Imran makes four new demands

 

BAHAWALPUR: The Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, on Friday presented four demands before the government and gave one month’s time for acceptance of the same.
He threatened that if the demands were not met, one million people would march on Islamabad on August 14 for a ‘Naya Pakistan’ and strengthening of democracy through reforms.

Addressing a big public gathering at Dring Stadium Bahawalpur, he asked the government who was behind Nawaz Sharif’s victory speech on May 11 after announcement of the only 15 percent results, what was the role of then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in the elections, who was declared winners through rigging in 35 constituencies and who had made changes in the electoral roll and why there were so massive number of rejected votes in the elections.

He said that the time was not far when he would mend the Punjab police. He said if any policeman fired at or tortured activists of the PTI, he would hang them with his own hands.He invited all the political parties to join hands with him for real democracy and ‘Naya Pakistan’ through electoral reforms.

The PTI chief said it was shameful that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not resign despite ‘massive rigging’ in May 11 polls. He claimed that results were changed in at least 90 constituencies under a massive rigging plan.He also attacked the Punjab Police over the Lahore incident and asked whether they were the servants of Sharif family or the Punjab government.

Discussing the IDPs issue, Imran Khan asked Nawaz Sharif not to play politics on the issue. He said the prime minister had invited him just for a photo session with IDPs in Bannu which he rejected because it was not time for politics, adding that situation required practical service for the IDPs.

He said the IDPs issue would become a huge problem for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, if all the Pakistanis did not support them.Imran demanded the Punjab and Sindh governments for removing the ban on the entry of IDPs in their respective provinces.

Earlier, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi in his address asked Imran Khan to support the demand of Bahawalpur and Seraiki provinces.It is important to note that although it was a big gathering but not as much as being claimed by the PTI leadership, especially by the south Punjab organisation.

Agencies add: Imran said if the prime minister was actually concerned about the IDPs, he would have informed him about the operation beforehand.Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the days of PML-N government were numbered adding that he had to convey three important messages and the first one was for the PML-N government.

“The one, who was in power, is gone and the one, who is in now, will be removed very soon.”Hashmi described southern Punjab as the most neglected region and said Imran should recognise the sense of deprivation among the locals. Pakistan would progress with the creation of new provinces, he remarked.

Modi government makes economic revival 'paramount' goal

NEW DELHI: India´s new government pledged Monday to make the revival of the flagging economy its "paramount" target as it laid out its legislative agenda following Prime Minister Narendra Modi´s landslide election victory.

In an address to the two houses of parliament which was drawn up by Modi´s new cabinet, President Pranab Mukherjee said India´s economy faced "extremely difficult" times and that inflation was "unacceptably" high.

The speech also included a series of ambitious policy goals that had been laid out in the election manifesto of Modi´s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including the creation of 100 new cities and a revamp of the railway network. "The country is passing through an extremely difficult phase on the economic front," said Mukherjee. "Putting the economy back on track is paramount for my government."

"My government will strive to get India on a high growth path, reign in inflation, restart the investment cycle....(and) restore investor confidence," he said.

India´s economy has been growing at below five percent for the past two years, way below the level needed to lift millions of people out of poverty, while inflation is currently running close to nine percent.

Modi´s right-wing BJP, which thrashed the ruling centre-left Congress party in marathon polls in April and May, made reviving the economy the main platform of its campaign as well as promising to clean up government.

In the speech, the president said that "my government ... will be predictable, transparent and fair" and "was committed to providing a clean and efficient administration focused on delivery".

The government would "make every effort" to fulfil its pre-election promise to bring in a new general sales tax and would also "embark on rationalisation and simplification of the tax regime" to make it less "adverserial", Mukherjee said.

Djokovic makes it back into French Open final

PARIS: Novak Djokovic worked his way back into the French Open final, taking care of Ernests Gulbis and his big serve 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 Friday on the first sunny day of this year´s tournament.

The second-seeded Serb was able to control the pace of the match on Court Philippe Chatrier while letting Gulbis´ unforced errors mount.

The powerful Latvian, who was playing in his first Grand Slam semifinal, finished with 44 errors.

Djokovic is a six-time major champion who needs to win the title at the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.

