems necessary to maintain regional security and stability.

The warning is understandable because for the last few months thecountry is in turmoil as the rebels have taken over large parts of the coun-try, including the capital, Sanaa, which has serious implications for thestability and integrity of Yemen and its neighbours. The GCC nationsthus rightly feel the heat of instability, which is bound to spill over caus-ing immense problems for them if not controlled. Yemen though not arich country but sits at the extreme southwest of the Arabian Peninsula,right on the strategic Bab El Mandeb Strait, separating the Middle Eastfrom Africa, where an estimated 20,000 ships pass annually through thestrategic bottleneck between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea and be-yond, the Suez Canal. In recent years Yemen has seen violent conflictslargely caused by underlying problems of unequal access to power andresources. The instability and resulting large-scale displacement, as wellas weak governance, corruption, resource depletion and poor infrastruc-ture, have hindered development in the poorest country in the MiddleEast. In this background, the stability of Yemen is a priority for the GulfArab allies as well as US and other western countries because of its stra-tegic position and shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden. After the GCCstatement, the UNSC on Sunday delivered a strong and united messageurging the Yemeni rebels to cede power, release President AbedrabboMansour Hadi and negotiate to emerge from the crisis. However, merepassage of the resolution would not be enough and we would emphasizethat the world must pay heed to the GCC warning and play an active roleto help defuse the situation otherwise the GCC nations would be forced tointervene which will be disastrous for the entire region.

India maligns Pak leadership

Mind yourmanners

WE have all seen kidsthrowing food around,making a mess when

they eat and generally being loudand annoying. “Kids!” we say,shake our heads and carry on. Butthe malaise is possibly larger. Con-sider this. A 2013 study by YouGovin Britain showed that Britons feelverbal expressions of politenessstill abound but most Britons werenot likely to follow it up with ac-tion. In fact 39% of respondentssaid teenagers were the least po-lite and 24% felt the elite upperclasses were a pretty nasty bunchto bump into. Basic manners inBritain, it seems, has gone for atoss. American surveys indicate asimilar trend.

There are reams and reams ofliterature on how to bring up one’schildren. From sweet talking tobeing firm with the child, solutionsoffered are numerous. Even abouta decade ago, children would havefamily at home for them — agrandma or a grandfather dotinglytelling them stories and teachingthem how to eat and how to smileand say hello. As families becometinier, with both parents away atwork, setting an example for thechildren is left to schools and babysitters. Unfortunately, this is notinculcating the best of manners inour kids. Children learn best byexample and they absorb even thesmallest gesture and body lan-guage thrown at them by parentswho spend precious little time withtheir young ones. And the lessonsare scrappy and short lived, builtinto an exhausting routine of workand chores at home. Many childrenlearn early that crying loudly andkicking up a fuss when they wantsomething, manages to get theminstant attention from the harriedparent. In a world where everyoneis racing against time, it is easierto indulge the child and make him/her settle down immediately ratherthan to spend time explaining andmodifying the child’s behaviour. Itis an approaching calamity of ourtimes and a circle that is as viciousas insidious. Our next generationis not likely to pass on basic goodmanners to their next. We need tospend more time with our childrenand practice good manners at homeand enjoy a meal together. Afterall, a family that eats together staystogether… in good manners andbad. — Khaleej Times

*****

GCC goingto UN

ON Saturday night the GulfCooperation Council(GCC) took the very seri-

ous step of invoking the UnitedNations Article Seven, which per-mits the use of military force ifthere are breaches of the peace oracts of aggression. The GCC isgiving the Al Houthi leadershipclear warning that their currentpower grab will not be acceptedand is intolerable to the people ofYemen and to neigbouring coun-tries that are seriously affected bythe continuing turmoil in Yemen.

Iran has added to the concernby giving its active backing to theAl Houthis, who should instead re-member their core identity as oneof several forces in Yemen, andseek a Yemeni solution to their is-sues. It is a deep concern for allGCC states as to watch Iran ma-nipulate the Al Houthis as it sur-rounds GCC states with aggressiveclients. In the case of Yemen, thereis an additional concern that Iranwould gain power over the Bab AlMandab straights at the base of theRed Sea, giving it an unacceptableinfluence over global shipping.The UN Security Council was dueto debate the GCC request to in-voke Article Seven, when anotherinternational strand to the AlHouthi politics was set to be re-vealed if Russia vetoed the reso-lution. Russia has backed AlHouthi moves and given themarms, apparently in an effort to re-gain some of its former prestige asa superpower in the Middle East.The way forward is for the UN toapprove the resolution, the AlHouthis to recognise that they needto work with all Yemenis and foragreed GCC reconciliation plan totake effect. — Gulf News

MEDIA WATCH

SINCE BJP came to power, itsleader and Prime Minister ofIndia, Narendra Modi has been

implementing its party’s agenda byaccelerating false propaganda againstPakistan, its Armed Forces andcountry’s spy agency ISI. In this re-gard, Indian newspaper “DeccanChronicle” published a false story onNovember 7, 2014, titled “Pakistan’sISI may target India’s key economiccenters and important installations.”

In the recent past, Indian troopsafter having committed ceasefire vio-lations along the Line of Control(LoC) and Working boundary (WB)martyred several Pakistani nationalsincluding personnel of Rangers. In-stead of extending an apology, Indianpropagandists shamelessly accusedPak Army and ISI for backing cross-border infiltration and violations. OnOctober 15, 2014 in the RAW spon-sored Indian daily, “DeccanChronicle,” Ranjnish Sharma alleg-edly asserted that Pakistan’s repeatedceasefire violations also led to severedifferences between Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif, Pak Army and ISI.

And, in collaboration with the ex-tremist outfit RSS, Indian agenciesorchestrated a drama to defame Pa-kistan in the world. On December 31,2014, Indian media allegedly re-ported that a Pakistani fishing boatas a Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was intercepted by In-dian Coast Guards, at Porebandar,Gujarat. In this respect, an operationwas undertaken on a precise intelli-gence tip and boat was ordered to

PM on media’s role

ADDRESSING a ceremonyof the Council of PakistanNewspaper Editors in

Lahore, Prime Minister NawazSharif said that instead of focusingon improving ratings, the country’smedia should support the governmentin ongoing war against terrorism.“The media plays a key role in thedevelopment of a country and its in-dependence is as important as the in-dependence of the judiciary,” the pre-mier stressed. However, he said thatthe media should refrain from disre-specting anyone and should reportimpartially. He said it should fix acode of conduct for itself, and thegovernment would extend its coop-eration in this regard. He expressedhis indignation over media’s role dur-ing dharnas that had given round-the-clock coverage. Unfortunately, a sec-tion of media has been criticisingmilitary and its agencies, but the sit-ting ministers were found siding themedia group involved in vilificationcampaign on the pretext of freedomof speech and thought.

Whereas the Constitution guar-antees the freedom of speech andthought, it has provisions to censurethose who malign or denigrate mili-tary and judiciary. Apart from that,some media men have been glorify-ing the terrorists and highlighting thestatements of the banned organiza-tions. Others tried to tarnish the im-age of Pakistan’s prestigious institu-tions through selective themes andhalf-baked stories. They did not feel

The optimistproclaims welive in the bestof all possibleworlds; and thepessimist fearsthis is true.

qualms while paintingPak Army in bad light thatmaligning or denigratingmilitary and judiciary isviolation of the Articles ofthe Constitution. Lastyear, a TV channel’s ti-rade against ISI created asense of anxiety amongpatriotic people of Paki-

stan who came out in droves on thestreets to condemn that media group.A section of media also carry articlesand involved in discourse undermin-ing our fundamental values.

The edifice of national makeupand configuration is based on core val-ues and ethics derived from belief sys-tem, faith, social norms and ideology.Core values are regarded as the fun-damental basis of creation of nationstates that must be defended. However,the enemies of Pakistan continue withtheir campaigns contrary to our phi-losophy of life and value system. Theirincessant efforts comprise negativethemes and discourse loaded with as-sertions to attract the attention of au-dience. Our adversary, after havingrealized that Pakistani nation is tooresilient to be conquered through con-ventional means, started venomouspropaganda against our core culturalvalues. Indian dramas and films foundtheir way into Pakistani culture attract-ing sizeable viewership, without anyofficial resistance by Pakistan. In factgovernment issued licenses to differ-ent channels for revenue earning notrealizing about the cultural loss.

Foreign media has also been try-ing to create mistrust among Pakistaniaudience, especially the youth. Hos-tile cartoons and animated caricaturescaptured audience disseminating thedissenting thoughts contrary to theteachings of Islam. Unfortunatelysome of our media houses and anchorsseem to have been overwhelmed byrevenue collection and profit-making.

Special efforts are needed to reinvigo-rate media to protect Pakistani inter-ests and project its image. The editorsof a few English newspapers are thepride of Pakistan that counter foreignmedia foray designed to subvert theminds of Pakistani youth againstideological foundations of Pakistan.The entire nation is proud of nation-alistic character and pro-Pakistan dis-position of patriotic Pakistanis. Na-tional image and honor is always verydear to them who positively projectPakistan in their writings and publicassertions. Two-nation theory - theideological foundation of Pakistan -is well protected by them in a logicaland convincing manner.

There are some pseudo-intel-lectuals and analysts who create sus-picions in the minds of the youththrough skepticism about the ideologyof Pakistan. Some media groups giveoverriding consideration to their busi-ness interests and have contrivedunique methods of attractingviewership. As advertisements andcommercials dominate the viewers’prime time, the contents of TV broad-casts are also skewed and media re-ports blended with sensationalism. Inorder to protect the nation especiallythe youth, the authorities concernedmust take note of cultural invasionagainst our values and take steps toreduce our public’s vulnerability. It isalso pertinent to mention here that In-dia, our neighboring country, is alsovery strict on its policy of allowing Pa-kistan channels’ broadcasts in India sothat their audience does not listen toPakistani version on the issues. Me-dia gurus must rethink their policies,and do a bit of introspection whetherthey are discharging obligations in aconstructive manner.

Of course, our media in the pasthas contributed to the promotion of de-mocracy and making it stable. Barringa few unconscionable and palmed off

stop, but it did not comply andsped away. They set the boaton fire and it exploded. IndianCoast Guard officials statedthat no body or debris wasfound due to bad weather.However, Indian officials

who failed to produce any evidence toIslamabad started portraying anotherversion by suggesting that the boatwhich had left Keti Bandar, Karachimight have belonged to small timesmugglers. While, it is not possible that30 HP boat could run four state of theart Indian Coast Guard ships.

The aim of this Indian drama wasto create an aura against Pakistan priorto US President Barrack Obama’s re-cent visit to India and put pressure onPakistan government on ZakiurRehman Lakhvi’s bail issue and allegeLeT as an organization, posing re-gional threats—and accusingIslamabad of sponsoring terrorist ac-tivities in India. In fact, this is noth-ing, but a brazen reflection of Indiandivisive propaganda, targetingPakistan’s civil military relations.

It is notable that Pakistan’s PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif tried his bestto establish cordial relationship withIndia, and to restore the peace dialoguewith the latter. He also encouragedtrade with India. For the purpose, heparticipated in the oath-taking cer-emony of Prime Minister Modi. But,on May 27, 2014, Prime MinisterModi’s meeting with Prime MinisterSharif proved faultless, because Modiraised baseless issues of cross-borderterrorism as pre-conditions to advancethe Pak-India dialogue. He said thatslow pace of trial against the terroristsof the Mumbai 26/11 terror case; be-ing held in Pakistan is main hurdle.Indian prime minister ignored the factthat on July 19, 2013, Indian formerhome ministry and ex-investigating

officer Satish Verma disclosed thatterror-attacks in Mumbai in Novem-ber 26, 2008 and assault on Indian Par-liament in January 12, 2001 were car-ried out by the Indian government tostrengthen anti-terrorism laws.

Similarly, Indian Home Minis-ter Sushil Kumar Shinde revealed onJanuary 20, 2013 that organisedtraining camps run by the fundamen-talist parties, RSS and BJP were pro-moting Hindu terrorism. He also ex-plained that these extremist partieswere behind the Samjhauta Express,Meccca Masjid and Malegaonblasts. But, India always accusedPakistan’s ISI of all these subversiveacts, while, Indian official confes-sion shows that these terror attackswere arranged by Indian RAW.

However, under the directives ofBJP government, Indian print, elec-tronic and social media do not wasteany opportunity to continuously spitvenomous propaganda against Paki-stan. Since the start of New Year, apalpable shift has been noticed in thetrends of Indian media. It generallyspared the political leadership of Pa-kistan in the past and targeted PakArmy and ISI as a favorite flavor forits propaganda cuisine. Neverthe-less, to create a sprinkling affect,Indian media seems to have startedtargeting Pakistan’s political leader-ship as well.

In this context, in a latest attempt,social media site (Oneindia) and“Deccan Herald”, dated, January 13,2015 gave space to a speculative re-port in which Prime Minister NawazSharif has been alleged for maintain-ing double standards against India.Quoting a latest book, “Where Bor-ders Bleed”, written by ex-Indian dip-lomat Rajiv Dogra, published by RupaPublication, it is alleged that PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif had approved

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elements who criticize the military,agencies and other institutions, me-dia in Pakistan have played com-mendable role during movements forrestoration of democracy; and in therecent past for restoration of judiciary.Today, media are considered as thefourth pillar of the state symbolically;nevertheless constitutionally the Par-liament, Executive and Judiciary arethe pillars of the state, and their pow-ers and responsibilities are outlinedin the Constitution. There is a per-ception that since February 2008elections, pillars of the state havebeen trying to assume authority andcontrol transcending the powersand authority defined in the Con-stitution. One should rememberthat media does not have any pow-ers as other pillars of the state havein the Constitution.

Domestic media in Pakistanmust build its credibility through itsexemplary conduct; especially whenthe policy makers make statementson matters related to national secu-rity or law and order situation. Thereare patriotic and conscionable ele-ments in media, who comprehend theissues in their true perspective anddispel the impression of present stateof despondency, conspiracy theoriesand misperceptions. But at the sametime there is no dearth of biased andgrossly irresponsible anchorpersonsand media men who highlight thedifferences among the pillars of thestate. Some anchorpersons on privateTV channels and columnists in printmedia try to lower the prestige of thearmed forces in the eyes of public,raising doubts about their capabili-ties of defending the integrity andsovereignty of the country. This muststop because by disgracing Pakistan’sinstitutions, they are striking at thevery foundations of the country.—The writer is Lahore-based seniorjournalist.

— James Cabell US journalist

episode of serial blasts in Mumbaiin 1993. In fact, allegation of in-volvement of Prime Minister Sharifin 1993 Mumbai blasts episode isimaginary and baseless. And, as towhy the author, Rajiv Dogra whoserved as Indian Counsel GeneralKarachi took so much time to writeand level such allegations.

While, Pakistan has always re-mained forthcoming in resumptionof meaningful diplomatic engage-ments with India, however, con-trary to Pakistan’s posture, Indianleadership has shown stubborn at-titude and calling off the negotia-tions on flimsy pretexts. In pasttoo, New Delhi made pretexts tocancel peace talks, while shiftingthe blame to Pakistan. For ex-ample, in 2002, under the preten-sion of terrorist attack on the In-dian parliament, India postponedthe dialogue process. Again, in2008, India cancelled the ‘com-posite dialogue’ on the pretext ofMumbai terror attacks. Last year,New Delhi also cancelled the Sec-retary level talks with Islamabad.

Now, India accelerated cross-border shelling inside Pakistan’s ar-eas. India’s main aim is to delay thePak-India peace process, as it is notserious in resolving all issues, espe-cially main dispute of Kashmir withIslamabad. Nonetheless, the book“Where Borders Bleed” also con-tains speculative inferences aboutpolitical leaders of both Pakistan andIndia and likely to generate contro-versies about them. Pakistan’s lead-ers of the political parties may beencouraged to write and expresstheir view point to counter whimsi-cal allegations, leveled against theirleadership in the book.—The writer is Lahore-basedfreelance columnist.

Mohammad JamilEmail: mjamil1938@hotmail.com

News & ViewsNews & ViewsNews & ViewsNews & ViewsNews & Views

Sajjad ShaukatEmail: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Voice of the People

Let ourleaders learn

DANYA ZAIDI

Two renowned political parties ofPakistan - MQM and PTI - were atthe verge of war. It is easily wit-nessed that these two parties areplaying the game of blames whichis still continuing in different formsand manifestations. It’s not the timeto favour or criticize any of thembecause our nation needs unity northe scattered thoughts of the politi-cians. We are surrounded by terror-ism all over and it’s high time totake action against it; furthermore,these wars of words between thepolitical parties are making us weakand diverging and detracting ourminds from unify.

We are giving another chanceto the terrorists to destroy us bymerging our minds in old matterswhich have no worth to be dis-cussed in this crucial time period.It’s not about Imran Khan, AltafHussain or Nawaz Sharif; It’s aboutour state - Pakistan. Our politicalparties should amalgamate as oneto fight against terrorism becausewe are fed up with the terrorist at-tacks and election rigging debatesover and over again. Our politiciansshould realize that it’s about mov-ing forward and eliminating everysort of barriers which come acrossthe progress of our nation.—Karachi

HepatitisB, C and HIV

RIDA MAZHAR

A few months ago, a research wasconducted in the Thalassemia cen-tre of one of the largest public hos-pitals in Islamabad. The objectiveof the research was to find out thenumber of patients with Thalas-semia who also had diseases suchas Hepatitis B, C and HIV. Thalas-semia is an inherited blood disorderin which the body is unable to pro-duce an adequate amount of haemo-globin and hence the patient suffersfrom anaemia. Consequently, peoplewith the disease have to get bloodtransfusions as well as treatment forthe extra iron that accumulates intheir body.

Hepatitis B, C and HIV are dis-eases that are spread through directcontact with the bodily fluids of aninfected person. Hepatitis C is pri-marily spread through infectedblood. Hence, they can be spreadthrough sharing needles, razors, un-protected intercourse and of courseby getting transfusions of bloodwhich carries these diseases. The lastcause was seen to be the primarycause of contracting these diseasesin the Thalassemia patients at thehospital due to the fact that major-ity of them were young kids forwhich the former causes seem un-likely. The transfusions took placein the Thalassemia centre where theresearch was also conducted.

The research proves that analarming amount of the patients inPakistan with Thalassaemia also de-velop these diseases. At the timewhen the research was conducted,only one patient at the hospital waspositive for HIV. However, recently10 kids in Pakistan between theages of 15 and 16 have tested posi-tive for HIV virus, supposedly dueto receiving a transfusion of in-fected blood. It was also noted thatthe prevalence of Hepatitis C wasmuch higher compared to Hepati-tis B and HIV, also indicating in-fected blood transfusions.

The hospital at which the re-search was conducted is consideredto be a very reputable and reliablehospital. However, out of the par-ents of fifty patients who wereasked, 20 claimed that their childrenhad gotten blood transfusions fromthat hospital only and yet their kidsstill had hepatitis C. Most Thalas-semia patients get blood from mul-tiple hospitals across Pakistanthroughout their lives, and so many

WAPDA spearheads a royal visitSALAR LATEEF

Constitution is said to be the most sacred document of any state and it carries great significance information of a comprehensive system to run a state. The Constitution of Pakistan 1973 asserts that

all the citizens of Pakistan are equal. It elaborates that legislatures symbolise the will of the people ofPakistan. The Constitution and all its the subject articles, which bound rulers to serve the nation, seemedmeaningless two days back when opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah came at village Daara Wahansomewhere in suburbs of Khairpur Mir’s. The royal event for such elite guest was managed by localactivists of Pakistan People’s Party, which believes in democracy. The strange rituals of democracy andserving the nation were seen when this programme of Khursheed’s arrival was managed. Before hiscommence, Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) suspended power of more than 100 villagesaround the area for 22 hours. When inhabitants contacted SEPCO administration to know about thereasons of power breakage, it was very astonishing to know by SEPCO crew that the power was sus-pended to facilitate Mr. Shah’s gathering. Being a Pakistani national, May I reserve a right to questionMr. Shah that what sort of democracy they believe in? According to their party’s top brass, they arestruggling for the rights of poor people. The royal gathering of opposition leader and power breakage onaccount of his arrival has marked a question mark over their so called democratic behaviour towardspoor people of this country. I request the Minister Water and power, Abid Sher Ali and all the concernedauthorities to look into the matter and take action against injustice by SEPCO administration, which isbeing tolerated by the people all the time. Moreover, Syed Khursheed Shah should be brought intocourt, are at least explain and apologize on the floor of the Parliament, regarding this gathering, whichcreated multiple problems for the local people of Sindh.—Via email

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View From Abroad

Spy agencies fund climate-altering technologies

A senior US scientist has expressed concern that the intelligence services are fund-

ing climate change research to learnif new technologies could be usedas potential weapons. Alan Robock,a climate scientist at Rutgers Uni-versity in New Jersey, has called onsecretive government agencies to beopen about their interest in radicalwork that explores how to alter theworld’s climate.

Robock, who has contributed toreports for the intergovernmentalpanel on climate change (IPCC),uses computer models to study howstratospheric aerosols could cool theplanet in the way massive volcaniceruptions do. But he was worriedabout who would control such cli-mate-altering technologies shouldthey prove effective, he told theAmerican Association for the Ad-vancement of Science in San Jose.Last week, the National Academy ofSciences published a two-volume re-

port on different approaches to tack-ling climate change. One focused onmeans to remove carbon dioxidefrom the atmosphere, the other onways to change clouds or the Earth’ssurface to make them reflect moresunlight out to space. The reportconcluded that while small-scale re-search projects were needed, thetechnologies were so far from beingready that reducing carbon emis-sions remained the most viable ap-proach to curbing the worst extremesof climate change. A report by theRoyal Society in 2009 made similarrecommendations.

The $600,000 report was part-funded by the US intelligence ser-vices, but Robock said the CIA andother agencies had not fully ex-plained their interest in the work.“The CIA was a major funder of theNational Academies report so thatmakes me really worried who is go-ing to be in control,” he said. Otherfunders included Nasa, the US De-partment of Energy, and the NationalOceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-tration. The CIA established theCentre on Climate Change and Na-

tional Security in 2009, a decisionthat drew fierce criticism from someRepublicans who viewed it as a dis-traction from more pressing terror-ist concerns. The centre was closeddown in 2012, but the agency said itwould continue to monitor the hu-manitarian consequences of climatechange and the impact on US eco-nomic security, albeit not from adedicated office.

Robock said he became suspi-cious about the intelligence agen-cies’ involvement in climate changescience after receiving a call fromtwo men who claimed to be CIAconsultants three years ago. “Theysaid: ‘We are working for the CIAand we’d like to know if some othercountry was controlling our climate,would we be able to detect it?’ I thinkthey were also thinking in the backof their minds: ‘If we wanted to con-trol somebody else’s climate couldthey detect it?’”He replied that if acountry wanted to create a strato-spheric cloud large enough to changethe climate, it would be visible withsatellites and ground-based instru-ments. The use of the weather as a

New challenges in South Asia

OBAMA’S recent visit to India no doubt brought Indiaand US closer to each other

but at the same time this visit wid-ened the already increasing dis-tances between China and US. Thewarming up of Indo-US relationsespecially in the nuclear sphereposes a threat to the Chinese na-tional interests and the Chineseleadership is very well aware ofthis threat.

A few months back, the CNSChina published an article with thetitle, ‘China and the Nuclear Testsin South Asia’. The article said,“China is now facing a new and po-tentially more dangerous securityenvironment. Its nuclear neighborshave doubled following the nucleartests of Pakistan and India in theSouth, joining Russia in the North.Chinese officials blame India forinitiating the crisis in South Asiawhile Pakistan remains one ofChina’s oldest allies in Asia. Chinastates that it is mainly concerned

with the negative impact of thetests on global nuclear non-pro-liferation efforts, and Beijingviews the tests as a direct threatto regional stability and Chi-nese security.”Moreover it is not only China

but also Russia which looks atIndia’s nuclear program as a directthreat to its security as well as athreat to the regional peace. AfterObama’s recent visit to India, bothChina and Russia are feeling un-easy over rapidly growing nuclearcloseness between US and India.Apprehending Chinese anxietyover US-India nuclear closenessafter Obama’s visit to India,Sushma Swaraj, the Indian ForeignMistier paid a visit to China. Ap-parently her visit was to review ar-rangements for Mr.Modi’s visit toChina in near future but in fact itwas an attempt to pacify Chineseanxiety.

According to the NDTV, theanalysts say that Ms Swaraj’s visitto Beijing, which comes just abouta week after US President BarackObama’s visit to India, is beingseen as an attempt to soothe Chi-nese nerves; Mr. Obama’s visitwas seen as the forging of a newalliance in the Asia Pacific region

aimed at China. Keeping all theserealities in view, the Indian lead-ership is initiating intense diplo-matic activities to make China re-alize that India’s overture to USwill not be at the cost of bilateralrelations with China.

But how could China ignorethe policy statement of Mr.Obama and Prime MinisterNarendra Modi which veryclearly referred to free sea lanesand air passages in the SouthChina Sea. China considersIndia’s warming of relations withUSA a direct threat to Chinese na-tional interests. Moreover Indo-China relations have never beenvery cordial and friendly. Both thecountries have so many conflict-ing issues which have always ex-tended the already widening dis-tances between the two countries.

Bo Zhen, a well known Chineseanalyst on strategic affairs penneddown an article in August, 2014,‘Assessing US-India Relations: APerspective from China’. Bo Zhensays, ‘The US considers China anemerging threat, and it has histori-cally attempted to make India itspawn in the Asia-Pacific ‘rebalanc-ing strategy’. Its long-term strategytherefore is to use India to contain

Ian Sample

the rise of China. The fundamen-tal aim is to contain China by de-veloping friendly but utilitarianforeign relations with India andmaintaining its dominant role inthe Asia-Pacific region.’

In an article published in theEast Asia Forum, LouiseMerrington has commented onIndo-China relationship in a veryinteresting way. She says ‘ Grow-ing closeness between India andthe US has caused some concernin China about the possibility thatthe US may be establishing apolicy of containment or encircle-ment, and this concern in turn af-fects China’s relationship withboth the US and India’.

It means the Chinese authori-ties are aware that US interferencein the regional affairs of the SouthAsia exist and it would simplycause imbalance in the regionwith serious implications for glo-bal security. Keeping this entiresituation in view, the US presidentwill have to do something extraor-dinary to pacify China and to as-sure China that US is not promot-ing India as counter balance in theSouth-Asian region.—The writer is Multan-basedfreelance columnist.

weapon was banned in 1978 underthe Environmental ModificationConvention (Enmod). Asked howhe felt about the call, Robock saidhe was scared. “I’d learned of lotsof other things the CIA had donethat didn’t follow the rules. Ithought that wasn’t how my taxmoney was spent,” he said. The CIAdid not respond to requests for com-ment over the weekend.

