TuESDAy May 14, 2013 Rajab 03, 1434 I Rawalpindi/Islamabad I Vol, VI, No. 25 I www.thespokesman.pk Pages 12 I Price 10/-

TTOODDAAYY’’SS WWEEAATTHHEERR

A passingthunderstorm

HIGH: 38 LOW: 22

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LAST CHANCETO DELIVER– FARAKH SHAHZAD

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SALVAGINGPUBLIC EDUCATION– SHAUKET ALI

CMyK

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SNEAK PEEKCDA starts campaign toremove banners, streamers

The CapitalDevelopment Authority(CDA) has launched anoperation to remove thestreamers and bannersdisplayed by the political

candidates in every nook and corner ofthe federal capital.

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Two results force PML-Nto form fact-finding team

The Pakistan MuslimLeague-Nawaz isdisturbed with the pollingresults of the twin cities,and is aiming to get backon by-election.In election

2013, Javed Hashmi won with heavymargin against Anjum Aqeel Khan in NA-48, Imran Khan won against Hanif Abbasiin NA-56 and Sheikh Rasheed won againstShakeel Awan in NA-55 that annoyed topleadership of PML-N, sources said.

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PTI for recountingin PK-36 Swabi

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf(PTI) leaders andworkers on Mondayprotested whiledemanding animmediate recounting of

the votes in PK-36 (Swabi-VI) withoutany delay. The oRcial declared resultshowed that Shiraz Khan of PML-N haswon election from the PK-36, againstRangaiz Khan of PTI. Shiraz Khanreceived 12,923 votes while Rangaizobtained 12,734 ballots.

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S&P says Nawaz Sharif winbodes well for Pakistan rating

Pinning hopes onsignificant economicreforms in Pakistan afterNawaz Sharif's victory ingeneral elections, globalagency S&P today said that

the development bodes well for the country'scredit profile, but ruled out any upgradefrom the present junk grade rating.

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Cannes film festivalopens with ‘Great Gatsby’

The 2013 Cannes filmfestival opens with BazLuhrmann's 3Dversion of ‘The GreatGatsby’, a lavishthrowback to the

‘Roaring Twenties’ that befits theglamour and excess of the world'sbiggest cinema showcase.

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Tiger Woods winsPlayers Championship

Tiger Woods shook oS adouble bogey at the 14thhole Sunday and held onto win the US PGA TourPlayers Championship,setting another career

milestone in the process. Woods, who hada share of the lead with Sergio Garcia andDavid Lingmerth after completing theweather-disrupted third round on Sundaymorning, carded a final-round 70 for a13-under par total of 275. That put himtwo strokes in front of Swedish PGA Tourrookie Lingmerth, JeS Maggert andKevin Streelman.

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SHANEL KHALIQ

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Only 9 per cent of thepolling stations visited across thecountry were rated as poor orinadequate with regards totransparency and the assurance ofproper polling procedures beingfollowed, reports the European UnionElection Observation Mission (EUEOM). Out of these negative ratings, 21per cent were attributed to Sindh. According to the findings of the

mission, there were 62 reportedelection related security incidents onElection Day resulting in 64 deaths. Italso contended that the ECP’s very latedecision, some minutes before the close

of polling, to extend voting by one hourto allow more opportunity to voters,caused confusion and was notannounced on the ECP website. EUEOM observers saw inconsistentapplication with some stations stayingopen, while others closed, some ofwhich then reopened. In Karachi particularly EU EOM

observers undertook limitedobservation, during which they sawsome serious problems in polling andwere also restricted in their activities.The ECP did not have informationcentrally on the extent of the problemsin Karachi but nevertheless extendedpolling by three hours in sevenconstituencies in Karachi and has

declared fresh polling to be held in 43stations. However at this stage they feelthat it is not possible to assess theextent of the suRciency of thisresponse.The EU EOM has also brought the

media under considerable criticismparticularly the electronic media withregard to political advertising andcoverage. TV channels’ telecasting oflong-lasting live rallies benefited a fewparties, who had the opportunity toconvey their campaign messageswithout being subjected to criticalanalyses. However, the EU mission alsoacknowledges that the media wasobstructed from operating freely inareas of Balochistan, FATA and

Karachi. These were also the first elections to

be held in Pakistan after the countryratified the UN International Covenanton Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)and so the mission also reviewed theelections according to Pakistan’scommitment to this charter as well asits own legal framework.The mission reported that the

requirements for candidacy were notconsistent with Pakistan’s ICCPRcommitments. Furthermore the vagueand moral constitutional requirementsleave implementation liable to unevenapplication; hence some candidateswere accepted in one constituency andrejected in another.

EU notes election irregularities especially in Karachi

OUR STAFF REPORTERS

LLAAHHOORREE:: The PTI workers protestspread in many cities after widespreadallegations and Imran khandemanding repolling in over 50 seatsProtesters in Lahore DHA declared

Lalik Jan Chowk as Tahrir Square andcontinued their vigorous protestovernight well into Tuesday morningand vowed to carry on till the re-election is not ordered in NA 125 fromwhere PML-N henchman Sadd Rafiqwas declared winner in the late votecount defeating PTI candidate HamidKhan who bagged around 85,000votes. The PTI activists had started

their protest on Sunday afternoonsoon after the result for theconstituency was announced andRafiq was declared winner baggingmore than 120,000 votes. The PTI’syoung brigade blocked the mainartery of Defence and adjoining GhaziRoad and spent the night on the road.They vowed to stay there till theresults were overturned or a re-election in the constituency wasannounced by the ElectionCommission of Pakistan. Leading the protests Imran Khan’s

sister Aleema Khan said that theelections in NA 125 were stolen asthroughout the day more than 90 per

cent voteswere cast in favour ofHamid Khan. “Saad Rafiq and hislady gang forcibly entered pollingstations in Defence area and stuSedthe ballot boxes. If someone thinksthat he could get away with it he wasmistaken,” said Khan. The protestswere synchronized with the sameevents in Karachi and Hyderabad. InKarachi another DHA localityresidents are demanding re-polling inthe area as they say boxes were stuSedwith fake ballots by the MQMactivists. Election Commission hasalready announced to hold polling inNA 250 from where PTI secretarygeneral Dr Arif Alvi and MQM’s

Khushbakht Shujaat were contesting.On Monday scuQes broke outbetween PML-N and PTI workers inDefence, Lahore, but the situationwas averted by the police standing by.The PML-N workers too keptroaming the city throughout the dayon Sunday and Monday celebratingtheir victory in Lahore.A baQed Saad Rafiq addressed a

Press conference in Lahore onMonday and clarified his position.“The only thing I did wrong is to goto a polling station in myconstituency. I appeal to the youngPTI workers to try and accept theresults and respect my mandate,” said

Saad Rafiq whose victory on Sundaysurprised anyone who watched thecampaign. A large number of PTIworkers also staged a protestdemonstration in Islamabad as theyconverged at D-Chowk. Agenciesadd: The Sindh Home Departmentissued a notification imposingSection 144 which bans all politicalgatherings and display of weapons inKarachi. On the other hand, PTIleader Shafqat Mehmood on Mondayaccused the PML-N of rigging inelections under police supervision.Hamid Khan announced that hewould lodge a complaint with theECP against election rigging acrossPunjab. But Imran Khan’sspokesman said the Supreme Courtwould be moved if the ECP didn’t payheed to their demands.

We have Tahrir Square in Lahore

TAPPI AS CM

LLAAHHOORREE:: PPMMLL--NN PPrreessiiddeenntt MMiiaann MMuuhhaammmmaadd NNaawwaazz SShhaarriiff ttaallkkiinngg ttoo ffoorreeiiggnn aanndd llooccaall mmeeddiiaa ppeerrssoonnss oonn MMoonnddaayy.. –ONLINE

MMUULLTTAANN:: Former Prime Minister andPakistan People’s Party (PPPP) seniorvice president Yousaf Raza Gilaniresigned from his senior party positionon Monday. “Someone needs to standup and accept responsibility and Iaccept responsibility.”He made the announcement during a

press conference at Multan press clubon Monday, two days after his partyfailed to get a substantive number ofseats in the May 11 polls.“I am surprised at the people of

Pakistan who blamed PPP for everycrisis,” Gilani said talking about themandate of Pakistanis who did not re-elect the PPP government.Confirming that his party will now

spend the next five years on theopposition benches, Gilani ensured thePPP will play an effective role.“I accept public’s decision and I

understand that the public wasangry about power outages andunstable economy but why didn’tanyone ask Shahbaz Sharif abouthow many watts he had contributedin energy production of thecountry?” he questioned.“The kidnapping of my son is no way

related to my resignation and I have nodifferences with the leadership of theparty,” he said talking aboutkidnapping of his son Ali Haider Gilanion the eve of the elections. –AGENCIES

Ex-PM Gilani resignsas PPPP’s senior VP

Sharifs endorse PTI for KP’s Naya Pakistan

Nawaz invitesManmohanfor oathtaking

PPEESSHHAAWWAARR:: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief SyedMunawar Hasan hasannounced to supportPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI) in the formation ofprovincial setup in KhyberPakhtunkhwa.JI chief said that PTI had

constitutional and moralright to form theirprovincial government inKPK as it has takenmajority seats.He said that JI will

warmly welcome PTIoRcials if they contactthem in this regard.Meanwhile Pakistan

Tehrek-e-Insaaf hasconstituted 4-membercommittee for consultationswith other parties over theformation of government inKhyber-Pakhtunkhwa.According to media reports,the committee comprisesPervez Khattak‚ ShahFarman‚ Asad Qaisar andAtif Khan. It must benoticed that PTI is emergedas the biggest electedpolitical party while JamiatUlema Islam Fazal (JUI-F)is the second major electedparty in KPK province.Moreover, JUI-F has taken9 seats in KPK’s provincialassembly while PTI haswon over 34 provincialseats. –ONLINE

JI decidesto supportPTI in KP

ECP seeks reports fromDROs over allegations of riggingIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The Election Commission of Pakistan has asked the districtreturning oRcers to submit reports over rigging allegations and otherobjections raised by the candidates at the earliest. The ECP met here Monday.The meeting decided that decision of re-polling at the specified polling stationswould be taken in the light of the reports of the DROs concerned. TheCommission also called reports from the DROs about the reports that womenwere barred from voting in some constituencies. It decided that decisionpertaining to re-election on the seats where women were barred would also betaken in the light of the DROs reports. The ECP directed the army to go backto barracks except Karachi and Hyderabad where the ECP re-polling is likely.The Commission agreed that decision about re-election in Karachi andHyderabad would be taken within two to three days and that election on 42polling stations of NA-250 would be held within next 10 days. –STAFF REPORTER

� Says US must take drone concerns seriously

Shahbaz may be deputy PMLLAAHHOORREERR:: It seems that former CM Shahbaz Sharif will be pickedup as deputy PM as big brother insists that he would require someonelike his dynamic younger brother at Centre as party will be faced withhuge challenges. “It is likely that Shahbaz will help his brother in theCentre,” a source said, adding that Shahbaz wants to be Water andPower Ministry to handle loadshedding in the country.” This alsomeans that either Hamza or Maryam Nawaz will hold the fort inPunjab. PML-N spokesman said the party has picked Ishaq Dar asfinance minister. Ishaq Dar, who served as finance minister inSharif ’s second administration and again briefly in 2008, wouldreturn to the job, the spokesman said. Dar had “all the facts andfigures at his fingertips” and will in June present the budget for thenext financial year starting on July 1.” Few others likely to getministries include Khwaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Pervaiz Rasheed, JafarIqbal Jhagra. Saad Rafique despite generating controversy in Lahoreelection is also being tipped for a ministry. –STAFF REPORTER

Punjab Governor quitsafter PPPP poll defeatLLAAHHOORREE:: The Governor of PunjabMakhdoom Ahmed MahmoodMonday resigned after the defeat of thePPPP in the general elections, blamingthe party for not addressing key issueslike the chronic power crisis in thecountry. "I announce my resignationfrom the post as it is prerogative of thewinning party to have its nominee inPunjab," Mahmood said. The PakistanPeople's Party Parliamentarians lost theelection because it failed to addressissues like a crippling energy crisis, hesaid. "The PPP concentrated onstrengthening democracy after comingto power but ignored the issue ofgovernance," he said. If the newgovernment did not deliver, it toowould meet the same fate, he said.Mahmood, a former leader of thePML-F, is close to senior PPP leaderand former premier Yousuf RazaGilani. –AGENCIES

OUR STAFF REPORTER

LLAAHHOORREE:: Saying that he wouldinvite Indian Prime MinisterManmohan Singh on his oath-takingin Islamabad, Incoming PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif Monday saidhis government would establishfriendly ties with India.Speaking to foreign newsmen at

his Raiwind farmhouse, Sharif alsoendorsed Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insafmandate for forming government inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa. “But he alsoadvised PTI to respect the mandateof the people and accept the resultsof the elections.”Nawaz said he wanted to strengthen

his country’s fractious relations withthe United States, but warnedWashington must take seriously theirconcerns about drone strikes. He saidthe US would have Pakistan’s “fullsupport” as it withdraws the bulk of itsforces from Afghanistan by the end ofnext year. He said he would discussthe issue with the US.“Drones are indeed a challenge to

our sovereignty. Of course we havetaken this matter up very seriouslyand also spoken to the Americansduring our meetings,” he said, adding:“This is a very important issue andour concern must be understoodproperly. We will sit with our

American friends and we willcertainly talk to them on this issue.”

“I think we have good relationswith the United States of America.We certainly have to listen to eachother,” he said. “If there areconcerns on either side I think weshould address those concerns andstrengthen this relationship.”Nawaz said: “We will facilitate the

Americans as far as the withdrawal isconcerned.” “American troops arebeing withdrawn in 2014 and we willextend full support to them and wewill see everything goes smoothly.”Referring to the attack on PML-N

leader Sanaullah Zehri inBalochistan, Sharif said it was not fairto say that terrorism had not aSectedPML-N. We will contact every partyfor the purpose of forming our policyon terrorism, Sharif said, adding thatthe PML-N government wouldrespect the mandate given to partiesby the people from the areas wherethey have won.He moreover said that economic

revival was the PML-N’s top priority.He further said that the PML-N

government in its first 100 days wouldcome out with policies on all majorissues confronting Pakistan, such asterorirsm, the economy et cetera.Sharif said Pakistan will become the

Asian tiger in his government.

France praises bravePakistan votersIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The Frenchgovernment on Monday hailed theholding of elections in Pakistan. Astatement forwarded by the Frenchembassy in Islamabad reads that"Those elections were characterised bythe strong and brave mobilisation ofvoters, women and men, who, despitethe violence caused by extremistgroups, freely chose to express thediversity of their opinions." France hasconveyed its most sincere condolencesto the families of the victims of thisviolence. The statement acknowledgedthe fact that an unprecedentednumber of voters demonstrated thecommitment of the Pakistanipopulation to the democratic process.Improvements were noted by theEuropean Union Observation Missionin the organisation of the polls, whichallowed for an open competitionbetween political parties, it adds. TheFernch govermnet, along with itspartners from the European Union,has vowed to support this democraticprocess. "France wishes for the futuregovernment to be able to eIcientlyfight against terrorism, progresstowards a prosperous economy andestablish the bases for sustainablestability in region," it reads. With thoseobjectives in mind, France will lookforward to collaborating with the newgovernment, it ended. –STAFF REPORT

Broken road resulting in more accidentsRRAAWWAALLPPIINNDDII:: Non-repair ofGawalmandi Chowk Road hasmultiplied road accidents because ofits excavation for laying water pipeline6 months ago but it has now turnedinto death trap due to lack of repairwork. There are a number of schoolgirls standing alongside the road andevery day, dozens of girls get injuredwhile crossing the road while somehave been taken to hospitals. Underrailway bridge, the entire road standsdepleted as no sign is visible that anyroad was existing here ever before.Every day is field day for accidents asscores of motor cyclists riders getinjured due to road accidents but theauthorities seem least concerned toaddress this problem. Their attitudemay lead to occurrence of fatal roadaccident. –ONLINE

Overcharging of waterconnection fee resentedRRAAWWAALLPPIINNDDII:: Overcharging of waterconnection fee has sparked resentmentamong the residents of Dhok Gujranand allied areas. The committee set upby the Rawalpindi Cantonment Boardto collect fee from the applicants in theareas of Dhok Gujran and newlocalities charged water connectionfee ranging between Rs 5300 to Rs8000. After the installation ofconnections, the receipts wereissued for Rs 2200 and this way Rs3000 to Rs 6000 were overchargedfor new connection. Despite loot andplunder spree unleashed by thecommittee, water is not beingsupplied to the new connections.The residents have demanded thecorpse commander to ensure returnof fee overcharged by them. –ONLINE

HHYYDDEERRAABBAADD:: AA ggyyppssyy bbooyy rraakkiinngg iinn iirroonn wwiirree ffrroomm bbuurrnniinngg ttyyrreess aafftteerr aa pprrootteesstt bbyy SSiinnddhhyyaannii TTaahhrreeeekk aaggaaiinnsstt aalllleeggeedd rriiggggiinngg iinn ppoollllss iinn PPSS--4477 QQaassiiaammaabbaadd.. –ONLINE

ALI SAJJAD SHAH

RRAAWWAALLPPIINNDDII:: The Board ofIntermediate and Secondary Educationhas fallen short of issuing roll-numberslips to many students prior toexaminations, which are just two daysaway while the helpless students areseeking help from the Punjab educationdepartment.Mujahid Alvi, a private student of FSctold The Spokesman that it’s been fourmonths since he submitted his completeadmission form alongwith fee for FSc inmaths, statistics and economicssubjects. The annual examinations are just twodays away and he still not got hisprescribed roll number slip from theboard. “I visited the board several times inpast but very much disappointed withthe attitude of officials of Rawalpindiboard, my educational year would bewasted if I did not take part in theexam,” he complained.Rawalpindi Board of Intermediateand Secondary Education Chairman DrMuhammad Ashraf when contactedtold spokesman that all roll numberslips and date sheets have beendispatched to the candidates two weeksbefore the examinations. The boys andgirls students who have not received rollnumber slips or they are having anycomplaint in this regard can contact theboard immediately, he added.Inspection teams have also been set upto ensure transparency in theexamination. I shall also visit thecenters to check the examinationprocess, he asserted.Annual examination of F.A/FSc underthe board will commence from May 15.The Board officials are claiming tocomplete all the preparations forholding examination.

Roll-numberslips not issuedas exam nears

ALI SAJJAD SHAH

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The PakistanMuslim League-Nawaz isdisturbed with the polling resultsof the twin cities, and is aiming toget back on by-election.In election 2013, Javed Hashmiwon with heavy margin againstAnjum Aqeel Khan in NA-48,Imran Khan won against HanifAbbasi in NA-56 and SheikhRasheed won against ShakeelAwan in NA-55 that annoyed topleadership of PML-N, sources said. The PML-N leadership formeda committee comprising RajaZafrul Haq and Zafar IqbalJhagara to make a detailedfactfindings report over theshameful defeat in Islamabad andRawalpindi, which were

considered strongholds of PML-N, the sources added.Keeping in view the history oftwin cities, the PML-N has wonevery single seat in the Rawalpindisince 1990, except one in 2008. In history, the PML-N every timewon with massive margin. Thelowest margins were seen in 2008with 30 per cent, while the highestmargin is as large as 70 per cent.Last year, when Raja PervaizAshraf of the PPP won from NA-51, he only had a lead of 11 percent.Voter turnouts were equal toRawalpindi and Islamabadapproximately 61 percent. In therun-up to the elections, analystssaid that PTI won because of ahigher voter turnout. The PML-N candidates havedisappointed and shocked over

defeat and they are aiming to winback in bi-election, only if PTIChairman Imran Khan and PTIPresident Javed Hashmi decided tolet go their seats over their seatsfrom Mianwali and respectively.The results were similar on theprovincial assembly level that asignificant won of Ijaz Khan Jaziand Raja Rashid Hafeez won overZia Ullah Shah and Sardar Naseemof PML-N. The PML-N wasexpecting remarkable win and wasnot expecting such defeat from PTIbecause PTI candidates onprovincial seats were not consideredstronger then PML-N candidates. However, despite claiming a highnumber of seats, the PML-N facedmuch tougher competition.Analysts predicted that the anti-incumbency factor might just

weaken the PML-N in twin cities.The capital results were diJerentin NA-48 partially because ofdiJerent demographics of voters.The PML-N managed to winboth its seats in 2008, but equallysplit them with the PPP in 2002.However, elections before 2002did indicate that the PML-N wasstronger in Islamabad.A highly reliable source of PML-N reveals that party topleadership is very shocked overdefeat of their candidates in NA-48, NA-55 and NA-56 and fewleaders who are against Ch Nisar,are blaming him for choosing poorand corrupt candidates to contestthe elections. They are hoping towin back their seats if Javed Hashmiand Imran Khan surrendered theirseats, he asserted.

Two results force PML-Nto form fact-finding team

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Central Information SecretaryDr Shireen Mazari on Mondayexpressed shock at the MQM leaderAltaf Hussain’s statement thatthreatening a break-up of Pakistan.She said as a leader of a politicalparty, Altaf Hussain's remarkscontravene the constitution whichmakes it incumbent on all citizensnot to say or do anything thatthreatens the territorial integrity ofthe country.Dr Mazari added that for a politicianto demand the separation of a part ofPakistan and give a barely veiled threatof violence is a clear contravention ofArticle 5 of the constitution that says“Loyalty to state and obedience toconstitution and law.” Moreover, Altaf Hussain's

statement is also in violation of thePakistan Penal Code Chapter VI,Section 123 A which tellsthat “Condemnation of Creation ofthe State and Advocacy ofAbolition of Sovereignty and Section124A Sedition.”Under these legal infractions, DrMazari demanded that the SC needsto take immediate notice of AltafHussain's dangerous statement. Ifthe SC does not do so, it isincumbent on the federal andprovincial governments to act. Sheexpressed amazement over thedangerous and distorted logic of theMQM leader who chose to respondto charges of massive rigging by hisparty with a threat of breakingKarachi away from Pakistan. Inconclusion, Dr Mazari also expressed

concern over the UK governmentallowing its soil and its citizen to

threaten violence and the territorialintegrity of another sovereign state.

