Army should be prepared to face potential challenges: Army chief

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Saturday told the army’s armoured division that they should remain prepared to face any potential challenge. According to a press release issued by the Inter Service Public Relations, Gen Sharif met with the officers of the Armoured Division known as ‘men of steel’ on Saturday at Gujranwala Garrison on Saturday. “While we pay rich tributes to all our shaheeds and Ghazi brothers, we have to remain prepared to face potential challenges,” the release read. During his visit, the COAS commended the army’s “high standard of training and professionalism” and stressed upon the fact that they need to be prepared at all times to face potential challenges. Highlighting the pivotal role of of the armoured division in defence of the country that has earned the corps a number of gallantry awards and accolades in past wars, Gen Sharif said they were the spearhead of military’s punch. Upon his arrival, the general was received by Commander Mangla Corps Lieutenant General Tariq Khan and Commander Gujranwala Corps Lieutenant General Salim Nawaz.

Environmental concerns: ECNEC approves Rs23.8b Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Service

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Saturday approved the 13 kilometere long Metro Bus Service project between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, just days before the Supreme Court is due to hear about the environmental costs of the project. In a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar at the Prime Minister office on Saturday, the Rs23.839 billion project was cleared. The project now needs to secure clearance of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by the environmental protection agency. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani last week took notice of the ‘flawed’ route alignment of Islamabad section of the project in a bid to avert possible threat to the environment. The project’s cost will be shared by the federal and Punjab governments. The federal government will contribute Rs13.419 billion whereas the Punjab government will chip in Rs10.419 billion. The service aims to provide residents of the twin cities a high quality mass transit option. As part of the project, the Peshawar Morr Interchange will be constructed. The interchange is expected to redress the long standing complaint of congestion at this inter section. The project envisages construction of over 13 km long dedicated signal free corridor of 9.60 to 10.10 meters width at normal section and from 19.00 to 21.10 meters width at Metro Bus System (MBS) stations and tranches in Islamabad Territory. The proposed corridor will accommodate articulated buses running simultaneously in both directions. MBS project will start from IJ Principal Road at Faizabad where Rawalpindi portion terminates, and will traverse through IJ Principal Road, 9th Avenue, Jinnah Avenue and finally terminate at the Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad. The Islamabad portion includes Peshawar Morr Interchange as per CDA design and a provision for 14 bus stations with allied facilities. The meeting was attended by Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of State for Information Technology Anusha Rehman, Federal Secretaries and senior officials from central and provincial governments.

Pakistan dismisses reports of Malaysian jet in its territory

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's top aviation official on Saturday dismissed Western media reports that missing Malaysian airliner might be hidden somewhere in the country. “It’s wrong, plane never came towards Pakistan,” Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Aviation Shujaat Azeem told Dawn.com. His attention was drawn on the reports which said the disappeared plane was spotted near Pakistan in Indian Ocean. “Pakistan's civil aviation radars never spotted this jet,” he said. Azeem said the plane disappeared far away from Pakistani air space and was not visible on its radars, “so how it could be hidden somewhere in Pakistan.” However, he said that his division was on alert and following all developments related to the incident. “At present there are 95 ships of various countries are in the Indian Ocean on search mission,” said Azeem. “No one among those who are on search mission has contacted us to seek information on this tragedy.”

The advisor said that civil aviation would provide full cooperation when sought from Pakistan. He said Pakistan’s national carrier has sent a message to Malaysian airline expressing sympathies with the relatives of those who have gone missing on this unfortunate flight. Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak earlier today said communications aboard the missing jet were switched off and its course deliberately changed by someone on board before the aircraft disappeared a week ago, but stopped short of saying it had been hijacked. Previous scenarios included a sudden mid-air explosion, catastrophic equipment or structural failure, or a crash into the South China Sea. But Najib's announcement opened a whole new avenue of speculation including an attempted 9/11-style attack. The 9/11 hijackers had turned off the transponders of three of the four planes that were commandeered. Transponders transmit data on a plane's location to air traffic controllers. MH370's transponder was manually shut off, Najib said. Final satellite communication with the Boeing 777, scheduled to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, came more than six-and-a-half hours after it vanished from civilian radar at 1:30am on March 8, said Najib. That would equate with the time Malaysia Airlines has said the plane would have run out of fuel. Investigators had concluded the plane was diverted west from its original flight path, and thus a search in the South China Sea would end, Najib said, but would continue in the Indian Ocean. But the new search zone is now dauntingly large – Najib said the plane could be anywhere from Kazakhstan to the southern Indian Ocean. Earlier, a senior Malaysian military official had told AFP investigators believed the plane was commandeered by a “skilled, competent and current pilot” who knew how to avoid radar, stopping short of speculating whether a hijacker or crew member was suspected. 'Something beyond 9/11' Dozens of ships and aircraft from 14 countries have been deployed across a huge search zone since MH370 went missing. As the search continues, investigators will focus on who would have diverted it and why. Malaysian security officials were earlier embarrassed by revelations that two Iranian men had managed to board the plane using stolen European passports. It could also bring new attention on Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53, and his First Officer Fariq Abdul Hamid, 27. Malaysian reporters told AFP they witnessed police enter Zaharie's house on Saturday, staying for two hours. Police declined comment to AFP. An Australian television station had days earlier broadcast an interview with a South African woman who alleged she and a friend were invited into the cockpit of a flight Fariq co-piloted in 2011 – a breach of post-9/11 security rules. The New York Times quoted American officials with knowledge of the investigation saying the plane saw wild fluctuations in altitude after it changed course. “Investigations should focus on criminal and terrorist motives,” said Rohan Gunaratna, a terrorism expert at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. “It is likely that the aircraft was hijacked by a team knowledgeable about airport and aircraft security. It is likely they are supported by a competent team from the ground.” But Gerry Soejatman, a Jakarta-based independent aviation analyst, told AFP Saturday's revelations make a possible terror motive “extremely difficult to understand.” “If that was deliberate, we may be dealing with something beyond the mission planning for 9/11,” he said. 'A conspiracy from the beginning' Most of the plane's passengers were Chinese and the Malaysian leader's remarks did little to ease the nerves of anguished relatives gathered at a hotel in Beijing. “I feel (Malaysia Airlines) has been playing a role in the incident,” said Wen Wancheng, whose son was aboard, suspecting “a conspiracy.” He remained hopeful his son was alive. The airline defended its handling of the crisis, which it called “an unprecedented situation for Malaysia Airlines and for the entire aviation industry.”

Fresh trouble for Indian diplomat: Devyani Khobragade re-indicted in US visa fraud case

New York: US prosecutors have re-indicted Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade on visa fraud charges and accused her of "illegally" underpaying and "exploiting" her domestic maid. The fresh indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan also charges that Khobragade submitted to the US state department an employment contract of her domestic worker which she knew contained "materially false and fraudulent statements." The diplomat, who was transferred back to India and is now with the ministry of external affairs, has refuted the charges against her. Just a day before this re-indictment, a US court had dismissed an earlier indictment, accused her of visa fraud and making false statements about the visa application of her maid Sangeeta Richard. The 21-page indictment, filed by the office of India-born US prosecutor Preet Bharara, states that the diplomat "knowingly made" multiple false representations and presented false information to US authorities in order to obtain a visa for a personal domestic worker. The indictment said that "Khobragade did not want to pay the victim the required wages under US law or provide the victim with other protections against exploitative work conditions mandated by US law." "Knowing that if the US authorities were told the truth about the actual terms of her employment agreement with the victim, Khobragade would not have been able to obtain a visa for the victim, Khobragade decided to make false statements to the US authorities," it said. Khobragade was arrested on December 12 on visa fraud charges and for making false statements regarding the visa application of Richard. She was strip-searched and held with criminals, triggering a row between the two countries with India retaliating by downgrading privileges of certain category of US diplomats among other steps. (With PTI inputs)

'Baby girl with two heads' born in Sonepat; father denies to accept

New Delhi/Sonepat: In a rare case of conjoined twins, a 26-year-old woman gave birth to conjoined twins, who have two heads but share one body in Sonepat district of Haryana on Thursday. The girls were born to a wife of a labourer from Bihar. Doctors said that the condition of the twins is called 'dicephalus parapagus', where two bodies are fused from the upper thorax to lower belly.. The child with two heads is striving for its survival and has been referred to AIIMS, New Delhi. According to the doctors, the twins have two heads, one lung for each head, two necks and two spines, but only one body, two separate oesophaguses, a single stomach and heart. "Most of the vital organs are shared and it may not be possible to separate the twins," said a senior doctor at Sonepat's Cygnus JK Hindu Hospital, where the twins were born. The twins are currently in the hospital’s intensive care unit and are struggling for life. Reportedly, the father of the twins has refused to accept them.

