Ban on Geo excessive, one-day suspension was enough: Altaf

 

LONDON: Altaf Hussain, the exiled leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), has strongly condemned the suspension of Geo’s licence saying that the decision by Pemra was excessive as the ban could have perhaps been slapped “for a day”.
He suggested that the Geo licence suspension was an attack on the free press and expressed his support for the freedom of the media.

He said that he respected and trusted the British justice system and hoped that justice will be done in the case of the money-laundering probe for which he was arrested and released on police bail.

Speaking live from the International Secretariat soon after his release from the Southwark Police Station, Hussain, 60, who has been living in the UK since 1991, said that he would not comment on his case because it is with the authorities but said he hoped justice would prevail and that he respected “British laws and the judicial system”.

Altaf Hussain was arrested on Tuesday morning by Scotland Yard from his home on suspicion of money-laundering but he spent three nights in the Wellington Hospital due to his ill health.

Scotland Yard said in a statement: “The 60-year-old man arrested on Tuesday 3 June on suspicion of money laundering has been released on police bail to a date in July pending further enquiries. Police bail is the term used when a person arrested in connection with a criminal offence is released from police custody whilst the police investigation continues and until they are next required to appear at a police station. When a person is released on police bail they are required to return to the police station at a specific date and time”. The news of Mr Hussain’s release prompted celebrations across the world wherever his party has a presence, including in London. On the Borough High Street, traffic came to a halt as Hussain came out of his car’s sun roof and waved to his supporters who had been waiting outside the police station for over 10 hours.

“Those who stick with what is just never have to face defeat. I believe in Imam Hussain (AS) who mounted a struggle for the right reasons in Karbala against the forces of Yazeed. Like a true Hussaini who believes in the cause of justice and fairness, I will never surrender even if it means sacrificing my life for the fulfillment of a right cause. I will never stop speaking the truth, be it before the Pakistani authorities or the British. My mission will continue regardless of what happens to me,” a defiant Hussain told his charged supporters, who kept raising slogans at the International Secretariat at regular intervals to express their support to Mr Hussain.

Hussain said he never retreated from his stance and he would continue to say what is right, irrespective of how tough the time may be. “Every person deserves the right of equivalent treatment…. I did not bow before forces even when I was arrested in 1992,” he said.

Altaf Hussain thanked the staff at the Wellington Hospital and the Metropolitan police staff for congenial treatment during his stay at the hospital and police custody. “The police attitude was hospitable both in the lockup and at hospital and I am thankful to them for this.”

Altaf Hussain expressed his gratitude for “those who raised their voice over his arrest”. Hussain mentioned all political parties, minus the PTI, and thanked them for their support but praised PM Nawaz Sharif for showing leadership and arranging consular access for him.

Altaf Hussain was welcomed at the International Secretariat by Dr Asim Hussain and Wajid Shamsul Hasan. A delegation of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) headed by Ifzaal Siddiqui remained at the police station and at the MQM Secretariat to show support on behalf of former President Pervez Musharraf.

Altaf began his speech with recitation from the Holy Quran. He added: “The greatest strength for people who struggle against injustices is patience. It is the patience that enabled the Ahle-Bait to prevail over the forces of Yazeed forever. Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) sacrificed his life but did not bow his head before the forces of Yazeed. When my brother and nephew were arrested, I did not beg for their lives. I accept martyrdom like Imam Hussain (AS).”

Hussain said that his legal team was looking into the allegations of money-laundering and will be formulating a response as per requirements but refused to comment any further on this.

Hindutva outfit launches campaign to ban Fajr Azan in India

MANGALORE: In a controversial demand that may spark widespread uproar, a less popular Hindutva outfit has called for a strict ban on dawn Azan (Fajr prayer call from Masjids)across India.

Recently, dozens of Hindutva activists including a controversial swamiji, who had earlier tried to commit suicide, staged a protest in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner in Mangalore to pressurize the authorities concerned to strictly impose ban on Azan during early morning.

The protest was held under the banner of Rashtriya Hindu Andolan and some of the protesters were displaying the banner of Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, an extremist Hindutva outfit. The protest comes a day ahead of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Sanatan Sanstha activist Vijayalakshmi said that even though India has granted religious freedom for all the people, followers of one religion should not misuse this freedom to disturb the followers of other religions in the society.

