PHOTOS: Communal clash breaks out in Hyderabad, 4 die in police firing, prohibitory orders enforced

Hyderabad: Four persons were killed on Wednesday at Sikh Chowni in Kishanbhag area of Bahadurpura after communal clashes broke out over alleged burning of a religious flag leading police to open fire to quell the mob. The incident took place after a religious flag of Sikhs was set ablaze on Tuesday night. City Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma told reporters, "There was an incident of rioting between two groups and right now, the situation is totally under control. We are ensuring that it does not have any other and further repercussions," he said. "We are ensuring that there is peace and tranquillity in the city. Patrolling vehicles are on the move to maintain law and order. We will ensure that no (such) further incidents take place," he said. Two persons lost their lives and at least seven people, besides a few police personnel, were injured in the incidents. But it was not immediately clear whether the two persons were killed in police firing following the clashes in the old city area. "At least two are dead in the incidents. We are awaiting the autopsy report (to know whether they are killed in firing or in clashes)...but there has been police firing, there is no doubt about that," said Andhra Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) V S K Kaumudi. Large number of security forces have been deployed, including three companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF), two companies of Andhra Pradesh Special Police, in addition to city police personnel, in the troubled areas, Kaumudi said. Although the police confirmed two death, locals alleged four persons were gunned down by the cops. Tension gripped parts of old city here following clashes between the two communities following which additional forces were rushed there. The police have enforced prohibitory orders in the troubled areas. Some members of the two communities allegedly indulged in pelting each other with stones and also attacked vehicles and houses. There were also reports of arson. State Governor E S L Narasimhan reviewed the law and order situation at a meeting with senior police officials.

US for ‘determined’ counter-terrorism effort by Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The United States has laid stress on ‘determined’ counter-terrorism efforts by Pakistan. A statement issued by the US embassy on Tuesday on the visit of US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert said: “Pakistan’s determined effort to root out terrorism and militancy on its own territory is essential for creating a stable environment for promoting economic growth and prosperity.” The statement was, however, not directly attributed to Admiral Greenert, who during his stay in Pakistan met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Asif Sandila and other senior military officials. The embassy said Admiral Greenert’s discussions focused “on a wide range of common security issues”. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns had during his visit to Islamabad last week said: “Countering cross-border militancy and shutting down safe havens is critical not only for Pakistan’s long-term peace and prosperity but also for positive relations between Pakistan and all its neighbours, including Afghanistan.” The back-to-back statements indicate growing US pressure on Pakistan in the midst of drawdown of coalition troops from Afghanistan to act against terror sanctuaries in tribal areas from where militants allegedly launch strikes inside Afghanistan. The Pakistan government has failingly tried to engage the local militants in dialogue in an effort to end violence in the country. Although international community had long accused Pakistan of not doing enough to eliminate terror sanctuaries of foreign militants on its soil, action against militants of all shades remains suspended pending the final outcome of government’s peace initiative launched early this year except for brief strikes for increasing pressure on militants to negotiate. US officials, speaking privately, say that suspension of drone attacks on Pakistan government’s insistence had provided space to militants to regroup. The embassy recalled that since 2002 Pakistan had received more than $16 billion of security assistance and reimbursements. During his meetings Admiral Greenert reaffirmed the importance of Pak-US security relationship for regional stability and agreed to continue to work together in order to build a stronger partnership and further common objectives. The PM Office said the senior US navy officer discussed matters pertaining to regional and bilateral interests with Prime Minister Sharif. Meanwhile, a PAF spokesman said Admiral Greenert talked about regional security issues and other areas of cooperation in his meeting with Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt at the Air Force headquarters. Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2014.

PM approves interest-free loan scheme

ISLAMABAD: The federal government will disburse Rs3.5 billion under an interest-free loan scheme. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved the scheme during a meeting held here on Tuesday. One million applicants — 50 per cent of them women from across the country — will be able to get loans under the scheme. “I am convinced that if our youth are given proper guidance and financial support through micro credit schemes and better access to innovative technology, they can play their positive role in development of the country,” an official press statement quoted the prime minister as saying during the meeting. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chairperson of Prime Minister Youth Scheme (PMYS) Maryam Nawaz, Secretary Finance Dr Waqar Masood and other senior government officials attended the meeting. The prime minister said micro finance schemes were the catalysts for political and economic development while micro credit was an instrument of change for the poor segment of the society, especially women. Spokesperson for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Dr Shireen Mazari, on the other hand, has termed the government’s decision as a gimmick. The scheme, according to her, is not going to solve the real problems of poor people, such as inflation, loadshedding of electricity and unemployment. “This is the time the government should stop gimmickry and seriously tackle basic issues confronting the country,” she added. Maryam Nawaz, during the meeting, said that the money would be distributed through Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund. Under the scheme each beneficiary would receive up to Rs50,000. To facilitate applicants, adequate loan and business support centres would be formed, she added. She briefed the meeting on progress of other programmes of the PMYS. She said training of selected youth in the PM youth skill development programme was initiated on May 12. In total 25,000 youth, of the lesser developed areas from all over the country, would be imparted training in 100 disciplines under the programme at a cost of Rs800 million. The allocation of seats is according to the population in the federating units, based on the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. The basic aim of the scheme is to train youth in different vocation in order to make them self sufficient. Similarly, under the PM fee disbursement scheme approximately 33,000 eligible students of M. Phil and PhD from 59 districts will avail provision of tuition fee and other education charges. The meeting was also informed that the company which had been given the contract to provide laptops had agreed to assemble 10,000 laptops in Pakistan. Therefore, from next year 100 per cent laptops which the government has planned to distribute among students will be assembled in Pakistan. The company will establish E-education rooms in two universities of the country where 14 software will be installed free of cost. The distribution of laptops will start in June with first tranche of 10,000 laptops. The company will also offer internship to selected students.

Lyari gangster Baba Ladla killed in Iran

QUETTA: Noor Muhammad alias Baba Ladla, a wanted gangster of Karachi’s Lyari area, was killed by Iranian border guards on Tuesday. According to reports reaching here, he was killed along with his two Iranian friends at a border crossing point near Iranian city of Chahbahar when he was crossing the border. Sources said that Iranian border guards intercepted Baba Ladla and asked him to surrender. When he refused to do so, the guards opened fire, killing him on the spot. Pakistani border authorities have received information about the killing of Baba Ladla, according to an official. Another unconfirmed report said that Baba Ladla had been killed by his rival Amjad Koi in Konark area of Iran. Our staff reporter from Karachi adds: The police authorities in Karachi were not sure about the killing of Baba Ladla but claimed to have made preparations to deal with any backlash in his Lyari stronghold. “It’s not confirmed yet. We are in touch with the police authorities and other departments in Balochistan to confirm the report about his killing,” said SP City Shiraz Nazeer. “Meanwhile, we have strengthened security in the sensitive area of Lyari. “Our message is loud and clear: zero tolerance for any violence. If criminals try to create a law and order situation on the pretext of mourning or protest, police will move into Lyari,” the SP said. Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2014.