LS Polls 2014: Nearly 60 lakh voters may opt for 'NOTA' affecting 70 Lok Sabha seats in UP

Lucknow: After suffering from salary discrepancies along with the issue of pension anomalies, the people have decided to teach a lesson to state and Central government. Under the banner of Employees Joint Council, many other organizations have decided to opt for 'none of the above' option in the upcoming elections. If the workers used NOTA in Uttar Pradesh, the results of nearly 70 Lok Sabha seats will be affected. The state workers are happy that NOTA was launched to use. They consider it as unique weapon against the government. The employees have started informing their district units about using this option in the upcoming elections. They said that they are completely ready for casting their vote and every member of their committee will give vote but their hands will only rise to press the NOTA button. There are 16 lakh workers in Employees Joint Council and adding on their family members the number increases to 60 lakh voters. If the workers did so, the results of 70 Lok Sabha seats will be affected. The employees are annoyed with the behavior of government as well as Council President Harikishore Tiwari & senior minister Shivbaran Singh Yadav. According to employees, the council started a campaign under which MPs were given the letter of restoration of old pension. Nearly 40 MPs mentioned in a letter that they were not satisfied with the decision but the government did not paid any heed to it. Harikishore said that employees had submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister in July. But the Central government remained unaffected. The workers raised voice demanding solution to their problems but the government never stepped forward for help.

India condemns fresh indictment filed by US prosecutors against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade

New Delhi: India has slammed the prosecutors of US for indictment of senior Indian diplomat in US Devyani Khobragade over her re-indictment in the visa fraud case. On Saturday, India said that it was an unnecessary step taking any measures which are consequent to the decision and will unfortunately impact upon building India-US strategic partnership. The spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said that as far as India is concerned, there is no merit in the case. He said that US Court has no jurisdiction in the country as Khobragade has now returned to India. The government will not engage in the case in the legal system of US. The strong reaction came after Khobragade was re-indicted on visa fraud by the prosecutor Preet Bharara. She was charged with underpaying the domestic help and exploiting her. MEA Spokesperson stated 'We are disappointed that the relevant office of the United States Department of Justice chose to obtain a second indictment against Devyani Khobragade, despite the fact that the first indictment and arrest warrant were dismissed earlier this week.' Prosecutor Bharara filed a 21 page long indictment in a federal court in Manhattan. Khobragade was arrested on December 12, 2013 in US on visa fraud charges and for making false statements regarding the visa application of Richard.

Family discord turn ugly, 28-year-old woman jumps into well with two daughters

Lalitpur (Uttar Pradesh): This incident has sent shock waves in the area. A woman took a drastic step and committed suicide by jumping into a well along with her toddlers. A 28 year-old Hemkumari allegedly committed suicide along with her two minor daughters by jumping into a well in Garokala village here, police said on Saturday. She jumping into a well on Sorai road along with her two daughters-Rashi(2) and Aradhana (8 months) allegedly over family discord, police said. The bodies have been fished out form the well and sent for post mortem examination, they said.

DELHI SHOCKER: German woman robbed by motorcylist minutes after auto driver molests her

New Delhi: A German woman was allegedly molested by an auto driver when she was returning back to her residence in Greater kailash-1. Just a few minutes after the incident, a motorcyclist also snatched her wallet making it difficult for her to reach home. The 31-year-old woman is pursuing her internship in the city. According to police, the woman told that she hired the auto around 10 pm from Ferozshah road on March 8. She said that the auto rickshaw driver stopped mid way claiming a snag. Pretending to fix the engine, she alleged that auto driver inappropriately touched her. Thereafter, she got off the auto and fled the spot. While the woman was waiting for another auto, a motorcyclist passing by her snatched her wallet leaving her helpless. The woman told police that she somehow managed to reach her accommodation in GK 1 and reiterated the whole incident to her mates. The police were finally informed about the incident on March 12. The statement of the woman has been recorded by the officials. The German national woman told police that she could not read auto's registration number as it was too dark. No arrests have been made in the case so far. SBS Tyagi, the DCP of Delhi, said that the incident took place near a metro station. The case has been registered at Barakhamba road police station as per the jurisdiction.

Sweater weather: Obama goes sweater shopping for wife and daughters

NEW YORK: President Barack Obama took on a daunting task on Tuesday: shopping for clothes for his wife and daughters during a brief stop at a Gap store in New York. Obama was in New York to attend two Democratic fundraisers aimed at building up campaign war chests for this year’s midterm congressional elections. At the store, he sorted carefully through sweaters in search of a purchase for one of his two daughters, Sasha and Malia, before holding up a pink one. “I’m worried the V-neck is going to slip,” the president said before opting for a regular-cut neck. Moving to the adult women’s section, Obama declared wife Michelle difficult to shop for: “Maybe I should buy some socks.” Obama had dropped by a Midtown Manhattan branch of the clothing chain to thank Gap Inc for its decision to raise the minimum wage to $9 an hour this year and $10 an hour in 2015. He has been campaigning to persuade businesses and Congress to raise wages for workers at the bottom of the scale. After picking a pair of sweaters and a blue workout jacket, Obama moved to the cash register, as reporters, photographers, aides, and Secret Service agents looked on. “I think the ladies will be impressed by my style sense,” he said, before admitting that his goal was to makes sure “that I didn’t completely screw up.” Using a credit card to pay, Obama pretended that he did not know that he could sign his name on the credit card machine. “Oh wow. So, you can sign the machine?” he said. Obama then thanked Gap for raising the minimum wage for its employees and urged other companies to do the same. “It’s not only good for them and their families, it’s also good for the entire economy,” he said.

Don’t let breakouts ruin summer

Keeping your skin acne-free in the summer is a struggle. Outdoor activities coupled with product-melting heat equals havoc for your skin. Perspiration can lead to a blockage of the hair follicles and secondary bacterial overgrowth, causing acne and inflammatory breakouts. That sounds pretty gross, but it’s not a sentence for your skin, it’s a warning. You can prevent trouble before it starts! Instead of covering up your face during these hot months, use the following tips to prevent summer acne breakouts: The deal with exfoliation

To keep skin beautiful and radiant, you should really exfoliate as often as you can. The summer months especially demand that you exfoliate every other day. After our mid-twenties, the skin’s natural ability to exfoliate starts to slow down. Young, fully functioning, healthy skin is able to fully exfoliate and replace itself within 28-30 days but after we reach our mid-twenties and early thirties, this time period becomes slower and sluggish and skin regeneration takes longer. This is the number one way to prevent clogged pores and dead skin build-up that can cause acne. Shower > Bath

What most of us aren’t aware of is that while it is incredibly relaxing to lounge in a bath, it is also a great way to provoke acne. If you are really craving lying in your bath tub, be sure to shower and exfoliate first and then, soak tired muscles in water that is free of soaps or bubble bath lotions. Using shower gels that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide is another useful tactic to fight summer acne. Showering is the only way to slough off dead skin cells. Fight those oil glands

Oil glands are in overdrive during hot weather. Active oil glands are one of the main causes of blackheads and clogged pores. The best way to control oily skin is to use a water-based toner in the morning and night. Many cheaply manufactured toners are alcohol-based. Avoid such toners at all cost because alcohol will dry out your skin. When skin is dry, oil glands are activated to balance skin’s moisture out. The power of sunscreen

Sun protection is essential to prevent acne because long periods of sun exposure results in very dry skin. When the skin is noticeably dry, the oil glands overcompensate and send oil to the skin’s surface. The only way to combat this and soothe the skin’s moisture-levels is with a wide-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30. It is best to use a BB cream that has sun protection in it. Avoid heavy sunscreens that are waterproof for daily wear, limit them to the beach. Time for change

A great way to keep your skin vibrant and glowing is to switch facial products periodically. A great time to change your skincare routine up is at the beginning of summer. Choose products that contain salicylic acid, it’s a miracle ingredient. Salicylic acid slowly renews the top layer of skin when used. Be careful that you don’t overdo it with multiple products though. When it comes to a summer skincare routine, just keep it simple. Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2014.

Innovative celebration of Basant

LAHORE: An all-day event was the perfect way for families to spend their Saturday afternoon, basking in the crisp spring sun while enjoying some halwa puri, gol gappas, laddu paithi and delicious kulfi, some live music and a fun screening of the Asia Cup final. While we might have lost the match, the crowd at least got to enjoy good food and company. Basant used to be a time for family and friends to gather and celebrate the arrival of spring. It was all about having good food, wearing bright colours and enjoying each other’s company. Kayseria reproduced all those elements as they launched their Spring/Summer 2014 collection. Qasr-e-Zauk was buzzing with high energy and happy people wanting to enjoy the day and be part of the festivities.