Using a derogatory word for Azan, she said that when Muslims shout using loudspeakers every morning they should know that it would disturb sleep of a majority of people in the society.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti activist Vivek Pai said that the right to sleep peacefully is also comes under the ambit of fundamental rights of every Indian citizen. “The use of loudspeakers should not be permitted from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The supreme court also had directed to impose ban on playing loud music or making any type of noise between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. However, this ban has not been applied to the early morning Azan,” he said adding that in some places Muslims deliberately cause noise pollution through loudspeakers in the early morning.

He said that those who use loudspeakers for Azan before 6 a.m. in the morning should be arrested and punished.

Rashtriya Hindu Andolan activist Ramesh Nayak said that many Masjids are located in the area of schools, colleges, hostels and hospitals. Loudspeakers used by such Masjids will always cause problems for students and patients, he added.

EU warns against ban on Geo

ISLAMABAD: Amidst efforts to shutdown the Geo TV, the Brussels-based European Union Trade Commission has warned that it was monitoring Pakistan’s situation, and the country’s GSP Plus status could be withdrawn in case of serious restrictions on the freedom of speech.

John Clancy, the EU Trade spokesman, was officially responding to a query regarding a sustained campaign against Pakistan’s largest TV channel Geo after an assassination bid on the channel’s most famous anchor Hamid Mir last month. Mir was shot six times by unknown assailants in the port city of Karachi on April 19.

Under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) scheme, Pakistan is allowed duty-free exports to the EU which has resulted in an annual increase in revenue of around €574 million (Rs78 billion).Clancy said Pakistan was granted the GSP+ preferences because it complies with the EU criteria of ratification.

“Nevertheless, this compliance is continuously monitored by the EU and, in case it is established that restrictions on freedom of speech constitute a serious violation of those conventions, the GSP+ could be removed by the EU as a result of an investigation,” Clancy told The News in an email from Belgium’s capital.

The EU is Pakistan’s single largest trade partner.The spokesman further added that apart from GSP, respect for the freedom of speech is also a key element of powerful regional bloc’s agenda.

“GSP is primarily a trade tool; the respect of human rights is relevant not only in the GSP context but is also a key element in the broader political agenda of the EU-Pakistan relations,” Clancy added.

Under the GSP+ scheme, Pakistan is bound to uphold the freedom of expression as it has signed a “binding undertaking” with the EU to effectively implement 27 core international conventions. One of these conventions is International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966, which calls for complete freedom of expression in the country.

There is a strict and effective mechanism devised by the EU to monitor the implementation of these conventions. In 2010, the EU revoked Sri Lanka’s GSP+ status over its human rights record.

Earlier this month, the EU had expressed concerns over attack on journalists in Pakistan, including serious attempts on lives of Hamid Mir and Raza Rumi.Michael Mann, a spokesperson for the High Representative/ European External Action Service, had informed ‘The News’ that the matter would be taken up during the EU’s 2014 human rights dialogue with Pakistan.

“Although, the biggest threat to Pakistani journalists is armed groups, there are also allegations of abuses committed by the military against journalists who report critically on their actions,” Mann said.He said that the EU delegation in Islamabad had and would continue to raise concerns with the Pakistani authorities about the freedom of expression in Pakistan.

Ban on any channel unacceptable: PUJ

LAHORE: The Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ), in its emergency meeting held here on Tuesday, categorically stated that the journalist community would not tolerate any ban/suspension of any channel of Jang/Geo, adding that the economic murder of journalists on such a large scale would not be acceptable at any cost.
According to a press release, the PUJ office-bearers said no one would be allowed to ban Jang/Geo or any other channel to punish the mistake of a person, as thousands of employees are attached with these channels. They said if any such action was initiated, they would resist it with full force.

The participants also called upon the federal government to intervene to counter the conspiracies being hatched against the fourth pillar of the state.

The meeting was chaired by PUJ President Hafiz Abdul Wadood in which senior journalists Moeen Azhar, Salman Ghani, Shoaib-ud-Din, Naeem Mustafa, Khawar Naeem Hashmi, Mian Habib, Ch Khadim Hussain, Nasir Naqvi, Amer Sohail, Abdul Majeed Sajid, Asim Naseer, Waheed Butt and Ziaullah Niazi participated.

It was also decided in the meeting that these journalists would meet all the stakeholders to find out a solution to the complex situation. The meeting also passed a resolution in which it was stated that the journalist community would not become part of any plan of any institution, adding that the community would not tolerate any curbs on the media and journalists.

The resolution also expressed solidarity with the workers of Jang/Geo, saying the community would protect their rights. The resolution also urged the cable operators to immediately restore the transmission of those channels that had been shut due to different reasons. The participants also announced to visit the Jang/Geo offices on Wednesday (today) to show solidarity with the workers of the group.