NTDC announces end to loadshedding

ISLAMABAD: The power sector is setting new records as it has started receiving more than 30,000 tons of furnace oil a day following Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s directive last week for reducing the duration of loadshedding. As a consequence, the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) announced on Tuesday that it had ended loadshedding across the country after the temperature declined because of widespread rains. “There was no loadshedding anywhere in the country on Tuesday as the maximum demand was met,” an official said. He said the total demand stood at 11,100MW at 8pm (peak demand time) which was fully met. The demand went down from 17,000MW to 12,000MW because of a sudden drop in temperature over the past few days. Independent power producers (IPPs) contributed about 5,920MW to the national grid, thermal power plants 1,500MW and hydropower resources 3,680MW. Officials said a surprise visit by acting water and power secretary Saifullah Chattha to the Indus River System Authority last week also helped increase water discharges from water reservoirs, taking hydropower generation from 2,668MW last week to 3,680MW on Tuesday. The power sector received a maximum of 35,980 tons of furnace oil on Tuesday. An official in the NTDC said it was the highest fuel supply to the power sector in more than four years and followed Rs20 billion disbursement to the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) whose receivables were still in excess of Rs150bn. On Monday, the power sector received about 29,061 tons of fuel and power shortfall stood at 769MW, resulting in less than two hours of loadshedding. On Saturday, it received 32,000 tons of furnace and power shortage stood at 1,000MW. The sector got 32,161 tons last Friday. Thermal power stations in public and private sectors require a maximum of 36,000 tons of furnace to run all plants on full capacity. However, the power sector had been receiving less than 24,000 tons of fuel over the past four years because of liquidity problems. In some cases, PSO provided less than 3,000 tons of fuel per day to the sector. A power sector official said the sector was also getting 173 million cubic feet per day of additional gas following the prime minister’s orders, resulting in additional generation of about 800MW. This included 55mmcfd to Kapco, 28mmcfd to Kotri, 52mmcfd to Guddu and Faisalabad plants and 38mmcfd to Halmore. Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2014.

Govt plans new taxes in next budget

ISLAMABAD: The government is set to introduce new taxes in the upcoming budget, in addition to Rs80 billion it hopes to collect this fiscal year by withdrawing tax exemptions. “We have to levy taxes for higher revenue collection in 2014-15,” Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Afzal Bajwa told reporters on Tuesday after briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Finance on the performance of tax machinery. The statement is in contrast to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s pledge last week that the budget 2014-15 will not bring new taxes. In its first budget, the PML-N government introduced more than Rs200bn taxes. Bajwa said total exemptions given through SROs are Rs480bn. Of these, only Rs240bn can be withdrawn which are believed to be benefiting the elite, he said. The decision will be finalised in a committee meeting to be held in a week. A senior tax official told Dawn that it depends on the government to withdraw all exemptions in this budget or spread it over a period of three years. “Next year’s budget will have two major tax components — withdrawal of exemptions and introduction of new taxes.” FBR’s chairman said the total cost of tax exemptions is two per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). Of these, 0.9pc or 1pc can be withdrawn as recommended by the committee. He said the government would have to introduce new taxes as revenue collection could not grow without them. On the pattern of last year’s seven new withholding taxes, the FBR is planning similar measures to collect easy money from the people. Bajwa hinted that the coming budget will introduce a string of revenue measures to raise the cost of doing business for those people who are not on the tax net. “We will introduce higher rates of taxes for the non-taxpayers,” the chairman said. For example, the tax rate will be high for those who consume gas bill of around Rs15,000 a month, but do not exist on the tax roll. The government projected the budget deficit to fall to 4.8pc in 2014-15 from current year’s 6.3pc, for which it will either have to increase revenue or reduce expenditure. But FBR’s chairman said growth in economy and inflation is insufficient to ensure enough growth in revenue, suggesting that new revenue measures are inevitable. The tax base of Pakistan is lowest in the region. The government has issued more than 91,000 notices to potential taxpayers during this fiscal year. Of these, only 8,600 have voluntarily filed their tax returns. These people have deposited only Rs50 million in revenue. But an FBR official said that notices were issued to over 12,000 people involving a tax amount of Rs4.1bn. Former finance minister Saleem Mandviwalla criticised tax officials for the poor outcome of the drive to increase tax collection. He said the previous government introduced a tax reform bill which was lying with the parliament for the last nine months. “If you want to increase the tax base, re-introduce the bill in the parliament.” The chairman admitted that a revenue shortfall of around Rs70bn will be witnessed in the last quarter of this fiscal year. He said overall shortfall in revenue collection from the budgetary projected target will be Rs170bn this year. Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2014.

Seminary head among four held in rape case

MANSEHRA: Police claimed to have arrested four persons including head of a religious seminary for their involvement in assaulting a girl student. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, DSP Zulfiqar Khan Jadoon said that they arrested four persons including head of a seminary and a girl, who deceived the victim and helped the suspects to assault her. He said that the victim had gone to appear in intermediate examination at a local college but her friend, also a student, took her to a car telling her that the driver was her relative and would drop them at their residences. Instead of dropping them, the car driver accompanied by his friends including head of a seminary took them to Qalanderabad, the official said. He said that the two persons raped the student in moving the car. The suspects, according to sources, also made her footage through cameras installed in the vehicle and threatened her to upload it on social media if she spoke against them. Mr Jadoon said that the suspects dropped the victim and the other girl, stated to be a member of their gang, at Gazikot Township. The local people took the victim to police station as she was crying. “The medical checkup has confirmed rape with the victim girl and further investigations are in progress,” he said. The official said that it was a challenge for them to trace the suspects as the friend of the victim was pretending that she didn’t know them. However, later she revealed that the main suspect, the head of the seminary, sent her a text message to meet him, he added. Mr Jadoon said that after getting complete data, police raided at various places but not to avail. He said that the so-called seminary in Darmian locality was raided but the suspect had already fled the area. “We came to know that he was fleeing through infrequent route via Haripur in the car used in the crime. We also got support of Haripur police and arrested him near Haripur,” said Mr Jadoon. The official said that two other suspects were also were also arrested from Darmian area. He said that according to preliminary investigation the gang had also played with honour of several girls and used to blackmail them after making their videos. Mr Jadoon said that the main suspect, whose vehicle was also used in the incident, was involved in crimes in the garb of running the seminary. He said that the suspect introduced himself as a jeweller and owner of a jewellery shop, which didn’t exist. He said that police were also investigating the matter to provide justice to the girls, who had fallen victims to the gang and remained tightlipped because of fear of being disgraced in public. The suspects admitted to their crimes before journalists.

Estate agent killed in ‘sectarian’ attack

KARACHI: An estate agent was shot dead in Federal B Area, Block-16, on Tuesday evening, police said. Aun Mohammed Naqvi, 35, was sitting at the estate agency near his home in Abdullah Square when gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fired on him and sped away, said an official at the Yusuf Plaza police station. He added that the victim sustained bullet wounds and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Azizabad DSP Saleem Akhter Siddiqi said the murder might be related to estate-related activities. However, a spokesperson for the Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen said the victim was Shia and it was a targeted attack on sectarian grounds. Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2014.