This is against the basic norms ofinterstate relations. –ONLINE

PTI expresses shock over Altaf ’s statement

ALI SAJJAD SHAH

RRAAWWAALLPPIINNDDII:: The growingillegal auto workshops have posedtraIc jams in the residentialareas of the Cantonment markets. These workshops have becomea perpetual source of irritation forthe residents of the area due tonegligence of the oIcials. In Westridge Market, a string ofunlawfully operating workshopshas made the passage impassable. No lady or girl can pass throughthis area, as they have to be

targeted by the derogatory andabusive remarks of the workers ofthese workshops. The entire vicinity ofGawalmandi has turned intoworkshops and every street isseething with the workshopscausing embarrassment to theinmates particularly students andailing persons. The continuous noise ofworkshops continues to disruptthe peace of mind but no actionhas ever been taken by the boardagainst them.

Interminable series of illegalworkshops functioning outsidethe Gawalmandi Girls College haspolluted the environmentparticularly on ethical front as thebattalions of loafers roamingaround these workshops andworking therein continue toresort to immoral acts of eveteasing. The citizens have demandedimmediate shifting of theseworkshops to industrial areaotherwise they will be forced tohold protest rallies.

Auto workshops in Rawalpindiresidential areas irk dwellers

LLAAHHOORREE:: Pakistan Muslim League Nawazleader Khwaja Saad Rafique Monday said thatPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khanshould refrain from provoking public sentiments.Speaking to media, he said that Imran Khanshould learn to face realities as masses expressedutmost confidence over PML-N through ballot.Refereeing the election results of his constituencyNA-125, he said that PTI scored 83,190 votes,which shows a great tilt of voters towards PTI.“PTI leadership should thank God for securingsuch heavy mandate of people,” he added.On the other hand, Saad himself scored 1,23,094 votes and won the constituency. He

further disclosed that PML-N facing media trialby the hands of PTI. The PTI leaders should giveup jealousy and act like seasoned politicians. ThePML-N has won such mandate of masses afterfacing numerous hardships.He added that Imran Khan should learn tocongratulate winners against him, until nowKhan didn’t forwarded congratulation message tothe Nawaz Sharif. He said that now the trend hasentirely changed, agitated politicians will commitpolitical suicide. Meanwhile, he expressed satisfaction over theECP and judiciary for their eJorts to conduct freeand fair election. –ONLINE

Imran should refrain from provokingpublic sentiments, says Saad Rafique

DDEERRAAGGHHAAZZIIKKHHAANN:: PPTTII aaccttiivviissttss pprrootteessttiinngg aaggaaiinnsstt aalllleeggeedd ppoollll rriiggggiinngg iinn tthheeiirr ccoonnssttiittuueennccyy.. –ONLINE

KKAARRAACCHHII:: The Muttahida Deeni Mahazon Monday protested over alleged riggingin May 11 general election in Karachi. Alarge number of MDM workers gatheredearly Monday morning and staged sit-inat various places in Malir, DawoodChowrangi, Sohrab Gotha and otherareas, causing sever traffic jam.The Super Highway in the outskirts ofKarachi was also blocked by infuriatedprotestors who condemned vote-riggingin Karachi. Markets and businessactivities were also closed in the Malir,Sohrab Goth, Shahrah-e-Pakistan andother areas.On Sunday, thousands of workers andsupporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaftook to roads and mounted protest at Do-Talwar point of Clifton against therigging. The leaders and workers ofPakistan People’s Party, WahdatMuslimeen, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and Jamaat-e-Islami alsojoined the protest.All the parties, on the occasion, were inagreement that the Election Commissionof Pakistan failed in its duty to hold freeand transparent general election of theyear 2013. The party leaders said the PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf will emerge as victoriousif re-elections are held in NA 250. –ONLINE

MDM protestagainst riggingjoined by many

RRAAWWAALLPPIINNDDII:: AA mmaann iiss ccaarrrryyiinngg aann iiccee bblloocckk oonn hhiiss bbiiccyyccllee aass aann aaggeedd llaabboouurreerr ddrraaggss aa hheeaavviillyy--llooaaddeeddccaarrtt bbeehhiinndd hhiimm.. TThhee ttwwiinn cciittiieess rreecceeiivveedd eexxttrreemmeellyy hhoott ddaayy oonn MMoonnddaayy.. –ONLINE

KKAARRAACCHHII:: Jamat-e-Islami leader Dr MairajulHuda urged the Chief of the Army Staff AshfaqParvez Kayani and Chief Justice of Pakistan IftikharMohammad Chaudhry to take immediate notice ofMuttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain’sspeech to separate Karachi from rest of Pakistan.“I appeal to chief justice and chief of army staff tostrictly react to the Muttahida Qaumi Movementleader’s statement and his threats of fanning thepolitics of violence and his whole speech ingeneral,” said Jamat-e-Islami ameer. He saidthat Altaf ’s oratory could have terriblydetrimental consequences, adding, if a catastrophebefell Karachi down the line only he alone would beto blame. –ONLINE

JI urges army, judiciary to take notice

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

Venom Inc. This should not be heldagainst me in a court of law as I solemnlydeclare that these are absolute lies, dirty

whispers and wild speculation that I have heardwhile crawling in the dark power corridors ofthe creepy Capital. You will believe them at yourown risk Shh...If you have venom to spill pleasedon’t hesitate to share with us on our blog atwww.thespokesman.pk

POWER ALLEYS|CMYK

TAHIR NIAZ

ISLAMABAD: The myth of massiveturnout behind the success of PakistanTehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in the Saturday’selections proved otherwise as the partysecured seats mainly from the con-stituencies where the turnout wasmuch lower than the average.According to the oUcial sources, the

average turnout in Saturday’s electionsremained close to 60 percent but inter-estingly, the Imran-led party succeededmainly in the constituencies where thevoters’ turnout remained close to 45percent with some exceptions. Itseemed that the PTI succeeded in ex-ploiting the sentiments of the people ofwar-hit areas of the country, as theMMA had done in 2002 elections, andthe voters of those areas voted for theparty in view of its claims of redressingthe problems faced by them includingterrorism, bad law and order, bad gov-ernance and corruption. Actually, thevoters of the war-hit areas replacedANP and PPP with PTI, to which theymight have considered responsible fortheir problems.The percentage of votes polled to

registered voters in NA-1 (Peshawar-I) from where PTI chairman ImranKhan defeated Haji Ghulam AhmedBilour remained 46.18 percent. Simi-larly, in NA-2 (Peshawar-II) HamidUl Haq of PTI got 78948 votes to se-cure the seat and the turnout re-

mained at 43.45 percent. In NA-3 (Pe-shawar-III) Sajid Nawaz of PTI se-cured 67214 to secure the seat andturnout remained at 46.30 percent. InNA-4 (Peshawar-IV) Gulzar Khan ofPTI secured 55097 votes and won theseat. In this constituency the voters’turnout remained at 40.34 percent.PTI’s Pervez Khattak won NA-5(Nowshera-I) by securing 69873 voteswhere turnout remained 49.89 per-cent. NA-6 (Nowshera-II) was won bySiraj Muhammad Khan of PTI by se-curing 54140 votes and the turnout inthat constituency remained 47.08 per-cent. PTI’s Ali Muhammad secureNA-10 (Mardan-II) by securing46236 votes and turnout in the con-stituency remained at 51 percent.Khial Zaman of PTI secured NA-16(Hangu) by bagging 23909 votes andvoters’ turnout in the constituencystood at 30.81 percent. In NA-19(Haripur) where Raja Aamer Zamanof PTI secured 116579 votes to win theseat, the voters’ turnout remained at55.55 percent. NA-29 (Swat-I) waswon by Murad Saeed of PTI by secur-ing 88291 votes and voters’ turnout re-mained at 35.37 percent. NA-35(Malakand P Area) was won by JunaidAkbar of PTI by securing 51249 votesand voters’ turnout in the constituencyremained at 45.95 percent. NA-47(Tribal Area-XII) was won by QaisarJamal of PTI by securing 10658 votesand voters’ turnout in the constituency

remained at 39.76 percent. NA-48 (Is-lamabad-I) was won by PTI leaderMakhdom Javed Hashmi by securing73692 votes and voters’ turn out in theconstituency remained at 59.55 per-cent. NA-56 (Rawalpindi-VII) waswon by PTI chairman Imran Khan bysecuring 80425 votes and voters’

turnout in the constituency remained56.04 percent. NA-71 (Mianwali-I)was also won by PTI chairman by se-curing 132283 votes and voters’turnout in the constituency remainedat 57.61 percent. NA-162 (Sahiwal-III)was won by Rai Hasan Nawaz Khan ofPTI by securing 88004 votes and vot-

ers’ turnout in the constituency re-mained at 59.65 percent.Similarly, the voters’ turnout was

below the average in the constituenciesfrom where the PTI candidates suc-ceeded. In PK-1 (Peshawar-I) Zia UllahAfridi of PTI won the seat and the vot-ers’ turnout in the constituency re-

mained at 42.69 percent. In PK-2 (Pe-shawar-II) the turnout was 47.07 per-cent, in PK-4 (Peshawar-IV), theturnout was 45.22 percent, in PK-6(Peshawar-VI) 38.64 percent, in PK-7(Peshawar-VII) 47.85 percent, in PK-9(Peshawar-IX) 48.98 percent, in PK-10 (Peshawar-X) 37.52 percent, in PK-12 (Nowshera-I) 49.14 percent, inPK-13 (Nowshera-II) 48.53 percent, inPK-14 (Nowshera-III) 46.78 percent,in PK-15 (Nowshera-IV) 49.46 percent,in PK-16 (Nowshera-V) 45.57 percent,in PK-22 (Charsadda-VI) 39.87 per-cent, in PK-24 (Mardan-II) 44.69 per-cent, in PK-25 (Mardan-III) 42.37percent, in PK-26 (Mardan-IV) 50.38percent, in PK-29 (Mardan-VII) 42.11percent, in PK-30 (Mardan-VIII)39.78 percent, in PK-35 (Swabi-V)42.47 percent, in PK-38 (Kohat-II)40.03 percent, in PK-39 (Kohat-III)40.80 percent, in PK-40 (Karak-I)49.72 percent, in PK-48 (Abbottabad-V) 57.09 percent, in PK-50 (Haripur-II) 54.57 percent, in PK-52(Haripur-IV) 52.48 percent, in PK-64(Dera Ismail Khan-I) 55.2 percent, inPK-80 (Swat-I) 40.62 percent, in PK-81 (Swat-II) 38.12 percent, in PK-82(Swat-III) 30.63 percent, in PK-83(Swat-IV) 31.21 percent, in PK-84(Swat-V) 32.09 percent. All these con-stituencies were won by the PTI candi-dates despite the fact that here voters’turnout was lower than the constituen-cies lost by the PTI.

Election 2013: The mistaken myth of PTI's youth vote bank�PTI won seats mainly where turnout was lower than average

SAEED MINHAS

With the waning of election fever in thecountry, lots of forgotten issues havestarted surfacing in the public

domain and prominent of all those is the fate offormer dictator Gen. (Retd) PervaizMusharraf. His main adversary, Nawaz Sharif-- whom he had sent packing to Saudiguarantors with a ten-years-politics-ban washeard saying loud and clear during his recentelection campaign that “we will send a case ofhigh treason against jailed Musharraf if votedto power”.In power, Nawaz Sharif stands with a

comfortable majority over his politicalopponents and is sure to form his thirdgovernment. Therefore, the question loominglarge in the debating circles of media and evenPTI or more so amongst PPP jiyalas is that willSharif be able to oblige the Supreme Court byletting his government to initiate a case againsthim. Or will he consider obliging theguarantors and the dominating institution offormer dictator?A trial to determine whether Gen. Musharraf

committed any treason by suspending theconstitution and imposing emergency onNovember 3, 2007 is already underway in theSupreme Court. Constitutionally speaking,initiating a treason case remains theprerogative of the federal government andCourts can only determine whether the casefulfils the merits or not. Article 6 of theConstitution of Pakistan outlining the contoursof a high treason reads that:

(1) Any person who abrogates orattempts or conspires to abrogate,subverts or attempts or conspires tosubvert the Constitution by use of forceor show of force or by otherunconstitutional means shall be guiltyof high treason.(2) Any person aiding or abetting theacts mentioned in clause (1) shall

likewise be guilty of high treason.(2A)An act of high treason mentionedin clause (1) or clause (2) shall not bevalidated by any court including theSupreme Court and a High Court.(3) [Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)]shall by law provide for the punishmentof persons found guilty of high treason."

A High Treason (Punishment) Act 1973awards death penalty to anyone found guilty oftreason or high treason. Though, this law hasnever been invoked and the prescribedsentence never awarded since its introduction.It was framed in pursuance of article 6 of theConstitution. The law reads: “A person, who isfound guilty (a) of having committed an act ofabrogation or subversion of a Constitution inforce in Pakistan at any time since the twenty-third day of March 1956; or (b) of high treasonas defined in article 6; (c) be punishable withdeath or imprisonment for life.”No matter, how Courts interpret these

provisions of constitution and Act ofparliament, but it seems quite obvious that

courts have to wait for the government of theday to initiate a case and then form a threemember bench of no less than high courtjudges to dwell on that.Legal experts believe that it’s not just a

matter of constitution or an act but it is moreabout the will of the federal government to putall such provisions into action. They alsobelieve that in doing so government of the dayhave to think about the abettors of such acrime, which in this case might implicate manyof the judges and army generals. The questionmight also pop up that why only 2007 and whynot that of 1999, they argued.Putting this flurry of objections and counter

objections aside, we have recently seenSupreme Court handing out a breather to Gen.Musharraf as caretaker government of MirHazar Khan Khoso refused to file chargesagainst former dictator—supposedly for notgetting clearance from GHQ and even the Gulfkingdoms. In a reply submitted to the SuperiorCourt few weeks before the May 11 elections,caretaker administration had said “The

caretaker government should avoid taking anycontroversial step and should not commit anyprocess that is not reversible by the incomingelected government.” Justice Jawad S Khwaja,who is the presiding judge, was quoted: “Itappears that the government is determined notto take any legal action in this matter.” The casewas adjourned and SC continued hearing thearguments from the concerned counsels ofpetitioner on it even after the caretakers’negative response and now it is set to resume itafter the elections.The ball, therefore, seems to have landed in

the court of Nawaz Sharif--the prime ministerdesignate. Supreme Court is likely to seek aresponse in this regard from a freshly‘mandated’ government in the coming weeksbecause caretakers had refused to do so on thepretext that “we don’t have such a mandate”.Will he able to fulfill his personal desires of

punishing his tormentor or not mightbecome clear in few weeks time. Situation hasbecome all the more interesting becauseknowing that the guarantors involved in thereturn of Musharraf are the same who helpedSharif ’s’ rescue from the same General in1999 when he was convicted under the samecharges of high treason by the same courts. IfSharif lets him escape, the Courts who seemshungry for General’s skin might becomeantagonistic towards his third tenure in theoUce of PM, if he doesn’t than how will herespond to the Gulf Kingdoms and Castles inRawalpindi. Besides, he will also have to careabout his public stance on this issue becauseever since he managed to come out ofpolitical cul-de-sac in Saudi Arabia andstarted political activities after five years ofhis muted exile, he has been on recordseeking army’s confinement to barracks andblood of those who ousted his two-third-majority government. “It will be a paradoxicalsituation to handle for Mian sahib,” admittedone of his party stalwart while seekinganonymity.

Sharif to decide betweenthe Judges and Mushy

ZEESHAN JAVAID

ISLAMABAD: USAID-Pakistan is having a torrid time fac-ing the audit objections raised by a visiting faculty of Wash-ington based OUce of Inspector General (OIG) regarding itsspending spree on various programs including foreign tripsfor its employees without any justification and prior-ap-provals, learned The Spokesman on good authority.In a recent audit conducted by the under-cover OIG oU-

cials, USAID-Pakistan has been asked to explain that whythey have to spend US taxpayers $ 0.715 million for inter-national training trips of it employees without prior approvalof competent authority. Sources in USAID-Pakistan informed this scribe that a re-

cent review about the International training practices ofUSAID-Pakistan conducted by OIG senior oUcials revealedthat mission already had an individual development plan inplace which had the approval of supervisors and deputy mis-sion director. Yet, the inspectors could not find any justifica-tion nor any approval for sending 16 of 20 employees forattending training events worldwide. The objection furtheradds that the trainings seems to not even relevant in somecases and neither found mandatory.USAID-Pakistan currently has about 255 employees. Each

year the employees, in consultation with their supervisors,maintain up-to-date individual development plans identify-ing areas in which they would like additional training and/orexperience, as it pertains to their work.It was also learnt that any training taken outside the re-

gion should be allowed only in exceptional circum-stances and must be approved by the deputymission director, while the auditors havefound in these incidents that trainingevents outside the region were ap-proved by the immediate supervisorsof their subordinates. Hint of fa-voritism was smelled by the auditors,revealed sources and documents ob-tained by The Spokesman.During fiscal year (FY) 2012,

USAID/Pakistan budgeted $1.1 mil-lion for domestic and internationaltraining events. The mission spentabout $715,000 of this for the interna-tional training events, 113 employees at-tended training in Canada, Egypt, Ghana,Hungary, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, theUnited Kingdom, and the United States—including LasVegas, New York, and Washington, D.C. Of those, 35 (31%)went to one training event in Thailand, 42 (37%) went toone event outside of Thailand, and 36 (32%) attended mul-tiple events. Specific preferrance to Thailand as a trainingplace is learnt to have received special objection from the au-ditors, added the sources.The documents further revealed a typical favoritism case in

which Auditors want to know that why USAID-Pakistanspent $14,905 for one employee to attend two trainingevents in Washington, D.C., for 2 consecutive weeks. These

same classes, or similar ones, could have been takenin Pakistan or Thailand, observed the auditors

in their report submitted with the USAID-Pakistan.

OIG auditors have also raised objec-tion on the fact that although thedeputy mission director approved thetravel expenses, but without assign-ing any exceptional circumstancesand neither the same were docu-mented. More surprisingly, the reportsays that Pakistan mission did noteven conduct a cost benefit analysis

before allowing such luxury trips.In another example, a third-country

national (TCN) attended three non-manda-tory or core training events in Washington,

D.C. for 3 consecutive weeks, while according tomission policy, TCNs shall receive training only for manda-tory courses. Consequently, USAID-Pakistan spent $10,034on training that was not allowed under mission policy, re-vealed the report.

A Pakistan based senior oUcial of OIG was of the viewthat USAID-Pakistan did not fully comply with the policyfor approving international training events. Even the oUcedirectors were either unaware of the policy or did not un-derstand it and consequently, employees routinely were at-tending trainings held in various international destinations,and some of these incurred excessive costs, added the oUcial.

“The mission did not follow a standard approval process fortraining events, only 20 percent of the events had exceptionsdocumented” he maintained.According to Mission Order 400.2, USAID-Pakistan is

committed to ensure fairness, objectivity, and consistency inproviding training and promoting staV development, addingthat the training provided in-country or at the Asia RegionalTraining Center in Bangkok, Thailand, takes priority oversimilar courses provided in other locations.Any training taken outside the region should be allowed

only in exceptional circumstances and must be approved bythe deputy mission director. International training—includ-ing any in Bangkok—is limited normally to one per em-ployee during a fiscal year.Sources also revealed that 16 out of twenty employees, the

approval process of competent authority was not followed,while only four employees had proper justifications or ex-ceptions documented for attending training at interna-tional locations other than the Asia Regional TrainingCenter. Interestingly, mission currently has a standard approval

process, which requires approval from the deputy missiondirector through a memorandum. In three instances, ap-proval was requested via e-mail to the deputy mission di-rector and in one instance via a memorandum. However, 16out of 20 employees tested did not use this process for ap-provals.The Spokesman despite repeated attempts could not con-

tact the senior oUcial of USIAD-Pakistan for oUcial version.

Irregularities of USAID-Pakistan mission under scrutiny

So who is going tobe PPP’s ChiefMinister in Sindh.

That MuzaVar HussainTappi remains thefrontrunner for the slotshows that the party hasnot learnt its lessons.Asif zardari is hell

bent to have his adoptedbrother/front man/

confidante placed on the top job—damn thecourts that have cases of irregularities againsthim. He does not care the reaction in theestablishment or the general public that mightsee in Tappi yet another red flag. But theZardari logic goes that if he could become theMPA why not the chief minister. Also, Zardarihas some plan to revive the Sindh card and forwhich he needs somebody who would deliver.Party stalwarts may have a problem and, in

the changing times, may also resist the Fuhrer.Nisar Khoro has refused to become the Speakeragain, hinting that he would expect to be giventhis chance. Qaim Ali Shah remains hopeful tooand also in the race are Zardari confidantes,Siraj Durrani, Pir Mazharul Haq. A wild shotmay also be to get Fehmida Mirza elected on aprovincial seat to become the first woman ChiefMinister, if not the Leader of the Opposition.However, Tappi leads the race so far.Shahbaz Sharif has settled down for the

Punjab Chief Minister again. He toyed with theidea of becoming the Federal Minister brieflybut then preferred his old job again. This willdeny the Man from Chakri his chance tobecome the Chief Minister but the Americansinsist that either Chaudhary Nisar or KhawajaAsif will become the Foreign Minister. But inthe end Kh Asif is more likely to becomeWAPDA Minister and Chaudhary Nisar, hisfavourite job, the lucrative Petroleum Ministry.

Tappi as CM?