Kaneria loses challenge to life ban

LONDON: Former Essex and Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria, who was given a life ban after a disciplinary panel concluded that he had encouraged a team-mate to under-perform, has lost a High Court fight with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The ECB had charged Kaneria with inducing anther Essex player to''deliberately concede'' runs in a limited overs game against Durham in 2009 and with bringing cricket into disrepute. An ECB disciplinary panel found that charges had been proved after a hearing in 2012. An appeal panel set up under ECB disciplinary regulations upheld the decision to impose a life ban in 2013.

Kaneria took High Court action - claiming that the ECB appeal panel had been wrong to uphold the life ban - and wrong to order him to pay ECB legal costs of GBP200,000.

But a High Court judge today (Tuesday) dismissed his claims at a hearing in London.

Mr Justice Hamblen said the appeal panel had not exceeded its powers. He said there were no grounds for suggesting that an error of law had been made.

Kaneria was not at today's hearing. A lawyer told the judge that he was in Pakistan.

Kaneria loses challenge to life ban

LONDON: Former Essex and Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria, who was given a life ban after a disciplinary panel concluded that he had encouraged a team-mate to under-perform, has lost a High Court fight with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The ECB had charged Kaneria with inducing anther Essex player to''deliberately concede'' runs in a limited overs game against Durham in 2009 and with bringing cricket into disrepute. An ECB disciplinary panel found that charges had been proved after a hearing in 2012. An appeal panel set up under ECB disciplinary regulations upheld the decision to impose a life ban in 2013.

Kaneria took High Court action - claiming that the ECB appeal panel had been wrong to uphold the life ban - and wrong to order him to pay ECB legal costs of GBP200,000.

But a High Court judge today (Tuesday) dismissed his claims at a hearing in London.

Mr Justice Hamblen said the appeal panel had not exceeded its powers. He said there were no grounds for suggesting that an error of law had been made.

Kaneria was not at today's hearing. A lawyer told the judge that he was in Pakistan.

Ban on Geo News will be a big mistake, says Fazl

LONDON: JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that ban on popular channel ‘Geo News’ would be a big mistake.

Talking to Geo News here, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said Geo News is popular among the masses and ban on it will be a big mistake.

Commenting on attack on Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir, Maulana Fazl said judicial commission should be trusted in this regard.

IOC welcomes Saudi end to girls´ sports ban

GENEVA: The International Olympic Committee on Sunday urged the Saudi government to push forward with moves to lift a ban on sports in girls´ state schools.

The conservative Muslim kingdom´s consultative Shura Council last week recommended an end to the ban, which was relaxed in private schools last year, state media reported. "We welcome this development and look forward to approval by the Education Ministry," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said in a statement.

The ministry must officially lift the ban as the council is influential, but only advisory. Adams noted that IOC president Thomas Bach had raised women´s involvement in sport when he visited Saudi Arabia. "On the IOC President´s visit to Saudi Arabia last week the National Olympic Committee outlined plans to increase women´s participation in sport in the kingdom at university level, which we fully support," Adams said. "And following participation by female athletes from Saudi Arabia at the Olympic Games in London and the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore this would be a further step towards full participation by girls and women at all levels of sport in the country," he added.

All education in Saudi Arabia is single-sex, but sports in girls schools remains a sensitive issue in a country where women have to cover from head to toe when in public.

The kingdom bowed to international pressure and sent its first ever female participants to an Olympics at the 2012 London Games.

The IOC agreed to allow the two Saudi women -- a judo player and a middle-distance runner -- to compete with their heads and bodies covered in deference to the Islamic dress code enforced at home.

Human rights campaigners say that millions of Saudi women remain effectively barred from sports. Saudi authorities shut down private gyms for women in 2009 and 2010, and women are effectively barred from sports arenas by strict rules banning men and women mixing in public.

The kingdom follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law, forbidding women to work or travel without the authorisation of their male guardians. It is the only country in the world that bans women from driving. "Saudi Arabia has a long way to go to end discriminatory practices against women, but allowing girls to play sports in government schools would move the ball down the field in ways that could have major long-term impact," said Human Rights Watch. (AFP)

Militants seek laughter, crying ban, China official says

BEIJING: The governor of China's restive far western region of Xinjiang wrote on Monday that Islamist militants were trying to ban laughter at weddings and crying at funerals, as he appealed to people to stamp out the "tumour" of extremism.

Xinjiang, resource-rich and strategically located on the borders of central Asia, has been beset by violence for years, blamed by the government on Islamist militants and separatists.