Man held for killing three ‘homosexuals’

GUJRAT: Police have arrested a ‘serial killer’ who confessed to have killed three men separately for having homosexual tendencies, after luring them into relationship. District Police Officer Rai Ijaz Ahmed told reporters at a news conference here on Tuesday that a prayer leader had been gunned down at Chak Kamala village in Tanda police precincts around 15 months ago. He said police had been probing into the killing mainly from sectarian angle as the slain man belonged to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Similarly, he said, in February 2014, another man was also found shot dead at his house in Farooqabad locality of Jalalpur Jattan and in May 2014, a trader of the same town was gunned down at his shop. The DPO said solving these murder cases had become a challenge for police. He said the police found some commonalities in the three murders like all of the victims were shot in their privates and suspected they were committed by a single killer. Meanwhile, he said, a suspect, Abdul Rehman (22), a resident of Chak Kamala, was traced through a cell phone taken away during the killing of the trader and then sold. The suspect had been in jail allegedly after killing his cousin. He was later released following reconciliation with the family of the deceased. The DPO said the suspect was arrested near Gujrat district courts by Sadar DSP Raja Sadaqat and Jalalpur Jattan city SHO Iftikhar Tarrar a few days ago. He said Rehman in his confessional statement said he hated homosexuals and that he would develop relations with men having such tendency and then kill them. The DPO said such criminals were often victims of social injustice, illiteracy and poverty and had serious flaws in their upbringing. The Gujrat police also claimed to have solved the murder case of a married woman whose husband lived abroad. The woman was apparently killed during a house robbery in Maqboolabad area in Lorry Adda police precincts around two months ago. The DPO said according to police investigation, the brother of the slain woman’s husband turned out to be her killer. He said suspect Samran Naeem along with his three accomplices -- Salman Ijaz, Vicky and Rizwan -- allegedly killed his sister-in-law when she recognised him during the house robbery. The suspect had also looted cash, gold ornaments and other valuables from the house. Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2014.

Turkey coal mine explosion kills 166, traps hundred others

SOMA: At least 166 people were killed and hundreds more trapped underground after an explosion and fire in a coal mine in western Turkey, the government said Wednesday, warning that rescue efforts faced a race against time. The latest toll, expected to rise further, came as rescue operations continued overnight following Tuesday's disaster when a total of 787 mineworkers were trapped. Hundreds of people remain trapped underground and 80 of those already rescued were injured, said Energy Minister Taner Yildiz. “Time isn't in our favour,” he said, warning that the toll was set to rise. A security source told AFP that there were pockets in the mine, one of which was open so rescuers were able to reach the workers, but the second was blocked with workers trapped inside. The explosion was believed to have been triggered by a faulty electrical transformer at around 1230 GMT. Hundreds of people gathered around the explosion site as rescuers brought out injured workers, who were coughing and struggling to breathe due to the dust. Sena Isbiler, a mother of one of the miners, stood on top of piles of wood, craning her neck to see who was being led out of the mine. “I have been waiting for my son since early afternoon,” she told AFP. “I haven't heard anything about him yet.”Fire officials were trying to pump clean air into the mine shaft for those who remained trapped some two kilometres (one mile) below the surface and four kilometres from the entrance. Late in the evening injured people were still emerging from the collapsed mine -- some walking, others being carried by rescue workers while being given oxygen. Nearby, security officers tried to keep ambulance routes clear to ensure aid could reach the victims. The mining company Soma Komur issued a statement calling the mine collapse a “tragic accident”. “Unfortunately, some of our workers have lost their lives in this tragic accident,” the statement said. “The accident happened despite maximum safety measures and inspections, but we have been able to take prompt action,” it added. Time isn't in our favour Turkey's ministry of labour and social security said the mine was last inspected on March 17 and was found to be compliant with safety regulations. But Oktay Berrin, a miner, said workers were not protected underground. “There is no security in this mine,” he told AFP. “The unions are just puppets and our management only cares about money.” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office said he would arrive in Soma on Wednesday after cancelling a trip to Albania. Speaking in Ankara, the leader expressed his “heartfelt condolences” to the families of those who died. “Some of the workers have been rescued and I hope we will be able to rescue the others,” Erdogan said. Energy Minister Yildiz told journalists in Soma that a team of 400 people where involved in the rescue effort and that the main cause of the deaths was carbon monoxide and dioxide poisoning. “Time isn't working in our favour. We need to get them out. We could be in a troubled situation,” he said, adding rescuers would work through the night. The miners are all thought to have gas masks, but it was not clear how long they would last. Vedat Didari, a professor of mining, told AFP that the biggest risk was the lack of oxygen. “If the ceiling fans are not working, the workers could die within an hour,” said Didari, from the Bulent Ecevit University in the city of Zonguldak. Explosions and cave-ins are common in Turkey, particularly in private mines where safety regulations are often flouted. Turkey's worst mining accident happened in 1992 when 263 workers were killed in a gas explosion in a mine in Zonguldak. Soma is one of the key centres for lignite coal mining in Turkey, a district with a population of around 100,000 where the mines and a lignite-fired thermal power plant are the main economic activity.

Drone kills ten suspected militants on Pak-Afghan border

PESHAWAR: At least ten suspected militants were reportedly killed and 14 others were injured on Wednesday during a US drone strike at the Pak-Afghan border, official sources claimed. According to sources, some vehicles of the militants have also been destroyed in the attack. Sources further said, US drones fired three missiles on a militant’s compound and on some vehicles of the militant group. Media persons and journalists, having been barred, have no access to the area and the death-toll could not be independently verified. Government sources could not ascertain the exact location of the attack. The last drone attack occurred in the last week of December, 2013, killing three suspected insurgents. Reports in the US media have suggested the drone strikes had been temporarily halted since then to provide the Pakistani government a chance to have talks with Taliban aimed at ending their seven-year insurgency.

PM arrives in Karachi to review operation

KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Karachi on Wednesday to review the ongoing operation in the city against terrorists and criminals and also chaired a high-level meeting in this regard at the Governor House, DawnNews reported. During the meeting, premier Sharif received a briefing over the progress of the Karachi operation being carried out. The meeting was also attended by members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), former president Asif Ali Zardari, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief Lt Gen Zaheer ul Islam. Prior to the meeting, Sharif also held separate meetings with Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif. Earlier on his arrival at the Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, prime minister Sharif was received by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah and a large number of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) supporters and local office bearers.

Militant attack on Nato supply terminal in Jamrud foiled

PESHAWAR: Pakistani troops on Wednesday foiled an attack on a Nato supply terminal in the northwest, killing one attacker and forcing others to flee, officials said. The attack was mounted in the Jamrud area of the Khyber tribal region that borders Afghanistan, said government official Ali Sher. “The militants started firing on the terminal and tried to enter it,” Sher said, adding that the attack involved up to 12 people armed with automatic weapons and mortars. “The Frontier Corps retaliated and forced the militants to flee, leaving one dead body behind.”An intelligence official in Jamrud confirmed the attack. Pakistan is a key supply route for the US-led mission in landlocked Afghanistan, particularly as Nato forces prepare to withdraw troops and equipment by the end of this year. Nato supply trucks, which carry everything from fuel to munitions and food, often come under attack on their journey between the Pakistani port city of Karachi and border crossing points. Pakistani supply lines have been disrupted in the past because of tensions between the US and Pakistan. They were closed for nine months between November 2011 and July 2012 following a “friendly fire” incident in which coalition forces killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in an air strike.

Indian journalists told in writing to leave Pakistan within a week

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has told both Indian journalists stationed in Islamabad that they must leave within a week, the journalists told Reuters on Wednesday, saying they had been informed that their visas would not be renewed. Late on Tuesday night, Snehesh Alex Philip of The Press Trust of India and Meena Menon of The Hindu received letters telling them that their visas would not be renewed. No reason was given. Both had been in Pakistan for less than a year. Their visas were valid until March 9, 2014 and both had submitted applications to renew their visas before the expiration date, according to people familiar with the matter. After their original visas expired, they were issued letters stating that their visa renewals were being processed, as is standard practice for foreign journalists in Pakistan. Later they were told to start making preparations to leave within a week. Last year, the government expelled a reporter from The New York Times.