US Office of Inspector General

France praises bravePakistan voters ISLAMABAD: The Frenchgovernment on Monday hailed theholding of elections in Pakistan. Astatement forwarded by the Frenchembassy in Islamabad reads that"Those elections were characterisedby the strong and brave mobilisationof voters, women and men, who,despite the violence caused byextremist groups, freely chose toexpress the diversity of theiropinions." France has conveyed itsmost sincere condolences to thefamilies of the victims of this violence.The statement acknowledged the factthat an unprecedented number ofvoters demonstrated the commitmentof the Pakistani population to thedemocratic process. Improvementswere noted by the European UnionObservation Mission in theorganisation of the polls, whichallowed for an open competitionbetween political parties, it adds. TheFernch govermnet, along with itspartners from the European Union,has vowed to support this democraticprocess. "France wishes for the futuregovernment to be able to efficientlyfight against terrorism, progresstowards a prosperous economy andestablish the bases for sustainablestability in region," it reads. Withthose objectives in mind, France willlook forward to collaborating with thenew government, it ended. �STAFF

REPORT

Broken road resulting in more accidentsRAWALPINDI: Non›repair ofGawalmandi Chowk Road hasmultiplied road accidents because ofits excavation for laying waterpipeline 6 months ago but it has nowturned into death trap due to lack ofrepair work. There are a number ofschool girls standing alongside theroad and every day, dozens of girlsget injured while crossing the roadwhile some have been taken tohospitals. Under railway bridge, theentire road stands depleted as nosign is visible that any road wasexisting here ever before. Every dayis field day for accidents as scores ofmotor cyclists riders get injured dueto road accidents but the authoritiesseem least concerned to address thisproblem. Their attitude may lead tooccurrence of fatal road accident. �

ONLINE

Overcharging of waterconnection fee resentedRAWALPINDI: Overcharging ofwater connection fee has sparkedresentment among the residents ofDhok Gujran and allied areas. Thecommittee set up by the RawalpindiCantonment Board to collect fee fromthe applicants in the areas of DhokGujran and new localities chargedwater connection fee rangingbetween Rs 5300 to Rs 8000. Afterthe installation of connections, thereceipts were issued for Rs 2200and this way Rs 3000 to Rs 6000were overcharged for newconnection. Despite loot andplunder spree unleashed by thecommittee, water is not being

HYDERABAD: A gypsy boy raking in iron wire from burning tyres after a protest by Sindhyani Tahreek against alleged rigging

ALI SAJJAD SHAH

RAWALPINDI: The Board ofIntermediate and Secondary Educationhas fallen short of issuing roll›numberslips to many students prior toexaminations, which are just two daysaway while the helpless students areseeking help from the Punjab educationdepartment.Mujahid Alvi, a private student of FSc

told The Spokesman that it�s been fourmonths since he submitted hiscomplete admission form alongwith feefor FSc in maths, statistics andeconomics subjects. The annual examinations are just two

days away and he still not got hisprescribed roll number slip from theboard. �I visited the board several times in

past but very much disappointed withthe attitude of officials of Rawalpindiboard, my educational year would bewasted if I did not take part in theexam,� he complained.Rawalpindi Board of Intermediate and

Secondary Education Chairman DrMuhammad Ashraf when contacted toldspokesman that all roll number slipsand date sheets have been dispatchedto the candidates two weeks before theexaminations. The boys and girlsstudents who have not received rollnumber slips or they are having anycomplaint in this regard can contact theboard immediately, he added.Inspection teams have also been set upto ensure transparency in theexamination. I shall also visit thecenters to check the examinationprocess, he asserted.Annual examination of F.A/FSc under

the board will commence from May 15.The Board officials are claiming tocomplete all the preparations forholding examination.

Roll›numberslips not issuedas exam nears

ALI SAJJAD SHAH

ISLAMABAD: The PakistanMuslim League›Nawaz isdisturbed with the polling resultsof the twin cities, and is aiming toget back on by›election.In election 2013, Javed Hashmi

won with heavy margin againstAnjum Aqeel Khan in NA›48,Imran Khan won against HanifAbbasi in NA›56 and SheikhRasheed won against ShakeelAwan in NA›55 that annoyed topleadership of PML›N, sources said. The PML›N leadership formed a

committee comprising Raja ZafrulHaq and Zafar Iqbal Jhagara tomake a detailed factfindingsreport over the shameful defeatin Islamabad and Rawalpindi,which were considered

strongholds of PML›N, thesources added.Keeping in view the history of

twin cities, the PML›N has wonevery single seat in the Rawalpindisince 1990, except one in 2008. In history, the PML›N every time

won with massive margin. Thelowest margins were seen in 2008with 30 per cent, while the highestmargin is as large as 70 per cent.Last year, when Raja PervaizAshraf of the PPP won from NA›51,he only had a lead of 11 percent.Voter turnouts were equal to

Rawalpindi and Islamabadapproximately 61 percent. In therun›up to the elections, analystssaid that PTI won because of ahigher voter turnout. The PML›N candidates have

disappointed and shocked over

defeat and they are aiming to winback in bi›election, only if PTIChairman Imran Khan and PTIPresident Javed Hashmi decided tolet go their seats over their seatsfrom Mianwali and respectively.The results were similar on the

provincial assembly level that asignificant won of Ijaz Khan Jaziand Raja Rashid Hafeez won overZia Ullah Shah and Sardar Naseemof PML›N. The PML›N wasexpecting remarkable win and wasnot expecting such defeat from PTIbecause PTI candidates onprovincial seats were notconsidered stronger then PML›Ncandidates. However, despite claiming a high

number of seats, the PML›N facedmuch tougher competition.Analysts predicted that the anti›

incumbency factor might justweaken the PML›N in twin cities.The capital results were differentin NA›48 partially because ofdifferent demographics of voters.The PML›N managed to win both

its seats in 2008, but equally splitthem with the PPP in 2002.However, elections before 2002did indicate that the PML›N wasstronger in Islamabad.A highly reliable source of PML›

N reveals that party topleadership is very shocked overdefeat of their candidates in NA›48, NA›55 and NA›56 and fewleaders who are against Ch Nisar,are blaming him for choosing poorand corrupt candidates to contestthe elections. They are hoping towin back their seats if Javed Hashmiand Imran Khan surrendered their

Two results force PML›Nto form fact›finding team

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek›e›Insaf Central Information SecretaryDr Shireen Mazari on Mondayexpressed shock at the MQM leaderAltaf Hussain�s statement thatthreatening a break›up of Pakistan.She said as a leader of a political

party, Altaf Hussain’s remarkscontravene the constitution whichmakes it incumbent on all citizensnot to say or do anything thatthreatens the territorial integrity ofthe country.Dr Mazari added that for a politician

to demand the separation of a part ofPakistan and give a barely veiledthreat of violence is a clearcontravention of Article 5 of theconstitution that says �Loyalty to stateand obedience to constitution andlaw.�

Moreover, Altaf Hussain’sstatement is also in violation of thePakistan Penal Code Chapter VI,Section 123 A which tellsthat �Condemnation of Creation ofthe State and Advocacy ofAbolition of Sovereignty and Section124A Sedition.�Under these legal infractions, Dr

Mazari demanded that the SC needsto take immediate notice of AltafHussain’s dangerous statement. Ifthe SC does not do so, it isincumbent on the federal andprovincial governments to act. Sheexpressed amazement over thedangerous and distorted logic of theMQM leader who chose to respondto charges of massive rigging by hisparty with a threat of breakingKarachi away from Pakistan. In

conclusion, Dr Mazari also expressedconcern over the UK government

allowing its soil and its citizen tothreaten violence and the territorial

integrity of another sovereign state.This is against the basic norms of

PTI expresses shock over Altaf�s statement

ALI SAJJAD SHAH

RAWALPINDI: The growingillegal auto workshops haveposed traffic jams in theresidential areas of theCantonment markets. These workshops have become

a perpetual source of irritation forthe residents of the area due tonegligence of the officials. In Westridge Market, a string of

unlawfully operating workshopshas made the passageimpassable.

No lady or girl can passthrough this area, as they haveto be targeted by the derogatoryand abusive remarks of theworkers of these workshops. The entire vicinity of

Gawalmandi has turned intoworkshops and every street isseething with the workshopscausing embarrassment to theinmates particularly students andailing persons. The continuous noise of

workshops continues to disruptthe peace of mind but no action

has ever been taken by the boardagainst them. Interminable series of illegal

workshops functioning outsidethe Gawalmandi Girls College haspolluted the environmentparticularly on ethical front as thebattalions of loafers roamingaround these workshops andworking therein continue toresort to immoral acts of eveteasing. The citizens have demanded

immediate shifting of theseworkshops to industrial area

Auto workshops in Rawalpindiresidential areas irk dwellers

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz leaderKhwaja Saad Rafique Monday said that PakistanTehreek›e›Insaf Chairman Imran Khan shouldrefrain from provoking public sentiments.Speaking to media, he said that Imran Khan

should learn to face realities as masses expressedutmost confidence over PML›N through ballot.Refereeing the election results of his constituencyNA›125, he said that PTI scored 83,190 votes,which shows a great tilt of voters towards PTI.�PTI leadership should thank God for securingsuch heavy mandate of people,� he added.On the other hand, Saad himself scored 1,

23,094 votes and won the constituency. He

further disclosed that PML›N facing media trial bythe hands of PTI. The PTI leaders should give upjealousy and act like seasoned politicians. ThePML›N has won such mandate of masses afterfacing numerous hardships.He added that Imran Khan should learn to

congratulate winners against him, until now Khandidn�t forwarded congratulation message to theNawaz Sharif. He said that now the trend hasentirely changed, agitated politicians will commitpolitical suicide. Meanwhile, he expressed satisfaction over the

ECP and judiciary for their efforts to conduct freeand fair election. �ONLINE

Imran should refrain from provokingpublic sentiments, says Saad Rafique

DERAGHAZIKHAN: PTI activists protesting against alleged poll rigging in

KARACHI: The Muttahida Deeni Mahazon Monday protested over allegedrigging in May 11 general election inKarachi. A large number of MDM workersgathered early Monday morning andstaged sit›in at various places in Malir,Dawood Chowrangi, Sohrab Gotha andother areas, causing sever traffic jam.The Super Highway in the outskirts of

Karachi was also blocked by infuriatedprotestors who condemned vote›riggingin Karachi. Markets and businessactivities were also closed in the Malir,Sohrab Goth, Shahrah›e›Pakistan andother areas.On Sunday, thousands of workers and

supporters of Pakistan Tehreek›e›Insaftook to roads and mounted protest atDo›Talwar point of Clifton against therigging. The leaders and workers ofPakistan People�s Party, WahdatMuslimeen, Pakistan Muslim League›Functional and Jamaat›e›Islami alsojoined the protest.All the parties, on the occasion, were

in agreement that the ElectionCommission of Pakistan failed in its dutyto hold free and transparent generalelection of the year 2013. The party leaders said the Pakistan

Tehreek›e›Insaf will emerge as victoriousif re›elections are held in NA 250. �ONLINE

MDM protestagainst riggingjoined by many

RAWALPINDI: A man is carrying an ice block on his bicycle as an agedlabourer drags a heavily›loaded cart behind him. The twin cities received

KARACHI: Jamat›e›Islami leader Dr Mairajul Hudaurged the Chief of the Army Staff Ashfaq ParvezKayani and Chief Justice of Pakistan IftikharMohammad Chaudhry to take immediate notice ofMuttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain�sspeech to separate Karachi from rest of Pakistan.�I appeal to chief justice and chief of army staff

to strictly react to the Muttahida Qaumi Movementleader�s statement and his threats of fanning thepolitics of violence and his whole speech ingeneral,� said Jamat›e›Islami ameer. He saidthat Altaf�s oratory could have terriblydetrimental consequences, adding, if a catastrophebefell Karachi down the line only he alone would beto blame. �ONLINE

JI urges army, judiciary to take notice

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

OUR STAFF REPORTER

MMIIRRPPUURR:: The special players ofvarious games belonging to Mirpur-based Kashmir Institution of SpecialEducation (KISE) have returnedhome after securing victory, withdiOerent positions, in the specialgames held at the Federal RegionalOlympics in Islamabad, it wasoNcially declared.Talking to newsmen, KISE

Director Dr Amjad Ansari said thatthe group of eight special playerscomprising handicapped students

of his Institution participated inthe event securing distinctions inbadminton, table tennis,swimming, cycling and 50 and 100meter races.Ansari said that KISE’s Zohaib

Ishfaq attained overall third positionin badminton, Ghulam Kibria andEhtisham-ul-Haq clinched secondpositions in table tennis andswimming contests respectively,while Asadullah clinched topposition in cycling. Likewise, IzharAhmed and Ali Rasheed remainedsecond and third in 100 meter race

respectively, whereas Afshan andHamid Saeed secured secondposition in 50-meter race.The KISE squad was led by Sports

Teacher Nargis Iqbal and HajiAshiq Hussain in the regionalcompetition. Besides special playersfrom Mirpur and MuzaOarabadAJK, a total of 800 special playersfrom over 46 special educationalinsti6titions from diOerent parts ofRawalpindi-Islamabad regionparticipated in the Olympics.Meanwhile, a rousing reception

was accorded to the victorious

special players of KISE at ManglaBridge, the gate way of Kashmir, asthey returned home yesterday. Thetriumphant special players holdingtrophies and other prizes, weregarlanded by hundreds of peoplefrom all walks of life includingparents, special children andacademicians of the localinstitutions of special educationincluding KISE. A well-dressedcontingent of AJK police at ManglaBridge presented bouquets to thevictorious special players.Ansari said hat the triumphant

special players of his institutions willnow move for participating in theforthcoming National SpecialOlympics to be held in Islamabad foronward jumping in the InternationalSpecial Olympics to be played in LosAngeles, being the part of thePakistani fleet of special players. Hedeclared to ensure the continuedactive participation of the specialplayers in the forthcoming nationaland international Special Olympics,requisite mental and physicaltraining of the special players wouldbe started this month.

Mirpur shines in Special Olympics

FAUZEE KHAN MOHMAND

GGHHAALLAANN:: AIthousands of Jamaat-i-Islami(JI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehrik-e- Insaf (PTI)activists along with some Losingindependent candidates on Monday stageddemonstrations against alleged rigging onElection Day in NA-36 Mohmand AgencyTribal Area-1.Led by their respective leaders and losing

candidates of the above said constituency,they assembled in front of Political Agent(PA) oNce in the agency headquarterGhalanai where staged a protest. Theychanted slogans against those involved inthe poll rigging.The protesters were led by losing

candidates Muhammad Saeed Khan of JI,Malik Zar Khan Safi of PML-N, NisarMohmand, Asghar Khan, Iqrar Khan,Khanadan Khan, Amirullah Junaidi, ShahSawar Khan Mohmand and Malik IsrailSafi. They alleged that there was worst kindof rigging on Election Day in Mohmand.Angry protesters later blocked the

Peshawar-Bajaur Road, which createdhurdle in free flow of traNc. They staged asit-in on the road and chanted slogansagainst the unoNcial result. They allegedthat independent candidate Bilal Rehmanwon election through rigging. The JIcandidate was defeated by Bilal, accordingto unoNcial results.Addressing the angry protesters, JI

candidate Muhammad Saeed Khan, NisarMomand, Zar Khan Safi of PML-N and

others announced that they wouldboycotting the result and demanded a re-election. They said worst kind of rigging hadbeen done in his constituency. Thesecandidates alleged that the independentcandidate has won through bogus votes andrigging. They said bogus votes were cast inalmost every polling station.Independent candidate Nisar Momand

along with his supporters staged protestdemonstration against alleged poll rigging.Flanked by his supporters, he staged protestdemonstration in front of AssistantReturning ONcer’s oNce in Ekkaghoundand blocked the main Peshawar Bajaur roadfor four hours. “Ours 80 persons with threevehicles were disappeared through peacecommittees” told Nisar Momand. Hedemanded that arrested and disappearswere not released then they will stage atough protest against the administration.The protesters walked from Ekkaghound

to Ghalanai on foot for about 15 kilometresand chanting slogans against the electioncommission and administration. On theoccasion 20 losing candidates held ameeting and formed a committee to whichwill take of the issue with electioncommission of Pakistan.They alleged that results were changed in

the force of weapons and demanded of thePresident and Chief Election Commissionerto re-poll in Mohmand Agency.When contacted, the political

administration told that the candidatesshould follows the legal ways instead ofprotesting and blocking the road.

Polls in Mohmand

Protest heldagainst allegedrigging

AMJID ALI

SSWWAABBII:: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf(PTI) leaders and workers onMonday protested whiledemanding an immediaterecounting of the votes in PK-36(Swabi-VI) without any delay.The oNcial declared result

showed that Shiraz Khan ofPakistan Muslim League-Nawaz(PML-N) has won election fromthe PK-36, against Rangaiz Khanof PTI. Shiraz Khan received12,923 votes while Rangaizobtained 12,734 ballots. Therewas diOerent of 189 votes betweenthe ballots of the two candidates.Soon after the result, the PTI’s

candidate submitted anapplication for the recounting ofthe votes and he was told that therecounting was planned to beheld on Wednesday.Rangaiz, who was leading the

protest, told this correspondentthat they wanted nothing but only

the recounting of the votesimmediately. He alleged thatthere was a diOerence of about1,000 votes in the result preparedby them and the result they gotfrom the returning oNcer of theconstituency.“Nothing short of the

recounting is acceptable to us.This is our democratic right andit should be immediately orderedby the officer concerned,” hesaid. “The workers of the PTI areemotional but we are peacefulpeople and have been strived theissue with just recounting. If MrShiraz has really won, ok let hewon after the recounting and wewould accept the result withopen heart.”He feared that if the process

was delayed then it would go tothe election tribunal. It wouldbe a long process and they werein favour of an urgentsettlement and making thewhole scenario clear.

PPEESSHHAAWWAARR:: BBeeaattiinngg tthhee hheeaatt wwiitthh aa ddiipp iinn sswwiimmmmiinngg ppooooll.. –ONLINE

PTI for recountingin PK-36 Swabi

� JI, PML-N, PTI and independents call for re-polling

� O%cial result declares PML-N’s ShirazKhan as winner with 12,993 votes

KKUUCCHHIINNGG:: Some 121 journalists were killedin the line of duty, including 22 inCommonwealth countries, where a deepeninginternal conflict in Pakistan claimed 10 liveslast year, according to the CommonwealthJournalists Association (CJA).It said another five journalists died

needlessly in India, three in Bangladesh,two in Nigeria and one each in Tanzaniaand Uganda while already this year thedeath toll for journalists was in doublefigures. "The Commonwealth JournalistsAssociation stands united with ourcolleagues around the globe who workaround the clock to bring us the news,despite threats of imprisonment, violenceand even death," it said in a statement."We remember their contribution, as we

do those who fell before them. Our deadand imprisoned colleagues did not go intojournalism to be torchbearers forfreedom, but they are no less heroes" saidthe statement.Last December, the 54 member states of

the Commonwealth adopted an historicdocument: a Charter of theCommonwealth and in assenting to this'bill of core beliefs', each government

committed to uphold "peaceful, opendialogue and the free flow of information,including through a free and responsiblemedia," it said."The CJA expects nothing less than

unswerving attention to thisproclamation. Governments mustremember that a free media is acornerstone of democratic society andmust not be criminalised in the name ofnational security, the necessary fightagainst terrorism or the self-interests ofindividuals," it said, adding that yet therewas much to fear from governments usingthe letter of the law or violence to inducea suffocating effect on freedom.The CJA is a voluntary professional

association offering training and moralsupport to journalists in Commonwealthcountries where the media lacksresources, comes under pressure fromgovernments and commercial interests orsuffer threats of violence. It operates onbehalf of working journalists throughoutthe Commonwealth, comprising of 54countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean,Europe, North and South America andthe Pacific. –ONLINE

Zardari ruined PPP'sheritage: Khawaja AsifSSIIAALLKKOOTT:: PML-N prominent leaderKhawaja Muhammad Asif said thatAsif Ali Zardari has ruined the PPP’spolitical heritage. Talking to a privatenews channel on Monday, KhawajaMuhammad Asif said that Asif AliZardari is the main convicted of thePPP. He devastated the politicalheritage of the party within four orfive years whose founding fatherssacrificed their lives for the sake ofparty. Khawaja Asif has won his seatsfrom Sialkot NA 110 and PP 123. Hehad a desire to become next chiefprime minister of Punjab but he wasof the view that he was bound tofollow the party leadership, addingthat Shahbaz Sharif is suitableperson for next chief minister inPunjab. –ONLINE

FC convoy attacked inTurbat; 3 personnel hurtTTUURRBBAATT:: A Frontier Constabulary(FC) convoy was attacked in Turbat,three personnel wounded in ambush,oNcials said on Monday. According toFC oNcials, convoy of FrontierConstabulary was heading to Turbatafter performing their election dutieswhen it came under attack nearDokoop area of Turbat district. At leastthree FC personnel were woundedMonday attacks who were immediatelyshifted to hospital in Turbat, oNcialsadded. Security forces also rushed tothe scene and cordon oO area howeverunknown attackers managed to flee,sources said. –ONLINE

Powerful bombdefused in BannuBBAANNNNUU:: A powerful bomb wasdefused by security forces in theBannu district, oNcials said onMonday. According to local police, abomb planted on roadside atShehbaz Azmat Khel area of Bannuwas detected by security. BombDisposal Squad (BDS) wasimmediately called which rushed tothe scene and defused powerfulbomb. BDS oNcials said the weightof bomb was about 45 kilogrammesand a huge destruction was foiled bydefusing this bomb. Bannu, atroubled district of terrorism-hitprovince of Khyber Pakhtunkhwahas been witnessing the worst terroractivates where hundreds of peoplehave lost their lives. –ONLINE

Woman drinks acidover domestic disputeRRAAWWAALLPPIINNDDII:: Following adomestic dispute, woman drankacid in the vicinity of Airport policestation here on Monday. Police saidthat Hazrat Gul, husband of theaffected Rubina, said that his wifedrunk acid after a dispute eruptedbetween them. The womansurvived after getting quick medicalaid. It was a suicide attempt, policeadded. Police registered case andstarted investigation of theincident. –ONLINE

Shahbaz deniesrigging allegationsLLAAHHOORREE:: Former Punjab chiefminister Shahbaz Sharif hasappealed to the masses to set asidepolitical differences and work forthe prosperity of Pakistan. Talkingto media here on Monday, he deniedrigging allegations in Punjab, andurged upon rivals to restrain fromleveling allegations. Shahbaz Sharifsaid millions of Pakistanis couldnever be ignored therefore; themasses should extend assistance toPML N for the betterment of thecountry. –ONLINE

PTI worker gunneddown in PakpattanPPAAKKPPAATTAANN:: A worker of Pakistan Tehrik Insaf (PTI) wasgunned down by rival group while one girl sustained injurieshere on Monday. According to Media reports, PTI workerMuhammad Yousaf had minor dispute with his rival group.Suddenly, Haji Khuda Baksh along with 16 arms assailantscame into Chak 52 EB and opened unprovoked firingresultantly he died on the spot and nine-year-old girlnamely Mehwish sustained severe injuries. Upon receivinginformation, Police reached on the site and shifted the deadbody and injured girl to hospital. After completing medicolegal formalities the dead body was handed over to his heirs.Police have registered the case and started search forcriminals. –ONLINE