The US dabbled in weathermodification before Enmod was in-troduced. In the early 1960s, re-searchers on Project Storm Furyseeded thunderstorms with variousparticles in the hope of diminish-ing their destructive power. A simi-lar process was adopted during theVietnam war, with clouds seededover the Ho Chi Minh trail in a bidto make the major supply route forNorth Vietnamese foot soldiers toomuddy to pass. “I think this re-search should be out in the open andit has to be international so therewon’t be any question that this tech-nology will used for hostile pur-poses,” Robock said.— Courtesy: The Guardian

of them contract Hepatitic B, C andHIV. There is obviously a major flawin the blood screening process in Pa-kistan. It is believed that many bloodbanks in Pakistan buy supplies ofblood from drug addicts who needcash. Every year in Pakistan, nearly5000 babies are born with Thalas-semia. The poor souls are unfortunateenough to be born with a disease theyhave to combat all their lives. Theyshould not have to suffer from otherdeadly diseases due to the careless-ness of blood banks in Pakistan.—Islamabad

Anotheratrocious attack

JAVAID BASHIR

Another tragic incident of suicidebombing occurred in Peshawar. Thisis a clear message from the terror-ists that they can hit any place at anytime. Was it done in reaction to theD.G. ISPR’s press conference warn-ing them of serious action. I thinkthe terrorists have escalated their ne-farious activities in reaction to Op-eration Khyber One and resumptionof the execution of death sentencesto the terrorists. The city has becomethe bed rock of terrorism. Accord-ing to the police sources four terror-ists clad in police uniform drove ina car and blasted Imam Bargh. Wewere expecting an incident like thisto happen. We do not have the ba-rometer to gauge the scale of terror-ists’ activities.

How many more people wouldhave to sacrifice their lives? The Pro-vincial government and all the politi-cal parties have failed to effectivelydeal with the menace of terrorism.Usual condemnations by the promi-nent political leaders were made inregard of this gruesome tragedy. Itwould not help the victims’ relatives’mourning their irreparable loss. Pa-kistan Bar council will observe blackday to honour the martyrs of ImamBargh. It has once again opened thewounds of the people of Pakistan. Itis indeed a gross security lapse. It cannot be tolerated and accepted at anycosts. The State is running on waterkit Policy. How can we execute thedead terrorists? We need to go afterthe master minds of these atrocities.My understanding is that governmenthas no seriousness or priority to acton the National Action Plan.—Via email

Share the burdenSHAHID AHMED QURESHI

Biggest Civil Hospital of TalukaBadin is providing health facilities toa large number of people, includingnearby District Tharparkar. Its DailyOutdoor Patient (OPD) records revealthat a large number of OPD as wellas emergency patients are referredHyderabad Civil Hospital, due toacute shortage of doctors. Accordingto details, more than 700 patients ofthe Civil Hospital Badin (CHB) arereferred, daily, to Hyderabad CivilHospital due to shortage of specialistdoctors like cardiologists, ortho-paedics, neurologists, anaesthetistsand other specialists; while lot ofpositions are lying vacant in the CHB.

Meanwhile, due to shortage ofdoctors, mid class patients move to-wards private clinics for their treat-ment while poor patients get treat-ment from Civil Hospital and man-age to get only a prescription chit;while the medicines they are com-pelled to purchase from private stores.The emergency/surgery cases are re-ferred to the Hyderabad Civil Hospi-tal; and some patients pass away dueto long distance (100 Kilometres)between Badin to Hyderabad. InSindh Province only Physician doc-tors are available in Civil HospitalHyderabad while the rest of the dis-tricts refer emergency patients inCivil Hospital Hyderabad.

The Director Health Departmentmay kindly arrange professional doc-tors for all diseases in Badin CivilHospital as well as other districts asthis practice of referring the cases toC H Hyderabad is not only adding to

the miseries of the patients but alsoposing a big burden on the C HHyderabad rendering it difficult tocope with the cases. Moreover, theCHB staff – doctors and paramedics– should be advised to shift in widespace new building in which millionsrupees have been expensed.—Badin

Secure the futureSHEHARYAR ALI

National Action Plan, Unity prom-ises, improvement in law and ordersituations and what not measureswere decided after the biggest trag-edy of December 16, 2014. Thequestion arises as to what extent wehave followed these. It seems eitherwe are forgetting those innocent an-gels and their families or we are tiredof showing our sympathies towardsthem. Everything seems to be blurand lead footed. We should not for-get that our children are still in dan-ger; moreover, our precious treasureeducation is on a knife-edge.

Recent cracker blast at a privateschool is a symbol that we are notsafe enough to live are lives withoutany fear. It’s time for some real ac-tion and measures to save future ofour nation. There are still manyschools in Pakistan that lack propersecurity and they genuinely need tobe provided with adequate amount ofprotection. Not only our governmentbut each and everyone person is re-sponsible for the safety and securityof education. Apart from this, differ-ent programmes and sessions shouldbe held to motivate children abouteducation and to eliminate dreadfulfright from their minds.—Karachi

Pensioners’poor plightAKMAL MAJEED

It seems that our government alwaysremains on the lookout for an op-portunity to fleece its pensioners. In2010, through a new pension rulenumber 16(E), they were robbed ofthe right of restoration of their com-muted part of pension and also,through 16(F), their right of rein-statement of all back-accumulatedincrements and allowances wasabolished. This year through a par-tial compliance of Supreme Courtorder, the 16(E) has been abolished,but the morbid (16F) continues tobe operative. Moreover, the 50%increase in serving personnel’s sala-ries granted in 2010 has yet to beextended to the pensioners and theyare still being kept on the usual mea-gre10% annual increases.

The government of Pakistanand of all our Provinces are re-quested to allow all these basic hu-man rights to their pensioners andabolish the poisonous section 16(F)and to enhance their pensions by50% in this year’s budget whichshould be applicable on gross pen-sion and not just on net pension asis the case now. It is high time ourgovernments really started treatingthe elderly pensioners as the weakersection of the society and stoppedconsidering them as outcasts of thecommunity and give them backtheir rightful benefits. I also requestall the present policy-making bu-reaucrats not to ridicule their eld-erly predecessors because one day,soon enough, they are also goingto join these pensioners’ queues.—Muzaffargarh

Just beyond the door..!

WHERE are we goinggrandpa?” asked thelittle fellow as he was all

dressed up and ready to go. “Tothe airport!” said the grandfather,“to welcome your father back.”“Dad!” shouted the little fellow ashis father came out of the airport,“Dad, do you enjoy staying in theairport?” “I don’t stay in the air-port!” said his puzzled father.“Ofcourse you do!” said the little boy,“Of course you do dad! Remem-ber we left you at the airport doora few months ago? And nowyou’ve come out of there! And do

you know what I do when I missyou?” “You don’t have to tell yourdad that!” said the grandfather grufflylooking at his son guiltily. “No, notell me,” said the father with a gentlesmile, “Tell me what you do whenyou miss me?”

“Well grandfather and I come tothe airport, we sit on that bench overthere and we look at the door, andthen grandfather says, ‘look beyondthe door,’ can you see your father?And I say, yes granddad I think I can,and then I see you dad, and know youare okay and will come home soon!”“I’m not sure you should have toldyour dad that!” said the grandfatherto the little boy later as they sat thatevening and chatted.

“Why ever not,” said the little fel-low, “Daddy was quite happy I’d

found a way not to miss him toomuch!” It was a few years later thatthe grandfather lay sick in hospitaland the little fellow now a little olderwent to visit him, “Soon I will begoing my little child,” whispered thegrandfather and there will be muchcrying and wailing, but I don’t wantyou to shed a tear!” “I will grandfa-ther, I will!” wept the boy.

“No, you shouldn’t, because thatwill make me very sad!” said thegrandfather, “But I know what youshould do when you do miss me!”“What?” asked his grandson and hisgrandfather leaned forward andwhispered into his ear. The day ofthe funeral came and they could notfind the boy. “We have to take thebody to the cemetery!” said themother, “Where is our son!” “I left

him at the airport!” said his father,“and we’ll collect him after we aredone with the rituals!” The boywas at the airport sitting on thesame bench where he had sat withhis grandfather before, smiling atthe dark glass of the door. “Canyou see him?” asked his father.“No dad I can’t!” said his son, “ButI know he’s inside like he told me,with his best friend!” “Friend?”asked his mother.

“Jesus ma!” the boy exclaimed,“He’s happy with Jesus. He said he’llfly about a bit, but most importanthe’d be there to welcome us, whenour time is done!” There were notears as the three went home. Theyknew their loved one was waiting forthem, just beyond the door..!—Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com

Ramifications of State terrorism

ON Oct 27, 1947, the obscurantists of India, under thespell of chauvinistic and

expansionistic urge, invaded thestate of Jammu and Kashmir justto subjugate and enslave the Mus-lims who had already been brutal-ized by the alien rulers especiallythe autocratic Dogra rulers ofJammu. Indian army, with the as-sistance of Dogra army, embarkedon the barbarian scourge and car-nage thereby slaughtering two anda half lakh Muslims of Jammuprovince. About four lakh Muslimswere forced to migrate to Pakistan.Thus Indian army, through com-plete ethnic cleansing, orchestratedthe repugnant and abominable showof mayhem when Tatars devastatedBaghdad (Iraqi capital) in 656 AH.

The relentless and rapaciousimperialist rulers of India usedState Terrorism as a battering ramto coerce Kashmiris into submis-sion. However, Kashmiris – bat-tered and banished, punished andpulverized, lacerated and lynched,

mortified and mangled- did notbudge. Kashmiris were decimatedand butchered en masse. Each andevery Indian soldier is hell-bent onacting as General Dyer to assassi-nate Kashmiris. Indian armed per-sonnel have been indemnifiedagainst accountability by the dra-conian laws like AFSPA and DAA.Six lakh Kashmiris were put to thesword during the past 67 years. Re-silient Kashmiris resisted the on-slaught of India with guts and grit.They did not kowtow to jackbootsof India and its ravenous armedcannibals. Kashmiri resistanceleaders faced trials and tribulationswith exemplary fortitude, sto-icism, perseverance and patience.

Indian imperialists have insti-tutionalized State Terrorism just tofurther the cause of their hege-monic obtrusion. Yourprocrastinative and dilatory detourdeters and trammels the pacifist ef-forts of peace activists who arestrenuously working for the peace-ful settlement of Kashmir issue.Your politics of polemics, recrimi-nation, imprecation and tempori-zation will inevitably prove coun-terproductive in the long run. Stoptinkering with Kashmir issue.

Don’t obfuscate the situation bydabbing at the problem that hascreated uncertainty in South Asia.So adopt the course of rationalism,pragmatism, futuristic objectivityand reconciliation to pave way forearly peaceful resolution of Kash-mir tangle and imbroglio.

I make a fervent and passion-ate appeal to Christian intelligen-tsia to look for the points of com-monality between Islam and Chris-tianity. The impetuous and virulentdemagogues of western countrieshave, because of their neurotic ob-session, demonized and diabolizedthe Islamic puritans and their pu-ritanism. Their anti-Islam aversionand phobia has, inadvertently,groomed the Muslim ultras who,through their resilient resistance,are trying to horrify their adver-saries real or imaginary.

It is time to neutralize the trendof polarization between two ma-jor communities. The planet earthis already beset by multi-facetedproblems of commotion, class war,communalism, sectarianism, xeno-phobia, religious bigotry and bias,intellectual mediocrity and paro-chialism. In such a situation gen-eralized intolerance has become

the hallmark of global civiliza-tion. And that is why I, as a non-conformist, emphasize eclecti-cism in religious discourse.Emancipated intellectuals believ-ing in futuristic altruism can stemthe rot and rectify the wrong ifglobal peace and tranquillity isthe cherished objective they areearnestly focusing on.

My compatriots should try tounderstand that instinctive im-pulsiveness certainly promptstransient spasmodic outburst andabreaction against a tragic epi-sode of human rights abuse andviolation; nevertheless, it is thesustained intellectual and literarycampaign of the freedom votariesand resistance ideologues whichcan impart tincture of indefatiga-bility and viability to the resis-tance movement. So you shouldindispensably empathize with thehistory of your great martyrs andresistance leaders. Your patrioticintellectual assertion will even-tually and inevitably force youradversary to adopt a humanisticapproach to Kashmir issue.—The writer is Patron JKMahaz-e-Azadi Nageen,Hazratbal, Srinagar.

Ali Sukhanver Email:alisukhanver@hotmail.com

M Azam InqilabiEmail:mahazmediacell@gmail.com

JEDDAH:THE Organization of Islamic Coopera-tion Ministerial level Executive Committee, OIC/EC, held an emergency meeting at the OIC Gen-eral Secretariat on February 15, 2015 to discussthe threat posed by violent extremism in the Mus-lim world; and the unabated spread of terrorismaffecting many OIC Member States.

After exhaustive discussions and deliberations,the participants unanimously agreed on the follow-ing:

1. The Meeting recalled the relevant provi-sions of the OIC Charter relating to terrorism, ex-tremism, and the promotion of moderation; it fur-ther recalled relevant OIC legal instruments, spe-cifically the OIC Code of Conduct on CombatingTerrorism (1994) and the OIC Convention on Com-bating International Terrorism (1999), the relevantprovisions of the Ten-Year Program of Action(TYPOA) 2005, the resolutions of the IslamicSummit and the Council of Foreign Ministers, aswell as the relevant resolutions of the UN Secu-rity Council, particularly resolution 2199 (2015).

2. The Meeting reiterated its principled po-sition against terrorism in all its forms and mani-festations, committed by whomsoever and wher-ever; and reaffirmed its unequivocal rejection ofall attempts to associate any country, race, religion,culture or nationality with terrorism.

3. Rejection of terrorist acts which targetedMember States was reaffirmed, including:

a. The Meeting reiterated its condemnationof continuous violations of the basic rights of thePalestinian people and practice of state terrorismby Israel in the occupied territories, especiallyaggressions against people, land and sacred sitesin Al-Quds As-Shareef, and the blockade it im-poses on the Gaza Strip in total disregard to in-ternational law and international humanitarianlaw.

b. The Meeting condemned the heinouscrimes perpetrated by “Daesh” on Iraq’s land andagainst its people. It condemned, specifically andin the strongest terms, the barbaric crime commit-ted by that organization by burning alive the Jor-danian prisoner pilot Mo’az Al-Kasasbah; reaf-firmed Member States’ solidarity with the King,Government and people of Jordan in their effortsto counter terrorism and extremism; expressedappreciation of the sacrifices of the JordanianArmed Forces; and urged the international com-munity to work closely with Jordanian authorities

Extraordinary meeting of OIC Executive Committee: Final Communique

Members of the Ukrainian armed forces are seen not far from Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine.

Japan emergesfrom recession

but growthsubdued

TOKYO—Japan’s economyrebounded from recession inthe final quarter of last yearbut growth was weaker thanexpected as household andcorporate spending disap-pointed, underlining the chal-lenge premier Shinzo Abefaces in shaking off decades ofstagnation.

The annualized 2.2 percentexpansion in October-Decem-ber was smaller than a 3.7 per-cent increase forecast in aReuters poll, suggesting a frag-ile recovery as the hangoverfrom last year’s sales tax hikelingered.

The preliminary readingfor gross domestic product(GDP), which translates into aquarter-on-quarter increase of0.6 percent, follows twostraight quarters of contraction,data by the Cabinet Officeshowed on Monday.

Economic Minister AkiraAmari told reporters after thedata’s release that the economywas on track for a recoverywith signs consumer sentimentis picking up. But analystspointed to the weak rebound inconsumption and capital ex-penditure as worrying signs tothe outlook.

“These are somewhat dis-appointing figures,” saidTakeshi Minami, chief econo-mist at Norinchukin ResearchInstitute. “The situation re-mains weak and companies areclearly postponing invest-ments.” The rebound from re-cession, however, will allowthe Bank of Japan to hold offon expanding monetary stimu-lus for now even as slumpingoil prices push inflation furtheraway from its 2 percent target,analysts say.

“The BOJ is expected tokeep monetary policy un-changed for a while to see theimpact from the latest easing,”said Taro Saito, director of eco-nomic research at NLI Re-search Institute. The data willbe one of the key factors theBOJ will scrutinize at its two-day rate review ending onWednesday, where it is widelyset to maintain the current paceof asset purchases in its mon-etary stimulus program.

Private consumption,which makes up about 60 per-cent of the economy, rose 0.3percent in the final quarter, lessthan a median market forecastfor a 0.7 percent increase. Capi-tal expenditure also rose just0.1 percent after two straightquarters of declines, suggestingthe BOJ’s aggressive moneyprinting has yet to nudge firmsinto boosting investment.

In a glimmer of hope, ex-ternal demand added 0.2 per-centage point to growth onrobust shipments to theUnited States and China,Japan’s two biggest exportdestinations.—Reuters

VUHLEHIRSK (Ukraine)—A government-held townin east Ukraine sandwiched between two rebel-con-trolled areas came under heavy shelling on Monday,a day after the start of a ceasefire that Russian-backedseparatists say does not apply there. A Kiev militarysource said four Ukrainian soldiers had been killedand 21 wounded since the internationally negotiatedceasefire came into force on Sunday.

A Reuters correspondent at Vuhlehirsk, about 10km (6 miles) to the west of Debaltseve, a govern-ment-held railway junction town that has been the

Heavy shelling hits Ukraine townwhere rebels reject ceasefire

focus of most of the fighting in recent weeks, heardheavy shelling, with blasts around every 10 seconds.The ceasefire was negotiated at a summit of leadersof Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France in Belaruslast week in an attempt to end 10 months of conflictin eastern Ukraine in which more than 5,000 peoplehave been killed.

Although fighting generally ceased in the first min-utes of Sunday after the ceasefire came into force,military spokesman Anatoly Stelmakh told reporters ithad continued, or even escalated, around Debaltseve.

“The illegal armed groups are not supporting theceasefire,” he said, adding the rebels were using Gradrockets and tanks to attack government forces holdingthe town. “The number of attacks on Debaltseve haseven increased in comparison to previous days and theyare using all types of weapons,” Stelmakh said.

“The terrorists have been given the order to takeDebaltseve at all cost.” In all, government positionshad been fired on 112 times by rebels in the past 24hours, with government forces firing only when theycame under attack, Stelmakh said.—Reuters

BERLIN—Germany’s FinanceMinister Wolfgang Schaeublesaid in a radio interview onMonday that he was not veryoptimistic that Greece and itseuro zone partners would reacha debt agreement at a meetingin Brussels later in the day.Asked if the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers wouldfind a solution for Greece’sdebt problems, Schaeuble toldDeutschlandfunk: “From whatI’ve heard about the technicaltalks over the weekend, I’mvery skeptical, but we will geta report today and then we’llsee.”

Schaeuble said Germanydid not want Greece out leave

Germany’s Schaeuble‘very skeptical’ about

Greek debt talksthe euro zone, but that the newgovernment in Athens had tofulfill the core conditions of itsbailout program and that it wasnot about finding a compro-mise deal “just for the sake ofa compromise”.

“The problem is thatGreece has lived beyond itsmeans for a long time and thatnobody wants to give Greecemoney anymore withoutguarantees,” Schaeuble said,noting that Athens had tostick to agreed reforms to be-come competitive. Schaeubleadded that the new Greekgovernment was behaving“quite irresponsibly” rightnow.—Reuters

to bring the perpetrators of these terrorist acts tojustice.

c. The Meetings also condemned the terror-ist acts in Afghanistan, especially the attack on avolleyball stadium in Yahyakhail district in Paktikaon 24 November 2014; the attack on a school inPeshawar, Pakistan, on 16 December 2014; theterror attack on Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli, Libyaon January 28, 2015; and the current escalation interrorist activities in Egyptian cities in January,including the terrorist attack in the Sinai Penin-sula on 29 January 2015; the repeated attacks andmass killings perpetrated by “Boko Haram” inBaga in January 2015, and the abduction of hun-dreds of school girls in Chibok, as well as the re-current acts of murder committed by ‘Daesh”,“Boko Haram”, “Al-Shabab”, “Al-Qaeda”, andother comparable terrorist groups.

d. The Meeting stressed that such crimesblatantly run against both Islamic and universalhuman values, as all terrorist groups which com-mitted those crimes adopt a radical extremist ide-ology and are involved in the ongoing flow ofarms, fighters and field experience. In this con-nection, the Meeting commended all measuresadopted and efforts exerted by the Member Statesin confronting international terrorism, consistentwith the OIC Charter, relevant Convention andother relevant international agreements andmechanisms.

4. The Meeting expressed serious concern atthe exacerbation of the political and security situ-ation in the Republic of Yemen, which threatensthe security, stability and territorial integrity ofYemen. It calls, in this regard, on all parties to en-deavour, through peaceful means and without theuse of violence, to resume the political processconsistent with the terms of reference of the GCCInitiative and its implementation mechanisms andthe outputs of national dialogue, and to implementUNSC resolution 2140 (2014). The Meeting re-jects all unilateral measures taken by Houthi mili-tias to impose the fait accompli by force, and theattempt to alter the structure and nature of theYemeni society; supports the legitimate authorityand its existing institutions; rejects the detentionof Yemen’s President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi,Prime Minister Khaled Bahah and Ministers andofficials, calling for their immediate release, andrejects the so-called constitutional declaration byHouthi militias.

5. The Meeting expressed its full solidaritywith Nigeria and countries in the Lake Chad Ba-sin in the face of the escalating attacks by the ter-ror group “Boko Haram”. It welcomes the effortsof the region to establish the Multi-national JointTask Force as a platform to coordinate their ac-tions to combat the group which continues to posea threat to the peace and stability of the region.

6. The Meeting expressed serious concernover the increase of intolerance and discrimina-tion against Muslims resulting into the upsurgeof Islamophobia, a phenomenon which is an af-front to the human rights and dignity of Mus-lims. In this connection, the Meeting recalledthe UNHRC resolution 16/18 titled “Combat-ing intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigma-tization, discrimination, incitement to violenceand violence against persons based on religionor belief” (A/HRC/RES/16/18) as an importanttool to counter radicalization, marginalizationand alienation, and called for its effective imple-mentation by the international community as ameans to deprive terrorist groups of any justifi-cation for violent extremism on the grounds ofethno-religious stigmatization and discrimina-tion.

7. The Meeting recognized that terrorismcannot not be tackled by security or military meansalone, and that due attention and concrete plans ofaction must address the following aspects and di-mensions of the phenomenon of terrorism:

a) The political and socio-economic contextsthat bring forth conditions conducive to the spreadof terrorism and violent extremism, such as con-tinued economic deprivation, exclusion, alienation,separation and marginalization of people, and theforced dismantling of political, legal, security andsocio-cultural institutions.

b) The deep impact and legacy of historicalinjustices done to colonized peoples or those un-der occupation, their sufferings and the forced de-struction of their national institutions, culture andidentity, and the denial of their rights to self-deter-mination.

c) The need to counter all types of radicalextremist discourse in order to delegitimize theviolent and manipulative acts committed in thename of religion, ideology or claims of culturalsuperiority.

d) The need to revisit the OIC relevant docu-ments in regard to terrorism, including the Code

of Conduct on Combating Terrorism, the OIC Con-vention on Combating International Terrorism andthe numerous resolutions issued by the differentorgans of the OIC in order to effectively addressthe new trends of terrorism and extremism.

e) Take action at the international level witha view to holding an international conference oncombating terrorism which would come up with aconsensual international definition of terrorism.

f) The underlying causes of sectarian vio-lence, the attempts to politicize the sectarian dif-ferences, the emphasis on sects as the essence ofidentity, and the waging of campaigns to convertMuslims from one sect to the other.

g) The potential of external actors penetrat-ing terrorist and extremist groups for the purposeof serving their own political agenda, and the threatof non-Arab and non-Muslim foreign fighters.

h) The role of the media and the advent ofcyber terrorism through the utilization of new in-formation and communication technologies by ter-rorist groups for the purpose of recruitment andincitement to terrorism.

8. In light of the above, the Meeting calledfor the following urgent actions:

a) It requested the Secretary General to con-vene a meeting of legal and terrorism experts torevisit the OIC Convention of 1999 in a bid to laydown the proper mechanisms to counter the newtrends of terrorism in the OIC Member States. Italso requested the Secretary General to maintainthe momentum of the debate on international ter-rorism, cross border crime, and security develop-ments by convening conferences, symposia andworkshops involving political, religious and tradi-tional leaders, scholars etc. in collaboration withOIC partners, including Member and non-mem-ber State; and to hold specialized conferences toreview educational curricula.

b) The Meeting requested the Secretary Gen-eral to strengthen partnerships with internationaland regional organizations on counter terrorism;called for the activation of the ‘InternationalCounter Terrorism Center of the UN’ to coordi-nate global counter-terrorism efforts and com-mended Saudi Arabia for its contribution of US$110 million to support the activities of the Center,as well as the ongoing cooperation between theOIC and the UN Counter Terrorism ExecutiveDirectorate (CTED).

c) The Meeting called on the Secretary Gen-

eral to work with Member States in order to dem-onstrate further solidarity with affected countriesby undertaking investments that would create jobswith a view to eradicating unemployment and pov-erty.

d) The Meeting called upon the SecretaryGeneral to work with the Member States tocrystalize a new paradigm to confront and remedythe causes of sectarian violence.

e) The Meeting requested the Secretary Gen-eral to work with the Member States to seek waysto empower the youth and other communities atrisk of exploitation by terrorist groups in order tomake them less susceptible to recruitment andradicalization.

f) The Meeting requested the Secretary Gen-eral to hold a meeting of experts from the MemberStates to seek ways to confront threats to cybersecurity as a matter of urgency with due respect tohuman rights, fundamental freedoms and the ruleof law.

g) The Meeting called upon the SecretaryGeneral to work with the Member States to en-courage them, consistent with their commitmentsto the OIC Convention and other relevant interna-tional agreements, to take the necessary and ap-propriate measures prohibiting incitement to ter-rorism, refrain from providing any direct or indi-rect form of support to entities or persons involvedin terrorism, dry up the sources of terrorism byrefraining from paying ransoms in order to freehostages and prohibit such practice, step away fromthe causes of abominable dissension and discordamong Muslims and incitement to violence andextremism against other nations, respect the wishesof peoples in choosing their representatives; andabstain from hosting and providing safe shelter toinsurgent groups, and from financing them and pro-viding them with any form of assistance whatso-ever to wage political campaigns.

h) The Meeting requested the Secretary Gen-eral to hold a series of meetings, workshops, sym-posia and conferences of Ulamas, intelligentsiaand social scientists to study and dismantle thediscourse of extremism and sectarianism; andcalled upon him to build bridges with Muslimcommunities outside OIC Member States in or-der to stress the discourse of Islam’s values ofmoderation, justice, equality and tolerance, andmonitor violence committed against these com-munities.—PR

France will stay on high alertafter Copenhagen attacks: PM

PARIS—French Prime Minister ManuelValls said on Monday the threat of militantattacks in the country remained “particularlyhigh” and that exceptional security measureswould remain in place as long as neededafter attacks in Copenhagen. Separately,French police opened an inquiry on Sundayafter more than 200 tombs were damaged ina Jewish cemetery near the northeastern cityof Strasbourg.

