When a toddler breached White House security and delayed Barack Obama's speech!

Washington: A toddler squeezed through the White House fence, triggering a security lock down and forcing President Barack Obama to delay a major announcement to the nation on Iraq. The incident occurred on Thursday at around 8 pm (local time) when the toddler got away from his parents, squeezed through the fence and entered the heavily protected White House grounds, causing a brief commotion at the 132-room presidential mansion. President Obama was about to address the nation on Iraq when the briefing was delayed because of the security breach on the North Lawn of the White House. Obama later announced that he has authorised US air strikes in northern Iraq against Islamic militants to protect American military personnel and prevent potential "genocide" of thousands of displaced religious minorities trapped on a mountaintop in northwest Iraq. Secret Service Spokesman Edwin Donovan made light of the security breach, saying: "We were going to wait until he learned to talk to question him, but in lieu of that he got a timeout and was sent on way with parents." The toddler was soon handed over to his parents. Secret Service agents regularly close off the area due to suspicious packages or incidents near the White House, but pint-sized intruders are a rare occurrence.

From Jinnah to Central Asia: The 7 books of author Jaswant Singh

New Delhi: Jaswant Singh is fighting for his life in a hospital in Delhi. He is one of the founder members of BJP and held important ministers like finance, defence and external. Recently he fought election as an independent MP after being denied ticket by the party but lost. People know him as veteran politician but very few know that he is a good writer as well. Some of his books also brought trouble for him. His book on Mohammed Ali Jinnah in which he praised him drew maximum criticism for him. Let’s discusses some of the books written by him. 1-Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence The book, released on 17 June 2009 and since its inception, landed in deep controversies. Mr Singh faced the heat from within and outside the party and was finally expelled from BJP. In this book he raised questions on the policies of Jawaharlal Nehru and praised founder of Pakistan, Jinnah.

2-India At Risk: Misadventures and Misconceptions of Security Policy In this book he raised question on Indian security. In this book he also talked at length about different wars fought by India. The book raised some burning question related with internal and external security of the country.

3-A Call To Honour: In Service Of Emergent India Mr Jaswant Singh who worked as defence and external minister under NDA government talked in this book about the different difficulties faced by the government during its tenure.

4- The Audacity of Opinion: Reflections, Journey, Musings In this book he wrote about internal problems of India. He discussed issues of terrorism, spread from Assam to Punjab. Mr Singh also raised the problem which the country may face in the future.

5- Defending India In this book he discussed the security challenges being faced by the country right from independence up to 1999. The book also analysis, defence budgets that were allotted during the same period.

6- Travels In Transoxiana Central Asian countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and South Kazakhstan were once referred as Transoxiana. Jaswant Singh visited these regions and written about them minutely, giving every possible details.

7- Victoria Cross Winners Of India – Till Memory Serves Since 1912 to 1947 meritorious soldiers were reworded with Victoria Cross. In this book he mentioned those 40 Indian soldiers who on the bases of their services earned this honour.

Signed up for the new Facebook messenger app? But did you read the terms & conditions, they're scary!

New Delhi: How many of you have bothered to read the entire terms and condition page before signing up for an internet application or downloading it? According to an article written in Huffington Post, Facebook messenger application requires you to accept one such 'terms and conditions' page with an endless list of points which most of us blindly choose to agree with. A large number of points mentioned in the app's are controversial, to say the least, and severely interfere with you privacy. Once acknowledged, the application has the permission to change your network connectivity. It also authorises the application to make phone calls without your intervention. A malicious application can easily make calls using your phone. The cost of the call will be deducted from your account. In a similar manner, the application authorises it to make SMSes without your confirmation. That’s not all, the application authorises the recording of audio with the help of phone's microphone and make use of the camera as well. The application has the capacity to take pictures using the camera of your Smartphone, without your permission. Data about incoming and outgoing calls, call logs can be shared by the application without requiring consent from the user. The application has access to personal profile information stored at your device. It can make use of your profile picture and send information to other users. It also provides access to features and details of the phone being used by the user. The article argues that there is nothing called as 'Free Apps'. The free apps are paid for by the provision of providing advertisers with information about personal data such as name, location, browsing history etc. The data and information obtained by the application developers are then passed on to the advertisers who use it target a specific group of consumers. In case of Facebook's messenger application the amount of snooping is unparallel and insidious, claims the article. With more than 1,000,000,000 users, the messenger application could prove to be one of the world's biggest data banks!

Meerut shamed again: Two youths kidnap 18-yr-old girl going with her brother, gang-rape her for 3 days;

Meerut: Crimes against women are on the rise in Uttar Pradesh. Rape cases have gone up and despite public outcry; behaviour of the criminals has not channged. Cases of gang-rapes are being routinely reported, and in many cases, the criminals film the act to stop victims from going public. In one such case, an 18-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped for three days by two youths in the Parikshitgarh area in Meerut, police said on Saturday. The incident took place on Wednesday when the victim was going to a forest area with her brother. The accused, identified as Sajid and Juber, kidnapped and took her to a vacant house in Lohiya Nagar, where they raped her for three days as well as filmed the act, according to a complaint filed by the police. Sajid has been arrested while search for Juber is on, police said. The victim was rescued by the police after she made a call to her family from the mobile phone of one of the accused, they said, adding, the family then informed the police. The girl has been sent for medical examination, police added.

Doctor allegedly rapes his female patient, impregnates her

New Delhi: A 17-year-old girl in Telangana was allegedly raped by her doctor after she had gone to him for treatment. The doctor allegedly "impregnated" her while he was treating her in the neighbouring Ranga Reddy district of Telangana. ‘ The incident seems to have occurred around four months ago when the girl, who was suffered stomach pain went to the hospital of one Narendra, a doctor in Parigi town of Ranga Reddy, the police said. According to reports, he advised her parents that she should be admitted to the hospital at night, DSP (Chevella Sub-Division) said. "The girl was given some tablets. However, after gaining consciousness she realized that Narendra had raped her," the DSP was reported as saying. Allegedly, Narendra threatened the girl and her parents not to reveal the matter to anybody. The girl was married off in June to another person. However, after she complained of stomach ache, the very next day, doctors told her that she was pregnant, the police officer said. Later, her parents lodged a complaint with the Parigi police who booked a case of rape under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the POCSO Act. The police are trying to nab the accused, Narendra, who is absconding.

Ebola Crisis: Is India ready to tackle the deadly virus?

New Delhi: Health officials in India have issues warnings at leading airports in the country, especially in Delhi and Mumbai, after the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The warning stems from the fact that there are possibilities of passengers with Ebola virus entering the country from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi and Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai. The question here is if India is ready to tackle the virus? The army blockaded rural areas hit by the deadly Ebola virus in Sierra Leone on August 8, 2013, after neighbouring Liberia declared a state of emergency to tackle the worst-ever outbreak of the disease, which has killed 932 people. According to media reports, India has put forward a five point must do programme at the airports. 1. Passengers travelling from African nations to be screened properly. 2. Passengers to self report at various 3. Immigration and custom officials to keep tight vigil 4. Proper facilities at airports to tackle any situation 5. Immediate coordination with IMA doctors after detection In addition to this, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on August 8, 2014 informed Parliament that there are close to 45,000 Indians in the affected countries. Vardhan said in-flight announcements regarding the outbreak and subsequent self reporting by passengers, would also be made by the airlines. "There would be designated facilities at the relevant airports/ports to manage travellers manifesting symptoms of the disease. The surveillance system would be geared up to track these travellers for four weeks and to detect them early, in case they develop symptoms," he said.

BIG GOOF-UP: AAP marks Indian Independence Day, with ITALIAN FLAG!

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party has entered itself into yet another controversial state after posting the Italian Flag to mark the Indian Independence Day. The image was posted on it's Facebook page. While it is being speculated as a goof up on the part of the aprty, the party corrected it soon after our report.