Exiles and many rights groups say the real cause of the unrest is China's heavy-handed policies, including curbs on Islam and the culture and language of the Muslim Uighur people who call Xinjiang home.

China's nervousness about Islamist extremism has grown since a car burst into flames on the edge of Beijing's Tiananmen Square in October, and 29 people were stabbed to death last month in the southwestern city of Kunming.

Beijing blamed Xinjiang militants for both.

Writing in the official Xinjiang Daily, Xinjiang governor Nur Bekri said that acts of terror had been made possible by extremists taking advantage of people's faith, especially "young people who have seen little of the world".

"In order to incite fanaticism and control believers, religious extremists have blatantly distorted religious teachings, making up heresy such as 'jihadist martyrs go to heaven,' 'killing a pagan is worth over 10 years of piety,' and 'one gets whatever one wants in heaven'," he wrote.

"They use this to bewilder believers into what they believe is 'jihad' in the form of suicide terrorist attacks or other violence," Bekri added. People who do not follow the strictures of the Islamists are condemned by them as "traitors" and "scum", he said.

China's ruling atheist Communist Party has issued similar warnings in the past about extremism, accompanied by a harsh crackdown on suspected militants.

Uighurs have traditionally followed a moderate form of Islam, but many have begun adopting practices more commonly seen in Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, such as full-face veils for women, as China has intensified a security crackdown in recent years.

Bekri, an Uighur himself, accused the militants of ignoring the region's own traditions and of wanting to enforce a strict theocratic society.

"They ... push the banning of watching television, listen to the radio, reading newspapers, singing and dancing, not allowing laughter at weddings nor crying at funerals," he added. "They force men to grow beards and women to wear the burqa."

Extremists are also demanding that not only food, but also cosmetics, medicine and clothing be halal, and push the idea that government-subsidised housing is not halal and to be avoided, Bekri wrote.

"Resolutely eliminate the tumour of religious extremism," he added.

 

Turkey lifts controversial Twitter ban

ANKARA: Turkey lifted a much-criticised block on Twitter on Thursday, 24 hours after its highest court overturned the ban as a breach of the right to free speech.

Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan on March 20 shuttered access to the social media site after it had been used to spread a torrent of anonymous leaks implicating his inner circle in corruption.

Turkey's NATO allies and international human rights groups strongly criticised the ban -- as well as an ongoing block of video-sharing website YouTube -- as a step backward for Turkey's democracy.

On Wednesday Turkey's Constitutional Court ruled the Twitter ban violated free speech and ordered the communications ministry and telecoms authority to reverse it "with immediate effect".

The government took 24 hours to react. First the telecoms authority TIB removed from its website a court order on the Twitter block and started contacting internet service providers to lift the ban.

Shortly after -- as many of Turkey's Twitter accounts came live again -- the transport and communications ministry confirmed the move in a brief statement.

"In line with the decision made by the Constitutional Court ... the measure blocking access to the Twitter.com Internet site has been removed," it said. "After the necessary technical arrangements, the site will be opened to use."

The ban had been widely circumvented by many of Turkey's almost 12 million Twitter users, who have instead sent tweets via text message or by adjusting their Internet settings.

- 'Sultan has agreed' -

Many Twitter users quickly commented on the move, with Nervana Mahmoud writing from Egypt, "Joy to the world, the Sultan has agreed", using a common nickname for Erdogan.

Turkish journalist Adem Yavuz Arslan urged caution, warning that users should maintain the VPNs or virtual private networks they have used to get around the ban.

"Twitter has been unblocked," he wrote. "But do not change your VPN settings yet. Because the government has the plug on the Internet. It can pull it whenever it wants."

When the micro-blogging service wasn't live in Turkey by Thursday morning, critics started pushing, fearing that the government may ignore the order.

Lawmaker Sezgin Tanrikulu of the secular main opposition Republican People's Party, warned that defying the ruling "would mean an abuse of power" while President Abdullah Gul, a regular Twitter user, said the bans on Twitter and YouTube now needed to be lifted.

After the service returned, San Francisco-based Twitter said: "We are encouraged by the news from Turkey today and welcome our Turkish users back to Twitter."

The United States, which offered rare criticism of ally Turkey over its crackdown on social media, also welcomed the move.

"Welcome back to Twitter #Turkey. Good decision by constitutional court. @YouTube still offline," tweeted Rick Stengel, the undersecretary of state for public diplomacy.

- 'Anchor of stability' -

Erdogan had ordered the Internet curbs in the lead-up to key local elections last Sunday, in which his party chalked up sweeping wins despite the claims of sleaze and graft and a harsh police crackdown on protesters last June.

