Petrol price slashed by R 1.89-2.38/litre from August 15

New Delhi: Petrol price will be cut by Rs. 1.89-2.38 per litre from August 15, the second reduction in rates in a month and the steepest in 11 months. Petrol price, which were last cut by 90 paise (Rs 1.09 a litre after including local sales tax) on August 1, will be further reduced by Rs. 1.81 per litre. After including local sales tax or VAT, the reduction in Delhi comes to Rs. 2.18 per litre. Petrol from August 15 here will cost Rs. 70.33 a litre as compared to Rs. 72.51 currently. The reduction would vary from Rs. 1.89 to Rs. 2.38 per litre in different cities depending on local levies, according to Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest oil firm. This is the steepest cut in rates since October 1 when petrol price was cut by Rs. 3.05 per litre, excluding VAT (Rs 3.66 per litre in Delhi after including VAT). In perhaps the first instance of a minister announcing the reduction in price of a petrol which was deregulated or freed from government control in June 2010, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took to his Twitter account to say that the fuel price will be cut from midnight of August 14/15. "Price of Petrol will be reduced from midnight of 14/15 August 2014 in the range of Rs. 1.89-2.38 (Rs 2.18/litre at Delhi)," he tweeted. Pradhan made the announcement more than 31 hours before the price cut is to be implemented. Till now, state-owned oil firms announced the price revision only on the eve of the change being effected. If a reduction is announced well in advance, petrol pump owners will refuse to take supplies from oil companies till the new rates are effected, thereby risking pumps going dry. They stand to lose money if they buy petrol from oil firms today or tomorrow and sell at lower rates from August 15. In case of a price hike, the opposite happens with petrol pumps hoarding all supplies and displaying no stock boards in order to get higher rates for supplies they procured at lower price.

Delhi: Independence Day celebrations, free metro ride for commuters

New Delhi: Those attending the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on Friday can avail a free metro ride. Complimentary travel coupons will be provided to commuters from all stations to Kashmere Gate and Chandni Chowk who will be travelling to attend the Independence day function at the Red Fort. Delhi Metro services will start as early as 4:30 am. "We aim to facilitate and encourage more and more people to be able to reach the venue in time and attend the Independence day celebrations," a DMRC spokesperson said. Complimentary travel coupons will be available with the customer care official and those commuters who will be taking the metro to reach the Red Fort can ask for this coupon for a free ride. "These complimentary coupons will be made available for passengers getting down at Kashmere Gate and Chandni Chowk station to attend the Independence day celebrations at the Red Fort from 4:30 am to 8 am from all station except the airport line," the spokesperson said. Entry and exit from all stations will be as per usual schedule and no restrictions will be imposed. Trains will also be running as per schedule, starting from 4:30 am. However, metro parking lots will remain closed from 6 pm today till 2 pm tomorrow. As part of Independence Day celebrations, DMRC organized quiz competitions for commuters at 10 metro stations, including Dwarka Sector 10, Barakhamba Road, NOIDA City Centre, HUDA City Centre, Central Secretariat, Kashmere Gate, Vishwavidyalaya, Shahdara, Tis Hazari and Lajpat Nagar on August 13 and 14. The commuters were asked Metro-related questions with multiple answering options and given attractive prizes. More than 700 commuters received prizes for participation. As part of the week-long celebrations, Delhi Metro also organized conducted tours for underprivileged and specially- abled children from various NGOs. Children from three NGOs Salaam Balak Trust, Prerna Niketan Sangh and Apna Ghar were shown the Metro Museum at Patel Chowk and taken on Metro rides.

DO YOU KNOW? Tea contains harmful pesticide residues

Mumbai: A study undertaken by environmental NGO Greenpeace over a year has allegedly found the presence of harmful pesticide residues including toxic dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) in tea sold by leading brands across India. "We had carried out a study across many cities in India over the past one year to check the quality of tea leaves sold in cities. Our study has revealed the presence of residues of chemical pesticides in a majority of brands," Neha Sehgal, senior campaigner of Greenpeace told reporters here. She claimed that out of 49 samples tested by the non-profit organization, around 34 (94 per cent) contained residues of at least one pesticide and 29 (59 per cent) of the samples contained a cocktail of more than 10 different pesticides in them. Also 29 (59 per cent) of the samples contained residues of of at least one pesticide above the maximum residue limits set by the European Union (EU). "We had, for this study collected samples from different retailers from cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai over a period from June 2013 to May 2014," she said. Sehgal said there was a presence of DDT (a synthetic organic compound used as a pesticide) in 67 per cent of the tea samples. "Use of DDT has been banned in India since 1989. Monocrotophos, termed as hazardous by the WHO was found in 27 samples. Tebufenpyrad, a pesticide not registered in India, and thus illegal was found in one sample. It can be very toxic for the liver," she said. Sehgal urged tea companies to move the tea sector away from the "pesticide treadmill" and asked them to adopt an ecological agriculture farming approach. "The tea companies need to support adoption of ecological agriculture approaches like non-pesticidal management for the safety of consumers," she said.

Know how bowl of noodles could send you to an early grave

New Delhi: From a cheap student staple to a pricey bowl of broth, noodle dishes are soaring in popularity. But they could also wreak havoc with your health, a new study warns. U.S. scientists found people who ate noodle dishes two to three times a week - including the Japanese noodle soup dish ramen - had an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic syndrome. This, in turn, raises a person’s likelihood of developing heart disease and other conditions, such as diabetes and stroke. The findings, published in The Journal of Nutrition, could shed new light on the risks of a worldwide dietary habit, said lead study author Hyun Joon Shin. Dr Shin, who led the study on behalf of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital, in Texas, said instant noodles and ramen appeared to be particularly damaging to women's health. Because ramen consumption is relatively high among Asian populations, the research focused primarily on South Korea, which has the highest instant noodle consumption person in the world. In recent years, South Koreans have experienced a rapid increase in health problems, specifically heart disease, and a growing number of overweight adults, said Dr Shin. He decided to investigate the connection between noodle consumption and poor health. Noodles, like many processed foods, are high in salt - and a diet high in the mineral can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. And earlier this year, Braden Kuo, a gastrointestinal specialist from the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston found the body struggles to digest dried, ramen noodles. He used a tiny camera to look at the digestive activity of instant ramen noodles in comparison to the digestion of fresh ones. Many instant ramen noodles, he said, contain the chemical Tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), a food additive that is a bi-product of butane, used in the petroleum industry. After the experiment, he said: 'The most striking thing about our experiment when you looked at a time interval, say in one or two hours, [was that] processed ramen noodles were less broken down than homemade ramen noodles.' In the new study, Dr Shin found women in particular were more likely to suffer health problems from slurping bowls of noodles. This, he says, can be attributed to biological differences - such as sex hormones and metabolism - between men and women. WHAT IS RAMEN? Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup dish. It consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat- or fish-based broth, often flavoured with soy sauce or miso, and uses toppings such as sliced pork, dried seaweed, kamaboko, and green onions. However it may be because women are more likely to accurately report what they ate each day, he adds. Another potential factor in the gender differences is a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) - used to package noodles in Styrofoam containers. Studies have shown that BPA interferes with the way hormones send messages through the body, specifically oestrogen, said Dr Shin. 'This research is significant since many people are consuming instant noodles without knowing possible health risks,' he added. 'My hope is that this study can lay a foundation for future research about the health effects of instant noodle consumption.'

Lack of sleep can double the speed of ageing!

Lack of a good night's sleep can not only give you puffy eyes but also make you look old by increasing the wrinkles and fine lines on your face, a new study has found. People also looked sadder when sleep-deprived than after normal sleep, and sadness was related to looking fatigued, scientists said. Sleep deprivation affects facial features such as the eyes, mouth and skin, and these features function as cues of sleep loss to other people. The faces of sleep-deprived individuals were perceived as having more hanging eyelids, redder eyes, more swollen eyes and darker circles under the eyes. Sleep deprivation was also associated with paler skin, more wrinkles or fine lines, and more droopy corners of the mouth. The study photographed 10 subjects on two separate occasions: after eight hours of normal sleep and after 31 hours of sleep deprivation. Forty participants rated the 20 facial photographs with respect to 10 facial cues, fatigue and sadness. According to the authors, face perception involves a specialised neuronal network and is one of the most developed visual perceptual skills in humans. Facial appearance can affect judgements of attributes such as trustworthiness, aggressiveness and competence.