France has deployed some 10,000 mili-tary personnel to protect public sites and an-nounced thousands of new hires in the intel-ligence sector after 17 people were killed ina series of attacks by Islamist gunmen inJanuary.

Valls said two attacks at the weekend inCopenhagen, which targeted a synagogueand a free speech event involving an artistwho had caricatured Mohammad, under-scored the need for prolonged action againstwhat he called “Islamo-fascism”.

“We will prolong these measures as longas necessary, as long as the threat remainsso high,” Valls told RTL radio of a securityplan involving deployment of troops and po-lice in public places and near sensitive sites.

Separately, French police opened an in-quiry on Sunday after more than 200 tombswere damaged in a Jewish cemetery nearthe northeastern city of Strasbourg.

Valls called upon French Jews to remainin France and promised the “strongest pos-sible” legal response after Israeli Prime Min-ister Benjamin Netanyahu called anew uponEuropean Jews to emigrate to Israel after theCopenhagen attacks. “My message to FrenchJews is as follows: France is as hurt as youare and France does not want you to leave,”he said.

Valls said authorities believed the cem-etery attacks were the work of several peoplebut there were no firm leads at present.—Reuters

JOHN LLOYD

A BELIEF that the world is plunging into multiple crises isnow commonplace, at least in Europe. Continued Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, the Finnish Prime Min-

ister Alexander Stubb told the BBC on Thursday, could be “theend of the end of the Cold War.” Mainstream economists haveraised the chances of a Greek exit from the euro to high, and ofa collapse of the euro to more than possible. All these arepossibles, could bes, question marks. We are in Donald Rumsfeldland, where there are known unknowns, unknown unknowns andfew knowns. And because the stakes are so high, and so muchfor so many millions hangs on the outcomes of the present cri-ses, efforts at resolution keep throwing up more known unknowns.

This week, two crucial meetings — one in Brussels on Greekdebt and the other in Minsk on the Russia-Ukraine conflict —rolled the unknowns over to a future date. We don’t know ifGreece, the European Union and the International Monetary Fundcan get an agreement on debt and reform that they, and theirconstituencies, can stick to. Nor do we know if an outline agree-ment to end the fighting in Ukraine’s east, arrived at in Minsk,Belarus, in the early hours of Thursday, can hold when a more orless identical one didn’t.

One thing we do know: All the principals in these two crises— central to the future stability of Europe and to the world —are in different ways weak. None of the players are able to de-liver strong, consistent backing for whatever is agreed, or evento get any kind of agreement at all. The country that can stillclaim to be the world’s superpower, the United States, hoversanxiously over these crises, especially that in Ukraine, but is forthe moment detached from both. This is European business, andthere’s a European superpower involved. That is Germany, which,willy-nilly, has a hegemonic position over both crises. But if it’sa hegemon, it’s a hapless, hobbled one.

First, Ukraine. It’s where blood is being spilt, in increas-ingly large quantities. Petro Poroshenko, the Ukrainian presi-dent, is “weak and politically beleaguered,” with a badly equippedand trained military, a still-corrupt society, a desperate economy,and turbulence and dissent within his administration. He has failedto hold the advance of the separatists, failed to mobilize enoughpressure on President Vladimir Putin of Russia to stop supply-ing the separatists and failed to convince the West to supply himwith advanced weaponry.

Putin seems much stronger. He has taken and holds Ukraine’sCrimea to the point where the annexation isn’t even raised otherthan formally in negotiations. He has equipped and supportedthe rebels to the point where they have been able to fashion them-selves into a force capable of defeating a relatively large, if inef-ficient, army. He’s still at 80 percent popularity in Russian polls.

But he’s also trapped. His economy, hit by sanctions andlow oil prices, is moving steadily into recession. If he continuesto support the rebels, the next round of sanctions could cut Rus-sia out of most connections with global finance. If he doesn’t,he’ll be quickly accused of treachery by his resurgent right wing.Eduard Limonov, the most prominent spokesman for those whobelieve in Russia’s continuing imperial mission, said in an inter-view (in Italian) last weekend that were Putin to let down theseparatists, his popularity — still buoyed by the taking of Crimea— “would melt like the snow in the sun.”

French President Francois Hollande, who along with Ger-man Chancellor Angela Merkel has sought to hold Ukrainianand Russian noses to the grindstone, has recently gotten a rat-ings boost after his dignified reaction to the Charlie Hebdo mur-ders. But his newfound popularity is fragile and may sink if theFrench economy doesn’t pick up, which it refuses to do. Hisparty held on to a seat in a by-election in Doubs against a chal-lenge from Marie Le Pen’s National Front — but by the skin ofits teeth. She hailed it as a victory, while leftists warned of thegrowing danger they think she represents. Hollande wants a quicksuccess in the talks with Russia to bolster his shaky new stand-ing; the risk is that any settlement will do.

As for the other crisis (krisis is a Greek word), the meetingof the eurozone finance ministers in Brussels on Wednesdaydidn’t even produce an agreed statement. Greek Finance Min-ister Yanis Varoufakis had seemed to agree to an EU proposal,then after consultation with aides (more likely, a reining-backfrom the harder-line Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras), he turnedit down. Tsipras sees himself leading a movement of revoltagainst imposed austerity not just in Greece but also in Eu-rope. He told a rally in Athens on Wednesday that, “In the cit-ies of Greece and Europe, the people are fighting the negotia-tion battle. They are our strength.” But his weakness is moreobvious: the dependence of Greece on European Union andInternational Monetary Fund support, the bleakness of the con-sequences of a “Grexit.

—Courtesy: Reuters

Two crises and onehapless ‘savior’ in Europe

lay in the case and said that the SindhHigh Court’s directives were not beingfollowed by the government and thatwas due to the lack of cooperation bythe investigation officer.

Sources added Hanjra could not con-tinue with the case due to security risks.It has been learnt that the special pros-ecutor was not provided with securitywhile travelling to and from the premisesof the court. Previously, Hanjra had writ-ten to the government on the matter, butthere has been no progress on her plea.

She had notified the Law Depart-

Prosecutor in Baldiafactory fire case resigns

From Page 1

ment and the Sindh government regard-ing security risks asking to be providedwith security at her home, office andduring travel. However, no police per-sonnel were deployed for Hanjra’s se-curity.

The process for appointing a newprosecutor in the case is under way, how-ever, the government has not disclosedany names as yet.

The Baldia Town factory infernocase took a dramatic turn last week whena report by Rangers claimed that theMuttahida Qaumi Movement was behind

the deadly fire that claimed the lives ofat least 258 factory workers.

The report prepared by a joint inves-tigation team was submitted to the SindhHigh Court by an additional attorneygeneral, along with a statement of thedeputy assistant judge advocate generalof Rangers, Major Ashfaque Ahmed.

The statement said that the informa-tion had been disclosed by suspectMohammad Rizwan Qureshi, an allegedworker of the MQM, on June 22, 2013during joint investigation of the factoryinferno.

Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) along Prime MinisterMuhammad Nawaz Sharif.

The High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) was estab-lished at the Prime Ministerial level in October 2009. It has hadthree sessions so far. The Council was renamed as “High LevelStrategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC)” in 2013 to reflect thestrategic nature of the relationship.

The HLSCC meeting will be preceded by the meetings ofJoint Working Groups (JBGs) in 6 key areas — Finance andBanking; Trade; Energy; Transport and Communications; Edu-cation; and Culture and Tourism. Prior to HLSCC, the relevantMinisters will have bilateral interactions.

The Turkish prime minister will have talks with his Paki-stani counterpart.

Pakistan and Turkey enjoy a special relationship — markedby exceptional cordiality and deep mutual trust and understand-ing. The two countries have common perceptions on regionaland international issues and work closely at regional and multi-lateral fora.

The leaderships in both countries remains strongly commit-ted to further deepening, broadening and strengthening bilateralrelationship in every field. There is a joint resolve on both sidesto transform the historic and cordial relationship into strategicand economic partnership.

Turkish PM due todayFrom Page 1

Ireland shockW Indies inWorld Cup

From Page 1

Failure in fight againstterrorism not an option: PM

From Page 1

During the meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifand Army Chief General Raheel Sharif werebriefed by Corps Commander Karachi Lt GenNaveed Mukhtar. The prime minister appreci-ated the ongoing intelligence based operation inKarachi in support of Operation Zarb-i-Azb andNational Action Plan, according to a tweet byDirector General of Inter-Services Public Rela-tions Major General Asim Bajwa. Upon his ar-rival in Karachi earlier, General Raheel visitedthe Rangers Headquarters where he was given a

briefing by Director General Sindh Rangers Ma-jor-General Bilal Akbar over the ongoing opera-tion and the city’s prevailing security situation.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifmet former president Asif Ali Zardari atGovernor’s House Monday where the two dis-cussed a host of issues, including the country’spolitical situation, implementation of the NAP,ongoing operations in Karachi as well as NorthWaziristan and Khyber situation. The meetingtook place prior to the Apex Committee meeting.

the central government after seizing the capi-tal Sanaa in September and expanding acrossYemen, which borders Saudi Arabia.

Al Qaeda and other Sunni Muslim mili-tants have since stepped up attacks.

Yemen is home to Al Qaeda in the Ara-bian Peninsula, one of the global network’smost active arms, which has carried out at-tacks abroad.

The text, declares the council’s readinessto take “further steps” if the resolution is notimplemented by parties in Yemen. In Novem-ber, the council imposed sanctions onYemen’s former president, Ali AbdullahSaleh, and two Houthi leaders.

The text “deplores actions taken by theHouthis to dissolve parliament and take overYemen’s government institutions, includingacts of violence.”

It demanded the Houthis engage in goodfaith in UN- brokered negotiations on a po-litical settlement, withdraw their forces fromgovernment institutions, release Yemen’spresident, prime minister and other cabinet

UNSC demands HouthisFrom Page 1

members from house arrest and stop under-mining the political transition and the secu-rity of Yemen.

The draft resolution “calls on all mem-ber states to refrain from external interfer-ence which seeks to foment conflict and in-stability and instead to support the politicaltransition.”

The text “demands that all parties inYemen, cease all armed hostilities against thepeople and the legitimate authorities ofYemen and relinquish the arms seized fromYemen’s military and security institutions.”

Tens of thousands of Yemenis demon-strated in several cities on Saturday againstthe rule of the Houthi movement as clashesbetween Houthis and Sunnis in a southernmountainous region left 26 dead.

The draft text calls on all parties to en-sure the security of diplomats and diplomaticpremises. Saudi Arabia, the United Statesand other western countries have closed em-bassies due to fears of worsening violence.—APP

Denmark’s success story, tech-nology and experience can playan important role in the furtherexpansion of wind in Sindh. Iam happy to witness that ac-tive steps are being taken tobring environmentally sustain-able solutions to bridge the en-ergy gap in Pakistan. I am con-fident that Vestas’ technical

Denmark collaboratesFrom Back Page

expertise and experience in re-alizing large scale wind farmscould be a great contribution tothe development of the Paki-stani energy sector.”

Under the MOU, Vestaswill provide wind & site en-gineering and associatedtechnical services to theGovernment of Sindh as it

undertakes project develop-ment activities for an initial100 MW wind farm with fu-ture potential to expand up to300 MW. Through its net-work and interactions withrenewable energy investorsand financial institutions,Vestas will also help to fa-cilitate project equity anddebt financing for the projectwith assistance from the Em-bassy of Denmark.

Speaking on the occasion,Syed Qaim Ali Shah, ChiefMinister Sindh said that theprovince has a huge potentialfor wind energy to contributein the national grid.

slower pace after Ireland skip-per William Porterfield hadwon the toss and asked thembat, failing to work the ballaround for singles to keep thescoreboard ticking over.

Dockrell finished with threefor 50, while off-spinner AndyMcBrine conceded just 26 runsfrom his 10 overs. Such was thetop order´s troubles with thebowling, even attacking shotsdid not look convincing with theball often being struck morefrom the edge rather than themiddle of the bat. Both ChrisGayle (36) and fellow openerDwayne Smith (18) fell tolofted shots into the outfieldfrom deliveries they failed tomiddle. Marlon Samuels (21)and Denesh Ramdin (one) werethen trapped in front byDockrell, the former requestinga review that failed to overturnthe decision.—AP

Rangers had played a pivotalrole in maintaining peace andtranquillity in the port city butthere was still need for morecoercive measures in this re-gard.

The COAS said recruit-ments in police should be onmerit alone and there should beno transfers and postings onpolitical consideration.

He called for bringing im-provements in coordinationamong institutions so as toachieve targets from the ongo-ing operation against criminalsand terrorists.

Pakistan Rangers SindhDirector General Major Gen-eral Bilal Akbar briefed theCOAS about the ongoing tar-geted operation in the port cityagainst criminals and terrorists.

The COAS was alsoshowed the cache of arms andammunition that was recoveredby Rangers during raids.

COAS stressesdepoliticising

of Sindh policeFrom Page 1

ter said all out resources arebeing utilized to overcomeenergy crisis.

He said there is a vastscope of investment in energysector in Punjab and facilitiesare being provided to localand foreign investors in en-ergy sector on priority basis.

He said that standard,transparency and speed arethe hallmarks of Punjab gov-ernment in the execution ofprojects.

Pakistan People’s Party Parlia-mentarians.

Fahim, who is president ofPPPP, complained that he wasnot taken into confidence uponthe development.

PPP standsunited

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Shahbaz points toinvestment scopein energy sector

From Page 1

air strikes hit IS camps andstores of weapons, the militarysaid, hours after jihadists re-leased gruesome footage of thebeheadings that provoked out-rage in Egypt.

Witnesses told AFP therewere at least seven air strikes inDerna in the east, a hotbed ofmilitancy since Libyan dictatorMoamer Kadhafi was over-thrown in 2011. It was not im-mediately clear whether otherareas were also hit.

“Your armed forces onMonday carried out focused airstrikes in Libya against Daeshcamps, places of gathering and

Egypt airstrikes target ISIS campsFrom Page 1

LAHORE: Member House of Lords Baroness Saeeda Warsi called on Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Former British Minister andMember House of Lords, Baroness SaeedaWarsi met Punjab Chief MinisterMuhammad Shahbaz Sharif, here Mondayduring which matters of mutual interestand measures for solution of the problemsof overseas Pakistanis were discussed.

Talking to Baroness Saeeda Warsi, theChief Minister said that there are closefriendly relations between Pakistan andBritain. He said that Pakistan considersBritain as its real development partner andBritain is also a major trade partner of Pa-kistan. He said that Britain has played acommendable role in the progress of Paki-stan. He said that efforts of Baroness SaeedaWarsi for the strengthening of relations be-

Pakistanis living abroad arecountry’s ambassadors: Shahbaz

tween Pakistan and Britain are laudable.Referring to the setting up of Over-

seas Pakistanis Commission, ShahbazSharif said that Pakistanis living abroadare ambassadors of the country. He saidthat Overseas Pakistanis Commission willplay an important role in resolving prob-lems of overseas Pakistanis. He said thatPunjab government has given legal statusto Overseas Pakistanis Commission andit will take effective measures to redressthe grievances of Pakistanis living in othercountries.

He said that overseas Pakistanis areearning huge foreign exchange for theircountry through their hard work and play-ing a significant role in the strengtheningof national economy. He said that over-seas Pakistanis have improved the image

of Pakistan and solution of their problemsis the responsibility of the government.

Baroness Saeeda Warsi congratulatedChief Minister Shahbaz Sharif over thediscovery and certification of preciousmineral reserves in Chiniot-Rajwa and saidthat he is rendering invaluable services forthe welfare and betterment of people ofthe province.

He said that setting up of OverseasPakistanis Commission is an importantstep of Shahbaz Sharif which will help inresolving problem of the Pakistanis livingabroad. Baroness Saeeda Warsi’s husbandIftikhar Azam, Commissioner OverseasPakistanis Commission Afzaal Bhatti andPresident Pakistan Muslim League (N)Britain Zubair Gul were also present onthe occasion.

training, and weapons depots,”the military said in a statement,using the Arabic acronym for IS.

It was the first time Egyptannounced military actionagainst Islamist targets in itswestern neighbour, having pre-viously denied it targeted mili-tants there. Egypt has reportedlyallowed the United Arab Emir-ates to previously use its basesto bomb militants in Libya.

“Avenging Egyptian bloodand retaliating against criminalsand killers is a duty we mustcarry out,” the military said.

The air strikes came hoursafter Sisi threatened a “suitable

response” to the killings of theCoptic Christians.

Foreign Minister SamehShoukry was headed to Wash-ington to take part in an “anti-terrorism” summit, the ministrysaid, calling for strong interna-tional action.

“Leaving matters as theyare in Libya without tough in-tervention to curb these terror-ist organisations represents aclear threat to international se-curity and peace,” it said.

The brutal deaths of theChristians, who like thousandsof poor Egyptians had travelledabroad to seek work, shockedtheir compatriots.

“Revenge is on the way”,read the banner on the front pageof the official Al-Akhbar news-paper and both the CopticChurch and the prestigious Is-lamic Al-Azhar institution con-demned the attack.

In the village of Al-Our inUpper Egypt, where 14 of thevictims were from, devastatedfamily members gathered in thesmall local church.

“My son travelled to Libya40 days ago, he wanted to makemoney for his marriage,” saidBoshra, whose 22-year-old sonKirolos was among the dead.

Expressing his “profoundsadness” over the killings, PopeFrancis said the Copts “were

executed for nothing more thanthe fact that they were Chris-tians”.

Egyptian television repeat-edly played the video withoutthe beheadings, showing black-clad militants leading their cap-tives in orange jumpsuits alonga beach before forcing them tokneel down.

Analysts said attacking themilitants underscores Sisi’smessage that Egypt is a bulwarkagainst a shared jihadist enemywith Western countries that havebeen critical of his human rightsrecord. “These strikes elevateEgypt to a new level in confront-ing extremist organisations,”said Mathieu Guidere, an Is-lamic studies and politics pro-fessor at the University ofToulouse.—AFP

RAFIULLAH

MANDOKHAIL

ZHOB—Two suspected mili-tants blew themselves up anda Levy personnel injured dur-ing a search operation carriedout by security forces and Lev-ies in sensitive Murgha Kibzaiarea of Zhob district, sourcessaid on Monday.

According to an official,who wished not be named saidthat security forces and Lev-ies were carrying out a searchoperation for the recovery ofkidnapped three polio workers

Two militants blowthemselves up, Levies

personnel injuredand two Levies personnel inMurgha Kibzai area, when twomilitants blew themselves upto avoid arrest. A Levy person-nel Niamat also sustained in-juries during the operation, hesaid.

Three polio workers es-corted by Levies personnelhad gone for anti-polio vacci-nation drive to UC Barakwalain Murgha Kibzai area fourdays back where the armedmen kidnapped them.

A complete shutter-downand wheel-jam strike was ob-served on Monday against theincident. The strike call wasgiven by Para Medical StaffAssociation.

Addressing a press con-ference president Para MedicsTahir Hotak condemned theincident and demanded theearly recovery of kidnappedstaff.

The incident took place aweek after the abduction of sixPakistan TelecommunicationAuthority workers in Gwalarea on Zhob-Quetta highway.

Iran deniesKhameneiletter toObamaTEHRAN—Iranhas denied a report that itssupreme leader wrote a letterto U.S. President BarackObama, the IslamicRepublic’s official newsagency reported, as thecountry negotiates with worldpowers over its contestednuclear program. The IRNAnews agency quoted ForeignMinistry spokeswomanMarzieh Afkham as sayingthe report Saturday by theWall Street Journal was “anunprofessional media game.”“The U.S. president has arecord of sending letters andin some cases Iran respondedto his letters,” Afkham saidSunday.—AP

Pope voicessadnessVATICAN

CITY—PopeFrancis onMonday expressed “profoundsadness” over the beheadingof 21 Egyptian CopticChristians by Islamic militantsin Libya, saying they had beenkilled for their faith. “Theywere executed for nothingmore than the fact that theywere Christians,” Francis saidin unscheduled remarks in hisnative Spanish following ameeting with John Chalmers,Moderator of the GeneralAssembly of the Church ofScotland. “The blood of ourChristian sisters and brothersis testimony that cries out (tous),” the pontiff added. “Bethey Catholics, Orthodox,Copts, Lutherans, it does notmatter. They are Christians,their blood is the same, theirblood confesses (their faith in)Christ.”—Agencies

BarjeesTahir takesoath as GBGovernorISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for KashmirAffairs Chaudhry MohammadBarjees Tahir took oath asfourth Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan at a ceremony heldhere on Monday. Chief Judgeof Supreme Appellate CourtGilgit-Baltistan RajaJalaluddin administered theoath. Acting Chief MinisterGilgit-Baltistan ShahjahanMir, Cabinet members of GBand Officials of PakistanMuslim League (N) werepresented at the oath takingceremony. After taking oath,Chaudhry Barjees Tahir whiletalking to media said that thecaretaker government willmake sure the election processin Gilgit-Baltistan should befree and fair and it wouldremain peaceful. Federalgovernment will provide everykind of assistance to the GBgovernment is this regard.Promotion of tourismindustry will be the priority,he added.—INP

ISLAMABAD—The Supreme Court on Mondayaccepted the appeal of Balochistan governmentagainst Balochistan High Court’s decision in theland dispute of Gwadar Airport.

The three-member bench headed by JusticeMian Saqib Nisar comprising Justice Ejaz AfzalKhan and Justice Umar Ata Bandial heardBalochistan government’s appeal in the land caseof Gwadar Airport. The court also suspendedthe BHC decision and stopped the payment ofRs 70 million to the claimer of 650 acres inGwadar Airport land case.

The Balochistan government counsel toldthe bench that Gwadar Airport was constructedby the British in 1940 and they used it duringthe second world war.

The counsel for Civil Aviation Authorityinformed the bench that Gwadar Airport landwas owned by Civial Aviation Authority.

Gwadar Airport land case

SC accepts Balochistangovt petition

Abdul Ghafoor claimer of the Airport landtold that his grandfather had given 650 acresland to the British for leveling.

He said, he filed a petition in BHC in 1984and the provincial high court directed theBalochistan government to pay Rs 70 millionto the petitioner as compensation.

Abdul Ghafoor said that he also presentedsix witnesses before the BHC. On this CAAcounsel informed the court that the witnessesverbally stated that they knew Abdul Ghafoor’sgrandfather that he was living in the area andthey failed to produce any document beforethe court. Justice Saqib Nisar remarked thatthe British had used Gwadar Airport then itwas in the use of Oman’s king and now theland is owned by CAA. The court issued no-tice to all the respondents and adjourned hear-ing of the case for an indefinite period.—APP

OBSERVER REPORT

KARACHI—A resolution was approved onMonday during Sindh Assembly’s meeting toissue diplomatic passports to the families ofAssembly members. Resolutions to delegatereceiving of gas development infrastructureSIES tax to province was also approved duringthe meeting.

The resolution was presented by PakistanPeople’s Party’s member Khairunnisa Mughal.During the hours reserved for questioning, anargument erupted between Provincial MinisterMurad Ali Shah and Nusrat Seher Abbassi uponnot getting answers from the relevant Minister

According to the details, the meeting of the

Assembly started with a 50 minute delay. Itwas presided by Agha Siraj Durani. The reso-lution to issue diplomatic passports was pre-sented in the Assembly. The resolution statesthat Assembly member’s wife and childrenshould also be issued diplomatic passportsalong with them.

Pakistan Muslim League Functional’sAnand Kumar presented a call for attention no-tice during the meeting against inability to imple-ment minority quota in government jobs.

Minitser for Education Nisar Khoru pre-sented a further amendment in the Assembly forSindh Local Amendment Bill 2013. The amend-ment will be discussed further on Friday in theAssembly.

Diplomatic passports for Assemblyfamily members okayed

TEHRAN—The implementation of the IP gaspipeline project, which will conduit Iraniangas to Pakistan, has been delayed due to po-litical pressures, said the spokesman ofMajlis Energy Commission.Hossein Amiri Khamkanimade the statement in an ex-clusive interview with ‘IranDaily’, published Monday,calling on Pakistan to fulfill itscommitments in this respect atthe earliest if it is really inneed of gas from Iran.

He noted that Iran has laidthe pipeline up to its joint bor-der with Pakistan and has metits commitments. “In case Pa-kistan does not begin theproject in its territory, Iran willuse the pipeline to transfer gasto Sistan-Baluchestan prov-ince and the country’s south-western regions.”

A few days ago, PakistaniMinister of Petroleum andNatural Resources ShahidKhaqan Abbasi vowed that the country willcomplete the pipeline by the end of 2016 andbegin gas imports from Iran as of 2017. Hefurther noted that negotiations are underwaywith Iran to extend the deadline of export-

Iran urges Pakistan to fulfillcommitments on IP gas pipeline

ing the first gas consignments from 2014 to2016 or 2017. Khamkani said, “The pipelineshould have been established a long time ago.

Pakistani officials should know that by

not fulfilling their commitments, they havedelayed the implementation of the project.Iran, however, did not fine Islamabad for thedelay as stipulated in the agreement signedby the two countries.”—Online

Punjab Doctorsboycott OPDsfor attacks on

colleaguesLAHORE/ISLAMABAD—Doc-tors across Punjab andIslamabad on Monday boy-cotted Outdoor Patient De-partments (OPDs) against tar-get killing and attacks on doc-tors in Sahiwal andIslamabad.

On the call of Young Doc-tors Association (YDA), doc-tors and paramedical staff ofPakistan Institute of MedicalSciences (PIMS) staged aprotest against target killingsand attacks on their compan-ions while leaving their worksymbolically.

Doctors of Poly Clinic,Islamabad also joined theircolleagues of PIMS in thestrike.

The protestors blockedthe road and demanded of thegovernment to ensure safetyof the doctors and nabbing ofthe culprits.