‘10 journalists killedin Pakistan last year’

((LL)) SSiinnddhhyyaannii TTeehhrriikk aaccttiivviissttss pprrootteesstt aaggaaiinnsstt aalllleeggeedd rriiggggiinngg iinn ggeenneerraall eelleeccttiioonnss iinn HHyyddeerraabbaadd.. ((CC)) PPeeooppllee ccoonnggrraattuullaattiinngg NNaawwaabbzzaaddaa MMiirr CChhaanngghheezz KKhhaann MMaarrrrii oonn hhiiss vviiccttoorryy iinn KKoohhlluu.. ((RR)) PPeesshhaawwaarr--BBaajjaauurr RRooaadd iiss bblloocckkeedd bbyypprrootteesstteerrss oovveerr aalllleeggeedd mmaanniippuullaatteedd rreessuullttss.. –ONLINE PHOTOS

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: CaretakerMinister for Informationand Broadcasting ArifNizami has said that thenewly elected governmentwill be formed within nextcouple of days.In a news conference on

Monday, he said thataccording to the constitutionthe National Assembly sessionwould be summoned within21 days after the elections.Therefore, the NationalAssembly session could becalled any time, he added.The information minister

said that the caretakergovernment fulfilled itspromise of holding free, fairand transparent elections inthe country, as it had theresolved of doing so.However it was not possiblewithout the support by thelaw enforcement agencies.He said the credit of

conducting free, fair andpeaceful elections in thecountry goes to the electioncommission and the caretakergovernment. The ministerstated that the non-statedactors were trying to sabotagethe polling process but thecaretaker government,Election Commission and lawenforcement agenciessucceeded to ensure peacefulelections in the country. Hesaid that the PTI, MQM andother parties alleged riggingin the elections, however,now it is up to the newlyelected government thatwhat steps it is going to takein this regard. To a questionNizami said that thecaretaker governmentwould review the EuropeanUnion electoral mission’sproposal if it presents itbefore the caretakergovernment. –ONLINE

New govtin couple ofdays: Nizami

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

THE SPOKESMANChief Editor: Huma Ali

Executive Editor: Atif MateenResident Editor: Saeed Minhas

Consulting Editors: Jalees Hazir Samina Choonara

Salvaging public education

Is it possible to rationalise the systemof recruitment in governmenteducational institutions of Pakistan?This is a pertinent question that mustbe answered for improvement inpublic education. The prevalentsystem of recruitment in publicsector institutions is the Basic PayScale (BPS) system, which is losingits popularity in the world. It isbecause the recruitment ofemployees on the Basic Pay Scaledoes not serve the nation. Onceemployed, the employees becomepart of the State and they cannot beremoved easily despite incompetenceand dereliction of duty. The BPSsystem does not ensure productivityand creativity. The deterioration inour national educational institutionsis due to this system.The decline of standards can be seenin nationalised institutions that oncebelonged to non-governmentalorganizations or internationalmanagements or sponsors. Forexample, the F.C. College, Lahore,Islamia College, Peshawar, Himayet-e-IslamCollege, Lahore andmanyothers, were nationalised and the BPSsystem of induction was introduced inthese institutions. Resultantly, theseinstitutions becamemore bureaucratic.This system also serves as a tool ofpatronage and State resources aredistributed among favoured persons.The BPS system is a kind of socialsecurity without any check andbalance. In this system, the immediateboss is all in all. “The boss is alwaysright” is the only logic that prevails.Performance, education, intellect, hardwork and the opinion of thepeople/students/ colleagues have norole in this system.People prefer government jobs evenin lower scales on BPS basis. This hassignificantly contributed to thebackwardness of the country. Teacherswho are incompetent, and thereforeafraid of losing their jobs, find the BPSsystem themost attractive. Those whoare not creative or hardworking find alifelong refuge in it. This approach hasaWected all public sector departmentsin general and the education system inparticular. Education has not been apriority of governments in Pakistansince 1947. The State apparatuses donot bother to prioritise it and,therefore, incompetent teachers are

inducted in the department ofeducation on political basis violatingthe principle ofmerit. These politicalappointments further paralyse thealready limping education system.During the denationalisation processof the F. C. College, the removal of BPSemployees was necessary tomake thecollege a productive institution but itwas impossible to fire them.Eventually, a new college had to beestablished so that the BPS teacherscould be transferred to it andaccommodated. The BPS employmentis attractive for teachers because theirremoval under the system is a complexprocess.Whether they work or not,their Annual Confidential Report(ACR) is considered to be the onlybasis for further promotion.In the BPS system of induction,

promotion and reward are based onthe ACR, which is a leftover of theBritish colonial system andwas usedfor intelligence gathering. The ACRremains, to this day, amajor tool forevaluating the performance of anemployee and, to get promoted, theonly requirement is to please theimmediate boss. Therefore, theemployee cannot resist and refuse hisimmediate boss. Hewillingly performswhatever he is asked to do. After all, hehas to get a good ACR.Though the promotion is supposedto bemade on the basis of seniorityand fitness, but in fact, just seniority isconsidered instead of prioritisingeducational qualification or othercompetencies. In thismechanism, theemployees develop a supine attitude toplease their bosses and the idea ofserving their institution becomessecondary. The immediate bossmaywork for the employees as a promoteror a blocker. In the educationalinstitutions of Pakistan, favoritism andnepotism prevail. An employee whoworks for the pleasure of the boss isautomatically considered a competent

individual. The bosses use the ACRs asa threat and a tool formaking thejuniors do proxy work. Thus, the oVceof the boss works as papacy.If the induction of the peoplecontinues on political basis and theseteachers keep teaching our futuregenerations using traditionalmethods/techniques of teaching, wewill remain an educationallyincompetent nation.We are stillunable to provide a competentteaching force. Our populace does notlack in capabilities, the authoritiesthemselves deprive competent personsof promotion in order to save theirincompetent colleagues. The decayingsystem of reward and promotionpersists. An overhauling of this systemhas become imperative.Merit and qualifications, ideally

speaking, should be the only criteria forinducting people but to seekmerit inthe public education sector is treated asa utopian idea.The quota system is anothermajorproblem in the process of recruitment.The qualification or competence of acandidate is not given importance butprovincial/regional quota is observedstrictly. The Pakistani educationsystem lurks behind only because ofthe disregard formerit and the lack ofa proper evaluation andmonitoringsystem. Education is the only key for areal and positive change. Recruitmentson political basis in educationalinstitutions have to be avoided if anyimprovement is desired.Another burning issue in oureducational sector is the absence ofcompetentmanagers andadministrators. Administrators haveno professional qualification in thefield and themost senior teachers arepromoted to administrative positions.It is ironical that teachers serving injunior positions holdM. Phil’s andPhDswhile the heads of theinstitutions holdM.A orM. Sc degrees.

Their only qualification is theirexperience of a few years. There is aneed for framing a system ofpromotion based on qualification. Thepromotion on seniority basis is makingthe teachers sluggish. They do notthink of enhancing their qualification.They do not bother even to read andprepare their lectures as they are usedto teaching from handbooks and keybooks. Qualifying tests for teacherswho have the requisite qualification forpromotion are also required.An earnest and sincere eWort torevolutionise the education sector wasthe setting up of theHigher EducationCommission 2002. Its sole purposewas to assure quality in highereducation and to upgrade the status ofthe universities. Since then, the HEChas played a positive role and madethe universities attractive workplacesfor people by introducing TenureTrack System of induction in theuniversities. It attracted competentworkforce in the universities becauseof the value it attached to researchand publication. Competent teachersjoined higher educational institutionsin the public sector through theTenure Track System (TTS). Theirinduction created a culture ofresearch in public institutions thatwasmissing in the past.The BPS system should be phasedout at the college and university level.The TTS is the best working system atthemoment and that is because of theconstant oversight and fine-tuningundertaken by theHEC. Through theTTS, a research culture could bepromoted in educational institutions.The students of colleges are not awareof research and its importance. Byestablishing a culture of research in oureducational institutions, theincompetence introduced by the BPScan be addressed in an eWective way.No one will be able to abuse thissystem of induction. It can bringremarkable changes in the quality ofeducation in Pakistan.Only research can push the countryahead, andwemust take up thisproject seriously and earnestly,bringing an end to political inductionsand reinstatements and regularisationthrough sub-committees without anytests and interviews.Theempowerment of theHEC is also vital,if we want to empower students.

THE WRITER IS AN M. PHILSTUDENT AT IIUI

Block 11, G-6/1, Aabpara, IslamabadTelephone: 051 260 7153-4

Fax: 051 260 7498www.thespokesman.pkce@thespokesman.pk

The promotion on seniority basisis making the teachers sluggish.They do not think of enhancingtheir qualification. They do notbother even to read and preparetheir lectures

Memories of 2013 electionThe nation participated in generalelections for the 11th time on 11 May.According to the ElectionCommission of Pakistan, the voters’turn out was 60%, which is thehighest after the 1970 elections’recorded 58.9%. It is pertinent tonote here that the voters’ turn out hasbeen lean after the 1970 elections.The lowest was 36% in the 1993 and1997 elections. Whereas the turn out

was 3% higher at 44% in 2008elections as compared to the electionsof 2002 that recorded a turn out of41%.However, many factors played animportant role in making this turnout possible in the country. Primarilywhat was visible to every eye was theyouth factor. What I am stating is onthe basis of my observation duringthe last three months.Travelling in the oVce bus I use tocommute from home to the work andthen vice versa, I didn’t remember asingle day in my travel when myyoung colleagues were ever quiet anddidn’t discuss the election day andthe election-related activities likecorner meetings, public processionsor a gathering at someone’s home. Iwas mostly astonished at the waythey would share this informationand asked one another to pass it onso that no one could miss a singleevent.I would never forget the roads’

closure from Islamabad to MurreeRoad in Rawalpindi, especially theRehmanabad area, where the oVcesof PTI & PML (N) were opposite toeach other. As soon as our busreached this stop, I remember theinfuriating and amusing exchange ofremarks between the supporters ofthe two parties in the bus. The vigorof the elections did not wane until theElection Day.Aside from this experience, I couldsee the election fervor in mohallahs,streets and roads of Rawalpindi;young children hoisting their favoriteparty flags, wearing the party badgesand raising slogans, passing by onfoot or on bikes. It gave a verypositive message that the youth wasgoing to exercise their right of votethis time.The aroma of change in this aspectis a vivid sign of the country’sprogress where the young populationis aware of its strength to changethings. My experience of seeing the

enthusiasm just concluded thismorning, when I saw a two-year oldboy holding the flag of a party. Ofcourse, he didn’t know what the flagstood for but he brimmed with thespirit of what surrounded him.

LUBNA THOMAS BENJAMINISLAMABAD

Will the tigerchange its spots?

Somehow, the victory of the PML-Nin the elections does not inspireconfidence in me. The party that isbeing touted by media pundits asthe remedy of our problems hasquite a few problems of its own.Already it has shown its colours byrigging elections in variousconstituencies of Punjab. Besides,their recently ended tenure inPunjab does not give me any hope.The media commentators keep

harping on the theme that NawazSharif is now a mature politicianwho will not repeat his pastmistakes. While it is good to beoptimistic, there is a very thin linebetween optimism and a fool’sparadise. I don’t see how theseexperts have come to thisconclusion when there is nothingabout the PML-N leadership thatindicates such maturity.The Sharif family has become thenew dynasty in our dynasty-riddenpolitical landscape. HamzaShahbaz and Mariam Nawaz aretreated as royalty without havingaccomplished anything for theirparty. It is a sorry sight to see evensenior leadership of the partytreating them with the samedeference and servility that theyexhibit when in the company oftheir fathers.And we thought the PPP had aproblem on this count.Coming from Lahore, I am also

concerned about the distortedsense of development that informsthe Sharif brothers. In their recentstints they spent billions of rupeeson a handful of fancy schemeswhile ignoring the pressingdevelopment needs of the city thatis the apple of their eye. ThoughLahore has been flashed across thecountry as a model of developmentunder the Sharif brothers, the cityis actually a victim of visionlessdevelopment that offers no benefitsfor the large majority of itsresidents.If this is the kind of developmentthat they’d like to undertake in therest of the country, then it is badnews for all of us.

KHALID JAVEDLAHORE

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

The MQM chief has done it again. Hurling threats from Londonat the demonstrators in Karachi out to protest the blatant riggingof elections in their constituency, Altaf Hussain said that he couldunleash his party workers on the protesters who’d cut them intopieces. He exhorted the establishment to separate Karachi andHyderabad from the country and warned: ‘If you don’t stopplaying with fire, it would burn down all of Pakistan’. Using thecharacteristic MQM tactic, he said he could not contain his angryfollowers for long and soon he would let them act “freely”, and acall to that eWect would be issued by him. Yet the MQM claims tobe a non-violent democratic party that believes in Pakistan. Thereis nothing democratic about these naked threats of violence and aviolent secession, and Altaf Hussain’s speech should beunequivocally condemned.The self-exiled MQM chief who has lorded over his party fromLondon for over twenty years now, has a habit of makingincendiary speeches; inviting patriotic generals to take over,ridiculing the Supreme Court, ordering the shutting down ofPakistan’s commercial hub from distant shores, warning ofbloodshed on the streets of Karachi, and what not. He utters suchextreme remarks whenever his party’s stake in the power pie isthreatened. What he has termed as his party’s “mandate” is moreof a stranglehold that the MQMwould like to retain throughcoercion and any other means. Democratic processes are blastedas attempts to steal that “mandate”; the Supreme Court orderedvoters’ verification and delimitation of constituencies in Karachiwere resisted and now the recent peaceful protest for fairness inpolls is being threatened with bloodshed.Unfortunately, the mainstream media, that does not think twicebefore crossing its limits to criticise everything under the sunfrom the judiciary and the military to the political leadership of allhues, has been rather deferential to the MQM and its chiefdespite their shenanigans. Media persons and organisationsfrankly admit in private that they are scared of a violentretaliation. This politics based on fear and violence regularlyarticulated by the MQM chief from London is a mockery ofdemocracy and all that it stands for.Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has said that his partywill soon issue a white paper on rigging in the 2013 elections.He said there were complaints of rigging from different parts ofthe country and the party was collecting evidence, which wouldbe presented to the Election Commission of Pakistan, and if thecommission failed to take appropriate action, the party wouldtake the matter to the Supreme Court. The PTI voters fromsome constituencies have started a peaceful protest againstvarious forms of rigging witnessed, and recorded on film, intheir areas and are asking for re-polling. Other parties,including the PPP, BNP-M and JI, have also complained ofrigging. Peaceful protest is a democratic right and the ElectionCommission should take immediate steps to address thecomplaints of the disgruntled voters to restore the credibility ofthe electoral process. Rather than hurling threats and usingunderhand tactics to scare those protesting, all parties in thedemocratic race must cooperate with the Election Commissionto remove the ugly stains on an otherwise smooth election.

Altaf ’s naked threats

All you need to know about Julian Assange’svalue as a crusading journalist is that TheNewYork Times andmost of the world’s otherleading newspapers have led daily withimportant news stories based on hisWikiLeaksreleases. All you need to know about thecollapse of traditional support for theconstitutional protection of a free press is thatDianne Feinstein, the centrist Democrat whochairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, hascalled for Assange ‘to be vigorously prosecutedfor espionage’.Writing in TheWall Street Journal, Feinstein,who strongly supported the invasions of Iraqand Afghanistan, has the audacity to call for theimprisonment of themanwho,more than anyother individual, has allowed the public to learnthe truth about those disastrous imperialadventures - facts long known to Feinstein ashead of the Intelligence Committee but nevershared with the public she claims to represent.Feinstein represents precisely the governmentthat Thomas JeWerson had inmindwhen hesaid, in defense of unfettered freedom of thepress, ‘[W]ere it left tome to decide whether weshould have a government without newspapersor newspapers without a government, I should

not hesitate amoment to prefer the latter’.In the 1787 letter in which he wrote thosewords, JeWersonwas reflecting the deepwisdomof a political leader who often had beenexcoriated by a vicious press that wouldmakethe anarchist-inflected comments of an Assangeseemmild in comparison.More than 35 yearslater, after having suWeredmanymore vitriolicpress attacks, JeWerson reiterated his belief in afree press, in all its vagaries, as the foundation ofa democracy. In an 1823 letter to Lafayette,JeWersonwarned: ‘The only security of all is in afree press. The force of public opinion cannot beresisted when permitted to be freely expressed.The agitation it producesmust be submitted to.It is necessary, to keep the waters pure’.It is precisely that agitation that so alarmsFeinstein, for the inconvenient truths she hasconcealed in her Senate role would have indeedshockedmany of those who voted for her. Sheknew in real time that Iraq had nothing to dowith the 9/11 attack, yet she voted to send youngAmericans to kill and be killed based onwhatshe knew to be lies. It is her duplicity, along withthe leaders of both political parties, that now

stands exposed by theWikiLeaks documents.That is whyUS governmental leaders will nowemploy themassive power of the state todiscredit and destroy Assange, who dared let thepublic in on the depths of oVcial deceit - adeceit that they hide behind inmaking theirclaims of protecting national security. Claimsmocked by released cables that show that ourpuppets in Iraq and Afghanistan are deeplycorrupt and anti-democratic, and that al-Qaidacontinues to find its base of support not in thosecountries but rather in Saudi Arabia, Kuwaitand theUnited Arab Emirates, the very nationswe arm and protect. The notion that the oVcialtissue of lies enhances our security is rejected bythe growing strength of radical Islam in theregion, as evidenced by the success of Iran, themain beneficiary of our invasion of Iraq, as theleaked cablesmake clear.The pretend patriots who use the nationalsecurity argument to gut what remains of ourmost important security asset - ourconstitutional guarantees of a truly free press -are just what President GeorgeWashingtonfeared when in his farewell address he warned

‘against themischiefs of foreign intrigue, toguard against the Impostures of pretendedpatriotism’.The pretended patriotism of Feinstein, thefirst Democrat to co-sponsor the bill extendingtheUS Patriot Act, represents the death of theDemocratic Party as a protector of ourfreedoms. As a California resident, I will notvote for her again, nomatter how dastardly aright-wing Republican opponent shemightface. There is no lesser evil to be found in onewhowould so cavalierly imprison practitionersof a free press.That is the issue here, pure and simple. It isunconscionable to target Assange for publishingdocuments on the Internet thatmainstreammedia outlets have attested had legitimate newsvalue. As in the historic case in whichDanielEllsberg gave TheNewYork Times thePentagon Papers exposé of the oVcial liesjustifying the VietnamWar, Assange is acting asthe reporter here, and thus his activitiesmust beshielded by the First Amendment’s guarantee ofjournalistic freedom.Actually Ellsberg’s position, asmorally strong

as it was, was weaker than that of Assange, inthat the formerMarine and top Pentagonadviser was working at the government-fundedRand Corp., where he had agreed to rules aboutthe handling of classified information, includingthe Pentagon Papers. Assange operates underno such restraints and is an even clearerexample of the journalist who ferrets out newsand attempts to report it. He had no specialclearance that provided him access, andwhat hedid was no diWerent fromwhat the editors ofTheNewYork Times did in publishing newsthat was fit to print.It is outrageous for any journalist, or respecterof what every American president has claimed isour inalienable, God-given right to a free press,not to join in Assange’s defense on this issue, asdistinct fromwhat increasingly appear to betrumped-up charges that led to his voluntaryarrest on Tuesday in London in a case involvinghis personal behavior. Abandon Assange andyou abandon the bedrock of our republic: thepublic’s right to know.

(TRUTHDIG.COM)

Julian Assange and the pretend patriots

Merit and qualification, ideally speaking, should be the only criteria forinducting people but to seek merit in the public education sector is treated as autopian idea. A critique of the Basic Pay Scale system

ROBERT SCHEER It is outrageous for any journalist, or respecter of what every American president has claimed is ourinalienable, God-given right to a free press, not to join in Julian Assange’s defense

SHAUKET ALI

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

We live under the shadow of agigantic questionmark, “Whywe arehere?Who are we?Where dowecome from?Andwhither are webound?” These are big, still largelyunresolved questions which havehaunted humankind since the verybeginning. After evolutionary processofmillions of years whenmanemerged on the horizon, he began toponder over the riddle of his ownexistence. This self-consciousness andawareness of being tossed by somestrange inexplicable causes amidstnatural phenomenon set the humanmind to oWer explanations andreasons.Myths, legends and variouscreation stories were humanity’searlier attempt to grapple with thequestion of origin ofman and ofeverything else. Bymeans of rationalinquiry philosophers and scientistscame to a diWerent set of replies.These two parallel conflictingnarratives have ever since been lockedin amortal combat. The debate stillrages on. It was the philosophers whofired the first shots. Philosophychallengedmany religiousassumptions and beliefs; it was thereasonwhy Anaxagoras, a pre-Socratic philosopher was accused ofimpiety. Socrates drank hemlock,Giordano Brunowas burnt at thestake, Spinoza was excommunicatedand David Hume was denied anacademic post at the University ofEdinburgh. Close on the heels ofphilosophy came science,questioning and contradicting alltraditional views about man and hisplace in the universe.Perhaps the notion of the end timefastened its hold on humanmind as itsaw in nature the cycle of birth anddeath; all living organisms, allgenerative processes finally ending upin decay and degeneration. Hence, ifthings decayed and declined at asmaller scale in nature, then the sameprocess could happen on a bigger,grander scale. Some cataclysmicevents of amassive proportion in farfuture would put an end to humanlife, to earth andmost importantly tothe entire cosmos.This is how by gradual progression,these basic ideas about the beginningand the endwould have beenincorporated and integrated innumerousmyths and religions.Religious beliefs make the universeethnocentric; the entire universe isthought to have been created forman.By the same argument at theapproach of end time the whole ofuniversemust perish along withhuman beings. Science alsospeculates of a timewhen the entireuniverse will die and bounce backafter reaching itsmaximumexpansion. By a strange coincidencereligions and science both agree thatthe end of everything will occur,though both diWer radically on theprocess.Modern physics provides acomprehensive account of howeverything began in a Big Bang andhow the galaxies and later our solarsystemwere born. Biologists claim

that about 3,800million years agothere emerged simple cells on planetearth, around 600million years agosimple animals appeared, 2.5millionyears ago earth saw the appearance ofgenusHomo, and 200,000 years agohumans emerged. Humanity saw thebirth of first civilisations on landbetween two rivers, the Tigris and theEuphrates and since thenworld spiritunfolded itself in the rise and fall ofempires and civilisations across theglobe.We now stand at the dawn of21st century. It is just the start of ourlong journey into the future. The last10,000 years of human history, whenseen in the backdrop of billions ofyears of our solar system and theoverall age of the universe, appear thebriefest.What lies in store for us infuture, after a thousand, 10,000 orafter amillion years?We need only tobroaden ourmental horizons andstretch our imagination to itsultimate limits to figure out whatawaits us in far oW future.Is all human endeavor tomeet thesame fate as that of the Greekmythological figure Sisyphus, whowas condemned to repeat forever thesame task of pushing a boulder up amountain only to see it roll downagain? This question takes addedsignificance because despite greatachievements of human intellect anatural catastrophe of unimaginableproportions in far oW future is goingto annihilateman and hisachievements.About one billion years from nowthe sun will begin to expand andheat up, it will become brighter andwarmer and its increased radiationwill have a devastating eWect on lifeon planet earth. The earth’s oceanswill evaporate and the earth willturn into a dead, desert planet. Thesun will then pass through phases ofslow death. In the next 4.5 billionyears after exhausting all itshydrogen it will turn into a redgiant. Planets around the sun will beswallowed by it while others will bethrown into interstellar space. Inanother billion years, the sun willturn into a white dwarf. This will bethe end of our solar system. Nothinglasts forever and human life onplanet earth is also no exception tothis rule. If annihilation ispreordained why are humansconstantly working for survival?Our solar systemwas born 4.5billion years ago and billion yearsfrom now it will meet its death. Weare the product of this solar systemand our destiny is bound with itsfate. Are wematerial beings, purelymaterial in essence, formed out ofthe material which composed oursolar system? Or is the entireuniverse created and fined tuned byGod so that we could emerge on thiscosmic habitat?Andmost importantly what liesbehindmankind’s journey into theunknown future? Is the beginningand end governed by someoverarching divine purpose or is itaimless? The only answer to thesequestions is:We don’t know.