Avoid these roads on Independence Day

New Delhi: Delhi traffic police has issued a traffic advisory asking Delhiites to avoid several roads leading to Red Fort on Independence Day and preferably use Metro for hassle free movement. "Elaborate traffic arrangements around Red Fort have been planned. There would be arrangements to facilitate the movement of VIP vehicles, invitees and general public to reach the place of function and also to ensure safe and smooth flow of traffic in other parts of the city," Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Shukla said. More than 10,000 people are expected to gather at the venue, he said, and asked the people to use the Delhi Metro to reach Red Fort while those with private vehicles should reach ISBT for parking. According to the traffic advisory, sufficient parking is available for 200 cars at various parking lots at Gokhale Market, Mori Gate and Kashmere Gate. Shuttle service would be arranged from these parking lots to GPO/Chhatta Rail for easy access to Red Fort enclosures. General public is advised to reach by 5.30 am to avoid rush and inconvenience. Major roads around the Red Fort like Netaji Subhash Marg from Delhi Gate to Chatta Rail, Lothian Road from GPO Delhi to Chatta Rail, S P Mukherjee Marg from H C Sen Marg, Chandni Chowk from Fountain to Red Fort Chowk, New Darya Ganj road from Ring Road to Netaji Subhash Marg, Link Road from Esplanade Road to Netaji Subhash Marg will remain closed for general traffic from 5 am to 9 am on the day. Those vehicles which do not have parking labels may avoid Tilak Marg, Mathura Road, BSZ Marg, Subhash Marg, J L Nehru Marg and Ring Road between Nizammuddin Bridge and ISBT bridge and take the route as advised. The authorities said local buses including DTC will not be allowed on Ring Road from 5 am to 9 am between Hanuman Setu and Bhairon Road 'T' point and shall take Kailash Nagar Pushta for onward journey while interstate buses will not be allowed between Maharana Pratap ISBT and Sarai Kale Khan ISBT. Normal movement of buses will be restored after 10 am. There shall be special checking of all vehicles, both private and commercial, entering the NCT from the neighbouring states through border entry points, from 8 pm on August 14. Security of the national capital has been beefed up before the Independence Day celebrations and police has asked the general public to remain cautious and supportive to the security arrangements. "Members of the public are requested not to touch any suspicious object. They are requested to immediately report about the presence of any unidentified/suspected object, suspicious movement of individuals and vehicles or anything out of the ordinary, to the nearest policeman," said Shukla.

Free fall of Jet Airways flight scares passengers as pilot sleeps, co-pilot busy on tablet

Mumbai: The passengers of a Brussels-bound Jet Airways flight from Mumbai went through a horrifying experience when suddenly the plane dropped 5,000 feet in the Ankara airspace over Turkey. The aircraft was carrying 280 passengers. It is learnt that the commander of the Boeing 777 aircraft slept during that time on Friday and the co-pilot had been busy with her tablet. The co-pilot admitted that she was busy on her tablet and they failed in noticing that the place lost altitude and began falling. They were both summoned for questioning after which the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspended the duo for carelessness and taking 'controlled rest'. He termed it as a ‘serious incident’. The term controlled rest stands for a nap as per rules and negligence while on duty. The pilots came into action as they were alarmed by a call from Ankara ATC. A separate inquiry has been launched in the case by Jet. The DGCA has also set up a three-member team to review the airline's flight training programmes and facilities following the incident last Friday, official sources said, adding the team has been asked to submit their report by 31 August. DGCA has directed the airline to come forward with all related reports, as well as the records of the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) within this week, they said. The incident occurred when the Boeing 777-300, operating flight 9W-228 from Mumbai to Brussels and onwards to Newark, plunged from 34,000 feet to 29,000 feet while traversing on the busy air route to Europe. As the aircraft descended, the air traffic control at Ankara sent an emergency message to the aircraft asking the pilots why they had deviated from the assigned flight path and directed them to climb up to the designated height immediately. The commander said he was on "controlled rest", implying a short nap inside the cockpit which is allowed by flight operation procedures, the co-pilot told the regulator that she was working on her iPad or the electronic flight bag which has all aircraft documents loaded on to it, the sources said. Immediately after the Ankara ATC message, the co-pilot woke up the commander who restored the height of the plane. Confirming the incident, an airline spokesperson said Jet Airways has initiated an internal inquiry into the matter. "The airline is also extending all co-operation in the matter to the DGCA by providing all necessary assistance for the inquiry. Safety is of paramount importance to Jet Airways as is also the welfare of our guests and crew and the airline will always take appropriate steps to ensure the same," the spokesperson said. Following the incident, DGCA has constituted a team comprising officials from its Airworthiness, Air Safety and Flight Operations wings to audit Jet Airways' training procedures for pilots for an entire year.

I was sexually abused in bus at the age of 11, TMC MP Derek O'Brien reveals in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien stunned Rajya Sabha on Wednesday by revealing that he was sexually abused in his childhood. He said silence is the biggest crime. "I was sexually assaulted while travelling in a bus. At that time, I was 11-year-old and was in short pant. Someone did something at my back and I spotted sperm on my pant," he said in the upper house while offering suggestions to the government for the safety and security of women and children. Terming silence a "biggest crime", he said, "Despite coming from a progressive family, I was too scared to narrate the incident before my parents. This is the tragic crime of silence." It is necessary to send out a message that if any child or women screams in such a situation in a bus or any other means of communication, people should come out in support of him or her without any fear as it is extremely difficult for a victim of sexual harassment to narrate in public the ordeal he or she has suffered, he suggested. There was a pin-drop silence in the House when the popular quizmaster was sharing his experience during the discussion initiated by the Ministry of Women & Child Development. Adding that the condition of women in rural India is far worse, Derek urged the government to adopt good practices followed in various states to address the issue in a comprehensive manner. It is necessary for the Ministry of Women & Child Development to work closely with the ministries of human development and health to curb female feticides and sexual harassment of women and children, he advised the government.

MIND YOUR LANGUAGE! RJs mimicking lawmakers to face music

New Delhi: Taking note of the issue raised by Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Jaya Bachchan yesterday, the Centre on Thursday said that serious action will be taken against radio jockeys airing jokes on lawmakers on FM channels. Jaya Bachchan had demanded action against such RJs in Rajya Sabha yesterday. "The language used by RJs on private channels is extremely objectionable. Now they've started giving news of Parliament and they mimic a lot of MPs. I want to know whether the government will do something about it," Jaya Bachchan said in the Upper House. She also said that she is not against satire but she was objecting to their language. The growing trend of Radio Jockeys (RJs) mimicking Parliamentarians and their "double-meaning" talks is a serious issue, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar told Rajya Sabha today. To a question posed by actor-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan (SP), he said these were not in "good sense". The Minister pointed out that there was an electronic media monitoring centre. To a query on the issue of forced retirement of some RJs upon attaining age of 35 years by All India Radio, Kolkata, Javadekar said the order was stayed as soon as the matter came to his notice.

Uighur girls get calls to be sex slaves for ISIS militants

Beijing: Uighur girls based outside Xinjian province were phoned and asked to serve as sex slaves for ISIS militants, say reports. Chinese police are investigating into the reports that surfaced yesterday. Xinjiang, which is on boil over the native Muslim Uighur protests opposing Han settlements, as well as several parts of China has witnessed terror attacks carried out by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) comprising of Uighur youth who have also been found to be fighting in Syria along with ISIS. A post on Sina Weibo, akin to Twitter, claimed some high school Uighur students from Xinjiang, have received these calls. These appear to be soliciting them to give up studying and travel to Iraq to become "sex slaves". The post immediately caught wide attention and was reposted at least 2,000 times before it was deleted on Monday. A person identified as Zheng who claimed knowledge about such calls was quoted by the Chinese daily as saying that he was told by several Uighur school girls about similar phone calls."They told me that they received anonymous calls, asking them to go to Syria through Indonesia for battlefield service. They were asked to dedicate themselves to jihadists. But the girls did not report this to the police. They were hesitant, because (they thought) all Muslims are brothers and sisters," Zheng noted. He said the solicitation may expand from individuals to larger groups. "Many teenagers (studying outside Xinjiang) are from rural areas in southern Xinjiang. They are easily affected due to their family backgrounds," Zheng said. Police in Altay prefecture in Xinjiang said they are following up on the issue. "It is possible that such calls do exist,One of our investigation focuses at present is how the students' numbers were leaked," an officer from the Altay bureau said. The officer added that before local students leave to attend schools outside the region, they all have to go through a training session. "Such training is more about warning against participation in illegal religious activities, instead of being designed to guard against such calls, but I believe students will be highly alert if they receive such calls," the officer said. Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism official in Xinjiang said they have taken note of similar online revelations, and authorities are looking into the issue. However, this is yet to be confirmed. Li Wei, an expert on anti-terrorism with the Chinese Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said it would be very difficult to actually send those students out of the country, even if the alleged instigators are able to contact the students. Sun Lizhou, a Xinjiang-born scholar from Chongqing University, said the authenticity of such calls still needs to be verified, "but since some Uygurs are reportedly fighting alongside IS in Syria, it would be possible to speak to the students on the phone." "Junior or senior high school students are an easy target of such incitement since they are psychologically immature and many are rebellious in their teenage years. A lack of objective judgment also makes them vulnerable to these audio or video files," Li said. An anonymous anti-terrorism official in Xinjiang said separatist groups tend to link themselves with overseas terrorist organizations, such as the IS, so as to boost their international standing, and win recognition from those groups in exchange for financial and personnel support. The IS is also reportedly planning on expanding its "holy war" to Xinjiang. According to a report from Phoenix Weekly, in a video released early July, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi claimed he will take revenge on those who took away the rights of Muslims in 20 countries, with China allegedly placed at the top. "This is the habitual practice of terrorist groups for propaganda efforts. It won't have any substantial influence," Li said.