Live performance by Saeein Zahoor at the event celebrating Basant with an exclusive screening of the Asia Cup Final................................... Live music performances included those by Sufi folk singer Saieen Zahoor who sang Rabba Ho, QB performed Humsafar OST and covers of iconic Pakistani anthems while Jimmy Khan regaled the audience with his original songs Aisay Aisay, Nadiya and renditions of popular tracks from Coke Studio Gigs, Kir Kir and Laili Jaan. Kayseria’s Spring/Summer 2014 has three distinct themes of A Colour Riot inspired by Basant and everything that surrounded the idea of festival, Victorian Romance inspired by the Victorian Era and Letters of Love inspired by stamps. The collection includes a whooping 65 designs that were showcased in a fun fashion show, which showed various different ways of wearing your lawn. The most interesting style and a must try would be the lawn sari. Kayseria kept in mind the heritage of the festival of Basant as they designed their collection. Prints inspired by southern Punjab were distinct and vibrant. Families and guests enjoyed fun music as they moved through the stalls enjoying their nibbles and the children gathered around to see the puppet show. Juggan Kazim, spokesperson for Garnier was also present at the event imparting beauty tips and advice on different hair care techniques and the best practices to have healthy hair. Published in The Express Tribune, March 11th, 2014.

Summer-proof your skin from sins

NEW DEHLI: The summer season is setting in and it’s time to keep a special check on your skin. Keep away from smoking and stress to maintain the glow on your face, suggests an expert. Sirisha Singh of the Skin Center, a skin treatment consultancy, has shared six common sins which have the potential to spoil one’s skin. Here’s a dekko: Smoking: Nicotine intake not only damages, but has the potential to kill the skin. It causes thinning of blood vessels in the skin. Therefore, lesser amount of oxygen is available to the skin, and that affects the ability of the skin to renew and regenerate. Over a period of time, this hastens ageing of the skin. Many heavy smokers also suffer from “fag lines” which are lines that radiate out from the outer edge of the lips. Unprotected sun exposure: This comes a close second to nicotine in terms of skin sins. Cumulative exposure to ultra violet rays over the years, adds up to significant skin damage and adds years to the skin. The UV light causes pigmentation of the skin, damages the collagen (the elastic tissue) of the skin and in extreme cases, also has the potential to cause skin cancers. Wearing make-up to bed: During the night, the skin rejuvenates itself. The temperature of the skin goes up a notch and the pores open up. Hence, it is vital to cleanse the skin at night to unplug the pores and use night creams or vitamin rich creams overnight as they penetrate better at night. Stress: Stress causes damage to almost all organs of the body, the skin being no exception. During stress, our body releases a hormone called cortisol. This reduces the blood supply to the skin and over a period of time, the skin may appear dull, sallow and may also develop acne. Skipping sleep: The term “beauty sleep” is not a myth. It is based on scientific facts. During sleep, our body releases growth hormone. This hormone helps the skin to heal itself and adds a healthy glow. Unhealthy eating: During summers, the heat and UV rays cause significant oxidative damage to skin and other organs. Brightly coloured fruits and vegetables are rich in anti-oxidants, which help in combating this damage. If our intake of anti-oxidants in the diet is inadequate, there is extensive damage to cells which is manifested as accelerated ageing

Pinkberry co-founder gets 7 years in prison in beating case

LOS ANGELES: A co-founder of the Pinkberry frozen yogurt chain who was convicted last year of beating a homeless man with a tire iron over a tattoo he considered disrespectful was sentenced on Friday to seven years in prison. Young Lee, a 49-year-old South Korean kick boxer-turned-architect who parted ways with Pinkberry in 2010, was convicted in November of assault with a deadly weapon, along with special allegations that he caused great bodily injuries to his victim. A spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Lee was sentenced to the maximum of four years in prison for the assault, with an additional three years for the special allegations. Lee may also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim, who suffered a broken forearm and cuts to his head in the June 2011 attack, prosecutors said. Prosecutors say Donald Bolding was panhandling at a Los Angeles freeway off-ramp when he flashed a sexually explicit tattoo on his belly at Lee, his then-fiancee and another man in the couple’s Range Rover. Lee drove away from the scene but returned a short time later, chased down the transient and beat him with a tire iron before several people intervened, Deputy District Attorney Bobby Zoumberakis said in a statement. Lee left the country following the attack but was arrested when he returned in January 2012. Prosecutors say he threatened the man who was riding in the Range Rover to keep quiet about the incident. Along with his former wife, entrepreneur Shelly Hwang, Lee helped start Pinkberry in 2005 and was credited with bringing a sleek, modern architecture to the company that helped attract celebrities and hipsters alike to its locations. Pinkberry, a franchise business, spawned a number of frozen yogurt imitators. In 2001, Lee pleaded no contest to felony possession of cocaine and a misdemeanor charge of carrying a loaded firearm and was sentenced to two days in jail and three years of probation, according to prosecutors.

UK couple jailed for videos hailing soldier's murder

LONDON: A British judge on Friday jailed a young Muslim couple for making YouTube videos that praised the murder of a soldier by extremists in London last year, and for urging similar attacks overseas. Royal Barnes, 23, and his wife Rebekah Dawson, 22, had admitted recording and uploading three videos hailing the frenzied murder of Lee Rigby near his barracks in Woolwich by two men. Barnes had also posted on Facebook an offer to give his car and some cash to anyone who beheaded a French, British or US soldier in “Muslim lands”. At the Old Bailey court in London, Barnes was jailed for five years and four months for inciting terrorism overseas and was handed 26 months each for three counts of disseminating a terrorist publication, to run concurrently. Dawson, who wore a full veil in the dock, was sentenced to 20 months for each of three counts of disseminating a terrorist publication, which will also run concurrently. Judge Brian Barker said the videos the couple made were “offensive in the extreme”, adding: “Freedom of speech has long been jealously regarded by the law but with that freedom comes respect and responsibility.” The first video was made the day Rigby was attacked, which Dawson hailed as a “brilliant” day. It included graphic images of a man holding a decapitated head, a scene of the murder and another of the Twin Towers in New York which were attacked in September 2001. The second video was similar but featured Dawson ranting about how British troops would be killed on the streets of London. In the third, Barnes was filmed laughing at the floral tributes left at the murder scene. Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, two Muslim converts, were jailed for life last month for murdering Rigby in May 2013 by running over and then attacking him with knives. Rigby had previously served in Afghanistan, and in his Facebook post a month after the murder Barnes urged further attacks on serving Western soldiers. He wrote: “Any1 who kills an invading soldier in Muslim land I will give them a Vauxhall Astra 3door and money (French British American any kaffir soldier take ur pick).” Barnes had previous convictions for using threatening words or behaviour and for assault, and had also taken part in vigilante patrols in east London promoting Sharia law, the court heard.

Gunmen kill six army officers near Cairo

CAIRO: Gunmen shot dead six army officers near Cairo on Saturday, the second attack on Egyptian security forces in three days that the military has blamed on the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood of deposed President Mohamed Mursi. Egypt has been hit by an insurgency that has mainly targeted the police and army since the military overthrew Mursi in July, and about 300 security officers have been killed in the wave of violence. Saturday’s attack on a military police checkpoint was carried out by unidentified gunmen who then fled, according to state media. A senior security source told state TV that two bombs found near the checkpoint had also been defused. The army released a statement shortly after, blaming the Brotherhood, but the movement’s leader Amr Darrag denied the accusation. “I condemn the killing of Egyptian soldiers. How can the Muslim Brotherhood be accused a few minutes after the attack with no evidence or investigation,” he said on Twitter. The military-backed government condemned the attack and said it was determined to combat militant attacks. Analysts expect attacks on security forces to increase in the coming months when a presidential vote is due to take place which is widely expected to be won by army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Sinai-based militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis has claimed responsibility for a series of high-profile attacks on senior security officials, including an assassination attempt on the interior minister last year. The checkpoint raid on Saturday came two days after an officer was killed in an attack on an army bus which the military also blamed on the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood, which says it is committed to peaceful activism, condemned that attack and accused the government of trying to implicate it for political reasons. The interim government declared the Brotherhood a terrorist group in December and a security crackdown has devastated the movement, driving Egypt’s most organised political organisation underground. Mursi, other Brotherhood leaders and hundreds of activists have been jailed pending trial over violence-related crimes. The army said last Wednesday that security forces had recently killed seven militants and arrested 36 others, all linked to the Brotherhood and suspected to be involved in attacks against security forces since Mursi was toppled. The Brotherhood has denied any links to such attacks.

WorldT20: Shahid Afridi says Pakistan and India have equally good teams

KARACHI: If the Indian World Twenty20 team is good, then our team is just as good, stated all-rounder Shahid Afridi while speaking to the media in Karachi. He further said that the “Pakistan cricket team had just returned from Bangladesh and therefore should take advantage of it”, adding that it was familiar with the conditions in Bangladesh as well as the pitch. On March 2, Afridi had led Pakistan to a thrilling victory against its arch-rivals during the Asia Cup by scoring two consecutive sixes in the last over of the match. Commenting on the Indian team’s recent performance, the all-rounder said that even though the Indian team was strong, they have not been performing well. The cricket-star remarked that he trusted the Pakistani team but a lot of hard work was required for the WorldTwenty20, further stating that the team should make lesser mistakes for better results.