They appealed to send Dr.Shahid Nawaz abroad formedical treatment and to pro-vide fool-proof security to thehospital.—INP

SC suspendsdecision todisqualify

Punjab MinisterISLAMABAD—The SupremeCourt on Monday suspended anelection tribunal’s decision todisqualify Pakistan MuslimLeague- N Punjab Minister forPrisons Chaudhry AbdulWaheed Arain. MPA from PP-196, Arain was disqualified bythe tribunal on February 05 forpossessing two national iden-tity cards. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Rana Jabbar had filed apetition against Arain in the tri-bunal. —INP

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The future of wind energy in theSindh province received a major boost on Mon-day when representatives from the governmentof Sindh and Vestas Wind Systems signed aMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) to col-laborate on wind power development in the re-gion.

A delegation of senior Vestas officials trav-elled to Pakistan to sign the MoU with high rank-ing representatives from the Government ofSindh. The signing ceremony took place at theChief Minister’s House in Karachi and was at-tended by Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed QaimAli Shah, and H.E. Jesper Moller Sorensen,Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan.

Vestas, a Denmark-based wind turbinemanufacturer internationally recognised as theglobal leader in wind energy, has been a firstmover in Pakistan, having supplied turbines toone of the first commercial wind farms now inoperation. In 2014, a Vestas delegation met withthe Government of Sindh during a week-longvisit to Pakistan facilitated by the Embassy ofDenmark in Pakistan. Speaking at the event to-day, Gerard Carew, Vestas’ Vice President ofSales in Asia Pacific, explained that Pakistan is

an emerging wind energy market where the com-pany is ready to grow its presence:

“This MOU signing follows our initial meet-ings with the Government of Sindh in 2014 andsubsequent discussions that have now cementedour shared ambition to have wind energy play amajor role in overcoming the energy crisis inPakistan. The Sindh province is blessed withexcellent wind resources, and Vestas has the ex-perience, knowledge, and products & servicesto deliver highly productive and reliable windpower plants in the region. We are delighted tobe working with the Government of Sindh toassist in the development of wind power in theregion.” The Embassy of Denmark in Islamabadhas supported Vestas in implementing its mar-ket growth plan, following on from two confer-ences on wind energy in Pakistan it helped ar-range in 2014. Also at the ceremony, Ambassa-dor Jesper Moller Sorensen, Denmark to Paki-stan, commented:

“Pakistan has a huge potential for wind en-ergy, and Denmark is a market leader, when itcomes to technology for production of energyfrom wind. In 2014, 40 percent of all electricityin Denmark was generated by wind power.

Denmark collaborates with Sindhgovt on wind energy project

Continued on Page 7

ISLAMABAD—“Maritime security has assumedever-greater significance in the face of changingglobal scenario and the activities of non-state ac-tors, transnational threats and challenges, such aspiracy and terrorism, illegal exploitation of natu-ral resources, marine environment and pollution,unlawful trade and less than adequate prepared-ness to meet natural disasters are some of the keyissues, which require thorough deliberations at in-ternational forums”.

This was stated by Chairman Joint Chiefs ofStaff Committee, General Rashad Mehmood at theconcluding session of 6th International MaritimeConference as Chief Guest. Upon his arrival theChief Guest was received by Admiral MuhammadZakaullah, Chief of the Naval Staff alongwith ViceAdmiral(Retd) Asaf Humayun, DG NCMPR. Theconference organized by National Centre for Mari-time Policy Research (NCPMR) in collaborationof Pakistan Navy on the theme; “MaritimeEconomy, Environment, and Security co-opera-tion: Bringing the West Pacific and the IndianOcean Closer”, concluded today after 3 days ofthreadbare discussions by the experts on MaritimeSecurity, Economy and Environment.

17 speakers from 8 countries exchanged ideasfor bringing the maritime region of the IndianOcean and West Pacific closer. Scholars from Pa-kistan and around the world while evaluating andexpressing modalities created an ideal opportunity

CJCSCfor collectivemaritime security

for dialogue. While addressing the audience theChief Guest said that the challenges in dealing withthe evolving environment in the Indo-Pacific re-gion have increased because of the dynamic socio-political conditions and economic potential of theregion. In this scenario, the mitigation of maritimerisks and vulnerabilities require coordinated efforts.

The littoral states of the region therefore needto focus on collaborative maritime security with aspirit of cooperation rather than competition. Par-ticularly, the build up of military capability, de-ployment of navies, and exploitation of resourcesshould not lead to increase in regional tensions.

He further added that conferences like theseand the forums like Indian Ocean Naval Sympo-sium (IONS) as well as Western Pacific NavalSymposium (WPNS) provide a good platformto the regional counties to sit together and de-liberate on many contentious issues, therebyreducing tensions and bringing nations to-gether.

Later, the Chief Guest gave away prizesto the students who won the essay and postercompetitions held during the conference. Chiefof the Naval Staff, Admiral MuhammadZakaullah and Director General NCMPR ViceAdmiral (R) Asaf Humayun commended cre-ativity and hard work of the students. NCMPRhas the credit of hosting 6 International Mari-time Conferences since its inception.—INP

ISLAMABAD—Minister forInformation,Broadcasting andNational Heritage SenatorP e r v a i zRashid saidMonday thatthe familiesof the vic-tims ofBaldia Townfactory fireshould getjustice as ju-diciary is independent inPaksitan and the government isready to facilitate the courts forproviding justice.

Talking to media personsinformally after attending themeeting of Senate StandingCommittee on Information,hesaid that Prime Minister hastaken the issue of killing ofover 250 persons in BaldiaTown factory fire seriously anddecided to personally visitKarachi where he would alsobe friefed on the law and ordersituation in the city.

Replying to a questionabout recent incidents of terror-ism in Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw,he said that terrorism was is-sue of not any single provincebut of entire Pakistan and allprovincial governments and

Baldia Town factory infernovictims should get justice: PR

the federal government wereplaying their role to root outthis menace.

To a question about theupcoming Senate elections,hesaid that talks were going onwith various political partiesand all major political partieswere unanimous that horsetrading should be avoided inthe elections.

About PML-N leaderSabir Shah, he said that he wasa senior party leader but as pernumerical strength,the PML-Ncould award only one ticket, sohe was named as a coveringcandidate.

He said that PML-N inBalochistan was united underthe leadership of SanaullahZehri and its mwmbers wouldgo by party discipline.

Replying to a questionabout PTI Chairman ImranKhan,he said that he used toblame others for delay in deci-sions of cases about irregulari-ties in the general elections,butat a time when the election tri-bunal was set to give its deci-sion on NA 122, he filed an-other application.

He said that the govern-ment has accepted all demandsof PTI chairman,but instead of

KARACHI : Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Rashad Mehmood addressing the 6th International MaritimeConference Closing Session. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah also sitting on stage.

41 seminaries closeddue to securityconcerns for

March 23 Parade ISLAMABAD—As many as 41seminaries have been shutdown in the Capital due to se-curity reasons. According toreports, keeping in view thesecurity risks regarding March23 parade, the decision of clos-ing the 41 seminaries was takenby Additional Deputy Commis-sioner and other security offi-cials.

Sources reported that 18seminaries of I-9 Police Sta-tion, 6 of Shahzad Town, 3from Secretariat whereas 14seminaries of Abpara PoliceStation have been closed untilnow.—Online

Furnace oil pricerises by Rs 2000

per tonneSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The price of fur-nace oil used in the productionof electricity in Pakistan hasbeen increased by about Rs2000 per tonne to reach Rs37400 per tonne.

A rise in global crude oilprices has affected the otherwiseconsistently falling price of fur-nace oil. According to experts,the constant falling price of fur-nace oil during October to De-cember last year attributed to thereduction of cost of electricityproduction by Rs 3.

CJP undergoesangiographySTAFF REPORTER

PESHAWAR–Chief Justice ofPakistan Nasirul Mulk wastaken to the hospital on Mon-day after he complained ofheart pain. According to hos-pital sources, doctors carriedout a medical examination andconducted an angiography andother procedures. Sources alsosaid that the chief justice wouldbe discharged from hospitalTuesday morning.

TYPE 2 diabetes reduces quality of lifeand researchers have now found that itmay also decrease certain cognitive abili-

ties, known as executive functions.Type 2 diabetes is associated with bad per-

formance on cognitive tests, measuring abili-ties involved in the controlof emotions, behaviour andthought, the findingsshowed.

“This facet of brainfunction is particularly im-portant because we rely onit when we are attempting tobehave in a way that is con-trary to our natural inclina-tions or what the environ-ment impels us to do,” saidlead author Corrie Vincentfrom the University of Wa-terloo in Canada.

The researchers re-viewed 60 studies, compar-ing 9,815 individuals withtype 2 diabetes to 69,254controls without it and ex-amined their performanceon measures of executive function.

“Essentially people with type 2 diabetesmay be hit with the double whammy of havingmore need for executive control but - possiblybecause of the disease’s effect on the brain -less intact resources for exerting it,” seniorauthor Peter Hall, professor at the Universityof Waterloo, added.

Approximately 600 million people livewith type 2 diabetes worldwide, with nearly800 million cases expected by 2030, making itone of the greatest global health concerns ofmodern times.

“Fortunately, there are a few things thatcan help optimise the brain structures that sup-

port executive function,” Hall said.“Aerobic exercise and cognitively chal-

lenging activities - such as learning newthings, solving difficult puzzles and otherproblem solving activities - all help to keepyour brain sharp,” said Hall.

The study appeared in thejournal Psychosomatic Medi-cine.

Our cells depend on asingle simple sugar, glucose,for most of their energy needs.That’s why the body has intri-cate mechanisms in place tomake sure glucose levels in thebloodstream don’t go too lowor soar too high.

When you eat, most digest-ible carbohydrates are con-verted into glucose and rapidlyabsorbed into the bloodstream.Any rise in blood sugar signalsthe pancreas to make and re-lease insulin. This hormone in-structs cells to sponge up glu-cose. Without it, glucose floatsaround the bloodstream, unable

to slip inside the cells that need it.Diabetes occurs when the body can’t

make enough insulin or can’t properly usethe insulin it makes.

Although the genes you inherit may in-fluence the development of type 2 diabetes,they take a back seat to behavioral andlifestyle factors. Data from the Nurses’Health Study suggest that 90 percent of type2 diabetes in women can be attributed to fivesuch factors: excess weight, lack of exercise,a less-than-healthy diet, smoking, and ab-staining from alcohol. Among 85,000 mar-ried female nurses, 3,300 developed type 2diabetes over a 16-year period.

Diabetes maydamage your brain

Students of Mohammad Ali Jinnah University on Orientation Day of the university.

ZUBAIR QURESHI

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Medical andDental Council (PMDC) and HigherEducation Commission (HEC) onMonday agreed to revise medical anddental curriculum in the country, mak-ing it at par with the international stan-dards. This decision was shared withmedia during a joint press conferenceby President PMDC Prof Dr. MasoodHameed and Chairman HEC DrMukhtar Ahmad. They said the deci-sion would help improve professionalcapability of students studying at medi-cal and dental colleges.

Chairman HEC said the commis-sion was ready to provide every pos-sible technical support to PMDC in the

Medical courses being updated

LIAQAT TOOR

ISLAMABAD—Envisagingexpanded trade relations withAfrican countries, PresidentMammon Hussain said onMonday Pakistan attachesgreat importance to ‘Look Af-rica Policy” For closer rela-tions with African countries,he stressed the need for fre-quent exchange of visits andenhancement of trade andvisa facilitation.

He was talking to a del-egation of Karachi Council ofForeign Relations membersalong with Africa Group Am-bassadors/High Commission-ers, who called on him atAiwan-e-Sadr.

He said a joint strategycan be chalked out to counterterrorism in terror-hit AfricanCountries in the light of ourexperience of operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Offering his condolenceon terrorist attacks by Daaishin Libya martyring 21 Egyp-tians, the President stated thatAfrican Countries’ supportfor Pakistan at various inter-

Pak attaches great importanceto ‘Look Africa policy’

ZUBAIR QURESHI

ISLAMABAD—A division bench of theIslamabad High Court Monday adjournedhearing into the petition filed by Federal In-vestigation Agency (FIA) for cancellation ofbail granted to alleged mastermind ofMumbai terror attacks Zakiur RehmanLakhvi.

The case will be taken up now in the sec-ond week of March. The division bench com-prising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui andJustice Noorul Haq N Qureshi also directedthe office to send the record to trial courtwhere hearing of the case into Mumbai ter-ror attack is underway. On Monday when thecourt resumed hearing, counsel for LakhviRizwan Abbasi argued that his client was inthe police custody on the complaint of AjmalKasab the lone survivor of the assailants ofthe Mumbai terror attacks.

He argued that a case was constitutedagainst Lakhvi on the basis of an Indiancourt’s judgment. He requested the court todirect the federal investigation agency to

present that decision and examine it.Justice Siddiqui asked how the court

could direct production of a judgment thatdoesn’t come under its or any Pakistaniagency’s domain. He, however, asked Advo-cate Abbasi to share with the court a copy ofthe decision.

Advocate Abbasi requested the court todirect authorities to produce Lakhvi beforethe court. However, Justice Qureshi re-marked the court would definitely order hisproduction if it deemed so. Justice ShaukatAziz Siddiqui added that it was a sensitivematter and issuing such an order could riskhis client’s security.

FIA Prosecutor on the occasion submit-ted before that the proceedings of the spe-cial court hearing Mumbai attacks case havecome to a standstill because the case recordis before the IHC. He requested the court tosend the Mumbai attacks record back to thespecial court.

IHC after hearing arguments from bothsides directed the office to send the recordto the court hearing Mumbai attacks case.

IHC adjourns hearing ofLakhvi’s bail plea

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The Islamabad High Court onMonday rejected pre- arrest bail of former Man-aging Director (MD) of Pakistan Tourism De-velopment Corporation (PTDC), Mir Shah JahanKhetran in a National Accountability Bureau(Nab) case.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Noor-ul-Haq N. Qureshi and Justice Shaukat AzizSiddiqui also rejected Abdul Rasool Zaidi, Man-ager Accounts PTDC’s bail in a plea filed bythe accused.

Besides, the bench rejected plea of MirShah Jahan Khetran seeking excluding hisname from the Exit Control List (ECL). Thecourt while rejecting the pre-arrest bail appli-

Court rejects pre-arrest bailof PTDC’s ex-MD, officialNAB directed to expedite inquiry into scam

cation, directed the NAB’s officer who is in-vestigating the case to expedite investigationprocess against the accused. NAB is investi-gating Khetran and Zaidi for financial misman-agement in the authority. The accused are al-legedly involved in financial mismanagement,illegal recruitment and illegal leasing outPTDC properties. Among the properties sold/given on lease include 6-kanal land adjacentto Flashman Hotel which the accused had al-legedly given on lease to their blue eyed boysfor personal financial gains.

Khetran was removed from MD PTDC sloton December 1 in 2013 after which NAB startedinvestigations against him on allegations of hisinvolvement in financial mismanagement, mis-use of funds, and leasing out of PTDC property.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Chairman Capital Development Au-thority (CDA), Maroof Afzal chaired a meeting heldto review the progress of on going developmentprojects, here at CDA Headquarter, on Monday.

During the meeting, progress of projects underthe annual development program of current fiscalyear especially progress of projects being executedunder Public Sector Development Program (PSDP)was reviewed.

During the current Fiscal Year 201-15, Rs.1944million has been allocated to CDA under PSDP.These projects include the construction of additional3rd and 4th lane on Kashmir Highway fromPeshawar Morr to Golra Morr, construction ofCharah Dam, installation of Security Equipment andFire alarm system at Cabinet block building, Secu-rity arrangements at Parliament house Building,Construction and up-gradation of mosque at PakSecretariat, Construction of Second Hanger at

Islamabad Heliport, Strengthening of security ar-rangements at Parliament Lodges, Construction ofsecurity wall outside the existing wall of IslamabadHeliport, Construction of admin block in front ofgate No. 5 of Parliament House, up-gradation andrenovation of Public Address Simultaneous Inter-pretation and Automatic Vote Casting System whichis installed the Senate Hall at Parliament Building,Rehabilitation and replacement of thirty two (32)lifts in Pak Secretariat Building, Construction of 16Cat-IV flats for AGPR in sector G-9/2, construc-tion of residential accommodation for police atAiwan-e-Sadar and construction of 104 Family Suitsin Islamabad. He also sought regular progress re-ports on these projects from the concerned direc-tors. Chairman CDA, Maroof Afzal directed the con-cerned formations to utilize all available resourcesfor timely completion of these public welfareprojects. The Chairman directed the officers to uti-lize their technical capabilities so that quality of workcould be ensured.

Maroof for timely completionof public welfare projects

New ED LokVirsa starts

organization’s workISLAMABAD—Eminent folklor-ist, social activist, researcher andcultural expert Dr. Fouzia Saeedhas started performing her re-sponsibilities after assuming thecharge of the office of ExecutiveDirector of Lok Virsa.

She was appointed to thisposition by the Prime Minister,Nawaz Sharif on January 31stand she joined as the ExecutiveDirector of Lok Virsa on Tues-day, February 10.

Dr. Fouzia Saeed was inWashington DC working as aPakistan Fellow at the WoodrowWilson Center for InternationalScholars, conducting researchfor her next book but now shehas come back to Pakistan im-mediately to take on her newresponsibilities. She started hercareer with Lok Virsa in 1988as the Deputy Director of Re-search, when she had just re-turned from USA after herhigher studies.

President Mamnoon Hussain with the members of Karachi Council on Foreign Relations along with African Group ofAmbassadors/High Commissioners at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

national foras has been instrumental. ThePresident added that African Countriesshould attend IDEAS 2015 EXPO to beheld in November at Karachi as Pakistan

is exporting state of the art defence equip-ment at comparatively cheaper rates. ThePresident expected from the Ambassadorsto play a supporting role for expanded trade

relations between Pakistan and their coun-tries particularly by involving Chambersof Commerce and Industries and big busi-ness houses of their respective countries.

revision of medical curriculum whichis a need of hour. He appreciated theworking of PMDC and said that thecouncil has done a lot in maintainingthe standards of medical dental educa-tion in the country. He added that boththe organizations are very keen to de-velop this curriculum which will notonly meet national requirements butalso the international requirements.

President PMDC Prof. Dr. MasoodHameed said with the decision thePMDC curriculum setting would beenhanced and minimum requirementsfor training institutions would be re-freshed. The main objective of the re-vision is to evaluate and key link theflaws in the education system to stan-dardize in the medical curriculum.

He said that the council has con-stituted a special team to monitor andaddress the complaints being receivedto PMDC regarding some flaws inmedical universities related with thestudents and faculty. He added exam-iners, educationists, renowned healthprofessional and medical and dentalpractitioners are part of this team.There was a dire need to update theMBBS and BDS curriculum in thecountry, said Dr Masood Hameed.

Heads of both organizations saidthe curriculum would be based on ap-plication of knowledge and problemsolving rather than only recall of fac-tual knowledge and to define psycho-motor skills that the students should beable to perform themselves. They were

of the view that additional compulsorycourses would be balanced by the re-duction of information overload by de-leting obsolete or those more relevantto postgraduate. “HEC will ensure thatthe medical institutions are followingcurriculum.”

They added that it was importantto build an indigenous curriculumwhich builds a competent and confi-dent graduate who serves the society’sneeds. By revision of the medical cur-riculum, the overall curriculum docu-ment would lay emphasis on areas thatthe students must know, incorporatenew fields of knowledge and ensuringthat the student is not over burdenedand eliminating details of uncommoncondition, they said.

Motorists passing through rain water accumulated on road after rain.

MoH&W speedsup work toovercome

housing shortfallSTAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The Ministry ofHousing and Works MoH&W,working vigoriusly to over-come housing shortfall for reg-istered Federal GovernmentEmployees which will getaccomodation very soon.

The MoH&W official saidthat presently 30,000 employ-ees are registered with the Min-istry who will be given plots onfirst come first basis.

He said that besides BharaKahu housing scheme the Min-istry has also identified fournew sites for Housing Schemesin Islamabad where all the reg-istered members will be givenplots.

He added that afteraccomodating all registeredmember new allotments ofplots would be made on senior-ity basis.

He said that in view of highrent it is difficult to afford liv-ing in a private house addingthat the ministry is being fo-cused on increase of hiring al-lowance, in this regard a sum-mary will be sent to the PrimeMinister for approval soon.

06:25 01:3004:00

07:15

Zohr

Asr

Isha

Fajar

Meghrab at Sunset

Brothers in Islamestablish regularprayers & charity

February 17Launch of report

INSTITUTE of social andPolicy Sciences in collabo-ration with Alif Ailaan isorganizing the launch of re-port and discussion on“Public Financing of Edu-cation in Pakistan (2010-11to 2014-15)” on February17. at Marriott HotelIslamabad from 03:00 pm to05:30 pm.

February 23Literary conference

TO observe 33rd Death Anni-versary of great revolutionaryPoet Hazrat JoshMalihabadi,Josh Adabi Foun-dation will organize incollibration with Sukhanwarand Rawalpindi Arts Council,Josh National Literary Confer-ence on 23rd February ,Mon-day at 3.00 pm at RawalpindiArts Council, Cultural Com-plex, Shamsabad ,MurreeRoad ,Rawalpindi. FederalMinister for Information andBroadcasting, SenatorPervaiz Rashid will presidethe occasion.

Minister of State for CA&DD Barrister Usman Ibrahim addressing launching ceremony of the ICT Education SectorPlan 2014-18.

Young doctors and paramedical workers holding demonstration against the assassination attempt on Dr Shahid Nawaz Malik.

CITY REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Capital Administration and Devel-opment Division (CA&DD) on Mondaylaunched the Education Sector Plan (ESP) forIslamabad Capital Territory (ICT) with specialfocus on provision of basic education to chil-dren of aged between 5-16 years. The ICT ESP isthe result of a two-year long analytical processand concerted efforts of the CA&DD with thetechnical assistance of National Basic Educa-tion Policy Programme (NBEPP), funded by theGerman Federal Ministry for Economic Coop-eration and Development (BMZ) and beingimplemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaftf•rInternationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

The plan has been developed in consulta-tions with all the relevant stakeholders includ-ing both external and internal partners from theeducation community such as Federal Director-ate of Education, private sector, National Edu-cation Assessment System, etc.

It is founded on the policy principles en-shrined in the National Education Policy 2009and the obligations stipulated in the 18th Con-stitutional Amendment as well as the then PrimeMinister’s directive to make Islamabad a modeleducation city.

The ESP focuses on the provision of basiceducation to children of age 5-16 in IslamabadCapital Territory and proposes some interven-tions for the institutionalization of early child-hood education in ICT.

Areas such as non-formal education, spe-cial education and dealing with education in

emergencies were also explained briefly. Min-ister of State for CA&DD, Barrister UsmanIbrahim, while launching the ICTESP, laudedthe German development support for devel-oping the ESP. He stressed that the work hasjust begun and the ESP will lay the platformwhich is needed to plan and implement thingsstrategically.

He invited everyone to join hands toimplement the ESP in its true spirit to makeICT a role model for the rest of the country.

Secretary, CA&DD, Khalid Hanif, in hisopening remarks, stressed the need for im-provement in imparting quality education. Hecited that the ESP has focused on widenedand equitable access to Education for Allschool age children and youth in ICT, irre-spective of their gender, cast, religion, race,social status, physical and mental ability.

It has focused on improved quality ofeducation to cater to the total range of socialand economic needs of the individual andsociety as a whole, improved governance andmanagement of the education administrationand delivery system of the education sector.

Dr. Syed Tajammal Hussain Shah (formerDeputy Educational Adviser, CA&DD) gavea detailed presentation on the ESP with a fo-cus on key strategic interventions outlined inthe ESP around Access, Quality and Gover-nance. The budget requirements to implementthe ESP along with other challenges were alsoidentified in-depth. A number of officials andall stakeholders attended the event.

Education Sector Plan 2014-18 for ICT launched

Usman lauds Germansupport for developing ESP

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The Government of Japanhas decided to extend financial supporttotalling US$ 360,950 (approx. Rs. 36 mil-lion) to four Non GovernmentalOrganisations (NGOs) for the implemen-tation of social development projects indisadvantaged areas of the country. TheNGOs include Ameer Begum WelfareTrust, Al-Mujtaba Development Network,Community Development and Anti TBProgram, and Obaid Noor Welfare Asso-ciation, said a statement here.

The agreements for the four projectswere signed on Monday, here betweenHiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japanto Pakistan and the heads of the fourorganisations.

Ameer Begum Welfare Trust willutilise its grant of US$ 82,282 for the in-stallation of 6 water filter plants in rural

Japan provides assistance to NGOs

areas of District Okara that are sufferingfrom a high prevalence water borne dis-ease due to the unavailability of safe drink-ing water. The grant of US$ 78,833 to Al-Mujtaba Development Network will beused for the improvement of the watersupply and sanitation system in a remotepart of District Muzaffarabad.

The grant of US$ 98,138 to Commu-nity Development and Anti TB Programon the other hand will enable the con-struction of a village road in DistrictNarowal, in order to enhance communityaccessibility of facilities in the town cen-ter.

Finally, the grant of US$ 101,697 toObaid Noor Welfare Association will re-sult in the construction of a maternity andemergency hospital in a neglected part ofDistrict Mianwali. At the signing cer-emony, Ambassador Inomata emphasisedthe importance of improving access to

health, water and infrastructure facilitiesparticularly in rural areas of the country.He expressed his hope that the projectssupported today will contribute toPakistan’s goal of eliminating rural andurban disparities in term of essential fa-cilities which in turn can contribute tosustainable local development.

In doing so, these projects wouldcertainly strengthen the friendly relationsbetween the people of Japan and Paki-stan. Last week agreements for three otherprojects in the field of education weresigned. In addition, agreements for eightother projects on education, health andinfrastructure were signed in Septemberand November, 2014.

Hence, the amount the Governmentof Japan provided to Pakistani NGOsduring the current Japanese Fiscal Year(which starts in April) adds up to US$1,386,114 in total.

Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and the heads of the four non-governmental organisations aftersigning the agreements at a ceremony held at the Embassy of Japan.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

ISLAMABAD—Police has extendedscope of investigation in Dr ShahidNawaz firing case and has obtainedthe record of stents provided to heartpatients in PIMS, mobile SMS andrecord of inquiry conducted by FIA inalleged corruption case against theheart specialist.

Dr Shahid Nawaz, heart specialistswas critically injured in firing by someunknown persons in PIMS day before.The police collected the record fromthe hospital in respect of stents in-stalled in patients so that list of heartpatients who underwent angiography

and stents were installed to them couldbecome available.

Police sources said that record ofthe SMS related to Dr Shahid Nawazmobile is being obtained and police isfocusing on the SMS which were de-leted from his mobile. Online was toldthat an application seeking inquiryagainst Dr Shahid Nawaz in respectof his alleged involvement in corrup-tion case was sent to FIA and find-ings of inquiry on this matter was sentto PIMS.

