Security forces’ camp attacked in North Waziristan

MIRANSHAH: Three rockets were fired on the security forces’ camp in Miranshah area of North Wazirstan Agency, Geo News reported on Monday. According to the sources, the security forces camp in Miranshah came under attack when three rockets targeted the camp from unknown direction late on Sunday night. Fortunately, no loss of life occurred in the ambush however the security personnel cordoned off the area and initiated investigation.

Karachi unrest: AIG Shahid Hayat presents police report in SC

KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan resumed hearing the Karachi law and order case today (Monday) where the Additional Inspector General (AIG) Police Shahid Hayat Khan presented a report regarding Karachi situation, Geo News reported. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani is hearing the case at Karachi Registry today. During today’s proceedings, AIG Shahid Hayat presented a report on Karachi and told the bench that challans of 175 arrested accused have been presented in the anti-terrorism court. The charges included target killing, kidnapping for ransom, extortion and other serious crimes. Moreover, more than 7,000 cases are currently being heard at session court, the AIG informed. Justice Khilji Arif remarked that more than 10,000 accused were arrested and only 175 challans were submitted in the court. He said that it is impossible to curb crimes without awarding punishment to the accused. The CJP said that the criminals use mobile phones in the jails which is the cause of terrorism. Replying to this, Shahid Hayat said that jammers have been installed to restrict mobile phones usage in the jails. On this, Justice Khilji Arif remarked that installation of jammers has affected the surrounding areas and instructed the police to avoid creating hassles for the locals. The CJP inquired that why such jammers were placed that are affecting the residents of the adjoining areas. Replying to this, AG Shahid Hayat told that Ghausia Colony, PIB Colony and Hyderabad Colony are the most affected areas and that efforts are underway to reduce the range of jammers. In the last hearing on November 29, 2013, the SC had directed the Sindh government, Rangers, police and intelligence agencies, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to present their reports about their performance in improving the law and order situation in the metropolis. The top court bench had directed authorities concerned to adopt a fool proof system to issue mobile phone SIMs and put in place a system at the Karachi Port to monitor imported items and shipping containers. The bench had directed authorities to take action against criminal elements on intelligence information and call in the armed forces when the need arose.
Karachi law and Order Case-24 Feb 2014 by GeoNews

India hands over body of inmate to Pakistan

LAHORE: A body of Pakistani inmate, who was found hanging in an Indian jail, has been handed over to Rangers official at Wagah border. Shaukat Ali, a resident of Sialkot was arrested in 2011 for accidentally crossing the border and charged under the Foreigners Act. Pasrur DSP Mian Absar received the body from Rangers official who would be handed over to the heirs after medico-legal formalities.

TTP commander among 4 killed in NWA firing

MIRANSHAH: Asmatullah Shaheen the former Emir of the Taliban Shura (council) and the former interim chief of the Taliban was killed along with three others in Dargah Mandi, North Waziristan. According to sources, unidentified assailants ambushed a vehicle in Dargah Mandi killing all four passengers on the spot. The attackers managed to escape unscathed. Asmatullah Shaheen Asmatullah Shaheen belonged to the Bethni Tribe in South Waziristan. The Bhethni tribesmen reside in South Waziristan’s Jandola district as well as in district Tank of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Asmatullah Shaheen had served as the Emir of the Taliban Shura (council). Following the death of TTP Chief Hakimullah Mehsud, Asmatullah had taken over as interim chief as he was the head of the shura. Earlier, Khan Said Sajna had been named as chief. Sources suggest Asmatullah could have been murdered for his rivalry with Khan Said Sajna. Sources further add that Asmatullah was instrumental in advocating a ceasefire, adding he had wanted the release of Professor Ajmal as a good will gesture. Hoping to remain safe from Drone strikes, Asmatullah is said to have been living in territory where Hafiz Gul Bahadur holds influence. In 2009 when Pakistan released a list of wanted Taliban members, Asmatullah was also on that list with a price of Rs. 10 million on his head. Asmatullah had previously survived five attacks on his life. It is also said, that prior to joining the Taliban, Asmatullah had been part of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen fighting a jihad in Kashmir.
Asmatullah Shaheen Killed-24 Feb 2014 by GeoNews

19 Afghan soldiers killed in Taliban attack

KABUL: Officials say the Taliban have attacked an army checkpoint in eastern Afghanistan, leaving 19 soldiers dead and seven missing. Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, who is spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said the attack happened in the Ghazi Abad district of Kunar Province early Sunday morning. He confirmed that 19 soldiers were dead and two injured. He said an investigation and search and rescue operation is underway. Abdul Ghani Musamem, spokesman for the governor of Kunar Province, said seven soldiers were missing following the attack. It was not immediately clear if the soldiers had been kidnapped or had fled during the assault. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in an emailed statement, saying that one of their insurgents was killed and two were wounded.

Taliban says it suspends talks on US soldier

ISLAMABAD: The spokesman for Afghanistan´s Taliban says they have suspended "mediation" with the United States to exchange captive U.S. soldier Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl for five senior Taliban prisoners held in U.S. custody in Guantanamo Bay. In a terse emailed statement Sunday, Zabihullah Mujahed blamed the "current complex political situation in the country" for the suspension of what was considered the best chance of securing Bergdahl´s freedom since his capture in 2009. It is the first official acknowledgement of indirect talks with the U.S. to free Bergdahl. Bergdahl, 27, of Hailey, Idaho, was last seen in a video released in December, footage seen as "proof of life" demanded by the United States. Bergdahl is believed to be held in the border regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Sindh Rangers, police laud MQM's pro-security-forces rally

KARACHI: Terming it a morale-booster, Sindh Rangers and police Sunday threw their weight behind Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) rally staged to show solidarity with the security forces of Pakistan, Geo News reported. “We hold this endeavor in high regard as it will go a long, long way in boosting the 'esprit de corps' of Pakistan’s sentinels”, a spokesman for the paramilitary troops said. Praying for the steadfastness of Pakistan’s security forces in this war on terror, the spokesman also saluted the MQM Coordination Committee for organizing and the participants for making the rally a huge success. Meanwhile a statement issued by Sindh Police also full of praise for MQM's rally. "We express our deepest gratitude to all those who showed up at MQM's rally to express solidarity with security and law enforcement agencies fighting the scourge of terrorism", the statement said. The statement further said that Sindh police would never flinch back from laying down their lives to defeat the menace of terrorism. "It is our solemn pledge that this war will reach its logical end with success, come what may", the police spokesman added

