5 common mistakes which can ruin your skin!

Here are a few common skin care mistakes all of us make. Next time you opt for beauty routine, here’s what you should keep in mind. -Many of us believe that face need to be washed in the morning and that is enough. It is a myth. In fact, our facial skin is in constantly affected by factors such as dust, pollution, cosmetics and sun rays. Hence, there is a need to clean the face at least two times a day; in the morning and at night. Depending upon the skin type, the number of times of face wash may vary. Excessive washing and rubbing harshly the skin is a strict no-no. -On the contrary, it is not okay for your skin to use harsh soaps on face. It erodes the vital elements and natural moisture from the skin surface leaving it dry and irritated. Mild face wash in gel or cream forms are suitable. It is advisable to choose the face wash according to the type of skin. -Use of moisturizers should not be limited to one season. It is a regime that should be followed round the year. Some moisturize the skin only once a day which is not sufficient. The skin needs moisture at regular intervals as the environment takes away the natural elements from the skin. Sufficient moisturizing gives a healthy and radiant appearance to the skin. -Sunscreen when applied in less quantity cannot protect the skin. A sunscreenshould be applied liberally all over the face and neck blocks the harmful rays for longer time. Moreover, it should be reapplied every 2- 3 hours for better results. -Picking whiteheads and blackheads make them worse and may leave scars behind. Go for proper acne treatment and stop using your short cut methods. Avoid touching your face frequently.

Noida SHOCKER: Seniors caught on camera brutally thrashing, stripping, sexually assaulting media student

Noida: Three students of a private institute here have been caught on camera while thrashing, stripping and sexually assaulting a junior. They video recorded the whole incident to blackmail the 18-year-old victim for money. The incident took place at Asian School of Graphics & Animation at Sector 16A in Noida. The victim is a first year student of animation course offered by the institute which is a unit of Marwah Studios. Ironically, college authorities allegedly did not take any stern action against the assaulters when the incident was brought in the former's notice. They simply seized the mobile phones and the boy was sent back to his hometown Karnal in Haryana. In order hush up the matter, the college management said it was a case of "personal dispute between the students, and not ragging". "I was ragged and tortured, brutally beaten, they tried to sexually abuse me. They stay in my hostel. They are my seniors, they try to bully me, but the college didn't take any action, they only wanted a compromise," the victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has been quoted by NDTV as saying. The police have lodged an FIR in this regard and also booked the accused students for unnatural sexual acts. The police said they have registered a case of ragging and extortion and also booked the accused students for unnatural sexual acts. "A case has been lodged under the Anti-Ragging Act, 2010 and under sections 377, 511, 504, 506, 384, 341 and 323 of the IPC," said Noida DSP Shivram Yadav. No one has been arrested so far. "Our teams have been dispatched to Gorakhpur and Jalandhar to apprehend the accused. We will soon make arrests," Yadav added. The Supreme Court has banned ragging and the government has strictly prohibited it on campus. Yet, ragging is regular in educational institutions of Uttar Pradesh. The state registered 432 ragging cases - the highest in the country followed by West Bengal (283 cases) - between June 2009 and September 24, 2013, according to the national anti-ragging helpline (1800-180-55-22) data.

MUST READ: Battle of Varanasi to latest Bollywood release, read top stories of the day here

New Delhi: Forgot to read today's paper this morning? Don't worry! From battlefield Varanasi to IPL7 and latest Bollywood releases, catch all the updates here. Read top six stories of the day here. BJP offers security to Kejriwal, slams AAP convener for 'drama' After the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being behind attacks on Arvind Kejriwal, BJP on Friday hit back, saying politics in India could not be fought with theatrics and offered security for the AAP leader. "Politics in India is not a film script and real issues of India will not be solved by performing such drama in poll campaigning," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said on AAP's accusations about the BJP being behind protests against Kejriwal.

Cornered Ramdev alleges conspiracy, says only part of entire clip is doing rounds After facing huge criticism for having a discussion about black money with the BJP candidate of Alwar, Chand Nath, on camera, yoga guru Ramdev has come out with a clarification that the alleged clip doing rounds that shows him in bad light is a part of conspiracy. He also claimed that only a part of the entire conversation is being highlighted, while talking to Times Now news channel.

Aam Aadmi Party asks LG Najeeb Jung to invite BJP to form govt in Delhi

SHOCKING: Vice principal of South Korean school in ferry disaster hangs himself; captain arrested

2 States Movie Review: A delightful watch If you loved Arjun Kapoor in Ishaqzaade and Gunday, his performance in 2 States will blow you off.

IPL7: Rahane powers Rajasthan to a win over Hyderabad In the final over of the innings, Rajasthan required 8 runs to win. James Faulkner stroked two successive boundaries to score a well deserved victory.

AAP supporters mock 'Gujarat development model', post gruesome image on Facebook

New Delhi: In view of the forthcoming polls in Varanasi, the Aam Aadmi Party has launched a massive campaign on social networking sites to pursue its larger political ambitions. Mocking Gujarat development model, a fake propaganda on social networking site Facebook has been carried out by AAP supporters ahead of polls. On a Facebook page titled "Main hu Aam Aadmi", which was created by Aam Aadmi Party supporters, on April 16 this year, AAP supporters have uploaded an imageof a gruesome incident, claiming that the incident had taken place in Modasa district of Gujarat, where a Dalit woman was allegedly set on fire by 14 youths. Whereas, the photograph states otherwise. The image, which has been picked by the page admin from a website Bubblenews.com, is of an incident, where some unidentified men were set on fire by angry mob. The photo caption threatens, "Ye hai Gujarat ka model. Gujarat me ek Dalit mahila ko zinda jalaya. yahi model pure desh me lagu kiya jaega. (This is Gujarat's model. In Gujarat, a Dalit woman was set on fire. The same model they are planning to replicate across the country)." When contacted at AAP's Kaushambi office, Sunil Kumar, AAP worker, who attended the call, said, "Our IT team runs "Main hu Aam Aadmi". You can contact our IT team for more information." So far, the controversial post has been shared by 448 people and counting. Earlier, the AAP convener Kejriwal, who has been campaigning against Modi in particular, had questioned Gujarat model of development. He also said that the model tomtommed by Narendra Modi was all bakwas (nonsense).

Whereas, BJP said the Aam Aadmi Party workers are "habitual liars" and that it was a 'fake propaganda' carried out by them.

Kejriwal, who received a support of Mukhtar Ansari recently, is campaigning hard to pursue his larger goals and give a tough fight to BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi in the Hindu heartland.