Doctors of PIMS had sent an ap-plication to FIA and police has ob-

tained inquiry report from FIA and hasstarted reviewing it. The foot printsof attackers of Dr Shahid Nawaz arelikely to be traced from within the hos-pital. As per Online sources Dr ShahidNawaz remained in Saudi Arabia for10 years and he used to visit Pakistanto check patients in PIMS.

Later he was employed on contractand regularized. Soon he was ap-pointed head of cardiology depart-ment. Later a group of doctors startedmaligning him and applications weresent against him from time to time tohigher authorities.—Online

Police collects stents record from PIMSin Dr Shahid Nawaz firing case

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Former Minister of State forForeign Affairs and renowned intellectualAkram Zaki has said Mirza ZahiruddinBabar laid foundation of Mughal dynastyin the Indian Subcontinent on religious har-mony, social justice with a focus on welfareof masses.

The vision of Babar paved way for oneof the most prosperous nation on earth atthat time and help Mughals rule the Sub-continent for three hundred and fifty years,he said. Speaking at a ceremony on the eveof 532nd birthday of Zahiruddin Babar, hesaid that religious tolerance and sectarianharmony was at its peak during the Mughalera while the non-Muslim subjects weregiven all the due rights.

All the non-Muslims enjoyed full reli-gious, economic, social and political free-dom which helped maintain such a giganticempire for extended duration. Akram Zakisaid that hatred and intolerance on the ba-sis of faith was never part of our societyand traditions, rather it is due to influenceof foreign interference. Speaking at theoccasion, President of the Mughal SocietyBaig Raj said that we have established the

society on order to introduce Mughal his-tory and culture to the new generation. Hesaid that Babur conquered all Indian Sub-continent in just four years and ensuredpeace across the stretch of his rule.

He used to come out of the palace inlaborer wear out to get firsthand informa-tion about the situation on the ground andhe would not observe any leniency or dis-crimination in dispensation of justice, saidBaig Raj. He noted that Babar was well or-ganized with a keen eye for natural beauty,he was a brave, humble and good-humored.His attractive personality combined a finesense of taste and style. Although his lifewas occupied with warfare and physicalexertion, he enjoyed the company of artistsand writers.

Apart from a military genius, conqueror,kindhearted and benevolent ruler, he wasalso a writer, poet and lover of art, he said,adding that the next birthday of the em-peror would be observed in a big way.

The one of the most successful ofBabur’s move was the introduction of “Gun-powder”, which had never been used be-fore in the sub-continent which brought hima well-deserved victory which changed thecourse of Indian history.

532nd birthday of Mughal Emperor Babar observed

Babar promotedreligious harmony,

social justice: Akram Zaki

11 suspects including8 Afghans arrested

RAWALPINDI—Rawalpindipolice have arrested 11 sus-pects including eight Afghannationals as the nabbed per-sons could not produce anydocument for their identity, apolice spokesman said.

He said that Pirwadhaipolice on Sunday night con-ducted a search operation inMindi Mor, Fauji Colony,Awan Colony, Loharan WaliGhali, Muslim Abad andother areas of its jurisdictionin which they checkedhouses, workshops, markets,under construction build-ings, hotels and residentialareas and rounded up AhsanUllah, Nasir Khan, SajidKhan, Rehmat Ullah, AbdulWaheed, Ramazan Khan,Arslan Khan, MuhammadNiaz, Dilawar Khan, AbbasKhan and MuhammadUsman.

He said, following thedirectives of City Police Of-ficer (CPO) Rawalpindi,search operations had beeninitiated and the police areconducting checking atslum areas, inns, hotels, res-taurants and residential ar-eas. These measures arebeing taken to net criminalsand keep vigilant eye on thesuspected elements, headded.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—Around 95 percent work onPackage I and Package III of Metro Bus ser-vice project’s portion falling in the Capital hasbeen completed while work on other Packageswas being carried out at a fast track, an officialassociated with the project said.

He said 85 percent of Package II (a) andPackage IV, 75 percent of Package V and 40 percent of Package II (b) had been completed.About 50 percent work has been completedon installing escalators, elevators and PSD,while 60 per cent work on bus depot has alsobeen completed, he added.

Sharing package-wise details of comple-tion of the project’s Rawalpindi portion, he said100 per cent of land acquisition and shifting ofutilities had been completed.

He said 85 percent of Package I had al-ready been completed, 80 per cent work of Pack-age II, 85 per cent of Package III, 50 per centwork of escalators, elevators and PSD had beencompleted. Similarly, 35 per cent work on es-tablishing command and control centre has alsobeen completed.

The official said a sum of Rs 43,029.85 mil-lion had already been released while Rs30,613.01 million (71 per cent) funds have so farbeen utilised.

The total estimated cost of Twin City MetroBus Project was Rs 44,845.669 million. Rs20,922.834 million each were being shared byfederal and Punjab governments. And Rs 3,000million would be borne by the federal govern-ment as its share in the total cost of Rs 4,942.074million for Peshawar More Interchange. Thetotal federal share is Rs 23.923 billion.

Metro Bus project

95pc work on Packages I, III ofIslamabad portion completed

FIR registeredagainst ASWJ leaderISLAMABAD—A First Informa-tion Report (FIR) was filedagainst Ahle Sunnat WalJamaat (ASWJ) on Mondayfor spreading religious hatred,violating the Amplifier Act andinterfering in governmentalfunctions.

According to a private TVchannel Station House Officer(SHO) Nawaz Bhatti at the theSecretariat police station reg-istered the FOR which namedparty chief MaulanaMohammad AhmedLudhianvi along with otherrepresentatives of the ASWJ.Yesterday, the party membersstaged a protest outside theSupreme Court over the deathof party leader MaulanaMazhar Siddiqui. The FIRalso mentions chargesagainst the party membersfor carrying Siddiqui’s deadbody from Nadra Chowk tothe Supreme Court.—Online

STAFF REPORTER

RAWALPINDI—Rawalpindi Arts Council(RAC) on Sunday night arranged a SaraikiCultural Night featuring the promotion andintroduction of regional cultural and to pro-vide entertainment to the Saraiki commu-nity living in twin cities.

Renowned intellectual of Saraiki lan-guage Mazhar Arif, Akram Mirani, RiazKhosa, Safdar Klasra, Shahiryar Taunsviand others participated as guests of honor

while Waqar Ahmed, Resident DirectorRAC was appreciated for hospitalities onthe occasion.

Saraiki Students Council of FederalUrdu University cooperated a lot for orga-nizing the event while various federationsof different universities including PakhtoonStudents Federation, Baltistan StudentsFederation, Kashmir Students Federations,Baloch Students Federation, Potohar Stu-dents Federation participated and per-formed their traditional dances.

RAC arranges Saraiki cultural night

ISLAMABAD: President Azad Kashmir Sardar Mohammad Yaqub Khan meeting with a delegation of US investors.

BAGH (AJK): A large number of candidates gather for recruitment in police at Police Line.

ABDUL HASEEB MIR

JAMA’AT-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir is oneof the prominent socio-political organisationsof Kashmir with undeniably phenomenal role

in social and political awakening in the state. Theorganisation faced worst phase of persecution fromthe Indian state in 90s and was almost pulverized.Now, in the phase of re-emergence, JeI needs towalk beyond crisis management strategies and re-active approaches with a focus on revolution ofideas. Some may argue that the Islamic movementin Kashmir needs an alternative to Jama’at withsimilar ideology but without the baggage of his-torical truths and untruths including its background,its missteps, the fear factor, and the mischievouspropaganda by the state agencies. I opt for JeI’sexistence as I find it possible for the organizationto overcome these challenges and also because nosimilar organisation can reach such a vast geo-graphical scope and influence now. Kashmir is nomore in 1950’s and 60’s.

Furthermore, in a situation where the state hasbeen patronizing various politically sterilisedpseudo-Islamic missionary groups, sects with for-eign allegiance, organisations proclaiming softseparatism, the latest stream of political playerswho serve the state motives camouflaged underpopular slogans, the regional players of indepen-dent identities and the parties inculcating the senseof deprivation, Jama’at, to me, appears the nerve-

To remain relevant in Kashmir, Jama’at must re-strategize its policiescentre that could mobilize the counter opinion withan audible voice and one that matters.

Post-Syed Ali Geelani politics is already un-der the making with various leaders queuing-up toSheikh-incarnate themselves and declare the pastas political waywardness, certified either by someone’s long-time imprisonment or by the others’recitation of the verses. The pro-India regime shallalso assume new deceptive looks and the peopleshall be engulfed in a dangerous situation. Thecoming days in the Valley shall all be manufac-tured, the machinery for the same is tirelessly work-ing and passing events shall unfold certain harshrealties, that would cost our history and all that wesacrificed to create that history.

The tough times as planned by the genius withall their complicacies stand too close than one mayguess. Though, the nation has to respond but myfocus here is on Jama’at. It has historically re-sponded to such situations. When Sheikh Abdullahsought to trespass the dominant sentiment, it wasJama’at that induced life in the movement by dar-ing to oppose the move. One may agree or dis-agree with the strategies opted by the Jama’at, butone would never question the sincerity and sacri-fices of its members for the freedom struggle.Jama’at, being the largest cadre based organisationwith a democratic mechanism that echoes thevoices from the ground, shall reflect the politicalopinion making on the ground in the coming times.It appears reassuming its ground by doing certain

different strategies. The organisation was the first-to-reach the flood victims of September 2014 inboth the rescue and relief operations at a large scalewith its entire manpower. It was a reflection of theresurrection process that paves way for understand-ing the grassroots presence once again.

Politically, Jama’at alienated itself fromGeelani’s dominance and then retracted fromHurriyat (G), staying independent and aloof, whichpossibly could have multiple interpretations, butpopular ones are ‘good bye to greater political ac-tivism’ or ‘strategy for a greater political activism’.The former may be true, but the latter is largelyreflected by the members of the Jama’at who ownthe decision making process in the organisation.

The belief is not totally untrue that Jama’at lostmuch of its intellectual capital and as a result failedto meet the expectations. It has worried the Jama’atcadre about their future prospects and hence theprime focus as of now has shifted to cadre genera-tion that could possibly open ways for the emer-gence of a new leadership.

This strategy opted may possibly allow Jama’atto absorb people with some new developmentalprograms, encompassing political, economic, andsocial arenas and open its space to debate, argueagainst, and delegitimize the competing ideas. Itmay work to mobilise new social actors who mayrenew the advocacy struggle and reorient societaltendencies and streamline the generation next withthe sacrifices and struggle of Jama’at. It may reju-

venate the innovative thought process and activ-ism and lead Jama’at to formulate a vision thatcould reintegrate it in the rapidly changing para-digms in philosophies, social programs and politi-cal challenges in the state. The party leadershipcan make efforts for reversal of fortunes by rein-troducing young blood especially the upwardlymobile university students and professionals whocould aptly respond to the secularization thesis,cultural aggression, socio-moral decline and ineptsystem through grass root educative efforts and theprovisions of social services.

Beyond a wishful imagination, the change isnot impossible once Jama’at seriously dedicatesits leftover members to the renovation process andresume their well-known activism of the past.Jama’at can be reintroduced into the good memo-ries of people through projects having popular ac-ceptance. Re-assessing the assessment strategiesof the members and the institutions can make higherthoughts pragmatic and productive. Engagementwith wider spectrum of opinion holders or stake-holders shall allow the flow of ideas toward theorganisation, which will replenish the lost wisdom,both for missionary purpose and the upcomingpolitical challenges.

The focus on all the regions of Kashmir needsan emphasis on priority basis with certain definitecalculations. Opening the channels of dialogue withpeople belonging to other faiths shall reduce thecommunal tensions that shall be fermented with

greater intensity in the next decade.The leadership of Jama’at is experienced, dedi-

cated and sacrificed a lot but they are old at thesame time. These leaders can transmit the samevalues to the newcomers by giving them due re-spect, education, space for execution of ideas andalso by providing them opportunities to err andrectify mistakes as well. The new leadership hasto think on different lines and taking lessons fromthe past.

Jama’at in any way should not underestimateor ignore its role in future, both for Islam and theKashmir dispute. The party is going to play a deci-sive role in the coming days that are fraught withdangers. Jama’at has a short time for a rapid resur-rection, before the clouds burst and things assumea different face.

Jama’at ideologues have responded to the westthinkers like, Voltaire, Jefferson, Marx, Comte,Muller, Spencer, Durkeim, Weber and Freud, whopreached that the advent of industrial society wouldmark the decline of religious belief and institutions.Today they have to respond to the new challengesthat have erupted after illegal persecution strate-gies adopted by the enemies of Islam followed bythe “war on terror”, Islamophobia and the mediawar, and prove to the west once again that, as usualthey were wrong. It surely is going to be a chal-lenging task, and the challenging task is what de-fines the Islamic movements.

—Courtesy: KR

KU distributesrelief among

flood-hitSRINAGAR—The NationalService Scheme Unit of Uni-versity of Kashmir Sunday dis-tributed relief material amongthe flood-hit victims from vari-ous areas of the Valley.

In a statement, a spokes-man said a programme washeld under the supervision ofNSS programme officer TariqAbdullah and was organized incollaboration with EKTA FO-RUM New Delhi and YoungWelfare committee Safa Kadalat Government College forWomen Nawa Kadal.

“Kits containing Blankets,Water bottles, soap and clotheswere distributed to flood hit vic-tims of various areas of SheriKhass. The victims were identi-fied by local NGO Young Wel-fare Committee safaKadal. Blan-kets and clothes were donated byDelhi based NGO EKTA Fo-rum,” the spokesman said.

On the occasion, NSSprogramme officer and eventcoordinator Tariq Abdullah con-soled the flood victims. He alsohailed collaboration of Delhibased NGO Ekta Forum andalso appreciated the disciplinedwork of Young Welfare Com-mittee who are voluntarily tak-ing care of flood-hit victims anddown trodden.

Prof Tasleem in her presiden-tial address pledged that collegewill organize more relief distribu-tion events for the victims livingin the college vicinity.—KR

SRINAGAR—The All Parties Hurriyet Confer-ence has said that the Kashmir dispute is themain impediment to better relations betweenPakistan and India.

The APHC in a statement issued in Srinagar,today, welcomed the US statement stressingcloser relationship between Islamabad and NewDelhi for advancing peace and security in SouthAsia. The APHC said that the United States be-ing an influential member of the internationalcommunity could play a key role in resolvingthe Kashmir dispute. However, the APHCstressed the need for inclusion of true Kashmirileadership in the dialogue process between thetwo neighbouring countries.

The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation FrontChairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik in a state-ment issued in Srinagar condemned the contin-ued detention of senior party leader, ShowkatAhmad Bakhshi. The JKLF leader has beenlodged in Pulwama police station for the past15 days.

The forum led by the veteran Hurriyet

US asked to play key rolein Kashmir settlement

Unrelenting use of pepper gas in IOK denouncedleader, Syed Ali Gilani in a statement demandedimmediate release of forum Spokesman, AyazAkbar, who was arrested on 9th February andwas lodged at Parimpora police station.

Hurriyet leader, Nayeem Ahmad Khan talk-ing to the family of a martyred Kashmiri boy inPalhalan said that India and its local collabora-tors were targeting youth to weaken their pro-freedom sentiments.

APHC leader, Javed Ahmad Mir in a state-ment denounced the unabated use of pepper gasby Indian police on peaceful protestors inSrinagar and other parts of the Valley. He pointedout that people particularly newborn babies andasthma patients were highly vulnerable to thegas effects in the affected areas.

The Awami Ittihaad Party President andmember of so-called Kashmir Assembly, Engi-neer Abdur Rasheed addressing a seminar inJammu said that peace would remain a distantdream in the world unless voices of oppressorsin Kashmir and Palestine were heard by theUnited States and United Nations.—KD

SRINAGAR—Hurriyet leader, Nayeem AhmadKhan has said that India and its local collabora-tors are targeting youth to weaken their pro-free-dom sentiments. Nayeem Ahmad Khan talkingto the family of a martyred Kashmiri boy, FarooqAhmad Butt, in Palhalan said, “Palhalan is beingtargeted every now and then and its residents arevictimised only because of their pro-freedomstance.”Farooq Ahmad Butt was martyred by themen in uniform a few days ago.

On the occasion, Nayeem Ahmad Khan

India targeting youth to weakenfreedom sentiments: Nayeem

praised the people of Palhalan and said, “Thepeople living here have rendered every sacrificein the way of freedom without surrendering thatis why the people living here are being belea-guered by the occupation forces.”

Nayeem Ahmad Khan met the parents andall other close relatives of Farooq Ahmad Buttand encouraged them. “We know that the parentsof Farooq Ahmad have suffered a great loss andare in an intolerable pain,” Nayeem Khan said.—KD

A . H . RAO

MIRPUR (AJK)—Appended with a short docu-mentary film, a research study has revealed asignificant expansion and bright future of tour-ism industry in top mountainous scenic NeelumValley of Azad Jammu Kashmir after ceasefireon the LoC between India and Pakistan in 2003in this part of the state. This was observed bythe speakers at the launching ceremony andsymposium held in Muzaffarabad late Sunday.AJK Information Minister Syed Bazil Naqvi,was among the key speakers on this occasionwho highlighted the huge natural potential andbright future for promotion of the tourism in-dustry in this part of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

The ceremony was largely attended amongothers by the civil society activists, governmentofficials and media personals. Muzaffarabad-based right group and think tank Press for Peacelunched the research report and documentaryfilm The Valley in Search of Peace, Socioeco-nomic Development in Neelum Valley is di-rected and produced by veteran Kashmiri broad-cast journalist Amiruddin Mughal.

Amiruddin Mughal and Raja Waseem, Di-rector Press for Peace briefed participants aboutobjectives of the report and film. The film andresearch report, that deeply scanned pre and postceasefire scenario, was termed an in-depth studyof socioeconomic condition and peace initiativesby residents of Neelum Valley.

“Film gives an insight into struggle and life

Documentary on brightfuture of tourism in AJK

standard of people,” said Bazil Navi, Informa-tion Minister while speaking on this occasion.“In-depth study could be helpful planning toolfor government and nonprofits working of eco-nomic development in the area,” Naqvi added.Naqvi also admitted the budget cuts and cumu-lative non-development expenditure as a majordrawback in development of AJK.

Speaking on this occasion Amir ud DinMughal said “tourism and cottage industrieshave potential to generate enormous job oppor-tunities in Neelum Valley”. “But governmentneed to build infrastructure and marketing strat-egies for local products,” he suggested Partici-pants after watching the film appreciated it as aunique effort and approach towards highlight-ing social issues. Film also elaborates challengesfaced by people of Neelum Valley during warbetween India and Pakistan.

More than 3,000 died around 10,000 injuredand disabled, whole infrastructure was collapsedwhile public and private assets were burnt during14 years long conflict at the Line of Control.Ceasefire in 2003 has brought a positive change intheir lives but still they are concerned about ten-sion between both neighboring atomic powers.

“Peace and security is basic need for devel-opment,” said Raja Wasim concluding that peaceand security can not only cause creation of morejob opportunities but it also can draw attentionof investors from all around country to invest intourism and industries in the picturesque valleyof divided Kashmir.

NEW DELHI—The veteran Hurriyetleader, Syed Ali Gilani has strongly con-demned the continued illegal detention ofAyaz Akbar and demanded his immediaterelease. Syed Ali Gilani in a statement fromNew Delhi said that Ayaz Akbar was ar-rested with other pro-freedom leaders onthe occasion of martyrdom anniversaries ofMohammad Maqbool Butt and MohammadAfzal Guru on February 9 and 11. He addedthat all other pro-freedom leaders were re-leased but Ayaz Akbar was still in policecustody and he was not being released.

He said that the authorities were fol-

Gilani condemns Ayaz Akbar’sdetention, demands his release

lowing inconclusive and dangerous poli-cies with regarding to the pro-freedomleaders and they were being barred fromperforming their peaceful political activi-ties. Hurriyat leaders are frequently de-tained and are totally denied politicalspace, he deplored.

He said these policies have neither re-solved the Kashmir dispute in the past norcan these tactics help them in future.

He demanded immediate release of allHurriyet leaders including Ayaz Akbar,Masarat Alam Butt, Abdullah Nasir, AbdulGhani Butt, Molvi Abdul Ahad, Nisar

Ahmad Butt, Shakeel Ahmad Yatoo andNazir Ahmad Mantoo.

The veteran Hurriyet leader said thatthe government could imprison the pro-freedom leadership but couldn’t confinetheir ideologies and thoughts. He urgedIndia to shun its rigid and stubborn policyand adopt a realistic approach regardingKashmir dispute.

Syed Ali Gilani advised the new gov-ernment of India to rethink over its poli-cies and should know the fact thatKashmiris would never accept any solu-tion against their aspirations.—KD

Agha Hassannominated head

of AJK JafriaSupreme CouncilM U Z A F FA R A B A D — T h eAnjuman Sharie Shian Jammuand Kashmir President, AghaSyed Hassan Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi has been nominated asChief Patron of Jafria SupremeCouncil, Azad Kashmir. AghaSyed Hassan Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi in a statement issued inSrinagar thanked the Jafria Su-preme Council Azad Kashmirover the nomination, which hesaid was an honorur for him.

He said, “We are for peace,cooperation and tolerance withTrans Civilization Dialogue inthe interest of Muslim Ummahand the humanity in general. Inthe times when Pakistan isplagued by terrorism, I remem-ber my great teacher and men-tor, Imam Khomeni’s sayingthat we are the children ofKarbala. So beware, no one canbreak our patience and deter-mination for our faith.”—KMS

JAMMU—In a unique women empower-ment initiative, the Indian Army hastrained 52 women from socially backwardsections in Chinta village in Bhaderwahdistrict, in candle-making, providing theman opportunity to earn their livelihoodwhile sitting at home.

For the women in this remote villagein the mountainous district of Bhaderwahin Chenab valley, the initiative will go along way in making them financially moreindependent and improve the condition oftheir households.

“To help socially and economicallyweaker sections in the remote village ofBhaderwah, the Army has taken severalinitiatives including conducting of candle-making classes for women at the remoteChinta village of Bhaderwah,” Defencespokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta told PTI.

“The classes were conducted from

Army trains women in candle-makingJanuary 7 this year. A total of 52 womenfrom socially and economically backwardstrata of society have benefitted and trainedon nuances of candle-making with an aimto enable them to become financially in-dependent and self-employed,” he said.

He said that the Army wants to em-power the female residents of these remotevillages so they too can play their part inimproving the overall livable condition oftheir families.

“The project will go a long way inadvancement and empowerment of womenof the region and would help them to pur-sue an independent vocation and makethem confident and independent individu-als,” he said. .

Nirja Devi, a resident of the remoteChinta village, attended all the classes andlearned the art of making candles. She nowplans to set up a small unit in her house

where she would not only make candles butalso teach other women from her village.

“I always wanted to work and supportmy family, but as I don’t have any formaleducation and any other skills; I was re-stricted to my house. Besides, the socialsetup in m village does not allow the fe-male members of the family to come outof the houses to work,” Nirja Devi said.

“Now that I have learned the skills, Iwill setup a small candle making unit inmy house, where apart from makingcandles I will teach this skill to other la-dies of the villages so as to make themfinancially independent as well,” she said.

Om Prakash Kotwal, Sarpanch ofJalga Panchayat said, “The Army has al-ways been on the forefront in organisingconstructive activities for the locals, andwe are thankful to the organisation for thesame.”—KR

JAMMU—Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) presidentand MLA Langate, Engineer Rashid Sundaycalled for Unity among the Muslims across theworld. “Muslims are not terrorists or extremistsif viewed from impartial angle .As a matter offact, Muslims in number of parts of world areoppressed and suppressed and as a result theyare bound to show some sought of reactions.

MLA Rashid calls forunity among Muslims

“The burning unsolved political disputes andfailure of world bodies to address those has alsofurther complicated the matter for Muslims,” hesaid while speaking at a convention organized byJama’at-e-Islami at Rajendra Bazaar here. Rashidsaid that when communal rhetoric like installingidols in the mosques or throwing dirt into religiousplaces of Muslims continues unabated.—KR

Some people workhard in this busi-ness and become

really popular,really big stars butthey never receive

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

leagues andfriends believe inyou to the point of

handing you anaward it means so

much more.

—Sharon Stone

LSE down by14.04 pointsLAHORE—Lahore StockExchange here Mondaywitnessed bearish trend byloosing 14.04 points, as theLSE Index-25 opened with6100.43 points and closedat 6086.39 points. Themarket’s overall situationalso did not correspond toan upward trend as itremained at 970,900 sharesto close against previousturnover of 982,700 shares,showing a downward slideof 11,800 shares. While, outof the total 96 active scrips9 moved up, 15 shed valuesand 72 remained equal. TheMajor Gainers of the daywere Pakistan Oil FieldsLimited, Pakistan State OilCompany Limited andPICIC Growth Fund byrecording increase in theirper share value by Rs 3.10,Rs 2.50 and Rs 1.08respectively. Mari Petro-leum Company, HascolPetroleum Limited andMaple Leaf Cement Factorylost their per share value byRs 19.60, Re 1.00 and Re0.56 respectively.—APP

Shipping activity atPort QasimKARACHI—Four shipscarrying containers, coaland furnace oil berthed atQasim InternationalContainers Terminal, multiPurpose Terminal andFOTCO Terminal respec-tively. Meanwhile onemore ship carryingcontainers also arrived atouter anchorage of PortQasim during last 24 hours.A cargo volume of 105641tonnes comprising 88295tonnes imports and 17346tonnes exports inclusive ofcontainerized cargo carriedin 1968 containers (TEUs)were handled at the Portduring last 24 hours. Berthoccupancy was 55% at theport on Monday where sixships namely ExpressKailsh, MSC Albany,Equator harmony, DLDahlia, MT Shalamar andBunga Aster are currentlyoccupying berths to loadoffload containers, coal,furnace oil and edible oilrespectively.—APP

G20 meeting warnsof global economychallengesISTANBUL—Financialofficials and policymakersattending a Group of 20(G20) ministerial meetinghave warned that weakgrowth and divergingmonetary policies amongmajor economies maymake 2015 a difficult yearfor the global economy.While addressingfinancial officials andbankers from more than40 countries just ahead ofthe first MinisterialMeeting of the TurkishG20 Presidency, ChineseDeputy Finance MinisterZhu Guangyao high-lighted risks for the worldeconomy and called onjoint efforts to face thechallenges. “Thesluggish global growth isa real challenge faced byall members of G20,” Zhusaid, referring to thedowngrade of globaleconomic growth from 3.8percent to 3.5 percent inJanuary by the Interna-tional Monetary Fund.—Xinhua

MIAN ARSHAD

ISLAMABAD—Head of Cooperation Delegation ofthe European Union (EU) to Pakistan BernardFrancois, Monday, said that the leather sector wasan important sector in Pakistan, due to its size oneconomic footprint, employment, and potential forvalue creation.