The image, which is shown as the cover page on the party's

Containers removal if Qadri takes responsibility for losses: court

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday offered lawyers of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) to have the containers/hurdles placed in and around Model Town removed if party chief Dr Tahirul Qadri took responsibility for any loss of life or property during his Youm-i-Shuhada. Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan gave this option to PAT lawyers when they opposed ‘security measures’ adopted by police and placement of containers on all entry and exit points of Model Town, the area where Dr Qadri resided. Justice Khan was hearing two petitions -- against suffering of citizens due to blocking of thoroughfares and arrest of PAT workers and not allowing people to reach Model Town. The first petition was filed by Hasan Awais, a resident of Model Town, while the other by Manzoor Husain, a PAT worker. Advocate Ahmad Awais argued on behalf of the first petitioner that police had blocked all roads leading to Model Town and compelled the residents to stay indoors. He said the government was using all official machinery, force, personnel and equipment to stop PAT from observing Youm-i-Shuhada. He said residents of Model Town, Model Town Extension, Faisal Town, Garden Town and Muslim Town were facing massive problems due to the containers placed on almost all roads in the areas. Advocate Awais argued the government had no right to disturb lives of citizens due to an individual. Punjab Inspector General Mushtaq Sukhera appeared before the court and said containers were placed to protect citizens. Punjab Advocate General Hanif Khatana said Dr Qadri had death threats and police adopted strict measures for his protection. Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan also summoned the capital city police officer (CCPO) along with the security plan under which a large police force had been deployed and containers placed on roads. The officer presented the plan, however, the judge directed him to submit a revised version on the next hearing. Advocate Rafaqat Ali Kahlon argued on behalf of the PAT and said the police took “extraordinary security measures” only to restrict citizens’ participation in the Youm-i-Shuhada gathering. Justice Khan sought an affidavit from the lawyer on behalf of Dr Qadri that he would be responsible for any loss of life or damage to property, and the court would order removal of all containers and barricades. However, the judge restrained the police from arresting Pakistan Awami Tehreek lawyers without the permission of the court. The judge will resume hearing on Saturday (today). Legal notice Former secretary of the Lahore High Court Bar Association Rana Asadullah Khan has sent a legal notice to Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri for levelling a false allegation against him. Advocate Khan is the younger brother of Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashhood. Advocate Khan, in his notice, said he had never been a legal adviser to the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA). He also denied an allegation of Dr Qadri that he had been serving the government as legal adviser against a monthly salary of Rs1 million. He stated he had been working for TDCP as a legal adviser against a salary of Rs40,000. He warned Dr Qadri of legal proceedings if he did not tender an apology. The notice further warns that a court of law will be moved for damages of Rs1 billion if Dr Tahirul Qadri fails to apologise for levelling false allegations. Published in Dawn, Aug 9th, 2014

Twin cities witness fuel frenzy

Filling stations in Punjab, Islamabad to be... by dawn-news ISLAMABAD: The first signs of a showdown between the police and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in Lahore, combined with the rumours related to strict security measures ahead of Independence Day, triggered ‘panic buying’ of petrol in the twin cities on Friday evening. On Thursday, the deputy commissioner office also extended the imposition of Section 144 for another two months. This directive was previously given in anticipation of Dr Tahirul Qadri arrival in Rawalpindi in June. Within moments, social networks were abuzz with information and gossip that the authorities had decided to cut the fuel supply for the federal capital from Saturday. “The long queues started to appear at fuel stations in Islamabad late in the afternoon on Friday. By evening, these serpent-like lines had even blocked the roads,” said Abid Hayat, a senior Petroleum Dealers Association of Pakistan member. Some petrol stations run dry as people queue up to fill up their vehicles amid rumours of fuel shortage Petroleum dealers attribute the frenzy purchase as ‘panic buying’; some of the pumps even went dry as they were not prepared for the sudden jack in petrol demand. There are around 100 petrol pumps in the twin cities and the buying rush that started in the federal capital soon engulfed the garrison city too. At the same time, customers had their own set of woes. Some were upset for getting only a limited amount of fuel as some pumps had imposed a sale quota – five litres per motorcycle and 10 litres per vehicle – to accommodate all customers in the queue. Some of the buyers even remained in the line for up to three hours – something which is usually seen only at CNG filling stations. Many motorists were eager to get petrol because they failed to get CNG too, and that was because the gas supply to stations was disconnected after midnight by the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines. Many pumps not only witnessed separate queues for cars and motorcycles, but a special line had to be established for pedestrians who wanted to buy petrol in cans and bottles. The situation became serious for the pump owners too as fear of running out of petrol became more serious amid limited supply from oil companies. “We wanted to have two tankers, but the oil company supplied only one,” said Raja Wasim, a petrol pump owner in Sitara Market Islamabad. “The usual sale is between 5,000 and 10,000 litres daily, but it went to almost 20,000 litres on Friday.” The oil companies are under stress too as there are fears that even the Sihala oil depot could empty out by late Friday night. “Petrol sale has jacked by almost 40 per cent in the first seven days of August this year, compared to August last year,” said an official of Pakistan State Oil (PSO). “But the surge in demand is coming from Punjab, which shows that it is an impact of political rattling.” An official of Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) said initial figures of collective petrol sales by all oil marketing companies (OMCs) from Machike depots increased to 1.7 million litres by late Friday night, compared to the average normal sale of 900,000 litres daily. “The increase in sale is even more than what was witnessed during the Eid days,” the official added. Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2014

Governor briefed on Zarb-i-Azb progress

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan on Friday hoped that smooth and congenial atmosphere would soon prevail in North Waziristan and internally displaced persons would be able to return to their homes with honour and dignity. He stated this during a visit to Miramshah where army commanders briefed him about the ongoing operation Zarb-i-Azb. Operation Commander Maj-Gen Zafarullah Khan informed the governor about advancements, successes and future targets of the operation, which was launched against militants on June 18, according to a handout. “Security of the country and peace and development of the nation and ensuring better future for the coming generations are the cherished objectives of all of us and we will spare no efforts to materialise them,” said Sardar Mahtab. He said the nation saluted mothers of soldiers and officers whose sons were facing difficult circumstances with courage and offering sacrifices for making security of the country impregnable. The governor said that there would be no dearth of resources as far as taking care of the IDPs and their rehabilitation in their respective areas was concerned. Later, talking to army soldiers during his visit to Miramshah Bazaar, the governor said that their spirit of courage and sacrifice deserved a tribute. Published in Dawn, Aug 9th, 2014

Tribesmen refuse to leave N Waziristan town

BANNU: The residents of Ediak in North Waziristan Agency have refused to evacuate over the imminent military offensive against militants in the area. The refusal comes two days after the administration served notices on hundreds of the residents of Razmak, Spinwam, Shewa, Shawal, Eidek and adjoining areas of the tribal agency to shift to Bannu without delay. They were even offered free transport for Bannu. The elders of tribesmen called a jirga on Thursday to decide about the future course of action. The participants unanimously decided not to vacate their homes but said they would continue to be in contact with the administration on the matter. Eidak is seven kilometres away from Mirali and has around 25,000 population. The Fata Disaster Management Authority has already made arrangements at Sidgai checkpost to register displaced families before giving them Rs20,000 each. Later, the administration and Eidgai elders had talks until Thursday night. However, there was no breakthrough as both the sides stuck to their guns. Another such jirga on the matter will take place shortly. There are reports about the presence of the people of Shewa and Razmak tehsils in Ediak despite the government’s warning. A local official said the FDMA had deployed relevant staff at the registration point in Sidgai, who would provide necessary assistance to displaced families. Meanwhile, all five registration points set up by the government to register IDPs in Bannu have yet to begin work due to the lack of proper arrangements by the staff posted there. Recently, the administration through advertisements in the national media had asked unregistered IDPs to reach the registration points at Sports Complex, Commerce College Bannu, Degree College Mamshkhel, Vocational Institute for Women, and Elementary College. However, the points remained closed despite presence of displaced persons in long queues. Published in Dawn, Aug 9th, 2014

Emotional test for police recruits

PESHAWAR: Upon completion of physical endurance and written test for recruitment to the post of constables, carried out through National Testing Service, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police department has decided to evaluate the emotional intelligence of the successful candidates before final enlistment. The emotional intelligence test has been introduced as a substitute for the interview to eliminate the element of discretion and nepotism. The test will be conducted by a panel comprising specialised psychologists, concerned regional police officer and concerned district police officer. Know more: KP to set up combat unit similar to US Marines: IG KP A workshop in this regard was held at the Central Police Office here on Friday wherein DIG training, DIG headquarters and AIG establishment informed the participants about the expected level of emotional intelligence that KP police expected to have in its recruits. Around 12 specialised psychologists participated in the workshop. After the workshop, the participants also held a meeting with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani who briefed them about his expectations from them, according to a statement. Published in Dawn, Aug 9th, 2014