Egyptian leftist submits bid for presidency

CAIRO: Egyptian leftist Hamdeen Sabbahi Saturday submitted the documents required to run in next month’s presidential election, in which he is likely to be the only rival to former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Sabbahi is currently Sisi’s sole challenger after lawyer Mortada Mansour announced he was withdrawing his candidacy, although there is another day before the expected end of the registration period. Sisi, who is riding a wave of popularity after ousting Mohamed Morsi last July amid massive street protests, is widely expected to win the May 26-27 election. “With God’s will, we will wage a great and victorious battle,” Sabbahi told supporters after submitting his candidacy to the electoral commission. Sabbahi has surpassed the 25,000 signatures from citizen supporters required to officially register his candidacy, gathering 31,100 signatures from 17 provinces, according to his campaign team. Sabbahi was accompanied by scores of supporters, who cheered him on and chanted: “Sabbahi is the symbol of freedom!” They carried boxes containing the signed forms to be delivered to the electoral committee. A longtime opposition figure jailed during the rule of strongman Hosni Mubarak and his predecessor Anwar Sadat, Sabbahi came in third in Egypt’s first free presidential election in 2012, a year after Mubarak was toppled by an Arab Spring-inspired uprising. Controversial lawyer Mortada Mansour also announced he was withdrawing from the presidential race and would support Sisi’s candidacy. Mansour is known as a harsh critic of the activists who led the 2011 revolt against Mubarak. The former judge, who heads Cairo’s Zamalek football club, said his decision came in answer to the club members’ will and after a “vision” in which he saw himself sitting in a bus with two military officers who told him “We are going to the new Egypt.” Sisi officially submitted his bid for the presidency on Monday, with his lawyer handing over the required documents. His campaign team said they submitted around 200,000 signatures to the electoral committee. Critics of Sisi fear his election would mark a return to the autocratic rule of the Mubarak era, citing the military-installed authorities’ crackdown on Morsi’s supporters and the jailing of prominent activists from the 2011 uprising for organising unauthorised protests. Sisi has dismissed such fears, and his supporters view him as a strong leader who can stabilise the economically-battered country after three years of turmoil. The electoral commission is to announce the final field of candidates on May 2, and official campaigning starts a day later.

Drone kills 15 al Qaeda suspects, 3 civilians in Yemen: Security

SANAA: A drone strike Saturday killed 15 al Qaeda suspects and three civilians in Yemen’s central Baida province, a stronghold of the group, a security official said. The militants were travelling in a vehicle towards the southern Shabwa province, witnesses said. The three civilians were passing by in another car. The United States is the only country that operates drones in Yemen, but officials rarely discuss the covert programme. Last month, Yemen’s President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi defended the use of drones against al Qaeda in his country, which has killed dozens of militants in a sharply intensified campaign over the past year. Drone strikes “have greatly helped in limiting al Qaeda activities, despite some mistakes, which we are sorry about,” Hadi told the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat. The drone programme has come under criticism from human rights activists concerned over civilian casualties. The United Nations said 16 civilians were killed and at least 10 wounded when two separate wedding processions were targeted in December. The victims had been mistakenly identified as al Qaeda members, it quoted local security officials as saying at the time. Following the deaths, Yemen’s parliament voted for a ban on drone strikes, but analysts say lawmakers are unlikely to be able to halt the US campaign. The US has defended the drone campaign, which allows it to target al Qaeda without the use of ground forces in lawless areas where authorities cannot or will not act against the group. Militants regularly attack security forces from hideouts in the mountainous terrain of Baida. On Tuesday, al Qaeda suspects shot dead the province’s vice governor and an intelligence officer. Tribal sources in the region claim a recent video of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula chief Nasser al-Wuhayshi welcoming 19 militants who escaped a Sanaa prison was filmed between Shabwa and Baida. Addressing scores of militants in the rare video appearance, Wuhayshi pledged to pursue the war against Western “crusaders” everywhere possible. In the February jailbreak, AQAP militants slammed a car bomb into the eastern gate of a Sanaa prison as others attacked the guards at its main entrance. The attack allowed 29 inmates to escape, including the 19 militants. Yemen is the ancestral home of Osama bin Laden and the home base of AQAP, which has been linked to a number of failed attacks on the US homeland. The group has taken advantage of the weakening of Yemen’s central government since 2011, when a popular uprising erupted that eventually forced president Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down after 33 years in power.

Capital flight: Australia’s BHP plans to pull out of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: In an apparent disregard for the incentives in the new petroleum policy, foreign oil and gas exploration companies continue to pull out of the country. In the latest episode, Australia-based oil and gas firm BHP, a major player in the international petroleum industry, has planned to wind up operations and sell assets in Pakistan, says an official. Recently, Canada-based Asia Resources Oil Limited has also decided to divest itself of all its assets in Pakistan. State-owned Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) is planning to acquire shares in three of these fields containing reserves of tight and shale gas. Already, several foreign oil and gas exploration companies like BP, Petronas and Niko Resources have wrapped up their businesses in Pakistan.

According to the official, BHP has been operating on a small scale in the country and working as a joint venture partner in the Zamzama field. The company’s decision to pack up comes on the back of its global policy changes and has nothing to do with policies of the Pakistan government. However, another official laid the blame on what he said were poor policies and hurdles created by different institutions that discouraged foreign firms from investing in the country. “Actions taken by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) have driven away foreign investors,” he said. Dewan Petroleum, which faced action following a dispute over wellhead gas price, had stopped pouring further capital into the oil and gas sector, he said. In an effort to woo investors, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources conducted roadshows abroad to highlight the new petroleum policy and market 50 exploration blocks. However, in the subsequent offer, state-run Pakistani exploration companies including Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) and PPL won majority of the blocks totalling 39 and no foreign firm submitted bids. “Foreign investors hesitated to make offers due to bureaucratic hurdles and poor law and order situation,” the official said. Ministry comes into action Reacting to BHP’s move, the Ministry of Petroleum was trying to convince the company to change its mind and instead of withdrawing it should expand footprints in Pakistan, sources said. BHP is a major international player but its activities in Pakistan are limited to Zamzama field only. The government is now offering BHP to assess the possibility of entering into joint ventures with OGDC and PPL. BHP, headquartered in Melbourne and listed on stock exchanges in Australia, London and New York, has been working in the upstream petroleum sector of Pakistan since 1995. It discovered Zamzama gas field in April 1998 in the Dadu exploration block along with joint-venture partners Eni (formerly Lasmo with a share of 17.75%), Pakpel (9.375%), Pakpel-2 (9.375%) and Government Holdings Private Limited (25%). BHP was the operator of the field with a 38.5% stake. The government also granted development and production lease for 20 years for the Zamzama field with effect from April 2, 2002. At present, BHP is supplying 273 million cubic feet of gas per day to Sui Southern Gas Company and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines and is also producing 1,288 barrels of crude oil per day. Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2014.

Asif says he has respect, not contempt for armed forces

Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif lamenting how an old speech of his had been presented out of context, asserted late on Friday that he respects and acknowledges the sacrifices made by the armed forces of Pakistan, Express News reported. In an attempt to ease tensions between the army and government, Asif said he was not trying to undermine the efforts of the armed forces, adding that some people were trying to create misconceptions by repeating a speech delivered many years ago. The defence minister added that that the army is an asset of the country and he is proud of the valour and sacrifices of the armed force personnel for the protection of Pakistan. He lamented that some people were trying to create differences between civil and military leadership when army is engaged on many fronts, adding this is not in the interest of the country. Earlier, there were reports of tension between the army and government after a speech of Asif from 2006 resurfaced and went viral on the social media in which Asif was seen heavily criticising the armed forces. During a visit to the headquarters of the Special Service Group (SSG) at Ghazi Base, Tarbela on April 7, 2014, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif had said that the army will uphold the sanctity of all institutions but will “resolutely preserve its own dignity and institutional pride”.