Polling has shown that the Twitter and YouTube bans -- despite earning rebukes from Brussels, Washington, rights group Amnesty International and a host of the world's literary greats -- had little effect on Erdogan's conservative Muslim loyalists.

Research centre Ipsos found that only 3.6 percent of AKP supporters said they had been influenced by the Internet blocks, and three quarters said the corruption claims had "no effect".

Millions of Turks approve of Erdogan, despite criticism of a growing authoritarianism, because of the strong economic growth seen during his 11-year rule, analysts say.

"The Turkish economy is betting on Erdogan as an anchor of stability, and so are the people," said Michael Meier of German think-tank the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation.

PM lifts ban on hiring temporary staff in govt depts

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday allowed government departments to hire contingent staff (on daily wages and with temporary status) as per genuine requirements.
In this regard, the prime minister further directed heads of government departments to strictly follow applicable rules and regulations and conduct the process in a transparent manner based on merit. This decision was made to further improve the day-to-day functioning of government departments and to ensure service delivery to the citizens.

Moreover, the prime minister has given approval to hiring of independent members of the Planning Commission of Pakistan.

They include Yahya Mehmood Khwaja as member ICT & IT, Malik Ahmad Khan as member Infrastructure, Naeem-u-Zaffar as member Social Sector, Faheem-ul-Islam as member Private Sector Development and Syed Tahir Hijazi as member Governance.

The premier has also approved the appointment of Shahid Ghaffar as Managing Director of the National Investment Trust and Tahira Raza as President of the First Women Bank.

Treasury MNAs oppose lifting ban on YouTube

 

ISLAMABAD: The treasury members of the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday opposed a resolution demanding the lifting of the ban on YouTube while another resolution, seeking an improvement and regulation in the curriculum of religious seminaries, was passed in the House. Both resolutions were tabled by Pakistan People’s Party MNAs from the opposition.
MNA Shazia Marri submitted the resolution seeking to lift the imposed YouTube ban. She was of the view that YouTube was accessible through proxy websites and there was no point in maintaining the ban. The resolution was opposed by the treasury members of the House while NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq delayed the matter.

Syed Naveed Qamar said, “We have agreed with the government to modify the resolution and move it next week.”Shazia Marri said that around one billion people were using YouTube across the world and students were also using it for their research work.

Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid said that the issue of YouTube was in the high court and a decision would be taken after the verdict of the court.Dr Arif Alvi also supported the idea of lifting the ban on the website after taking protective measures to remove objectionable material from it.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf on Tuesday apprised the NA that the government had launched the “Madrassa Reforms Scheme” to provide modern education along with religious teachings in Madrassas across the country. He said the reforms had been brought after a consensus amongst religious scholars of different school of thoughts.

There are 8,000 Madrassas in the country registered under this reforms scheme in which scientific education was being provided to students keeping in view the need of the hour, he said.Dr Nafisa Shah had moved a resolution in the Lower House urging the government to take adequate steps for regulating and improving the Madrassa education system, which was not opposed by the treasury benches. She was of the view that this kind of initiative would assist in bringing peace in the country.

She said majority of the Madrassas were playing a constructive role but many were also engaged in promoting sectarianism and extremism.She added that science should also be taught as a subject in religious schools.

S A Iqbal Qadri pointed out that the motion could not be adopted before discussion on the floor in detail.Speaker of NA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that according to the rules of the House, it could be adopted and later it could be discussed from all aspects by the parliamentarians.

Opposition member from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Kishwar Zehra expressed dissatisfaction over the explanation given by Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar over the grant of $1.5 bn by a ‘friendly’ country.Moreover, the Awami Muslim League (AML) President Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed staged a walkout protesting the lack of quorum in the House.

Bangladesh should remove ban on waving flags: Pervaiz

ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Information, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, said on Wednesday that the Bangladesh government should remove the ban on local cricket fans flying flags of other countries during the World Twenty20.

He said sports should be free from politics and banning spectators from bringing flags of any country was unfortunate.“Spectators express their feelings on the grounds and if they cannot support their favourite teams and players, then they should be asked to watch matches at home on TV channels,” the minister said in an informal chat with media persons after attending a function on the “Launch of the Media Commission Report” here at a local hotel.

To a question, Pervaiz Rashid said Pakistan was not becoming part of any proxy war as the government was following the policy of non-interference in the affairs of other countries. He said Pakistan would never interfere in any other country’s internal matters and at the same time would not allow any other country to interfere in its own internal affairs.