THE WRITER IS A FREELANCER

If global resistance is not on the horizon thatdoes not mean that struggle must turninwards. Precisely the opposite is necessary,which is to say that national and regionalstruggles must be alert to the ideologicalimportance of internationalism, while alsoforging genuine institutional platforms thatmight support it.These must be crafted, and as ourmovements do so through the building ofregional and national power, they mustincubate an internationalism that is notutopian, but real. – The Poorer NationsVijay Prashad has carefully woven a deeplyhistorical and theoretical work in his latestbook, The Poorer Nations, which examineshow the Global South utilised the UN and itsvarious institutions to overcome over 500 yearsof conquest and destruction. Prasad hasfocused on this topic and according to onecommentator, ‘Vijay Prasad is fast becomingthe historian of the Global South’. Hedeveloped this book by studying broadly,drawing from seminal historical work andcontemporary theorists and literature;interviewedmany people; and carefullyreading through archival materials so he canunderstand the historical and contemporaryissues facing the Global South. As you read thebook, you can clearly see an activist mind atwork that is constantly asking deeper, moreprofound questions, and sharpening atheoretical perspective because our movements‘must incubate an internationalism that is notutopian, but real’.This book is for ‘scholars, of course, but alsofor people who work in the UNworld - peoplewho work in the international institutions andguide to activists, politicians and grassrootsorganisations on what the global south hasachieved since 1974, and today’. It builds upon

his 2007 book, The Darker Nations, andcompletes telling the history of thecontemporary world from a Southernstandpoint. His book challenges most currentliterature because current literature ‘masks theNorthern perspective and interests of much ofthis history-writing’.Prashad develops his argument, analysis anda theoretical framework in four chapters. Inchapter one he analyses the developmentagenda of the ThirdWorld Project, and how itworked to challenge the global north and tocreate programs and strategies to counter theimpact of colonialism. However, the globalSouth’s work was eventually defeated by whatPrashad calls the New International PropertyOrder put forward by the G7 by new traderegimes negotiated in the 1980s.This chapter also assesses howWilly Brandt,former chancellor of West Germany, assembleda commission of experts to study the wideninginequality between the world’s rich and poorand between the world’s richest states and itspoorest. This Commission came at a criticaltime, however, Northern liberalism iseventually defeated, and the Global North thenbegins instituting neoliberalism.The second chapter documents how a groupof political intellectuals formed the SouthCommission to create an alternative toneoliberalism. Prashad also discusses thecritical and pivotal role of Julius Nyerere(whom he calls the stubborn nail) in craftingnew concepts and strategies. Nyerere and otherGlobal South intellectuals developed analternative, which ultimately failed, andsubsequently the global north imposed a NewInternational Property Order. This led to thedebt crisis of the 1980s.

A critical component of this strategy was thatelites of the global South began to focus itspotential on the economic growth of its“locomotives,” notably the demographically largecountries of China, India, Brazil, and SouthAfrica - with the idea that these locomotives,through the concept of South-Southcooperation, would pull along the rest of theSouth.’ This led to a series of developments suchas the IBSADialogue (India, Brazil, and SouthAfrica) in 2003 to the BRICS bloc (Brazil,Russia, India, China and South Africa) in 2009.Prashad utilises the South Commission archives(he is the first to use these archives) tounderstand and to tell this story.This chapter provides the background forchapter three, which is an analysis of the ‘Southfrom above” Prashad notes that BRICS is notrevolutionary, but that it is the first formationin thirty years to challenge the global North.He believes that BRICS opens some space, andthat “it is in this gap between neoliberal policyand imperial power that an opportunitypresents itself for the bloc of the South’.However, Prashad concludes that theBRICS’s project is ‘limited by its owncommitments to Neoliberalism with SouthernCharacteristics’. One of the things that Prasaddoes is draw from seminal work such asFanon’s “The Pitfalls of NationalConsciounsess” conceptual understanding sohe clearly understands the limits andweaknesses of BRICS. Prashad believes that‘Neoliberalism had a polycentric revival - in theG7, of course; but so too in the capitals of thePacific Rim and in the emergent “locomotivesof the South’. He then discusses how the globalnorth reacted to the non-alignedmovementand created neoliberal policies to both contain

the global south.The last chapter evaluates the potential inthe South from below, and examines theWorldSocial Forum and its debates; the Bolivarianexperiments, the potential of slums, and thelimitations of internationalism in the face of agrowing regionalism andmulti-polarity.Prashad’s is assessment continues a debate andan evaluation of internationalism.This is an important book for a number ofreasons. One is its theoretical contribution.Prashad takes the history of the global southand interprets it so that we can gain a vantagepoint and understand the processes that haveshaped this period, neoliberalism, and activelyengages the studies and literature onneoliberalism. For example, ‘FromDavidHarvey’s useful primer, we get the impressionthat neoliberalism was experimented withduring the New York municipal crisis, andthen, via the IMF and its eleves, exported tothe rest of the planet. This is not the full story.What Harvey does not relate is the necessarydemise of the ThirdWorld Project, and so theopening up of the South to the new geographyof production’.Perhaps one of the most significantcontributions is how he utilises the theoreticalframework of IndianMarxist Prabhat Patnaikto evaluate how eWective internationalism is atthis time. According to Patnaik,internationalism is not appropriate at this timebecause ‘the force of transnational capital actsin a similar way against states - in each case itadopts a neoliberal attitude, pushing forminimum state regulation of capital and itsbusiness enterprises and uncomfortable withdemandmanagement…’ Based on Patnaik,Prasad believes that “a coordinated global

struggle is not on the horizon.” Instead heemphasises the centrality of building resistancewithin the nation state, and the analysis caneasily be extended to regions.This insight can help us understand how civilsociety and state processes must both be usedto create a way forward. He wants peopledoing this work to understand the complexitiesand diVculties of constructing a new world.He points out the limits of civil society, as wellas state processes, and helps us understandthat building a better future needs bothprocesses.In regard to the role and limits of civil society,he notes that Emir Sader regarded therejection of parties and governments as aserious matter because ‘it would severely limitthe foundation of an alternative toneoliberalism, confining such aspirations to alocal sectorial contexts- the NGOSmantra,…while giving up any attempt to build analternative hegemony, or an global proposals tocounter and defeat world capitalism’s currentneoliberal project’.This book is a significant work, but I wishthat Prashad had or will address how we utiliseBRICS to advance popular struggles. Also, hecould have discussed how community-basedorganizations, NGOs, and state power can beharnessed to move all countries towards anegalitarian society. We know from the historiesof so many revolutionary movements, thatwhen these nationalist movements come intopower they often recreate the power relationsof the colonial powers. We see this clearly inthe ANC in South Africa. Hopefully Prashadwill address this in his future work.

(COUNTERPUNCH)

Having lived in an abyss filled withdarkness for years, we are now lookingat the newmoon and the stars. Youmight be thinking that this line istaken from amelodrama based onsuspense and sensation. No, not at all;you are absolutely wrong. This is, infact, the unfolding story of a newbeginning following the electionresults leading to the formation of anew government in Pakistan. One hasto be optimistic about it as things lookbrighter this way.Darkness, it is said, is only drivenout with light. The light in our livescomes through electricity which is ourbiggest problem at the moment. Thenew government under Nawaz Sharifwill be obviously cognizant of thebitter fact that the power crisis haspushed the life of citizens to the StoneAge and time has come to beat thedarkness out of the life of Pakistanis.But this is not the only problem facedby the nation. The new governmentwill have to contend with Talibanmilitancy, endemic corruption andcrumbling infrastructure in thenuclear-armed country of 180millionpeople. One of the first likely tasks willbe to negotiate with the InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF) for a multi-billion-dollar bailout.The challenge is grave, the struggleis tough, the stakes are very high andthe time to act is now. There is nosecond chance and no room forclumsy handling. We are at the mostcritical juncture of history and suchdeciding moments carry no chance ofmaking mistakes. The struggle isfraught with the risks of unpopularitybut to win without risk is to triumph

without glory.Every cloud has a silver lining andevery challenge is an opportunity toprove your mettle. If the newgovernment takes the time by itshorns and addresses the urgentnational problems like the chronicpower crisis, crumbling law and ordersituation, militancy, plunder of statecoWers, endemic poverty andmassiveunemployment; the hope will returnto the hearts of 180million peoplewho are yearning for a true change intheir lives.Hope is the most exciting thing inlife. That was the reason for millionsof jubilant voters whomade their wayto the polls, excited about the prospectof change in the country. They gavePML-N another chance to put thecountry back on track to prosperity.Winners bring trophies and losersalways bring excuses. But one thing issure; this time there will be no excuse.The nation is sick of lame excuses andfalse promises. You cannot aWord toflop this time, because if you fail todeliver once again, this will be yourlast opportunity in the house of power.Pakistani voters have proved thistime through their massive turnoutthat they are jealously guarding thebroader national interests. It is a clearmessage to the ruling elite that apopular vote that can elevate them tothrone, if triggered by resentmentover inaction and lethargy, can alsobring them down.Great crisis produces great men. Atthis defining moment of history, thetime is ripe to steer the country outof the clutches of load shedding. Thisis the time to translate challengesinto opportunities and if you are ableto do this, your name will be written

in history with indelible ink.However, if you continue to opt formid-term or short term solutions;you will entitle yourself a place in thedustbin of history.It is to be remembered thateconomics is always considered as theback bone of a nation because it dealswith the living conditions of a nation.It is understandable that whengovernment takes more money out ofthe hands of people, it makes it morediVcult for them to buy things. If theycan't buy things, the economy doesn'tgrow. If the economy doesn't grow, wedon't put our citizens to work. Whenthese frustrated people are pushed outof work, they resort to crime to maketheir living.The new governments around theworld have a common trait to blametheir predecessors for the evils of thenation. They confuse the peopleknowing well that when the peopleare confused, they begin to believeeverything. There is a beautifulexception to this rule. It is time to takea leaf out of GeorgeWashington’slegacy who was the only presidentwho didn't blame the previousadministration for his troubles.It is not the question of whichsystem of economy the newgovernment will follow.What isimportant is the impact of that systemon the life of a commonman. FranklinRoosevelt had rightly said, ‘But whilethey prate of economic laws, men andwomen are starving. Wemust lay holdof the fact that economic laws are notmade by nature. They are made byhuman beings’.The new government has to show itsresolve on two things; war on terrorand war on inflation and price hikes.

An American anthropologist ErnestHemingway said that the first panaceafor a mismanaged nation is inflationof the currency; the second is war.Both bring a temporary prosperity;both bring a permanent ruin. Butboth are the refuge of political andeconomic opportunists.An unequal distribution of wealth isa cancer for social harmony thatbreeds hatred and class conflictleading to social disintegration.Economic growth without socialprogress leaves the great majority ofpeople remain in poverty, while aprivileged few reap the benefits ofrising abundance. It is one of theparamount tasks of the new rulers tobridge the widening gap between thetwo classes of the people.There is a serious lesson for thenewcomers. The public took revengeby voting against the incumbentgovernment of PPP as most of theirministers and two former primeministers and their family has losttheir seats. This is the best revengetaken by the public. You have to focusall your energies on rebuilding thecountry instead of denigrating yourpredecessors. They have become apart of history now. You have to live inthe present not in the past.Our neighbouring South Asiannations India, Bangladesh and SriLanka have shown 6-8 percent annualgrowth in their GDP while we arestuck at less than 3 percent due to themismanagement of our economicgrowth engines. Behold! A target of 8percent growth is not beyond limits ifthere is a greater degree of will andvision in place.

THE WRITER IS A FREELANCER

Last Chance To Deliver

Lessons for the poorer nations

FARAKH SHAHZAD

SALAHUDDIN SIKANDER

LUIS NIEVES

Economic growth without social progress leaves the greatmajority of people inpoverty, while a privileged few reap the benefits of rising abundance. It is one of theparamount tasks of the new rulers to bridge the widening gap between the two

This book can help us understand how to move forward and combine civil society and state-buildingprocesses to create a just and equitable future for the people of the global south

CompetingnarrativesWhat lies behind mankind’s journey intothe unknown future?

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

Cyclone threatensBurma and BangladeshDDHHAAKKAA:: Millions of people livingalong the coast of the Bay of Bengal inBurma and Bangladesh are expectedto be aRected when Cyclone Mahasenmakes landfall some time on Thursday.OQcials in Burma have begunevacuating people while themeteorological oQce in neighbouringBangladesh is closely monitoring theweather pattern, which is believed tobe gathering suQcient strength to beclassified a "severe cyclonic storm" inthe next 24 hours. About 140,000refugees from religious violence inBurma living in tentedaccommodation along the coast arebelieved to be particularly at risk fromMahasen. –AGENCIES

South Korea-USnaval drill beginsSSEEOOUULL:: South Korea and its ally theUnited States on Monday began atwo-day joint naval exercises oR thecountry's east coast involving anuclear-powered US aircraft carrier, amove which is likely to provoke NorthKorea. The 97,000-ton USS Nimitzleft South Korea's Busan port earlierin the day for the exercises with thecountry's Navy in the East Sea nearPohang. The Nimitz Strike Groupconsists of the aircraft carrier andguided-missile cruisers anddestroyers, a senior military oQcialsaid in Seoul. –AGENCIES

Bangladesh collapse searchover, death toll 1,127SSAAVVAARR:: Nearly three weeks after aBangladesh garment-factory buildingcollapsed, the search for the deadended Monday at the site of the worstdisaster in the history of the globalgarment industry. The death toll: 1,127.Mohammed Amir Hossain Mazumder,deputy director of fire service and civildefense, told The Associated Press thesearch for bodies from the April 24collapse was called oR at 6 p.m.(1200GMT). "Now the site will behanded over to police for protection.There will be no more activities fromfire service or army," he said. –AGENCIES

Bomb near hospital kills9 people in eastern LibyaTTRRIIPPOOLLII:: A Libyan security oQcialsays a car bomb that exploded near ahospital has killed at least nine people,including three children, in the easterncity of Benghazi. Abdel-Salam al-Barghathi says the car was parkedoutside a bakery near the city's mainhospital when Monday's blastoccurred. He says 13 people were alsowounded in the blast. –AGENCIES

Qaddafi cousinon trial in EgyptCCAAIIRROO:: The cousin and former aide ofslain Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafiappeared in court on Monday chargedwith the attempted murder ofEgyptian police oQcers, an AFPreporter said. Ahmed Qaddaf al-Damdenied the charges which also includedpossessing unlicensed weapons andresisting arrest. The brief hearing wasadjourned to Wednesday. Qaddaf al-Dam was detained in Cairo in Marchafter a gunfight with police in hisapartment and has been held in Egyptdespite Libyan demands for hisextradition. –AGENCIES

LOLA NAYAR

LET’S face it, governmentinterference in thefunctioning of the CentralBureau of Investigation(CBI) has been an oft

talked about subject. But now, in anastonishing development, the UPAgovernment has been caught outchanging a CBI report on irregularitiesin coal-blocks allocation. The coalministry is among several which weredir¬¬ectly under PM ManmohanSingh’s charge in UPA-I. The sector isnow in the spotlight for wrongs that haverobbed the nation of resources and theexchequer of much-needed revenues.Unfortunately, there is a pattern here.

The PMO and many cabinet ministershave gone to great lengths over the lastcouple of years to defend Manmohanevery time fingers have been pointed inhis direction. And it’s happened manytimes - whether it was the controversialAntrix-Devas deal in 2005 or thescores of coal, lignite, iron ore andother mines allocated without anauction system. Even in the 2Gspectrum allocation case, the PM isalleged to have been in the know ofrules being changed to the infamous“first-come-first-serve” basis.

All these multi-crore scams werebrought to the fore by the Comptrollerand Auditor General’s reports. Yet, our“clean and honest” PM did not get intothe act and punish the wrongdoers oreven cancel the allotments. He insteadchose to shoot the messenger (theCAG) and let the judiciary take actionwhile shielding himself and hisministers. All this has been in completecontrast to Manmohan’s reputationwhen he took charge in 2004 - a cleanimage with high credentials as aneconomist, the key member of the lateP.V. Narasimha Rao’s team who hadpulled the country through after thegreat economic crisis in 1991. Is it timethen to revisit that legacy of thistechnocrat-turned-politician?Veteran political commentator

Kalyani Shankar says Manmohan hasonly one thing to his credit - being theprime minister to have served the thirdlongest term after Jawaharlal Nehruand Indira Gandhi. India’s first primeminister fortunately did not have apolitical master who wields all thepower sans responsibility. ‘People wantan honest PM, but they also want aneQcient one. Corruption was alwaysthere, but the issue is how much of itthere is and how far do you go.Unfortunately, Manmohan has never

been able to lead. He has always playedsecond fiddle’, says Shankar.It’s not as if Manmohan has not

asserted himself in the last nine years.He was able to overrule multiplepressures to get his choice of keyadvisors, like Planning Commissiondeputy chairman Montek S. Ahluwaliaand economic advisory council chief DrC. Rangarajan and law ministerAshwani Kumar (who again he hasdefended). But despite all this, hisstewardship of the economy has leftmuch to be desired. With economicgrowth dipping to 6-7 percent, and agovernment striving to controlinflation, fiscal deficit and a highercurrent account deficit than in 1991,India is indeed facing challengingtimes. ‘If we were to rate the PM on theeconomic yardstick, UPA-II does notpermit any kind of high rating’, saysS.L. Rao, ex-NCAER director-general.‘Manmohan leaves an economic andpolitical legacy which will need a lot ofhard work if it is to be restored to whatit was earlier’.Of course, there are wider problems

with the economy than just growthnumbers: the increasing role of bigbusiness and charges of cronycapitalism under Manmohan’s watch -from handouts to corporate India, lax

legislation, and dilution of laws meantto empower the common man - haveperpetuated the image of a distortedeconomic vision. India has also lost anopportunity to generate revenuesthrough royalty and profit-sharing fromits natural resources and to create jobsin the country. Of course, Manmohan still gets

sympathy in some quarters. ‘The waythe media has handled the situation isgro¬tesquely unfair. It has been verypartial to Sonia Gandhi and grotesquelyunfair to Manmohan Singh’, avers SurjitS. Bhalla, Oxus Research, who says theyare both equally to blame for thenightmare of the past five years. ‘Nomatter how you slice the data(economic), I challenge you to find anyyardstick that can throw up anythinggood about the last five years’.Take the vexed issue of diminishing

gas reserves in Reliance Industries’ D6block in KG Basin. There’s nogovernment eR¬ort - barring from theCAG - to find the reasons for the steepdrop in gas production. At the sametime, there’s no laxity in debating the gasprice mechanism (the formula suggestedby the Rangarajan panel will almostdouble the price). This has promptedBusiness Standard’s T.N. Ninan to pointout in a rec¬ent signed article: ‘...the deal

to double the well-head gas price to bepaid to Reliance to a rate that is justifiedonly by bringing into the calculation theworld’s most expensive gas market(Japan). Why Japan? Because it is thecostliest, stupid!’ The impact of such a move will not

only be felt in user industries likefertiliser and power but will mean afatter subsidy bill for government andmore expensive city gas for consumers.‘Under Manmohan’s stewardship, thegovernment and its agencies havefailed to act as a fair and transparenttrustee or custodian of naturalresources that belong to the people ofthe country’, says commentatorParanjoy Guha Thakurta.The PM’s ability to bend to the flow

of pressure is well illustrated by the factthat while his book, India’s ExportTrends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth, is a blistering attackon the World Bank and IMF policies,most of his policy decisions - fromprivatisation of power distribution,water and resource management topoverty alleviation - bear the distinctstamp of the multilateral agencies.On the positive side, the UPA

government may not have earned anycredibility in governance but severalkey legislations¬ - gui¬ded by the NAC

chaired by Sonia Gandhi - has left anindelible mark that hopefully willimprove bureaucratic and politicalaccountability. Most of these rights-based legislations, like RTI, NREGA,Forest Rights Act, RTE have yieldedencouraging results including makingthe common man aware of thecorruption pervading the system. Yetagain, all these socio-economiclegislations seem under threat, whetherdue to lack of proper implementation(NREGA and RTE) or by attempts todilute their provisions (RTI and FRA).Now, with elections fast approaching,

we have the direct ben¬efits transferscheme being implemented in hastewithout having the infrastructure inplace. The government will soon launcha massive publicity campaign tohighlight the achievements ofManmohan Singh’s tenure - apparently,42 economic decisions taken by thegovernment are “bearing fruit”. This hasled NAC member Aruna Roy to say, ‘TheUPA gov¬e¬r¬nment which came topower to contradict the notion of IndiaShining has really forgotten the nation.The poor are not its focus’. Worryingly,the UPA seems to have given in to thefalse sense of “glitter and progress”. Ahh,when did we last hear that?