Jonathan Yeo donates Malala portrait for auction

NEW YORK: A portrait of Malala Yousufzai, a young Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban for campaigning for girls' education, is being sold by its British artist to help further her cause. Jonathan Yeo, a leading British portraitist, painted Malala Yousafzai in 2013 shortly after she started attending a school in Birmingham, England, where she now lives. The painting hung in the National Portrait Gallery in London last year for an exhibition of Yeo's portraits of well-known figures including Sienna Miller, Kevin Spacey and Rupert Murdoch. Christie's auction house is offering the Malala portrait, which shows the teenager doing her homework, on Wednesday. It has a presale estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. Yeo said he will donate all the proceeds to The Malala Fund. ''I hope it goes to a good home. Anyone who will hopefully spend a good bit of money on it is someone who sees the importance of her own work,'' the artist said. Malala was 15 when she was shot in 2012 as she traveled to her Pakistani school. President Barack Obama has called her the ''bravest girl in the world.'' In an interview last week, Yeo said he wanted the portrait to capture ''this extraordinary dichotomy'' of someone with ''enormous power and wisdom'' but also someone who is still very young. ''Her birth instinct isn't self-pity but rather what else she could do to help other girls in her position,'' Yeo added. He said he spent ''a lot of time chatting'' with her and ''hearing her world views and what her life is like'' before sitting down to paint her. Yeo depicted her doing homework to reflect the irony that ''the simple everyday thing she's doing was what created the cataclysmic change in her life that nearly killed her,'' he said. When the portrait was finished Yeo said Malala told him ''it's how she sees herself.'' Yeo is famous for his life-like portraits of well-known figures. His works are also in the Royal Collection.

Resolution passed in NA to extend PPO for 120 days

ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday passed a resolution in the National Assembly to extend the Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO) for further 120 days whereas opposition party members and members of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) protested against the government's move and staged a walk-out from the Lower House of Parliament, DawnNews reported. Opposition leader Khurshid Shah, belonging to the Pakistan People Party (PPP), also protested against the resolution. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) Shah Mehmood Qureshi terming the bill as a 'black law' said that it had been rejected by the nation. MNA Abdul Rashid Godil, belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), said that the government could not be supported in killing the country's citizens. Moreover, MNAs belonging to the JUI-F also staged a walk-out saying that instead of extending the PPO the bill should have been jointly legislated. The Protection of Pakistan Ordinance (PPO) bill promulgated in October last year grants sweeping powers of arrest and detention to police and security agencies. Opposition members had claimed that the bill was a move by the government to legitimise enforced disappearances in the country. The ordinance bill was approved by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior on Jan 21 this year. On April 7, the Protection of Pakistan Bill was approved in the National Assembly, amid much uproar and protests.

Pakistan among countries where torture is rife: Amnesty

ISLAMABAD: Amnesty International has said in a report that torture is rife across the Asia-Pacific region, with China and North Korea among worst-affected countries. The report, Torture in 2014: 30 Years of Broken Promises, was released on Tuesday. It provides an overview of the use of torture in the world today. The report says that torture is used to force confessions or to silence activists in countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. It is used to extort money in places such as Myanmar and Nepal, where poor and marginalised people are unable to bribe their way out of being tortured. Amnesty has launched a two-year global campaign titled ‘Stop Torture’. It says that in a number of Asia-Pacific countries the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is routine — and accepted by many as a legitimate response to high levels of crime. The vast majority of people in Asia-Pacific believe that there should be clear laws against torture, but in China and India almost three quarters of respondents (74 per cent) felt torture was sometimes necessary — the highest numbers in any of the countries polled. In Indonesia, Pakistan and South Korea the majority of respondents feared they could be tortured if taken into custody. The report says that torture in Pakistan is frequently practiced by police, intelligence services and the army, particularly in conflict-ridden tribal areas and Balochistan. Amnesty has received reports of torture used on human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists among others. In 2014, 30 years after the UN adopted the 1984 Convention Against Torture — which commits all governments to combating the abuse — Amnesty observed that in at least 23 Asia-Pacific countries torture or ill-treatment is still rife. Given the secretive nature of the abuse, the true number is likely to be higher. “Torture is a fact of life in countries across Asia. The problem isn’t limited to a few rogue states, but is endemic throughout the region,” said Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director Richard Bennett. “Asian countries must stop paying lip service to their commitment to end torture. Signing up to the international treaties is important but not enough. It must be backed up with concrete action.” Very few countries in Asia-Pacific, however, had put in place effective mechanisms to prevent the use of torture and others were failing to implement the mechanisms properly, he said. “The shocking fact that so many people fear torture — in some countries the majority of those polled — should spur authorities across Asia-Pacific into meaningful action by taking concrete steps to eradicate this horrific human rights violation,” said Richard Bennett Measures such as the criminalisation of torture in national legislation, opening detention centres to independent monitors, and video recording interrogations have all led to a decrease in the use of torture in those countries taking their commitments under the Convention Against Torture seriously. Amnesty has called upon governments in Asia-Pacific to put in place protective mechanisms to prevent and punish torture, such as impartial medical examinations, prompt access to lawyers and courts, independent checks on places of detention, effective investigations of torture allegations, the prosecution of suspects and proper redress for victims.

Veena offers to donate kidney to Edhi

KARACHI: Renowned actor Veena Malik offered to donate her kidney to internationally recognised social worker and philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi on Wednesday, DawnNews reported. Malik made the offer during a visit to the social worker’s residence today. The offer was, however, politely declined by Edhi. The actor also prayed for the early recovery of the social worker. Following the meeting, Malik said that Edhi was the country’s national hero, adding that she found spiritual peace after meeting the philanthropist. She also said that she would like to serve the country’s poor people like him. The actor said love and respect for Edhi could not be expressed in words and added that the entire world recognised his services to humanity. Malik and her husband Asad Khattak also visited the Edhi Child Home where she spent time with the children there. The controversial actor, known to make headlines, returned to Pakistan on April 30 declaring she had "matured".

PTI, PML-Q join hands for 'electoral reforms'

LAHORE: During a meeting between the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) delegation and members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) on Wednesday, the two sides agreed on a joint course of action for electoral reforms, DawnNews reported. The meeting was held at the residence of PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. The PTI delegation comprised of Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, President Javed Hashmi and General Secretary Jehangir Tareen. Whereas Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Mushahid Hussain and Kamil Ali Agha represented the PML-Q. The meeting comes at a time when the PML-Q and the PTI have are planning to form a grand opposition alliance against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. Earlier, Shujaat had also announced the PML-Q's support for the protest of the PTI against the alleged election rigging on May 11. He had said that after the May election last year, the PTI had been raising a voice against rigging in election, adding that even after a passage of one year, the election tribunals were unable to decide the election petitions of candidates. Later, speaking to media representatives, Shujaat said those who had won in the election were also saying that the polls had been rigged. He added that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should step down voluntarily. Meanwhile, Qureshi said the PTI had presented its viewpoint to the PML-Q leadership over rigging in the May 11 election, adding that the latter completely agreed with its stance. He said the existing electoral laws needed to be reformed. Timing of PTI protest The timing of the PTI’s anti-rigging drive a year after the elections were held has left most guessing about Imran Khan’s real objectives behind his decision at a time when Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) also plans to simultaneously launch its protest campaign across several major cities against the ‘stolen public mandate’ and when the government’s relations with the military are believed to be not the most cordial. There’s also no dearth of people who see a hidden agenda supported by forces ‘averse to seeing democratic rule flourish’ in the country behind the decision of the two parties to start protests. Some analysts argue that it is but natural for people in these circumstances to have suspicions about the intentions of the PTI and suspect it of supporting the agenda of forces not known for their love for civilian rule.