Two women set to be hanged for kidnapping 13 children and killing nine of them

New Delhi: Two Kolhapur women may become the first women ever to be hanged in India. The women from Kolhapur were sentenced to death in 2001 for kidnapping 13 children and killing nine of them. Renuka Kiran Shinde and her sister Seema Mohan Gavit's mercy petitions’ were rejected last month by President Pranab Mukherjee late last month. The time taken by the state home department to inform all concerned after receiving the note from Rashtrapati Bhavan - ends on Saturday. Renuka and Seema, who partnered their mother Anjanabai Gavit to kidnap the kids and push them into begging and killed some of them after they stopped being productive, are currently lodged at the Yerwada jail in Pune. Anjanabai passed away during the trial, and the sisters' father Kiran Shinde turned approver and was acquitted. "We have informed the two convicts, their relatives, the legal remedial cells of the Supreme Court and also the district court about the rejection (of their mercy plea),'' Desk officer Deepak Jadiye of the home department was reported as saying , adding that no objections have been received yet on the Kolapur sisters' hanging. Judge G L Yedke, while awarding the death sentence to the sisters in 2001, in Kolhapur had described the nine kids' murders as 'the most heinous', and observed that the two sisters seemed to have enjoyed killing the children.

No hindrance in I-Day speech: PM Modi asks officials not to put up umbrellas even if it rains

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly asked his security officials not to put up an umbrella if it rains during his maiden Independence Day address to nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on Friday. "If it rains, the PM has asked that no umbrella should be put up and he will continue his speech in rain," NDTV has quotes its sources as saying. The prime minister is all set to deliver his first speech from the historic Mughal-era monument without a script. Reports suggest that he will carry with him just a set of bullet points as a teleprompter or a prepared speech would not help him connect with audience. He will be the first prime minister in the history of the country to address the nation without notes. 63-year-old Modi is considered to be good orator who can deliver long speeches without prepared text and can keep his audience engaged. The speech, which may last anywhere between 45 minutes and one hour, is expected to be full of information. Modi is likely to inform people about the achievements of his government in last two months. Modi had asked his four ministers to help him with what he plans to speak in front of the citizens. HRD Minister Smriti Irani, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar were given the responsibility to prepare a blue-print Modi's speech. He is scheduled to reach the historic fort at around 7 am and will unfurl the national flag after a guard of honour by armed forces. More than 10,000 people, for the first time, will get free seats at the Independence Day function. It may be recalled that on August 14 last year, Modi had challenged that his speech in Gujarat, as chief minister, on August 15 would be as much recognised as that of Manmohan Singh who was the prime minister at that time. On that occasion, fully enthusiastic crowd had speculated that Modi's next Independence Day speech would be at Delhi's Red Fort.

Seven polio cases detected as year’s toll rises to 115

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: The number of this year’s nationwide polio cases has reached 115 with the confirmation of seven new cases by the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad. The institute on Tuesday tested positive for polio seven more children — one-year-old Sofia (daughter of Kabul Khan from Birmal, South Waziristan), 18-month-old Munib Rehman (son of Hafiz Rehman from Miramshah, North Waziristan), 18-month-old Abdul Rauf (son of Mohammad Ayaz from Meri Khel village in Bara, Khyber Agency), 12-month-old Hazeena (daughter of Saddam from Shaa Dal village in Bara, Khyber Agency), 30-month-old Mihadullah (son of Haider Gul from Rasool Khan Khwar Speen Qabar village in Bara, Khyber Agency), 18-month-old Masood (son of Hamid from Khushali Wazir village in Razmak, North Waziristan) and 18-month-old Fida Rehman (son of Adeel Rehman from Tal village in Miramshah, North Waziristan). According to sources in NIH, last year 39 polio cases had been registered by this time. Of 115 polio cases registered this year so far 84 are from Fata, 19 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10 from Sindh and one each from Punjab and Balochistan. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s health department which has found polio virus in Peshawar’s sewerage water is taking additional measures for the vaccination of displaced people from North Waziristan because it has scientifically been proven that they are transmitting the virus to children in the province. Arrival of the high transmission month (September) has already highlighted the need for intensified immunisation campaign against vaccine-preventable childhood disease in the province. The past 15 years have witnessed that most polio cases were reported in September. The health department is trying to cope with situation after massive influx of infected children from North Waziristan. The city, where three polio cases were registered in June and July, needs urgent anti-polio campaigns. The department needs to plan campaigns in line with case response strategy of vaccinating 500,000 children in surrounding areas of the city. The health department is required to focus on Peshawar and displaced people simultaneously. Published in Dawn, Aug 13th, 201

A rare exception to Vatican’s peace policy

VATICAN CITY: Fearing genocide of Christians, the Vatican has given its approval to US military air strikes in Iraq — a rare exception to its policy of peaceful conflict resolution. The Holy See’s ambassador to the United Nations, Silvano Tomasi, this weekend supported US air strikes aimed at halting the advance of the Islamic State (IS) militants, calling for “intervention now, before it is too late”. “Military action might be necessary,” he said. While the Vatican vocally disapproved of the US-led campaign in Iraq in 2003 and the 2013 plan for air strikes on Syria — fearing both might make the situations worse for Christians on the ground — fears of ethnic cleansing by Islamists has forced a policy change. Tomasi’s appeal follows warnings from Church leaders in Iraq that the persecution is becoming genocide, with urgent help needed to protect Christians and Yezidis in the north of the country, where tens of thousands have been forced to flee for their lives. Military support was needed “to stop the wolf getting to the flock to kill, eat, destroy”, Rabban al-Qas, the Chaldean bishop of Amadiyah, told Vatican radio. Tomasi insisted “those supplying arms and funds to the fundamentalists, (and) the countries tacitly supporting them, must be revealed”, while Qas pointed the finger at Saudi Arabia. Others, like the Iraq-based leader of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Louis Sako, called for wider intervention, saying the US strikes offer little hope the jihadists would be defeated. “The position of the American President Obama only to give military assistance to protect Arbil is disappointing,” said Sako, who has been trying to persuade his flock to resist attempts to drive them out of Iraq, and turn down offers of humanitarian visas to Europe. ‘What could be worse?’ The Vatican had been criticised for being slow to react, with Pope Francis limiting himself to calls for a peaceful resolution, expressing on Sunday his “dismay and disbelief” over the violence and calling for an “effective political solution”. The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on Tuesday called for Muslim leaders to denounce the brutality of IS militants, saying there was no possible justification for their “unspeakable crimes”. The council said IS militants were guilty of the “heinous practice of decapitation, crucifixion and stringing up bodies in public places”, insisting that “no reason, certainly no religion, could justify such barbarism”. Experts said Tomasi’s support for air strikes did not mean a change in Vatican policy on war spearheaded by a bellicose Francis. “There has been no change in thinking. The Vatican’s take is that the reality now is apocalyptic and there is no alternative,” said Vatican expert John Allen, who writes for The Boston Globe. “They believed overthrowing Saddam Hussein in 2003 or Bashar al-Assad in 2013 would make things worse for Christians. In 2014, what could be worse for them than the Islamic State’s victory?” he said. The Catholic Church’s catechism defines the concept of a “just war”, which includes the prevention of genocide among other war crimes. For Sandro Magister, who writes for La Stampa’s Vatican Insider, the crisis should have elicited a stronger stance from the pope on Iraq. “His timid response has been very surprising. He talks about the persecution of Christians in Iraq as if it was some sort of natural disaster, without singling out those responsible,” he said.—AFP Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2014

Long march to end only after sending PM packing: Pervaiz

LAHORE: PML-Q senior leader Pervaiz Elahi has said the ‘Azadi March’ will end only after sending Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif home. “On Aug 14 everyone will be on the roads and reach their destination in Islamabad to oust the government,” he said while addressing party workers at his residence here on Wednesday. Elahi said the PML-Q was actively taking part in the march. “Our workers will take part in the protest march against the government from across the country. The rulers do not believe in justice, human rights and the Constitution. Even provision of food items and medicines in Minhajul Quran was being denied,” he claimed. He said the rulers had first insulted people’s mandate through massive rigging in the 2013 elections and now they were insulting orders of the judiciary to remove containers from roads. “The siege of Model Town was continuing like Gaza. We respect the judiciary and will continue to do so. There is no need to seek permission from anyone for revolution and freedom marches,” he added. Condemning Nawaz’s criticism of media, the senior PML-Q leader said they should review their attitude and thinking about the media. “They regard the media as servant of Ittefaq Foundry,” he added. Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2014