(outlookindia.com)

The unraveling of Manmohan Singh’s reputation

CCHHIICCAAGGOO:: TTeennss ooff tthhoouussaannddss ooff CChhiiccaaggooaannss jjooiinn tthhee rraaccee ttoo pprroommoottee aawwaarreenneessss ffoorr bbrreeaasstt ccaanncceerr iinn CChhiiccaaggoo.. –WIRE SERVICE

VVIIEENNNNAA:: Iran expects progresswill be made in talks this week withthe United Nations' atomic agency,Tehran's nuclear envoy said onMonday, but Western diplomatsheld out little hope of an end to thedeadlock. The InternationalAtomic Energy Agency (IAEA) hasbeen trying for more than a year tocoax Iran into letting it resume astalled investigation into suspectedatomic bomb research by Tehran,which denies any aims to makenuclear weapons.Wednesday's talks in Vienna will

be the 10th round of negotiationsbetween the two sides since early2012, so far without an agreementthat would give the IAEA the accessto sites, oQcials and documents itsays it needs for its inquiry."We have the meeting with the

expectation of progress of course,"Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran'sambassador to the IAEA, toldReuters. "We are serious in thesetalks." But a Western diplomat,also based in the Austrian capital,said he saw "no reason at all foroptimism" in view of a series offailed meetings in the last 17months. Other envoys also saidthey did not expect anybreakthrough.In May one year ago, IAEA

Director General Yukiya Amanosaid after visiting Tehran that he

expected to sign a deal with Iransoon to unblock the inquiry, but thathope was later dashed.Western oQcials accuse Iran of

stonewalling the IAEA, and ofseeking to restrict the ability of UNinspectors to carry out theirinvestigation the way they want.Iran says the demands for access

go beyond its obligations under thenuclear Non-Proliferation Treatyand that the allegations against it arebased on forged intelligence.The IAEA-Iran talks are separate

from, but still closely linked to,broader diplomatic negotiationsbetween Tehran and six worldpowers aimed at resolving thedecade-old dispute peacefully andprevent a new Middle East war.Israel and the United States have

warned of possible military actionagainst Iran if diplomacy andsanctions fail to make it curb itsnuclear program.Tehran says the program is a

purely peaceful project to generateelectricity and that it is Israel, widelybelieved to hold the Middle East'sonly atomic arsenal, that threatenspeace and stability in the region.Iran and the six powers - the

United States, France, Germany,Britain, Russia and China - failed tobreak the diplomatic impasse intheir last meeting, held in early Aprilin Kazakhstan. –AGENCIES

Iran expects‘progress’ inUN N-talks

KKAABBUULL:: The AfghanTaliban will soon free thelast four of eight Turkishcivilians detained lastmonth, the militants saidon Monday, in what theycalled a gesture ofgoodwill toward fellowMuslims.Turkey said on Sunday

that four Turks had beenreleased and handed toits intelligence agency.The eight were takencaptive by the Taliban inthe eastern province ofLogar when theirhelicopter was forced tomake a "hard landing".Two pilots from Russia

and Kyrgyzstan were alsoaboard the Russian-madeMi-8 helicopter when poorweather forced it to landnear the Pakistani border onApril 21. They are alive andcurrently "underinvestigation andinterrogation", Talibanspokesman ZabihullahMujahid told Reuters. Oncethat is complete, we willdecide on their fate,"Mujahid said of the Russian-Kyrgyz pair. –AGENCIES

BBEEIIRRUUTT:: Syria's main opposition blocwants to consult its allies before decidingon joining a U.S.-Russia initiative tonegotiate a peaceful transition in Syria, itsleader said Monday.The U.S. and Russia called last week for an

international conference to start talks thatwould be accompanied by a cease-fire. Thetwo nations are on opposite sides of the Syriaconflict, and this marks their first seriousattempt at Syria diplomacy in a year. Thetime, venue and agenda of the conferencehave not been set, reflecting disagreementsbetween the two warring sides in Syria thatscuttled previous initiatives.Both have agreed in principle to attend,

but the opposition Syrian NationalCoalition says it will not negotiate unlessPresident Bashar Assad steps down first,while the regime has been vague about atruce. George Sabra, head of the SNC, saidMonday his coalition wants to consult withits allies, including Turkey, Saudi Arabiaand Qatar, before making a decision."It is still early to make a decision on

attending the conference," Sabra toldreporters in Istanbul, Turkey. "It still has noagenda, program and list of attendees."Even so, it appeared unlikely the

opposition would refuse to take part,especially if its regional allies back theconference. U.S. diplomats have met withArab leaders to ensure the opposition willeventually get on board. Work on thelogistics is underway.Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby said

over the weekend that Syria has given its listof attendees to its ally Russia. There was noimmediate Syrian government comment.Elaraby said the international envoy to

Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, is working on thesetting up the conference, but no date hasbeen set. Initially, the U.S. and Russia saidit should be held by the end of the month.The uprising against Assad erupted in

March 2011 and escalated into a civil war.More than 70,000 Syrians have been killedand millions displaced.Western leaders face growing pressure to

find a way to end the conflict -- bothbecause of the steadily rising death toll andfears that neighboring Turkey, Lebanon orIsrael could get pulled deeper into it.Turkey has blamed the Assad regime for

twin car bombs Saturday that killed 46people and wounded scores in a Turkishborder town that serves as a hub for Syrianrefugees and rebels. –AGENCIES

Commitment to peace talks

Syrian Opp wantsto consult allies

4 Turks to befreed soon:Afghan Taliban

AANNKKAARRAA:: Turkey's PrimeMinister Recep Tayyip Erdogansaid on Monday that he held theSyrian government responsible forthe deadly bombings that killed atleast 46 people in a town near theSyrian border.On Saturday, car bombings shook

the town of Reyhanli, leaving at least46 people dead and over 100 peoplewounded. In press statements,Erdogan said the Turkishgovernment has obtained enoughevidence suggesting that the Syriangovernment is behind the bombings.The deadly attack was planned by theSyrian government's " extensions" inTurkey, Erdogan said.As for the Turkish response to the

bombings, he noted that Turkey

would not "fall into traps but will givethe necessary response wheneverneeded." "We would never shy awayfrom this. Everyone should knowthis," Erdogan added.Earlier, Turkish Deputy Prime

Minister Besir Atalay said an initialinvestigation revealed that the fatalattack, one of the most serious inrecent years, are linked to Syria'sintelligence agency.Erdogan said "we have to

maintain our calm in the face ofefforts and provocations that aimto drag us into the bloodyquagmire in Syria. Turkey hasarrested nine Turkish citizens fortheir alleged involvement in thebombings.Syrian Information Minister

Omran Zubi, however, on Sundaydenied any Syrian involvement inthe attack and rejected what hecalled "unfounded accusations."On Sunday, Turkish authoritiesconfirmed the Syria connection,arresting nine men they said werelinked to Syrian intelligence—though they provided no details tosupport the allegations, and Syria’sinformation minister roundlydenied them. Turkey has been a keybacker of the rebellion againstSyrian President Bashar al-Assad,leading the calls for internationalintervention while turning theborder region around Reyhanliinto a safe haven for displacedSyrians and a staging ground forrebels. –AGENCIES

Turkish PM blames Syria for border bombings

Hong Kong transgenderwoman wins right to marryHHOONNGG KKOONNGG:: A transgender woman has won the right to marryher boyfriend in a watershed ruling from Hong Kong’s top court.The Court of Final Appeal ruled on Monday in favor of thewoman, identified only as W. One of the judges on the five-member panel dissented. The surprise decision brings thesemiautonomous Chinese city in line with a few other places inAsia like Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, wheretransgender people are allowed to marry in their new gender. W’slawyer, Michael Vidler, said his client was ”overjoyed” at thedecision. Vidler said the decision won’t take effect for 12 months.That’s so the government can have enough time to changemarriage laws. The ruling does not allow same-sexmarriage.–AGENCIES

While his book is a blistering attack on the World Bank and IMF policies, most of his policy decisions - from privatisation of powerdistribution, water and resource management to poverty alleviation - bear the distinct stamp of the multilateral agencies

Erdogan responsible for bombings: SyriaDDAAMMAASSCCUUSS:: Syria’s information minister has blamed Turkey'sgovernment for deadly car bombings near the Syrian border and brandedPrime Minister Tayyip Erdogan a "murderer", state-run Russian TVcompany RT reported today. "All responsibility for what has happened lieswith the Turkish government and Erdogan personally," RT quoted OmranZubi as saying in an interview with its Arabic-language channel. "Idemand his resignation as a murderer and an executioner. He has no rightto build a political career on the blood of the Turkish and Syrian people,"RT quoted Zubi as saying. It said he repeated a denial of Syrianinvolvement in car bombings that killed 46 people on Saturday in theTurkish border town of Reyhanli. Turkey has accused a group with links toSyrian intelligence of carrying out the attacks. Erdogan said on Sundaythat Turkey "will not fall into the trap they're trying to push us into" butadded: "Whoever targets Turkey will sooner or later pay the price."Speaking on Syrian state TV the same day, Zubi said Damascus had nohand in the Reyhanli blasts and blamed Turkey for the bloodshed in Syria,saying it had aided al Qaeda-led rebels. –AGENCIES

Dollar gains as USslowdown fears abateNNEEWW YYOORRKK:: The dollar rose for athird straight session against the yenand euro on Monday as U.S. retailsales data assuaged fears about aneconomic slowdown in the world'slargest economy, promptingparticipants to ponder the path ofFederal Reserve policy. The dollar,which pierced the 100-yen mark lastweek, continued to add to gains,hitting its highest level against the yensince October 2008 after Group ofSeven finance oOcials over theweekend held back from directlycriticizing Japan's monetary policy.The U.S. currency's outperformancecan largely be attributed to divergingcentral bank policies, with aggressivemonetary easing in Japan andconcerns about the risk of negativedeposit rates in the euro zonecontrasting with expectations the U.S.Federal Reserve will scale back itsasset-buying program later this year.The greenback gained after datashowed U.S. retail sales unexpectedlyrose in April as households boughtautomobiles, building materials and arange of other goods, pointing tounderlying strength in the economy.The increase in core sales came on theheels of relatively strong job growthover the last three months. The stateof the labor market is a keycomponent of Fed policy. –AGENCIES

continuous supply of oil,gas ensured during pollsIISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Federal Minister forPetroleum & Natural Resources,Sohail Wajahat H. Siddiqui has saidthat we ensured the continuoussupply of Oil & Gas to the PowerSector, due to which no events ofload shedding were reported duringelections. The Minister said that Oil& Gas Control Cell’, established inthe Ministry of Petroleum remainedoperational round-the-clock thesedays to monitor the Oil & Gassupply during elections. He saidthat he himself along with thesenior officials of the Ministriessupervised the provision of Oil &Gas to the power sector in order tomake it sure that fuel to the powersector is being supplied according totheir needs. The Ministerappreciated the efforts of theofficers and staff of the ministry tomaintain the supply of Oil & Gasduring the elections and said thatcontrolling load shedding duringthe election was a tough task but theofficers and staff of the ministrymake this it easy through sheer hardwork and commitment. –ONLINE

KSE rises to record highKKAARRAACCHHII:: Karachi stock rose to arecord high on Monday after reportsthat Pakistan Muslim League N wastaking a clear lead to formgovernment in Islamabad. Thebenchmark KSE 100 Index gained1.6 percent, the most since March 12,to 20,229 as of 9:49 a.m. Karachitime, taking its rally this year to 19percent. The KSE 100 Index surgedthis year as higher commodity pricesand consumer spending boostedearnings of the gauge’s companies by43 percent in the past 12 months, themost among 17 Asian equity indexes,data compiled by Bloomberg showedas of May 9. That profit growth lured$202 million of stock purchasesfrom overseas investors this year, themost since the same period in 2010,the data show.–ONLINE

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

gold (oz)

rs. 1,599.52 rs. 98.15

Dollar interbank cement (bag)

457.00 6,900.00

cotton (Maund) Urea/bag

1,704

coal Spot

$87.90/Ton 11.42%

10-y Pib Furnace oil

76,188/MT

cUrrEncy bUying SEllingUS Dollar 99.70 99.95Euro 128.26 128.50British Pound 150.40 150.65UAE Dirham 26.90 27.15Saudi Riyal 26.40 26.65Kuwaiti Dinar 345.30 351.85Canadian Dollar 95.48 97.17

SSIINNGGAAPPOORREE:: Pinning hopes onsignificant economic reforms inPakistan after Nawaz Sharif 'svictory in general elections, globalagency S&P today said that thedevelopment bodes well for thecountry's credit profile, but ruledout any upgrade from the presentjunk grade rating.S&P currently has a 'B-' sovereign

credit rating on Pakistan, which is anon-investment or junk graderating and means that the countryis vulnerable to adverse business,financial and economic conditionsbut currently has the capacity tomeet financial commitments.In a statement issued here,

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services

(S&P) said that Pakistan'sparliamentary election results setthe stage for longer-term stability ofits 'B-' sovereign credit rating onthe country.Welcoming the strong lead taken

by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party (PML-N) in pollresults, S&P said: "This is a keyachievement for Pakistan'smaturing democracy, in the face ofgeneral economic malaise,widespread and incessant sectarianand political violence, large-scaledomestic insurgencies, and ongoingtension with neighboring India."S&P said that in its earlier report

on Pakistan in April it had outlinedits view that "timely, successful, and

credible elections were essential forPakistan to deliver a governmentwith a reasonable chance oftackling the country's economicimbalances, including a loomingbalance of paymentscrisis.Preliminary election resultsindicate such an outcome."The elections took place on

schedule, without majorshortcomings that would result in adisputed outcome, and with a largevoter turnout despite intimidationand bombings on election day byextremist elements."The 60 per cent voter turnout,

compared with 44 per cent in the2008 elections, ensures greaterlegitimacy for the new government.

"Moreover, the results suggestthat PML-N is likely to have a leadthat will enable it to form acoalition without the support ofmajor political rivals or theminor parties."We believe the election outcome

puts the incoming government ingood stead to sew up an IMF dealsoon," S&P credit analyst AgostBenard said."This is needed to stabilise

external finances and to provide thepolicy framework for necessaryfiscal and energy sector reforms. Ifsuccessful, these efforts willunderpin the continued stability ofthe sovereign ratings at the current'B-' level," he added. –ONLINE

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: In order to highlightthe trade and business opportunitiesbetween Pakistan and Azerbaijan,Islamabad Chamber of Commerce &Industry (ICCI) organized Pak-Azerbaijan Business Forum.H.E.Dashgin Sharirov, Ambassador

of Azerbaijan, H.E Atadjan NMovlamov, Ambassador ofTurkmenistan, H.E .GononovS.Sherali, Ambassador of Tajikistan,Sulyeman Suha Zulfiqar, Firstsecretary Deputy Head of MissionTurkey, Dr.Ismatulla Fayzullaev,Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy ofUzbekistan, Dr. MuhammadMasoom Yasinzai, VC of Quaid-e-

Azam University and InternationalIslamic University and Dr.AbdulBasit, Chancellor Preston University,Sahibzada Abdul Qadoos, Presidentof CCCI and Haji Muhammad Zahir,President JCCI were also present onthe occasion. Speaking on theoccasion, H.E. Dashgin Sharirov,Ambassador of Azerbaijan said thatPakistan and Azerbaijan are twoMuslim brother countries, havingprofound love and regard for eachother, therefore, Azerbaijan stronglydesires to further enhance itsbilateral, economic and commercialties with Pakistan.He said that Azerbaijan has huge

reserves of oil and gas and havingexpertise in energy sector, adding thatPakistan has expertise in agriculturesector and dairy products. Therefore,both the countries could cooperate inthese areas to further enhance theirbilateral relations, he added.In his welcome address, Zafar

Bakhtawari, President ICCI said thatPakistan attached great importance toenhance its relationship with allCentral Asian Republic States andcountries of ECO region. He said thatPakistan is keen to strengthen itscooperation with Azerbaijan,especially in energy field to overcomethe adverse ePects of energy crisis on

its economy.ICCI President said that that there

should be direct air link betweenPakistan and all Central AsianRepublic States. He informed themeeting that ICCI also requestedTurkish Airline to considerconnecting Istanbul and Islamabadvia Baku/Dushanbe/Ashkhabadwhich would directly establish directair link of Pakistan with Azerbaijan,Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Dr. Muhammad Masoom Yasinzai,

Vice Chancellor of Quaid-e-AzamUniversity and International IslamicUniversity and Dr.Abdul Basit,Chancellor Preston University

emphasized on knowledge baseeconomy and said both the countriesshould cooperation in education sectorby opening branches of universities ineach other countries. They also laudedthe initiative of Embassy of Azerbaijanfor announcing 36 educationscholarships for the deserving studentsof Pakistan. They said that Pakistan andCentral Asian States can work togetherand avail the expertise of one another inthe areas of research, informationtechnology and scientific cooperation aswell as inter university collaborationsbetween the two counties can be greatlyhelpful for the socio-economicdevelopment of the region. –ONLINE

S&P says Nawaz Sharif win bodes well for Pakistan rating

ICCI organises Pak-Azerbaijan business forum

WWAASSHHIINNGGTTOONN:: CChhaaiirrmmaann ooff tthhee FFeeddeerraall RReesseerrvvee BBaannkk BBeenn BBeerrnnaannkkee aatttteennddss tthhee TTrreeaassuurryy DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt''ss FFiinnaanncciiaall SSttaabbiilliittyy OOvveerrssiigghhtt CCoouunncciill.. –AGENCIES

SAHTAK BALOCH

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Caretaker minister forwater & power Dr Musaddiq Malik hassaid that country’s power sector hasbecome corrupt and without eliminatingthe menace of corruption with iron handno one can control worsening powercrisis from the country. And, withoutconstructing Diamer Bhasha andKalabagh dams, 20,000mw ofhydropower can be generated with smallhydropower projects.The minister while addressing to a

ceremony deplored over the affairs ofpower sector also raised the need toeradicate prevailing evil of corruptionfrom its bed from the power sector as tohim there is no other solution to the ongoing power crisis. He said the entiresector is involved in the corruption fromhead to toe. Oil theft and its adulteration

is a routine practice during thetransportation of oil from port to powerplants. Around 80 per cent of total oiltheft is unfortunately being done in thegovt owned power plants, he added.Apparently disheartened from the

poor performance of country’s powersector, the minister said it is shockingto know that those 22 projects thatwere scheduled to complete by 2010are still sorrowfully incomplete evennow in 2013, as a result to whichcountry’s economy is heavily bearingheavy brunt of it.Highlighting the immediate need to

start more hydropower projects indifferent parts of the country to copewith the burgeoning demand andsupply gap, the minister proposed thatadditional electricity could begenerated without constructing DiamerBhash and Kalabagh dams. Around

20,000mw of electricity can beproduced with small hydropowerprojects. He also pointed out the needof a transparent policy, as the countryto meet its demand would have togenerate 20,000mw in a day duringnext four years while at present theentire power system is able to generateonly 14,000mw. However, most of thepower plants are not producing inlinewith the required target.About prevailing corruption in power

sector of the country, Dr MussadiqMailk also disclosed that power plantswithout generating electricity areinvolved in minting heavy money. Hesaid heavy kickbacks are being collectedin billion rupees worth payments topower plants. National Power ControlCentre has become a fish market. Twosoftware were purchased on heavy costbut could not installed.