Legalised: SC rejects plea against NAB chairman’s appointment

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected two petitions, including that of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, against the appointment of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry as chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Two NAB chairmen – Justice (retd) Deedar Hussain Shah and Admiral (retd) Fasih Bukhari – were sacked by the top court during former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s tenure. Then leader of opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had challenged their appointments. On October 29, 2013, the PTI chief moved a petition through his counsel Hamid Khan under Article 184(3) of the Constitution against the incumbent NAB chairman’s appointment, saying that it is the result of a ‘muk muka’ (understanding) between the PPP and PML-N. A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, took up the matter and dismissed the petitions of Imran and Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi after hearing arguments for three days. Imran contended that Qamar Zaman Chaudhry’s appointment is illegal and without justification against the provision of Section 6 of the NAB Ordinance 1999 and the consultation over that slot was mala fide; a fraud upon the law and Constitution. Imran further submitted that the consensus ought to have been among all opposition parties in parliament as there is a strong public perception that the appointment of the incumbent chairman of NAB was the result of complicity between these two parties. He pointed out that a person could not be appointed chairman unless he was a retired federal government officer in BPS-22 of equivalent. The petition also pointed out that it was a matter of record that contempt proceedings were pending against the bureau’s chairman and a show-cause notice was issued to him by the apex court. “Propriety demanded that name of such a person should have not even been considered at all because his conduct was not above-board, as he by his conduct has shown that he has no respect for the rule of law and the judiciary.” Meanwhile, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah moved an application to become party to the case against the appointment of the incumbent NAB chairman. He rejected the petitioner’s stance and stated that all opposition parties, including PTI, were consulted before the appointment was made despite no constitutional or legal requirement to do so. Aitzaz Ahsan, counsel for the opposition leader, strongly defended the appointment of the NAB chairman. Aitzaz pleaded that it was wrong that the name of a civil servant could not be considered for the office of NAB chairman before his/her retirement, as there was no bar in law. Qamar Zaman was appointed NAB chairman after his retirement, he added. Regarding the appointment of chairman NAB, he said the prime minister has two roles; first as a consultant, under Section 6 of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999; second, to advise the president under Article 48 of the Constitution. He contended that the president is bound to act upon the advice of the prime minister after the passage of the 18th Amendment. He also raised questions over the court’s jurisdiction to entertain petitions under Article 184 as it restricts one’s right to appeal. Justice Amir Hani Muslim said that the Constitution has given this right to the court. “If there is any review petition, it should be turned into an appeal. I had given this proposal to former chief justice also,” Aitzaz said. He added that Imran should legislate if he had objections to the process of appointment of NAB chairman. At the end, Khawaja Haris argued on behalf of the government and defended the appointment. Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2014.

Dissident leader freed: Afghan Taliban leader released from house arrest

ISLAMABAD: Authorities in the United Arab Emirate have ‘freed’ a dissident Afghan Taliban leader, Agha Jan Mutasim, who had been placed under house arrest earlier this month days after he launched his own group and held talks with Afghanistan-backed negotiators. A senior member of the High Peace Council in Kabul, Qazi Amin Waqad, told The Express Tribune that Mutasim will soon resume his routine peace efforts. Mutasim’s family and friends had confirmed to The Express Tribune last week that he had gone missing in Dubai. The Afghan Peace Council on Thursday said the UAE had placed Mutasim under house arrest and that the Afghan government had demanded his release. Waqad said the UAE authorities had ‘imposed some restrictions’ on the Taliban leader, apparently over ‘security concerns’, but he is now a free man after President Hamid Karzai spoke to top UAE officials. “We have been informed by the government that all restrictions on Mutasim have been lifted,” he said. The UAE government has not commented on the peace council’s claim. Mutasim remained out of contact as this correspondent attempted to reach him. The Afghan presidential palace, in an angry reaction, had described Mutasim’s detention in the UAE as a step to foil peace efforts in Afghanistan. Aimal Faizi, spokesperson for President Hamid Karzai, said that Kabul had informed all sides about Mutasim’s peace efforts. “The Afghan government had apprised the United States and all other sides involved in Afghanistan of the political activities of Agha Jan Mutasim,” Faizi told BBC Pashto radio. “All sides had agreed on Mutasim’s role and a senior official of the UAE international affairs used to accompany him in every meeting,” he said. Mutasim, former chief of the Taliban’s powerful political commission, had moved to Turkey after he was shot and injured in Karachi in 2010. Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2014.

Future strategy: Modi reveals contours of party’s foreign policy

NEW DEHLI: In a clear indication of the foreign policy Narendra Modi would pursue if the Bharatiya Janata Party led National Democratic Alliance came to power, the Hindu nationalist said that the demographics of diplomacy has changed in the post-globalisation era. “Today India needs to work on trade, commerce and technology with other nations, including US,” Modi said in an interview to an Indian news channel, CNBC Awaaz. BJP’s manifesto promises to champion uniform political opinion on matters related to terrorism and global warming. The manifesto pledges to “engage proactively on our own with countries in the neighbourhood and beyond,” adding, “In our neighbourhood we will pursue friendly relations. However, when required we will not hesitate from taking strong stands and steps.” Narendra Modi said he was prepared to ‘face defeat’ but would not practice politics of identity. He also offered to face a probe if any corruption allegations are levelled against him as prime minister. “I will not make any appeal to Hindus or Muslims but to the entire 125 crore people of India. If it suits them, then it is fine. Modi said the party would focus on improving the economy. He added he was not pro corporate houses, however said that “if India needed to be developed, everyone had to be encouraged to do their bit”. Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2014.

Army officers need to be embodiment of courage, composure, compassion: Nawaz

KAKUL: “Army officers need to be embodiment of courage, composure and compassion,” stated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while addressing the 129th Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) long course passing-out parade in Kakul on Saturday. Nawaz, who was the chief guest at the ceremony held at Kakul Military Academy, stated that the PMA is rightfully considered “a veritable cradle of leadership.” Nawaz also praised Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif during his address stating that officers like him “are only known for their professionalism, patriotism, dedication and commitment to their motherland.” Despite the heavy downpour, the passing-out cadets took an oath to remain loyal to the constitution as well as the nation during the ceremony. Seven cadets from Palestine and Bahrain were among those who took the oath. Nawaz was also presented with a guard of honour. Providing resources The premier said that the state is providing all possible resources needed for making the country’s defence impregnable. “Without a strong economy, rule of law and containment of terrorism, a credible defence system cannot be sustained,” Nawaz stated. Technological advancements While addressing the ceremony, Nawaz stressed the importance of technology in today’s world. “Technological innovations are the order of the day,” he stated, adding that “they are changing our very lifestyle and their impact is felt in all walks of our national life.” “Modern technology has also transformed the nature of warfare and tilted the balance squarely in favour of the technologically-advanced nations,” stated the prime minister further emphasising its importance.