Naegleria claims its seventh victim in Sindh

KARACHI: A 29-year-old man from Karachi’s Rafa-i-Aam Society was confirmed as the latest victim of the ‘brain-eating amoeba’, or Naegleria fowleri, as the toll because of the deadly virus reached seven within three months in Sindh, officials said on Wednesday. Officials said Adil Najam had been admitted to hospital in a precarious condition where he died on Wednesday. Officials said the man worked as an assistant at a petrol station along Hub River Road and was an honorary imam in an area mosque. “He was the seventh victim of naegleria this year in Sindh. Six deaths have been reported in Karachi and another in Hyderabad,” said Dr Zafar Ijaz, executive district officer of health, Karachi, while speaking to Dawn. “We have taken samples of water from his house and workplace,” he added. The deadly amoeba claimed its youngest victim — a nine-month-old girl — last month. A four-year-old boy was previously the youngest, who died in 2012. The first death this year was reported on May 27 in Gulistan-i-Jauhar. Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2014

Conspiracy under way to spread terrorism in country: Mamnoon

Pakistan's celebrating 68th Independence Day by dawn-news ISLAMABAD: At the Independence Day ceremony on Thursday, President Mamnoon Hussain said the country was in a state of war and terrorism was being spread in the country under a conspiracy. In his special message to the nation in a ceremony held at the President House, Hussain emphasised the importance of harmony in order to resolve the political turmoil prevailing in the country. Mamnoon said the army was fighting for the stability and security of the country and its efforts were commendable, adding that the nation should provide support to the army in this hour of need. The president also referred to those displaced due to the military operation in North Waziristan and said the government was working to root out terrorism from the country. On the occasion of Independence Day, the president said the country was achieved as a result of great sacrifices rendered by martyrs. The president hoisted the national flag at the ceremony. He was flanked by Prime Minister Nawaz and army chief Raheel Sharif was also present on the occasion. Earlier, at the Independence Day ceremony in the Parliament House, the prime minister congratulated the nation and said no harm should befall the continuation of democracy in the country. The premier also paid rich tribute to the martyrs of the independence movement. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited Allama Iqbal’s tomb and hoisted the national flag. Sharif paid his respects to the martyrs of the independence movement and said the nation was still economically dependent. The Punjab chief minister said we had buried Allama Iqbal but had failed to carry his legacy forward.

Two suspected militants killed in Mohmand

PESHAWAR: Pakistani security forces on Thursday repulsed an attack on the Pak-Afghan border in the Mohmand tribal region, killing two attackers. Official sources said suspected militants from across the Pak-Afghan border attacked two security check posts in the Isakhel area near the Kaghki Pass. Security forces repulsed the attack killing two suspected militants whose bodies were taken away by their accomplices. Mohmand is one of Pakistan’s seven tribal agencies near the Afghan border which are rife with homegrown insurgents and are said to be strongholds of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives. Two soldiers injured in Swat's Matta In a separate incident in Matta tehsil of Swat, two security personnel were injured in a suspected militant attack. Security forces launched a search operation and also imposed a curfew in the area. Swat lies in Pakistan northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has undergone a military operation in 2009 which was aimed at ridding the region of militancy.

Real ‘Azadi’ march is here in Balochistan: Nawaz

PM Nawaz Sharif Speech on Inauguration of... by dawn-news QUETTA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan can recover from the last 10 years’ deficiency if there is uninterrupted peace in the country. “The disparities in Pakistan – where one area is less developed than another – will all be covered up. We have a stake in this country, and we will work hard to contribute to its success,” he said. “The ‘Azadi’ march is (taking place) here in Balochistan. The civil and military leadership is together here celebrating Independence Day. What can be a bigger march than this?” he said. “This tradition should continue. The people of Pakistan are watching this and getting inspired,” he said. Addressing Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Malik Baloch, the premier promised that Balochistan would also be a major part of this journey. The premier was speaking at the reopening ceremony of the Ziarat residency — the rest house used by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah during his final days. The rest house has been fully reconstructed and restored after militants burnt to ashes in rocket and arson attacks in June last year.
Quaid's Ziarat residence inaugurated by PM by dawn-news The entire wooden structure gutted and articles used by the Quaid-i-Azam and kept on display reduced to ashes. After the incident, the federal government and many businessmen and other persons offered to provide funds for restoration of the residency, but Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch announced that the work would be carried out by the Balochistan government from its own resources. The restoration of the building cost over Rs140 million and the work was completed in four months. Earlier, the prime minister inaugurated the restored residency of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Ziarat and hoisted the national flag there. Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif was also present on the occasion. The governor and chief minister of Balochistan, provincial ministers, military officials and senior bureaucrats attended the ceremony. PM's Bannu visit postponed Prime Minister Sharif's visit to Bannu which was scheduled for today to celebrate Independence Day with the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan was postponed. It was earlier announced that the premier was going to celebrate August 14 in Bannu with the displaced from North Waziristan. The cause of the postponement is not known.

Modi congratulates Pakistanis on Independence Day

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated Pakistan on the country’s Independence Day. Referring to August 14, Modi, in a message posted on micro-blogging website Twitter, said: “I convey my greetings to the people of Pakistan”. The Indian premier’s message comes days after he accused Pakistan of waging “a proxy war” in Kashmir. Kashmir, the disputed Himalayan valley, remains a running sore between India and Pakistan who have fought three wars since gaining independence from United Kingdom. The disputed territory is divided between India and Pakistan by a de facto border known as the Line of Control (LoC) but it is claimed in full by both countries.

Iftikhar Chaudhry never contacted me for his son's appointment: Malik Baloch

QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch on Thursday refuted the statement of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in relation to the appointment of Arsalan Iftikhar, son of former Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. "Iftikhar Chaudhry had never contacted me for the appointment of his son,” he told reporters after an independence Day function at Governor House Quetta. He reiterated that he had appointed Arsalan in the "interest of Balochistan", dispelling the impression that the country’s former top judge had made a request to him in this regard. The chief minister stated that Iftikhar Chaudhry hailed from Balochistan province and that the ex-judge had rendered his services to promote democracy and safeguarding the country’s constitution. When asked about Imran Khan's Azadi March, the chief minister stated that the PTI chief should understand the sacrifices the political leadership has rendered for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. "We will resist any move against democracy," Dr Baloch said. The chief minister said that the democratic system guaranteed stability and development in the country and for that purpose all political forces were united to safeguard the system. The chief minister also stated that Balochistan’s law and order situation was improving following steps taken by civilian and military law enforcement agencies. "Now anyone can easily travel within Quetta,” he said.

Iraq humanitarian crisis at highest level of emergency

BAGHDAD: The United Nations has announced its highest level of emergency for the humanitarian crisis in Iraq in the wake of the onslaught by militants who have overrun much of the country's north and west and driven out hundreds of thousands from their homes. The Security Council also said Wednesday it was backing a newly nominated premier-designate in the hope that he can swiftly form an “inclusive government” that could counter the insurgent threat, which has plunged Iraq into its worst crisis since the US troop withdrawal in 2011. Attacks by the Islamic State group and its militant allies this summer have captured large swaths of land in northern and western Iraq, displaced members of the minority Christian and Yazidi religious communities and threatened Iraqi Kurds in the Kurdish autonomous region in the north. The UN's declaration of a “Level 3 Emergency” will trigger additional goods, funds and assets to respond to the needs of the displaced, said UN special representative Nickolay Mladenov, who pointed to the “scale and complexity of the current humanitarian catastrophe. “ Tens of thousands of Yazidis fled the Islamic State group's advance to take refuge in the remote desert Sinjar mountain range. The US and Iraqi military have dropped food and water supplies, and in recent days Kurds from neighboring Syria battled to open a corridor to the mountain, allowing some 45,000 to escape. The UN said it would provide increased support to those who have escaped Sinjar and to 400,000 other Iraqis who have fled since June to the Kurdish province of Dahuk. Others have fled to other parts of the Kurdish region or further south. A total of 1.5 million have been displaced by the fighting since the insurgents captured Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul, in June and quickly swept over other parts of the country. The United States has been carrying out airstrikes in recent days against Islamic State fighters, helping fend back their advance on Kurdish regions. Meanwhile, Iraq's central government in Baghdad has been mired in political turmoil, after the president nominated a Shia politician, Haider al-Abadi, to form the next government, putting him on track to replace embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Al-Maliki on Wednesday said he will not relinquish power until a federal court rules on what he called a “constitutional violation” by President Fouad Massoum. Al-Maliki insists he should have a third term in office but he is appearing increasingly isolated as the international community lines up behind al-Abadi, who has 30 days to come up with a proposal for a Cabinet. The UN Security Council urged al-Abadi to work swiftly to form “an inclusive government that represents all segments of the Iraqi population and that contributes to finding a viable and sustainable solution to the country's current challenges".