India, Pakistan set for Asia Cup face-off

DHAKA: India and Pakistan get a rare chance to score brownie points when they renew their intense, but intermittent, cricket rivalry in the Asia Cup one-day tournament which opens in Bangladesh on Tuesday. On-field contests featuring the traditional foes, which attract millions of viewers around the cricket world, have fallen victim to political stand-offs between the two warring neighbours. Since the World Cup semi-final in 2011, India and Pakistan have played just five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches against each other, mostly in multi-nation events. Their most recent meeting was in the Champions Trophy last June when India won a rain-affected match in Birmingham by eight wickets and went on to win the tournament. "Its always a big challenge playing against India because there is so much interest in the game," said Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq. "India are a formidable side and we have to be at our best to win. "We may not have played each other much recently, but I know it will be an exciting match." Pakistan begin the five-nation Asia Cup, the symbol of regional supremacy in the one-day game, as the defending champions, having won the 2012 edition in Dhaka. World Cup holders India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, hosts Bangladesh and new entrants Afghanistan will play each other once in the league with the top two qualifying for the final in Dhaka on March 8. Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Fatullah, a suburban town south of Dhaka which will host the first five league matches before the action shifts to the Bangladeshi capital. The high-profile India-Pakistan game has been scheduled for Sunday, March 2 at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka. India, the most successful team in the Asia Cup with five titles in 11 editions so far, will be without inspirational captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who was ruled out with a side strain. Top-order batsman Virat Kohli will lead India, while Dinesh Karthik will replace Dhoni as wicket-keeper. Sri Lanka begin the tournament with the advantage of having been in Bangladesh for the past month, winning the Test, Twenty20 and one-day series against the hosts. India start their campaign against hosts Bangladesh on Wednesday, eight days after ending a dismal tour of New Zealand where they lost both the Test and one-day series. The focus will be on the fast-improving Afghans, who were added as the fifth team by the Asian Cricket Council after they qualified for their maiden World Cup next year. The minnows have played just two one-dayers against Test nations, losing both matches to Pakistan and Australia. Asia Cup schedule: Feb 25 : Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Fatullah Feb 26 : Bangladesh v India, Fatullah Feb 27 : Afghanistan v Pakistan, Fatullah Feb 28 : India v Sri Lanka, Fatullah March 1: Bangladesh v Afghanistan, Fatullah March 2: India v Pakistan, Dhaka March 3: Afghanistan v Sri Lanka, Dhaka March 4: Bangladesh v Pakistan, Dhaka March 5: Afghanistan v India, Dhaka March 6: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, Dhaka March 8: Final, Dhaka (AFP)

Saudi Arabia 'seeking Pakistani arms for Syrian rebels'

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia is in talks with Pakistan to provide anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets to Syrian rebels to try to tip the balance in the war to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, a Saudi source said Sunday. The United States has long opposed arming the rebels with such weapons, fearing they might end up in the hands of extremists, but Syrian opposition figures say the failure of Geneva peace talks seems to have led Washington to soften its opposition. Pakistan makes its own version of Chinese shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, known as Anza, and anti-tank rockets -- both of which Riyadh is trying to get for the rebels, said the source, who is close to Saudi decision-makers, requesting anonymity. The source pointed to a visit to Riyadh earlier this month by Pakistan's army chief of staff, General Raheel Sharif, who met Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz. Prince Salman himself last week led a large delegation to Pakistan, shortly after Saudi's chief diplomat Prince Saud al-Faisal visited the kingdom's key ally. Jordan will be providing facilities to store the weapons before they are delivered to rebels within Syria, the same source said. AFP could not obtain confirmation from officials in Saudi, Pakistan or Jordan. The head of the Syrian opposition, Ahmad Jarba, promised during a flying visit to northern Syria last week that "powerful arms will be arriving soon." "The United States could allow their allies provide the rebels with anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons following the failure of Geneva talks and the renewed tension with Russia," said the head of the Gulf Research Centre, Abdel Aziz al-Sager. Providing those weapons to the rebels "relieves pressure on the US in the short-term," said Simon Henderson, director of the Gulf and Energy Policy Programme at the Washington Institue for Near East Policy. "But the long-term political worry is that Manpads (Man-portable air-defence systems) will leak and be used to bring down a civilian airliner somewhere in the world." Rebels have long said that anti-aircraft rockets would help them defend themselves against Syrian warplanes, which regularly bomb rebel-held areas with barrels loaded with TNT and other ordinance. The nearly-three-year conflict in Syria has torn the country apart, killing more than 140,000 people, including some 50,000 civilians, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Rising Saudi influence Saudi Arabia has a strong influence on Syria's southern front, where it coordinates with Jordan, and has helped unite the rebel fighters in the area, according to Syrian opposition sources. On the other hand, Qatar and Turkey are responsible for coordinating with the rebels on the northern front, said an official of the Syrian opposition, requesting anonymity. Saudi Arabia has come to eclipse Qatar as the main supporter of the Syrian rebels, a development illustrated by the election last July of Ahmad Jarba, who has strong Saudi links, to lead the Syrian National Coalition, the main umbrella opposition group. The trend appeared to continue with the dismissal last week of General Selim Idriss, the top commander of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army, who was considered close to Qatar, according to an opposition source. The main criticism of Idriss was "bad distribution of weapons" and "errors in battle," said another opposition source. Idriss, who has refused his dismissal, has been replaced by Brigadier General Abdel Ilah al-Bashir, the leader of the rebel military council for the region of Quneitra in southern Syria. On its internal front, Saudi Arabia has sidelined intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who had been leading Riyadh's efforts concerning Syria, according to a Western diplomat. Diplomats have said that the file has been passed to the interior minister, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, known for his successful crackdown on Al-Qaeda following a wave of deadly attacks in the kingdom between 2003 and 2006. Bandar's management had triggered American criticism, diplomats said. The Saudi royal himself has reproached Washington for its decision not to intervene militarily in Syria, and for preventing its allies from providing rebels with much-needed weapons, diplomats added. (AFP)

Talks not failed, but deadlock exists: Rustam Shah

ISLAMABAD: Rustam Shah Mohmand of the government negotiation committee on Sunday said that the air strikes in Terah valley and Hangu were in reaction of the earlier Karachi and Mohmand Agency horrible terror incidents. Talking to Geo News, Rustam Shah Mohmand said that the response to terror attacks was enough and the government should now revert back to talks adding military action was not the solution of the problem and Taliban should be brought into the mainstream under the constitution. He said that the talks process hasn’t yet failed, it has just met with a deadlock. Rustam Shah Mohmand said that the constitution was not of any group but of 180 million people. Any amendment in the constitution could be made by the parliament only and it could not be changed on the command of one group, he said.