“Despite being an export earner, the leathersector has trivial share in global trade of valueadded goods and products. In wake of the cur-rent relaxation/incentives given by the EU, whichincludes the GSP+ status for Pakistan, the valueadded leather sector needs to seize the opportu-nity and further develop the sector to become aneven greater export earner for Pakistan” he saidwhile addressing an Orientation Workshop heldin connection with Pakistan Mega Leather Show2015.

The event was arranged by the EU funded“Pakistan Leather Competitiveness ImprovementProgram (PLCIP)” under European Union’s TradeRelated Technical Assistance Programme. He

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—LINE, the world’s leading mo-bile platform, and The United NationsChildren’s Fund (UNICEF) signed a globalpartnership agreement. Jong Nam Oh, Ex-ecutive Director of The Korean Committeefor UNICEF and Jung-ho Shin, Chief Ex-ecutive Officer (CEO) of LINE Plus Corpo-ration and Chief Globalization Officer (CGO)of LINE Corporation, held “UNICEF-LINEGlobal Partnership Signing Ceremony” toagree on sponsorship partnership to sup-port the children of the world.

UNICEF and LINE’s partnership hasbeen strategically led by the UNICEF glo-bal headquarters, through this strategicpartnership, UNICEF and LINE aim to cre-ate a brand value with competitive powerand raise funds effectively. LINE plans touse character licensing by producing andselling Plush Toy and mugs of its flagshipcharacter, Brown, with the UNICEF logo.In addition, LINE will help fundraise by

European Union supports Pakistan mega leather show-2015said that Pakistan lagged behind other regionalplayers, and there was an imminent need to makethe leather sector more competitive in the inter-national market. The Programme is working toimprove the overall value chain in the leatherproduct sector of Pakistan. The purpose of thisOrientation Workshop was to give an introduc-tion to Pakistan’s leather industry to the inter-national community and donors, and to invitethem for the Pakistan Mega Leather Show 2015,which is being hosted in Lahore on 6th -8thMarch, 2015.

Speaking on the event, the Project Directorof PLCIP, Usman H. Malik highlighted variousactivities envisioned under the program. Hebriefed the audience that the three-year PLCIPhas been involved in supporting the leatherproduct sector by focusing on improving pro-ductivity, shop floor management, export diver-sification and new market access. He high-lighted that the Pakistani leather sector is a largeexport earner, with total exports of US$ xxx mil-lion in the latest financial year. However, the

sector is not keeping up with regional competi-tors, and the industry has difficulties copingwith the changing demands of the internationalmarket.

Although Pakistan is a strong internationalplayer in the leather apparel and accessoriessector (including leather clothing accessoriesand gloves) controll ing 7.6% of the worldtrade; in the footwear sector, which is 73% ofthe overall global leather industry, Pakistanhas only had a negligible share for the pastseveral years.

The assistance of the PLCIP will go a longway in providing technical training and kno-whow to the Pakistani leather exporters to ad-dress the challenging needs of the interna-tional market.

Muhammad Musaddiq, Chairman PTA, saidthat The Pakistan Mega Leather Show will por-tray the positive image of Pakistan to the world.This event will be a good start to target the inter-national buyers to come to Pakistan and to takebenefit from the tremendous potential that exist in

the leather sector of Pakistan.The show will provide a unique platform

for the Pakistani leather industry, includingtanners, footwear manufacturers, leather gar-ments and gloves manufacturers, chemicalcompanies, and other vendors supplyingequipment, machinery and components to theleather industry to display their products, andprovide a single platform for the Pakistanileather industry. He encouraged the diplomaticcommunity and donors to participate in thisshow and invite potential stake holders/buy-ers from their respective countries to visit theexpo.

The event was attended by representatives ofEuropean Union, Foreign Missions, Pakistan Tan-ners Association, Pakistan Leather GarmentsManufacturers and Exporters Association, Paki-stan Footwear Association and Pakistan GlovesManufacturers and Exporters Association andvarious government officials from Ministry ofCommerce and Pakistan Institute of Trade andDevelopment.

LINE, UNICEF sign globalpartnership agreement

developing and selling digital LINE stick-ers. LINE’s virtual coin called “Free Coin”will contribute to the fundraising as well.

Jong Nam Oh, the Executive Director ofthe Korean Committee for UNICEF, said “Itis highly meaningful that Korean Commit-tee participated as a representative for thepartnership between UNICEF and LINE, aglobal corporate and a messenger app usedin 230 countries worldwide.” He added that“The strategic partnership betweenUNICEF and LINE is expected to enhancebrand value, produce competitive products,and moreover, create synergy to increasesponsoring opportunities for UNICEF us-ing LINE’s digital platform.”

Jung-ho Shin, CEO of LINE Plus Cor-poration and CGO of LINE Corporationcommented, “LINE has been constantlyevolving to become the world’s leadingmobile life platform. I hope this partnershipbrings excitement to all LINE users by be-ing able to take on an important role to sup-port the children in developing countries.

FAISALABAD: A farmer busy in spreading the fertilizer in the wheat crop.

MIAN ARSHAD

ISLAMABAD—Federal Min-ister for Finance SenatorMuhammad Ishaq Dar hasemphatically asked the Se-curities and Exchange Com-mission of Pakistan (SECP)to adopt policy of zero tol-erance against insider trad-ing and set example by iden-tifying and penalizing blacksheep in stock market sothat it serves as deterrenceand the menace is curbed.He said that incidents of in-sider trading and marketmanipulation like price ma-nipulation, blank selling,front running etc. severelydamage the small investorsand must be curbed for theprotection of investors’ in-terest.

On his visit to the SECPoffice here on Monday, de-tailed presentations weredelivered by the SECPchairman and commission-ers in relation to the SECPreform agenda and areas re-quiring the government’ssupport. The Finance Min-ister while appreciating theSECP’s efforts highlightedthe immense potential of theNBFIs and Insurance Sec-tor. He desired detailed pre-sentations on these sectors

based on the ideas pre-sented so that necessarysteps can be agreed andimplemented for the devel-opment of these crucial seg-ments.

Later, while addressingthe SECP employees he saidthat the role of SECP is notlimited to regulate the cor-porate and capital sector,but also to facilitate andprotect small investors. Hecomplemented the SECPChairman Mr Zafar Hijaziand his team for their excel-lent performance and en-hancing SECP’s regulatoryrole and hoped that they willcontinue the current pace ofwork. In this connection, heespecially mentioned theSECP’s recent initiativesincludings development ofSukuk Regulations, BookBuilding Regulations, UnitLink Rules for Life Insur-ance, approval of REITs etc.He expressed his concernthat the full potential of thePakistan Mercantile Ex-change Limited was not be-ing realized and hoped thatthe SECP Chairman wouldtake necessary measures forthe development of thecommodities market in Paki-stan. While advising theSECP to submit its tax pro-

posals on priority he citedexample of tax avoidance inrelation to tax levied on bo-

nus shares. He assured hisconfidence that this issuewill be settled in favour ofthe government.

While giving future

guidelines, the Finance Min-ister said that Pakistan had togo a long way for the devel-

opment of financial institu-tions for long term funding ascommercial banks cannot ful-fil the financial needs for thedevelopment of industrial

sector. He said that the gov-ernment had taken measuresto make Pakistan economi-

cally a sovereign country. Hesaid when the present gov-ernment took over, all the in-ternational financial institu-tions were fearing that the

Pakistan would default by2014, but now with positiveand sincere steps, not only

the financial credibility of Pa-kistan has increased but theforeign reserves which earlierstood at $7.5 billion are nowin the range of $16 billion.

He referred to the laud-able services of SECP’s pre-vious chairmen who built theorganization. In this connec-tion he said the foundingChairman of the SECP Mr.Shamim Ahmad Khanworked hard to put the SECPon sound footings and mak-ing it a credible regulatoryauthority. Likewise, the ser-vices of former SECP Chair-man Tariq Hasan and KhalidMirza are also praiseworthy.

The Finance Ministeragreed with the ChairmanSECP’s request for havingits own building and as-sured his support in this re-gard. He also assured his fullsupport in expediting enact-ment of various legislationscrucial for the developmentof sectors under SECP pre-view. The Chairman SECPMr. Zafar Hijazi while wel-coming the Finance Minis-ter assured him that theSECP employees were to-tally committed to their jobsand were deploying theirbest efforts to meet publicexpectations. He said thatthe SECP is very firm in itsmission of the developmentof a transparent and vibrantcapital market, efficient andcompliant insurance, NBFCand corporate sectors.

Dar asks SECP to adopt zero tolerance policy against insider trading

ISLAMABAD: British Minister for Cabinet Office UK, Francis Maude MP called onMinister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Ms. Anusha Rahman.

STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD—The British Minister for the Cabi-net Office and Paymaster General RT HonFrancis Maude MP called on the Minister ofState for Information Technology Ms. AnushaRahman here in her office today. British HighCommission Mr. Philip Barton, Secretary IT Mr.Azmat Ali Ranjha and other officials from Brit-ish High Commissioner and Ministry of IT werealso present in the meeting.

The Minister for IT, Ms. AnushaRahman apprised the visiting minister re-garding strengths and potentials of the IT& Telecom sector of Pakistan. The visitingMinister was informed that the number ofbroadband and 3G/4G subscribers hasgrown up to 3.8million & 3.6million respec-tively in the last few months since auction.There are immense opportunities availablewhich the foreign investors particularly inthe upcoming spectrum auction of 20MHZcan tap in 850& 1800MHZ Bands.

While sharing snapshots of Pakistan’s ITsector, Ms. Anusha Rahman said that our IT

Pak offers immense opportunitiesto foreign investors: Anusha

export is more than 1.5billion US$ per annum,which is 11 times higher than the last decade’sand we are striving to take it up to US$ 4billion by 2020. Mr. Maude was also informedby the Minister that present government iscommitted to develop this IT sector in all re-spects, therefore, we are offering incentivesto the foreign investors which includes taxholidays on IT export, 100% equity and 100%repatriation of the profits.

Anusha Rahman further said that Paki-stan has huge numbers of English speakingIT experts/professionals who are providingquality IT services to their International cus-tomers and government of Pakistan encour-ages investors and customers from UK toexplore business opportunities in our IT sec-tor and Pakistan intends to see its IT exportincrease in the next 2-3 years which currentlystands 8% of the total IT export. For thispurpose PSEB will lead a delegation of CEOsof IT Companies to UK in second half of thisyear. Such exchange of delegations will cer-tainly promote bilateral business and traderelations between UK & Pakistan.

Mobilink appointsAamir as Chief

CommercialOfficer

STAFF REPORTER

I S L A M A B A D — J e f f r e yHedberg, President and

CEO Mobilink, announcedkey structural changes toMobilink’s top management.Aamir Ibrahim, one of thefounding members ofMobilink from 1994, andmore recently Senior VicePresident Telenor Group inThailand, where he was re-sponsible for distributionand organizational transfor-mation, will be returning toMobilink as Deputy CEOand Chief Commercial Of-ficer.

In this role Aamir willlead al l commercial as-pects of Mobilink’s vari-ous businesses. Aamirhas over 20 years of bluechip experience acrossvarious countries and in-dustries.

He has previouslyserved as Chief MarketingOfficer Telenor Pakistan andChief Strategy OfficerMobilink in addition to vari-ous leadership roles at FordMotor Company in Europeand Middle East. Aamir hasan MBA from IMD and anAMP diploma from HarvardBusiness School.

Regulatory dutyon various

essential productsdecried

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—The LahoreChamber of Commerce &Industry (LCCI) hasflayed the decision of theEconomic CoordinationCommittee (ECC) of thecabinet to impose regula-tory duty on various prod-ucts and demanded of theFederal Finance Ministerto review its decision inthe larger interest of thetrade & economy. TheLCCI Senior Vice Presi-dent Mian Nauman Kabirwhile terming ECC deci-sion as a “mini budget”said that regulatory dutyon various items wouldput an extra burden of Rs.16 to 20 billion on the con-sumers.

He said that reportedly5% regulatory duty was aresult of the federalgovernment’s commit-ment to the InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF)during the recently-com-pleted sixth review underthe 6.64 billion dollars Ex-tended Fund Facility(EFF) to retrieve the reduc-tion in government rev-enue due to a decline inthe international price ofpetroleum and products.The LCCI SVP said thatfurnace oil, electric equip-ment, canned food andmetal scrap etc were notthe luxury items as de-clared by the EconomicCoordination Committeeof the cabinet.

He said that a largepart of electricity was be-ing generated throughthermal means and impo-sition of 5 percent regula-tory duty on furnacewould not only jack-upthe electricity tariff butwould also increase thecost of industrial produc-tion which is already onhigher side as comparedto the other countries ofthe region. He said thatthere should be a clear dif-ference between the luxu-rious and necessities andduty should be imposedon only 100% luxurious.

Oil pricesdown in

Asian tradeSINGAPORE—Oil pricesturned lower in Asia Mon-day, with analysts warn-ing the market remains“fragile” after prices gaveup earlier gains driven byoptimism over falling USproduction. US bench-mark West Texas Interme-diate for March deliveryfell 15 cents to $52.63while Brent for April fell 19cents to $61.33 in after-noon trade.

Crude has been on arollercoaster for the pasttwo weeks after plungingabout 60 percent toaround $40 between Juneand late January due toconcerns of a global sup-ply glut. “Prices are frag-ile and could easily plum-met if fundamentals donot improve,” said DanielAng, investment analystat Phillip Futures inSingapore. WTI jumped$1.57 and Brent crudegained $2.24 on Friday af-ter data showed anotherdrop in the number of oilrigs in operation in theUnited States.—AFP

Currency Selling Buying

USA 101.20 101.00

UK 156.16 155.85

Euro 115.56 115.33

Canada 81.41 81.25

Switzerland 108.90 108.68

Australia 78.77 78.61

Sweden 12.06 12.04

Japan 0.8543 0.8526

Norway 13.38 13.36

Singapore 74.73 74.59

Denmark 15.52 15.49

Saudi Arabia 26.98 26.92

Hong Kong 13.05 13.02

Kuwait 342.76 342.08

Malaysia 28.36 28.30

Newzealand 75.92 75.77

Qatar 27.79 27.74

UAE 27.55 27.50

Kr Won 0.0919 0.0917

Thailand 3.107 3.101

AMANULLAH KHAN

KARACHI—Sachal Energy Development (Pvt) Limited, afully owned subsidiary of Arif Habib Corporation Limited,signed a financing agreement with Industrial and Com-mercial Bank of China (ICBC) for Sachal Wind Power Plant.Sachal Energy is the first Wind Power Project to achievethis milestone under Pak-China Economic Corridor Projects.

Under this agreement, ICBC will provide up to USD107 million for construction of the 49.5MW Sachal WindPower Project in Jhimpir, Thatta. ICBC is the largest bankin the world by total assets and is one of China’s ‘BigFour’ state owned commercial banks. The signing cer-emony was held at National Energy Administration (NEA)in Beijing and was attended by Mr. Zhang Wenchao,Deputy Head, ICBC, Mr. Jiang Tao, Head of CorporateBanking, ICBC, His Excellency Masood Khalid, Ambassa-dor of Pakistan to the Peoples Republic of China, SyedTariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on

First wind power project signedunder Pak-China economic corridor

Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohammad Yunus Dagha, Secretary,Ministry of Water & Power, Mr. Kashif Mateen Ansari,CEO, Sachal Energy, several diplomatic corps, leadingChinese businessmen and civil society members.

Sachal Energy has already signed a power purchaseagreement with National Electric Power Regulatory Au-thority in February 2014. It has also signed an engineer-ing, procurement and construction contract and opera-tion & maintenance contract with Chinese companyHydroChina Corporation Limited in April 2012. The projectconstruction is expected to start in April 2015 and com-mercial operation is expected to begin in 2016.

The project will annually generate 136,500MWh ofclean energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions byapproximately 85,000 tons. This project will not onlycontribute to help resolving Pakistan’s energy crisisbut will also strengthen economic relationship betweenChina and Pakistan and foster technical cooperationbetween the two friendly neighbours.

KARACHI—JCR-VIS Credit Rating Com-pany Limited has revised the Fund Stabil-ity Rating (FSR) of KASB Income Oppor-tunity Fund (KIOF) from ‘BBB-(f)’ (Triple BMinus (f) to ‘BB+(f) (Double B Plus). Thepervious rating action was announced onMay 15, 2013. The rating revision takes intoaccount changes in the fund’s risk profile,subsequent to major redemptions in No-vember 2014. Number of unit-holders in thefund it very limited, with almost 92% of theoutstanding units held by KASB Bank Lim-ited (KBL) as of end-November 2014. Thefund holds sizeable amount of assets thatmay not be readily liquidated, in view ofwhich ability to sustain additional redemp-tion pressure is considered constrained.The management has however indicatedthat redemption from KBL is not anticipatedin the near term.

JVC-VIS Credit Rating company Ltd hasrevised the Fund Stability Rating (FSR) ofKASB Islamic Income Opportunity Fund(KIIOF) from ‘BBB+(f)’ (Triple B Plus) (f))to ‘BBB-(f)’ (Triple B Minus (f)). The lastrating action was announced on May

JCR-VIS revises fund stabilityrating of KASB Funds

15,2013. The rating revision incorporateschanges in the fund’s risk profile since theprevious rating action. Unit holding of thefund features concentration, subsequent tomajor redemptions in November 2014. thefund holds a few assets that may not bereadily liquidated, in view of which abilityto sustain additional redemption pressureis considered limited. The management hashowever indicated that redemption pressurehas eased off.

JCR-VIS Credit Rating Company Ltd hasreaffirmed the Fund Stability Rating (FSR)of KASB Cash Fund (KCF) at ‘AA(f)’(Double A (f)). The previous rating actionwas announced on April 8, 2013. In Novem-ber 2014 the fund size fell to Rs. 347 millionvis-a-vis Rs. 1.1 billion at end-October 2014(June 2014: Rs.1.1 billion June 2013: Rs.1.1billion) post the moratorium imposed onKASB Bank Ltd (KBL) and the resultantfranchise impact sustained by the Fund.With a portfolio comprising highly liquidshort term assets in line with the invest-ment mandate, KCF was able to sustain theredemption pressure.—APP

NBP, Gestetner Pakistan sign collaboration accordSTAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—National Bankof Pakistan (NBP) unrelent-ing efforts to develop thebusiness opportunities forthe unemployed youth ofPakistan is the core com-ponent of the Bank’s inte-grated community strat-egy. NBP joined hands withthe Government of Paki-stan for the Prime MinisterYouth Business LoanProgramand signed MOUswith FAW Al-Haj Motorsand Master Motors in No-vember 2014. Now, NBPhas taken one more stepforward and signed aMemorandum of Under-standing (MOU) withGestetner Pakistan –Hascombe Business Solu-tions (Private) Limited. Un-der this arrangementGestetner Pakistan willprovide their machines atdiscounted prices, a minishop set-up and training tothe interested youth forsetting up a Mini Shop withGestetner machines.

This facility will be of-

fered to the prospective ap-plicants seeking loans underthe Prime Minister YouthBusiness Loan Scheme(PMYBL). Speaking to mediaNBP’s Senior Executive VicePresident and Group Chief–Commercial & Retail BankingGroup, Mr. Mudassir Khansaid that the bank was mak-ing persistent efforts andforming various corporate al-liances with companies fromdifferent business sectors tomake the Prime MinisterYouth Business Loan a suc-cess. He further said that byreaching the eligible candi-dates and micro/small busi-nesses at grass root levelswillhelp foster economic activityand improving quality of lifefor the people.

This ceremony was at-tended by Mr. Mudassir H.Khan – SEVP & Group Chief,Commercial & Retail Bank-ing Group, Mr. S. H. IrtizaKazmi – EVP & Coordinator– PMYBL, Commercial &Retail Banking Group, Ms.Nageen Rizvi – VP & UnitHead Marketing & Promo-tions PMYBL, Syed Ibne

Hassan,VP-CCD. WhileGestetner Pakistan –Hascombe Business Solu-tions (Private) Limited wasrepresented by Mr. Nadeem

Butt – CEO, Mr. Basit Habib– Group CFO, Mr. S.Shabbar Raza - RegionalGeneral Manager South Re-gion & Project Executive ofMini Shop (PMYBLP), Mr.Shahab-us-Saqib - ManagerTender Business & ProjectCoordinator of MiniShop(PMYBLP), Ms.

Beenish Fatima – ManagerBusiness Development, &Project Coordinator of MiniShop (PMYBLP), Ms.Afshan Siddiqui - Officer

Business Development,Business Communication &Marketing Division, Mr.Muhammad Asim - ChiefAccountant, Mr. AzizHussain – Company’s Sec-retary. NBP’s Group Chiefsaid that the bank wouldform more alliances at an ag-gressive pace with other or-

ganizations with the aim tomake a wide range of feasiblebusiness options availableto the borrowers of thePMYBL scheme. Mr.

Mudassir Khan - NBP’sGroup Chief said that Na-tional Bank of Pakistanwould continue to lead andsupport the PMYBL pro-gram to boost economic ac-tivity in the country.

NBP and the Govern-ment of Pakistan are work-ing to further improve and

shorten the process oftranche disbursal and facili-tate borrowers through anexpedited process. Answer-ing a question, Mr.Mudassir H. Khan said thatthe PM Youth BusinessLoan program would provea milestone for micro andsmall business and eco-nomic growth in the coun-try. He said that several edu-cated youths do not get theopportunity to start up theirbusinesses due to lack offunds. This program will fur-nish various possibilities tothe youth for starting a busi-ness or for expansion of theexisting business. Pakistanhas emerged as the secondrapidly growing economy inAsia after China in 2004 –2005, as claimed by govern-ment and well accepted byinternational raters and fi-nancial institutions.

In any economy, small andmedium enterprises stimulatedomestic demand through job& business opportunities, in-novation and competition,thus, the SMEs can be driv-ing force behind a resilient

and sustainable economicgrowth. In the third world de-veloping nations, prioritizingyouth development is criti-cal for economic growth. Ad-equate access to finance iscrucial to survive and even-tually graduate beyond theirSME status. NBP’s ExecutiveVice President & Coordina-tor for PMYBL, Mr. IrtizaKazmi stated that the assess-ment of the role of SMEs inPakistan is of vital impor-tance. The economic data andfigures like GDP growth orper capita income may be mis-leading since these may notnecessarily represent themasses rather the capitalistsin the country. SME pro-duces a robust incomestream for masses residingallover the country and the capi-talists associated with thisactivity are generally mediumor small businesses as thename suggests. In Pakistan,SME sector does not hold aminor shareanymore, realityis that Pakistan’s wholeeconomy is highly depend-able on the pace and produc-tivity of SMEs.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—The Board ofDirectors of Dubai IslamicBank Pakistan Limited(DIBPL) recently held ameeting to approve its finan-cial statements for the yearended December 31, 2014.DIBPL is a fully owned sub-sidiary of Dubai IslamicBank UAE, the world’s firstIslamic Bank.

The Year 2014 markednumerous achievements forDIBPL. On the financialside, the Bank reported ayear-end Profit Before Tax(PBT) of PKR 926 Million,which is a 337% growth inPBT in comparison to 2013.Furthermore, a 24% depositgrowth was achieved incomparison to 2013, takingtotal deposits to PKR 84 Bil-lion in 2014. On the assetside, DIBPL’s Total Assetsrose by 27% in contrast to2013 increasing the TotalAssets base to PKR 102 Bil-lion in 2014. The Bank’sFinancings grew substan-tially by 66 % over the year,taking total Financings toPKR 59 Billion.

From only 36 locations

DIBPL posts impressivefinancial results owing

Rs. 926m net profit(36 Branches) in October2010, today DIBPL stands at222 locations (175 branchesand 47 branchless bankingbooths) in 51 cities acrossPakistan. The Bank addedover 30,000 more customersin 2014, taking full customerbase to over 170,000. As perthe permission of StateBank of Pakistan, the Bankremains MCR compliant andenjoys a short-term creditrating of ‘A-1’ and long-term credit rating of ‘A’ witha “stable” outlook, indicat-ing the Bank’s robust posi-tion in the industry. TheBank continues to reaffirmits commitment to Pakistanwith new branches and ab-solutely Halal & Shari’acompliant new productsand services.

DIBPL intends to keepthe momentum going for2015 as well and continuesto strive and expand itssphere of World Class Bank-ing expertise with the larg-est Shari’a compliant prod-uct suite in Retail, Corpo-rate, Consumer, Trade,Commercial, Treasury andInvestment Banking ser-vices across Pakistan.

PCJCCI stresseselectronic trade

throughe-commerce

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—President Pak-China Joint Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (PCJCCI)Shah Faisal Afridi has urgedthe business community ofPakistan to take all possiblemeasures for entering into theera of electronic tradethrough e-Commerce. Afridisaid here today that currentlythe over-all volume of e-com-merce in Pakistan was morethan $4 billion per anum. It isestimated that in near future,almost 25 per cent of the tra-ditional business will be con-verted into internet business,he added.

He elaborated that estab-lishing business through e-commerce is effective due tolow cost, and billions of thebuyers and sellers can be con-nected simultaneously acrossthe world. E-commerce, ifhandled well can greatly re-duce the costs of a companyand achieve better results thanthe traditional form of busi-ness he said adding that ac-cording to an authentic esti-mate, E-commerce is going tochange the whole world in fu-ture, therefore Government ofPakistan should take betterinitiative to improve the re-quired infrastructure to pro-mote the E-Business in Paki-stan, because Pakistan is stillfar behind in chasing the westin this field, asserted Afridi.

Highlighting the issueFaisal Afridi said that wemust understand that almost78 per cent of the e-com-merce activity takes place inUSA, obviously driven bythe use of internet in thatcountry. Nevertheless, Paki-stan can make good use ofthis opportunity with properplanning and execution, hemaintained and suggested tofocus on the domestic frontbefore going all out for theglobal market. Faisal Afridifurther said that E-commercewas an information technol-ogy trend developing fast inthe business world. Interna-tionally, the corporate sectorwith the support of IT indus-try generated over $400 bil-lion this year, Mr. Afridi in-formed and emphasizedupon the need to change theperception of Entrepreneursregarding e-commerce in or-der for building a strongfoundation for E-business.

LNG import tohelp mitigateenergy crisis

IS L A M A B A D —Measuresadopted by the governmentto import Liquified NaturalGas (LNG) will help Paki-stan mitigate energy crisis,said a known businessmanof the country, MianShahid.