LHC declares PTI, PAT demands 'unconstitutional'

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued its detailed verdict over the petition filed by a citizen against the marches announced by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and declared the demands put forward by Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri were “unconstitutional”. “We are convinced that demands raised by the chairman PTI and chairman PAT as mentioned in paragraph No1 herein above read with statement of learned counsel for respondent No 4 referred in para No 3 above are in violation of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 and as such for resolving the important constitutional issue, we admit this petition for regular hearing.” The PTI and PAT demands which the verdict has referred to in the nine-page verdict are as follows: "(a) The Prime Minister of Pakistan should step down; (b) The Parliament of Pakistan be dissolved; (c) Election Commission be re-constituted; and (d) Interim government of technocrats be formed and election be held. And in case the above said demands are not accepted, they will continue with their Dharna (sit-in) in Islamabad D-Chowk and they will choke the entire system unless their demands are accepted." The court observed that leaders and activists of PTI and PAT could face legal action in case the constitution was violated.

Saudi Arabia beheads convicted Pakistani drug trafficker

RIYADH: Saudi authorities beheaded a Pakistani on Thursday after sentencing him to death for drug trafficking, the interior ministry said, taking to 25 the number of executions announced this year. Sultan Hussein Khadim was put to the sword in the kingdom's Eastern Province, said a ministry statement carried by the official SPA news agency. Last year, there were 78 executions in Saudi Arabia and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights denounced a “sharp increase in the use of capital punishment”. Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under the kingdom's strict version of Islamic sharia law.

Running out of options By Zahid Hussain

The battle lines are more or less defined now with the approach of Aug 14. Unsurprisingly, Tahirul Qadri has joined hands with Imran Khan for the ‘azadi march’. His fanatically motivated supporters, drawn mainly from the lower middle classes across the Punjab heartland, may add spine to Imran Khan’s middle-class youth brigade with no experience of street agitation. Besides, Qadri has set a more strident tenor for D-Day. Now there is no going back on the ‘revolution’, he has warned his allies. It is certainly the politics of expediency that has brought together Qadri and Khan on the same platform. But the radical rhetoric of the Canada-based cleric and his incitement to violence could turn him into a liability for the PTI and prove to be the undoing of the ‘azadi march’ even before it has taken off. Nevertheless the new coalition will shape the emerging political polarisation in the country. Most other political parties are sitting on the fringes weighing their options as the confrontation comes to a head. What happens on Aug 14 is most likely to determine their future course of action. But more importantly, what are the choices for the beleaguered prime minister in this hour of reckoning? Will the prime minister sail through the storm or be swept away by the tide? Will he sail through the storm or be swept away by the tide? Having already lost the initiative in the battle of narratives, Nawaz Sharif faces a tough fight ahead to survive in power against strong odds. It is more than just a political battle; the government’s unresolved tension with the generals over Musharraf’s treason trial and a host of other issues will also matter in the endgame. Having been thrown out of power halfway through his tenure twice, one expected Sharif to exercise discretion while tackling the mounting political tension. However, the dynamics of the present crisis are quite different from the past. Unlike his previous terms, when the power struggle at the top echelon cost him his government, Sharif is confronting a street show of force challenging the very legitimacy of his rule for the first time. Surely, the threat is compounded by the conflict within the power structure. Sharif’s uninspiring and absent leadership does not help his cause for mobilising mass support for the impending battle. The concentration of power within a small family circle has exposed the weak ability of the government to motivate party cadres to stand up to the challenge Yet there is no sign the prime minister realises the gravity of the situation. He still wonders where he has gone wrong. His speech on Monday at the launching of Vision 2025 had a defensive tone with no clarity on how he is going to fight the battle. He still seems to be in a state of denial about the gathering storm. His implicit inference to the military being the author of the script will surely further sour already tense civil-military relations at this crucial stage. The Punjab government’s perilous handling of the Qadri issue — first the killing of 14 Minhajul Quran activists in June and then the recent blocking of the roads by containers — has cost the administration dearly. The spectacle of men and women crawling under the containers to reach their destinations in Lahore could not be more politically damaging for the Sharif brothers. The container strategy has failed to work and any move to detain Imran Khan and other leaders ahead of the Aug 14 sit-in will surely boomerang on the administration, fuelling uncontrollable violence across Punjab and perhaps giving more dead bodies for Qadri to exploit. It would have been more sensible had the government permitted the PTI’s march in the first place. In that case, the onus of maintaining peace would squarely be on the opposition. Now Qadri’s joining the march has changed the matrix and any show of flexibility by the government would be taken as a sign of weakness. The space for Sharif regaining the initiative is fast shrinking. Yet it is not the end of the road for the Sharif government. There are still a few options left for the troubled prime minister to regain the lost political space. His biggest political capital is the party’s absolute majority in the National Assembly that he has yet to put into action. A major problem for Sharif is his utter disregard for parliament. His rare appearances in the House and inability to initiate debate on major policy issues has rendered parliament ineffective and increased his isolation. It took a long time for Sharif to embrace the other major parties represented in parliament and that too came when the chips were down. Inviting political leaders to the national security meeting to discuss the North Waziristan military operation may be a positive move. But mixing the discussion on security issues with politics in the presence of the military brass raises some relevant questions about the actual purpose of bringing together the civilian and military leadership. The image of a line of army generals in their battle fatigues sitting across the table from the political leaders was presumably meant to send a signal to the public of the military’s backing for the government. What was the idea behind the decision to telecast live the prime minister’s opening remarks concerning the political crisis in what was supposed to be an in-camera security briefing? This kind of game is counterproductive. The government is expected to take a saner approach in such a situation. Sharif may be down, but he is not out of the game yet. It is neither a 1993 nor a 1999 situation when he lost the power struggle. But the wrong moves could land him into the same situation. It is not just the issue of facing up to the challenge thrown by the Qadri-Imran combine, Sharif also needs to address other problems concerning governance and the economy to ensure his survival in power and avert the derailing of a fledgling democratic process. The writer is an author and journalist. zhussain100@yahoo.com

March of folly

Was it necessary to blockade his own capital and his hometown, thereby signalling his weakness and desperation? *************************************************************************************************************************** It is the season of political immaturity and nobody is putting their money on the outcome. The stock market has seen historic withdrawals sparked by panic. The rupee is struggling as importers are buying dollars in large quantities, also driven by panic. Day-to-day government work has ground to a halt. Shipments of edibles and fuel into cities and towns across Punjab are disrupted, leaving markets and homes running low on supplies of perishable food. Citizens have to first locate pumps that are open and then endure a four-hour wait to fill up. The intercity movement of goods and people is strangulated, decisions remain stuck in limbo, stocks are running low in factories and homes and uncertainty grips the financial markets as the country waits to see how the brewing confrontation between the government and the PTI will end. Pakistan may have witnessed worse situations before, such as the post-election violence of 1977, but even today, extra-constitutional intervention cannot be discounted. The blame lies with the politicians, beginning with Imran Khan, who has thrown a spanner into the wheel of democratic consolidation in Pakistan. His grievances, while valid and in need of investigation, do not merit such extreme action, especially when it is yet to be demonstrated convincingly that the irregularities pointed out changed the outcome of the election. Many elections, particularly in developing countries, when examined under the microscope, will show irregularities of some sort, and Pakistan is no exception. But, instead of calling for a re-election and demonstrating his support on the streets, the wiser course would have been for Mr Khan to accept the government’s offer of negotiating a way out of the stand-off. In the end, the vast and messy contest of democracy works only because all parties agree that the outcome in hand is the only one they have to work with in spite of imperfections in the process. Mr Khan might think he deserved to win the election last year, but he did not and must accept that reality. And what is Nawaz Sharif’s excuse for his role in such amateur politics? After all, this is not his first taste of the combustibility of Pakistani democracy. He takes pride in presenting himself as the repository of Pakistan’s political memory, boasting three decades of experience in politics. Was it then so hard for the prime minister to deal with Mr Khan’s grievances before matters came to a head? Was it necessary to blockade his own capital and his hometown, thereby signalling his weakness and desperation? Mr Khan has behaved like a novice by not leaving himself a way to climb down from the maximalist position he has taken. But Mr Sharif has played into his opponents’ hands by staying aloof for long and then panicking. The result is a march of folly that begins tomorrow and ends in territory as yet unknown. Published in Dawn, Aug 13th, 2014