Country’s power sector hasbecome corrupt: minister

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: Overseas Pakistani workersremitted an amount of $11,569.82 million in thefirst ten months (July – April) of the currentfiscal year 2012�13 (FY13), showing a growth of6.37 percent or $692.83 million when comparedwith $10,876.99 million received during thesame period of last fiscal year (July- April 2012).The inflow of remittances in July- April, 2013

from Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA, UK, GCCcountries (including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar andOman), and EU countries amounted to$3,371.59 million, $2,312.01 million, $1,819.85million, $1,611.11 million, $1,331.67 million and$297.69 million respectively as compared with

the inflow of $2,987.86 million, $2,386.26million, $1,922.35 million, $1,263.67 million,$1,226.61 million and $304.59 millionrespectively in July- April 2012. Remittancesreceived from Norway, Switzerland, Australia,Canada, Japan and other countries during thefirst ten months of current fiscal year (July-April FY13) amounted to $825.80 million asagainst $785.65 million received in the first tenmonths of last fiscal year (July- April FY12).The monthly average remittances for July�April

2013 period comes out to $1,156.98 million ascompared to $1,087.70 million during thecorresponding period of the last fiscal year. –ONLINE

Remittances rise to $11.57bin first 10 months of FY13

analySiS

KKAARRAACCHHII:: Pakistan is expected to startproducing 30 Million Cubic Feet per day(MMCFD) of tight gas in July-August thisyear from Sajawal gas field located in thedistrict of Dadu.According to media reports quoting

government officials this would be firsttime the country would be producingtight gas. Pakistan has estimate tight gasreserves of about 40 Trillion CubicFeet (TCF).The first ever tight gas Sales and

Purchase Agreement was signed onNovember 13, 2012 in Islamabad for first

production from a tight gas reservoir inPakistan from Kirthar Block inDadu, Sindh.The Kirthar Block is jointly owned by

Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG)which has 70 percent stake and PakistanPetroleum Limited owns 30 percent.For the implementation of this project,

SSGC has been awarded a contract for theconstruction of 52-km pipeline fromKirthar Block's Rehman Gas Field whichwill be integrated into SSGC's system atNaing Valve Assembly through the Bhitgas pipeline. –ONLINE

Pakistan's first tightgas expected in July

US-EU trade talks riskdamaging Turkey tiesCENK SIDAR & TYSON BARKER

U.S. President Barack Obama travels to Europe nextmonth to start formal negotiations on a trading blocthat would dwarf any the world has seen. He shouldlook for ways to integrate Turkey into this new order.Trade between the U.S. and the European Union still

accounts for a third of everything the world importsand exports, at $645 billion last year. Foreign directinvestment between the U.S. and the EU is more than$3.7 trillion. So in the depths of a global economiccrisis, no wonder people are excited about thepotential boost to growth this would provide.Yet before thrashing out the details of the new

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership,Obama and his EU counterparts should consider thetough situation it would create for other close alliesand trading partners, who won’t be at the bargainingtable. Turkey is one of the most important of these.How it fits into U.S.-EU trade talks will be high onPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s agenda whenhe meets Obama in Washington on May 16. Hiscountry has a vital strategic partnership with the U.S.and a customs union with the EU. Yet it won’t have asay in the trans-Atlantic trade deal.UUnnffaaiirr TTrraaddeeDeputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan estimates that

Turkey may lose 2.5 percent of gross domesticproduct, or $20 billion, a year if it is left out.According to Turkish media, Erdogan spelled outTurkish frustrations about this unfair trade situationin a letter to Obama in March. Obama shouldrespond to these justified concerns. Excluding theworld’s 17th-largest economy from a U.S.-EU free-trade area would be a missed opportunity and mightendanger the “model partnership” that Obama hasworked to build with Turkey.Turkey formed its customs union with the EU in

1995, with a view to eventually joining the bloc. Theterms of this union stipulate that the government inAnkara can’t pursue a bilateral free-trade agreementwith any country until the EU has established onealready. By contrast, when the EU signs a trade dealwith a third country, it gives access to Turkey’s marketwithout Turkish consent. The result is that Turkey’strade policy has been shadowing that of the EU,following on the heels of the European Commission’strade negotiators as they moved from South Korea, toJapan, to India. In the case of a trade pact asambitious as the one Obama will be discussing withthe EU, however, Turkey is put at a severedisadvantage. Turkey will have to negotiate its ownagreement with the U.S., or else find itself loweringtariPs on imports from the U.S. with nothing inreturn. The U.S., meanwhile, would have littleeconomic incentive to sign a separate deal with Turkeyonce a trade pact with the EU is in place, because itwould already get the benefits of such an agreement.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

Jennifer practices yoga to de-stress herselfLOS ANGELES: Former 'Friends' star Jennifer Aniston, whois preparing for her wedding day, practices yoga regularly tokeep herself stress-free. The 44-year-old actress got engagedto actor Justin Theroux in August 2012 and the couple arereportedly planning to tie the knot later this year, reported E!Online. "Yoga kind of helps you prepare for everything,honestly. It's like meditation. It sort of just allows anythingthat's coming at you at the end of the day to be kind ofdoable," Aniston said. Aniston is known as one of the mostfamous devotees of Transcendental Meditation. She wasearlier married to Hollywood star Brad Pitt but the coupledivorced in 2005. -SHOWBIZ DESK

Kareena Kapoor to work in Zoya Akhtar’s next filmMUMBAI: According to Indianmedia sources, Kareena Kapoor Khan has been approachedby the ever -versatile director, Zoya Akhtar for her next project. The film reportedly revolvesaround a brother-sister relationship and is said to incorporate elements of Zoya’s ownrelationship with twin brother Farhan. It is reported that Kareena’s cousin, Bollywoodheartthrob Ranbir Kapoor was approached for the role of the brother. However, Kareenareportedly refused to work with her cousin and seems to be sticking by her decision. Accordingto Indianmedia sources, Ranbir Kapoor did not entertain the idea of working in the film sinceas it is a heroine-centric film. Ranveer Singh has reportedly been signed on as a replacement.It has also been reported that Kareena Kapoor recently gave the script a hearing and seemsquite excited about the film. It is stated that the story will work in Bebo’s favor since shereportedly wanted to play in a performance-oriented role. Apparently Kareena Kapoor will beworking alongside Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif. -SHOWBIZ DESK

CMYK

MUMBAI: Bollywood's superstar AamirKhan, who completed his 25 years infilmdom this year, names 'Titanic' starLeonardo DiCaprio and three-timesOscar-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewisas his favourite Hollywood actors. "I likea fewHollywood stars. I tend to forgetEnglish names, I like LeonardoDiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis for'Lincoln'," said the actor here at thescreening of Hollywood film 'The StarTrek Into Darkness' along withfilmmaker-wife Kiran Rao. Aamir, whois shooting for two films 'Dhoom 3' and'PeeKay' simultaneously, rues the factthat he rarely gets time to watch filmsand is happy to watch the recentHollywood release, directed by JJAbrams, which is the 12th installment of'Star Trek' franchise. -SHOWBIZ DESK

CAMBRIDGE: South Korean rapperPSY was welcomed to HarvardUniversity night by hundreds ofscreaming and shouting students andfans, as the 'Gangnam Style' starparticipated in a conversation inside anornate church dedicated to the memoryof those who lost their lives inWorldWarI. PSY cracked jokes throughout thisspeech and said he was very shocked ashis 'Gangnam Style' video went viral. Hesaid he was overwhelmed by its successand doesn't realistically expect toreplicate the feat.'Gangnam Style' wasYouTube's most-viewed video with morethan 1.5 billion views, and his new single,'Gentleman' has more than 300millionviews. "Gangnam style was not normal.Gangnamwas not standard that was anaccident and accidents don't happenoften," he said. -SHOWBIZ DESK

DiCaprio, Day-Lewis are myfavourite stars: Aamir Khan

Gangnam style was notnormal: Psy

NEWDELHI: Ranbir Kapoor andDeepika Padukone, who are romancingeach other in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani,will be in an exclusive conversation withScreen. Ranbir and Deepika's on screenchemistry is sizzling even as the threesongs of the film Batameez Dil, BalamPichkari and Dilliwali Girlfriend aretopping the charts. While dating eachother, Ranbir Kapoor and DeepikaPadukone did 2008 romantic movieBachna Ae Haseeno. According to film'sdirector AyanMukerji, the two hadsorted their diJerences much beforeteaming up for Yeh Jawaani HaiDeewani, their second film together.Releasing onMay 31, the romantic filmis produced by Karan Johar and alsostars Aditya Roy Kapur and KalkiKoechlin. Follow 'ScreenIndia' on twitterto get live tweets. You can also tweetquestions to Ranbir and Deepika onScreenIndia. -SHOWBIZ DESK

Ranbir, Deepika guests atscreen preview for next film

SHOWBIZ DESK

MUMBAI: Internationally acclaimeddirector Mira Nair will be conferred withthe prestigious German Film Award forPeace, The Bridge 2013 for her movie 'TheReluctant Fundamentalist'. She will befelicitated on July 4, 2013 with the awardfor an outstanding film and the direction.The ceremony of the international filmaward for peace will take place at theCuvillies Theatre, Munich. The PrimeMinister of Bavaria, the BernhardWickiMemorial Fund and the UmbrellaOrganization of the German Film Industrywill also be a part of the gala.In the invitation letter, ElisabethWickiEndriss, the founder of the BernhardWicki Memorial Fund, wrote, "TheReluctant Fundamentalist" is an exquisiteexample for a high-class extraordinaryfilm, for her attitude as a defender ofenlightenment and inviolability of humandignity. The realism she portrays in her

films to the details attains great eJects -emotions, extremely breath takingtensions, and veracity. Thank you verymuch for this creative powerful andmoving picture which we urgent need in aworld of violence, prejudice and abuse ofpower beyond all morality in all oursocieties."

'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' is atouching and engaging story of a youngman chasing corporate success onWallStreet. Post September 2011 tragedy inAmerica, he finds himself embroiled in aconflict between his American Dream, ahostage crisis, and the enduring call of hisfamily's homeland.

Mira Nair to receive GermanFilm Award for Peace

Karachi: Meesha Shafi at the launch of Music Icons for emerging Pakistani Singers.Music Icons is the latest music show launched by Cornetto in collaboration with someof Pakistan’s most renowned artists frommusic industry.

Fashion according to designer Monica Paracha�She is the only designer from Pakistan who works with the collaboration of Korean arts and culture

LONDON: IronMan star Gwyneth Paltrow wants to opena restaurant here, which will sell healthy salads, tunaburgers, salmon burgers and tacos. The 40-year-oldactress, who has recently released her second cook book,'It's All Good', said she would love the chance to share herfavourite healthy recipes in her own outlet, reportedContactmusic. "I would make a Californian pop-uprestaurant in London with all the healthy salads from thebook and tuna burgers, salmon burgers and tacos," shesaid. Paltrow said many of her healthy recipes were createdfor her husband Chris Martin as he was trying to eat wellahead of a tour with his band Coldplay. "He was focused oneating well to prepare for the tour, so I started developingthese recipes. Nothing processed and nothing toxic, butstill delicious. And that's how the book came about. Itcame out of a need in a very organic way." -SHOWBIZ DESK

Gwyneth toopen restaurantin London

Cannes film festival opens with 'Great Gatsby'

SHOWBIZ DESK

NEWDELHI: Amitabh Bachchan hascalled his belatedHollywood debut in'The Great Gatsby' "just a friendlygesture" but would notmind doing anencore if he comes across somethinginteresting. "I don't look upon it asmyHollywood debut. It is just a friendlygesture and nothingmore. It is just asmall scene with Gatsby and his friend,played by LeonardoDiCaprio andTobeyMaguire.MeyerWolfsheim islooked upon as some kind ofmentor toGatsby in the story," Bachchan toldPTI in an interview over phone fromMumbai. Askedwhether he is open todoingmoreHollywood films,Bachchan said, "I don't know... Ifsomething is oJered and I need to

consider, I will certainly consider it."The Baz Luhrmann directed film, a3D adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald's1925 novel, is set in the roaring 1920sof America and stars DiCaprio,Maguire and CareyMulligan in leadroles.Warner Bros is releasing the filmin India onMay 17, just two days afterits screening at Cannes film festival.Bachchan's appearance in theHollywood film comes after asuccessful four-decade-long career inIndia as he "never came upon aHollywood role" before. Themegastaris seen sporting sideburns andimpressive whiskers in themovie,something that Luhrmann came upwith. Bachchan is happy that India ismaking its presence felt globally withits cinematic culture.

SHOWBIZ DESK

LAHORE: Fashion designerMonica is the applied art dedicatedto the design of clothing andlifestyle accessories created withinthemaharani cultural and socialinfluences of a specific time. Monicahave brought about a storm in thisglamour world with hercommendably fabulous, She wasrecently has been invited to visitKorea’s textile city Deagu byNEXFAIR.Monica Paracha is the onlydesigner from Pakistan who workswith the collaboration of Koreanarts and culture. After all theinternational success she has gaveher 360 vision on Lahori fashion.The Lahori culture is a blend ofMiddle Eastern, Persian, Central

Asian andWestern influences overthe centuries. This is amplymanifested in its lifestyle, festivals,literature, music, language, politics,cuisine and most of all taste inclothes. No wonder Lahore is the

fashion capital of Pakistan. It has ataste for brightness and diversity.Many of the top designers that leadthe Pakistani fashion scene are fromLahore. Prominent ones are HSY,Monica Paracha, Hina Butt, Ayesha

Khurram, Saira Rizwan, BuntoKazmi and Saadia Mirza, to name afew. Some have made a prominentname for themselves on theinternational fashion scene as well.Lahori Fashion industry is quitemulti-dimensional. Lahore iscertainly a trend-setter when itcomes to fashion. Numerousfashion weeks are held in Lahoreevery year. Fashion models fromLahore are nowmaking it tointernational catwalks. The fashionscene in Lahore is diJerent whencompared to the rest of Pakistanbecause their use of colors and cuts.The ability and willingness ofLahori designers to experiment withfusion is certainly outstanding. Thecuts are portray a uniqueamalgamation of eastern andwestern styles.

Madhuri Dixitis the numberone dancer:Tannishtha

‘The Great Gatsby role isnot myHollywood debut’

SHOWBIZ DESK

LONDON: The 2013 Cannes film festivalopens onWednesday with Baz Luhrmann's3D version of "The Great Gatsby", a lavishthrowback to the "Roaring Twenties" thatbefits the glamour and excess of the world'sbiggest cinema showcase. The Australiandirector's adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald'snovel starring Leonardo DiCapriosurprised someHollywood insiders,because Cannes traditionally launches onthe palm-lined French Riviera with asplashy world premiere. But "The GreatGatsby" has already opened in the UnitedStates to mixed reviews and solid box

oIce, potentially dampening buzzsurrounding the start of 12 days ofscreenings, champagne-fuelled parties anddealmaking. Stars expected to face aphalanx of flash bulbs along the red carpetincludeMichael Douglas, Matt Damon,Ryan Gosling, EmmaWatson andBollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan."This is the hardest 10 days of the year forme. There are always three or four moviesthat are exceptional and you have to findthem so it is a detective job," said TomBernard, co-president and co-founder ofSony Pictures Classics. Critics have praisedthe selection of films being screened at the66th Cannes festival.

MUMBAI: Actress TannishthaChatterjee, who will be sharing thescreen space with Bollywood'sdancing divaMadhuri Dixit in 'GulabGang', says she has given a playbackin the film too. "It's a song which ispicturized very well. I am a trainedsinger and beyond this I am notallowed to talk too much about thesong," Tannishtha told. TannishthaChatterjee is happy that she gets toshare screen space withMadhuriDixit in 'Gulab Gang’. The actresssays it's a women-centric film and aperfect way to celebrate 100 years ofIndian cinema. "I fell in love with thescript when I heard it. Shomik is avisionary director. It's a fabulous filmand was great being part of it. Thereare so many women coming togetherin this film it's a complete women'sfilm and I feel it's a perfect way tocelebrate 100 years of Indiancinema," she said. Tannishtha alsosays that though she will share screenspace withMadhuri, her character inthe film didn't allow her to shake herleg with the diva. "Madhuri is thenumber one dancer, she is the best. Iam sharing the screen space with herand it was a pleasure working withher. I am not dancing in the film asmy character doesn't allowme to doso," she said. Directed by SoumikSen, the film is based on a trueincident and a gang called 'GulabiGang'. The film also features JuhiChawla amongst others. -SHOWBIZ DESK

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013

CMYK

CMYK

Our Staff repOrter

LAHORE: Pakistan’s tour toEngland in 2010 was embroiled incontroversy as the spot›fixingdebacle created waves around thecricket world. To protect playersfrom unsolicited approaches andavoid a repeat of the affair, thePCB has decided to deploy asecurity officer and a vigilanceofficer who will monitor playeractivities, with the intention ofprotecting them from unwantedsocial contact and mediainterviews. This will be Pakistan’s first visit to

England since that ill›fated tour.They will depart on Monday nightand stop briefly in Scotland andIreland to play two ODIs againstboth countries, before heading toEngland for the Champions Trophy.�It’s a very sensitive tour," NaveedAkram Cheema, the team manager,told reporters at the NationalCricket Academy here. �All theplayers realise the importance of it,and they should maintain strictdiscipline as we don’t want a repeatof events. Players have been told torestrict their off›field movementsand focus on the game.� Security has been increased in

light of the spot›fixing controversy,which erupted during the fourthTest against England at Lord’s in2010. Salman Butt, MohammadAsif and Mohammad Amir, whowere involved in the incident, weresentenced in November 2011 atSouthwark Crown Court forconspiracy to accept corruptpayments and conspiracy to cheat. �They are all spirited players and

over the last two›three years haveplayed as a unit. The tour issensitive in that there are lots ofpeople who could have vestedinterests, and we have to counterthat,� Cheema said.

�Psychologically, they are motivatedand united.� Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq

was �optimistic� about the side’schances in the Champions Trophy,but was wary that the team wouldface a dual test, both on and offthe field, during the tournament.Dav Whatmore, Pakistan’s headcoach, also expressed high hopesfor the team. �We begin everyseries with an intent to win,�Whatmore said. �We feel we’ve gotthe best fifteen that we canpossibly have at the moment. ICCevents are slightly different tobilateral series as there is a

PARIS: Paris Saint›Germain sealedtheir first Ligue 1 title since 1994 with a1›0 win at Lyon on Sunday. Marseille’s2›1 win over Toulouse on Saturday,their fourth success in a row, hadensured PSG would have to keep thechampagne on ice until after their owngame. But former AC Milan wingerJeremy Menez scored the only goal ofthe game against a limp Lyon side andthat proved enough to deliver thesilverware. "I am very happy, especiallybecause it is not easy to win here," saidPSG coach Carlo Ancelotti. "We showedthat we deserved the title. It was adifficult season, but after December webecame more solid and compact andthings went well." Ancelotti added thathe hasn’t discussed his future with theclub’s ambitious Qatari owners."We have not had the time. There

are still two games to play, we willrespect our rivals and thechampionship." He added: "I have hada great deal of confidence in the titlebecause the players have the bestindividual quality." Lyon coach RemiGarde was gracious in defeat,particularly given his side can now nolonger overtake Marseille in the racefor second and direct access to theChampions League group stages.

"Congratulations to PSG, even thoughit’s a bit difficult to watch themcelebrating their title here," he saidfrom Lyon’s Stade Gerland. "Paris havea lot of quality, even though we werea long way from our worst match forsome time." In a lively start both goalkeepers

were called into early action, withPSG’s Nicolas Douchez clawing away aBaftembi Gomis header before Lyon’sAnthony Lopes was equally at fullstretch to palm Zlatan Ibrahimovic’slob away from his goal.Mouhamadou Dabo was then in the

right place on the line to block agoalbound Ibrahimovic shot whileDouchez resorted to anunconventional kick to clear his linesfrom Yassine Benzia’s sighter fromlong range. Midway through the firstperiod, slick PSG play saw JavierPastore slip in Menez behind thebackline but Lopes was quickly out tosmoother the winger’s effort ongoal.The game seemed to be peteringout into a tactical affair until Menezsparked it into life on 53 minutes.Thiago Motta was the architect,robbing Maxime Gonalons in midfieldbefore playing a one›two withIbrahimovic and then feeding the

unmarked Menez to fire left›footedacross Lopes from 15 yards. PSG cameclosest to notching another as Menezgot down the left and crossed for

Pastore, but the Argentine’s close›range shot was blocked by Lopes’slegs.Lyon were matching PSG in terms of

possession but could make littleheadway against the best defence inthe league. Even when Bakary Konegot up to meet Clement Grenier’s free›

kick, he couldn’t direct his header ontarget. PSG held on for a 23rd cleansheet this season and that ensured thetitle was theirs. Earlier on Sunday Niceand Saint›Etienne saw their hopes ofparticipating in next season’sChampions League suffer potentiallyfatal blows as they lost 4›0 at Evianand 3›1 at Lorient respectively.Nice’s collapse against relegation›

threatened opponents wasparticularly alarming, but aided in nosmall part by Saber Khelifa’sincredible 60›yard lob. Khelifa scoredanother to add to strikes from KevinBerigaud and Mohammed Rabiu.Second›half goals from KevinMonnet›Paquet, Fabien Robert andYann Jouffre provided the perfecttonic for Christian Gourcuff’s Lorientfollowing their chastening 4›0midweek defeat at Evian in the semi›finals of the French Cup. Kurt Zoumahanded the visitors a lifeline tenminutes from time at Stade duMoustoir, but it proved scantconsolation for Saint›Etienne as their16›game unbeaten run came to ashuddering halt. Those results left Nice three points

shy of Lyon and also dropped themto fifth, behind Lille, with Saint›

PSG end 19›year wait for French Ligue 1 title

PARIS: Bahrain’s Hasan Juma serves to Montenegro’s Irfan Cekic during amen’s singles qualifications groups table tennis match at the World TableTennis Championships on Monday. � AGENCIES

Pakistan squad leaves for Britain today

PCB hires vigilance officer for Champions Trophy

PONTE VEDRA BEACH : TigerWoods shook off a double bogey atthe 14th hole Sunday and held onto win the US PGA Tour PlayersChampionship, setting anothercareer milestone in the process.Woods, who had a share of thelead with Sergio Garcia and DavidLingmerth after completing theweather›disrupted third round onSunday morning, carded a final›round 70 for a 13›under par totalof 275. That put him two strokes infront of Swedish PGA Tour rookieLingmerth, Jeff Maggert and KevinStreelman.Garcia, tied for the lead at the

17th, finished with a quadruplebogey and a bogey, giving Woodsthe last laugh after a couple of daysof verbal sparring by the two.Woods won the US tour’s flagshipevent, worth $9.5m this year, forthe second time � more than adecade after his victory in 2001.Since then he had posted only onetop›10 finish at TPC Sawgrass untilSunday. Woods notched his fourthPGA Tour title of the year, and it’sthe earliest in a single season hehas ever won a fourth title. His 78thtour win came in his 300th start �he also won in his 100th and 200thstarts.Woods had built a two›stroke

lead through 13 holes of the finalround, but he found the water offthe tee at 14 and ended up with adouble›bogey that dropped himinto a four›way tie for the lead withMaggert, Garcia and Lingmerth.Garcia and Lingmerth, playing inthe final group right behind Woods,had both just birdied 13. �Just hitabsolutely the worst shot I couldpossibly hit,� Woods said of his teeshot at 14. �But it was the only badswing I made all day. I told myselfI could still win the tournament.� Hemade no more mistakes fromthere, adding a birdie at the par›five

16th to get to 13›under andfinishing with back›to›back pars.Garcia got to 13›under with a birdieat 16.Garcia said before the final round

he was happy not to be playing inthe same group with Woods. �Ithink it’s probably good for both ofus,� said Garcia after the pair’suneasy relationship took another hiton Saturday when the Spaniardcomplained that a move by Woodsto remove a club from his bag justas Garcia was hitting a shot sparkeddistracting crowd noise. But playingwith the little›known Lingmerthdidn’t do Garcia any good when it

came to the par›three 17th, TPCSawgrass’ signature hole with itsisland green.Garcia was in the water twice en

route to a quadruple›bogey seven,then took a double›bogey at 18 tocap a four›over 76 that left himtied for eighth on seven›under281. Maggert fell back with adouble›bogey at 17, closing with atwo›under 70 for 11›under 277.Streelman carded a 67 to grab hisshare of second on 277. Lingmerthwas the last player with a chanceto challenge Woods, but he wasunable to convert his birdieattempt at 17 and pull level and he