Religious persecution: Sikhs lash out against murder, kidnappings

PESHAWAR: Sikh residents of the city protested on Friday against the killing of a Sikh hakim in Charsadda a day before and an earlier abduction of two others in DI Khan. “These incidents are part of the deteriorating law and order situation in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa (K-P),” said Sardar Charanjeet Singh, leading the protest. He strongly condemned the attack on minorities and demanded the provincial government to take steps for their protection. The rally began from Gurdwara Bhai Singh inside Dabgari Gardens and moved towards Mohallah Jogan Shah as the protesters chanted slogans. The protest continued until the bodies of the deceased were shifted to Attock for cremation. “There is no doubt that every citizen of the province is a victim of the precarious situation in K-P,” said Charanjeet, adding, “but non-Muslims are more insecure and marginalised as compared to others.” He emphasised the Sikh are a peaceful people and have no rivalries with anyone. Charanjeet added the deceased, Pramjeet Singh, had been running his own herbal medication clinic in the district for 17 years. A protester, Hardyal Singh, said another Sikh, Sardar Bhagwan Singh, had been killed in Tangi, Charsadda, in January while coming home from work. The local police had not been successful in arresting the killers so far, he added. “We are Pakistani citizens and are ready to render any sacrifices for this country,” said Hardyal. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of those behind the attack and asked the provincial government to punish them. A hakim belonging to the Sikh community, Pramjeet and his employee were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Shabqadar, Charsadda on Thursday. Two others, Anand Singh and Sawrender Singh, were abducted from DI Khan a month ago.

World Consumer Rights Day 2014: Attention paid to consumer rights–at least today

KARACHI: With the world celebrating the World Consumer Rights Day 2014 on Saturday, the Pakistani consumer couldn’t ask for a better theme than “Fix Our Phone Rights” – the focus for this year. With a cellular subscriber base of 132 million, the country’s cellular users remain vulnerable to deceptive marketing practices, say consumer rights activists. With an expected rise in data services – to be driven by the rollout of high-speed mobile internet technology – there will be a greater need for data security, transparent billing and fair contracts, they say. This year’s theme is aimed to make phone regulators and companies more accountable to the consumers, through access to a reliable service, security of their data, fair contracts and billing and curtailing abuse, The Network for Consumer Protection said in a statement. The rise in mobile ownership has not been without its problems. The low literacy rate in Pakistan has not helped, with some elements troubling consumers with obnoxious and unwanted communication, the statement said. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority received 29,714 consumer complaints against mobile operators about issues including fraudulent calls and text messages, misuse of mobile services, billing and quality of services, it said. The rights activists also proposed that the services should be affordable – the country’s cellular tariffs, however, are already one of the lowest in the world. Focus on other sectors in general While the telecom sector remained the focus of attention for the international community in 2014, Pakistan is far behind the rest of the world when it comes to protection of consumer rights in general. Apart from Punjab, one hardly finds enforcement of consumer laws while Sindh doesn’t even have one. “Pakistan is a signatory to the United Nations Guidelines on Consumer Protection but the plight of [its] consumers is quite pathetic,” said Abrar Hafeez, an official at the Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP). Hafeez said the Islamabad Consumer Protection (CP) Act 1995 was the first consumer protection act enacted in Pakistan followed by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) CP Act of 1997. Implementation of both these laws is poor as very few consumer complaints were submitted to these courts, he said. The K-P CP law was replicated, with a few minor changes, in Balochistan as well but its implementation is yet to be seen, he said. The 2005-enactment of Consumer Protection Act by the Punjab government remains the only example of a successful implementation, according to experts. There are 11 District Consumer Courts and an equal number of District Consumer Protection Councils, which are operational in the province since 2006, according to Hafeez. “The performance of these courts and councils has been widely appreciated by the consumers,” he said. Hafeez’s observations were echoed by former director at the Punjab Consumer Protection Council Saeed Akhtar Ansari. There has been a significant rise in the level of awareness and trust on the consumer courts, he said. People in Lahore and some other districts, for example, were demanding for more consumer courts as the existing ones have about 10,000 to 15,000 cases pending, he said. While consumers in Punjab, particularly in Lahore, are demanding for more consumer courts to cater to their growing demand, those in Sindh don’t have even one. In fact, there is no consumer law in place in the province. “Sindh is the only province that remains without a consumer protection law,” said Hamid Maker who is the founder of Helpline Trust, a consumer rights organisation. Whatever deceptions consumers are facing in the market is because of the absence of consumer law, he said, questioning the provincial government, “Why don’t have a consumer protection law.” Maker told a press conference on Thursday that the Sindh Consumer Protection Bill was tabled in the Sindh Assembly recently. “The existing Consumer Protection laws should be fully operationalised and a Consumer Protection Law should be enacted for Sindh without further loss of time,” said Hafeez of the CRCP. Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2015.

Inspiring women: Asma against viewing rights through the prism of religion

ISLAMABAD: The major challenge facing Pakistani women at the moment is dealing with an extremist mindset that is spreading across geographical borders, according to eminent lawyer and rights defender Asma Jahangir. Jahangir, a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was speaking at a new seminar series launched by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Friday. The series titled “Inspiring Change: Women of Substance” will attempt to rediscover the life and work of brave and accomplished Pakistani women, said Dr Maleeha Aslam, Head of SDPI’s Gender and Human Security division, who was in conversation with Jahangir during the session. In a candid talk on personal and professional aspects of her life, Jahangir said the major challenge for women is a growing “talibanisation of the mind that ranges from childhood to every institutional level.” She qualified that this mindset is not limited to Pakistan or a geographical boundary. At the same time, she said, human rights, which are about helping vulnerable groups and supporting fundamental liberties, have gained importance. “Human rights are far more important than anything else because they are the only binding force left between citizens and the state.” She said there has been a shift in the social contract in Pakistan so that religion or ethnicity was no longer a binding force. “It is only this now: if the state will protect my rights, then I will be a part of the state,” she said. The dimensions of human rights are also increasing; it is impossible to describe every right through the prism of religion, Jahangir said. “They now encompass rights for people with disabilities and talk of rights for the LGBT community, which will hopefully add to human dignity.” In a system that promotes corrupt individuals and discourages talented ones, Jahangir said there was no other option left but to fix the “dysfunctional state.” The Pakistani public is out of options, she added, referring to political candidates. The Council of Islamic Ideology, she said, is a testament that elected representatives who appoint people to such constitutional bodies do not take religion seriously. “The council might be a joke, but the frustration of a rape survivor who burnt herself alive was legitimate and valid. The incident should remind Pakistanis about the country’s flawed criminal justice system and force action.” Pro-women laws have brought some noticeable changes in Pakistan, she said. “Changes that can be quantified by the reduction in numbers of women arrested under the Hudood Ordinance and of women seeking bail.” She believes some aspects of women-specific laws were not well thought out and Pakistanis have developed a tendency for “over-legislation.” Consideration should be given to the laws’ implementation the same way a framework for the application of the anti-workplace harassment law was developed. On a personal note, Jahangir talked about growing up independent, about her sister Gul Rukh who taught her everything she knows about law and about the fearlessness that has come with turning 60. “I want a dignified life,” she said. “If I have to live by the rules of bigots, I’d rather die.” Despite systemic harassment and the poor state of women, society now recognises women should be empowered. There are more opportunities than ever before, for example, for a woman to become a judge in Pakistan, she added. “(But) we shouldn’t forget there are women out there who suffer,” she said. “We should not get arrogant and we should realise that we owe to women who are suffering.” Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2014.

Breakthrough: Missing person traced to Lakki internment centre

ISLAMABAD: After repeated denial by the Military Intelligence regarding the enforced disappearance of a man, defence ministry has conceded before the apex court that Tasif Ali, husband of Abida Malik, is interned at the Internment Centre in Lakki Marwat. Abida Malik had claimed before the Supreme Court that her husband went missing on November 23, 2011 from the Sadiqabad police area in Rawalpindi after an argument with Major Haider of the Military Intelligence (MI). In response to her petition, the Assistant Attorney General on July 31, 2013 placed on record a statement on behalf of the MI Directorate that the ‘matter has been consulted’. He insisted that Tasif was neither apprehended nor held in custody and as per ground checks Major Haider was not involved in his (Tasif’s) disappearance. Later, DIG Investigation Punjab police Abdul Qadir Qayyum, specially appointed to probe the case, confirmed that Haider’s real name was Major Muhammad Ali Ahsan but the army authorities refused to hand him over to the police and contended that police could not investigate a matter under Army Act 1952. The bench, however, turned down the request. A three-judge bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, hinted at the possibility of summoning an army commandant, on March 10, who did not allow his junior officer to join the investigation. The bench also gave army authorities a final opportunity to allow Major Ali Ahsan to record his statement before the court. During Friday’s hearing Additional Attorney General for Pakistan Shah Khawar, submitted a letter from the defence ministry, stating that Tasif Ali was apprehended on March 5, 2014 and he has been interned at Internment Centre Lakki Marwat under Action in Aid of Civil Powers Regulations 2011. The bench then directed the AAGP to arrange a meeting between Tasif and his relatives at a convenient place. Counsel for the applicant, requested the bench to take up contempt petition against the incumbent defence secretary, former Army Chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and others for not complying with the court’s order about the recovery of a missing person who was allegedly abducted by an army officer. Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2014.