The making of Pakistan in view of its identity

Sixty-seven years have passed since the creation of Pakistan. Its intellectuals, societal leaders and political activists continue to debate Pakistan’s state identity, especially its relationship with Islam whether it was created as a homeland for the Muslims of British India or as an ideal Islamic state which would strictly implement the classical Islamic state and legal system and enforce the societal values of that period in letter and spirit. Alternatively, it would be a modern constitutional democratic state that seeks ethical inspirations from the teachings and principles of Islam. It may identify with Islam but the state will not use its apparatus to enforce a particular interpretation of Islam. It will “encourage” the Muslims to lead their lives in accordance with its principles rather then become the main “enforcer” of Islam on fundamentalist lines in a society comprising the followers of different Islamic “Fiqh” or “Maslaks.” Some writers and intellectuals argue for a secular political system in Pakistan relying mainly on Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s address to the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947. The Identity Debate: There are four features of the debate about the making of Pakistan and its identity. 1) The debate about Pakistan’s identity pertains mainly to the post-independence period. No doubt, in addition to the Congress, a number of Muslim leaders opposed the movement for the establishment of a separate state. The All India Muslim League did not give the details of the post-independence political framework except in broadly based terms. It was in the post-independence period that divergence in approaches of different political and religious groups became more pronounced. The Muslim League believed that the basic principles and teachings of Islam and modern democracy could be reconciled. 2) The acute political problems and repeated failure to create a consensus-based political order led some people to think if there were some foundational problems with the idea of Pakistan. There was an unnecessary delay in constitution making for a host of reasons that are beyond the scope of this article which caused instability, increased distrust among the competing political interests and revived ethnic and regional sentiments. This was mainly due to non-availability of a participatory political framework and an emphasis on highly centralized political and administrative management. The repeated military intervention in politics did not create a viable political order. Though the political leaders vowed to support representative governance, constitutionalism, the rule of law and civil and political rights, they violated these principles for pursuing their political agendas. 3) Controversy about Pakistan’s identity increased during the rule of general Zia-ul-Haq (1977-1988) who used the state apparatus to enforce an Islamic order on fundamentalist and conservative lines. This changed the role of the state from encouraging the Muslims to follow Islam, to enforcing Islam with the full might of the state. It was during this period that the movement for the establishment of Pakistan was described as a movement for creating a Sharia-based Islamic state. Some books and articles published in the late 1980s and the early 1990s projected Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali as a religious person who wanted to create a puritanical Islamic state and society. 4) The identity debate since the days of the Zia-rule has relied heavily on the slogans raised mainly in the Punjab for the 1946 provincial elections. Some such slogans were raised in NWFP (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) for the 1946 elections and especially the 1947 referendum. These slogans were given preference by the Zia’s military regime and its political allies over the resolutions of the All India Muslim League because the latter had emphasized Islam less than the slogan and posters for the 1946 provincial elections in the Punjab. For example, since General Zia’s time the most often invoked slogan to describe why Pakistan was created has been: “Pakistan Ka Matlab Kia….” This slogan was used by the All India Muslim League in 1945-47 in the Punjab and NWFP. There is no evidence available to show if this was used frequently in Muslim-minority provinces. During Zia’s time the ideology of Pakistan was often explained with reference to this slogan, mainly by the Punjab-based military regime-oriented intellectuals. The Quaid’s statements were reinterpreted to justify the Zia regime’s notion of Islamic system. All this has caused much confusion about the precise articulation of Pakistan’s identity. Political Struggle: The politico-cultural identity of the Muslims in British India was shaped by a number of factors: Islamic principles and teaching and especially its aspect of civilization, nostalgia of Muslim rule in India and a search for a rightful role for the Muslim community in the state system introduced by the British, and their political experience that created a strong fear of being overwhelmed by an unsympathetic majority. The protection and advancement of the Muslim identity, rights and interests became the main concern of the Muslim leaders, especially the All India Muslim League, established in December 1906. They adopted different political strategies for the realization of the above goal, going back to the days of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. The major strategies of the Muslims included: 1.) Seek modern western education and avoid active politics (Post-1857 Aligarh Educational Movement). 2.) The demand for separate electorate (1906) and reservation of seats and the setting up of a separate political party in December 1906, the All India Muslim League. 3.) Constitutional arrangements should incorporate safeguards for the protection of the separate identity and interests of the Muslims. (The Lucknow Pact with the Congress, 1916, and Jinnah’s Fourteen Points (1929) in response to the Nehru Report (1928). 4.) Federalism with autonomy for provinces (late 1920s, and later the Roundtable Conferences 1930-32). 5.) Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s presidential address to the Allahabad session (1930) of the All India Muslim League emphasized the centrality of Islam in the distinct political and cultural profile of the Muslims. He talked about the establishment of a Muslim political authority in the Muslim majority areas of northwest India to secure their future. 6.) Independent and separate state (1940 onwards). Quaid-i-Azam was concerned about the political conditions of the Muslims both in Muslim majority and Muslim minority provinces of British India. The notion of “electoral weightage” was formally floated in 1916 for providing slightly more representation than their population to the Muslims in the provincial assemblies in Muslim minority provinces. A similar weightage in representation was offered to non-Muslims in Muslim majority provinces. The Muslim demand for reservation of one-third seats for the Muslims in the central legislature and a similar representation for the Muslims in government jobs was meant to secure their rights and interests. The All India Muslim League and Jinnah also, wanted to improve the political conditions of the Muslims in Muslim majority provinces. The demand for separation of Sindh from Bombay was repeatedly made until Sindh became a full-province in 1935. There were repeated demands for constitutional and political reforms in Balochistan and NWFP for bringing them at par with other provinces. These demands were meant to secure the Muslims identity, rights and interests within the framework of a federal model that fully recognized and accommodated a separate Muslim identity. However, the political experience of the Muslim League elite, especially in the 1930s convinced them that their cultural and political future may not be secure in a united India because the Congress Party leadership adopted a dismissive attitude towards the Muslim League leadership and their political demands. Alternate Nationalism: The demand for the establishment of Pakistan represented a new nationalism that challenged the one-nation secular India nationalism advocated by the Congress Party. The alternate nationalism needed a new basis and political discourse. This basis was provided by the notion of distinct Muslim socio-cultural identity and historical and civilizational heritage. Jinnah who returned to India in 1934 recognized the changed political environment. He employed Islamic idiom and historical references in his political discourse for national identity formation and mobilization of the Muslims. He worked with greater enthusiasm for transforming the Muslims of British India from an important minority to a nation. Jinnah’s political struggle for the making of Pakistan could not be described as a secular movement because he invoked Islamic history, culture and civilization for Muslim political identity formation and their political mobilization. He could not challenge the Congress Party by advocating a secular nationalism; nor could he justify his assertion that the Muslims of British India were a separate nation. However, given Jinnah’s intellectual and legal background and association with liberal politics he could not advocate a Sharia-based religious Islamic state as projected by the conservative Islamic clergy. He viewed Islam as a source of guidance and inspiration rather than a set of strict punitive, regulative and extractive codes. Territorial Basis: The demand for the establishment of Pakistan had a territorial basis. The Muslims were in majority in five regions: NWFP, the Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh and Bengal. Four of these regions in the North-west were geographically contiguous. The territorial linkage of these regions strengthened the case for Pakistan. Jinnah and the All India Muslim League attached importance to performing in the 1946 provincial elections in these provinces. Its ability to turn the political table on rival Muslim- dominated parties in the Punjab and NWFP in 1946-47 as well as the electoral performance in Bengal and Sindh strengthened the position of the All India Muslim League. Had the Muslim majority regions been located in different parts of India with no territorial contiguity the demand for Pakistan would not have materialized in1947. Another important feature of the idea of Pakistan was the emphasis on the protection of the rights and interests of religious minorities. It was known from the beginning that both India and Pakistan would contain religious minorities. All Muslims were not expected to migrate to Pakistani territory. Similarly, non-Muslims were expected to live in Pakistan. In fact, the Congress Party and the All India Muslim League did not envisage violence and population migration at such a large scale. All resolutions of the All India Muslim League since 1940 made categorical commitments for granting religious and cultural freedom to all religious minorities.

Google adorns Pakistan's homepage with nationalistic doodle

Today Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day and Google has contributed to our celebration by gracing Pakistan’s Google homepage with a nationalistic doodle for Independence Day. The doodle depicts the Pakistan Monument, a blooming flower-shaped symbol of Pakistan. Google puts a lot of thought into its Google doodles, producing between 300 and 400 doodles each year — around 50 of these tend to be moving or interactive. Google often plans what doodles it will embellish its homepage with months in advance and often illustrators take weeks to perfect the selected designs. The Pakistan Monument is one of Pakistan’s most prominent monuments. Before its construction, the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP) held a competition to find the design which best represented Pakistan and its people and Arif Masood’s design was ultimately selected. The giant granite structure is comprised of petals resembling a blooming flower which is meant to be a symbol of Pakistan’s blooming progress as a nation. The four main petals represent the four provinces of Pakistan — Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the three smaller petals represent the three territories Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The inner walls of the petals are adorned with murals based on designs from Islamic architecture and structures. The central platform is designed in the form of a five-pointed star and is surrounded by water. When seen from above, the structure resembles a star and crescent moon, representing the Pakistani flag, making the monument an adroit choice for a Google doodle and just perfect for Independence Day.