TTP says it will not be responsible for attacks on public places

ISLAMABAD: Cautioning the government that certain forces may take advantage of its decision to call off the ceasefire, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has said it will not be responsible for any attacks on public places. At the same time, however, the group said it reserved the right to act in ‘self defence’. “I want to caution the government… some forces may carry out attacks on public places while taking advantage of our refusal to extend the ceasefire,” TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told reporters in Waziristan on Friday. “The Taliban will not be responsible for attacks on public places… [but] we have the right to launch attacks in self defence,” he added while speaking at the news conference, details of which were shared with The Express Tribune by a member of the TTP. Defending TTP’s decision to end the ceasefire, Shahid claimed the government had continued its operations against members of the group despite the ceasefire. He also claimed the government had not responded positively to the Taliban’s ‘small demands’ – namely the release of non-combatant prisoners and removing military presence for some areas in South Waziristan. The TTP wants what it terms ‘peace zone’, which could also be used as a venue for direct negotiations with the government in the future. Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2014.

Senior journalist Hamid Mir attacked in Karachi

KARACHI: Unknown assailants shot at senior journalist Hamid Mir on Saturday, leaving him severely injured, Express News reported. Mir is currently being transported to a hospital for treatment. He was on his way to his office from Jinnah International Airport when the incident happened on main Shahrah-e-Faisal. Hamid Mir is a renowned news anchor and is the host of the popular talk show on Geo Tv, Capital Talk.

Musharraf expected to reach Karachi soon

RAWALPINDI / ISLAMABAD / KARACHI: Former president Pervez Musharraf is expected to reach Karachi at any time on Saturday after leaving his farmhouse in Islamabad, according to sources, Express News reported. The plane that Musharraf is supposed to travel on has reached the Noor Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi and he is expected to board at 6pm, according to airport officials. Mobile phone jammers and a fire brigade have also reached the farmhouse where Musharraf is residing at to ensure his safety. All arrangements regarding his arrival are complete, sources said. Security has also been put on high alert and terminal one of the Jinnah International Airport has received instructions regarding the landing of the former president’s chartered plane, sources further said. The Sindh government is reportedly responsible for providing security to the former military ruler. The former army general was scheduled to depart from his farmhouse at 3pm and fly to Karachi from Benazir Bhutto International Airport. Musharraf will be treated at PNS Shifa Karachi upon his arrival in the metropolitan city. Sources said that his health has improved and he is fit to travel. According to the sources, there were serious threats for Musharraf in Rawalpindi or Islamabad and, therefore, he had selected Karachi for his treatment, which was reported first by Express. Musharraf’s name is currently on the Exit Control Lost and he cannot leave Pakistan but is allowed to travel freely throughout the country. On March 31, Musharraf was formally charged for subverting and circumventing the Constitution by imposing emergency on November 3, 2007. Musharraf had rejected the five charges levelled against him. Hearings of the treason trial will continue on April 24 in the Special Court in Islamabad and will be held on a daily basis from that day forward.

Police say two UN workers ‘likely’ abducted in Karachi

KARACHI: Police officials on Friday said two local workers of the United Nations have gone missing from Gulshan-i-Maymar neigbourhood of the port city fearing they might have been abducted, DawnNews reported. According to initial reports both UN officials are residents of Hyderabad who were visiting Karachi for leisure. Police said their mobile phones are switched off which implies that they have been abducted. They said UN workers Sami Nawaz and Farrukh Saleem came for a picnic at a water park located at Super Highway. Their search went underway after wife of one of them reached to police for help. Police and Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) are looking into the incident. Meanwhile, three people including two political activists are allegedly taken away by unidentified men in plain clothes from Shah Faisal Colony area of the city to an undisclosed location, DawnNews reported quoting sources as saying.

No harm in accepting Taliban demands: JI

LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq says the government should give serious consideration to the Taliban demands if it does not want more bloodshed in the country. During a press conference here on Friday, he said the Taliban were simply demanding a peace zone for talks where there was no danger of attack and the release of about 300 non-combatants. He said there was no harm in accepting these demands for freeing the country from terrorism. Mr Haq said the talks were not the issue of the two “Sharifs” it was an issue of the country’s solidarity and the nation’s future. Therefore, both the Sharifs should be on one page for making the talks successful. Replying to a question, he said the dollar price was falling continuously but the prices of flour and other eatables were not coming down because the ruling elite was not ready to treat the masses on equal footing. Answering another question, the JI chief said that in order to hold fair, free and impartial elections, an independent and autonomous election commission on the pattern of that in India must be set up that did not yield to any pressure from any quarter.

KP industries to get cheap, uninterrupted electricity: CM

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will announce a package of incentives to boost local industries and strengthen the province’s economy. The package will include provision of cheap and uninterrupted electricity to industries to attract local and foreign investments, and privatising industrial zones. These views were expressed by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak while presiding over a meeting regarding infrastructure development at Hattar Industrial Estate in Haripur, here on Friday. Mr Khattak said energy crisis was the main issue facing the industries, adding that KP was producing far more electricity and gas than its domestic needs. He asked the centre to review its policy towards Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to remove the sense of deprivation and usurpation of their rights among the people of the province. The chief minister said that it had been decided to set up four new industrial zones at important commercial points in the province, besides establishing oil refinery in southern districts. Mr Khattak said that a plan had been prepared to set up a modern steel mill in the Hattar Industrial Estate at a total investment of Rs700 billion with a production capacity of 650,000 metric tons per year. “The mill besides catering to the province’s needs of steel will also provide job opportunities to about 35,000 people,” he added. On the demand of the industrialists, the chief minister ordered formation of a high level committee for the revival of the sick industrial units. He said uninterrupted electricity and gas supply would be ensured to the industrial estate. Similarly, he directed early construction and repair of all roads inside the industrial complex. Mr Khattak directed that flow of traffic on Hattar and other roads should be regulated on the pattern of the motorway. He also agreed to demands of the entrepreneurs to establish a modern hospital in the estate and provide residential facilities and dowry fund for the workers, besides setting up a medical college and other professional institutions for their children. He also agreed to grant leases for exploration of local minerals and directed the industries and mineral development department to give priority to local industrialists in that regard. To a demand regarding exclusion of fuel adjustment charges from electricity bills, he said the provincial government would file an appeal with the Supreme Court seeking extension of the relief not only to sick industries, but also to the poor masses of the province. The chief minister said the provincial government had decided to meet the electricity needs of the domestic and commercial consumers separately at local levels. “The provincial energy department has chalked out a plan with focus on exploiting the hydel power potential of the northern districts, besides producing electricity through oil, gas and solar means,” he added. Mr Khattak said his government would provide all the required facilities and guarantees to those desirous to make investment in the province so the badly affected economy of the province could be revived and maximum opportunities of employment and business could be made available to the jobless people. The chief minister underlined the need for convening joint meetings of local industrialists, investors, representatives of chambers of commerce and high ups of concerned departments to develop partnership between the public and private sectors for reviving industries and overcoming the energy crisis. PTI MPA from Haripur Akbar Ayub, president of Hattar Industrial Association Malik Mohammad Farid, secretary general Taj Ghani and other office bearers, advisor to CM on economic affairs and investment Rafaqatullah Babar, chairman of CM’s complaints’ cell and focal person for donors’ organisations Haji Dilroz Khan, and other concerned officials attended the meeting.