Pervaiz Rashid conceded that some elements were trying to defame Pakistan by spreading baseless rumours and noted that the armed forces’ responsibility was to protect the integrity of the country and foil any foreign aggression and they were doing their professional duties befittingly.

To another question, the minister said neither any country had asked for the Pakistan Army’s deployment nor the government was sending any troops to any country. He said the armed forces were here to perform their constitutional duties.

Regarding the talks with the Taliban, he said the government team holding the talks with the TTP was fully empowered. About the foreign policy, he said the PML-N had a track record of improving relations with neighbours.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has a vision on foreign policy and since his first term as prime minister, he has been trying to improve relations with all neighbours,” he pointed out.

To a question on the Metro Bus Project in Rawalpindi, the minister said there were many critics of the Motorway project but when it became operational, everyone praised it. Similarly, he said, the Metro Bus Project would silence its critics after its completion. The minister maintained that all civilised countries provided the latest transport facilities to its masses. He said the Pakistan government wanted to do the same and its criticism was uncalled for.

When asked about noted media person Najam Sethi’s appointment as chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Pervaiz Rashid said he was a good administrator and the national team’s performance had improved after his appointment.

Earlier, speaking at the function, the minister said journalists were a vibrant part of the society and the government acknowledged its responsibility to provide them a safe and secure environment.

He said that all the issues related to the security and welfare of the journalists community were being handled with full conviction. “The prime minister is also taking personal interest in the welfare and protection of journalists,” he said.

“The purpose of the formation of the media commission is to prepare a report on which government, public media, experts and civil society members may debate on transparency, accountability and progress of our media,” he said.

The minister, on this occasion, congratulated the Media Commission team on drafting a comprehensive and effective report including reformative actions by media owners, practitioners and journalists.

Pervaiz Rashid said the government had announced the constitution of a commission comprising media persons, public figures and government representatives that would propose measures to be adopted by the government to protect journalists in the field and ensure their well-being.

“We are committed to make Pakistan a journalist-friendly country where not only local but also international media feels safe and secure during their professional assignments,” he said.

The minister contended that the Media Commission was of the view that it was possible to facilitate and ensure freedom of print and electronic media and all efforts must be made by public and private media houses, broadcasters, talk show moderators and all working journalists to adopt media codes and ethics.

“Now Pakistan has entered into the age where politics has attained maturity,” the minister said, adding that democracy had become functional, media has gained immense freedom, civil society has become dynamic and a unique culture of political tolerance has come in vogue.

The minister claimed that all these characteristics were non-existent in the past. “In the past, media freedom was suppressed by authoritarian regimes and now democracy is promoting the freedom of expression,” he said.

He said the commission had proposed its recommendations and now responsibility of implementing them rested with the media sector itself and the government. He said the PML-N government was firmly committed to ensuring the freedom of the media and facilitating journalists and media practitioners in pursuit of their professional duties.

Noted media experts Ziauddin and Javed Jabbar also spoke on the occasion while Marvi Memon, who heads the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, threw light on her committee’s initiatives with regards to the media and welfare of journalists.

Former Pakistan cricketers criticise Bangladesh flag ban

KARACHI: Former Pakistani players hit out after Bangladesh banned their own fans from waving non-Bangladeshi flags at the ongoing World Twenty20 tournament.

Hosts Bangladesh issued the order after an outcry over images of locals waving Pakistani flags during the recent Asia Cup.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made the ruling on Tuesday, on the eve of the country’s 44th Independence Day.

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad said the move violated the spirit of the game.

“I am surprised at the decision,” Miandad told AFP. “Cricket is a game which harbours sportsman spirit and this decision violates that spirit.”

Another former captain, Mohammad Yousuf, urged the BCB to rethink.

“I am sure that the BCB will take this decision back because it defies logic and I am sure the International Cricket Council will seek some explanation,” Yousuf said.

Yousuf, who played 90 Tests and 288 ODIs for Pakistan, said he had always been warmly received in Bangladesh.

“I have seen the home fans want to support Pakistan whenever their own team is not competing against us,” he said.

Younis Khan, another former captain, agreed Bangladesh should reconsider their decision.

“It is against the spirit of the game as you cannot stop anyone from supporting his favourite team,” he said.

Bangladesh and Pakistan face each other in a potentially crucial World T20 group match in Mirpur on Sunday.

 

Report: Turkish court orders halt to Twitter ban

ANKARA: Turkey´s Dogan news agency and other media say a court has issued a temporary injunction ordering the telecommunications authority to restore access to Twitter, five days after the government blocked the social network.