5 amazing facts we bet you don't know about your nose!

The job of your nose is not only curtailed to breathing and smelling. John Clinger, M.D., an ear, nose and throat surgeon at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has revealed 5 really cool facts about a person’s nose. We bring to you five interesting facts about your nose. Read to know more. -Your nose produces mucus to protect your lungs from viruses, bacteria and particles in the air. -Your nose produces almost a liter of mucus daily that is swallowed. -The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the cheeks, the forehead, between the eyes and back part of the nose. -80 percent people think it that is their sense of taste which is really their sense of smell. -When a person is sick, their mucus production can increase to two liters a day and may affect their appetite

Man sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for raping 13-year-old step daughter

New Delhi: A Delhi Court on Monday sentenced a man to 10 years of imprisonment for raping his minor step daughter continuously and getting her pregnant. The 33-year-old man who hails from Bihar was arrested by the police on charges of raping his 13-year-old minor daughter. Additional Sessions Judge Rajneesh Kumar Gupta gave his decision after the medical reports clarified that the DNA sample of the aborted foetus and that of the man was a match. The reports made it clear that the man was physically involved with his own daughter and made her pregnant. The court denied being lenient towards the case and sentenced the man to 10 years of imprisonment along with the fine of Rs. 2000. The judge stated 'Keeping in view the testimony of the victim which is reliable and inspires confidence and is also corroborated by her statement (recorded by the police) and by the DNA result, I am of the opinion that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused that on August 16, 2011 at Uttam Nagar in Delhi, he wrongfully confined the girl and threatened her with threat to her life and committed rape on the girl and also thereafter.' According to the prosecution, on August 16, 2011, when the girl returned home from school and went to her room to change clothes, the man entered the room and raped her. When she resisted and started screaming, he gagged her mouth and threatened to kill her, if she disclosed the act to anyone, it said. The man continued to rape her daily for the next three-four months due to which she became pregnant. She then disclosed the incident to her maternal grandmother who informed the girl's mother about it. The girl's mother lodged a complaint against her husband and after the minor's medical examination, the pregnancy was terminated. During the trial, the man claimed innocence saying the girl's mother had implicated him in a false case to extort money from him. At the time of sentencing, the convict pleaded for mercy submitting that he was in judicial custody since December 2011 and has no past criminal record.

Woman arrested for trying to smuggle gold worth R 25 lakh by hiding it in undergarments

New Delhi: The custom officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi arrested a woman for trying to smuggle gold. The woman has hid the gold bars in her undergarments. The custom commissioner Neeta Butalia said that the woman reached terminal-3 from Dubai by flight SG-19 of Spice Jet Airlines. As the woman was passing through the green channel without any declaration, the custom officials stopped her for frisking. In the meanwhile at least 975 gram of gold which is worth Rs. 25 lakh in Indian market was recovered from her.The custom officials have arrested her after filing a case against her under section 104 of Custom Act.

ELECTION SPECIAL: Most controversial statements that shamed Indian democracy

The biggest election fest in the world is in its business end. And no wonder the whole world is watching with rapt attention, after all it's the elections of the largest democracy in the world. The voting is over and soon we will have a winner. The elections of 2014 by and large have been successfully conducted, restricting violent outbreaks, bribing and booth capturing incidents to the bare minimum. Certainly, a job well done by the Election Commission. However, the EC may have been successful in keeping most of the unwarranted political activities under check with relative ease, but found it excruciatingly difficult to keep our loose cannon politicians under control. A stage, a mic and audience, and our beloved ‘neta jis’ were ready to spew venom in quest to strengthen their vote bank,even at the cost of religious sentiments, ethics, and moral value. Sure, things can be taken with a pinch of salt with election of such great magnitude, but can't be easily ignored when the whole world is watching and nation's reputation is at stake. After all from these politicians, we will have ministers who will represent India across the globe. Here is a look at the top 10 controversial statements that reassert the fact that our politicians know no bounds when it comes to the politics of vote bank.

Who said it: SP Leader Azam Khan Context: Samajwadi Party leader and UP Minister Azam Khan while speaking to supporters at his hometown, Rampur, referred to Modi as "kutte ke bacche ka bada bhai." Khan's puppy remark was a late response on Modi's July 2013 controversial statement on victims of the 2002 Gujarat riots. Modi had then said,"Even If I am in the back seat of a car and a puppy comes under the wheels, isn't it painful? It is. Whether I am a chief minister or not, I am a human being. I will be sad if something bad happens anywhere."

Who said it: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Context: Lashing out at Narendra Modi for his comments on Bangladeshi infiltrators, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee claimed that the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate would have been 'slapped' had he uttered such words in any other state. "Bravery is good but overt bravery is not good. If he had uttered such words in any other state, he would have been slapped. It is because it is our state that he was spared," Banerjee said about Modi's remarks that illegal Bangladeshi immigrants would be sent packing after May 16.

Comment: ‘’The Butcher of Gujarat could not take care of his own wife. How will he take care of this great nation?’’ Who said it: TMC spokesperson Derek O’Brien Context: The controversial remarks from TMC spokesperson Derek O’Brien came after BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi raked up the Saradha scam and said he did not expect this from the Trinamool supremo. Modi said,"Saradha is the other name of Saraswati, she is worshipped everywhere, and this Saradha turned into a chit fund? Mamataji, we did not expect this from you."

Comment: Azamgarh in UP "a base of terrorists" Who said it: BJP leader Amit Shah Context: Amit Shah in a rally said that Azamgarh was a base of terrorists as there was no fear of the state government, which was advocating their release. He also pointed out that the accused in Gujarat bomb blast cases were from Azamgarh. The comment did not go down well with political parties like SP and BSP. Former U.P. CM Mayawati and CM Akhilesh Kumar urged the Election Commission to take action against Shah. It should be noted that the EC had just lifted a ban on Shah. Modi’s close aide, Shah, had asked voters to seek "revenge" through ballot for the riots. A remark, which the EC had termed "malicious" and "intentional".

Comment: ‘’Kargil ki pahadiyo ko fateh karne wala koi hindu nahi tha. Balki Kargil ki chotiyo Allah-ho-Akbar kahkar fateh karne wale muslmaan fauji the’’ Who said it: SP leader Azam Khan Context:While addressing a rally in Muslim dominated area in Massorie, Ghaziabad, where Azam Khan said that it’s time to teach Modi a lesson. Khan drew flak from all corners for his insensitive remark. Following the directions of the Election Commission, the UP police lodged an FIR against the senior Samajwadi party leader for his 'hate speech'.

Comment: ‘’If any Muslim opposes the Samajwadi Party, have a DNA test done’’ Who said it: SP leader Abu Azmi Context: In this election, politicians had made numerous attempts to polarise voters. But Samajwadi leader Abu Azmi went a step further. Addressing a rally in Khalilabad, Uttar Pradesh, Azmi said,"If any Muslim opposes the Samajwadi Party, have a DNA test done, he could be an RSS man. Muslims who don't vote for the SP are not true Muslims." The controversial comment spread like wildfire. Soon, politicians across party lines, social media and even the common man was criticizing Azmi for his remark. While Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi questioned if Samajwadi Party wants to conduct DNA test of Muzaffarnagr riot victims too, most of who voted against Mulayam Singh, BJP leader Shaina NC called it a ‘height of communal crazy statements’.