Russia warns US against further sanctions as Ukraine deal stalls

DONETSK: Russia said its military is massed on Ukraine's doorstep and warned against further US sanctions as a deal struck with Washington appeared to stall because of intransigence by Moscow-backed rebels in the former Soviet republic. A threat by US President Barack Obama that more sanctions would befall Moscow if the agreement, reached Thursday with Ukraine and the EU, failed was “absolutely unacceptable,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian television. “Our Western colleagues are trying to push responsibility towards our side. But it must be underlined: it is a collective responsibility,” he said. He pointedly declared that “there are troops close to the Ukrainian border”. “Some are based there, others have been sent as reinforcements due to the situation in Ukraine,” he added. The comments appeared to be a warning shot to Washington that the situation could quickly degrade if Moscow were punished for a failed implementation of the accord. The White House said it was watching Moscow to see if it is holding up its end of the deal. “We expect and we will be watching whether Russia does or does not uphold its responsibility to use its very considerable influence to restrain and withdraw those irregular militia from the buildings and spaces that they've occupied,” said National Security Advisory Susan Rice. In a phone call on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the following days would be “pivotal”, a senior State Department official said. The top US diplomat stressed that “all illegal armed groups must be disarmed and all illegally seized buildings must be returned to legitimate owners,” according to the official. But on the ground in Ukraine's restive east, there were signs the pact was coming unstuck hours after the four parties signed off on it. Pro-Russian rebels were refusing to cede control of a string of towns they seized over the past two weeks. But, says Moscow, neither are pro-Western protesters in Kiev budging from the iconic Maidan square they continue to occupy even after ousting former president Viktor Yanukovych two months ago. “One cannot treat Russia like it is a shameful student, and brandish a piece of paper on which we put crosses next to the duties it has accomplished, “said Peskov. If the hard-won agreement collapses — as Western and Ukrainian leaders fear it might — the US has said it will quickly ramp up sanctions on Russia, which it holds responsible for supporting the separatists and stoking the crisis. Defiance in the east In the main eastern city of Donetsk, where rebel gunmen wearing ski-masks still occupied a barricaded government building, there was defiance, with the Russian national anthem blaring out through speakers. Denis Pushilin, a prominent member of the self-declared Donetsk Republic, said he agreed that the buildings should be vacated, but only if the leaders in Kiev must also leave the buildings “that they are occupying illegally since their coup d'etat” in February. In nearby Slavyansk, insurgents remained holed up inside a seized police station. Unyielding pro-Russian militants also manned barricades of tyres and sandbags in another town of Kramatorsk while Ukrainian military helicopters continued to land at a nearby aerodrome that remains under Kiev's control. In a concession to the Russian-speaking militants, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk pledged safeguards for the Russian language and a broad decentralisation of power. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya also suggested the authorities would hold off temporarily from any further military action on the ground to give the agreement time to take effect. “If this does not begin in the next few days then I think after Easter there will be more concrete actions,” Deshchytsya told journalists. Easter in Orthodox Ukraine ends on Monday. A sceptical Obama, likewise, has spoken of wanting to see progress within days, otherwise further sanctions, on top of those already targeting Vladimir Putin's inner circle, would be implemented. US Vice President Joe Biden is due in Kiev on Tuesday. The US president also on Friday made clear his “disgust” at reports of anti-Jewish leaflets handed out in Donetsk. The pamphlets telling Jews to register or be expelled sparked global outrage and fears of a Nazi-style pogrom. The Ukrainian government and many Western states believe the occupations in the east took place with the active support of elite Russian military units, allegations Moscow denies. To back their claims, Ukraine said it was holding 10 Russian “spies” it believes were sent to stir up unrest. It has also, according to the Russian airline Aeroflot, banned the entry of Russian males aged 16 to 60. In a rare success, the Ukrainian army said it had recovered two of six armoured vehicles captured by separatists during a disastrous military operation earlier in the week. No high hopes - On Thursday, Putin warned that Ukraine was plunging into the “abyss” — and he hoped he would not have to resort to his “right” to send in the tens of thousands of troops deployed on Ukraine's border. He blames the turmoil on Kiev's interim leaders, whose authority he does not recognise.

Army to help govt eradicate poliovirus in conflict zone

Print PESHAWAR: The recurring polio cases in North Waziristan and no vaccination there since 2012 has prompted the Pakistan Army to extend a helping hand to the government in eradication of the deadly poliovirus from North and South Waziristan agencies and Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency, relevant officials said. The army personnel will provide security to health workers to ensure administration of oral polio vaccine to children in the militancy-stricken areas of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The officials said that this would put brakes on the virus circulation and safeguard children in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from infection with virus from Fata. They said that a meeting of the officials of Fata Secretariat, the Pakistan Army and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department on Thursday took notice of the increasing number of polio cases in North Waziristan tribal region and lack of vaccination in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency. They said that it decided to strengthen security of the vaccinators in the conflict zone to ensure that no child below age five missed the vaccination. The army is conducting security operations in North and South Waziristan agencies while in rest of the five agencies the security operations were done by the Frontier Corps (FC), the officials said. There are three areas of concern with regard to polio eradication programme for which the Pakistan Army has expressed willingness to support the health workers and the government in eradication of poliomyelitis. These areas include Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency, and North and South Waziristan agencies, they said. Islamabad-based health officials said that the Pakistan Army was an institution of the government and it was mandatory for it to help the government in implementation of its programmes when and where required. They said that in North and South Waziristan, the army would support the political administrations to reach the target children. They said that the army’s help had been sought in view of non-vaccination of over 300,000 children in Waziristan where the militants had banned vaccination in mid-2012. North Waziristan has recorded 33 polio cases in Pakistan’s total tally of 47 in 2014 so far and the health officials fear a massive outbreak of the vaccine-preventable childhood ailments if immediate vaccination is not undertaken, they said, adding that all those who tested positive in North Waziristan hadn’t received any dose of the OPV because of the militants’ restrictions. Similarly, South Waziristan has recorded two cases, Khyber one and Frontier Region, Bannu, two cases, they said. The officials, who attended the meeting held on Thursday at the GHQ Rawalpindi, said that the federal government had been asked by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to ensure vaccination of children in Fata. They said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had detected virus from Fata in the local children, thus threatening its vaccination efforts. The provincial health department has also expressed concern over presence of poliovirus in Bara, Khyber Agency, which could affect children in Peshawar. Early this month, the WHO found virus from Bara in water sample taken from Peshawar that prompted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to request the federal government to vaccinate children there and help stop transportation of virus to Peshawar. The federal government, which directly governs Fata, has asked the Pakistan Army to help vaccinators in the conflict-prone areas, the officials said, adding that the FC would provide security assistance to the political administration in Khyber Agency in the coming campaigns.

Racist organization stages demonstration outside London Mosque

LONDON: English Defence League, a racist organization, staged a demonstration outside London’s Regents Park Mosque. Members of the far-right organization chanted slogans against Islam when the Muslims were offering Friday prayers. Police rushed to the area to prevent any clash between the Muslims and members of the League.