Supporting Taliban is tantamount to treason: Altaf Hussain

KARACHI: Committing all-out support for the armed forces of Pakistan in the war on extremist terrorism, Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) London-based leader, Altaf Hussain Sunday said that Taliban’s friends were Pakistan’s foes, Geo News reported. “Trusters of Taliban are traitors to Pakistan. There are no two ways about it. And it should not be forgotten that it were not Taliban who brought Islam to us”, said the firebrand MQM supremo. He was tele-addressing a rally staged by the MQM to express solidarity with the security forces of Pakistan. He said that no one believed him when he blew the whistle for the first time several years ago. "I was not only laughed at for ringing alarms bells about this 'clear & present danger' but was also accused of mongering fear for reasons known better to my critics", said. He said it wasn't a tempest in a teacup, MQM had foreseen the menace of extremist militancy infiltrating the country long before anyone else did. "Those who brushed my warnings aside dubbing them as extraneous propaganda didn’t realize what was going on until the extremists came knocking on their doors threatening them to embrace their gunpoint Shariah or die." Without mincing words, MQM leader said he was not born to lie. "All of my premonitions have come true. Need I say more", Hussain said. He warned the government of serious consequences of not taking a tough decision in time. "I appeal to the government to waste no more time sitting on the fence. It is now or never." Altaf said that if the whole nation converged on this one point that 'the friend of Taliban was a foe of Pakistan' then no one would ever be able to defeat us. He also took a jibe at Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader, Munawar Hassan,for his statement regarding Yazid, the second Caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate, upon whose orders his thousands-strong army martyred Imam Hussain (RA) and his handful followers in the battlefield of Karbala. "The learned JI leader equated the tyrant Yazid with Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH)grandson, Iman Hussain (RA). Doesn't he know the difference?,", said he. Going forward, Hussain paid cordial homage to the martyred sentinels of Pakistan who laid their lives in the war on Talibani terror.”

Kohat: 12 killed in Peshawar Chowk blast

KOHAT: An explosion occurred near Police Line at Peshawar Chowk in Kohat, killing at least twelve people and injuring 16 others on Sunday, Geo News reported. Police Inspector General (IG) Nasir Khan Durrani told Geo News said the blast took place near a pickup van at Peshawar Chowk on Kohat-Hangu Road. All the passengers in the vehicle lost their lives while several others including a woman sustained injuries. Kohat-Hangu Road was blocked for traffic following the incident, while the bodies and injured persons were rushed to nearby hospital. Police put the security cordon, while bomb disposal squad has also been called in.
Kohat Blast-23 Feb 2014 by GeoNews

Alama Qamar Abbas Mujahid of Lahore 220214 Majlis Barsi Begum Syed Farrukh Hussain Abidi

The world's most dangerous trees, refuse to go near it Dainikbhaskarlcom | Feb 23, 2,014

The name Manchinil world's most poisonous tree and the tree has been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. Manchinil so poisonous that even allowed to go near it. Considered the most dangerous trees or around the board and the boards seem to be warning. If people read it to better maintain the distance. The apples that look like someone ate the fruit, so it's possible to sleep the sleep of death could. How did the name of the poisonous tree Manchinil: Hippomane mancinella it is officially called science. Manchinil (Manchineel) of Spanish Manzanilla is made. Manzanilla means 'little apple' is. Columbus was told the death Manchinil small apple fruit: Christopher Columbus is believed to Manchinil fruit such as apples 'manzanilla de l muerte' (small apple of death) was named.

If you are a jihadi, the place to be is Syria, says Vali Nasr

“Iran is the only country in the Middle East to have survived the overhaul of the Arab Spring… the rest of the power centres have collapsed. Iran [now] stands the most stable of them all,” author Vali Nasr said on Saturday. He was speaking at a session titled Fault Lines Across the Middle East. Nasr said despite the many sanctions, Iran was still capable of fighting a war. “Even the US government had decided to end its policy of isolating Iran. The country is much more powerful in the region today than was expected,” he said. The Shia-Sunni divide is the real game changer in the region, said Nasr. Shias are suppressed in Saudi Arabia and cannot publicly observe mourning or open up religious schools, he said. “If you are a jihadi, the place to be is Syria…that is where all the money is at the moment,” he said. Discussing Pakistan’s dependence on the Arab world, Nasr said many Pakistanis worked in Arab states. Responding to a question on whether Pakistan’s pro-Saudi stance on the situation in Syria would lead to a reaction from Iran, Nasr said, Saudi Arabia and the US wanted Assad removed because they believed he was the problem. “Iran and Russia on the other hand, believe the real problem in the region is extremism,” he said. The reason why Afghanistan has survived over the last four to five years is because Pakistan and Iran were not terribly engaged in the country. Nasr said, “There can be no stability in Afghanistan after the US pullout unless Iran and Pakistan work towards it.” He said Pakistan should have supported Iran on the Syrian issue…it is in Pakistan’s national interest because Iran is a rising power in the region. “Pakistan should stop depending too much on Saudi Arabia and improve its ties with India through free trade,” said Nasr. He said the Muslim world had become “more Muslim today” than it was in Jinnah’s time. “If you want to live according to the Shariah, who’s Shariah do you want to follow? Saudi Arabia doesn’t accept Shia law as legitimate Islamic law.” Nasr said the US did not believe any longer that the Arab world was so important that it should intervene there. Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2014.

Automotive industry: Honda opens second plant in Mexico

CELAYA: Honda unveiled a second factory in Mexico on Friday, seeking to capitalise on the nation’s rising power in the sector and strengthen the Japanese car giant’s foothold in North America. The $800-million plant in Celaya, in the central state of Guanajuato, will churn out 200,000 units per year, contributing to Mexico’s race to beat Canada and Japan as the top car exporter to the US. For the company, producing the Honda Fit hatchback and a yet-to-be-named compact-sport utility vehicle in Mexico will allow the company to expand its presence in the Mexican and US markets. Latin America’s second-biggest economy has become an increasingly favoured destination for car makers thanks to its lower wages, skilled workforce and participation in a raft of free-trade pacts. “We have great expectations for growth in the US market as well as the Mexican market,” Honda Chief Executive Takanobu Ito told reporters, adding that Mexico has good growth potential for small cars. “In addition to having the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), Mexico has free-trade deals with several regions in the world, including Japan and Europe,” he said through an interpreter. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto was on hand to unveil the sprawling factory, which will have 3,200 workers, alongside state officials and Honda executives, including Ito. Mexico is now the world’s eighth-biggest car maker and the number four exporter after Germany, South Korea and Japan, according to industry figures. Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2014.