He also reached the final at Roland Garros in 2012, but lost to eight-time champion Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic will next face either Nadal or Andy Murray in Sunday´s final.

Djokovic was first to get into trouble in the first semifinal, but he managed to save two break points and hold to 2-2 in the opening set.

A few minutes later, he was ahead for good. Djokovic needed three attempts to earn his first break of the match, and he finally got it when Gulbis sent one of his many forehands long.

It was also in that game that Gulbis had his first of five double-faults. His second double came in the final game of the set, when Djokovic broke again. And his third came when trailing Djokovic 4-3 in the second, when the Serb broke yet again. "I´m not used to (playing) these kind of big matches," Gulbis said. "It´s just normal I felt extra nervous and extra tense."

Gulbis fared better in the third set. He again had two break points while leading 3-2, but again failed to win the game. However, he didn´t waste his chance two games later, breaking Djokovic to take a 5-3 lead before serving out the set with his 11th ace.

The two traded breaks early in the fourth set, and Djokovic broke again to lead 5-3 when Gulbis, again double-faulting once in the game, sent a backhand long.

Djokovic won the last game at love. "It was a struggle out there," Gulbis said. "I felt maybe throughout the match I hit five really clean shots, from either side, backhand or forehand. Even serve."

After nearly two weeks of overcast skies and cool temperatures, the sun was shining on center court and Djokovic and Gulbis were more interested in staying cool than staying warm.

Both players used ice wrapped in towels around their necks, like players often do at the sweltering Australian Open, as the temperature reached 28 degrees C (82 degrees F) on Friday.

Djokovic is now 5-1 against Gulbis, a 25-year-old player who as a teen showed the potential for becoming a star. But Gulbis has said recently that he is only now playing his best tennis, and only because he has decided to leave the party lifestyle behind and focus on his sport.

He certainly showed that at Roland Garros.Gulbis had reached the quarterfinals at a major only once before, and that was way back in 2008 at the French Open.

In that match, he also lost to Djokovic, but in straight sets. This year, he eliminated 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in the fourth round and sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals. "The more I play these kind of matches, the more I´m going to get used to these situations," Gulbis said. "For me, I take only the positive stuff out of it. Yeah, I need to be in these situations once, twice, three times, and then I can maybe make that extra step."

Djokovic, however, is playing even better. He has won three titles so far this season, and has beaten Nadal the last four times they have played, including on clay in the final in Rome last month. (AFP)

Solar aircraft makes successful debut

PAYERNE: A sun-powered plane made a successful test flight in Switzerland on Monday, clearing a vital hurdle towards its goal of a round-the-world trip next year, its pilot said.

Solar Impulse 2 carried out a flight lasting two hours and 15 minutes, half an hour longer than scheduled, he said. "Everything worked as expected," German pilot Markus Scherdel told a press conference in Payerne, central Switzerland. "Of course, we have to do more testing, but it´s a good start and I´m looking forward to flying the airplane the next time," he said.

Built from carbon fibre, the 2.3-tonne plane has four electrical motors powered by 17,248 solar cells studding its fuselage and 72-metre (234-feet) wingspan. It is the successor of Solar Impulse, a record-breaking craft that in 2010 notched up a 26-hour flight, proving its ability to store enough power during the day to keep flying at night.

The forerunner was put through its paces in Europe, crossed the Mediterranean to reach Morocco and traversed the United States last year without using a drop of fossil fuel. The goal with Solar Impulse 2 is to fly non-stop for more than 120 hours -- five days and five nights -- enabling it to cross the Pacific and Atlantic on its global flight. The operation will begin in the United Arab Emirates in March 2015 and circle the globe eastwards, making numerous stops on the way.

PHC makes three army officers party

PESHAWAR: The Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Mazhar Alam Miankhel, observed on Tuesday that those in charge of internment centres were not producing the record of internees intentionally.

“The record of the internees is not being provided intentionally to the court. Everyone is giving replies in the court and denying the presence of missing persons but the court would know through the record of internment centres which law-enforcement agency is involved and has shifted the missing persons to the internment centres,” the PHC chief justice observed during the hearing of the missing persons cases.