Govt’s plan to privatise OGDCL assets opposed

KOHAT: The central workers union of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) on Friday vowed to strongly resist the government’s plan to privatise 10 per cent assets of the company. In this regard, All Pakistan Ittehad Union activists, led by its vice-president Abdur Rashid Shinwari, held a protest walk from Shuhada Chowk to Kohat Press Club and chanted slogans against the government. Addressing a press conference, Mr Shinwari later said that the government could privatise strategic organisations like OGDCL only over their dead bodies. He termed the government’s plan an economic murder of the labourers. He said that the success of OGDCL was its operational performance which had resulted in discoveries of new oil and gas reservoirs besides two new sites of hydrocarbon. He said that the company had increased the profit of the shareholders and strengthened its own financial position by augmenting its pure profit by 135.8 per cent during 2013-14. He said that OGDCL earned a profit of Rs123.9 billion during the same fiscal year. The union leader said that the production of oil had risen to 41,330 barrels and gas to 25 metric tons daily. He offered the government that if it needed money the OGDCL could lend money to it without claiming any profit, but its privatisation would be strongly resisted all over Pakistan. Mr Shinwari demanded an end to corruption in OGDCL and termed the unqualified managerial staff as burden on the company. He alleged that senior staff of Mela-3 rig was involved in corruption and demanded investigations against them. He warned that if the government did not drop the OGDCL sell-off plan they would expand their protest from Kohat to Karachi. Published in Dawn, Aug 9th, 2014

Israelis, Gaza militants fight on, defying truce efforts

GAZA: Israel launched more than 20 aerial attacks in Gaza early on Saturday and militants fired several rockets at Israel in a second day of violence since a failure to extend an Egyptian-mediated truce that halted a monthlong war earlier this week. The Israeli military said that since midnight it had attacked more than 20 sites in the coastal enclave where Hamas are dominant, without specifying the targets. Palestinian witnesses and officials said the air strikes lasted through the night, that two mosques were destroyed and three houses were bombed, and that fighter planes had also strafed open areas. Gaza militants fired four rockets at towns in Israel's south on Saturday setting off alarm sirens and causing no damage or injuries, a military spokeswoman said. Violence also picked up in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian territory where President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement holds sway, where a Palestinian man, 43, died of a gunshot wound to the chest from a confrontation with Israeli soldiers in the city of Hebron, medical officials said. Israeli troops shot and killed another Palestinian man, 20, on Friday at a protest near a Jewish settlement outside Ramallah, Israeli military officials said. Egypt has made no visible progress toward resuming a 72-hour ceasefire that halted the fighting between Israel and Gaza militants that began on July 8, but was expected to pursue these efforts again on Saturday. The ceasefire expired on Friday with the sides still far apart on the terms for renewing the deal and each side blaming the other for refusing to extend it. Israel accused Hamas of firing several rockets about four hours before the deal expired at 8 a.m. (0500 GMT). In all, Gaza militant fired 57 rockets at Israel throughout Friday. Israel also launched air strikes in Gaza on Friday, killing five Palestinians, among them a 10-year-old boy near a mosque in Gaza City. A militant and three other Palestinians were killed in the southern Gaza Strip. Police said two people in Israel were injured by mortar fire from Gaza on Friday. Ramping up the pressure By resuming attacks against Israel, Gaza militants appeared to be trying to ramp up pressure and making it clear they were ready to fight on to fulfil a goal of ending a blockade of the territory that both Israel and neighbouring Egypt have imposed. Heavy civilian casualties and destruction during Israel's campaign against militants in packed residential areas of the Gaza Strip have raised international alarm over the past month, but efforts to prolong a ceasefire at talks in Cairo failed. Gaza officials say the war has killed 1,880 Palestinians, most of them civilians. Hamas said on Thursday it had executed an unspecified number of Palestinians as Israeli spies. Israel says 64 of its soldiers and three civilians have died in the fighting that began on July 8, after a surge in Palestinian rocket salvoes into Israel. It expanded its air and naval bombardment of the Gaza Strip into a ground offensive on July 17, and pulled its infantry and armour out of the enclave on Tuesday after saying it had destroyed more than 30 infiltration tunnels dug by militants. The White House urged Israel and the Palestinians to do what they could to preserve civilians after having failed to extend their ceasefire. Spokesman John Earnest said on Friday “the United States is very concerned” about the renewed violence. “We condemn the renewed rocket fire and we are concerned about the safety and security of civilians on both sides of the conflict,” Earnest said. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a similar statement urging the parties “not to resort to further military action that can only exacerbate the already appalling humanitarian situation in Gaza.” Israel had earlier said it was ready to agree to an extension as Egyptian go-betweens pursued negotiations with Israeli and Palestinian delegates. Hamas did not agree. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Israel had rejected most of the group's demands. He said the Palestinians had wanted Israel to agree in principle to lift a Gaza blockade, release prisoners and permit the opening of a sea port, but these had been rebuffed. “However, we did not close the door and will continue with the negotiations,” Abu Zuhri said. Israel has shown little interest in easing its naval blockade of Gaza and controls on overland traffic and airspace, suspecting Hamas could restock with weapons from abroad. Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet said the issue of a sea port should be part of wider peace negotiations with the Palestinians and that Hamas should not at this time be rewarded for “using force against Israeli citizens.” In Cairo, the foreign ministry called on both sides “to return immediately to the ceasefire and exploit the opportunity available to resume negotiations on the very limited sticking points that remain in the fastest possible time”.

Sangakkara flays Pakistan with 189 not out

GALLE: Veteran Kumar Sangakkara was nearing a 200-plus score for the 10th time as Sri Lanka closed in on Pakistan's first innings total of 451 in the first Test in Galle on Saturday. The prolific left-hander was unbeaten on 189 as the hosts moved to 449-4 by tea on the fourth day, trailing by just two runs with six wickets in hand. Sangakkara, second only behind Australian legend Don Bradman's tally of 12 scores of above 200, has so far hit 21 boundaries in his 37th Test century. Skipper Angelo Mathews made 91 during a fourth-wicket stand of 181 with Sangakkara before he was caught in the slips off Saeed Ajmal just before tea. It was the fifth time in his career that the Sri Lankan captain had been dismissed in the 90s, and the third time he went on 91 against Pakistan. Kithuruwan Vithanage kept Sangakkara company at tea on five as the opening match of the two-Test series headed for a draw unless Sri Lanka bowled Pakistan out quickly in the second innings. Pakistan paid heavily for dropping Sangakkara off the first ball of the day when Abdur Rehman spilled a chance at point off left-arm seamer Junaid Khan. Junaid struck three deliveries later as Mahela Jayawardene was adjudged leg-before through the Decision Review System (DRS). Umpire Ian Gould turned down a loud shout from the bowler, but Pakistan earned a positive verdict after appealing for a review from the TV official. Replays showed the ball hitting the top of the off-stump. Jaywardene, who is due to quit Test cricket after the series ends in Colombo later this month, made 59 in a third-wicket stand of 113 with Sangakkara. The 36-year-old Sangakkara had on Friday risen to fourth place in the list of century-makers with his 37th hundred, the seventh three-figure knock in his last 14 Tests. Only the retired trio of India's Sachin Tendulkar, with 51 centuries, Jacques Kallis of South Africa, who had 45, and Ricky Ponting of Australia on 41, have scored more hundreds. The second and final Test will be played on Jayawardene's home ground at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from August 14.