Six members of banned outfit arrested for sectarian killings

LAHORE: CIA police have arrested six persons of a banned organization allegedly involved in a number of sectarian killings and other heinous crimes. The arrested accused persons were involved in the killing of Allama Nasir Abbas and Shamsur Rehman Moavia, CCPO Lahore Ch. Shafiq Ahmad told a press conference at Police Lines on Friday. He said a special police team comprising SP CIA Umer Virk and other officials under the supervision of DIG Investigations Zulfiqar Hameed had arrested the culprits. He said the arrested persons had confessed the killing of Dr Ali Haider, Prof Shabiul Hassan, Shakar Ali Rizvi advocate and Ali Hussain Qazalbash. He claimed the arrested accused belonged to the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and were involved in 20 incidents of sectarian and target killings. He said the network was also involved in abduction for ransom and robberies. The accused had released trader Sohaib Ahmad after receiving Rs 20 million, he added. The arrested have been identified as accused Abdul Rauf Gujjar, Sheikh Farhan Rafiq, Shafaqat Farooqi, Salman Pathan, Muhammad Sabir Sheikh and Muhammad Hashim. (APP)

My old speeches were aired to create misunderstandings: Asif

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday said that he didn’t mean to degrade state institutions instead his old speeches were aired to create misunderstandings. He said that the army was a national asset and he was proud of its sacrifices for the defence of the motherland. The minister said that his views were twisted at the time when the country’s armed forces were fighting on many fronts.

Senators want foreign policy under civilian control

ISLAMABAD: Senate here on Friday started debate on motion to discuss the foreign policy of the government with particular reference to the situation likely to emerge after election in India and Afghanistan. The motion was moved by Mian Raza Rabbani. Taking part in the debate Senator Farhatullah Babar focussed on the new challenges to country’s foreign policy in wake of recent elections in India and Afghanistan. “We need to devise our foreign policy keeping in view the regional and the international changes and challenges,” Babar said. He also underlined that our foreign policy should be based on article 40 of the constitution. The Senator said the emerging scenario will be challenging for the foreign office and Pakistan will need clear policy as there is also need to enhance people to people contacts with other countries. Afrasiab Khattak welcomed the statement of the government to improve relations with Afghanistan and India. “We support this approach of the government,” he said adding that the foreign policy should be based on non interference and be shared with the parliament. “Our neighbors are important therefore the foreign policy should also focus on better relations with countries in the region,” He claimed that our foreign policy is confused and needs more clarity. “Relations with India should be further improved and foreign policy should be in civilian control,” he added. Senator Rehman Malik said that the foreign policy should be devised keeping in view the interest of the country. He also suggested the government to arrange in camera briefing over national security and foreign policy. Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo said it was positive development that peaceful election were held in Afghanistan. He asked the government to take steps to further improve relations with Iran and said foreign policy should be devised keeping in view the national interest. He said various countries are looking towards Pakistan and it is for the first time that Afghanistan has admitted that Pakistan has not interfered into its affairs.

Facebook rolls out location-sharing feature

NEW YORK: Facebook users in the US will soon be able to see which of their friends are nearby using a new feature the company is launching on Thursday. The "Nearby Friends" feature must be turned on by the user, so people shouldn't expect to broadcast their location unknowingly. It will use your smartphone's GPS system to tell your Facebook friends you are nearby - provided they have the feature turned on as well. Rather than share your exact location, it will show only that you are nearby, say, within half a mile. If you like, you can manually share a more precise location with a specific friend you'd like to meet up with. Friends can see where you're located in a particular park, airport or city block. By default, your exact location will be shared for only an hour, although you can change this. Nearby Friends launches amid the growing popularity of location-based mobile dating apps such as Tinder and Hinge. But unlike those apps, Facebook's feature will let you meet up only with people who are already your friends. Facebook, whose motto has long been "move fast and break things," built a lot of precautions in this new tool as it tries to avoid privacy fiascos that often bubble up when it makes changes to its service. The new motto, "ship love," is evident in the cautious rollout of Nearby Friends, said Jules Polonetsky, director of the Future of Privacy Forum, an industry-backed think tank in Washington. He has advised Facebook on privacy issues, including the latest feature. He believes Facebook is showing "a deeper appreciation that with a billion users, any change needs to be implemented in a way that doesn't surprise the audience." That's especially so when it comes to privacy, especially when it comes to location sharing. "Once you start bringing this to a mass audience, you need to be cautious," Polonetsky said, "so inadvertent oversharing is not possible." Nearby Friends also won't be available to users under 18, said Andrea Vaccari, a product manager at Facebook. He said the tool "makes it easy to join your friends in the real world." Of course, all the safeguards and slow rollout mean that most users won't have the feature available right away on Thursday but rather in the coming weeks and months. Initially it will go to people who are likely to appreciate it, Vaccari said, such as people who have "checked in" to various restaurants, bars or other locations using Facebook. Unlike with other features, Facebook isn't forcing people to use Nearby Friends. Therefore, there is a possibility it won't catch on widely. Vaccari is optimistic that it will. Vaccari joined Facebook in 2012, when the company acquired Glancee, his startup service for meeting nearby people who have friends and interests in common. He has been working on the new feature since then. Facebook employees have been testing Nearby Friends, and Vaccari cites ways it has helped people get together: When two people landed at the airport at the same time from different flights, they saw that they did through Nearby Friends and shared a ride home together. When two people were out shopping alone in San Francisco, they joined forces after seeing each other nearby. Nearby Friends, Vaccari said, isn't for the five to 10 close friends whom you feel comfortable texting or calling up to hang out. Rather, he said, it's for the broader group of friends you enjoy spending time with but wouldn't necessarily call. Nearby Friends may provide that extra push. Users can limit whom they share their location with to smaller groups of friends. Users who sign up will be shown a short tutorial on how the feature works. Besides seeing friends who are nearby, users can also see which of their friends are traveling, and in general which friends are using the feature even if they are not nearby. Facebook says there are no current plans to draw advertising revenue from Nearby Friends. The company says it does not currently target ads to users based on where they happen to be at the moment, but uses their stated "current city" and the location of their computer based on its numeric Internet Protocol address.