The chief justice remarked that all those officials from the police, intelligence agencies and military, who are submitting replies of denial on affidavits in the court, would face action once it was proved that they were involved in the missing persons cases.

During the hearing of 25 missing persons cases, all the officials of the police, Military Intelligence (MI) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in most cases submitted replies on affidavits claiming ignorance about the whereabouts of the missing persons.

However, the bench comprising the chief justice and Justice Malik Manzoor Hussain issued notices to military officers and directed Major Irfan to submit replies of military officers through the General Headquarters (GHQ) before the next hearing as there were specific allegations against them for taking away the missing persons.

The bench issued notices to Colonel Arshad and Major Dilawar of the 1st Baloch Regiment Unit of Pakistan Army and directed them to explain their position in replies through the GHQ before the next hearing as there were specific allegations against them for picking up Muhammad Khan, the husband of the petitioner Naik Seerata, a resident of Ouch area, Lower Dir district, on June 29, 2009.

The bench also issued notices to former councillor Muhammad Ali and two elders, Shahzeb and Muhammad Zeb, to appear in person at the next hearing as it was on their assurance that the missing person Muhammad Khan was handed over to the military officers.

In another case, the bench issued notices to Colonel Zafran, Major Mohsin and Subedar Ameer of the 10 Punjab Regiment of Pakistan Army and asked Major Irfan to ensure submission of their replies through the GHQ before the next hearing of the case.

The father of a missing person, Umar Gul, in his petition claimed that the army personnel picked up his son on June 12, 2013 from the Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency and since then his whereabouts were not known. “I fought alongside the Pakistan Army in the 1965 War. But today our own army picked up my innocent son and my family doesn’t know if he is alive or dead,” the elderly man told the bench.

The chief justice told Major Irfan to notice the agonies of the person and inform the high-ups of the plight of the old parents of missing persons.

The bench also issued a notice to Captain Shah Faisal of 56 Baloch Regiment deployed in Hangu and directed him to submit his reply through the GHQ before the next hearing. Abdul Samad, the son of a missing person Qazi Rehman, had filed the petition and claimed that his father was picked up by an army officer at the Atiq Army check-post in Hangu district on January 31, 2014 and since then his whereabouts were not known.

The bench also issued a show-cause notice to secretary Home and Tribal Affairs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to appear in person as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him for non-compliance with the court’s orders in the missing persons cases.The bench in some cases sought replies from ministries of Interior and Defence and adjourned the cases to July 1, 2014.

Malala makes it again to Time’s 100

NEW YORK: Malala Yousafzai is among the world’s most influential people, according to a list published by the Time magazine on Saturday.

Malala, 16, is the only Pakistani on the list of people, who according to the magazine have inspired others around the world.

The list also includes a profile by another star, explaining why the person deserves a spot.

Former US Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford who was shot in the head in Tuscon, Arizona, in 2011 paying tribute to Malala praises the Pakistani activist’s courage and resilience.

Gifford wrote for Time that she, like many people, draws inspiration and strength from Malala Yousafzai, who was also shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012.

“Malala is a testament that women everywhere will not be intimidated into silence.” “I have seen courage in many places, but Malala’s courage is uncommon,” Giffords wrote.

In July, Malala spoke at the UN and reminded viewers that everyone’s voice matters in the fight for education. “One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world.”

The teen activist, who published her first book I Am Malala in October, was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize last year.

Giffiord wrote, “I have seen courage in many places in the thousands of our nation’s military members I have met and represented; in those who ran toward the gunfire in a Safeway parking lot on January 8, 2011; and in our leaders who take the tough votes because it’s the right thing to do, but Malala’s courage is uncommon.”

“In the face of oppression and bitter injustice, she demands education and opportunity. In the face of violence from the hands of cowards, she refuses to back down.”

Malala was also selected to write the profile of former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, a potential presidential candidate in the next election, who also figures on the list of world’s most influential people, calling her “a symbol of strength for women across the world”.

The Pakistani activist wrote, “It was she (Clinton) who famously said, ‘Women’s rights are human rights’. She not only spoke those words, but also dedicated her life to empowering women around the world through politics and philanthropy. She has been a source of strength for many women, including myself, my family and those who stood by me after I was attacked.”