A national shame

Honour killing is everything but that. It has its roots in a perversion of the moral code where right and wrong are reversed, and mindsets geared to an ancient primitivism that places women in the category of possessions and makes them the repository of the so-called ‘honour’ of the family — a curse they bear all their lives. Whilst it is incorrect to say that the phenomenon of honour killing is confined to Pakistan, the country is among the world leaders when it comes to the number of women killed for ‘honour’ every year. Not for nothing is Pakistan described as one of the most dangerous countries for women with documented cases running at around 500 annually. And this, too, is almost certainly an under-reporting according to a lecture delivered by Dr Muazzam Nasrullah at the University of Health Sciences in Lahore. Honour killings are done by family members in order to avenge the supposed shame brought on them by any number of, in some cases, trivial incidents. Being seen singing and clapping can cost you your life. As can dancing on the roof in the rain. The murderers are usually brothers or fathers and they rarely get prosecuted. Indeed, it is more than likely that they will escape any punishment under the law as they will be supported by other family members, and a police force that turns a blind eye, preferring to categorise such murders as ‘family matters’. Dr Nasrullah made a statement of the blindingly obvious in that there is a need to provide a platform for oppressed women. Such a platform would create “an informed and supportive environment for advocacy for policies to eliminate violence against women”. Unfortunately, those in positions of power and influence have not shown the slightest interest in making the commitments to change in sociocultural normative values that would be a precursor to any variation in the national paradigm. This must change and more importance should be given to this issue so the name of our country can get off this list of crimes. Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2014.

‘Rape survivor’ refuses to prosecute her tormentor

LAHORE: An additional district and sessions judge on Saturday fixed February 26 to pass judgement on the pre-arrest bail petition of a Lahore General Hospital employee accused of raping a woman who had visited him to get her son X-rayed. The petitioner told the court that she had not nominated him in the FIR. According to the FIR registered at the Kot Lakhpat police station, Sakina Bibi visited the Lahore General Hospital last week for her son’s treatment. The doctor told her to get her son X-rayed. She said Faisal, the X-ray operator, told her the machine was not working and told her he would take her to the nearest clinic to get the X-ray done. She said instead he took her and her son to a flat where he raped her. On Saturday, Faisal and Sakina Bibi appeared in court. The judge told them that he could not record her statement as he had already adjourned the hearing till February 26. However, she submitted an application before the district and sessions court to direct the relevant judge to record her statement on Saturday. The application was accepted and she told the court that she did not want to pursue the case further and that she had no objections if Faisal was granted bail. Faisal has said he is innocent. Woman says her father-in-law did not assault her An additional district and sessions judge on Saturday granted post-arrest bail to a man accused of assaulting his daughter-in-law when she told the court that he was not involved in the incident. Petitioner Nasreen Bibi said she was assaulted in the dark and could not recognise who raped her. According to the FIR registered by her at Kot Lakhpat police station, Abdul Aziz went to Nasreen Bibi’s house on the pretext of meeting his grandchildren and forced himself on her. The judge set bail at Rs200,000. Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2014.

Children, teachers, educationists pledge to support reading

KARACHI: Let’s see how many people we can get on board to promote reading habits among children. With this aim, the Children Literature Festival’s (CLF) session on ‘Role of youth and innovation to promote reading and libraries in urban areas’ kicked off on a lively Saturday afternoon at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi. “Cell phones have become a useful device when it comes to entertainment, why not utilise them to record stories?” suggested Baela Raza Jamil, the moderator and founder of CLF. The session was not all lectures or debates – it was more about interaction and brainstorming. The objective was to have children, university students, teachers, parents and educationists on board to promote reading and libraries. The small over-crowded room was all ears as innovative ideas were thrown around by all present in the room. Panelist Yaminay Chaudhry of the group Tentative Collective volunteered to get children of different schools on board to promote reading through filmmaking, adding that she hoped to lend a rickshaw for the project. Another panelist from the Oxford University Press (OUP), Mehboob Mitha, said that the OUP’s mobile library could also be used for this initiative. “If anybody wants to call the mobile library to school, our representatives are approachable,” Mitha offered. “There are some unfortunate areas in the city and the children there cannot access books but through this mobile library initiative, we could go to them and they could rent the books for free for two weeks.” He added that the registration fee is just Rs10. Moderator Jamil kept the session alive with her continuous words of encouragement. “Telling stories in slum areas or where a tragedy has taken place is the most effective way to go about with this,” she said. “These things appear small, but they change lives.” She gave examples of coordinators and directors at CLF who had gone to areas hit by a tragedy and held storytelling sessions with the community. One of the attendees, Tehmina Arshad, shared that the school where she works is host to a huge library. “The school also donates books a few times every year. We can provide these books to schools that do not have enough.” Jamil asked her to coordinate with them on this so they could write to the school directly. Students from Bahria University attending the session volunteered to help in the initiative and promised to put in a few hours every day to get the mobile libraries functional across the city. According to Mitha, the OUP mobile library was a nationwide initiative. “We very keen in launching it all over Pakistan. In fact, we have already taken our mobile libraries to some parts of the country.” The session revealed another positive system in place which wasn’t known to many in the audience. “The National Book Foundation is a federal entity. It offers 50 per cent discount on its book sale in return for a membership of Rs150 a year,” said Jamil. “We have such initiatives but our people do not know about them. How do we expect people to take advantage from such things if nobody knows?” With heartfelt promises, the session came to a close with the hope that a movement has already started. Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2014.

Social media seen affecting literature

LAHORE: The appearance of the expression ‘global novel’ is recent and strange, said Mohsin Hamid, author of The Reluctant Fundamentalist. He was speaking at the session Beyond the Global Novel on the second day of the Lahore Literary Festival on Saturday. Hamid said some people considered globalisation to be contaminating for artists. “I think art comes out of [such] contamination”, said Hamid. He said modern technology and social media were changing the writing styles of the youth. “The way they write today is very different from how people used to write 10 or 15 years ago”. Bangladeshi writer K Anis Ahmad said for many people work from outside their country became global. “Maybe for people in USA, a novel written by a Bengali writer in Bangladesh is a global novel, and for Bangladeshi readers a novel written in USA by an American author is a global novel. The judgment is based on how it is being presented,” he said. He joked that “when somebody writes a novel in USA, he just writes a novel but when a writer in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh writes in English he tries to write a global novel”. Samia Mehrez, who teaches literature in Cairo, asked who decided whether a novel was global or not. “What’s the politics of the framing? Is it language or content that renders a novel global?” Mehrez asked. She said many writers in the Arab world were coming from the periphery and not from the bourgeoise. She said some editors believed their work had to be made readable for an English audience. She said an Arab Booker Prize paid for the translation of selected works into five languages. The New York Review Senior Editor Hugh Eakin said 50 years ago only five per cent of the work by Dutch writers was translated into English, and today 70 per cent of it was. “We are really happy to see more people than we expected so early on Saturday morning” said the BBC’S Razia Iqbal, who was moderating the session. Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2014.