India-Pakistan may play bilateral cricket series next year: report

CHENNAI: Cricket fans in the subcontinent have reason to rejoice, as the stalemate between cricketing giants India and Pakistan may end with International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman N Srinivasan's fresh statement that India will renew bilateral series with Pakistan next year. "There has been a proposal to resume bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan. As I understand as ICC chairman, there has been an agreement that the two teams will play each other soon," Srinivasan said in an interview with Times of India. The teams will take on each other in the United Arab Emirates in a full series comprising two Tests, five One Day Internationals and two T20 games. According to the Future Tours and Programmes (FTP) schedule drawn up by ICC, they will play four more full-length series over the next eight years. When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was contacted, a source said, "We have set an eight-year plan and are working towards it." The 2015 series is a 'home' series for Pakistan, but owing to security issues, matches will have to be played in UAE. "As part of the restructuring of the FTP, India have agreed to play Pakistan in off-shore venues and as I understand, the BCCI working committee has agreed to it," Srinivasan said. Earlier, the Indian cricketing authority had opposed matches at off-shore venues, but the Indian Premier League this year in UAE was an “ice-breaker”, the report says. "The tournament was very well organised and we are happy with the arrangements in UAE," a source added. According to TOI, the last Test match between India and Pakistan was played in Bangalore in 2007. After a five-year pause due to friction between the two countries following the 26/11 attacks in 2008, Pakistan returned for a short series to India in late 2012, when they played three ODIs and two T20s. Since then, there has been no clearance from the centre for Pakistan to tour India. According to the new FTP, the first tour of Pakistan to India will be in November-December 2017, when they will play three Tests, five ODIs and two T20s. The two teams will play 12 Test matches over the next eight years. A Pakistan-India match in Delhi? An India Today report maintains that the thaw in cricketing ties between India and Pakistan is an off-shoot of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's attendance at the Indian premier Narendra Modi's oath-taking ceremony. The report states that the series could be played either in India or in the UAE. A source in the Board of Control for India (BCCI) also indicated that if the series is staged in India, one of the matches would surely be played in New Delhi. If that happens it is likely to be attended by the top politicians of the two countries — maybe even the two prime ministers. It also quotes former Pakistan opening batsman Mohsin Khan as welcoming the move to play a short series. "The demand for the India-Pakistan series has gone so high that it has left behind Ashes series between England and Australia in terms of popularity. India is one of the best teams of the world and so is Pakistan, and they should play each other, but with a gap to maintain the series' primacy," Khan told Mail Today.

US drops new aid to Iraqis fleeing militant surge

BAGHDAD: The US launched a new airdrop Saturday to aid thousands of members of an Iraqi minority group who fled the advance of the Islamic State group, trying to stem a worsening humanitarian crisis in a country reeling from the extremist offensive. The extremists have captured hundreds of women from the Yazidi religious minority, according to an Iraqi official, while thousands of other civilians fled in fear. Many of America's allies backed the US intervention, pledging urgent steps to assist the legions of refugees and displaced people. Those in jeopardy included thousands of members of the Yazidi whose plight _ trapped on a mountaintop by the militants _ prompted the US to airdrop crates of food and water to them. Yazidis belong to ancient religion seen by the Islamic State group as heretical. The group also sees Shiite Muslims as apostates, and has demanded Christians either convert to Islam or pay a special tax. American planes conducted a second airdrop of food and water early Saturday for those trapped in the Sinjar mountains, said Pentagon chief spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby. Escorted by two Navy fighter jets, three planes dropped 72 bundles of supplies for the refugees, including more than 28,000 meals and more than 1,500 gallons of water, said Kirby, who spoke from New Delhi during a trip with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. The extremists' “campaign of terror against the innocent, including the Yazidi and Christian minorities, and its grotesque and targeted acts of violence bear all the warning signs and hallmarks of genocide,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry. “For anyone who needed a wake-up call, this is it. “ Underscoring the sense of alarm, a spokesman for Iraq's human rights ministry said hundreds of Yazidi women had been seized by the militants. Amin, citing reports from the victims' families, said some of the women were being held in schools in Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul. “We think that the terrorists by now consider them slaves and they have vicious plans for them,” Amin told The Associated Press. “We think that these women are going to be used in demeaning ways by those terrorists to satisfy their animalistic urges in a way that contradicts all the human and Islamic values. “ For the US military, which withdrew its forces from Iraq in late 2011 after more than eight years of war, the re-engagement began when two F/A-18 jets dropped 500-pound bombs on a piece of artillery and the truck towing it. The Pentagon said the militants were using the artillery to shell Kurdish forces defending Irbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, and home to a US consulate and about three dozen US military trainers. Later Friday, the US launched a second round of airstrikes near Irbil, US officials said. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the strikes publicly, said unmanned aircraft hit a mortar and four Navy F/A-18 fighter jets destroyed a seven-vehicle convoy. Expanding from their stronghold of Mosul, the militants have captured a string of towns and Iraq's largest hydroelectric dam and reservoir in recent weeks. Ethnic and religious minorities, fearing persecution and slaughter, have fled as their towns fell. According to the U.N., more than 500,000 people have been displaced by the violence in Iraq since June, bringing the total this year to well over 1 million. In contrast to Washington's decision to invade Iraq more than a decade ago, both the airdrop and the authorization of military action against the Islamic State group were widely welcomed by Iraqi and Kurdish officials fearful of the militants' advance. “We thank Barack Obama,” said Khalid Jamal Alber, from the Religious Affairs Ministry in the Kurdish government. In his announcement Thursday night, Obama had identified protecting the Yazidis and defending Americans as the two objectives for the airstrikes. But on Friday, his spokesman, Josh Earnest, said the US was also prepared to use military force to assist Iraqi forces and the Kurds' peshmerga militia. The Islamic State group captured Mosul in June, and then launched a blitz toward the south, sweeping over Sunni-majority towns almost to the capital, Baghdad. It already holds large parts of western Iraq, as well as swaths of neighboring Syria. Iraqi government forces crumbled in the face of the assault but have since been able to prevent the militants from advancing into Shiite-majority areas. In the north, the Kurds have been the main line of defense against the radicals, but their fighters are stretched over a long front trying to fend them off. Hagel, traveling in India, said if Islamic militants threaten US interests in Iraq or the thousands of refugees in the mountains, the US military has enough intelligence to clearly single out the attackers and launch effective airstrikes. At the White House, Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes met with members of the Iraqi Yazidi community and “noted that the United States will act, carefully and responsibly, to prevent a potential act of genocide,” said Deputy NSC spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan. Rhodes “emphasized that the United States will continue to pursue a strategy that empowers Iraqis to confront this crisis, including by providing urgent assistance to Iraqi government and Kurdish forces,” Meehan said. The International Rescue Committee said it was providing emergency medical care for up to 4,000 dehydrated Yazidis, mostly women and children, who survived without food or water for up to six days hiding in the Sinjar mountains before fleeing to a refugee camp in Syria, where a civil war is raging. Officials in Britain, Germany and elsewhere pledged financial aid to support humanitarian efforts in Iraq, and several top European officials supported Obama's decision to intervene with airstrikes.

Militant attack from Afghanistan kills four in Upper Dir

PESHAWAR: Militants from Afghanistan stormed the house of a local anti-Taliban militia chief in Upper Dir district, killing him and three members of his family, officials said Saturday. The incident occurred late Friday in Tenai Dara village around 250 kilometres north of Peshawar. “Taliban militants from Afghanistan stormed the house of Nazmeen Khan, chief of a local anti-Taliban militia, in the late hours of Friday night and killed him along with his two sons and a nephew,” local police official Gul Fazil Khan told news agency AFP. He said two other family members were wounded, including a women who was in critical condition. Senior police official Javaid Aziz confirmed the incident. “Taliban militants from Afghanistan attacked the house of a local anti-Taliban militia and the local militia and army later retaliated and killed two militants,” said Aziz. He said the anti-Taliban militia and the military were searching for the militants. Pakistan began a military offensive in the northwest in the aftermath of a brazen attack on the country’s busiest airport in Karachi which killed dozens and left a nascent peace process in tatters. More than 500 militants and 27 soldiers have been killed in the assault so far, according to the military, though their death toll for insurgents cannot be independently confirmed.