In a statement issued onMonday, he said LNG ar-rival would help addressshortage of electricity aswell as gas that are equallydisturbing for domestic andcommercial consumers.

The seasoned busi-nessman said offer byChina and Brunei to pro-vide LNG to Pakistan re-flected increasing trust ofinternational community inthe policies of the PML-Ngovernment.

Import of LNG will notonly revive CNG sectorwith Rs 450 billion invest-ments on stake but alsoprovide millions of jobsbesides combatting pollu-tion, he said.

The developments un-derway are reflective of thefact that government is se-rious in fulfilling promiseof resolving energy crisis,which will pave way for adeveloped and prosperousPakistan, he said.—APP

PESHAWAR: Delegation of Timber and Steel Trade Association called on CM PervezKhattak at CM Secretariat.

STAFF REPORTER

RAWALPINDI—Japanese ambassadorHiroshi Inomata, Monday, said that Japanwas keen to enhance bilateral trade rela-tions with Pakistan and will support everyactivity, which will be initiated in this re-gard. He added that Japanese businesscommunity was reluctant to invest in Paki-stan owing to deteriorating law & order situ-ation.

Exchanging these views with the Presi-dent Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce andIndustry (RCCI) Syed Asad Mashadi here,he said that Japan was the world largestimporter of textile but due to high rate ofimport duty in Pakistan Japan was not pri-oritizing Pakistan for textile imports to Ja-pan as neighbouring countries of Pakistanlike Sri Lanka and India had low tax rates.

The ambassador said that Japan willassist Pakistan in technical support andinteraction between the business commu-

MURREE: Isphanyar M. Bhandara, Chief Executive Murree Brewery Company Ltd in agroup photo with participants of Annual Customers’ Day of company.

Japan keen to enhance bilateraltrade with Pakistan: Envoy

RAWALPINDI: President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Syed Asad Mashadipresenting shield to ambassador of Japanese, Hiroshi Inomata during his visit at RCCI.

nities will be enhanced to boost the bilat-eral trade. He said that Japanese compa-nies are already working in health; edu-cation and energy sector of Pakistan andmutual cooperation will be enhanced infuture.

Speaking on the occasion PresidentRCCI Syed Asad Mashadi said that Ja-pan must transfer technology to Pakistanand increase its investment in the coun-try. He said that trade volume betweenthe two countries is around $ 2 billionand it is need of the hour to take solidsteps to boost the business activitiesbetween Pakistan and Japan. He said thatRCCI trade delegations will participate intwo expos which are being held in Tokyothis year to promote direct interactionbetween business communities of bothsides. Vice President Saboor Malik, formerpresidents Sohail Altaf, Shimail Daud,members executive committee and othermembers of the Chamber were also there.

ATTOCK: Villagers enjoying traditional bull race in Khunda.

SALAHUDDIN HAIDER

IRELAND by beating WestIndies with a huge run-chaseof 305, not only put the world

in the cup but, served warning toPakistan whose ability to cross 300mark has been seriously in doubtso far.

The Carribeans seemed tosleepwalk as they never thought

that they wouldbe humbled by alowly rated, as-sociate memberof the Interna-tional CricketCouncil, andhand themamamothupset

only DarrenSammy and Lendl Simmonsseemed awake in rescuing themfrom 87 for 5. The West Indiesbowling was as flat as their toporder as the adventurous PaulStirling, smooth Ed Joyce andnerveless Niall O’Brien coasted tothe target of 305 efficiently andwithout any anxiety despite a latewobble that came too late. Fit-tingly the most compelling storyplayed itself out in Nelson, whosepopulation is 45000 and whosecricket ground, the Saxton Oval,holds a maximum of 6000.

There obviously was an im-mense joy as Ireland’s disciplineand nous stood in a two-fingersalute to the administrators’ plansto keep them and other smallercricket teams out of the World Cup.There was grief too as West Indiesshowed for the most of the match

Ireland performance warning to Pakistana lack of application, fight andcricketing smarts. It was almost asif they had a long night out inNelson but forgot to invite Sammyand Simmons. Only rarely do twomen win matches against teamsthat maximise their resources as Ire-land do, wrote the crickinfor websitecommentator.

It doesn’t matter that Sammyposted the highest score by a No. 7in World Cups - 89 off 67, it doesn’tmatter that the 218 their lower halfadded was the second-highest inODI history, it doesn’t matter thatSimmons accelerated from 26 off 44to 102 off 84. What mattered wasthat this was a flat pitch with bound-aries hard to defend, and that theydidn’t have the bowling to defend.Stirling and Joyce showed themhow to do it, letting at no point inthe chase the asking rate go be-yond 6.64. More surprisingly therewere 25 balls to spare when thematch finished. This was a clinicaldefeat of a team that could not lookless interested even if it tried.

The Ireland attack is made up ofquicks who bowl in the mid-120sand spinners who don’t turn theball. They rely on accuracy and te-nacity and clever changes of pace.West Indies have some of the big-gest hitters going around who makemillions through Twenty20freelance. This was a small ground.Ireland’s industrious scrapperscould have come unstuck at anypoint of time, but by the time thathappened West Indies had deci-sively dug themselves a hole toobig through woeful shots and atti-tude.

Westt Indies allrounder DarrenSammy and Ireland bowler JohnMooney have been fined 30 percent of their match fees for breach-ing the ICC code of conduct duringtheir World Cup match in Nelson.Chris Broad, the match referee,found both players guilty of violat-ing Level 1 Article 2.1.4 of the code,relating to “language or a gesturethat is obscene, offensive or insult-

ing”. According to an ICC re-lease, Sammy was heard using in-appropriate language during the34th over of the West Indies in-nings, while Mooney “swore sev-eral times when a fielder dropped acatch in the 45th over”.

Both players admitted their of-fences and accepted the fines im-posed on them.

Chris Gayle played his slowestinnings against a non-Test-playingnation, 36 off 65, before holing out

to deep midwicket. When MarlonSamuels was caught plumb later inthe same over, he proceeded to dis-play self-indulgence by wasting areview. Denesh Ramdin went on tosweep without getting outside theline and missed. There would havebeen a lesson in there for Samuelshad Ramdin actually got outsidethe line and missed out on the re-view, but West Indies until thenwere too woeful for that.

There was redemption in the airfor Ireland spinners. Andy McBrine,the offpsinner chosen ahead ofCraig Young and Alex Cusack,known better for his 24-run over intheir rout by Netherlands in theWorld Twenty20, turned the screwson. He began with a maiden to Gaylebefore running Bravo out. GeorgeDockrell, the other spinner who wasbowled for only three overs inIreland’s defeat to West Indies inthe last World Cup, then handcuffedthe other big hitters and took thethree wickets in the middle overs.

Afghanistan to play with testnations then you not only see up-sets but also those games will teachthem how to play against world’sbest players. Playing lower teams willnever give chance to improve themquickly. Afghanistan is in group ofdeath with likes of Australia andNew Zealand who are favourite towin the World Cup plus England andSri Lanka who are playing good too.But Ireland have a massive chanceto qualify now because they canovercome UAE and Zimbabwe too.Good Luck Ireland and Afghanistan.Please make this World Cup full ofentertainment.

LAHORE: Students taking part in games on the kinnaird College Annual Sports Day.

BIPIN DANI

OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT

MUMBAI—On becoming the first Indianplayer to hit a century against Pakistan inany World Cup game, Team India’s vicecaptain Virat Kohli didn’t show the ges-ture of kissing in air at pavillion. Instead,he thanked God by spreading his two armsand looked at the heaven.

This may be because his girl-friendAnushka Sharma may not be in Australiafor the initial part of the World Cup.

Interestingly, another girl, who hadeven expressed her desire to marry ViratKohli may get a chance to meet him duringthis World Cup.

We are talking about Danielle Wyatt,the 24-year-old England’s woman cricketer.In April last year, Danielle Wyatt, the En-gland woman all-rounder, during ICC WorldTwenty 20, had proposed (via twitter) toVirat Kohli saying, “Kholi marry me”.

“She (Danielle Wyatt) is in New Zealandat the moment and participating inmatches”, her father, Steve, said exclu-

Danielle Wyatt has a chance tomeet and propose ‘Kholi’ again

sively over telephone.“I was aware about my daughter’s pro-

posal to Kohli (he pronounced it cor-rectly). But I don’t know how series mydaughter was then. But (I) can say thatshe is her fan and both are friends”.

“I don’t get involved in matter like thisat the moments but looks after mydaughter’s cricketing career”, he added.

Incidentally, Steve Wyatt is not onlyDanielle’s father but also acts as her man-ager.

“India is on top”, the father added.Danielle Wyatt has been following

World Cup matches with interest.“Looks incredible atmosphere at theAdelaide Oval! India boshing it!”, shehad posted the message on her twitteraccount. She even wished the Englandteam for their opening of the World Cupmatch.

Last year, Danielle Wyatt’s brotherMax also posted the duo’s photo (theymet during India’s tour of England) onhis twitter account and had said, “thiswould make a cute couple haha”.

Khurram to lead Sindhshooting team

KARACHI—Triple Olympian Khurram Inam has beennamed to lead Sindh squad in the 23rd National ShootingChampionship being staged in Jhelum from February 20 to28, Sindh Rifle Association (SRA) announced on Monday.

Khurram had represented Pakistan in Sydney (2000),Athens (2004) and London (2012) has been dominatingthe skeet event in Pakistan.

Sindh team will be featuring in Shotgun and Rifle eventand they finished with two gold, one silver, two bronzemedals in the last nationals.

Provincial team is also included father MuhammadYaqoob, son Bilal Yaqoob and daughter Abeera Yaqoob.Sindh squad: Shotgun: Dr, Naveed Shah, Usman Sadiq,Aamir Afsar, Shakeel Ilyas, Shahzad Abdullah (Trap),Khurram Inam, Ahmed Sultan, Capt. Shakeel Babar, ZulfiqarHakeem (Skeet). Rifle: Abdullah Iraqi, Shujaat Sherwani,Alizah Babar, Bilal Yaqoob, Muhammad Yaqoob, AbeeraYaqoob. Manager: Arif Fahim.—APP

NBPInter School

TennisKARACHI—The inauguralNBP Inter School Team Ten-nis Cup Tournament enteredthe semifinals stage after thequarterfinal matches atKarachi Gymkhana hardcourts,the other day.

All the winners in Under-15 and Under 16-18 advancein the semifinals.

The semifinals of theevent organised by PerfectStrokes will be held onFebruaery 21 while the finalswill be contested on Febru-ary 22.

Quarterf inal results:Under15 Karachi GrammarSchool bt CAS-II 3-0.Muhammad Dada bt Zain11-3, Khinza bt Qasim 15-14 (9-7) Amin/MuhammadDada bt Zain/Ebad 11-1Bay View Academy-I btKarachi American School3-0. Farzan bt Taimur(KAS) 11-6, Hania btTayyab 11-9 Omar/Farzanbt Tayyab/Taimoor 12-11(12-10) Foundation Publicbt BVS Paris School 3-0.Bilal bt Saadan Ashraf 11-2, Yahya bt Immad 4-0 re-t ired Ahmed/Yahya btMuhammad Ali /Saadan11-0 CAS-I bt Bay ViewAcademy-II 3-0.

Raayan bt Abdullah11-3, Ibrahim bt Taimoor11-6 Raayan/Ibrahim btAbdullah/Taimoor 11-6Under16-18: Nixor Collegebt Bay View Steeds-I 2-1Saud bt Aleem 11-1,Saifullah lost to Rafay 6-11 Saud/Saifullah bt Rafay/Shehryar 11-3 FoundationPublic bt Education Bay 3-0 KGS-I bt Bay View High3-0 Maheen Dada (KGS) btRaayan 11-8, Talha(KGS)bt Zuhair 11-1 KGS-II btLyceum I 3-0. Sameer btDaniel 11-3, Nasrullah byZorays 11-3, Sameer/Nasrullah bt Faizan/Danial11-6 —APP

BLACKBURN—Blackburn Rovers´Norwegian striker Josh King plun-dered a 19-minute hat-trick as theChampionship team overwhelmed Pre-mier League Stoke City 4-1 in the FACup fifth round on Sunday.

Stoke took the lead through PeterCrouch but conceded the initiative onhalf-time when Rudy Gestede putBlackburn in front with a penalty afterGeoff Cameron was sent off for bring-ing down King, who had earlierequalised.

Kingc o m -p l e t e dhis hat-t r i c kearly int h e

King’s hat-trick sends Stokepacking in FA Cup

second half at Ewood Park to leaveGary Bowyer´s Blackburn two winsfrom a first FA Cup final in 55 years.

To add to Stoke´s misery, visitingsupporters clashed with stewards andpolice during a prolonged second-halfaltercation in their stand, which couldprompt a Football Association inves-tigation.

Rendering the result all the moreastonishing was the fact the hostsrested eight players from their previ-ous league fixture, while Stoke man-

ager Mark Hughes, the formerBlackburn coach, named a full-strength line-up.

The Welshman´s selection policylooked like being rewarded when Vic-tor Moses´s right-wing corner washelped on by Philipp Wollscheid for

Crouch to bundle the ball in from sixyards in the 10th minute.

Thereafter, Stoke could have takencomplete control of the tie beforeBlackburn and King — who joinedRovers after failing to break into thefirst team at Manchester United —started their remarkable comeback.

Mame Biram Diouf´s 18-yard shotwas turned around the post byBlackburn goalkeeper SimonEastwood, Marko Arnautovic shotinto the side-netting, while Crouch and

Diouf both miscued fromclose range after Moses´sstrike was well saved byEastwood.

That last miss proveddoubly costly as it immedi-ately preceded the 36th-minute equaliser from King,who steered a header intothe net after Shane Duffyhad headed goalwards fromCraig Conway´s corner.

By now, Blackburn werein the ascendancy, withGestede miskicking whenclean through from a Kingcross and Wollschied beingrequired to clear off his goal-line from Chris Taylor.

Carrying a 2-1 lead intothe second half, Blackburnproved unstoppable againstthe 10 men of Stoke.

On 50 minutes, Gestedeflicked on a Conway pass,allowing King to outsprintMarc Muniesa — who in-jured himself in the process— before finishing throughthe legs of Jack Butland.

And five minutes later,King completed his hat-trickin similar fashion, out-sprint-ing the half-hearted Stokedefenders and placing a lowshot into the far corner from

six yards.Blackburn, last winners of the com-

petition in 1928, could have ended theafternoon with an even more emphaticvictory, but Butland saved superblyfrom Gestede while Conway shot wideafter a powerful run.—AFP

BLACKBURN: Blackburn’s Norwegian striker Joshua King shoots to score a goal duringthe English FA Cup fifth round football match between Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City.

Committeeformed to

select BlindCricket teamfor India tour

I S L A M A B A D — P a k i s t a nBlind Cricket Council(PBCC) has constituted athree-member committee toselect Pakistan Blind Cricketteam for the India tour,scheduled to be held in Oc-tober-November, this year.

According to PBCCstatement issued on Mon-day the committee would beheaded by Muhammad BilalSatti, while Tahir MehmmodButt and MuhammadDawood would be its othertwo members.

The committee will select30 probable by viewing theperformances of players inthe five domestic tourna-ments - Blind Cricket SuperLeague, PBCC AghaShaukat Ali Memorial BlindCricket Trophy, NBP T-20Trophy, PAF Blind CricketChampionship and JuniorSuper League). All theseevents will take place beforeJune, 30.—APP

DAYTONA BEACH (Florida)—Jeff Gordonheld off team mate Jimmie Johnson to takethe pole for the final Daytona 500 of hiscareer on Sunday.

Gordon, a three-time winner of the race,had announced earlier this would be hisfinal full-time season in NASCAR’s pre-mier series, and he began the season witha bang.

“I can’t think of anything cooler than tostart this season, the Daytona 500, my finalDaytona 500, final full season, on the pole.“ Gordon, who won the race from the polein 1999, told reporters. For the first time,drivers vying for spots in the 43-car field innext Sunday’s race went out in groups ratherthan single car qualifying.

As a result of the aerodynamic effect ofrunning in packs, Gordon turned a quicklap of 201.293 mph. It was the first time since

Motor racing: Jeff Gordontakes Daytona 500 pole

1987 that drivers exceeded the 200 mph inqualifying for NASCAR’s top event.

“This is one of the most gratifying poleshere at Daytona that I have ever had,” thefour-time NASCAR series champion said.”Not just because my final Daytona 500, butbecause you have to try to plan it out andyou have to try to play that chess matchand we played it really well.”

Johnson a two-time 500 winner, knewhe had a quick time after a lap at 201.135mph but was not sure he could win the pole.“We knew what the risks were,” Johnson,who will start next to Gordon, told report-ers.

“In order to get the pole, you’ve got totake a big chance. We were willing to takethe risk.” The remainder of the 43-car start-ing grid will be determined after twin 150-mile qualifying races on Thursday.—APP

Boxing: Pacquiaofight not set yet,

Mayweather saysNEW YORK—Unbeatenfighter Floyd Mayweathersaid Sunday that neither henor Manny Pacquiao havesigned a deal for a May mega-fight, but he still hopes to getinto the ring with the Filipinoicon.

Mayweather, attendingthe NBA All-Star Game atMadison Square Garden,said in a brief television in-terview during the contestthat global reports about avirtually done deal for thelong anticipated bout werepremature.

The Sunday Telegraph inLondon, citing a source inthe Pacquiao camp, reported“Pac-man” had signed a dealfor a fight expected to beworth $250 million.

“That’s not true,”Mayweather said. “I haven’tsigned yet and he hasn’tsigned yet.

“It’s just been specula-tions and rumors,”Mayweather said. “But I’mhopeful we can make the fighthappen.” Buzz about a po-tential Pacquiao-Mayweather fight on May 2in Las Vegas has been grow-ing all month after the Asianstar’s promoter Bob Arumsaid a deal could be looming.

Filipino southpawPacquiao is 57-5 with twodrawn and 38 knockoutswhile Mayweather is 47-0with 26 knockouts.—AFP

Kvitova up to third inWTA rankings

PARIS—Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic has leapedabove Romania’s Simona Halep into third place in the WTArankings despite not playing over the last week.

Germany’s Andrea Petkovic moves back into the top10 after winning the title in Antwerp on Sunday.

Petkovic won the WTA Diamond Games tournamentwhen her final opponent Carla Suarez Navarro pulled outbefore the match with a neck injury.

Despite that, the 26-year-old Suarez Navarro climbs toa career-best ranking of 13th.

Australian Open champion Serena Williams remainson top of the rankings ahead of Maria Sharapova, who lostin last month’s final in Melbourne. Switzerland’s StanislasWawrinka has climbed a place to seventh in the ATP worldrankings following his victory in Rotterdam on Sunday,while Novak Djokovic remains on top of the pile.—AFP

West Indies Innings:Smith K. O’Brien ......... 18Gayle c K. O’Brienb Dockrell ..................... 36Bravo run out ................ 0Samuels lbw Dockrell . 21Ramdin lbw Dockrell ..... 1Simmons b Sorensen 102Sammy c Dockrellb Mooney .................... 89Russell not out ............ 27Holder not out ............... 0Extras: (lb1, w9) ........... 10Total: (7 wkts, 50 overs)304Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-31,3-78, 4-78, 5-87, 6-241, 7-302Bowling: ......... O-M-R-WMooney .............. 7-1-59-1Sorensen ............ 8-0-64-1McBrine ............ 10-1-26-0K. O’Brien .......... 9-0-71-1Dockrell ............ 10-0-50-3Stirling ................ 6-0-33-0

Ireland Innings:Porterfield b Gayle ...... 23Stirling b Samuels ....... 92Joyce c Bravo b Taylor 84N. O’Brien not out ...... 79Balbirnie c Bravo b Taylor9Wilson c Gayle b Taylor 1O’Brien run out ............. 0Mooney not out ............ 6Extras: (b4, w9) ............ 13Total: (6 wkts,45.5 overs) .................. 307Fall of wickets: 1-71, 2-177,3-273, 4-285, 5-290, 6-291Bowling: ......... O-M-R-WHolder ................. 9-1-44-0Roach .................. 6-0-52-0Taylor ............... 8.5-0-71-3Russell ................ 6-0-33-0Gayle ................... 8-0-41-1Sammy ................ 3-0-25-0Samuels .............. 4-0-25-1Simmons ............. 1-0-12-0

NELSON: Darren Sammy scrambles to make his ground during Ireland vs West Indies,World Cup Group B match on Monday.

NELSON—Ireland caused the firstupset of the World Cup when an au-dacious 92 by Paul Stirling paved theway for a four-wicket win over theWest Indies at Nelson’s Saxton Ovalon Monday.

Stirling stood in a match-defining106-run stand with Ed Joyce for thesecond wicket as Ireland chaseddown a 305-run target with 25 ballsto spare.

Stirling cracked his 92 off 84 balls,Joyce scored 84 off 67 and NiallO’Brien chimed in with an unbeaten79 off 60 deliveries as they cashed inon wayward West Indies bowling.

It was Ireland’s first win over theWest Indies in six official matches andthe first victory at this World Cupachieved by a team batting second.

The 12th-ranked Irish paid scantregard to the high-profile West Indi-ans and enhanced their own reputa-tion as giant-killers after beating othertop-tier nations England and Pakistanin the previous two World Cups.

The victorious finish was a fittingreward for their spirited start to thematch when they opted to bowl andrapidly reduced the West Indies to87-5.

Chris Gayle again failed to fire asspinner George Dockrell carvedthrough the upper order before adashing century by Lendl Simmonsand a personal-best 89 from DarrenSammy put some backbone into theWest Indies innings.

Their power batting lifted theWest Indies to what should havebeen a respectable 304 but theylacked the discipline in their bowlingto defend the total.

Captain Jason Holder openedwith a first ball that raced wide of slipsto the boundary to give Ireland animmediate five runs from extras whichstarted Stirling and WilliamPorterfield on their way to a 71-runfirst wicket stand. With Porterfield’sdismissal for 23, the left-handedJoyce joined right-hander Stirling tocontinue piling on the pressure.

Stirling’s dismissal, caught be-hind off a Marlon Samuels delivery,saw O’Brien arrive to up the tempofurther with the textbook formula oflooking for an early boundary eachover and accumulating what runswere on offer afterwards.

The West Indies were powerlessto contain the onslaught, goingthrough eight bowlers, as the Irishbatsmen clobbered six sixes and 34fours.

Joyce, on 42, was dropped by

Ireland clinch historic4-wicket win over Windies

Darren Bravo when he belted Holdertowards the boundary, and O’Brienwas on 38 when he skied a JeromeTaylor delivery and Holder dropped

what should have been a regulationcatch. Taylor was the most success-ful West Indies bowler with three for71.

Ireland startedthe day in the bestpossible fashion,winning the tossand ripping outthe West Indiespremier batsmen.

Dockrell, whofinished with threefor 50, claimed theprized wickets ofGayle (36),Samuels (21) andRamdin (one) inthe space of justeight deliveries.

It was anotherd i s a p p o i n t m e n tfor Gayle who hasnot passed 50since playingBangladesh in Au-gust and the last ofhis 21 centurieswas against SriLanka in June2013.

Simmons and

Sammy gave the innings respectabil-ity with a West Indies sixth-wicketrecord stand of 154 Simmons —whose uncle Phil, the former West

Indies batsman, is Ireland’s coach —was eventually dismissed in the lastover for 104, his second one-day in-ternational century.—AFP

NELSON: Darren Sammy of West Indies congratulates Niall O’Brien afterthe match.

ISLAMABAD—Former skipper JavedMiandad while commenting upon na-tional team’s defeat in their World Cupopener against India has said that in away it is good that Pakistan has got anearly jitter in the mega event.

“Remember, Pakistan lost threematches in a row in 1992, which also in-cluded defeat against India, before itcame back strongly and lifted the tro-phy,” Miandad wrote in a column on theICC World Cup website.

He said that pressure should be nowoff from the shoulders of the Pakistanteam and it should concentrate on itsremaining five group matches.

“What it just needs is to field theright combination and look for special-ists instead of accommodating playerswho are not in form,” he added.

He also questioned the “rocket sci-ence logic” of promoting Younis Khanas an opener in the match against Indiaadding that the national team selectorsapproach in the mega event is ‘mindboggling’. “It’s a fact Younis had beenstruggling in ODIs. The earlier we ac-cept this cruel fact, the better it will be

Defeat against India early jitter forPakistan in World Cup: Miandad

for Pakistan in the ICC Cricket WorldCup 2015,” Miandad said.

He said that a team field its best play-

ing XI and they do not experiment. Hesaid that Pakistan, unfortunately, never

remember this simple formula, addingthat the much-hyped match betweenPakistan and India turned out to be an‘easy outing’ for the men in blue on abatting paradise in Adelaide.

He also demanded the logic of leav-ing out specialist wicketkeeper SarfrazAhmed when he could also bat aggres-sively. Wicketkeeping is also aspecialised job. Dozens of times we haveseen Umar Akmal drop crucial catchesin crunch matches at vital points. Hedidn’t surprise me when he droppedcenturion Virat Kohli behind the stumps,the former skipper added.

Miandad claimed that it seemed Pa-kistan team management was ‘confusedwhere its strength lies’, adding that itwants to bat deep down to number eightand also doesn’t want to miss out onthe sixth bowler.

“I do understand that Nasir Jamshedflew into Australia in place of an injuredMohammad Hafeez at the last-minute,but was he there to prove himself in awarm-up match against England or hewas supposed to play in the ICC CricketWorld Cup 2015?,” he asked.—APP

Sammy, Mooneyfined for swearing

NELSON—West Indiesbatsman Darren Sammyand Ireland bowler JohnMooney have both beenfined 30 per cent of theirmatch fees for violatingLevel 1 Article 2.1.4 of theICC Code of Conduct forPlayers and Player Sup-port Personnel followingIreland’s four-wicket vic-tory in Nelson on Mon-day.

The ICC code relatesto “language or a gesturethat is obscene, offensiveor insulting during an International match”.

Both offences happened in separate incidents inthe first innings whenSammy was heard ontelevision screens usinginappropriate words afterplaying a shot in the 34thover, while in the secondinstance Mooney sworeseveral times when afielder dropped a catch inthe 45th over.

Both players admit-ted the offences and ac-cepted the sanction pro-posed by Chris Broad, ofthe Emirates Elite Panelof ICC Match Referees.As such, there was no

need for a formal hearing.All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an

official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per centof a player’s match fee.

— ICC Press Release

Word ‘upset’ irritatesproud Irish captain

NELSON (New Zealand)—Ireland captain WilliamPorterfield demanded his side be treated with respectafter their four-wicket World Cup win over the WestIndies on Monday, denying the result was an upsetand taking aim at cricket’s two-tier system.