White House updating online privacy policy

A new Obama administration privacy policy released Friday explains how the government will gather the user data of online visitors to WhiteHouse.gov, mobile apps and social media sites, and it clarifies that online comments, whether tirades or tributes, are in the open domain. "Information you choose to share with the White House (directly and via third party sites) may be treated as public information," the new policy says. The Obama Administration also promises not to sell the data of online visitors. But it cannot make the same assurances for users who go to third-party White House sites on Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus. There will be no significant changes in actual practices under the new policy. But legal jargon and bureaucratic language has been stripped out, making it easier for readers to now understand that the White House stores the date, time and duration of online visits; the originating Internet Protocol address; how much data users transmit from WhiteHouse.gov to their computers; and more. The administration also tracks whether emails from the White House are opened, forwarded or printed. The updates were needed because "Our old privacy policy was just that - old," blogged Obama's digital director Nathaniel Lubin. After coming to office in a campaign lauded for its online savvy, President Barack Obama's White House has quickly adapted to online engagement since taking office in 2008, embracing using the Internet in all of its manifestations. The first administration with an Office of Digital Strategy, Obama's online strategy now includes a We the People petitions platform, live online chats and more than a dozen social media sites including Google Plus, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, Vine, MySpace and seven different Facebook pages including La Casa Blanca and Education to Innovate. Visitors who link to those social media sites are advised: "Your activity on those sites is governed by the third-party website's security and privacy policies," which frequently allow those companies to sell users' data. In addition, the White House archives Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus content to comply with the Presidential Records Act. The policy says Obama will keep some information - automatically generated email data, Mobile App use data and some cookie data - until the end of the current administration. The White House is also explicit about what it doesn't do, including collecting geolocation information from mobile-app users or sharing information for commercial purposes. The policy is being released at a time when the administration is facing unprecedented criticism over disclosures from former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden that expose sweeping US government surveillance programs. The policy aims to address at least some of those concerns.thama White House spokesman Matt Lehrich said they also do not give third parties, including the political organization Obama for America or the US National Security Agency, access to their email database or other systems. "Within the White House, we restrict access to personally identifiable information to employees, contractors, and vendors subject to non-disclosure requirements who require access to this information in order to perform their official duties and exercise controls to limit what data they can view based on the specific needs of their position," the policy says. For example, if someone gives the White House a telephone number or email address, staffers might respond to the message or petition, providing information or even services if appropriate. They might also take messages, comments, Twitter replies and Facebook comments to use for public advocacy, like promoting Obama's health-care overhaul. If a user asks the White House a question that is really about homeland security, the user's information may be shared with that agency. And if someone is trying to report a federal crime, or threatening someone, that person's information may be passed on to law enforcement. Lehrich said that when people share comments or sign online petitions through the We the People platform, it's with the understanding that it is public information. Reviews from privacy experts - who have been watching the privacy-policy revisions closely - were mixed. The biggest problem, said Jeramie Scott, national security counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, DC, is not what happens when users are on WhiteHouse.gov, but when they click onto the White House's third-party social media sites that don't abide by Obama's own privacy rules and may sell personal data they glean from users. "Interacting with the White House and its different sites is inherently political, and that type of thing shouldn't be used for commercial gain," Scott said. Mark Jaycox, a legislative analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation in San Francisco, said the new policy underscores the administration's ongoing interest in collecting data. "You see it across the board. You saw it in the campaign. You see it in the White House petitions. This is just one more step toward amassing more information," he said. Jaycox said the new policy is not explicit enough about what the White House does with information it gathers. "The onerous thing is we don't know what they're doing on the back end with all of this data," he said. But several privacy experts praised the new policy as more explicit and understandable. "It's a nice gesture by the White House," said Federation of American Scientists secrecy expert Steven Aftergood in Washington. "I think the move reflects a heightened public awareness of privacy concerns, which is commendable." Consumer Watchdog Privacy Project director John Simpson said that in terms of pure disclosure, "this seems to be one of the better policies, a model perhaps for others."

Taliban inmates break out of Afghan prison

KABUL: An official says three Taliban insurgents escaped from a prison in northern Afghanistan using weapons smuggled into the facility in a jailbreak that killed three police guards. A spokesman for the Faryab provincial government, Ahmad Jawad Dedar, said on Friday that the breakout took place the previous night. A fourth inmate who was also trying to escape was killed in a shootout with security forces. Dedar says the fugitives are low-level Taliban operatives who were jailed for planting roadside bombs. The four inmates launched their breakout during the nightly count of prisoners, throwing several grenades and shooting guards with at least one pistol. Dedar said authorities have launched a search for the three fugitives and are investigating how the weapons were smuggled into the prison.

'Cannibals: I'll be really careful before I label them'

What would urge a person to eat human flesh? Are they mentally ill, sadistic or a combination of the two? The question and subsequently the answer is neither simple nor straightforward. “You do not expect a normal person to want to eat human flesh,” says associate professor in the Department of Psychology at DHA College Mohadesa Mohammed adding, “However, while cannibalism is not a mental illness it can be the result of one.” Taking a similar stance, Chairperson for Department of Behavioural Sciences at National University of Sciences and Technology (Nust) Salma Siddiqui explains, “Take the example of suicide, a person in a healthy state of mind will not try to kill themselves. Suicide is the act; we need to understand why it was committed. The same applies for cannibalism.” Both Mohammed and Siddiqui stress the need to further ‘explore and analyse’ any case before they can give a conclusive diagnosis. The debate on the issue stems from the recent arrest of two brothers from Bhakkar district which made headlines nationwide for their repeat offence of consuming dead human flesh. The lack of laws on cannibalism in Pakistan prevented the brothers from being charged under a penal code specific to their crime in March 2011. The charges that were filed against them at the time did lead to a conviction and the cannibals were incarcerated for two years. They were released barely a year ago from Mianwali jail and were arrested once again for resorting back to the same practice. “The solution should be to get them treatment, to understand why they are doing what they are and whether or not they have a full comprehension of their actions,” says Dr Rukhsana Kausar who is the director for Institute of Applied Psychology and Centre for Clinical Psychology at University of Punjab. “We are not living in a jungle here,” says Dr Naim Siddiqui, a consultant psychiatrist at Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT). “But when behaviour is abnormal to that extent (digging up graves for bodies and eating their flesh) then we could start labelling it as insanity but I would be very careful before I label them (the brothers). All the experts interviewed agreed that cannibalism should be criminalised but suggest alternate punishments to prison. “Sentencing people with such behaviour to prison will just harden them, we want to correct their behaviour,” Nust’s Salma Siddiqui says. “My personal and professional opinion is that we prepare the legalisation criminalising such behaviour but focus on solving the crux of the issue as it is likely people in a similar state will exhibit other problems of similar or higher psychological intensity as well.” “If you read about these brothers you will understand that they were socially ostracised addicts who had barely any interaction with the outside world,” says DHA’s Mohadesa Mohammed speaking from her nearly twenty years of experience in the discipline. "They could have chosen to prey on animals but they chose to dig up graves and eat dead human flesh, there is clearly a pathology here." The objective is not to sympathise with the cannibal brothers the experts immediately clarify, rather to enforce the need for corrective treatment to ensure people with such behaviour no longer pose a danger to themselves or society. This time the brothers were charged under the Anti Terrorism Act which once again is not specific to their actions. Thus when preparing legalisation the experts strongly suggest taking all the psychological factors into consideration and highly recommend a full mental evaluation of the accused in determining the course of punishment. A petition to draft legislation on cannibalism was submitted in the Lahore High Court on Thursday, however the date for its hearing has not been finalised. When discussing counselling SIUT’s Siddiqui recommends taking the psychological impact of the people affected by the deviant behaviour into account as well. In this case the relatives of the people whose bodies were dug up and eaten by the brothers. "Our society is conducive to criminal behaviour with acts of terrorism, target killings, muggings, robberies and similar offences consistently splashed across the news. It is essential to take a closer look at the mental health and well-being of the society we live. It is even more crucial to create acceptance towards adopting a preventative approach to mental illness which targets larger communities."