500 stranded Pakistanis in strife-torn Libya arrive in Lahore

KARACHI: On the instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to operate special flights to Libya to bring back Pakistanis stranded in the North African country. The first Boeing 747 relief flight arrived today at Lahore airport at 12:15 pm carrying 500 stranded Pakistanis from strife-torn Libya. On their arrival at Lahore, airport officials welcomed the passengers on their safe return. Stranded Pakistanis thanked the prime minister for his concern in bringing them back to Pakistan and also appreciated PIA for operating the flight in a war zone. PIA spokesperson said that more flights to Libya will be operated on the instructions of the government. The Pakistani embassy in Libya has also been making hectic efforts to repatriate Pakistan nationals in Libya at the earliest. A crisis management cell has also been established at the ministry of foreign affairs to monitor the evolving security situation in Libya and to coordinate efforts for evacuation of Pakistanis.

Tension on Independence Day

Sixty-eight years since the creation of Pakistan, the country will face its umpteenth political crisis today. Like most crises, if not all before it, this crisis was neither necessary nor desirable — but the democratic system can still emerge strengthened in the long run, if the chief protagonists do not let ego override good sense. For the government, the announcement by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday that a judicial commission consisting of Supreme Court justices will be formed to investigate allegations of fraud in last year’s general election is another late gamble to try and find some middle ground with the PTI. There are rightful fears of renewed politicisation of the superior judiciary by drawing it into power politics again and also questions of whether a Supreme Court judges-led commission would nullify the necessary power of review of electoral disputes the court has. But it is also true that given the intransigence of the PTI and the stubbornness, at least until recently, of the PML-N, only the highest forums in the land can act as final and binding arbiters. Better that arbiter be a commission of Supreme Court judges than some anti-democratic force in the country. Immediately, Imran Khan swatted away the suggestion of a judicial commission, although the PTI has long held that the judiciary is the right forum to decide electoral disputes — notwithstanding the simultaneous allegation by the PTI that elements in the superior judiciary last year were responsible for some of the alleged rigging against the party. Rejecting the idea of a high-powered judicial commission could either be posturing by the PTI supremo determined to deliver on his promise of a grand Aug 14 rally in the federal capital. Or it could be that Mr Khan has decided that he will do whatever he can to bring down the government, electoral reforms only being a ruse to achieve the real goal. Either way, there is a very real responsibility on the shoulders of Mr Khan to ensure that his rally remains within the bounds of the law and that the PTI does not incite its supporters to violence, directly or tacitly. The PML-N government, while still trying to disrupt the PTI rally, has not used the kind of tactics it has against Tahirul Qadri and his supporters against the PTI. Furthermore, the PML-N has consistently talked of the need for a peaceful solution to the PTI’s demands and remained open to compromise. Mr Khan and the PTI therefore should press their demands in a way that they abide by their pledge to stay within the bounds of the Constitution and the law. The real X-factor today though may be Tahirul Qadri: neither he nor the PML-N seem inclined to compromise in any way with each other. Unhappily, the country has the tensest of Independence Days ahead of it today. Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2014

Container Run: 'Azadi' is a mobile app away

Screenshots of the game Container Run from Google Play. ******************************************************************************************************************** Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan may have been helpless in the face of containers dotting his 'Azadi' march route, but for one enthusiastic "Mr Khan", jumping over the bulky objects is as easy as pie — thanks to the recently launched android game called Container Run. “Mr Khan wants to reach Islamabad but the highway has been blocked by containers and his vehicle cannot go any further. Not only he’s furious, he’s determined to go all the way if nothing else on his own feet,” reads the synopsis of the newly launched game. The app was released by Eccentrica Technologies, which partners with Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (perhaps that explains the conspicuous inclusion of a PTI flag). The trend of releasing android apps relating to current affairs has become increasingly commonplace, with Angry Imran in 2012 – a rip-off of Angry Birds developed by a bunch of Imran Khan’s fan – and the recent car-smashing Gullu Butt. While the games are conceptually brilliant, gaining instant popularity owing to their timeliness, they all have had minor - and some major - technical and design flaws, most probably due to being released in a hurry. Container Run is quite poor graphically, and in terms of playability. Reviewers on Google Play complained of “horrendous gameplay” and “bad controls”, while some seemed to like it only because it featured Mr Khan.