Question of honour: Teenage girl killed for marrying outside clan

KARACHI / JHOL: A 17-year-old girl was allegedly buried alive in the Bheel tribe’s graveyard some two months after she married a man of her choice. The graveyard is located in Hakim Khan Murree village in Sinjhoro taluka, Sanghar district. Police officials say the process to exhume the girl’s body is currently under way. The girl, identified only as Sughra, was killed because she dared to marry someone outside her clan. Jhol SHO Ghazi Khan Rajar, however, refuted claims that the girl was buried alive. Speaking with The Express Tribune, he said she was ‘slaughtered’ before she was buried and an exhumation will be carried out on the court’s orders. The girl’s father, Shafi Muhammad Brohi, lodged an FIR, Number 13/2014, against his two cousins at the Jhol town’s police station on Thursday night and police have arrested Ghulam Haider Brohi and Nazar Mohammad Brohi, Sughra’s uncles. Sughra married Muhammad Ali Khaskheli two months ago. Following the involvement of the elders of the Khaskheli clan, Sughra was told to return from Badin, where the couple was living, to her parent’s village 15 days ago. Sughra’s uncles approached her father, requesting that the girl be turned over to them for a few days in their village. When Sughra’s father visited the village a few days later, he was told that his daughter had been killed. Locals say Sughra tried to escape before she was murdered. Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2014.

Decree controversy: Civil society activists seek abolition of CII

II Chairman Maulana Muhammad Khan Sheerani. ISLAMABAD: Civil society activists have demanded that the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) be abolished to avoid controversies related to interpretation of religious matters. They rejected a decree issued by the CII that “Islam does not prohibit underage marriage (Nikkah)”. They demanded that the government removed CII Chairman Maulana Muhammad Khan Sheerani for what they called his ‘misogynist and inhuman mindset’. “We have more than sufficient Islamic and constitutional arguments and evidence to strongly back our position, both against polygamy and early marriage. Since a case of the Women’s Action Forum is still sub-judice in the Shariat appellate bench of the Supreme Court, the CII deliberately made the inflammatory statement which is contempt of court,” said a statement issued by civil society organisations. Human right activist Dr Farzana Bari said that the CII always remained a controversial body and issued illogical statements. She said that “this is modern age and we must follow accordingly, but unfortunately the body has an old mindset which interprets through its mindset. There is no need of the CII and it should be abolished as we have a constitution and that is enough.’’. She regretted that Islam was being ‘misinterpreted’ by a particular school of thought. Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2014.

Shahbaz Sharif announces Rs0.5m for family of Muzaffargarh rape victim

MUZAFARGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced Rs0.5 million for the family of the rape victim who set herself on fire in Muzaffargarh, Express News reported on Saturday. The girl had set herself on fire on March 13 in front of the Mir Hazar Khan police station after hearing that the suspects who had allegedly raped her were granted bail. With 70% of her body burnt, the girl succumbed to her injuries on March 14 in the hospital. Shahbaz had taken notice of the incident earlier and had directed the authorities concerned to submit a report. Today, the Punjab chief minister visited the family of the victim in Muzaffargarh and assured them that those responsible for the tragedy will be held accountable. He also said that he will do everything he can to give her justice. While speaking to the media, Shahbaz said that the investigating officer Rana Zulfiqar had done great injustice, further stating that the incident was “a slap and a stain on humanity.” Shahbaz also ordered IG Punjab Khan Baig to arrest the suspects as soon as possible. He suspended District Police Officer (DPO) Muzaffargarh Usman Akram Gondal and reprimanded Regional Police Officer (RPO) Abdul Qadir Qayyum. The Punjab chief minister also ordered that the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Chaudhry Asghar, the investigating officer and the SHO be arrested. The father of the deceased, while speaking to Shahbaz, claimed that the investigating officer took Rs70,000 as a bribe and then declared the suspected rapists innocent and released them on bail. The mother of the victim also threatened to set herself on fire if justice did not prevail.

Ahrarul Hind claims responsibility for Peshawar, Quetta blasts

PESHAWAR / QUETTA: An increasingly active Taliban splinter group, Ahrarul Hind claimed responsibility for the Quetta and Peshawar blasts. On March 13, attacks in Peshawar and Quetta killed a total of 19 people. In Peshawar, a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a police vehicle, killing at least nine bystanders including a woman and a child, police said. In Quetta, at least 10 people were killed when a motorcycle laden with explosives exploded near a college in the city center, police said. “We claim both Peshawar and Quetta attacks,” chief of Ahrarul Hind Umar Qasmi told Reuters. “We don’t abide by these [peace] talks and will continue to stage attacks.” Ahrarul Hind, which splintered from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan just a month ago, had previously claimed responsibility for an attack in central Islamabad earlier this month when suicide bombers and gunmen killed 11 people in a court. Investigators believe that Qasmi, the leader of the group, is capable of drawing support from other militant outfits, including several linked to al Qaeda that have wreaked havoc in the country over the last decade. Yesterday, members of the TTP negotiating team seeking to revive the stalled peace process traveled to North Waziristan in an attempt to bring their leaders to the negotiating table.

Baba Ladla, Uzair Baloch gangs declare ceasefire in Lyari: QAT president

KARACHI: The Baba Ladla and Uzair Baloch gangs have declared a ceasefire in Lyari, Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) president Ayaz Latif Palejo told Express News on Saturday. Palejo said that both groups have assigned him the task of restoring peace in the area. He said that Lyari Ittehad Committee has been formed to overlook the process of ensuring peace in the area. The committee will be headed by the QAT president. Palejo told Express News that the decision to declare a ceasefire was made after speaking to members of both gangs over the past ten days. He also stated that both gangs have assured him that they will not take any action to disrupt peace in Lyari. Palejo asked all political parties and the Director General Rangers to help the committee achieve peace in the area and in Karachi. Brewing tension The announcement comes three days after rival gangs fought bloody battles in Lyari, leaving 19 civilians – among them 10 women and four children – dead and 50-plus wounded on March 12. Law-enforcers claimed that they killed eight alleged gangsters involved in the bloodshed. Although tension has been brewing in Lyari since the killing of five relatives of Baba Ladla, the head of one of the three major criminal gangs, on March 10, the situation boiled over on March 12 when a brother of Ghaffar Zikri, the head honcho of another powerful gang allied with the Baba Ladla group, was killed in an alleged encounter with the law enforcers. According to insiders, the two gangs suspected that their rival, Uzair Baloch, the head of the defunct Peoples Amn Committee, was behind these killings. Interestingly, the dons of all three gangs – Baba Ladla, Ghaffar Zikri and Uzair Baloch – have been underground for a couple of months – and it’s their minions who have been operating in Lyari, which has been plagued by sporadic outbreak of criminal-related violence since long.

PIA finds no serious bidder for obtaining aircraft on dry lease

KARACHI: Bidders showed little interest in tenders floated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to obtain aircraft on dry lease as none of the five could meet the conditions prescribed by the national flag carrier when bids were opened on Friday. The bids were opened in the presence of media personnel and PIA Chairman Mohammad Ali Gardezi and Managing Director Junaid Yunus at the PIA head office. PIA had floated the tenders for obtaining eight aircraft — four wide-bodied with 390-plus seating capacity and four smaller ones having 50-plus seating capacity — on a six-year dry lease. The delivery of the aircraft had to start from July, 2014. Five companies — Dubai Aerospace, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of China, Aircraft Leasing Corporation and D.V. Bank — had submitted the bids. Some companies offered Boeing 777s while others ATRs. None of the bidders met the conditions as some were offering old aircraft — as old models as 1999 — while others were not able to deliver the aircraft within the prescribed time and offering to make the delivery in 2015 and 2016 or even later. Responding to media queries about PIA finances, Mr Gardezi said that monthly expenditure of the airline was around Rs13 billion while it was earning between Rs9bn and Rs9.5bn a month. To a question, Mr Yunus said PIA was making efforts to upgrade its engineering facilities so that not only it could maintain its aircraft but could also offer its services to other airlines and earn revenue.