Somali Shebab say 18 dead in attack on government troops

MOGADISHU: Somalia's hardline Islamists reported heavy fighting Saturday in battles against government and African Union troops in the central Hiran region. Shebab spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab told AFP at least 18 were killed and several others wounded after the group's fighters attacked a base of the AU force in Buloburde town, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of the capital Mogadishu. The casualties could not be immediately confirmed, but the Al-Qaeda-linked extremists said the dead included five of their own men.“Nine soldiers with the African Union, four of their Somali counterparts, and five mujahedeen from our Shebab were killed in the fight,” Musab said. Fighting begin around midnight Friday, lasting for about four hours into Saturday morning, he said. “Our fighters went into the camp, that is where the killing took place, “Musab added. Troops from the 22,000-strong AU force captured Buloburde from the Shebab earlier in the year, but the Islamists control large parts of the rural area surrounding the town. The Shebab continue to launch attacks in the heart of the capital Mogadishu -- including recent brazen commando raids on the presidential palace and parliament -- in a bid to topple the internationally-backed government. The latest fighting comes amid growing warnings of a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country, three years after more than 250,000 people, half of them children, died in a devastating famine. The United Nations has warned Somalia is sliding back into an acute hunger crisis, with over 350,000 people in Mogadishu in need of food aid, with parts of the city facing emergency levels just short of famine. The hardline Shebab, which once controlled most of southern and central Somalia, has been driven out of positions in Mogadishu and Somalia's major towns by the AU force. The UN-mandated force is widely expected to launch a fresh push in coming weeks to seize the last few major settlements still in Shebab hands in southern Somalia, especially the port of Barawe. Also on Saturday, Somalia's government said that a journalist accused of killing colleagues and working for the Shebab has been arrested in Kenya, and would be extradited to Mogadishu. A series of journalists have been killed in recent years in Somalia, one of the most dangerous countries in the world to work as a reporter.

Pakistan's top 5 men for Bollywood

With Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Imran Abbas all set to make their Bollywood debut, the day is not far when B-town movers and shakers offer movie roles to other celebrated actors. As Indian makers have made some controversial decisions by casting Meera, Veena and Sarah Loren in movies that flopped at the box office, we decided to spare everyone the agony and draw a list of the top five Pakistani actors who we feel could bowl Indian fans over: Shaan Shahid

Shaan is exceptionally talented and a successful actor, director, and brand ambassador. Not only that, but his good looks are well suited to any screen – be it Lollywood or Bollywood. But he seems voraciously loyal to the Pakistani film industry and we wonder what he'd do if he's offered a lead role in Bollywood that's too hard to turn down. Mikaal Zulfiqaar

This model-turned-actor undoubtedly has good looks and exceptional acting abilities, which are obvious in his many performances in Pakistani drama serials such as Shehr e Zaat, Izteraab and Laa. But did you know that he has already begun his career in Bollywood? In 2008, he worked in Shoot on Sight, which is was not released in Pakistan due to him being portrayed as a terrorist. In 2011, he was given a lead role in the Bollywood movie U R My Jan, which Bollywood considered as one of the best collaborations with a Pakistani actor. However, Mikaal still has to prove himself and has yet to truly make his mark in Bollywood. We have no doubt that his charming face will soon shine in B-town! Fun Fact: Mikaal Zulifqaar launched his career in a music video for the Abrar-Ul-Haq song Sanu Tere Naal Pyar Ho Gya. He was also nominated for the Lux Style Award in 2008 for Best Model (male). Hamza Ali Abbasi

This talented Pakistani model, actor and filmmaker has definitely impressed Pakistani audiences in his roles in two of Pakistan’s most successful films Waar and Main Hoon Shahid Afridi. The handsome Robert Pattinson doppelganger is quite popular with the ladies — as you can gauge from the adulatory tweets below — and surely has the talent and charisma to wow the Indian audience. Fun Fact: Hamza Abbasi starred in the first ever Pakistani production of the Phantom of the Opera directed by Shah Sharahbeel. He has also voiced 'Baba Bandook', the villain in the animated miniseries Burka Avengers. Shaheryar Munawwar

This fresh face hazel-eyed Pakistani actor and model has already found great success in Pakistan’s entertainment industry, specially with his role in Hum TV drama serial Meray Dard Ko Jo Zuban Miley, for which he won Hum Award for Best New Sensation Television. While we do not know if Shaheryar has any plans to work in B-town, we do know that his movie star looks and talent are perfect to make him the next Hrithik Roshan. Shamoon Abbasi

Shamoon has become our favourite bad guy after his magnificent performance as Waar’s lead villain. But does he have what it takes to be compared to the ranks of Amjad Khan? When it comes to loyalty, Shamoon seems to have fallen into Shaan's footsteps, as he turned down the offer to act alongside Priyanka Chopra in order to play the villain in Lashari’s Waar. But if he has a change of heart, he would definitely be a top pick for Bollywood filmmakers looking for a bad guy from across the border.

Beyond Gaza By A.G. Noorani

The carnage Israel let loose in Gaza since July is a precursor of worse to follow. On Aug 4, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “This operation will only end when quiet and security is established for the citizens of Israel for a prolonged period.” Israel’s aim is to wipe out Hamas. The 72-hour ceasefire announced earlier means nothing and has ended. Ahron Bregman, a former officer in the Israeli army, realistically warned last month that “soon after the guns fall silent, perhaps within a few months, the parties will resume the war”. The reason for this cycle of mini-war is “the fact that the ceasefires which put an end to the repeated confrontation fail to tackle the underlying cause of the clashes which is the continuing Israeli occupation and the pain, suffering and humiliation it inflicts on the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza strip”. Palestinians have been physically divided into two caged areas. The latter is an open-air prison in which 1.8 million people live within 146 square kilometres. Of the 1.8 million, over 250,000 are in shelters. Palestinians have been physically divided into two caged areas, the West Bank and Gaza. Physical separation has kept pace with the rise in Israel’s political demands. Gaza and the West Bank together comprise 22pc of Palestine. In 2000, Israel offered 80pc of the 22pc of the Palestinians’ homeland usurped in 1948. Ariel Sharon offered a state on 42pc of the 80pc of 22pc of their homeland. Jewish settlements on the lands occupied since the war of 1967 have increased four-fold. There are now 350,000 of them in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Hamas won a landslide victory in the election to the Palestine Legislative Council on Jan 25, 2006 bagging 74 of the 132 seats to Fatah’s 45. A year later, when the two formed a government of national unity, the US and Israel insisted on Hamas’ ouster. The coalition broke up. A crippling embargo was imposed rendering it impossible for Hamas to govern Gaza. The US initiated talks in July 2013, in which Mahmoud Abbas, Fatah’s leader, made vital concessions. But Israel demanded “complete control” over the occupied territories. He decided to heal the rift. On April 23, 2014 Fatah and Hamas agreed to set up a government of technocrats headed by Abbas and to hold presidential and legislative elections within six months. Netanyahu immediately declared that Abbas “must choose. Does he want reconciliation with Hamas or peace with Israel?” He himself forged a coalition with right-wing parties such as Naftali Bennett’s Jewish Home. In May, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian youths. In reprisal, Hamas allegedly abducted three young Israeli settlers. An “incremental genocide” by Israel followed, to use the Israeli scholar Ilan Pappe’s words. The US endorsed Israel’s stand in September 2010 that the Palestinians must recognise Israel as a Jewish state. Archival disclosures by Ahron Bregman in his book Cursed Victory show that the US was never a mediator. Then president Bill Clinton told prime minister Ehud Barak “I’ll back you … I’m your guy …” Israel’s nuclear arsenal was safe. Clinton showed his proposals to Israeli negotiators before presenting them to Yasser Arafat. The EU will not part company with the US on Israel. But the Arab states were not particularly energetic in pressing Palestine’s case either. Israel’s foreign minister Abba Eban revealed in his memoirs Personal Witness that at Camp David, president Anwar Sadat “was thinking of Egyptian interests alone. His devotion to the Palestinian cause was perfunctory….” The situation is far worse today as David Kirkpatrick reported in The New York Times recently from Cairo. Hamas, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, enjoys little support from leaders of the Arab states; with the exception of Qatar and Turkey. Iran’s support to Hamas is another factor. Egypt leads “a new coalition of Arab states — including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan — that has effectively lined up with Israel in its fight against Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip. That, in turn, may have contributed to the failure of the antagonists to reach a ceasefire even after more than three weeks of bloodshed”. If that were all, one would despair of any future for the Palestinians. But there are avenues which promise results. One is Hamas’ renunciation of the rocket attacks which serve only to invite international censure. Instead, it could employ the tactics of peaceful protest so precisely enunciated by Gene Sharp in his books on The Politics of Non-Violent Action. The most telling movement is BDS — Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanction — launched in July 2005 by 172 Palestinian civil society organisations. It calls for “non-violent punitive measures”. They include boycotts of Israel’s economy and institutions, withdrawal of foreign investment and sanctions against the state itself. The writer is an author and lawyer based in Mumbai. Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2014

Tsunami cannot march on an empty stomach!