Saudi executes 10th convict this year

RIYADH: A Saudi citizen convicted of murder was beheaded on Sunday, the interior ministry announced, bringing the number of executions in the kingdom this year to 10. Salem al-Jahdali beat fellow tribesman Abdullah al-Jahdali to death following a dispute, the ministry said in a statement published by the official SPA news agency. The execution took place in the holy western city of Mecca. The kingdom beheaded 78 people in 2013, according to an AFP count. Last year, the UN High Commission for Human Rights denounced a “sharp increase in the use of capital punishment” since 2011 in Saudi Arabia. According to figures from Amnesty International, the number of executions in the country rose from 27 in 2010, of whom five were foreigners, to 82 in 2011, including 28 foreigners. In 2012, the number of executions slipped slightly to 79 people, among them 27 foreigners. Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Saudi Arabia’s strict law.

Possible offensive: N Waziristan can be cleansed within weeks

HANGU / LAHORE: Amidst growing chatter of a military operation in North Waziristan Agency, security sources on Saturday said the task of purging the area of all violent groups could be over in a “matter of weeks”. “It would take the military four to six weeks to clear the agency of fighters,” security sources said, insisting that it was not difficult for Pakistan Army to re-establish the writ of the government in North Waziristan. The officials also quashed the impression that the operation had only 40% chance of success, as claimed by some politicians in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The security sources said that North Waziristan is the last militant stronghold which, if cleared, would result in a significant drop in violent attacks across the country. The military and the civil government are on the same page and there is no ambiguity on the issue. They conceded that the operation could have a severe backlash elsewhere in the country or that the fighters could sneak into major towns and cities of the country to carry out attacks. “The responsibility of the civil administration would increase as it would have to act pro-actively to cub terrorism.” The security sources said that a ground offensive hasn’t been started yet in North Waziristan, though F-16 fighter jets have been bombing hideouts of suspected militants in ‘targeted air raids’. “Since Pakistan doesn’t have technology to fly lethal drones, F-16s are the best option available,” they added. “F-16s hit their target with precision, almost ruling out the possibility for collateral damage.” The security sources added that ground offensive would be launched after the civil government gave the go ahead. Asked about the possible strategy for North Waziristan operation, security sources said that it would be similar to the one carried out in Swat in 2009. Civilians and innocent tribesmen will be given time to shift to safe areas before the launch of the operation. “The operation will target all fighter groups without discrimination.” Once cleared of militants, the security sources said, it would be difficult for violent groups to find a sanctuary in North Waziristan again. They added that the number of fighters in the area was being exaggerated. Asked about the stalled peace talks, the security sources said that the security establishment and the civilian government were on the same page vis-à-vis peace engagement. “The military fully supports the government’s peace overtures because it believes in giving peace a chance.” However, the security sources added that talks should be pursued from a ‘position of strength’. They said that despite the ongoing peace process, militants carried out a string of fatal attacks which necessitated the ‘use of force’. The security sources claimed that Pakistani fighters were receiving monetary and material support from outside. Afghan spy agency, the National Directorate of Security (NDS), was in league with India. Around 3,000 personnel of NDS, Afghan National Army and other security agencies were receiving training in India. The security sources, however, rejected as hackneyed the impression that Pakistan’s military was seeking ‘strategic depth’ in Afghanistan. However, they added that the military was not oblivious of the security of the country’s borders. “Pakistan Army is ready to face any challenge.” The security sources said that militants also have supporters and sympathisers within the country. Commenting on the recent air strikes in North Waziristan and Khyber agencies, the security sources said that it was wrong to call them a prelude to a full-fledged operation. However, if the Taliban carry out any violent attack, they would be responded in the same coin – and the process has already started. As part of the same strategy, helicopter gunships targeted hideouts of suspected militants in Thal tehsil of Hangu district early Saturday. A security official said that the air raids were ordered after credible intelligence suggested that militants based in the area were plotting attacks. “The air strikes were carried out in the mountainous areas of Tora Warhi and Darsamand, situated at the confluence of borders between Orakzai and Kurram tribal agencies around 7am,” a security official said. The raids continued till 9am, he added. The official claimed that at least nine militants – among them three commanders, Gul Nawaz, Arshad and Wali Zaman – were killed when a suspected compound was bombed. While the air strikes were ongoing, a shell fired from unknown direction slammed into a civilian house in the Darsamand area, wounding two women identified as Sakina Bibi and Sultana Bibi. They were driven to a hospital in nearby Thal. The security official said it was an air raid by helicopter gunships against militant hideouts in Thal. It is the only tehsil of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where a US drone had targeted an Islamic seminary (madrassa) on November 21, last year, killing six persons. Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2014.

Blast from the past: Musharraf falls afoul of laws issued by Ziaul Haq

ISLAMABAD: The writ of one dictator appears to have laid the groundwork for ensnaring another military ruler. As General (retd) Pervez Musharraf became the victim of ordinances that had been issued during the tenure of the previous military ruler General Ziaul Haq – who repealed the Pakistan Army Act (PPA) 1977 through an ordinance in 1981 – the Justice Faisal Arab-led special court defined the rules under which a trial can be transferred to a military court. The (redundant) Act of X of 1977 of the PPA includes offences punishable under the high treason act within the ambit of the Army Act. A three-judge special court in its February 21 order examined the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 1977 to determine whether it is an existing law. The order says that Act X of 1977 stood repealed on July 8, 1981 through an ordinance issued by former army chief General Ziaul Haq. The court also held that offences punishable under the High Treason (Punishment) Act, 1973 are not triable by a court-martial under the PPA 1952 and that these are exclusively triable under the Criminal Law Amendment (Special Court) Act, 1976. Musharraf’s legal team contended that the 1981 ordinance had lapsed after an expiry of the statutory period contained in Article 89 of the constitution, therefore, all the repealed laws including the Act X of 1977 stood revived. In its written order, the Justice Faisal Arab-led bench made it clear that Musharraf’s team might have lost sight of the fact that “all ordinances promulgated between July 5, 1977 to December 30, 1985 [during the Zia era] were given protection under Article 270-A of the Constitution…” The court in its order held that much reliance was placed by Musharraf’s counsel on section 7 of PPA for transferring of the case to a military court, which shows that it deals with an altogether different situation. A bare reading of the provisions of section 7 makes it clear that any person attached to or forms part of a military force, which is brought into action in a combat situation against an enemy or is engaged in some military operations, whether in the country or on foreign soil, can be regarded on active service if duly notified by the federal government. Hence, apart from serving uniformed personnel called on active service, there can also be certain persons or class of persons who though not in uniform, have in some way been attached with the military force subject to the issuance of the notification by the federal government under section 7 of the Army Act, the order further says. The intention behind treating a person on active service is to bring him within the fold of the provisions of the Army Act so that he could be dealt with accordingly, the court’s order held, adding, “Thus, section 7 of the Army Act is intended to achieve this limited purpose only.” A member of Musharraf’s legal team said that an appeal would be filed before the apex court against the order of the special court under Articles 14 and 25, highlighting exploitation and discrimination in this case. He said the court has yet to decide the issue of bias and rendered a far-reaching order against the accused. The trial is a classic example of discrimination because only a single person is being targeted, he said. The review petition will also seek relief from the apex court to transfer this case to an army court as when the accused committed this alleged offence he was a serving officer of the army. Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2014.