Comment: Rahul Gandhi goes to Dalit homes for "picnics and honeymoon" Who said it: Yoga guru Ramdev Context:Yoga guru Ramdev was caught in the eye of the storm following his statement that Gandhi goes to Dalit homes for "picnics and honeymoon". After making the comment Ramdev expressed regret to the Dalit community but claimed his remarks were misrepresented, however the damage was already done. EC taking cognizance of the matter directed that people may not make “malicious” statements about the private life of individuals.Those who violate the directive would not be allowed to hold programmes during polls.

Comment: ‘’Modi critics should go to Pakistan’’ Who said it: BJP leader Giriraj Singh Context: During an election meet BJP candidate Giriraj Singh, said,’’Those opposing Narendra Modi are looking at Pakistan, and such people will have place in Pakistan and not India.’’ The Election Commission censured the BJP leader for his inflammatory speeches, also Giriraj earned the displeasure of the party's central leadership which distanced itself from his remark. Congress and JD(U) also slammed the BJP leader's "outrageous comments".

Comment: ‘’Muslims should be communal foe their own good’’ Who said it: AAP leader Shazia Ilmi Context: AAP leader Shazia Ilmi made headlines for the wrong reasons when she said that Muslims' votes split as they were "too secular" and they "should become communal" and vote keeping in mind "our own interest". The Arvind Kejriwal-headed Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) ticked Ilmi off and distanced itself from the controversial remarks, saying it does not endorse her views.

Comment: ‘’Rajiv Gandhi publicly humiliated a Congress chief minister when he was the party’s general secretary’’ Who said it: BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi Context: Addressing a rally in Amethi, from where Rahul Gandhi is contesting elections, Modi said Rajiv Gandhi, a former PM, had publicly humiliated a Congress chief minister when he was the party’s general secretary to claim it was the ruling party leaders who practiced the politics of anger and arrogance and not him. The Gandhi family were quick to lambast Modi for his remarks. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit back at Modi for insulting her father. Accusing the BJP nominee of indulging in 'neech rajniti', Priyanka said that people of Amethi will never forgive him. Modi was quick to give Priyanka’s ‘Low-level’ politics jibe a ‘caste’ spin. Modi said,’’I cannot deny I was born into a 'neechi jaati' (backward caste) but is that a crime?’’

D-Chowk rally: ‘Tsunami’ to hit Faisalabad on May 24

ISLAMABAD: Reiterating his demands to make the electoral process free and fair, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan on Sunday demanded that a new election commission be established since the public had lost all confidence in the previous election commission. He was addressing a rally organised by the PTI to protest the alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections. PTI President Javed Hashmi, Secretary General Jehangir Khan Tareen, Vice Chairperson Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad also addressed the rally. Announcing the next protest rally, which will be held in Faisalabad on May 23, Imran Khan said that if election rigging was not investigated, there will be protests in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) offices every Friday. He also stated that overseas Pakistanis be given the right to vote and invited all political parties that believe the elections were not fair to join the PTI in its effort to fix the system. He also requested the judiciary to bring to justice those who were involved in the rigging of the last general elections. “The public’s mandate was stolen,” Khan said, adding that the election process would not improve if those who were involved in election rigging were not brought to justice. The PTI chief announced a 9-point charter of demands that aims to make the election process free and fair.

Modi eyes power as Obama makes pledge to new India leader

NEW DELHI: US President Barack Obama pledged to work closely with the new Indian government as Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi was forecast Tuesday to have pulled off a crushing victory in the world’s biggest election. “Modi at Delhi Gate” said a headline in the Mail Today, while the Hindustan Times read simply “Exit Polls: Enter Modi” after a flurry of surveys released after voting ended Monday pointed to a decisive result. All the polls showed Modi’s right-wing opposition alliance trounced the left-leaning Congress party which has been in power for a decade, and most indicated that it had scraped enough votes to form a new coalition without having to seek fresh partners. Modi’s top aide predicted that the margin of victory would be even wider when the results are announced on Friday, while emphasising that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was open to forging new alliances. Modi struck a conciliatory tone by saying it was time for “healing” after an often bitter five-week contest which saw 551 million voters cast their ballots, making it by far the world’s biggest election. While a BJP victory had been expected, the apparent scale of defeat for Congress was still striking with exit polls showing support for the party which has ruled India for most of the post-independence era at a nadir. Obama, leader of the world’s second biggest democracy, said India had “set an example for the world” as he hailed the contest as “a vibrant demonstration of our shared values of diversity and freedom”. “We look forward to the formation of a new government once election results are announced and to working closely with India’s next administration to make the coming years equally transformative,” he added. Modi’s election however presents something of a headache for the US, which refused to deal with him for years in the aftermath of religious riots in the state of Gujarat in 2002 shortly after Modi became its chief minister. More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the violence which critics say Modi did little to stop, even though he has been cleared of involvement by the courts. Washington only ended its boycott of Modi in February when Nancy Powell, the outgoing US ambassador to India, met him for talks in Gujarat. European countries also refused to deal with Modi for years in the wake of the 2002 riots, for which Modi has refused to apologise. While some of his most ardent supporters are drawn from the ranks of hardline Hindu groups, Modi fought a campaign based on pledges to revive economic growth, which is at its lowest rate in a decade, and increase development. Congress also suffered a backlash after a spate of corruption scandals which plagued outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government since he was re-elected in 2009. An editorial in Tuesday’s Indian Express said that Singh’s “second term was marked by a tangible and growing disenchantment of the people” but added that the record 66 percent turnout showed the “palpable yearning for change that marked this election among voters across the country”. Four out of the five exit polls released after voting showed the BJP-led alliance just reaching the 272-seat threshold needed to form a majority in the 543-member national parliament. Exit polls, however, have been off the mark in the past and Modi’s chief lieutenant Amit Shah said he expected a more resounding victory. “My personal view is that we will get around 300 seats. We will still be open to support and collaboration from any party that wants to work with a government that is committed to work for the nation,” he told the Headlines Today network. Even if the BJP-led alliance does pass the 272 threshold, Modi is still likely to need more partners in order to have a stable coalition. Many analysts have predicted he will strike a deal with a Tamil Nadu-based party which the polls predicted would get around 30 seats. “This is the right time to look ahead. It is a time to connect with each other,” Modi said in a post-election blog. “Let us place people over politics, hope over despair, healing over hurting, inclusion over exclusion and development over divisiveness,” added Modi, who is the son of a tea-stall owner. Congress’s campaign was fronted by Rahul Gandhi, the scion of India’s most famous dynasty and whose appetite to become prime minister – a post held by his father, grandmother and great-grandfather – has often been questioned. Modi has derided Rahul as a reluctant “prince” whose lacklustre campaign has latterly been overshadowed by his sister Priyanka’s electioneering. The Gandhi siblings, joined by their mother and party president Sonia, have hit back, accusing Modi of being dangerously divisive and prejudiced against the country’s 150 million Muslims.