RAWALPINDI: In keeping with Napoleonic wisdom, it seems the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has taken the adage “an army marches on its stomach” to heart. Having learned from past experiences, party workers are said to have finalised catering arrangements for the party’s Azadi March, which is expected to roll into the capital on Independence Day. The PTI plans to provide party supporters and activists – who come all the way to Islamabad for the long march – with subsidised food in anticipation of an extended sit-in in the capital, PTI Punjab North President Sadaqat Ali Abbasi told Dawn. The party’s local chapter, sources say, has been in touch with a number of known food outlets in the twin cities in this regard and they have been asked to set up food stalls near Parliament House. Caterers told to prepare food for 5,000 people; party leaders say nearly 100,000 expected to join Azadi March from twin cities alone A well-known restaurant, specialising in Chicken Pulao, has been asked to provide a mobile canteen for deployment at the site of the sit-in. The outlet has several branches across the twin cities and has been picked for its cost-effectiveness. Participants can purchase a food packet – which will include fried rice, chicken pieces and shami kebabs – from the canteen at the reduced cost of Rs70 or Rs80, while the difference of Rs50 will be borne by the party itself, a senior PTI leader told Dawn. He said that the party had reached an agreement with three food outlets but said the hoteliers feared government reprisals if they went ahead with this plan. “To assuage them, the party decided to transport the food on PTI-hired vehicles, with representatives from each outlet being on hand to collect money from those who would be buying the food,” he said. The caterers have been asked to ensure that there was no shortage of food for rally participants, adding that initially, 5,000 food packets would be prepared while additional orders would be placed once the extent of the turnout at the venue could be established. He said that some local leaders had been assigned the task of arranging food for participants in case of an emergency. The PTI leader said that some PTI leaders were worried about the number of people who would gather in the capital, but the party had asked them to engage the caterers to ensure immediate food supply at the venue. Abbasi said that the party had formed teams to make arrangements for the participants and each party official would arrange the food packets for 30 people. To a query about the expected number of participants, he said that more than 100,000 people would join the sit-in from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad alone. He said that the food arrangements had been made only with outsiders in mind and did not take Rawalpindi and Islamabad residents into account. Abbasi said he had been in Khushab on Friday for a local workers’ convention in the district. “The local administration sealed all the roads going to the venue,” he said. The party has finalised its arrangements for August 14 and formed teams of workers who will be responsible for bringing people to the venue on Independence Day, he said. Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2014

Gang arrested for impersonating staff of Presidency

ISLAMABAD: Capital police busted a five-member gang that was impersonating Aiwan-i-Saddar staff and minting money from people after enticing them with job offers in police and other government department, a police spokesman said on Friday, adding that the gang was also giving away fraudulent contracts of various projects. According to details, a resident of G-7/2 sector lodged a report with Margalla police station about five people who traveled on a vehicle having an official number plate and pretended to be staff members of Aiwan-i-Saddar. He further stated that they took Rs8.6 million from people on the pretext of providing them jobs and contracts of various projects. Following the complaint, a police team raided a house in G-9/3 sector and nabbed the five suspects. The police also recovered two vehicles with official number plates, fake departmental cards and bogus letters issued to police for induction in the police department. For further investigation, their physical remand has been obtained from the concerned court. Meanwhile, the Secretariat police arrested a person accused of pressurising the railway ministry officials while pretending to be a member of provincial assembly (MPA). Moreover, the Sihala and Koral police have arrested six persons for their alleged involvement in bootlegging, street crimes and robberies. They also recovered 315 alcohol bottles and weapons from their possession, a police spokesman said. Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2014

Rawal note: When police torture becomes the norm of the day

The government seems to have been betraying its commitments to stamp out torture apparently due to the political interference in the appointments of police officials on important posts. In a recent case, a large number of people from Kotli Sattian attacked the local police station, tortured the police officials and blocked the traffic on main road for over six hours. They were protesting obnoxious remarks allegedly passed by the SHO about a family while settling a dispute between two groups. In return, the police rounded up several people, suspected to be involved in torturing the police officials and attacking the police station, and reportedly subjected them to inhumane treatment. The tension is yet to settle as people have given a deadline to the police to mend their attitude. The second incident came to light in an urban area police station, where a detainee was tortured for signing a confession that he was involved in a car theft. Ultimately, the detainee died in the police custody, which was acknowledged by the police when it registered a murder case against eight police personnel. Torture is routinely used as a means of extracting “confessions” by the police. The detainees are beaten, knotted in painful positions, suspended from ceilings to make them confess that they were involved in a crime. Said Khan, a resident of Mohmand Agency who was accused of car theft, didn’t confess to the alleged crime despite all cruel tactics used by the police of the two police stations – Airport and New Town – until he lost his life. During the investigation, two of Khan’s accomplices allegedly confessed to stealing two cars. The Airport police, however, was unable to make Said Khan confess to the crime. This is when the station house officer of the New Town asked his counterpart to hand over the accused to him, claiming he could get the confession from him. “While being subjected to torture, his blood pressure started dropping and he could not recover,” a police official at the New Town police station said about Khan, who was investigated in the presence of the SHO. A superintendent of Rawalpindi police was also allegedly in the loop about the investigation. On seeing his condition deteriorating, the Airport police officials were called and asked to take their accused back. While the Airport police were taking the torture victim, he died. A medical board carried out the postmortem on the body of Khan. Though its final reports are awaited, torture was confirmed in the murder case registered against the eight police personnel with the Airport police. However, two of the policemen booked in the torture case are yet to be arrested. Human rights activist Tahira Abdullah condemned the police torture during which a man, who was yet to be proven guilty, was killed. “The police men involved in the murder must be punished with full force of the law, though the court,” she said and added: “Recruitment and training of police force in Pakistan needs to be improved, if the people are to be protected from police brutality.” The Model Town incident in Lahore, in which precious lives were lost, was an evident of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s soft corner for the police. Now, the PML-N central government has to use the police force to foil ‘Azadi March’ of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Tahirul Qadri’s movement against the existing corrupt system – whether they are right or wrong. The question here is why the CM will bring the existing police lot to justice when he badly needs such people to suppress his political opponents. In such circumstances, the Model Town incident, public reaction against Kotli Sattian police, torturing of detainees by police and serious complaints by public and senior police officers could be very minor things for Shahbaz Sharif and his party leaders to make them realise that the police will not help them when they will be in trouble. Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2014