The telecommunications authority had accused Twitter of disobeying court orders to remove content.

The ban came shortly after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to "rip out the roots" of the social network that has been a conduit for links to recordings suggesting government corruption.

Many in Turkey found immediate ways to circumvent the ban. Lawyers and the opposition party asked courts to overturn the Twitter ban, arguing it was illegal and unconstitutional.

It was not clear when or if the telecommunications authority would follow Wednesday´s court order.

US lawmakers urge Pentagon to end ban on Sikhs serving in army

Sikhs are also able to wear protective equipment, including helmets and gas masks, in conformity with safety requirements, said US lawmakers.

A group of 105 US lawmakers has urged the Pentagon to lift the presumptive ban on the Sikhs serving in the military by easing restrictions on beard, turbans, and other religious accoutrements.
“Given the achievements of these soldiers and their demonstrated ability to comply with operational requirements while practising their faith, we believe it is time for our military to make inclusion of practicing Sikh Americans the rule, not the exception,” the lawmakers said in a letter to US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel.
Led by Congressmen Joe Crowley, vice chair of the Democratic Caucus, and Rodney Frelinghuysen, Chairman of the House Defence Appropriations Subcommittee, the 105 members of the US House of Representatives requested that the US armed forces update their appearance regulations to once again allow Sikh Americans to serve while abiding by their articles of faith, such as wearing a turban or beard.
They said the Sikhs have served in the US army since World War I, and are permitted to serve in the armed forces of Canada and the UK, as well as key partner India.
The three Sikh Americans who have been granted individualised accommodations to serve in the US army wear turbans and maintain beards in a neat and conservative manner, both in accordance with operational requirements and their Sikh religious beliefs.
They are also able to wear protective equipment, including helmets and gas masks, in conformity with safety requirements.
Sikh Coalition applauded lawmaker’s move calling for an end to the presumptive ban on devout Sikh service in the US military.
“Today’s letter from Congress is a big step forward in our campaign to ensure equal opportunity for Sikh Americans in the  US military,” said Rajdeep Singh, director of Law and Policy for the Sikh Coalition.
“Sikhs have proven time and again around the world that they are excellent soldiers. It’s time for the Pentagon to realise that Sikh Americans are here to stay and that policies of exclusion are inevitably going to fail,” Singh said.

Ban calls for progress as UN commission on women opens

UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Ban Ki-moon said there is still much progress to be made to advance women's rights, despite recent strides, as he opened an annual conference on women Monday.

Among priorities are health needs, maternal and child health, sexual education, contraception and fighting violence against women, including female genital mutilation, Ban said at the opening of the UN's 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

"We have come a long way, but there is much still to do and little time to do it," he said. "Gender gaps are particularly stark among rural populations and for persons with disabilities, indigenous people and other marginalized groups," Ban said.

"Women also remain scarce in corporate leadership, despite research that has consistently shown that companies with more women on board perform better," he added

"Globally, only about one in five parliamentarians is female despite evidence that parliaments with more women take up a wider range of issues, including health, education, anti-discrimination and child support," he said.

The commission, which brings together officials from the UN's 193 member states and several thousand representatives from non-government groups, meets until March 21.

Last year, the commission adopted a landmark declaration denouncing violence against women and established a code of conduct to fight it, despite the reluctance of countries such as Iran, Libya, Sudan, Russia and the Vatican.

The declaration emphasized that violence against women and girls could not be justified by "any custom, tradition or religious consideration.

Restrictions, poor equipment hinder Darfur peace mission: Ban

KHARTOUM: Restrictions by Sudan's government and the inadequate equipment of some peacekeepers in the Darfur region are hindering their ability to protect civilians and aid workers while violence increases, the UN chief says.
Ban Ki-moon made the comments in a review of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) which the UN Security Council ordered last July, according to a copy received Sunday by AFP.
He also called on the Security Council to endorse a set of measures, to be implemented over 12 months, "so that UNAMID can more effectively assist the many civilians affected by violence, insecurity and deprivation in Darfur".
While UNAMID has "some impact" in protecting civilians and aid delivery, "its effectiveness is seriously constrained by access restrictions and mobility constraints and shortfalls in the operational capabilities of several troop and police contingents," Ban's report says.
The six-year-old mission with more than 19,000 soldiers and police is one of the world's largest peacekeeping operations.
But the dynamics of Darfur's 11-year-old conflict, where clashes between rebels and government forces continue sporadically, have changed recently, prompting the review.
"Eleven years since the rebellion began, the situation in Darfur remains deeply troubling," Ban said.
Over the past two years, Sudan's deteriorating economy has led to worsening crime and intercommunal clashes, the report says, adding that some cash-poor paramilitaries have joined the tribal fighting over gold and other resources.
UNAMID itself has increasingly become a victim of the region's violence.
"In 2013, UNAMID suffered 19 attacks, resulting in 16 dead and 27 injured and a significant loss of vehicles, weapons and ammunition," Ban says.
The UN says 380,000 people were uprooted in Darfur in 2013 -- more than in any year since 2004 at the height of the conflict.
Fresh fighting has forced thousands more to flee their homes, the UN said last week, putting further pressure on an already stretched aid system dealing with almost two million displaced.