‘Pakistan must break alleged links with Afghan insurgents’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan must break alleged links with any Afghan insurgents if it is to adhere to Article 40 of the Constitution, said an opposition lawmaker in the Senate on Friday. Opposition lawmakers were expressing their views during a debate in the Senate on a motion on foreign policy moved by Senator Raza Rabbani of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Opposition senators called for ending ‘duplicity’ in foreign policy formulation and stressed on the need to retrieve the ground lost by civilians to the security establishment over the past decades. Senators called for a serious rethink of policy formulation in the light of realities emerging as a result of political transitions last year taking place in Pakistan’s neighbouring countries, including China and Iran, and now Afghanistan and India. Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the basis of foreign policy formulation is laid out in Article 40 of the Constitution of Pakistan. Reading out Article 40, he said that if we have to adhere to them we must break alleged links with any Afghan insurgents and stop the ability of Afghan fighters to seek refuge in Pakistan. “A stable and democratic civilian government leading foreign policy formulation would be welcomed by all parties, as compared to the security establishment leading it without any accountability,” he said. “Duplicity in policy making is too obvious. While the prime minister has kept the portfolio of the foreign minister with himself, there is an advisor and a special assistant. Besides, a federal minister and chief minister Punjab articulate independent foreign policy issues without referring to the foreign office,” he said. “CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif even went as far as signing a joint declaration with the chief minister of Indian Punjab,” Babar added. “While there is no issue with promoting people-to-people contacts, it should have been done by the foreign office and not by the chief minister. This will encourage different organs of the state pursuing their own agendas.” “Although the government has said several times that Pakistan will not take sides in the Syrian civil war, suspicion has been lingering that non-state actors are being encouraged to move to Syria and the Middle East with weapons and armaments,” he added. Babar also recalled how a former head of a security agency had publicly claimed clandestinely shipping weapons to Bosnia in violation of the UN ban, earning him the ire of the US. He said that in a recent television talk show, the finance minister said that if people went to Bahrain and Syria then it should be seen an “employee-employer relationship” that has nothing to do with the government. He warned against letting such ‘relationships’ run to such an extent that Pakistan is “sucked into another Afghanistan, this time in the Middle East.” Former Interior Minister Rehman Malik also called for an urgent in-camera briefing by the government on security and foreign policy. Senator Afrasaib Khattak said the security situation in the neighbouring Afghanistan is fragile and Pakistan has to quickly frame its policy keeping in view fluid developments in the region. Senator Hasil Bizenjo cautioned the government over activities of elements hostile to Pakistan trying to disturb relations with Iran. “Iran has a great role in the region therefore Pakistan must maintain good ties with the country,” he said.

Setting an example: Brides and grooms appear at polling station to cast vote

New Delhi: There are some of us who are more likely to plan a picnic on the voting day than visit the polling both to cast their vote. At the same time there are some who would not let the opportunity to be a part of this system slip away. On Thursday, the fifth phase of polling was concluded. The voting was conducted across the length and breadth of the nation and people from all walks of life were seen heading towards polling station to exercise their vote. A large number of brides and grooms took time out of their hectic schedule and came out to cast their votes. Let's take a look at some of these people who realised the importance of being a part of the democracy. In the picture, Advocate Umesh Jain's daughter Shruti's marriage was scheduled for Thursday. She arrived at the polling station despite her busy schedule.

Why India needs to get over people like Baba Ramdev who thrive on controversies and media attention!

New Delhi: Baba Ramdev's transformation from yoga guru to self-proclaimed crusader has been topsy-turvy. It is really hard to imagine what he is up to. Since 2011 he has waged a fierce battle against Black Money deposited in foreign banks. He is quite vocal in his charges against Congress party and its leaders. Many believe he would eventually launch a political party and turn into a full time politician. Right now, he sees hope in BJP and plans to grow in popularity with the help of saffron party. He allegedly gave a list of candidates whom he wanted to be given Lok Sabha tickets, but later he denied having made such demands. Although he fully endorses BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, he is frequently seen arm-twisting party's leaders. In the recent video, Baba Ramdev was caught on camera murmuring to the BJP Alwar candidate Mahent Chandnath -- "Are you a fool asking and talking about money when cameras/ mic are on?" Moments before Chandnath's press conference could start, in front of a bunch of cameras and microphones, Chandnath mentioned to Baba Ramdev that "paise le aane mein badi dikat ho rahi hai" (Facing problems bringing money here) and almost immediately, Baba Ramdev shut him up saying, "yahan baat karna bandh karo, bhole ho kya? (Stop talking here; are you a fool?) Baba Ramdev, an avid supporter of Narendra Modi, has been one of most vocal campaigners against black money in the past two years. He, along with the BJP, have been repeatedly targeting the UPA government on issues ranging from corruption to poor governance. He has repeatedly organised events in which he has spoken about bring back black money stacked in banks abroad. Sometimes, it appears, Ramdev loves media attention and controversies give him necessary shot in the arm to remain relevant.

Ramdev was caught on camera, attempting to run away from the police, dressed in Salwaar-kurta in 2011.

Delhi Police cracked down on him and his supporters at Ramlila Maidan in the night, making Ramdev run for his life. .

Government claimed that he had created a law and order situation by not sticking to the assurance he gave in a letter signed his close associate Acharya Balkrishna.

The Union Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, who was holding negotiations with Ramdev over the last few days, said there were apprehensions about law and order situation in Delhi as Ramdev had collected 50,000 people for “political aasan” (manoeuver) although he had sought permission for a yoga camp for a gathering of 5,000 only. “It was not a Yoga platform, but a political platform. The law and order had to be enforced in Delhi. We did not want any disruptions in that,” he said. Many supporters were shocked that Ramdev had given an undertaking that he will call off the fast, but during his speeches he behaved as if it was fast unto death for the noble cause. It appeared that his tacit understanding with government was only to help him prop up his image as a crusader.

There were accusations of his organisation being under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate for violations of FEMA. With an empire of 34 companies that have an estimated turnover of nearly Rs. 1,100 crore, he runs one of the world's largest ayurvedic conglomerate.

Ambedkar stadium fast Baba Ramdev called off his six-day fast at Delhi's Ambedkar stadium on 14 August 2012 and said he was returning to Haridwar. Seeking the defeat of the Congress in 2014, he said, "Congress hatao, desh bachao (Remove Congress, save the country)", adding that except for the Congress all parties were together on the issue of black money. He abruptly called off his fast and there were allegations that he was never on complete fast and was regularly taking lemon juice.

Further, many questioned yoga guru's ability to fast as his health deteriorated very fast over a span of few days only.

Allegations of corruption and tax evasion Multiple allegations have been raised against Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna. Some of the allegations are: Baba Ramdev is involved in tax evasion. Baba Ramdev exports products that are banned in the United States. Acharya Balkrishna has fake passport. Acharya Balkrishna is a Nepali criminal who fled from Nepal to India. Acharya Balkrishna has violated the Arms Act, 1959. There have been allegations that animal parts are used in preparing medicines. Ramdev has denied this charge as being totally false, aimed at destroying his good work.

Views on AIDS, sex education and homosexuality In December 2006, Swami Ramdev claimed to improve the condition of patients suffering with AIDS through yoga and ayurvedic drugs sold by his Divya Yoga Mandir Trust. He also went on to suggest that sex education should be replaced by yoga education, as his way to AIDS awareness and prevention. As a consequence of these public statements he was sent a cease and desist order by the Indian Union Health Ministry to avoid making such claims in the future, and the civil society threatened legal action. When Delhi High Court gave a verdict under decriminalising homosexuality in Delhi, the swami called a press conference and said, "This verdict of the court will encourage criminality and sick mentality. ... This is breaking the family system in India. Homosexuality is not natural and can be treated”. In 2011 he petitioned the court to overturn the ruling. Ramdev has said that he can "cure" homosexuals within six months using "yoga, pranayam and other meditation techniques".