China detains man in online 'rumour' crackdown

BEIJING: China has detained a man for “publishing false stories” on an overseas news portal alleging gross rights abuses, police said Tuesday, the latest step in a wide-ranging crackdown on “Internet rumours”. Xiang Nanfu, 62, had posted untrue stories on the Chinese-language site Boxun since 2009 which “seriously harmed the image of the state” and “caused a very bad influence”, a statement on the Beijing police website said. Hundreds of bloggers and journalists have been arrested in recent months as part of a government-backed campaign to assert greater control over social media which has seen influential critics of Beijing paraded on state television. The campaign, which began last year, appears to be part of a concerted effort by China’s ruling Communist party – which maintains an iron grip on power – to rein in criticism. Among the rumours that Xiang was alleged to have created was that the Chinese government “removed” organs from living people and “buried people alive”, the statement said. Another claim was that more than 1,000 policemen violently expropriated land, including beating a pregnant woman to death, it added. Xiang, who is from Beijing, confessed to his crimes, the statement said. Boxun – which often reports unsourced rumours – issued a statement on its website describing Xiang as a “Boxun journalist”. The statement denied the US-based website had reported on such organ removals or burying people alive, and linked the detention to China’s recent Internet crackdown. “We noted that a lot of Chinese web users and dissidents were detained by authorities recently. This is a clear sign that human rights in China are quickly deteriorating,” the statement said. At the start of the clampdown last year, officials told Internet celebrities with millions of followers to “promote virtues” and “uphold law” online. Soon after, Chinese-American billionaire blogger Charles Xue – who regularly posted reform-minded comments on a variety of sensitive issues – was arrested for suspected involvement in prostitution. Links between the Internet crackdown and the arrest of the popular blogger – who had attracted 12 million online followers – were routinely dismissed by state media. Xue was paraded on state television, which also broadcast an interview with Pan Shiyi, another of China’s most popular bloggers, in which he appeared contrite and warned of the dangers of “casual” online posts. Qin Zhihui, the first person to stand trial in the Internet crackdown, was jailed for three years last month after he confessed his guilt and made a lengthy statement of remorse, even thanking his detention centre. Under regulations announced last September, Chinese Internet users face three years in prison for writing defamatory messages that are re-posted 500 times. Web users can also be jailed if offending posts are viewed more than 5,000 times.

US flying 'manned missions' to seek abducted Nigeria girls

LAGOS: The United States said it is flying “manned” missions over Nigeria in search of over 200 abducted schoolgirls, after the Lagos government dismissed a prisoner-swap offer from the Boko Haram kidnappers. “We have shared commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerians and are flying manned ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) assets over Nigeria with the government’s permission,” a senior US administration official said Monday. The official declined to be named, and it was not immediately clear what kind of aircraft were being deployed, nor where they were based. Boko Haram’s leader said in a new video obtained by AFP Monday that the abducted schoolgirls would only be released if the government freed militant fighters from custody. Abubakar Shekau made the claim in a 27-minute video, which apparently showed about 130 of the girls who were kidnapped from their school in the remote northeastern town of Chibok nearly a month ago. The militant leader said the girls in the video had converted to Islam and all were shown in Muslim dress, reciting the first chapter of the Holy Quran and praying at an undisclosed location. Asked if the government would reject Shekau’s suggestion, Interior Minister Abba Moro told AFP: “Of course.” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said US intelligence experts were “combing through every detail of the video for clues that might help ongoing efforts to secure the release of the girls.” Their disappearance has triggered global outrage, in part due to a social media campaign that has won the support of high-profile figures including US First Lady Michelle Obama and Pope Francis. A total of 276 students were abducted on April 14 from Chibok, which has a sizeable Christian community. Police say 223 are still missing. Nigeria’s government has been criticised for its slow response to the kidnapping, but has been forced into action as a result of international pressure. President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted help from the United States, Britain, France, China and Israel, which have sent specialist teams to help in the search effort. French President Francois Hollande has also called for a west Africa security summit to discuss the Boko Haram threat, which could be held as early as Saturday. The United States and Britain have been invited, he said. The latest footage shows the girls in black and grey full-length hijabs, sitting on scrubland near trees. Three of them are shown being interviewed – two said they were Christian and had converted while one said she was Muslim. All three pronounced their belief in Islam dispassionately to the camera, sometimes looking down at the ground and apparently under duress. Most of the group behind them were seated cross-legged on the ground. The girls appeared calm and one said they had not been harmed. There was no indication of when the video was taken, although the quality is better than on previous occasions and at one point an armed man is seen in shot with a hand-held video camera. Shekau does not appear in the same scene. Instead, he is seen dressed in combat fatigues, carrying an automatic weapon in front of a lime-green canvas backdrop. Speaking in his native Hausa language as well as Arabic, he restated his claim of responsibility for the kidnappings, and said the girls were converting to Islam. “These girls, these girls you occupy yourselves with… we have indeed liberated them. These girls have become Muslims,” he said. “There are still others who have not converted and are holding on to your belief. There are many of them,” he added. “Only Allah knows how many women we are holding, the infidels who Allah commands us to hold.” On the prisoner release, Shekau said Boko Haram’s brothers in arms had been held in prison for up to five years and suggested that the girls would be released if the fighters were freed. “We will never release them (the girls) until after you release our brethren,” he said. Boko Haram has been waging an increasingly deadly insurgency in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north since 2009, attacking schools teaching a “Western” curriculum, churches and government targets. Civilians, though, have borne the brunt of recent violence, with more than 1,500 killed this year alone while tens of thousands have been displaced after their homes and businesses were razed. Boko Haram has used kidnapping of women and young girls in the past and Shekau indicated that more were being held. Eleven girls were abducted from the Gwoza area of Borno state on May 4. Jonathan has previously said that he believed the kidnapped students were still in Nigeria and would be freed soon. There have been fears that the girls may have been taken into neighbouring Chad or Cameroon, from where Boko Haram is said to have launched attacks in the northeast and may have camps. Nigeria’s army is currently concentrating its efforts on the Sambisa forest of Borno state while international assistance involves specialist surveillance and intelligence teams.

Indonesia bans video-sharing site Vimeo over 'porn'

JAKARTA: Indonesia has ordered a ban on popular video-sharing website Vimeo after accusing it of hosting pornographic content, sparking social media fury on Tuesday. The communications ministry announced that the US-based site would be blocked following the discovery of Vimeo pages with names such as “Art of Nakedness” and “Nudie Cutie”, featuring naked and scantily-clad women. “We have recently received reports from the public about websites carrying negative and pornographic content… One of them is the site Vimeo.com,” said the ministry in a statement published late Monday. The ministry, headed by Communications Minister Tifatul Sembiring who has waged a campaign against illicit material on the Internet, said that Vimeo had been added to a list of 119 other sites banned over content deemed pornographic. Vimeo said on its Twitter account that the site was “blocked for some Indonesian users, but it’s on the Indonesian side and we can’t unblock it”. Other web users still appeared to have access on Tuesday morning but a ministry spokesman said all Internet service providers would have to fall into line with the government order. Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, introduced a tough anti-pornography law in 2008 that criminalises any work that could be deemed obscene. Indonesian social media users reacted furiously to the news that the site, which hosts a huge variety of videos uploaded by its members, was being blocked. “It’s insane… The world will laugh at Indonesia for considering Vimeo a pornographic site,” said a post on Twitter from Savic Ali. Another Twitter user, Adi Dzikrullah Bahri, said: “It’s a pity… Many people uploaded educational and creative videos on Vimeo.” Guidelines on the Vimeo site say that it “does not allow videos that contain explicit depictions of nudity or sexual acts (in most cases)”. However the website added that it does allow “depictions of nudity and sexuality that serve a clear creative, artistic, aesthetic, or narrative purpose”. In 2011 the maker of BlackBerry smartphones blocked access to pornographic websites in Indonesia after the government threatened to withdraw its operating permit. The ban remains in place.