Govt has crossed limits of tyranny: Tahirul Qadri

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Saturday announced that his party and supporters would be observing Youm-i-Shuhada on August 10 and would be holding sit-ins across the country. Speaking to media representatives in Lahore, Qadri said the rulers were willing to harm the country to any degree in order to safeguard their own government. Qadri claimed that seven of his supporters had been killed in "straight firing" from the police. However, his claims could not be confirmed. He said the government had crossed the limits of tyranny and the people were on the receiving end. Qadri said the government was so cruel that it was not letting PAT workers carry those wounded in clashes with law enforcement personnel to hospitals for treatment. The PAT chief said the government had closed the borders linking Punjab to Sindh and Balochistan and was taking all measures at its disposal against his party. Qadri advised his supporters travelling from different towns and villages to stay put and hold sit-ins and demonstrations at their current venues instead of marching towards Lahore and endangering their security. He also accused the government of cutting of "food and water supplies from Model Town", which he claimed was being done to "starve the workers" of his party. Earlier today, At least one PAT worker died in Punjab's Multan district after succumbing to his injuries sustained during a clash in Bhakkar with members of law enforcement agencies. Two companies of Rangers arrive in Lahore Two companies of Rangers have been stationed in Lahore to maintain law and order in the city and its outer areas in the backdrop of PAT's Youm-i-Shuhada. The Rangers have been mandated to assist the police and district administration in maintaining law and order. The paramilitary force was sent to the district following a request from the administration — one company has been designated security duties for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Jati Umra residence and the second is currently stationed at Qadhafi stadium and is on standby. The remaining two companies slated to be posted in the district will be brought in any time. The government had initially recommended that 10 companies be posted in Lahore. However, eventually the administration and the Rangers authorities had agreed that four companies would be brought in. PAT worker injured in Bhakkar clash dies At least one PAT worker died in Punjab's Multan district after succumbing to his injuries sustained during a clash in Bhakkar with members of law enforcement agencies. The PAT worker was injured in Bhakkar and was shifted to Multan's Nishtar Hospital where he died. A number of policemen were reportedly injured in clashes with Awami Tehrik workers across Punjab. 55 policemen injured in Gujranwala clash At least 55 policemen were injured in clashes with PAT workers in Gujranwala and were being provided medical treatment in the district headquarters hospital. Eight out of the 55 injured were in a critical condition. The injured policemen include high-ranking police officials. After the clash, the Awami Tehrik workers set off for Lahore for the August 10 Youm-i-Shuhada. The workers also left a trail of vehicles set ablaze. A PAT official also claimed that at least one female worker died and 16 other party members were injured due to firing. The clashes started when workers faced obstacles on their way on Qila Chand Bypass, Toll plaza, Aimenabad turn and Sadhuki where police personnel had placed containers to block the way. During the movement, a clash erupted between policemen and PAT workers with policemen firing tear gas shells and baton-charging Qadri’s supporters. Protestors broke windows and damaged vehicles of police and set motorcycles on fire. Three policemen briefly taken hostage by PAT workers in Lahore Three policemen were briefly taken hostage by PAT workers in Lahore on Saturday. At the time, the Awami Tehrik workers had said that they will take more policemen hostage if “provoked” and demanded the release of their arrested colleagues in exchange for the policemen. . The personnel who were in custody of PAT members said they were going to their duty points when Awami Tehrik workers ambushed them, snatching away their arms as well as other possessions. The policemen were released in a couple of hours. 15 policemen taken hostage in Jhelum Moreover, in Jhelum's Pind Dadan Khan town, PAT workers were holding 15 police personnel hostage following a clash. The policemen were taken hostage after the workers thwarted the barriers fixed to restrict their movement in the area.

[Azadi] march madness: 5 days to go

With the date for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Azadi march drawing near, each day is bringing with it a new set of moves on the political chessboard. But the questions are becoming more pressing with each controversial move and with every passing day. Will the government be able to manage the crisis? Is imposing Section 144 in the capital the best possible approach? Will the art of the possible finally yield some results? Below is a round-up of the day’s political happenings and statements which will be updated in the build-up to August 14. Govt has crossed limits of tyranny: Qadri Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Saturday announced that his party and supporters would be observing Youm-i-Shuhada on August 10 and would be holding sit-ins across the country. Speaking to media representatives in Lahore, Qadri said the rulers were willing to harm the country to any degree in order to safeguard their own government. He said the government had crossed the limits of tyranny and the people were on the receiving end. Qadri said the government was so cruel that it was not letting PAT workers carry those wounded in clashes with law enforcement personnel to hospitals for treatment. The PAT chief said the government had closed the borders linking Punjab to Sindh and Balochistan and was taking all measures at its disposal against his party. 'Qadri is destroying peace' Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashood on Saturday said that the government made every effort to speak to Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri but that he was determined to destroy the peace in the country. “Qadri is inciting violence. He is asking workers to bring wooden sticks with nails fixed at the end — does this happen in any country? The closest comparison to this is the situation in Syria and Libya,” said Mashood, adding that calls for revolution in these volatile countries resulted in civil war and chaos. He was speaking at a press conference in Lahore, amidst of the current political crises in the country where Qadri and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) have locked horns ahead of Imran Khan’s ‘Azadi’ march. 55 policemen injured in Gujranwala clash At least 55 policemen were injured in clashes with PAT workers in Gujranwala and were being provided medical treatment in the district headquarters hospital.
Gujranwala : Clash between PAT workers and Police by dawn-news Eight out of the 55 injured were in a critical condition. The injured policemen include high-ranking police officials. After the clash, the Awami Tehrik workers set off for Lahore for the August 10 Youm-i-Shuhada. The workers also left a trail of vehicles set ablaze. PTI denies Imran agreed to call off march for recount on 10 seats PTI’s Shireen Mazari has denied that the party had agreed to call off the long march in exchange for vote recount on 10 seats. She added that the party’s demands would be announced by Imran on August 14. Imran said long march to be called off if recount done on 10 seats: PM Addressing the country's civilian and military leadership on Saturday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that after meeting with Imran Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq had approached him and had also conveyed PTI’s concerns.
National Security Conference: PM Offers Talks... by dawn-news Nawaz said that Siraj had told him of Imran agreeing to call off the march if recounting was carried out on 10 seats. The premier said he was open to discussion on the subject, adding that Imran was welcome for negotiations. PAT worker injured in Bhakkar clash dies At least one worker of the Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) died in Punjab's Multan district after succumbing to his injuries sustained during a clash in Bhakkar with members of law enforcement agencies. The PAT worker was injured in Bhakkar and was shifted to Multan's Nishtar Hospital where he died.

What the PTI can learn from the AAP defeat

The rise of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Indian politics was stunning. It upstaged both the ruling Congress and its arch rival BJP in Delhi’s local elections just months after its formation. The elections were local and Delhi does not even enjoy the status of a state (province). Yet, its success kindled hope among Indians. Finally, the much-awaited third option has arrived. Just as in Pakistan, Tehreek-i-Insaf had become an emblem of hope for the desperate voters stuck between ‘the devil and the deep sea’, namely Pakistan People’s Party and Muslim League Nawaz. Hope turned into hype in India as the euphoria of the campaign for general elections hit the streets and TV screens weeks after AAP’s first victory. The AAP supporters were enthusiastic, motivated and sincerely believed in the party’s ‘ideology’ that ending corruption is all that India needs and that this dream will only come true when the ‘sadiq and amin’ candidates will be elected by the people. This, not a tad bit different from the workers and supporters of PTI, who also think that raising the moral baseline for politicians is the solution to all of this country’s ailments. I compared the two parties last January in an article published in this space, when AAP was into around the 20th day of its rule of the Dehli area. Its performance, even though a minority government, was making headlines every day. Going one step further up on its high moral ladder, the party took a ‘principled stand’ when its proposed anti-corruption bill was blocked by others. It then resigned from the government after remaining in power for just 49 days.

Its resignation was timed too close to the campaign for general elections that started in early April. The party probably thought it had already hit all the right chords with the Indian voters and that it was now well-positioned to storm into the central corridors of power, or that at least its performance in Delhi, including its ‘great act of sacrificing power’, would give it a much stronger footing in the coming elections. As it turned out, the AAP were completely wrong. Its display of political chivalry is now considered the biggest blunder that a populist party could ever commit. It shot itself in the foot and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, was slapped in the face, literally. The auto-rickshaw driver who did that during an election rally thought that Kejriwal had betrayed his community, which had supported the AAP only to have their votes wilfully trashed by the party. “I committed a huge mistake. He is god for me. I did it because he left the government after some days,” the frustrated driver said later. The AAP did forward a conspiracy theory to cover up the incident but admitted days later that it made a mistake by resigning from the Delhi government. The bigger slap for the AAP, however, came on May 16 when election results were announced. The party failed miserably and did not come up to even the bleakest of the projections of its electoral performance. Only four of its 400 clean candidates won and the party got fewer votes than even the None of the Above (NOTA option) in most of the provinces. I was in India on a four-week visit to cover the general elections for Dawn in April-May this year and met many AAP workers and voters, besides of course others, across this vast country’s five cities. The AAP dominated every discussion, be it with the Punjabis fed up of their ruling Sikh party (Shiromani Akali Dal), the ghettoised Muslims of Ahamadabad, the easy going businessmen of Bangalore or the arm chair intellectuals of Delhi; every discussion swung between two extremes.