Mass exodus: Fearing operation, tribesmen take flight

MIRAMSHAH: Thousands of tribesmen have fled North Waziristan Agency since last month as fears of a military operation in the area grew after helicopter gunships pounded suspected hideouts of militants in Mirali and Miramshah subdivisions of the agency on January 21, tribesmen told The Express Tribune. Political Agent Siraj Ahmad Khan told journalists on Saturday that he had directed political administration officials to tell the tribesmen not to leave the agency as there was no fear of an operation. “A military operation is not imminent and there is no need for the tribesmen to flee,” Siraj claimed. Another political administration official said a large number of tribesmen have started migrating from Saidgi, Bangi Dar, Mada Khel, Kucha Mada Khel, Mezar and Manzar Khel areas of Ghulam Khan and Shawal Tehsils, while residents of Khushalai Tori Khel, Edak and Haider Khel have left from Mirali Tehsil and a large number of tribesmen have started to vacate homes in villages in the agency headquarters of Miramshah. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official confirmed that many residents as well as Afghan citizens living there for over two decades were trying to shift to Afghanistan. Jalal, an Afghan elder who has been living in Ghulam Khan Tehsil along with 50 other families for the last 30 years, said the families were trying to shift to Khost, Paktia and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan due to the deteriorating law and order situation. Another resident Gul Khan said that due to enmities and tribal feuds, he along with 25 families was trying to move to the Afghan provinces of Kunduz and Baghlan which are relatively safe. “All our business of non-custom paid vehicles has been destroyed,” he said, adding that he would not return. “No one will leave their land happily, but now as the operation is looming we cannot stay to die,” he added. In the mass exodus, passenger van driver Sultan Khan of Miramshah village said he was also shifting residents to Bannu. He said that people were fleeing along with their children and women, leaving behind a member of family to take care of valuables. He added that in the present situation, his rate for transportation has jumped from Rs150 per head to Rs300. The exact number of people evacuating could not be ascertained, as none of the officials were aware of the accurate figure. Political administration officials also declined to comment, as some remain in denial that there is a mass exodus taking place. However, local tribesmen told The Express Tribune nearly 50,000 tribesmen have fled the agency since last month. While some officials dismiss the evacuation as ‘routine’ and say that the tribesmen will return after a month, the vehicle stands at Miramshah Bazaar, Ghulam Khan Tehsil and Mirali Bazaar reveal a contrary situation. Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2014.

1 dead, 3 injured in mosque firing incident in Karachi

KARACHI: One person was killed and three critically injured when assailants opened fire inside a mosque in Aligarh Colony area of Orangi Town on Sunday afternoon, Express News reported. The incident occurred within the Pirabad police station jurisdiction. Residents of the area chased the attackers after the incident, capturing one. Police arrived at the scene and took him in custody. Later, a crowd gathered in front of the police station demanding that the assailant be handed over to the public for punishment. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for District West, Javed Alam Odho informed the media that a 9mm pistol was recovered from the culprit and he was under interrogation.

Blast in Kohat kills 9 people, injures 15 others

KOHAT: A blast in Kohat killed at least nine people and injured 15 others, Express News reported on Sunday. The blast took place in the Peshawar Chowk area near the Police Lines. According to the police, an explosive device was planted at the location. The wounded were taken to Liaquat Memorial Hospital. Two of them are in critical condition. Initial details revealed that at least 10 kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast. “So far we can confirm that five people have been killed and 12 others are injured,” district police chief Salim Khan Marwat stated earlier today. Another police official at the site said the bomb exploded near police and other government offices. Police have cordoned off the area after the incident. Rescue teams and the Bomb Disposal Squad reached the site of the blast.

Jet planes bomb hideouts in Tirah Valley killing 20 militants

PESHAWAR: Jet planes on Sunday bombed hideouts of insurgents in various areas of Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency killing 20 militants, Express News reported. According to security officials, weapons as well as a factory that made bombs were destroyed in the aerial bombing. “Terrorists hideouts were targeted through air strikes in Tirah valley in Khyber early morning on Sunday. IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) making factories and huge quantity of explosive material were destroyed,” said a senior security official in Islamabad. Another security official on the ground in Khyber told AFP that at least 18 militants were killed and two hideouts were destroyed. Local administration officials refused to comment, saying it was a matter for the military, and the tolls could not be independently verified as it is difficult for journalists to enter the area. On February 22, security forces had carried out shelling on militant hideouts in Thall sub-district of Hangu, killing at least nine insurgents. While on February 19, at least 30 suspected insurgents were killed and several others injured as military jets and gunships had bombed their hideouts in the North Waziristan and Khyber agencies.

Islamabad declared ‘extremely dangerous’ in Interior Ministry report

ISLAMABAD: A report prepared by the Interior Ministry has declared the capital city as ‘extremely dangerous’ due to the presence and functioning of banned outfits along with other factors, Geo News reported. According to the report, the capital city is at high risk and has become the sleeper cell of the banned organization members including Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Lashkar-e-Jahngvi (LeJ). The report further stated that arms and terrorists are making their way into the country through Eastern and Western borders which is why cross border terrorists are also conducting terror activities in Pakistan. Moreover, the report stated that Balochistan and Azad Kashmir are plagued by terrorism sponsored by the neighboring India. Banned outfits of TTP and LeJ are a real threat in Punjab while the target killers, Al-Qaeda and LeJ are targeting Sindh. The Interior Ministry report will be presented before the standing committee of National Assembly today.

Ghazni airstrike kills two Taliban leaders

GHAZNI: Two Taliban leaders were killed in a foreign airstrike in eastern Ghazni province early on Saturday, local officials said. The airstrike took place in the Andar district of the province in which two key Taliban leaders Wasiqullah and Mullah Bashir were killed, said Nazifullah Sultani, a commander of the army's 203rd Tandar corp. There were no civilian casualties in the strike, he said. Foreign troops have not yet commented about the airstrike yet. Three other Taliban insurgents were killed in Afghan forces operations in the district early on Saturday and three other were injured, Sultani said. The operation was conducted in the district to clear the insurgents, he said. There were no civilian casualties during the raid, he added. The Taliban have not yet commented about the operations.