5th day of curfew in North Waziristan: Hundreds stranded in Bannu

MIRANSHAH: Hundreds of tribesmen are stranded in Bannu due to the ongoing curfew in North Waziristan Agency since the last five days. All students of Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) hailing from North Waziristan could not give their final exams because of the curfew in the agency. Jamal Wazir, a 2nd year student of HSSC, said that his chemistry paper was on May 12 in Bannu and despite pleading to the political administration officials to remove the curfew nothing was done about it. He added that all the tribesmen are restricted to their houses and the security forces shoot people on sight if seen violating the curfew. Ijaz Ahmad, another student, said that at first they were not given a hall in the agency to solve their papers and were transferred to Bannu district for their exams, but now with the imposition of the curfew they are stranded in their houses and cannot take their exams. “We could not take two papers due to the curfew and have failed them as a result,” he stated, adding that their entire academic year went to waste. Muhammad Suleman Khan, who has applied for a commission job in the Pakistan Army, said that he has passed all the initial tests and has received a call from the commission office to appear for the Inter Services Selection Board test in Kohat on Tuesday morning. But I cannot even come out of my house, Khan remarked. “Who should I hold responsible for spoiling my career,” he questioned, further stating that he wanted to serve his nation by joining the army but in a situation like this, when he is not even allowed to leave his own house, people will prefer to join the ranks of militants. “It will not decrease militancy but will instead increase it,” he stated, lashing out at the government policy. Malik Gul Ajab Khan, a vegetable and fruit trader, said that more than 60 trucks loaded with seasonal fruit and vegetables were parked in North Waziristan and in Bannu but were not being allowed to move, adding that most of the fruits and vegetables were now rotten. “We have lost millions of rupees. Who is responsible for this loss?” he questioned, demanding an answer.

Pakistan-Iran ties: Khamenei hits out at US for sowing discord

TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called upon Pakistan on Monday to keep ‘wicked’ US influence at bay and build stronger ties with his country, while accusing Washington of trying to create a rift between Tehran and Islamabad, state-run FARS news agency reported. Speaking to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Khamenei said: “There are hands at work that intend to cause differences between the two friendly and intimate nations through different methods, including stirring insecurity at the lengthy common borders.” “But we should not allow the big opportunity existing for the expansion of the relations between the two countries to be lost,” he said. “America, whose wickedness is known to all, is among the governments trying to make distance between Iran and Pakistan. Besides America, there are other governments at work too.” Khamenei was referring to a recent spate of kidnappings and cross-border raids in Iran’s easternmost province of Sistan-Baluchistan that have generally been claimed by Jaishul Adl militants. Khamenei underlined the need for further development of ties between the two countries, especially calling for the implementation of joint ventures, like the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, and expressed the hope that good measures would be adopted on the ground during Nawaz’s tenure. He also stressed the need for the independent nature of Tehran-Islamabad ties, and said that the two states should not wait for others’ permission to enhance their ties. The multibillion-dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline has grown into a major issue in the two countries’ economic relations. Even now the import of gas under the project appears doomed in the face of looming US sanctions. Iran has warned that if Pakistan fails to meet its obligation, then it will have to pay the Islamic Republic the huge penalty of almost $200 million a month. Iran has already built 900 kilometres of the pipeline on its own soil and is waiting for the 781-kilometre Pakistani side of the pipeline to be constructed. The IP pipeline is designed to help Pakistan overcome its growing energy needs at a time when the country is grappling with serious energy shortages. In relevant remarks on Saturday, former Iranian envoy to Islamabad Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian said Islamabad has no substitute for the IP pipeline and it, thus, has no other option but to accomplish the project. “Owing to the grave conditions of energy (supply and demand) in Pakistan, some of the country’s major cities spend half of the day without electricity, meaning that Pakistan’s need to energy is real and inevitable,” Taherian told FNA. ‘Common bonds’ According to Pakistan state-run news agency APP, Premier Nawaz and Khamenei discussed issues relating to mutual and bilateral interest. They agreed to work in unison for development of the region. The prime minister said the Pak-Iran relations have historical perspective and the two Muslim countries have common traditions. “These common bonds make our relationship special,” he added. Khamenei said the people of Pakistan are as dear to him as the people of Iran. “I will offer special prayers so that relationship between Pakistan and Iran reaches new bounds and heights,” he said. The meeting was also attended by the delegation accompanying the prime minister. Positive trip Iranian officials neither raised the issue of Syria nor referred to indirect interference from “non-state actors” from our country. Overall, the trip was very positive and the impression of negativity and strains was eliminated. Khamenei showed great warmth and love for the PM Nawaz and prayed for the people of Pakistan. President Hassan Rowhani also was very f-orthcoming on the issue of bilate ral relations emphasized on strengthening of relations with Pakistan and taking them to new heights. Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2014.

Drive-by shooting: Doctor and driver killed in Delhi Colony, Karachi

KARACHI: Dr Manzoor Memon, a medico- legal officer (MLO) at Jinnah Hospital, was gunned down along with his driver in Delhi Colony, Karachi, Express News reported on Tuesday. Memon was on his way home from the hospital when four unidentified men on two motorcycles fired at his car, killing him and his driver, Aashiq Ali. The bodies have been shifted to Jinnah Hospital. Police and Rangers have reached the site of the incident for further investigations.

Polio virus found in Lahore, Karachi sewers

KARACHI: Water samples taken from various parts of Pakistan indicate presence of poliovirus in Karachi and Lahore, Express News reported on Tuesday. According to the polio virology lab at the National Health Institute, samples of sewage water collected from Lahore and Karachi were tested positive for the virus. The samples taken on April 12, from Lahore’s Main Outfall pumping stations confirmed the presence of poliovirus. Traces of the virus were also discovered in three samples taken from Gadap, Machar Colony, Kahmeso Goth and Gulshan-e-Iqbal in Karachi. Surprisingly, for the first time in the history of Pakistan, polio has not been discovered in sewage water samples taken from Peshawar. With more than 90% of the current polio cases in the country genetically linked to Peshawar, it is considered the largest reservoir of endemic poliovirus in the world, according to a report by WHO published earlier this year. On May 12, two fresh samples collected from children in Karachi and North Waziristan Agency were confirmed as poliovirus type 1, causing a rise in the tally of polio cases for the year to 61. This tally includes 47 cases from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, nine from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and five from Sindh. Out of the five cases reported in Sindh this year, three have emerged from Gadap Town. Refusal rate is very high in this area along with the law and order situation which deters workers from visiting each house in the area hampering any efforts towards eradication of the virus. Correction: In an earlier version of this story, the report was attributed to WHO. The error is regretted.

PTI, PML-Q discuss formation of grand alliance against PML-N govt

LAHORE: An opposition coalition is in the offing as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) discussed the formation of a grand alliance against the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government, Express News reported on Tuesday. PTI chief Imran Khan contacted PML-Q chairperson Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and PML-Q Punjab president Chaudhry Pervez Elahi via telephone. It was reported that on May 14 a three-member PTI delegation consisting of President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Vice-Chairperson Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Central General Secretary Jehangir Tareen will meet Hussain and Elahi in Islamabad to discuss the formation of the alliance and the start of a movement against the federal government. During the telephone conversation, the PML-Q leaders reportedly said that their party will support PTI and do anything and everything for the progress of Imran’s agenda. Improving the relationship of the two parties was also discussed during the conversation.