US, Russia fail to bridge differences ahead of Crimea vote

LONDON: The United States and Russia failed on Friday to resolve a Cold-War-style crisis sparked by Moscow's military intervention in Crimea and the Ukrainian peninsula's weekend referendum on joining Kremlin rule. US Secretary of State John Kerry met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in London with few hopes that Sunday's Moscow-backed referendum in the strategic Black Sea peninsula could be averted or delayed. But US officials said they still expected Moscow to avoid taking the extra step of actually annexing the region of two million mostly Russian speakers in a move that would escalate the biggest East-West showdown since the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. Lavrov however told reporters after more than three hours of talks with Kerry at the lavish US ambassador's residence in central London that Russia and the West were still far apart on Ukraine. “We have no common vision of the situation,” said Lavrov. “Differences remain.” Lavrov also said that Moscow “has no, and cannot have, any plans to invade the southeast region of Ukraine” where Russian speakers mostly reside. But he hinted of Moscow's resolve to put Crimea under its eventual control. “Everyone understands, and I say this with all responsibility, what Crimea means to Russia, and that it means immeasurably more than the Comoros (archipelago) for France or the Falklands for Britain.” The Kremlin simultaneously issued a statement saying that President Vladimir Putin had told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that Crimea's decision to conduct the referendum was “in full accordance with the norms of international law and the UN Charter”. Kerry characterised his talks with Lavrov as “very direct, very frank”. “Neither we nor the international community will recognise the results of this referendum,” he said, adding that if it takes place, “there will be some sanctions, there will be some response.” Kerry said that President Barack Obama has already “made it clear that there will be consequences” if Russia failed to take immediate steps to resolve the flaring crisis on the EU's eastern frontier. “We would like to see actions and not words that (Russia) is diminishing its presence in Ukraine,” the top US diplomat said. The self-declared pro-Kremlin head of Crimea who initially called the controversial referendum had earlier given Western negotiators some hope by indicating he did not expect Russia to annex his region right away. “It would take a maximum of one year,” Sergiy Aksyonov told reporters in the Crimean capital of Simferopol. Kerry said only that he did not expect Putin to make a decision on Crimea until after the referendum. Ukraine meanwhile remained a tinderbox as more than 8,000 Russian troops staged drills near its eastern border while Nato and US reconnaissance aircraft and fighters patrolled the skies of the ex-Soviet state's EU neighbours to the west. Kerry has warned Russia that Washington and Europe could announce a “very serious” response as early as Monday if Moscow does not pull back the troops who seized control of Crimea days after the pro-Kremlin regime fell in Kiev last month. Yet Russia still refuses to recognise the legitimacy of the Western-leaning team that has taken power in Kiev, a move that threatens to shatter Putin's dream of rebuilding a Soviet-type empire. Deadly violence returned this week to Ukraine for the first time since nearly 90 people were killed in a week of carnage before the fall of the pro-Moscow regime as a pro-Kiev protester was stabbed to death in the mostly Russian-speaking city of Donetsk. The local health service said a 22-year-old man died and 16 people were wounded in unrest that erupted when pro-Kiev demonstrators were attacked by pro-Moscow protesters. Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov blamed the death on separatists “sent in” from Russia. “These people and the Kremlin do not care about the lives of those they claim to be protecting,” Turchynov said in a statement.

Over 30 injured in kite-flying incidents

RAWALPINDI: More than 30 people, including women and children, were brought to different hospitals with bullet injuries, fractures, wounds and cuts they received during kite flying-related incidents on Friday. The city areas reverberated with the sounds of gunfire throughout the day, particularly in the vicinities of sensitive installation such as the Nur Khan Airbase and the Benazir Bhutto International Airport. One of the injured being treated at the District Headquarters Hospital was stated to be in a critical condition. The emergency police services were flooded with phone calls with citizens demanding action against those flying kites and opening fire in jubilation during the Basant festivals despite a ban imposed by the government. The areas where the police seemed helpless in checking kite flying and implementing the ban included Jhanda Chichi, Dhoke Chiraghdin, Dehri Hassanabad and Railway Colony near Ammar Chowk. “I can hear very clearly the sound of gunshots fired by kite flyers as some people could be seen even on the rooftops of the hospital building,” a police official told Dawn from Benazir Bhutto Hospital. Rehana Hameed, 18, was passing through Raja Bazaar when she was hit by a stray bullet believed to be fired by kite flyers. She and little Hijra were among the 10 persons who received injuries after stray bullets hit them. “I along with my family was sitting on the rooftop of my house in Dhoke Ratta when my younger daughter Hajra, 10, started screaming with pain as a bullet hit her. As she was taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, the doctors confirmed that she had been hit by a stray bullet,” said Sajid Mehmood, the father of the girl. Esha Asif, 8, a resident of Morgah, and Raheela Hussain, 12, of Hazara Colony were among the victims of gunshots who were brought to the DHQ Hospital. “My niece was cooking meal in the kitchen of her house at Hazara Colony when a stray bullet hit her in the foot,” Saddique Ahmed said. He said the whole Hazara Colony was reverberating with the sounds of gunshots but the police were watching the incidents helplessly. He said people were seen firing gunshots from the rooftops of their houses to celebrate Basant. Besides the 10 people who sustained bullet injuries, scores of others were brought to the hospitals with injuries, cuts and wounds they sustained after falling from rooftops while flying kites. Arslan Ahmed, 25, was brought to the Holy Family Hospital with deep cuts he suffered when a kite string hit him on the road. And three other victims injured in similar incidents were brought to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital.

Gas pipeline blown up in Pirkoh

DERA MURAD JAMALI: A part of the 16-inch diameter pipeline was blown up in Pirkoh gas field area of Dera Bugti district on Friday. The explosive device was placed under the pipeline which went off with a big bang, suspending supply to the purification plant. “A big portion of the pipeline blew up in pieces,” Levies officials said, adding that it would be repaired on Saturday. The banned Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the blast. Meanwhile, the body of a woman identified as Gohar Khatoon was found in Sohbatpur. Police said she was killed by her husband. The body was handed over to heirs. No arrest was reported.

Shakil Afridi case: Commissioner FCR reduces sentence by 10 years

PESHAWAR: The Commissioner of Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) Captain retd Munir Azam, while announcing judgment in the Dr Shakil Afridi detention case on Saturday, reduced his conviction by 10 years and also reduced the fine by Rs 1 million. Earlier, Afridi’s lawyers had appealed to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) tribunal for removal of the sentence which was then submitted to the Commissioner FCR for review. The Commissioner FCR, who is the Commissioner of Peshawar Division, upheld the old judgment but removed one Clause 123 A and reviewed the jail term and the fine. On the occasion, the accused’s counsel Samiullah Afridi said the decision was unexpected and that they would appeal against it in the Fata tribunal. Dr Shakil’s lawyer added that they had not demanded a review of the verdict but that they wanted a fresh trial in the case. Afridi had allegedly helped the CIA by running a fake vaccination campaign in Abbottabad a month before the US forces raid on a compound that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in 2011. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison and fined Rs320,000 on charges of colluding with Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) and its chief Mangal Bagh in 2012. However, the tribal court had not entertained evidence relating to Dr Shakil Afridi’s involvement with the CIA, citing lack of jurisdiction. His sentence was overturned last year in August and a retrial was ordered.

Military data suggests 'skilled' flyer turned Malaysia jet

KUALA LUMPUR: Investigators now believe a Malaysian jet that vanished was commandeered by a “skilled, competent” flyer who piloted the jet for hours, a senior Malaysian military official said Saturday as Prime Minister Najib Razak prepared to address the nation. Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, the official cited Malaysian military radar data that investigators believe indicate the Boeing 777 may have radically changed course and headed northwest towards the Indian Ocean. “It has to be a skilled, competent and a current pilot,” the official said. “He knew how to avoid the civilian radar. He appears to have studied how to avoid it.” Prime Minister Najib's office said on its Twitter account that he would address the media at 1:30 pm. It gave no further details, but the official's comments and the planned press briefing raised expectations of a major announcement in the case. Najib has so far left press briefings in the crisis to lower-ranking officials. The plane's intended flight path for the Kuala Lumpur-Beijing journey was to be north over the South China Sea and Vietnam. The new information, coupled with multiple corroborative but unconfirmed reports, suggests the investigation into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is increasingly focusing on something going wrong in the cockpit. Analysts have said that could include a sudden loss of cabin pressure or other mechanical event that incapacitated the pilots, catastrophic pilot error, or more sinister possibilities such as the plane being commandeered by a hijacker or rogue member of the flight crew, or pilot suicide. All signs so far point to a “controlled, deliberate act, not a mechanical failure”, said Scott Hamilton, managing director of US-based aviation consultancy Leeham Co. The mounting reports of an unexplained banking to the west have coincided with a shift of search and rescue resources towards the Indian Ocean. Search extends to Bay of Bengal A US destroyer and surveillance plane joined expanded search operations Saturday in the Bay of Bengal. The international search effort had focused in its early days on the South China Sea. Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven Warren said the USS Kidd guided missile destroyer and a P-8 Poseidon aircraft had been deployed to the “western search area” in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. The Boeing 777, with 239 passengers and crew on board, vanished on March 8 over waters between Malaysia and southern Vietnam. The night was clear and no distress signal was received. The hunt had initially focused on the South China Sea but has shifted dramatically given the absence of any findings, and following the indications the plane altered course. India's navy said it was doubling, at Malaysia's behest, the number of ships and planes it had deployed to search the Indian Ocean waters around its remote Andaman and Nicobar islands. The six vessels and five planes were concentrating on an area “designated” by the Malaysian navy in the southern region of the Andaman Sea, naval spokesman D.K. Sharma told AFP. Close to 60 ships and 50 aircraft from 13 countries have been deployed across the entire search zone since MH370 went missing. Reports of altered flight path For distraught relatives of the passengers and crew, the expanded search offered no immediate relief from the anguished frustration of a week tainted by false leads and rumours. “Right now, anything is possible,” said a middle-aged Chinese woman in Beijing who had a relative on the flight and complained of a lack of information. “We keep hoping there will be some good news, but it's not going well.” Malaysian Transport and Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein on Friday repeatedly refused to comment on what he termed “unverified” information, as reports of an altered flight path mounted. Multiple US media reports also had cited unidentified officials as saying a satellite continued to detect the plane's automated communication system for hours after radar contact was lost. The New York Times reported that Malaysian military radar data had shown the airliner altering course at least twice and changing altitude — sometimes erratically. Hishammuddin confirmed the expansion of search operations in the Indian Ocean. The widening of the geographical search parameters poses enormous logistical challenges for wreckage identification and recovery. The vast Indian Ocean has an average depth of nearly 3,900 metres (12,800 feet) and any debris would have been widely dispersed by currents after a week. “Wind and sea conditions are definitely going to play a very big part if there is wreckage, and if it happens to be in the Indian Ocean. It is an immense area,” said Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor for aviation industry magazine FlightGlobal. If it does turn out that Malaysian military radar tracked the missing aircraft, there will be questions as to why the air force was not sent to investigate a large plane flying with no transponders over a strategically sensitive region. The plane has one of the best safety records of any jet, and the airline also has a solid record.