Judge rejects Apple bid to ban Samsung devices

SAN FRANCISCO: A federal judge Thursday rejected Apple's request to ban an array of Samsung smartphones and tablets found to have infringed on patents held by the US tech giant.
US District Judge Lucy Koh, who oversaw the blockbuster patent trial, finalized the damage award to be paid by the South Korean electronics giant at $929 million.
But in a separate order, the judge denied Apple's request to ban 23 Samsung devices, saying there was no evidence that consumer demand was driven by the infringing elements.
"To persuade the court to grant Apple such an extraordinary injunction -- to bar such complex devices for incorporating three touchscreen software features -- Apple bears the burden to prove that these three touchscreen software features drive consumer demand for Samsung's products," the judge wrote. "Apple has not met this burden."
A jury last year awarded more than $1 billion to Apple for patent infringement, but the judge threw out some of that award and ordered a partial retrial. The final amount awarded was $929 million.
Both sides have been appealing various aspects of the case, which is likely to be tied up in courts for some time barring an agreement between the two companies.
But because of the fast-moving nature of the business, the devices at issue in the case are no longer being sold.
Judge Koh noted that "the only new fact is that Samsung represents that no infringing units are currently in the marketplace."
She added that "Apple presents no evidence that any current Samsung devices incorporate the patented features. As such, it appears that the public interest slightly favors Samsung."

4 Apr 2014 : Ban vs Pak 8th match : Afridi powers Pakistan into Asia Cup final

Mirpur : Pakistan clinched a cliff-hanger by chasing down Bangladesh’s total of 326/3 in their highest successful One-Day International (ODI) run-chase to qualify for the final of the Asia Cup at the Shere Bangla National Stadium here Tuesday.

Full Scorecards
After his match-winning knock of an unbeaten 34 against India Sunday, Shahid Afridi (59) once again produced a special innings to take Pakistan home with three wickets and a ball to spare.
Coming in to bat with Pakistan in trouble at 225/5 in the 42nd over pursuing a monumental target, Afridi scored the joint second-fastest ODI half-century in just 18 balls. This was also his third 50 off 18 balls.
In the last over Pakistan needed three runs. The first two balls were dot deliveries with Umar Akmal (14 not out) taking a run off the third. Next ball, set-batsman Fawad Alam (74) was run-out in a mix up to make it two from two. But Akmal made sure he took the defending champions into the final by hitting a boundary on the penultimate delivery.
Earlier, Bangladesh began brilliantly with a 150-run opening wicket partnership between wicketkeeper-batsman Anamul Haque (100), who scored his second century, and Imrul Kayes (59).
Monimul Haque (51) and captain Mushfiqur Rahim (51 not out) also struck important half-centuries while all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan hit an incredible 44 off 16 balls, which included six boundaries and two sixes, to take the home side to their highest ever ODI score.
Pakistan bowling was not impressive, giving away 21 extras including 15 wides. Only off spinner Mohammad Hafeez contained the hosts with brilliant figures of 10-0-27-0.
In reply, Pakistan took off well with a 97-run first-wicket partnership. Opener Ahmed Shehzad (103) scored the second century of the match, and Hazeez also struck with the bat, scoring 52. But from 97 for no loss, the visitors went to 105/3 in a couple of overs.
Then Shehzad and Alam, who scored his highest ODI score, recorded an important 105-run fourth-wicket partnership before Shehzad perished. Abdur Rehman (8) also did not last long when man of the match Afridi came into the picture with the score at 225/5 in 41.2 overs.
What he did next was history as he completely took the match away from Bangladesh making 59 off 25 balls which included two boundaries and seven spectacular sixes. There were a couple hiccups thereon but Akmal guided home his side.
Mominul was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers taking 2/37 in nine overs.
Last edition’s runners-up Bangladesh lie fifth and last with no points, losing all three matches, while Pakistan qualified in second position for the final with 13 points.