Taliban condemn violence in C. African Republic

KABUL: The Afghan Taliban on Saturday called for an end to violence against Muslims in the Central African Republic, making a rare statement on conflicts outside their region that was soon echoed by al-Qaida´s North Africa branch. Central African Republic has been wracked by sectarian violence, with Christian fighters hunting down and killing Muslim civilians in recent weeks despite the presence of thousands of French and African peacekeepers. The violence has displaced tens of thousands of Muslims in what the United Nations human rights body has called "ethnic-religious cleansing. "In a statement released Saturday, the Taliban condemned the "merciless killings" of Muslims at the hands of "bloodthirsty militias" as the world sits "idly by. "It warned that the situation threatens the peaceful coexistence of Muslims and Christians throughout Africa and urged the international community — including the pope — to stop the bloodshed. The comments are "more than surprising," said Nader Nadery, director of the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit, a Kabul-based think tank. "It has been very rare where the Taliban would comment or show concern about any development internationally that has not been linked to their cause or to their ideology," he said. While the Taliban long have focused on their domestic conflict, Nadery said the "unusual" statement could be an effort to display Muslim solidarity or may be tied to increasing talk and demands to be recognized as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. "This is symbolically an attempt both to show they are mindful of what´s happening globally and caring about the Muslim world, and they are trying to portray themselves as a state," Nadery said .It could also suggest that the Taliban is trying to help rally international jihad, "more in line with how al-Qaida usually opines on matters from Syria to Iraq to elsewhere," said Michael O´Hanlon, an Afghan expert at The Brookings Institution, in an email. Shortly after the Taliban statement, al-Qaida´s North Africa branch also condemned the "ethnic and sectarian cleansing" in Central African Republic and blamed France, which has peacekeepers in the country, for "fomenting" the conflict.Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, has previously threatened French interests around the world because of France´s military intervention in Mali.

MQM rally today to express support for armed forces

KARACHI: The Muttahdia Qaumi Movement (MQM) is all set to stage a rally on Shahra-e-Qaideen today to express solidarity with the armed forces and promote unity among the nation so it can stand up to the Taliban militants. Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, a deputy convener of the party, said on Saturday the solidarity rally represented national unity which would guarantee Pakistan a bright future. “Our unity will put us onto the path of prosperity and will enable us to achieve our goals. Our situation demands tough decisions, unity and action. If we fail to act then it would prove disastrous to us and our coming generations,” he said while addressing a press conference at the Khursheed Memorial Secretariat. Siddiqui hoped the rally would prove a referendum against the Taliban and their supporters. He appealed to the Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, Parsis and members of other communities to participate in the rally in large numbers and show their hatred for the terrorists and support for the armed forces of Pakistan. “The solidarity rally will prove very good for the security and territorial integrity of Pakistan. It will be a milestone in the history of Pakistan. “I appeal to elders, young men, women, girls and kids, members of civil society, laborers and members of other walks of life to come out of their homes.” The MOM leader said: “It is a time for crucial decisions and actions. The religious extremism, which was allowed to go unchecked, has become a menace for us. Today terrorism has become an uncontrollable beast. It is destabilizing our country.” He added: “Quaid-e-Tehreek Altaf Hussain has always warned the nation about dangers and challenges faced by Pakistan. We condemn the brutal murders of FC personnel by Taliban terrorists. “This is the first step where people of Karachi will show their unity against terrorists and extremists. We will organise rallies in Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Quetta, Peshwar and other cities.”

WhatsApp? Service down, three days after Facebook deal

NEW YORK: WhatsApp´s 450 million worldwide users were unable to access the smartphone free-messaging service on Saturday, three days after Facebook declared it was lavishing up to $19 billion on it. "Sorry we currently experiencing server issues. We hope to be back up and recovered shortly," WhatsApp said in a message on Twitter that was retweeted more than 25,000 times in just a few hours and provoked ridicule because it comes so soon after Facebook´s hefty acquisition. Some WhatsApp users found they were unable to connect to the app, while others complained their messages were not going through. WhatsApp has not indicated how long the outage would last or when it began. However, the specialist website techcrunch.com suggested the problem might be down to "a surge of signups and usage that has overloaded its servers" after the publicity the app garnered after Facebook´s announcement on Wednesday. Facebook is betting huge on mobile with the eye-popping cash-and-stock deal for WhatsApp, which was only started five years ago but has quickly grown as a free alternative to text messages. It is Facebook´s biggest acquisition and comes less than two years after the California-based Internet star raised $16 billion in the richest tech sector public stock offering. Neither WhatsApp nor Facebook were immediately available for comment. However, the outage was the source of much amusement -- as well as anger -- on Twitter."I expect you are all away from your desks on the ales drinking some of that Facebook cash!" one user, "leonclarance," replied to WhatsApp´s tweet about the blackout. Another simply tweeted: "Turn down Facebook´s offer guys!"

3 cops among seven injured in Lahore firing

LAHORE: At least seven people including three policemen were injured when a gunman opened fire in Samanabad area of the city, Geo News reported. Police said that the gunman was arrested in injured condition. It was yet to be ascertained whether the police were targeted in the attack and as to how the attacker got injured. The injured were shifted to Ganga Ram and Services Hospitals for treatment.

Army ’copters pound Taliban hideouts in Hangu Nine militants killed; ceasefire announced by Bajaur’s Taliban al-Qaeda group

HANGU/KHAR: Nine militants were killed when army gunship helicopters targeted their hideouts in Thall tehsil of Hangu district on Saturday, official sources claimed. Two helicopter gunships flew from the Pakistan Air Force base in Kohat and pounded the suspected hideouts of militants in the Tora Waray area of Thall. The shelling started at 7am and continued till 9am during which the house of one Gul Nawaz, stated to be a commander of the TTP Orakzai Agency, was attacked. There were reports that Gul Nawaz, Arshad, Wali Zaman and six others, whose names could not be verified, were killed in the airstrikes. Some reports suggested that the slain militants included three commanders. However, there was no independent confirmation of this claim. Also, two women were injured when a shell hit a house in Darsamand village during the air raid. The injured women, identified as Bibi Sakina and Sultana Bibi, had to be hospitalised. Tora Waray is located near the border with the Orakzai tribal region where the TTP has its presence in the Upper Orakzai Agency. In Khar, a militant group calling itself the Taliban al-Qaeda Group in Bajaur Agency on Friday announced a ceasefire. Talking to reporters over the phone from an undisclosed location, the militant group head Yousaf Raza Mujahid said all the Taliban factions in Bajaur Agency had been communicated to observe a ceasefire till February 28. He said the Taliban were capable of fighting against the ‘anti-Islamic forces’ all over the world. However, he added that they wanted to observe a ceasefire for the time being. “We hereby announce a ceasefire and inform the large and small groups to follow the announcement till February 28,” he added. The caller, Yousaf Raza Mujahid, had phoned some reporters in Bajaur Agency on at least one occasion in the past. However, he now introduced himself as the head of the Taliban al-Qaeda group. It is unclear, though, as to how much support he enjoys among the Bajaur militants.