Disappearance of Malaysian jet appears 'deliberate': PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's leader Saturday said communications aboard a missing jet were switched off and its course deliberately changed by someone on board before the aircraft disappeared a week ago, but stopped short of saying it had been hijacked. Final satellite communication with the Boeing 777 flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing came more than six-and-a-half hours after it vanished from civilian radar at 1:30 am on March 8, Prime Minister Najib Razak told a nationally televised press conference. The movement of the plane in the interim period, during which it changed direction and passed back over the Malaysian peninsula towards the Indian Ocean, was “consistent with deliberate action by someone on the plane,” Najib said. “Despite media reports that the plane was hijacked, I wish to be very clear: we are still investigating all possibilities as to what caused MH370 to deviate from its original flight path,” he added. Najib said his announcement was based on new information from satellite contact with the plane and military radar data. The combined data suggested “with a high degree of certainty” that the plane's two automated communications systems — Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) and its transponder — were “switched off” one after the other before it reached the point over the South China Sea where it dropped out of civilian radar contact. It then turned back and flew in a westerly direction back over peninsular Malaysia before turning northwest. The last confirmed communication between the plane and satellite was at 8:11 am, Najib said, adding that investigators were calculating how far the aircraft may have flown afterwards. So far, experts had located the last point of communication as being inside one of two large geographical corridors: a northern corridor stretching from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand, and a southern corridor stretching from Indonesia to the southern Indian ocean. “This new satellite information has a significant impact on the nature and scope of the search operation,” the prime minister said. “We are ending our operations in the South China Sea and reassessing the redeployment of our assets. We are working with the relevant countries to request all information relevant to the search, including radar data,” he added.

State Bank keeps key discount rate unchanged at 10pc

ISLAMABAD: The State Bank of Pakistan kept its key discount rate unchanged at 10 per cent on Saturday, a spokesman said, following a drop in consumer prices and a rally by the rupee currency. The rupee has appreciated by more than 7 per cent since the beginning of the month due to an increase in foreign investment and remittances from overseas Pakistanis as well as several foreign loans aimed at propping up the economy. Related: New monetary policy stance may set economic direction “The interest rate will stay unchanged at 10 per cent for the next two months,” the spokesman said. The finance ministry has also attributed the currency’s recovery to punitive action against exporters withholding export receipts abroad and warnings to foreign exchange speculators.—Reuters

The best (alternative) capital for present-day Pakistan?

How do countries choose their capitals? Some emerge organically: London is one example; to a lesser extent, so is Delhi; others are hand-picked for economic or strategic reasons. When the capital of Pakistan shifted from Karachi to custom-built Islamabad, for example, the older city’s geographical vulnerability was cited as one motivation for the move: perched on the coast of the Arabian Sea, it was far too susceptible to maritime attacks. Other reasons were also given: the capital needed to be easily accessible from all parts of the country (though this explanation appeared to disregard our more populous eastern wing) and the emerging, and altogether too cosy, nexus between the bureaucracy and business in Karachi needed to be undercut. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the new capital sat cheek-by-jowl with the military headquarters based in Rawalpindi. Looking back, however, was Islamabad really the best choice of federal capital at the time — and were we to revisit the idea, would we choose differently? For Herald’s upcoming issue, a number of writers, commentators and intellectuals sound off on the following question: Which city is the best (alternative) capital for present-day Pakistan?

Rape rooted in feudal system: Mukhtaran

LAHORE: “It was one of the most saddening experiences when I saw her lying on the hospital bed, most of her body burnt,” says Mukhtaran Mai, in an interview with Dawn. Her voice thickens with tears but she swallows them back. ‘A’ was a student of first year and a resident of Meerwala as is Mukhtaran. After she had filed the FIR, she found out that one of her ‘rapists’ were set free on bail. Mukhtaran alleges the investigating officer was bought for Rs70,000. “She first came to me two days after the incident, asking for help. I offered her shelter at my home for survivors of sexual harassment but she refused the offer, saying she wanted to stay with her family. My team and I were with her throughout but after learning what the police had done, she was shocked.” Mukhtaran said her team’s psychologist kept explaining to her not to lose heart because these things took time and that the case was yet to go to court. But like many other young women who are left confused, depressed and angry, ‘A’ was impatient. And when she went to the police station again, the officer involved hid himself in his room, not appearing and she doused herself with a bottle of petrol and set herself on fire. The Nishtar Hospital in Multan where she was admitted announced her to be in a precarious condition with 80pc burns and she succumbed to the burns on Friday. But was it really burn injuries that killed her or it was the level of injustice that women in the country have to face everyday? Even the Punjab government seems to have taken its time to respond. On Friday, women’s rights activists protested in front of the Punjab Assembly to show their anger at the Muzaffargarh police and insisted that the Punjab government should itself take action and do some research as to why number of crimes against women was on the rise in the province. They demanded that the accused, including police officer involved, must be dealt with strictly. In a press statement, Zohra Yousuf of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it was common knowledge that only the courageous rape survivors in the country took the matter to police or court. “It leads to only one conclusion: she had become convinced that she would not get justice. It is sad and ironic that only a week after celebrating the International Women’s Day with such fanfare the state and its justice system have let a woman down so brazenly.” Meanwhile, Mukhtaran Mai, who herself is a rape survivor, says that problems are deep rooted and many. “The problem starts with the government and police and ends with the judiciary but this is just the tip of the iceberg. The concept of sexual harassment does not seem to exist in Pakistani society. Men look at women as mere commodities.” Referring to her own case, she says: “It takes a lot of consistent courage to face the men who have assaulted you. Sometimes when I get out of the school, I see those men in front of it, sitting under a tree and when I go past them, they comment and whistle at me. But women cannot go on living in fear.” Psychiatrist Dr Nazia says rape leaves a feeling of hopelessness and paranoia which is exacerbated with the lack of justice in the country’s judicial and police systems. “The mentality of the rapist is not normal. He yearns to exert his power and male dominance sexually. This mentality cannot be changed in an individual but only through collective change.” Incidents of rape in the country are far from falling. Statistics presented to the Senate in October 2013 showed that about 10,703 rape cases were registered in Pakistan since 2009. These were only the ones which were reported. Most cases occurred in Punjab and experts believed that this might be only because of a higher population. However, Mukhtaran Mai is of the opinion that huge supporters of the “rape-friendly” culture in Pakistan are the ‘Biradari’ and feudal systems.

At least 18 tribesmen abducted from Peshawar outskirts

PESHAWAR: At least 18 tribesmen were kidnapped by armed gunmen from Badhber area on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The incident took place on Saturday at 2 am. Official sources said that about 60 to 70 armed gunmen raided Faqeer Kalley in Mashokhel area of Badbher, some one kilometres away from the main city and kidnapped 18 people from the village. The local people and the police said the kidnapped people belonged to the Shinwari tribe of Afridis. Badhber police have registered a case against three commanders of the banned religious outfit Lashkar-e-Islam for kidnapping of eleven tribesmen. Commanders Khalid, Sherkhel and Izzat have been nominated in the FIR. One of the kidnapped persons has managed to escape from the kidnappers and has reached back home who phoned the police that the Khyber Agency-based Lashkar-e-Islam kidnapped the tribesmen. Peshawar lies on the edge of Pakistan's tribal areas which have been labelled by Washington as the main sanctuary for Al Qaeda and Taliban militants in the country. The city has seen frequent attacks by militants in the past few years, with targets ranging from civilians to policemen and other law enforcement personnel. Separately, the political administration of Khyber Agency has also suspended the polio vaccination drive scheduled to begin on March 17 due to the law and order situation.