How Pakistanis see their country today

August 14 is an auspicious day for Pakistan, the day when our country gained its independence from British rule. But how many Pakistanis know how Independence Day came about? The new generation has just perfunctory knowledge of the sacrifices that were made to gain the country. With the exception of students of history and political science and those who would be considered senior citizens, the majority know little of the efforts that went into making Pakistan. The reasons for the creation of Pakistan are crystal clear. As the 19th century ended, Muslims of India found themselves in a depressive state. Events of several preceding decades, and the marginalization of the community by the new rulers of India had put them in a very disadvantageous situation. The marginalized Muslims began to notice Hindus occupying positions of strength over them. They sought a forum whereby they could voice their grievances and seek rights. In response to this desire the All India Muslim League was formed in 1906. This was to be the voice of the Muslims and its primary objective was to gain the rights of the Indian Muslims. On August 14, 1947, the dream finally became a reality. It took over a million Muslim lives to create the homeland for the Muslims. Both the Hindus and the Sikhs went on a killing spree indulging in wanton destruction and looting of property of the Muslims. Their behaviour vindicated the demand for a Muslim nation. The matter, of course, did not end here. The Indian government of the day, which was drawn from the Congress Party, was using other methods to nullify the creation of Pakistan. It held back the military stores due to the new nation. More than that, it held back the finances which were rightly Pakistan’s share. Shaharyar, student, 14 years — “I do not have any knowledge about the Pakistan Movement and neither the reasons leading to the creation of Pakistan. But I do know that Pakistan is in a bad situation and needs good leadership to get out of it” The Indian government felt that without finances the Pakistan government would not be able to function and would seek reunion with India. In that case, Pakistan’s return would be accepted on India’s terms. However, this Indian hope was dashed by the generous intervention of the Nizam of Hyderabad who loaned Rs. 2 billion to the government of Pakistan. In addition, Habib Bank, which had shifted its headquarters from Mumbai to Karachi, also loaned Rs. 48 crores. This was a handsome amount in 1947. With the help of the infusion of these finances, the government functioned and grew, enabling Pakistan to survive those crucial early days. It has come a long way since then. Nevertheless, the Indian machinations against Pakistan continued unabated which resulted in the breakaway of the Eastern wing in 1971. The country survived that trauma and continues to function. Senior citizens have some knowledge of the Pakistan Movement which is not surprising. Some lived in the time when the matter was still fresh and were also able to get first hand information. However, with the passage of time, the new generation has only scant knowledge about the subject. This reflects inadequate educational curriculum as well as sub-standard level of teaching in schools. In any case, all the people who were interviewed, irrespective of age, were unanimous in their view that Pakistan was experiencing major difficulties which have to be addressed and if remedial action was not taken very soon it could harm the integrity of the country. Sixty-eight years later where does the country stand? It is interesting to know the views of some Pakistanis belonging to different age groups. Syed Nadeem Ahmad - 51 years. “The creation of Pakistan was necessary. Initially, the country showed much cohesiveness. People, irrespective of ethnicity, were drawn to each other. There was a feeling of nationhood and everybody took pride in being a Pakistani. That, however, changed over the years. In the early days life was simple and there was much happiness. Peopled looked after each other. The government functioned well and the bureaucracy showed fair responsibility. There was corruption, but it was not rife. Things began to change in the ‘70s and became worse in the ‘80s. The country, instead of making progress went into a downward spiral, economically and politically. Despite these drawbacks, there was faith in the people that the country would return to the right path. “The return of the democratic government in 1988 did not help at all. At best, it was a farce. Neither party would not let the other function and complete its term. As a result democracy suffered and eventually paved the way for the army to take over. Gen. Musharraf succeeded in stabilizing the economy and seemed to give good direction to the country. Nevertheless, democracy must rule, but for that good leaders are needed and they are nowhere to be found.” Siraj Ali — 71 years. “I was about four years old when my parents left India. I don’t remember the journey from India’s Lucknow in U.P., and know only what my father and uncles have related. They talked of fear of Hindu mob attacks in Lucknow. Then on the way, the Sikhs were playing the role of butchers. I recall early difficult days in Karachi. Then things began to improve as time went on. From a jhuggi (hut) we moved to a proper house located in what was then called ‘Lalu Khet’. I attended a government school and did my matriculation. After that I joined my father’s business selling crockery in a shop. The business was reasonably good. People were generally happy. Trouble started in the late ‘60s, as a movement developed to oust Ayub Khan. His successor didn’t stay long enough, but his rule did cause a massive upheaval in the country’s politics. There was a war and a big part of Pakistan broke away. “I blame the government in the ‘70s which started the country’s decline including its unity. It introduced corruption and lawlessness on a large scale. It was from then on that things began to turn for the worse and have continued their downward spiral. I am happy that Pakistan was created. I fear that unless the rising trend in corruption and lawlessness is not arrested it will endanger Pakistan’s existence.” Mohammad Hassan Abid, student - 21 years. “I was never a serious student so I have little knowledge about the Pakistan Movement and whatever I know about it was through school lessons, the print media and radio and talk shows on TV. But I do believe that Quaid-e-Azam was an able leader. He had the ability to take on the British and the Indian Congress and fight for Pakistan and he won in the end. “I also feel that Liaquat Ali Khan should have visited the USSR instead of going to the USA as the latter is responsible for Pakistan’s current deplorable situation. Ayub Khan’s tenure gave the country not only economic stability but also resulted in the development of industries, agriculture and trade. I blame West Pakistan for the secession of East Pakistan. Mr Bhutto’s foreign policies were good but his domestic and economic policies weren’t. I blame the Afghan War for the current security problems the country is facing. I also condemn the politics that Nawaz Sharif and Benazir indulged in during the 1990s. Musharraf’s rule brought Pakistan some stability and it seemed that Pakistan would finally make some progress. The government of Mr Zardari introduced corruption on a large scale. His tenure was dismal. Hopes were tied with Nawaz Sharif. So far he has proven to be a disappointment. I feel that Pakistan holds many promises. If ably led, it can make tremendous progress.” Ali bin Mushtaq, student - 16 years. “The reasons that led to Pakistan’s creation was due to Hindu-Muslim conflict. Beyond that I have no knowledge of Pakistan’s history nor have any desire to study about the Pakistan Movement. I accept that Pakistan has a bright future but corrupt leaders are stopping that progress. I am not very optimistic about Pakistan’s future if the current situation persists. Shaharyar, student - 14 years. “I do not have any knowledge about the Pakistan Movement and neither the reasons leading to the creation of Pakistan. But I do know that Pakistan is in a bad situation and needs good leadership to get out of it, as I hear grown ups talking about it, but I am optimistic. I feel that things will turn out all right for Pakistan.” Atiya Fatima, housewise - 65 years. “I consider myself a proud Pakistani and am very happy that I was born in this country. I have lived all my life in Karachi and have had a happy childhood. Life was simple yet full of happiness. Karachi did not have many of the facilities that exist today, yet people were happy. Everyone ate well and looked after one another. Relations, neighbours and friends - they were all caring. “All that changed when the Bhutto government took over. His rule saw the rise in corruption, a malady that has become worse overtime. Lawlessness, too, has become worse over time. As a result, the country and the city of Karachi are not making any progress. The intellectuals and professionals are being compelled to leave the country. This country was built in the name of Islam. In reality, the country has gone off course and is doing everything prohibited by Islam. The feelings of disunity abound and this can lead to the disintegration of the country. Only a leader of great stature can save the country and he is nowhere to be seen. Pakistan was a beautiful idea, but now I fear for its existence.” Mohammad Hyder Khan - 75 years. “My family migrated in 1948. My father was a civilian working for the Indian army and had opted for Pakistan. We lived in a small flat in Lea Market. It was a different place then, not a squalor locality that it has now become. I got my education at Sindh Madrassahtul Islam school. While the essentials of today may have been missing then, one very important element existed in those days which was love and affection and caring of neighbours, friends and relatives, irrespective of religious or ethnic background. People met with sincere feelings and came to each other’s help when needed. Ethnicity was introduced by Ayub Khan in the 1964 elections. Ayub was displeased with Karachi as the city voted for Fatima Jinnah. But Ayub’s first five years were probably the best and Pakistan did well. In his last five years he was surrounded by sycophants and they destroyed him. “Bhutto’s nationalization policies destroyed whatever the country had built up. His educational policies did much harm to the country as well. The quality of education has not recovered since then. His foreign policy was brilliant. Equally brilliant was the way he got Pakistan the nuclear technology. Zia ul Haq helped defeat the USSR and thus freed the Muslim Central Asian Republics, but he was so engrossed with the Afghan war that he could not launch economic development plans. “The politics of the ‘90s during Benazir and Nawaz Sharif’s rule was disastrous for Pakistan. Musharraf’s tenure did give some stability to the country. The economy improved and the country seemed to be going in the right direction. Zardari introduced corruption on a mega scale. Lawlessness in the country and especially Karachi, increased tremendously. Zardari’s term of five years has nothing to show. Politically, economically and socially, Paksitan is in a mess. The country expected much from Nawaz Sharif. So far he has been a big disappointment. We need a leader of very high stature in order to get out of this dangerous situation. So far it is Divine intervention that has kept the country intact. But, for how long.”

August 14: ‘Azadi’ march gets green light from govt

As Pakistan celebrates Independence Day today, activists and supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehrik remain determined to march toward the capital to protest against alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections. It is uncertain how the day will unfold and the fear of violence persists as parts of the capital have been blocked off by containers and cellular services remain suspended there. The developments come as the Lahore High Court has maintained that the two parties should not continue with the course and the government has begun taking steps to establish a judicial commission to investigate alleged malpractices in the 2013 polls. For More details please copy paste following link http://www.dawn.com/news/1125273/august-14-capital-braces-for-azadi-march-as-pakistan-celebrates-independence

United for Gaza, divided for Pakistan

Only a few weeks ago, Pakistan seemed to be swept away in a wave of outrage over the Gaza conflict. Regardless of what the opinions were, there was at least a sense of solidarity. But after all the physical and social media protests, there is a new topic that is now taking over that Pakistan: the Azadi march. Imran Khan’s promise of inqilab has forged a deep divide in the nation. As everything in this highly charged country, the divide is not simply between those for or against this proclaimed “walk towards freedom”. The mesmerised followers of Tahirul Qadri may deserve some attention too, for their dramatic proclamations of their own plans for the government, if nothing else. Then there are those who want the army, in all its glamour and glory, to come charging in and save the country yet again from the grasp of incapable politicians. Among all this hullabaloo, many appear to overlook the significance of the Azadi march — and whatever political shake-up it promises to cause — being scheduled for no other day than August 14 — the national Youm-e-Azadi. Although the phrase, Youm-e-Azadi is reiterated by anchors and politicians over and over, we as a nation, seem to have completely forgotten the true value of this day i.e. solidarity, independent of our cultural, religious and political beliefs. As we live through the August 14 of this year, the atmosphere of fear, violence and repression is a worrisome sign for where we stand as a society and where we are headed. Instead of commemorating the endless struggle and the selfless sacrifices of our forefathers, we seem to be consumed by the politics of today and whatever hollow-ringing promises there are on offer. When did we get so obsessed with political theatrics, and when will we finally get over them? Doesn't the true value of freedom lie in being united instead of battling out meaningless and fickle political loyalties? Imagine an independence day of divisions, with each faction carrying their own flags rather than the national flag. Think about the possibility of chaos and innocent blood being shed, all in our devotion towards misguided politicians. A deep introspection is needed. Surely the 'political self' in this nation must be nurtured enough to look beyond melodramatic statements that call for “regaining our freedom”. Politicians have always feasted on our vulnerability in falling for their acts, and despite politics badly infesting our lives for long, we still haven't evolved enough to snatch back our everyday joys from them. How much longer will we let politics mess our social fabric up and redefine our existence? Already political associations have become a defining element of social relations, especially since the pre-2013 election period. Friendships are being made and broken, physical and verbal abuse occurring, and individuals starting to identify themselves primarily based on their political affiliations. This has led to society becoming dysfunctional and hindering the development of the democratic process. One of the fundamental flaws of democracy in Pakistan is our nascent ability to attach our social existence to an ideology, and then make it a matter of life and death. No discourse and no evidence is strong enough to change that attachment simply because we feel it would be a loss of pride to do so. Latching ourselves onto a belief or individual or institution as a means to give our social existence a meaning is an innate characteristic of people in our region, and this has often led to widespread exploitation of the masses. If we are to truly move towards stability and prosperity, we must learn to divorce our identity from our political beliefs. Only then can we collectively stand for what is right, rather than standing for what our pride asks of us. We must return to celebrating August 14 as our independence day, when all of Pakistan was liberated on the back of a collective struggle, and not trivialise that momentous achievement by linking it with a march to topple a democratically elected government. Until such occasions are able to bind us together once again, our solidarity will be confined to international events only.