Time to come out of homes against terrorism, says Khalid Maqbool

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has appealed the people to participate in large numbers in the ‘Solidarity Rally’ at Shahra-e-Quaideen on Sunday. Talking to media here on Saturday, Dr Kahlid Maqbool, flanked by Aamir Khan, Nasreen Jalil, Aadil Siddiqui and other MQM leaders, said MQM would take out the rally to express solidarity with law enforcement agencies. The MQM leader said it was not the time to sit in homes but to come out against terrorism. Khalid Maqbool further said culture of lunacy was encouraged in Pakistan in the 80s, however, it has become a deep-rooted tree (very dangerous) now, adding it was very dangerous for all of us. At least 7000 army officers and personnel had been martyred in the terrorism in Pakistan, he said. The MQM leader was optimistic that Karachiites will stand up against terrorism on Sunday. MQM had announced to take out a rally to express solidarity with the Pakistan’s armed forces on Sunday. Addressing party workers via telephone, MQM chief Altaf Hussain said that the army and the people were united against terrorism. He urged the people to attend the rally in large numbers to make it a historic event and prove that they stood by the country’s armed force and other law enforcement agencies fighting the Taliban militants.

Taliban leadership makes contact with Prof. Ibrahim

PESHAWAR: Member Taliban committee, Professor Ibrahim says it seems the government and army have decided to launch an operation which will result in the death of thousands. In an exclusive interview to Geo News, Professor Ibrahim said an operation in the tribal areas will lead to a mass exodus. Professor Ibrahim added he had been contacted by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leadership and they still wanted result oriented dialogue with the government. According to the Professor Ibrahim, the government follows the constitution while Taliban follow Quran and Sunnah. He said contact with the government team was only through TV channels.

Three gunned down in Mardan

MARDAN: Unknown gunmen opened fire on a car, killing three people and injuring two others, Geo News reported on Sunday. Police said that the gunmen attacked the car at Chatu Chowk. They said that the dead and injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital. Identities of the deceased were yet to be ascertained.

Burewala: Newlyweds among eight killed in road accident

BUREWALA: Heart-rending wails replaced the wedding exultations in a Samandri house after eight close relatives including a couple of newlyweds died in a roadside accident here on Saturday evening, Geo News reported. The tragedy came to pass when a police bus crashed into a car on Chichawatni road. It was a head-on collision, which left the car totaled. According to details, a newly married couple along other members of bride's family was on its way from Samandri to Bureawala when the car met with the deadly accident. The deceased groom Arshad, a resident of Samandri, and his bride Parveen, who belonged to Burewala, were married a day earlier. "The couple was going to Burelawa following the common tradition of paying a visit to bride’s parents a day or two after marriage", a relative told Geo News. On the other hand, the police bus was transporting a contingent of off-duty cops back from a Tableeghi Markaz (Islamic preaching center), where they had been deployed for the security of a daylong Ijtimaa (congregation). The driver of the car, Parveen’s cousin brother, Jamil, his wife, his two sons (Farid, 7, Kamran 10), and niece Sana, 18, are among those who were fatally injured in the accident, whereas his 5-year-old daughter Farzana sustained serious injuries. All eyewitness accounts were unanimous that over-speeding caused the accident. According to DCO Vehari, the driver of the police personnel transport vehicle has been arrested.

FBR, TransAsia at odds: Row over Rs1.7b tax payment deepens

ISLAMABAD: A dispute between tax authorities and TransAsia Refinery Limited – an offshoot of Al-Ghurair Group – has deepened over payment of Rs1.7 billion after company officials met Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, apparently requesting him to influence the outcome of the case. The company’s move to seek political solution to a business problem has annoyed the tax authorities, according to sources in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) headquarters. Responding to queries sent by The Express Tribune, Sameera Fernandes, Group Corporate Communications Manager of Al-Ghurair Investment Limited, neither denied nor confirmed the meeting with Dar. “As an active foreign investor, we had several meetings with different officials in Pakistan and we regularly plan to meet all related stakeholders who are relevant to our business and investment in the country,” she responded. Rana Assad Amin, spokesman for the Ministry of Finance, said the finance minister would never direct the FBR to extend unlawful relief to any business entity. But he also did not confirm the meeting. The Al-Ghurair Group of UAE had in 2005 incorporated TransAsia International (TRL) to set up a refinery at Port Qasim, Karachi with production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day. TRL entered into an agreement with its sister organisation, Al-Ghurair Invesmtent, for the import of a second-hand plant from Italy. TRL’s 75% shares are held by TransAsia International Dubai, which is a subsidiary of the Al-Ghurair Group. “After a lapse of six years, not a single brick has been erected at the project site,” said FBR documents. Tax authorities came to know about the affairs of the company after the FBR’s Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation started probing the matter. The documents revealed that the company imported obsolete plant and equipment and evaded Rs1.4 billion in sales tax at import stage by illegally claiming exemption under a Statutory Regulatory Order, which is meant to support industrialisation in the country. According to the documents, two key conditions set to take benefit of the SRO are that plant and machinery imported by the unit should be used for setting up an industrial unit and also the importer should submit a complete list of goods to be imported at first partial shipment. The FBR said TRL did not fulfill both the conditions and was liable to pay Rs1.4 billion in taxes along with penalties. The case is pending in the Karachi tribunal. The FBR also demanded Rs400 million on account of withholding tax that the company had to deduct including Rs289 million from mobilisation advance that TRL paid to Al-Ghurair Investment. But the company has challenged the tax authorities, saying the claim of Rs1.34 billion sales tax evasion was “inaccurate”. “We have invested more than $170 million so far and are going to invest even more to complete this project and after investing all this why would we risk breaking the rules,” wrote Sameera Fernandes. However, the FBR refutes the investment claim. In its income tax returns, the company showed Rs16 billion worth of work in progress but on the ground not a single brick had been placed, it said. Fernandes said according to applicable laws, the company was exempted from sales tax at import stage. But the FBR’s findings suggest that the company evaded taxes in the name of bringing foreign investment. In its written response, the company could not give the reasons that delayed the installation of the plant. Fernandes stated the plant was imported by the end of 2011 and currently, the company was in the process of awarding contracts to install the refinery. The FBR claimed that the company imported a plant that would complete its life in 2016. But Fernandes said according to Bureau Veritas – a world leader in testing, inspection and certification – the refinery has over 10 years of life from the date of starting operations. “Moreover, in July 2013, we arranged yet another third-party inspection for internal parts of the refinery and the results were positive.” Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2014.

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