Ali Shanawar - Live Like Ali a.s (English) 2013/14

Indian diplomat re-indicted in US visa fraud case

NEW YORK: An Indian diplomat was re-indicted Friday on US visa fraud charges that touched off an international stir after she was arrested and strip-searched last year. The new indictment, filed Friday, essentially just reinstates the charges against the diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, charges that now arrive with her out of the country. A judge had dismissed last year's virtually identical indictment Wednesday on diplomatic immunity grounds, but left a door open to federal prosecutors to revive the case and they suggested they would. Khobragade's lawyer, Daniel Arshack, had no immediate comment Friday. He said Wednesday that re-indicting his client ''might be viewed an aggressive act and one that (prosecutors) would be ill-advised to pursue.'' Khobragade is back in India, and it's unclear when, if ever, she might appear in court in New York again. Khobragade was a deputy consul general in New York when she was arrested in December near her children's Manhattan school. Prosecutors said she lied to the government to get her Indian housekeeper a work visa, claiming she was paying the maid $500 per month while actually paying her less than $3 per hour. She had pleaded not guilty while also arguing she was immune from prosecution. The arrest sparked an outcry in India, particularly because of the strip-search. The US Marshals said Khobragade was treated no differently than others who are arrested, and US Attorney Preet Bharara said she indeed was afforded courtesies most Americans wouldn't get, such as being allowed to make phone calls for two hours to arrange child care and sort out personal matters. Bharara, who is himself Indian-born, also said Khobragade wasn't handcuffed, restrained or arrested in front of her children and was given coffee and offered food while detained. Still, many in India saw the arrest as deeply disrespectful. Indian officials also said the housekeeper had tried to blackmail the diplomat, which the woman's advocates disputed. The episode roiled US-Indian relations, with India taking such steps as removing concrete traffic barriers around the US Embassy and revoking diplomats' ID cards. After being indicted, Khobragade complied with a Department of State request to leave the US, and the Indian government then asked Washington to withdraw a diplomat from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. The US complied. The Indian consulate in New York did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. When Khobragade was arrested, US officials said her status as a consular officer provided immunity limited to acts performed in the exercise of official functions. She disagreed, and then, on the day before her Jan. 9 indictment, she got a new appointment that conferred wider immunity. US District Judge Shira Scheindlin decided in a ruling Wednesday that the later appointment gave Khobragade immunity when indicted and meant that indictment had to be dismissed, without settling the question of whether the alleged crimes would have been considered ''official acts'' covered by the earlier, more limited immunity. But the judge wrote that there was ''no bar to a new indictment against Khobragade,'' whose immunity ended when she left the country.

KE to set up coal power plant

KARACHI: K-Electric (KE) is working jointly with a Chinese firm, Harbin Electric International (HEI) to set up a 660MW Green Field Coal-Fired Power Plant. The company Secretary Syed Moonis Abdullah Alvi affirmed: “It will be an achievement in itself as it is going to be the first such project in the history of Pakistan.” He stated that KE had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese electrical giant in Harbin, China for the co-development of the 660MW green field coal-fired power project. It would be developed, constructed and operated on the basis of Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT). The coal-fired power plant is projected to enhance KE’s generation capacity by 660MW “in a short span of time,” the company secretary stated and added that the KE and HEI would also jointly work towards the financial close of the project. “This nexus between KE and HEI will not only open doors for new foreign investment in the country but will actually pioneer KE in delivering the Green Field Coal-Fired Plant,” the company official said and added that the plant would be operated and maintained by the HEI for a limited time and would then be transferred to KE. The news was greeted warmly at the stock exchange, where the share in K-Electric recorded the highest volume of 37 million shares in trading on Thursday with the price of stock recording gain of 51 paisa to Rs6.72. Yet, people in the industry said that the information was preliminary and more might be conveyed in time. They said that it was essential to know the cost of the project; contribution of the two parties; the debt/equity ratio and finally are the KE financials strong enough to find the wherewithal?

PCB unveils schedule for Australia series

KARACHI: Pakistan on Friday announced a revamped series against Australia in October this year, reducing their Test series to two matches to accommodate three one-day internationals. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had asked Cricket Australia to drop a Test and play three one-day internationals, with a view to prepare for next year's World Cup. Australia and New Zealand will host next year's tournament. PCB said the series will be played in the United Arab Emirates from October 3. Pakistan have been forced to play their home series at neutral venues since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009. The series begins with a one off T20 match in Dubai (October 3), followed by three ODIs in Abu Dhabi (October 5), Sharjah (October 8) and Dubai (October 10), the PCB said. Australia will play the Pakistan “A” team in a four-day warm up match in Sharjah (October 13-16) which will be followed by the two Tests. The first Test will be played in Dubai (October 20-24) and the second in Abu Dhabi Oct 28- Nov 1). Australia have not toured Pakistan over security fears since 1998. Itinerary: Sep 29 - Teams Arrive October 3 - T20 in Dubai October 5 - 1st one-day international in Abu Dhabi October 8 - 2nd one-day in Sharjah October 10 - 3rd one-day in Dubai October 13- 16 - 4day warm-up match between Australia v Pakistan “A” in Sharjah October 20-24 - 1st Test in Dubai October 28-November 1 - 2nd Test in Abu Dhabi.

‘Taliban ready for direct talks, condemn Friday’s terror acts’

PESHAWAR: Taliban negotiators on Friday said the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leadership was ready to hold direct talks with the Pakistan government and condemned today’s terrorist incidents in Quetta and Peshawar calling them a conspiracy being hatched to derail the peace process, DawnNews reported. At least 19 people were killed and more than 80 others injured in two separate incidents of terrorism in the capitals of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces earlier today. An increasingly active Taliban splinter group Ahrarul Hind or “Liberators of India” – a name referring to the whole of the subcontinent – claimed responsibility for the attacks. “We claim both Peshawar and Quetta attacks,” their chief, Umar Qasmi, told Reuters. “We don't abide by these talks and will continue to stage attacks.” The leadership of the Pakistani Taliban immediately distanced itself from the Friday attacks. “The TTP strongly condemns the Peshawar and Quetta blasts,” said TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid. “We have no connection to these attacks because we are observing a ceasefire.” Following a meeting of two members of the Taliban's negotiating committee with Taliban Shura, Maulana Samiul Haq, head of the committee nominated by the TTP, expressed hope for full restoration of peace in the country. The meeting took place in Miramshah, the main town of troubled North Waziristan tribal agency bordering Afghanistan. It was attended by Sheikh Khalid Haqqani, Qari Shakeel, Azam Tariq, Shahidullah Shahid, Sajid Mohmand and Ahsanullah Ahsan. Maulana Yousuf Shah and Professor Ibrahim represented Taliban committee. It was decided to hold the direct talks in Azad Mandi area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district. However, the Taliban leadership apprised their nominated negotiators of their reservations. Responding to Maulana Samiul Haq’s request of further extending the month-long ceasefire, Taliban leaders told the negotiators that a final decision in this regard would be made after a formal meeting of the Shura in coming days. Speaking to media representatives in Akora Khattak, Haq said both members of the Taliban talks committee came back satisfied after the meeting. “The meeting (direct talks) is expected in a couple of days with the newly formed government committee,” he said. “We will facilitate the direct talks…… and results will be presented before the Parliament also.” The chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-S), who is also known as “Father of Taliban” in the West, said their first priority will be to get freed imprisoned children and women as demanded by the Taliban leadership. He showed optimism regarding positive outcome of the direct talks saying members of the new government committee are experienced with regards to the tribal areas. “Today’s incidents in Quetta and Peshawar are part of a conspiracy being hatched to derail the peace process,” said the JUI-S chief. He said surgical operations conducted by the country’s armed forces had failed to obtain desired results in the past and only ended up in spreading havoc in the tribal areas. The TTP's position has spurred speculation that the central command is not fully in control of the many splinter groups operating under it, and reaching a peace deal with one of them would not stop the violence. Ahrarul Hind, which splintered from the Pakistani Taliban just a month ago, had previously claimed responsibility for an attack in central Islamabad earlier this month when suicide bombers and gunmen killed 11 people including an additional district and sessions judge. Pakistani investigators believe that Qasmi, the leader of the group, is capable of drawing support from other militant outfits, including several linked to al Qaeda that have wreaked bloody havoc in the country over the last decade. Speaking on the occasion, Professor Ibrahim of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) vowed to take the peace process to its logical conclusion. He said the Taliban had nothing to do with Friday’s terrorist incidents. The dialogue process that started by the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has entered its decisive stage now with the formation of a new government committee to mediate with the Taliban leadership. The ongoing peace talks between the two parties struck an impasse last month after the Taliban-linked militants murdered 23 kidnapped Pakistani paramilitary soldiers. The killings resulted in multiple targeted airstrikes by the military against suspected hideouts in the tribal northwest bordering with Afghanistan. The Taliban then announced a one-month ceasefire which was reciprocated by the government which halted its airstrikes targeting militants and their hideouts.