While everyone sung praises for the new party for its ability to have mainstreamed their anger against corrupt bureaucracy and polity into the political discourse, they would curse it in the same breath saying the party was a non-starter. “They are not practical.” “They are good in street protests only and not in governance.” “They are too immature and emotional.” “They are unreliable adventurers.” These were the kind of comments that I heard repeatedly. The most sympathetic commentators gave the party some leeway by saying “it did commit a blunder but then they are still too young for such decisions.” The lesson to bring home was clear: chanting slogans of change can be good for your political health but you also need to demonstrate the resolve and the capacity to deliver on promises. Your performance in the streets can serve as a ‘warm up’ but if you start considering that as the actual game, you are seriously mistaken. The prevalent conditions in the country are what they are. You have to start your work from within these limits and if you tend to blame the conditions, that you have promised to change, as an excuse for your inability to deliver, your incapability will lie exposed. Imran Khan has made known that his party can dissolve the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly and resign from the National Assembly as its ‘principled’ demands on correcting the wrongs of the May 2013 elections are not being met. Where would this ‘manly’ politics take his party? The PTI lost a good number of supporters, when in 2013 it backtracked on its main promise of never allowing corrupt politicians into its ranks. It is now brimming with old stalwarts known for their opportunist politics. (The AAP, however, stayed true to their word and did not accept any known corrupt politician in its ranks, howsoever electable he/she might have seemed to be.) The PTI’s performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can only be judged by the electors come next elections. It’s no use fighting over whether a development indicator has moved up or down a few decimal points as numbers are cooked by master chefs among the politicised bureaucracy and a little garnish is all it takes to change the looks of a course. So, it’s better to stay neutral on that count and wait for the people’s judgment. But there is one glaring deficiency in the PTI’s performance in KP that remains undeniable: its reluctance, and practical refusal, to hold local government elections in its province. The PTI has not only missed a great opportunity to dig its roots deep into the province, it has also proved that the party is no bigger a ‘democrat’ than the parties ruling elsewhere in the country. It could have trumped others by taking a lead in organising local elections that were all within its powers. The party, however, prefers to see the glass as half empty, while conveniently ignoring the other half. Meanwhile, after the massive drubbing, the AAP has decided to start again from the point where it had erred – the local government elections of Delhi. It lost all of the seven national assembly seats of Delhi to the BJP. But the AAP is in court now, not to challenge those elections but to force the government to not drag its feet over the local elections and guess who is hesitant, if not afraid, of the emergence of a new grass root level verdict – the super powerful BJP.

Imran told Siraj march may be cancelled if recount done on 10 seats: PM

National Security Conference: PM Offers Talks... by dawn-news

ISLAMABAD: Addressing the country's civilian and military leadership on Saturday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that after meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq had approached him and had also conveyed PTI’s concerns. Nawaz said that Siraj had told him of Imran agreeing to call off the march if recounting was carried out on 10 seats. However, PTI’s Shireen Mazari has denied that any such demand was made by the party, adding that the party’s demands would be announced by Imran Khan on August 14. The premier said he was open to discussion on the subject, adding that Imran Khan is welcome for negotiations. Prime Minister Sharif also said that the decision for Operation Zarb-i-Azb was taken after the attack on the airport in Karachi. He added that a national consensus existed on the operation and it enjoyed public support. The premier said the government fully recognised the army’s sacrifices in the war against terror. He further said that after the 2013 elections, a new era had dawned and for the first time in the country’s history, a federal government was working in full cooperation with the provinces and their respective leaderships. The premier said opposition queries and concerns were always welcome within legal parameters, adding that these should not be turned into battles. Pakistan cannot afford any more confrontations as it is dealing with the scourge of terrorism, a debilitating energy crisis and an already weak economy, he said. 'IDPs, NWA operation should not be put on the backburner' Speaking to the media after attending the meeting, Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said that political leaders discussed in detail the overall situation in the country, including the ongoing military operations, the law and order situation, as well as the political situation. Sherpao said that leader agreed on ensuring peace in the country, and that any measures taken should be within the Constitution to make sure democracy is not derailed at any cost. Leaders also agreed that putting important issues — including the ongoing military operations and the matter of internally displaced persons (IDPs) — on the backburner would be detrimental for the country. Today's briefing was convened by the government for updating the political leadership about the ongoing Operation Zarb-i-Azb against militants in North Waziristan and other challenges to the national security. Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Malik Baloch were present at the meeting and leaders of parliamentary parties were attending the briefing. Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak was absent from the gathering along with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who couldn't make it to Islamabad on account of bad weather conditions in Lahore. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who was also in Lahore couldn't make it to the meeting. From the military side, the meeting was being attended by Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, ISI Director General Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam, Director General Military Operations Maj Gen Amir Riaz and other senior officers. The briefing, which comes days ahead of the Azadi March planned by the PTI, would provide an opportunity to the civilian and military leadership to exchange views on the political crisis in the making.

7 simple home remedies to get fairer complexion in two months

Tired of applying skin whitening lotions and fairness creams, which fail to deliver results? While many brands adore creams which guarantee to minimize the melanin content in your skin to make you look fair, most of them are mere publicity stunt. All of us wish for a fairer skin tone. We bring to you natural ways to make your skin look fair and flawless. Here’s what you can do to make you skin look like pearls. -Mix 1 spoon of sugar in lemon juice. Scrub on your face, and body till sugar melts completely. -Mango peels mixed with 1 spoon of milk can be applied on face, and neck to impart healthy glow to your face. -Boil cabbage/cumin seeds in water to make you fair . Wash off your face with this water to get incandescent glow in your complexion. -Apply an egg white , and honey for 20 minutes to tighten your skin .This home remedy will give soft skin and help to retain youthful glow to your skin. -Lentil, curd/milk, lemon juice, and rice mixed together become a great scrub for getting fair, soft, and glowing skin naturally. Follow this beauty tip on alternate days. -Soak up sunflower seeds(chirongi) in raw milk overnight ,and grind them . Apply with a pinch of saffron, and turmeric . -Potato or tomato alone is a good bleach for your skin. Use this beauty tip daily. -Apply bread crumbs with malai(milk cream) to get fair , and smooth skin which glows from within.

‘Hipster jihadi’: Meet the new poster boy of ISIS!

New Delhi: This bearded Egyptian known as the ‘hipster jihadi’ is the new poster boy of ISIS, which is ruling over much of Iraq and Syria. This ‘hipster jihadi’ sports trendy curly hair and black-rimmed glasses. According to a report in Daily Mail, “He’s been pictured on the back of a horse carrying a machine gun and waving a scimitar in the air – and standing in front of a dusty car holding the same weapon. On Twitter he’s posted gruesome pictures of decapitated heads in a basket and rants glorifying Isis and its murderous leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. But a photograph of him showing off his six-pack suggests that he had a very different lifestyle until recently. He’s been identified as Islam Yaken, an Egyptian university law graduate brought up in a wealthy family in Cairo, according to the Telegraph. Yaken was educated at the well-regarded French Lycée in Heliopolis, a well-to-do area of Cairo, and at the distinguished Ain Shams University.” The report said, “He can speak English and French and used to seem more concerned with burning calories in the gym than a holy war, according to his social media postings. He was known as a ‘funny but respectful’ person - and supported the former president of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Morsi - but now his former school-friends are understandably concerned. Aliya Mikkawi wrote on Twitter: ‘Islam Yaken's story is freaking scary. He used to be at school with me.’ Yaken is reportedly living in an apartment belonging to someone else in the Syrian city of Raqqa, an ISIS stronghold, and wants his family to join them.” According to the report, “The capture of Qaraqoush, Iraq's biggest Christian village, and at least four other nearby hamlets, brings the Islamic State to the very edge of the Iraqi Kurdish territory and its regional capital, Irbil. The Islamic State has already seized large chunks of northern and western Iraq in a blitz offensive in June, including Iraq's second-largest city of Mosul. The onslaught has pushed Iraq into its worst crisis since the 2011 withdrawal of US troops.”