Elated at claiming yet another scalp from amongcricket’s elite nations, Porterfield said he believed Ire-land were good enough to be treated as equals.

After restricting the West Indies to 304 in their 50overs at Saxon Oval in Nelson, Ireland chased downthe target with a comfortable 25 balls to spare as theyfinished on 307 for six.

The 12th-ranked Ireland are considered associateor junior members of the International Cricket Council(ICC), while the WestIndies, a Test-playingside, are among the top10 teams designated fullmembers.

In theory, the fullmembers should domi-nate ‘minnows’ such asIreland, but Porterfieldsaid it was no surprise tohim they coasted homeagainst the the WestIndies.

“I don’t see it as anupset,” he said. “We pre-pared to come into thisgame to win, we’re goingto prepare to go into theUAE (United Arab Emir-ates) game to win, SouthAfrica after that and soon.”

Victory over the West Indies put Ireland in a goodposition to qualify for the quarter-finals from Pool B.

South Africa, India and Pakistan are the seniorteams in the pool and Ireland’s progress could be de-cided on the outcome of their game against Zimbabwe,another full member of the ICC.

“The term an upset, anything from minnows to as-sociate, I don’t see why a team has to be an associateor a team has to be a full member,” Porterfield said.

“Sure you’re ranked one to whatever but It’s notlike that in any other sport and I don’t see why it has tobe like that in ours.”

Ireland’s top-order all scored freely against theWest Indies with Paul Stirling making 92, Ed Joyce 84and Niall O’Brien an unbeaten 79.

Ireland have earned a reputation as giantkillers atWorld Cups after beating England in 2011 and Paki-stan four years before that, but have seldom been givenopportunities to develop in between their appearancesat the showpiece tournament.—AFP

Bangladesh expect bigthings from top-ratedShakib at World Cup

SYDNEY—Shakib Al Hasan is cricket’s top-ranked all-rounder and coach Chandika Hathurusingha expectshim to play a leading role in Bangladesh’s quest foranother big scalp at the World Cup.

While Bangla-desh’s deeds have beenmodest at Test level, theTigers have beaten Aus-tralia by five wickets inan ODI at Cardiff in 2005before knocking Indiaout of the 2007 WorldCup to move beyond thefirst round for the onlytime in the tournament.

Bangladesh starttheir 2015 World Cupcampaign againstdebutants Afghanistanin Canberra on Wednes-

day and Hathurusingha, who has coaching experiencein Australia, is tipping big things from Shakib.

“We’ve got the No.1 all-rounder in all formats of thegame ... he’s a key player for us, I’m expecting him toperform and take a lead role and lead us from the front,”Hathurusingha said.

“I think you have seen him a little bit for MelbourneRenegades. He’s an explosive batter when he gets inand he can control the game, and he’s a very cleverbowler.” Shakib is the only Bangladesh player fromthe current squad to have played some cricket in Aus-tralia in the months leading up to the World Cup, hav-ing had a short stint with Melbourne Renegades in theTwenty20 Big Bash League.

“I think winning for any team is important, (but) forBangladesh especially. This is an opportunity for themto prove where they’re at with world cricket,” saidHathurusingha, who was New South Wales assistantcoach when they won the Sheffield Shield final lastyear. “So winning, for me, is the No.1 thing, it’s not justparticipating, but the key for us is to perform to ourexpectation, our standard.—AFP

Faulknerruled out ofBD match

MELBOURNE—Australia all-rounder James Faulkner willmiss another World Cupmatch after being ruled out ofthe second group gameagainst Bangladesh with in-jury. The 24-year-old suffereda side strain in the lead-up tothe tournament and missedAustralia’s opening win overEngland in Melbourne on Sat-urday.

“I’m no chance forBangladesh, I can tell youthat,” Faulkner told reportersin Brisbane on Monday. Hewas unsure when he might befit to rejoin the team.

“Time’s sort of flown a bit,but hopefully I’m back soonerrather than later,” he added.

Faulkner’s continued ab-sence may ease the pressureon fellow fast bowling all-rounder Shane Watson,whose place is under scru-tiny after he was out for agolden duck and failed totake a wicket against En-gland.—APP

Scotland up againstsoaring New Zealand

DUNEDIN—With an undulating landscape,pockets of striking gothic architecture, andbiting polar gusts, Dunedin is sometimesknown as the “Edinburgh of the south”.No better place then for Scotland to begintheir World Cup campaign. Surging aftertwo strong outings in the warm-up games,captain Preston Mommsen said his teamwas “realistic” about the strengths of theopposition they are facing, but they re-main optimistic about springing thetournament’s first surprise.

It had been Scotland’s bowling thatsealed the 179-run warm up victory againstIreland, with seamer Alasdair Evans andoffspinner Majid Haq sharing seven scalpsbetween them, but it is thetop order around which thisteam rallies. Former captainKyle Coetzer has movedinto fine form with 96 in atall chase against WestIndies, while opening part-ner Calum Mcleod hit asmart hundred against aSydney grade team, as partof Scotland’s build-up.

Ross Taylor was theonly batsman to not havemade a substantial contri-bution in the tournamentopener, but an inexperi-enced Scotland attack maybe to his liking. He hasplayed outstanding inningsin past major tournaments,so he perhaps knows how to peak at worldevents better than the other batsmen inhis team.In the spotlight

Initially among the more contentiousNew Zealand selections for the World Cup,Grant Elliott has justified his place in theside in emphatic fashion. His bowling pro-vides some balance to the XI, but his realstrength is his measure and experience atthe batting crease. There has been a re-cent trend of teams losing several top or-der batsmen cheaply, thanks to the twonew balls, but in Elliott New Zealand havea batsman able to arrest slides and pressthe attack in equal measure. Even if Scot-land can make early breakthroughs onTuesday, New Zealand will be confident

their middle-order anchor can lead them toa strong total.Teams news

Brendon McCullum suggestedchanges would be made to the XI, allow-ing the more fragile players some recupera-tion time. He did not reveal who would sitout, but Daniel Vettori appears a prime can-didate for a rest day, with tearaway AdamMilne also likely to be given a break.New Zealand: (probable) 1 Martin Guptill,2 Brendon McCullum (capt), 3 KaneWilliamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott,6 Luke Ronchi (wk) , 7 Corey Anderson, 8Nathan McCullum, 9 Tim Southee, 10Adam Milne, 11 Mitchell McClenaghan

Scotland’s top order is reasonablysettled. They may have to choose betweenplaying a left-arm seamer, or fielding anextra batsman - likely to be Rob Taylor orRichie Berrington.Scotland (probable): 1 Kyle Coetzer, 2 AlexMcLeod, 3 Hamish Gardiner, 4 MattMachan, 5 Preston Mommsen (capt), 6Richie Berrington/ Rob Taylor, 7 MathewCross (wk), 8 John Davey, 9 AlasdairEvans, 10 Majid Haq, 11 Iain WardlawPitch and conditions

The flat Dunedin surface and theground’s short boundaries allow for bigscores. Expect another 300+ total if NewZealand are batting first, particularly if thesunshine that is forecast comesthrough.—AFP

DG Rangers show to Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, weapons recovered during weapon seizures/recovery operations.

Provincial Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon addressing during the SindhAssembly session.—PO photo by Sultan Chaki

Workers of SITE Association protesting against gas load shedding.

TYPE 2 diabetes reduces quality of lifeand researchers have now found that itmay also decrease certain cognitive abili-

ties, known as executive functions.Type 2 diabetes is associated with bad per-

formance on cognitive tests,measuring abilities involved inthe control of emotions,behaviour and thought, thefindings showed.

“This facet of brain func-tion is particularly importantbecause we rely on it when weare attempting to behave in away that is contrary to ournatural inclinations or whatthe environment impels us todo,” said lead author CorrieVincent from the University ofWaterloo in Canada.

The researchers reviewed60 studies, comparing 9,815individuals with type 2 diabe-tes to 69,254 controls withoutit and examined their perfor-mance on measures of execu-tive function.

“Essentially people with type 2 diabetesmay be hit with the double whammy of hav-ing more need for executive control but - pos-sibly because of the disease’s effect on the brain- less intact resources for exerting it,” seniorauthor Peter Hall, professor at the Universityof Waterloo, added.

Approximately 600 million people livewith type 2 diabetes worldwide, with nearly800 million cases expected by 2030, making itone of the greatest global health concerns ofmodern times.

“Fortunately, there are a few things thatcan help optimise the brain structures that sup-

Diabetes maydamage your brain

port executive function,” Hall said.“Aerobic exercise and cognitively chal-

lenging activities - such as learning new things,solving difficult puzzles and other problemsolving activities - all help to keep your brain

sharp,” said Hall.The study appeared in the

journal Psychosomatic Medi-cine.

Our cells depend on asingle simple sugar, glucose,for most of their energy needs.That’s why the body has in-tricate mechanisms in place tomake sure glucose levels inthe bloodstream don’t go toolow or soar too high.

When you eat, most di-gestible carbohydrates areconverted into glucose andrapidly absorbed into thebloodstream. Any rise in bloodsugar signals the pancreas tomake and release insulin. Thishormone instructs cells tosponge up glucose. Without it,

glucose floats around the bloodstream, unableto slip inside the cells that need it.

Diabetes occurs when the body can’t makeenough insulin or can’t properly use the insu-lin it makes.

Although the genes you inherit may influ-ence the development of type 2 diabetes, theytake a back seat to behavioral and lifestyle fac-tors. Data from the Nurses’ Health Study sug-gest that 90 percent of type 2 diabetes in womencan be attributed to five such factors: excessweight, lack of exercise, a less-than-healthy diet,smoking, and abstaining from alcohol. Among85,000 married female nurses, 3,300 developedtype 2 diabetes over a 16-year period.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—A civil societygathering has demanded thegovernment that the PunjabUniversity should be re-named as Dr Abdus SalamUniversity and PeshawarUniversity as MalalaYousufzai University.

Civil society of Karachi,in collaboration withShaheed Zulfiqar Ali BhuttoInstitute of Science andTechnology paid a collectivetribute and celebrated thegreat achievement of twoNoble laureates MalalaYousufzai and Dr. Abdus

Services of Dr Abdus Salam, Malala eulogized

45 x 1

Salam at a function “Celebrat-ing the Spirit of Malala atSZABIST Clifton Campushere.

The speakers acknowl-edged Malala’s struggle, cour-age and determination that shehas demonstrated against ex-tremist elements. A video mes-sage by Malala was alsoscreened on the occasion. Themain speakers included Ms.Anis Haroon of Women ActionForum, Mahnaz Rehman ofAurat Foundation, MNANafeesa Shah. Zakir Thaver ismaking a documentary on thelife of Prof. Dr Abdus Salamand he gave his impressions re-

garding the documentary. Atrailer of the documentary was

also presented on the occasion.Choreographer Sheema

Kermani presented her tributeto Malala and Tara Mahmood

presented poetry of FiazAhmed Faiz on the occasion.

In a resolution passed on the oc-casion, the participants paidrich tributes to both the Nobellaureates and said: “As we takepride in, and celebrate Malala’sachievements, and acknowl-edge the laurels won for Paki-stan by Malala and Dr AbdusSalam, we condemn all formsof extremism, intolerance, andviolations of religious and hu-man rights.”

The resolution also con-demned the impunity that isfostered by the failure of thestate to ensure the constitu-tional right to safety and secu-rity of life and property. “Wecondemn the persistent law-

lessness which has emergedfrom the Government’s failureto firmly and consistently dealwith banned outfits that targetminorities and remerge underdifferent names.”

The participants also con-demned the persistent lawless-ness that has emerged from theGovernment’s consistent fail-ure to deal with banned outfitsthat target minorities, other citi-zens and institutions, and re-emerge under different names,they condemn all such groups,their supporters and sympathiz-ers, who now exist in everyPakistani institution, and en-danger society.

The resolution stated thatthe anti-people movement mustbe dealt with firmly; justicedemands that all forms of dis-crimination be purged from so-ciety. We condemn thegovernment’s failure to upholdthe rights of the people of Pa-kistan. The Government and itslegislators and executive mustfulfil their professional respon-sibilities without any compro-mises.

Our legislators mustprioritise security of person andproperty of all citizens, irre-spective of class, colour, race,religion, sect, and ethnicity. Theexecutive must ensure that all

institutions, including police,work efficiently and fairlywithout politicisation. Thejudiciary is accountable forthe working of the judicialsystem; these obligations ofthe state are non-negotiable.

Affirmative action mustbe taken to prioritise girls’education. The State shouldensure that primary and sec-ondary schools for girls areavailable in all villages of thecountry. Priority in this mat-ter should be given to theprovinces of Balochistan andKPK where female literacyrates are lower than in otherprovinces.

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Abdullah Panjwani, an eco-guardworking for WWF-Pakistan at Kakapir Village,Sandspit Karachi has rescued an Arabian com-mon dolphin (Delphinus capensis tropicalis) atSandspit Beach during the wee hours on Mon-day. The guard was collecting information aboutmarine turtles and noticed around 11 feet large

WWF rescues Arabiancommon dolphin

dolphin entrapped in the shoal on the sandybeach which was struggling to move back to sea.

He observed that dolphin had marks of in-juries below its eye. Following standard proto-col for release of dolphin entrapped on beaches,he single handedly rescued the dolphin to re-turn to sea. It took about half an hour before thedolphin was successfully returned to the sea ataround 5:30 am.

KARACHI—Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) hasapprehended illegal immigrants including Af-ghan nationals from Coastal highway nearGwadar (Baluchistan). A press release of PCGsaid here on Monday that 26 illegal immigrantsincluding nine Afghans were arrested during

26 including 9 Afghans heldfor illegal border crossing

spot-checking. They were proceeding to Iranwithout any valid documents and were poisedto cross the border using unauthorized cross-ing/routes. After initial investigation, all appre-hended people were handed over to FIA authori-ties for further investigation.—APP

STAFF REPORTER

KARACHI—Pakistan People’s Party(PPP) members national assemblySardar Rafiq Ahmed Jamali, Faqeer SherMuhammad Balalani and NoorMuhammad Shah while showing con-cern on frequent foreign tours by SpeakerNational Assembly Ayaz Sadiq said therewas no reason for his expensive foreigntours at the cost of national exchequeras the Speaker had since Oct 2013 to Jan2015 made 15 expensive foreign toursand he was second to the Prime Minis-ter Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif with

PPP demands audit of foreigntrips of Speaker NA Ayaz Sadiq

around 20 foreign trips.The people of Pakistan were suf-

fering from skyrocketing prices of es-sential commodities as the PMLN gov-ernment had at the behest of IMF andWorld Bank did not pass the relief fromcut-down prices of petroleum productsin the international market to the com-mon Pakistanis and in addition had im-posed 27 percent GST. A common Pa-kistani had serious difficulties to travelfrom one location to another in his hometown while the PM and the Speakerwere spending lavishly on foreign tripsat the state’s cost.

They said the PM Nawaz Sharifpioneered a trend of accompanying hisbrother, Punjab Chief Minister for for-eign trips and it looked as if Sharif wasthe PM of Punjab, not Pakistan. In ad-dition, the Speaker NA followed hisfootstep and scored 15 highly expen-sive foreign trips, which had cost thenational exchequer in millions, whichneeded to be audited by a standing com-mittee in the NA.

They said the tens of thousands ofthe internally displaced persons, whowere rendered homeless due to militaryoperation Zarb-e Azab in North

Waziristan Agency and other tribal ar-eas were living in extremely dilapidatedconditions because PMLN federal gov-ernment could not release the sum ofmoney required for their respectful de-parture from the IDP camps. Instead,the PMLN government and the Speakerhad the keys of nation’s money to spendlavishly for their foreign trips.

They demanded the PM to imme-diately impose a ban on foreign tripsunless unavoidable for the sake of thecountry and take the Parliament onboard before and after the trip with shar-ing of all expenses.

KARACHI—A team compris-ing members from different cellphone service providers held asession at Dow University ofHealth Sciences (DUHS) Mon-day to facilitate teachers, stu-dents and staffers in biometricsverification of SIM.

The facility was largelyavailed by those associated withDUHS as it provided them withan opportunity for hassle freebiometrics verification of the

Biometrics SIMs verification teamfacilitates DUHS teachers, students

mobile connection, a mandatorycondition for all mobile and cellphone users across the country.

Pakistan Telecommunica-tion Authority (PTA) has an-

nounced February 26 as the lastdate for biometrics verificationof SIM, following which ser-vices for those failing to meetthe requirement would be im-

mediately suspended.People have been also in-

formed that stern legal actionwould also be taken againstthose trying to use the mobile

without biometrics verificationof the SIMs under their use.The exercise is part of the on-going measures underway tocombat terrorism.—APP

Member House of Lords Baroness Saeeda Warsi called on Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

Chairperson Child Protection Bureau Saba Sadiq along with SP Traffic Nida address-ing press conference.

Heavy machinery was used for rescue work after a container got stuck under Waris Mir Underpass due to negligence of the driver.

TYPE 2 diabetes reduces quality of lifeand researchers have now found that itmay also decrease certain cognitive abili-

ties, known as executive functions.Type 2 diabetes is associated with bad per-

formance on cognitive tests,measuring abilities involved inthe control of emotions,behaviour and thought, thefindings showed.

“This facet of brain func-tion is particularly importantbecause we rely on it when weare attempting to behave in away that is contrary to ournatural inclinations or whatthe environment impels us todo,” said lead author CorrieVincent from the University ofWaterloo in Canada.

The researchers reviewed60 studies, comparing 9,815individuals with type 2 diabe-tes to 69,254 controls withoutit and examined their perfor-mance on measures of execu-tive function.

“Essentially people with type 2 diabetesmay be hit with the double whammy of hav-ing more need for executive control but - pos-sibly because of the disease’s effect on the brain- less intact resources for exerting it,” seniorauthor Peter Hall, professor at the Universityof Waterloo, added.

Approximately 600 million people livewith type 2 diabetes worldwide, with nearly800 million cases expected by 2030, making itone of the greatest global health concerns ofmodern times.

“Fortunately, there are a few things thatcan help optimise the brain structures that sup-

Diabetes maydamage your brain

port executive function,” Hall said.“Aerobic exercise and cognitively chal-

lenging activities - such as learning new things,solving difficult puzzles and other problemsolving activities - all help to keep your brain

sharp,” said Hall.The study appeared in the

journal Psychosomatic Medi-cine.

Our cells depend on asingle simple sugar, glucose,for most of their energy needs.That’s why the body has in-tricate mechanisms in place tomake sure glucose levels inthe bloodstream don’t go toolow or soar too high.

When you eat, most di-gestible carbohydrates areconverted into glucose andrapidly absorbed into thebloodstream. Any rise in bloodsugar signals the pancreas tomake and release insulin. Thishormone instructs cells tosponge up glucose. Without it,

glucose floats around the bloodstream, unableto slip inside the cells that need it.

Diabetes occurs when the body can’t makeenough insulin or can’t properly use the insu-lin it makes.

Although the genes you inherit may influ-ence the development of type 2 diabetes, theytake a back seat to behavioral and lifestyle fac-tors. Data from the Nurses’ Health Study sug-gest that 90 percent of type 2 diabetes in womencan be attributed to five such factors: excessweight, lack of exercise, a less-than-healthy diet,smoking, and abstaining from alcohol. Among85,000 married female nurses, 3,300 developedtype 2 diabetes over a 16-year period.

SALIM AHMED

LAHORE—Former British Ministerand Member House of Lords, Baron-ess Saeeda Warsi met Punjab ChiefMinister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif,here Monday during which matters ofmutual interest and measures for solu-tion of the problems of overseas Paki-stanis were discussed.

Talking to Baroness Saeeda Warsi,the Chief Minister said that there areclose friendly relations between Paki-stan and Britain. He said that Pakistanconsiders Britain as its real develop-

Pakistanis living abroad arecountry’s ambassadors: Shahbaz

ment partner and Britain is also a ma-jor trade partner of Pakistan. He saidthat Britain has played a commendablerole in the progress of Pakistan. He saidthat efforts of Baroness Saeeda Warsifor the strengthening of relations be-tween Pakistan and Britain are laudable.

Referring to the setting up of Over-seas Pakistanis Commission, ShahbazSharif said that Pakistanis living abroadare ambassadors of the country. He saidthat Overseas Pakistanis Commissionwill play an important role in resolvingproblems of overseas Pakistanis. Hesaid that Punjab government has given

legal status to Overseas PakistanisCommission and it will take effectivemeasures to redress the grievances ofPakistanis living in other countries.

He said that overseas Pakistanis areearning huge foreign exchange for theircountry through their hard work andplaying a significant role in the strength-ening of national economy. He said thatoverseas Pakistanis have improved theimage of Pakistan and solution of theirproblems is the responsibility of thegovernment.

Baroness Saeeda Warsi congratu-lated Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif

over the discovery and certification ofprecious mineral reserves in Chiniot-Rajwa and said that he is rendering in-valuable services for the welfare andbetterment of people of the province.

He said that setting up of OverseasPakistanis Commission is an importantstep of Shahbaz Sharif which will helpin resolving problem of the Pakistanisliving abroad. Baroness Saeeda Warsi’shusband Iftikhar Azam, CommissionerOverseas Pakistanis CommissionAfzaal Bhatti and President PakistanMuslim League (N) Britain Zubair Gulwere also present on the occasion.

MUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—Container stuck near PunjabUniversity underpass that halted the trafficflow at Canal Road and adjoining road hasbeen removed after four hours. District ad-ministration was able to remove the truck

Container stuck at PU underpassremoved after four hours

affixed at the underpass gathering assistanceof traffic police and heavy machinery.

According to the details, the containerwas headed towards Mall Road when it gotstuck at the New Campus underpass thatcaused a heavy traffic jam hampering peopleto reach their institutes and offices in time.

Many students who were to appear forthe competitive CSS exam got late to reachthe examination center at Lawrence Road;hence were not allowed to take the exam. Thestudents deprived of appearing for the examstaged a protest a protest and urged the gov-ernment to take notice of the incident.

Ilm Bazartoday

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—An “Ilm Bazar”will be arranged today at10.30 a.m at a local hotel,Mall Road, Lahore with thecollaboration between PunjabEducation Foundation andIlm Ideas. Chairman Punjab Educa-tion Foundation / StandingCommittee on Education Engi-neer Qamar ul Islam Raja,Managing Director PEF Dr.Anila Salman, Managing Di-rector Kashf FoundationRoshaney Zafar, Chief Execu-tive Officer Aman FoundationAhsan Jamil and Lums Centrefor Entrepreneurship KhuramZafar will also address thefunction.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Chief Secretary Punjab KhyzarHayat Gondal has directed the Women Devel-opment Department to increase the number ofday-care centres for facilitating working women.He was presiding over a meeting to review theperformance of Women Development Depart-ment here on Monday.

The Chief Secretary directed that all pos-sible measures be taken to ensure protection ofwomen’s rights and awareness be enhanced inthis regard. He said that opinion and support of

Gondal directs for increasein day-care centres

ulema of all schools of thought be sought whiledoing legislation regarding women.

The Chief Secretary also directed that theproblems being faced by women in getting shareof inheritance be made agenda item incommissioner’s conference and measures betaken to resolve these problems on priority ba-sis. Secretary Women Development IrumBukhari gave briefing to the Chief Secretary onthe steps being taken by the Department for pro-tection of women’s rights. The Chief Secretaryalso asked questions about the redress of com-plaints received by the woman ombudsman.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mahmood has writtenletters to Auditor General of Pakistan and Controller Generalof Accounts Pakistan to intervene and play their constitutionalrole in providing legal right of double pension to the pension-ers of 75 and above.

He has pointed out that Auditor General of Pakistan andController General of Accounts Pakistan have been entrustedin Auditor General of Pakistan and Controller General of Ac-counts Ordinance 2001 to pre audit of pensions of governmentemployees throughout the country both should play their con-stitutional role in the issue as Federal Government as well asprovincial governments of Khaiber Pakhtoonkha, Sindh andBalouchistan have already been paying double pension to theretired employees of 75 and above.

Ombudsman asks AG/CGA tointervene in double pension issue

Punjab Finance Department is interpreting the judgmentorders of Superior Courts according to its wish which tanta-mount not only to deride the haplessness of poor old pension-ers but judgment orders also. Establishment of “ComplaintsCell” at Lahore by Punjab Finance Department after judg-ment orders to restore double pension for the pensioners of 75and above is illegal.

This is pointed out in a letter written by the OmbudsmanPunjab Office to Finance Secretary Punjab following the is-sue of arrears of double pension to retired government em-ployees of 75 and above. Copies of the letter have also beenforwarded to all Administrative Secretaries, Commissioners,Heads of Attached Departments, DCO’s, Accountant GeneralPunjab and all DAOs, say the letters. Pensioners Day was cel-ebrated in all offices of Ombudsman Punjab today in this con-nection, a large number of retired govt. employees attended.

MUZAFFAR ALI

LAHORE—Anti-measles drive launched by thePunjab government got in jeopardy when hugeamount of vaccine worth millions was wastedin River Ravi on Monday.

According to the statistics, the anti-measlescampaign launched by the Punjab government

Punjab government’santi-measles drive in jeopardy

a few days ago was to vaccinate 30 million chil-dren across province whereas chances of thevaccine to be surplus were none. But more than10, 000 useable vaccines were dissipated nearBand Road in River Ravi. Vaccines that couldbe used till 2017 (as per the expiry date) havebeen wasted in the river instead, which is a clearcase of dereliction of duty.

STAFF REPORTER

LAHORE—Lahore Waste ManagementCompany (LWMC) has launched a plotclearance campaign in the city to removewaste from some 1200 open plots iden-tified during a survey held by company’soperation department. The objective ofcleanup operation is to reduce the chanceof breeding of Dengue Larvae on wasteheaps especially in less privileged areassituated in the outskirts of the city.

LWMC takes precautionarymeasures to control Dengue

The campaign is part of LWMC’s be-fore time precautionary measures to con-trol dengue epidemic in coordination withdistrict departments. Turkish companiesAlbayrak and Ozpak have also been in-structed in this regard and heavy machin-ery has been allocated to successfully imple-ment this campaign. Company’s Helpline1139 working to redress cleanliness relatedissues has also been put on alert to facili-tate citizens. “Complaints regarding re-moval of heaps from open plots will be re-

solved on priority basis”, says KhalidMajeed, Managing Director LWMC.

Moreover, communication depart-ment will hold massive awareness cam-paign across the city targeting schools,mosques, markets and other publicplaces to sensitize citizens on precau-tionary measures to control the epi-demic. Campaign will mainly be com-prised of lectures, holding of walks,camping, public briefing and leafletingthrough door stepping.