Tiger Woods winsPlayers Championship

MADRID : Rafael Nadal and SerenaWilliams firmed up their credentials asFrench Open favourites by sweeping tovictory in Madrid. Nadal eased to his fifthtitle in just seven tournaments sincereturning from a seven›month injurylayoff due to tendinitis in his left knee ashe beat Stanislas Wawrinka 6›2, 6›4 inlittle over an hour to claim his third titlein the Spanish capital. He now has 55career titles with 40 coming on clay, anastonishing record that promptedWawrinka to describe the Spaniard as a�killer� on clay courts. His win on Sundaywas also a 23rd Masters Series title.Having also won on the clay in Sao

Paulo, Acapulco and Barcelona thisseason, the 11›time Grand Slamchampion looks well set for a tilt at aneighth French Open crown at RolandGarros. �It’s true these last matches Ihave been able to reach that goal, thatline, that place where I want to beplaying, the kind of play that I’m aimingfor,� he said. �Since we started playingon clay in Europe, these last twomatches are the best I have played. I’verealised that my forehand is workingagain at its highest level and I’m able toopen the angles and play a lot ofwinners. �I couldn’t do that in Barcelonaor Monte Carlo; over here I could. I wasplaying with a lot of aggression.�However, the world number five still

refused to accept that he is the clearfavourite for Roland Garros, which startsin two weeks, and insisted his mind issolely set on retaining his title in Rome

this week. �Next week I will be in Romeand I will be thinking about Rome. Iwon’t be thinking Roland Garros,� saidNadal. �Tomorrow I will be in Romepracticing a little bit, and I need to adaptto conditions which are a little bit slowerthan here. �Hopefully that should not bea problem, but I need to do it, and Ineed to do it with the rightconcentration.�Williams, meanwhile, has a second title

at Roland Garros firmly in her sights asshe claimed a title on the red clay for thefirst time since that triumph 11 yearsago with a 6›1, 6›4 win over worldnumber two Maria Sharapova. The worldnumber one ranking was also on the lineas the two met for the third time alreadythis year, but it was a familiar story forSharapova as Williams extended hernine›year winning streak over theRussian to 12 matches.�This court definitely plays more like

Roland Garros, so I think that’s a plus.It’s a little slower than it was last yearand plays more like a true clay court soI think it’s great preparation,� saidWilliams who now has 50 career titles.And the 15›time Grand Slam championis determined to make up for thedisappointment of losing in the firstround in Paris last year. �It is the ultimate challenge. Whether I

reach it, I don’t know. I’m not going toput that pressure on myself. �I wantedto last year and I didn’t get it. So thisyear I’m just looking forward to Rome,and then after that Roland Garros, and

Nadal, Serena send French Opensignals of intent

Tiger Woods celebrates after being presented with winners�trophy. � AGENCIES

Russia drops visa requirements formajor sporting events

MOSCOW : President Vladimir Putin hassigned a decree waiving visarequirements for athletes and officialsattending international sporting eventsin Russia, the Kremlin announced onMonday. �Participants in internationalsporting competition can enter and exitthe Russian Federation without applyingfor visas,� the government said in astatement posted on its official website(www.kremlin.ru). The government would publish a list

of international sporting events andregulations on how long foreigners mayremain in the country, the statementsaid. Participants must carry a validpassport and official accreditation fromlocal organisers to qualify for visa›freestatus, the Kremlin added. Over the nextfew years, Russia is hosting a number ofmajor sporting events, starting with theworld athletics championships inMoscow in August, the Sochi WinterOlympics next February and the footballWorld Cup in 2018. �AGENCIES

Westra wins first stageof Tour of CaliforniaESCONDIDO : Dutchman LieuweWestra seized the yellow jersey at theTour of California after winning the 165kilometre (130 mile) opening stage onthe outskirts of San Diego on Sunday.Westra (Vacansoleil›DCM) outduelledSpaniard Francisco Mancebo in a sprintover the final kilometres while SlovakPeter Sagan led the chase bunch,finishing six seconds back. Cannondale’s Sagan had to

overcome a rear derailleur problemwith just five kilometres to go. Westramade his move with about fivekilometres to go and Mancebo quicklytook off in pursuit, making it a two›man sprint to the finish under tryinghot conditions. Mancebo grabbed thelead with about 300 metres to go butWestra answered by slipping aroundhim before powering his way in for thevictory. The 200km second stage takes place

Monday, beginning in Murrieta thenheading into the southern Californiadesert to Palm Springs wheretemperatures are expected to climb ashigh as 42 degrees Celsius (108Fahrenheit). For the first time, the Tourof California will take riders on a routefrom the southern part of the statenorthward, starting at Escondido andfinishing on May 19 in Santa Rosa, nearSan Francisco. America’s most importantstage race will cover some 1,200km overthe eight stages; highlighted by anindividual time trial on the sixth stageand the hors categorie Mount Diablo

Paris Saint›Germain players celebrate at the end of their team’s French Ligue 1 match againstOlympique Lyon at the Gerland Stadium in Lyon. � AGENCIES

Sprint legend Bolt confirms Zurich datePARIS: Sprint legend Usain Bolt will compete at the Diamond League meeting in Zurich in August, theJamaican athlete confirmed on Monday. The fastest man on the planet and defending 100m and 200mchampion from the Beijing and London Olympics said he would decide whether to run the longer or shortersprint nearer the time of the meeting on August 29. Bolt�s appearance will be his first outing after the WorldAthletics Championships in Moscow from August 10›18, where he will be hoping to regain the world title helost to training partner Yohan Blake in Daegu, South Korea, in 2011. Bolt won last year’s 200m at Zurich in19.66secs. In 2009, he won the 100m in 9.81secs and the previous year in 9.83secs. In 2007, he wassecond in the 200m in 20.19secs. �I am excited to go back to Zurich. I love the electric atmosphere at thestadium and both the competition and the events during the week of the meeting are always extremelywell›organised,� he said in a statement on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)

US to work with newPakistani govt: kerryWWAASSHHIINNGGTTOONN:: US Secretary of StateJohn Kerry has said that Washingtonwill be working with the newgovernment in Islamabad to advanceshared interests including a peaceful,more prosperous and stable future forPakistan and the region. In a statementon Monday, John Kerry said thenational and provincial assemblies’elections mark an historic step inPakistan’s democratic journey. Heappreciated that Pakistani people stoodup resiliently to threats by violentextremists. –ONLINE

Gas cylinder explosionkills 13 in N WaziristanWWAANNAA:: Thirteen people killed when acylinder exploded in a bus nearKhajoori checkpoint in NorthWaziristan. According to media reports,terrorists fired at least 6 rockets inQuetta. The rockets landed in severalparts of the city damagingwindowpanes of several buildings.However‚ there is no report of anycasualty. –ONLINE

Indian Army chopper crashesat Siachen; both pilots safeNNEEWW DDEELLHHII:: An Army helicopter, onair maintenance operations, crashedthis morning in the icy heights ofSiachen glacier but both the pilotssurvived the accident and were beingevacuated for treatment, Indian mediareports said. –ONLINE

Indian villagecelebrates Nawaz victoryAAMMRRIITTSSAARR:: With Nawaz Sharif ’sPakistan Muslim League - Nawaz(PML-N) emerging as the largest partyin the election, his native village inIndia, JattiUmra erupted in jubilations,Indian media reported. The residents ofJatti Umra, near Amritsar, are keeping aclose eye on the election developmentsin neighbouring country and have evenstarted distributing sweets on listeningto news that PML-N is heading for alandslide victory. And they have areason to celebrate, not only Sharif ’sfamily lived here but Sharif also helpedaround two dozen youth of this villagein getting jobs in Qatar and other gulfcountries . Besides they believe that withSharif in power in Pakistan, therelations between two countries willimprove for better. Sharif ’s family hadmigrated to Pakistan before partitionwhere he was born in Lahore onDecember 25, 1949. –ONLINE

mQm calls for re-electionin karachi’s NA-250KKAARRAACCHHII:: Muttahida QaumiMovement’s candidate for Karachi’s NA-250, Khushbakht Shujaat, on Mondaydemanded that re-election be held inthe said constituency, DawnNewsreported. Addressing a press conferencein Karachi, she said elections should notbe held only on certain polling stationsfor the constituency but on all. Thecandidate said she was the most aQectedon account of the maladministrationduring elections in NA-250. Shujaatadded that although she too hadevidence of rigging done by heropponents, she was not going toindulge in the politics of blame. Shefurther said that a re-election for theseat would reveal who the peoplewanted to choose as theirrepresentative. Earlier on Sunday,Election Commission’s SecretaryIshtiaq Ahmad said re-polling wouldbe held on 43 polling stations of NA-250 in 10 days’ time. –AGENCIES

TUESDAYMAY 14, 2013THE SPOKESMAN - RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD

cmyk

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

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: IslamabadHigh Court on Mondaydisposed of a case regardingescape of former militarydictator Pervez Musharraffrom the court premises.According to media

reports, Deputy AttorneyGeneral informed thecourt that under thedirectives of the Court‚ afederal secretary washolding inquiry against IGPolice Islamabad in thecase. Islamabad HighCourt has disposed off caseagainst IG Islamabadregarding escape of formerpresident Musharraf fromthe court premises.During Monday’s

proceedings, DeputyAttorney General assuredthe court that SeniorSecretary Interior ChaudhryQamar Zaman has beentasked to conduct enquiryagainst IG Islamabad inMusharraf escape case, andreport regarding the enquirywould be submitted soon.After getting the assurance,the court disposed of thecase. –ONLINE

ZEESHAN JAVAID

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: One of the leadingfinancial institutions, Washingtonbased International Monetary Fund(IMF) is likely to visit Islamabad inlate June to continue the policydiscussions on mitigating economicvulnerabilities in Pakistan as well asthe $5-7.5 billion bailout package.Sources informed The Spokesman

that Pakistani authorities are closelyengaged with IMF team, while thefinancial institution’s staQ team hasstarted the policy work for expected visitof IMF team to Pakistan in late June2013. He also informed that theeconomic managers of Pakistan duringtheir latest visit to IMF headquarterdidn’t made any formal request for anew loan programme of $5 billion,

either to know that the country has beenfacing balance of payments crisis due toscheduled repayments to the IMF,slowdown in the economic activities andhuge fiscal deficit. A communiquéissued by IMF CommunicationDepartment Director Gerry Rice alsoconfirmed in his statement thatPakistani authorities didn’t put anyrequest for fresh loan of $5 billion,however the comprehensive plan ofeconomic vulnerabilities in Pakistanwould be discuss during expected visitof IMF team in late June 2013.Speaking on the recent economic

condition of Egypt afterrevolutionary political move, Ricesaid that IMF would start discussionwith Egyptian authorities in comingweeks with the objective of reachingagreement on an IMF standby

arrangement to support the Egyptianauthorities' national economicprogramme. “At this stage we havenot discussed nor scheduled a newmission. StaQ is working actively withthe Egyptian authorities, fromheadquarters, building on the workadvanced in the field during the Aprilmission,” he maintained. Addressingthe one of economically deadliestEuropean country Greece, he saidthat the StaQ Level Agreement on the3rd Review was reached on April 15.There has been progress in resolvingthe few remaining technical issues,and in completing the prior actionsthat needed to be in place before thereview could be concluded.The board is expected to meet on

May 31 to discuss the completion ofthe 3rd Review. In terms of

expectations, contingent on Boardapproval, we would expect the nextdisbursement to take place shortlyafter that May 31 meeting.Turning to Cyprus, he said that the

teams of IMF and European partnersreached a StaQ Level Agreement withthe Cypriot authorities on April 3rd,while the Executive Board is expectedto meet on May the 15th to discussthe request for the programme.Discussing about the recent

statement issued by European CentralBank (ECB) for IMF shouldn’t in anyfuture bailout programme in the EuroZone; IMF director was of the viewthat Institution enjoyed excellentcooperation with the EuropeanCommission (EC) and the EuropeanCentral Bank (ECB), however It'simportant to note that the challenges

facing the euro zone are extremelydiPcult, with no easy or quicksolutions. “We cooperate closely withour European counterparts, ourExecutive Board, representing all theIMF's member countries, oversee ouractions, and ultimately takeindependent decisions. The EuropeanCommission and the EuropeanCentral Bank are similarlyaccountable to their stakeholders,” hemaintained. He further added that“IMF and the European partners areworking together to help supportCyprus, in much the same way asthey've been trying to support anumber of other countries in the eurozone -- and that is to help the countryovercome the very diPcult challengesthat they face, in the most eQectiveway possible.”

Economic vulnerabilities, bailout package

LLAAHHOORREE:: PPaakkiissttaann TTeehhrriikk--ee--IInnssaaff wwoorrkkeerrss hhoolldd aa ssiitt--iinn aaggaaiinnsstt aalllleeggeedd rriiggggiinngg iinn tthhee eelleeccttiioonnss,, iinn DDHHAA.. –ONLINE

KKAARRAACCHHII:: President Asif Ali Zardari onMonday felicitated the nation on the holdingof elections that marked democratictransition in the country.According to spokesperson to the

President Senator Farhatullah Babar, thePresident while felicitating the nation saidthe holding of elections in accordance withthe Constitutional provisions was triumphof the people and democracy.The President also felicitated all national

institutions and the individuals, who workedhard to make possible the gigantic exercise."The people of Pakistan have spoken

through the ballot," the he added.The President expressed the hope that the

next phase of democratic transition,including the smooth transfer of power, inaccordance with the will of people asexpressed by them through vote, would becompleted soon, the Spokesperson said. –Monitoring DeskMeanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party on

Monday accepted verdict of the people ingeneral elections.PPPP President Makhdoom Amin Fahim

in a statement said although the party hasserious reservations about the fairness of thepolls‚ it has accepted the results in the larger

interest of political stability‚ democracy andthe welfare of the people. He alleged that denial of level playing field

to his party and other democratic parties bythe militants on the one hand and thegerrymandering in a number ofconstituencies on the other‚ has eroded thecredibility of fair and free elections.Makhdoom Amin Fahim called upon the

Election Commission to look into all thecomplaints and redress the same inaccordance with the law. Meanwhile,President Asif Ali Zardari contacted seniorparty leaders on Monday and talked aboutthe current political situation.According to sources, after major victory

of PML-N in the 2013 elections Presidenthas contacted PPP senior leadersMakhdoom Amin Fahim, Khursheed Shahand other leaders to discuss the politicalsituation and to draw the future course ofaction. Matters related to choosing aParliamentary leader in the NationalAssembly was also discussed.Sources said names of Makhdoom Amin

Fahim, Khursheed Shah for Parliamentaryleader in the National Assembly and MirHazar Khan Bajrani, Nisar Khoro for SindhAssembly were considered. –AGENCIES

PPEESSHHAAWWAARR:: The AwamiNational Party (ANP) hasdecided to accept the resultsof the general elections of thecountry, despite concernsabout pre-poll rigging.“In spite of the serious

reservations of the partyregarding pre-poll rigging,ANP decides to accept theresults of the generalelections of the country,” saida press release issued byANP on Monday.Amir Haider Khan

secured the NA-9 seat fromMardan, the only seat ANPhas won in the NationalAssembly thus far.A meeting of the Central

Consultative Committee ofANP was held on Mondayin Islamabad, chaired byparty president AsfandyarWali Khan.Upon analysing the

electoral process, thecommittee concluded thatpre-poll rigging occurred inthe form of violent attacks,especially against the ANP.The press release claimed

that the party “was attacked31 times during itscampaign in which scores ofparty activists weremartyred and wounded.”Despite their claims of

pre-poll rigging, the partyaccepted the electionsresults.“As custodians of

democratic traditions, wewill play our role instrengthening democraticprocess in the country.”Asfandyar further lauded thecourage and determinationof party workers whocampaigned for ANPdespite serious threats totheir lives. –AGENCIES

PPEESSHHAAWWAARR:: The motherof ANP chief AsfandyarWali Khan, Begum NaseemKhan has blamed her sonfor the failure of the ANP inthe elections.Begum Khan said her son

did not know the “ABC ofPolitics,” adding that theyshould have boycotted theelections due to terrorism.She also attributed theinclusion of AfrasyiabKhattak in the party as amajor reason for defeat.“Leaders were sitting in

Islamabad while partyworkers were dying,” BegumKhan said. The ANP whichwas the governing party in

Khyber PakhtunkhwasuQered defeat at the handsof the PTI which gainedmajority in the provinceafter the 2013 elections. TheANP also just secured oneseat in the NationalAssembly. –MONITORING DESK

BBEEIIJJIINNGG:: New ChinesePremier Li Keqiang will visitIndia and Pakistan on hisfirst foreign trip sinceassuming oPce, on a week-long overseas foray that willalso take in Switzerland andGermany, the ForeignMinistry announced onMonday.Li, who became prime

minister in March, will meetIndian Prime MinisterManmohan Singh andPakistan President Asif AliZardari, as well as otherpolitical leaders, ministryspokesman Hong Lei said ata daily news briefing,without giving details.China and India, despite

both being foundingmembers of the BRICSgroup of developing nations

and having increasinglyclose economic relations,have long looked withsuspicion at each otherfollowing a brief border warin 1962, which China won.Both countries were

involved in a renewedborder standoff whichcalmed down this monthafter India agreed to aChinese demand todemolish a remote armyposition, a topicdiscussed when India’sforeign minister visitedChina last week.“The appropriate

resolution of this issueagain shows that both sides… are committed tofriendly consultation toresolve such problems,”Hong said. —AGENCIES

MMUULLTTAANN:: Former PakistanPeople’s Party (PPP) MNA JamshedDasti, who won two seats inSaturday’s elections as anindependent candidate, is set to jointhe majority party, the PakistanMuslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).According to sources close to

Dasti, the PML-N made contactwith the former PPP member onMonday after he won the NA-177and NA-178 seats.Dasti was contacted after the

PML-N leadership started toapproach all independents whohad won elections in Punjab.The MuzaQargarh representative

had braved stiQ competition fromNawabzada Iftikhar Khan in NA-178 and Nawabzada Mansoor inNA-177 to win back the seats hehad won in the 2008 generalelections. Sources said that Dastihad put forward four conditionsfor joining the majority party.Three of these were reportedlyaccepted while negotiations werecontinuing on a fourth demand.Dasti first asked the PML-N to

support him in the NA-178constituency in the by-elections.Secondly, he has asked for theMuzaQargarh link canal to berehabilitated. The third condition

reportedly was for the citizens ofdistrict MuzaQargarh to besafeguarded and not be left at themercy of the bureaucracy like in theprevious PML-N government overa decade ago. His fourth demandwas reportedly for labourers anddaily wage workers to be exemptedfrom transportation fare at thedistrict level. Apart from Dasti,other independent candidates havedecided to join PML-N as well.Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry won fromNA-169 and defeated TehminaDoltana. Raza Hayat Haraaj fromDistrict Khanewal in NA-156 beatFakhar Imran of PML-N.The candidates are expected to

formally announce their decisionto join the PML-N on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a three-member

committee was formed by thePML-N on Monday to contactindependent candidates, declaredwinners on national and provincialassembly seats from Punjab.According to media reports,

Rana Sanaullah will head thecommittee. Khawaja Hasan andMujtaba Shuja ur Rehman will beits members. Dozens ofindependent candidates emergedas winner after the May 11elections. –AGENCIES

BBRRUUSSSSEELLSS:: Annual meeting ofNATO Chief of Defence will starthere today (Tuesday) and continuetill Wednesday while chief of armystaQ Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayaniwill represent Pakistan.As per BBC, meeting will take

place at NATO Headquarters andGen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani hasbeen invited to participate in it.NATO sources said prevailing

situation in Afghanistan would bediscussed at length in the meeting.Sources said the allied forces

have evolved plan to pull out fromAfghanistan by the end of 2014and security of the country will behanded over Afghan forces. Preand post forces pull out scenariowill also feature in the discussion.The participants will exchange

views on all key regional and globalissues including terrorism. –ONLINE

QQUUEETTTTAA:: Death toll in Sunday'ssuicide attack in Quetta hasreached eight as one of the injuredsuccumbed to his wounds at theCombined Military HospitalQuetta on Monday, oPcials said.According to a Balochistan

government spokesman, eightpeople were killed and 97 injuredin the suicide blast targeting theconvoy of Inspector General PoliceMushtaq Ahmed Sukhera.The suicide bomber rammed his

explosive-laden vehicle into theconvoy of the police chief when hewas about to reach his residence."As IG Police entered his

residence, the suicide bomberstruck the convoy", SyedAhmed Mobeen toldDawn.com. He said fourpolicemen and a child were alsoamong those killed. –AGENCIES

PPP accepts masses’ verdict

Pakistanis havespoken throughballot: Zardari

ANP acceptsresults withreservations

‘Asfandyar doesn’tknow ABC of politics’

China PM to visitPakistan, India

Mush escapefrom court casedisposed of

ZEESHAN JAVAID

IISSLLAAMMAABBAADD:: The powermanagers have been in panicafter the reports that formerPunjab chief minister MianShahbaz Sharif is likely totake charge as federalminister of water and powerin the next cabinet.The entire country has now

been focusing over theassurances made my PML-Nleadership particularly Sharifbrothers, who stated duringtheir election campaigns toeliminate the electricity load-shedding on top prioritybasis. The former chiefminister, however, expressedhis willingness to take chargeas federal minister of waterand power in the nextcabinet, but the politicalcircles have also beenquerying about the chiefminister-ship of Punjab.On the other hand, the

power managers have beenin panic after the reportsthat former chief ministerPunjab Mian Shahbaz Sharifis likely to take charge asfederal minister of water andpower in the next cabinet.Well-informed sources in

federation informed TheSpokesman that the blursituation of water andpower’s upcoming chief, thehigh-ups dealt with powersector particularly appointedby former PPP governmenton nepotism basis havestarted to improve theirassociations with PML-Nleadership to secure theirposition in future. Not onlythe pattern-in-chief ofautonomous bodiesincluding NEPRA, OGRA,IRSA, AEDB, NPCC, NPCCand PPIB have been in panicto face the music for ongoingenergy crisis in the countrybut also the chief of federalinstitutions.

Jamshed Dastiset to join PML-N

NATO chief ofdefence meetingstarts today

Death tollrises to 8 inQuetta blast

Water & power ministry

Top managerspanick asShahbaz looms

� Party forms committee to woo independents

IMF team likely to visit Pakistan in June