Samsung Galaxy S5 makes global debut

SEOUL: The latest version of Samsung's flagship Galaxy smartphone went on sale worldwide Friday, days after the electronics giant announced it was facing a second consecutive quarter of profit decline.

The Galaxy S5 has a lot riding on it to steer the South Korean firm's profit-making machine back on track as growth in smartphone sales slows, with mature markets like North America and Europe near saturation.

Reviews of the S5 have mostly concluded that it is one of the best high-end smartphones on the market, but there is also a general consensus that it lacks the "wow" factor needed to differentiate it from its predecessors and competitors.

"It can swim, but it won't make any waves," was the verdict of the Wall Street Journal, referring to one innovation in the S5's waterproof covering.

"The Galaxy S5 is a good phone. It earns an unreserved recommendation," said the Washington Post.

"But the truth of the matter is that there's really nothing here that's worth breaking your contract to buy," it added.

Samsung's mobile unit has been the driving force behind the record profits of recent years, and it needs the S5 to perform well as a retort to doom-mongers who say the company lacks a clear strategy to flourish in an increasingly competitive, saturated market.

Samsung made more than 30 percent of all smartphones sold in the world last year, nearly twice the share of its arch-rival Apple.

But on Tuesday, the company estimated its first quarter operating profit at 8.4 trillion won ($7.96 billion), marking a second straight year-on-year decline.

As well as the constant challenge from Apple, Samsung has had to face the rapid expansion of smaller rivals like China's Huawei, which has pressured it into rolling out cheaper handsets to woo consumers in emerging markets, especially China.

-- Falling smartphone prices --

In a sign of the challenge the company faces, the S5 was priced lower at its commercial launch Friday than the previous S4 model.

Research firm IDC estimated the average selling price of smartphones will fall to $265 globally by 2017 from $337 in 2013 and $387 in 2012.

Samsung is believed to have reduced its marketing spend on the S5 and is also under pressure to set aside more cash for legal bills as years-long patent battles against Apple continue.

The two have locked horns in patent suits in several nations involving design and technologies on their smartphones and tablet computers.

A fresh patent trial opened in the United States last week, with Apple vowing to prove that Samsung flagrantly copied iPhone features and should pay more than $2 billion in damages.

Major handset makers have recently stepped up efforts to develop wearable devices, seen as a new source for growth -- though few have managed to garner large consumer excitement or sales.

Samsung's first Internet-enabled smartwatch, introduced last September, was greeted coldly by consumers who viewed it unfashionable. Its second edition, the Gear 2, was launched in February.

Apple is believed to be planning its own smartwatch launch soon, while Google is moving towards a wider consumer launch of its Internet-enabled eyewear Glass.

 

Ungrateful Nargis Makes Akshay Furious

Nargis' performance in Rockstar did not really go down too well with the audience and she has no takers. It's at this time Akshay Kumar gave her a three-film deal with his production house. She was the original choice for Khiladi 786 but then her agency made too many demands and Akshay dropped the idea of casting her. However, he gave her another opportunity with the remake of the 1982 film Shaukeen. The star though dropped the film like a hot potato when she got a role a Hollywood movie. She will make her Hollywood debut as a secret agent in a film to be directed by Paul Feig. Akshay we hear is quite furious about her move to quit his film and thinks she is ungrateful.

Anushka Makes Virat More Popular Than Dhoni?

Anushka Sharma and cricketer Virat Kohli are allegedly in a relationship. This seems to have made him rise in popularity especially on search engines. "A celebrity love-story-in-the-making linking actor Anushka Sharma's alleged visit to New Zealand last month (in February) to be with Virat Kohli sparked huge speculation about their alleged relationship which has also fuelled search spikes on Google," Google said in a statement.

Kat Kisses & Makes Up With Ranbir in Srilanka

Looks like the famous lover's tiff between Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor is finally over. There were rumours of how cracks had developed in their relationship and how they had even broken up. However, recently while Hrithik was shooting for Bang Bang, his co-star Katrina had some free time and flew down to Srilanka. We hear that she flew from Delhi to Colombo on March 1 and returned to Delhi to resume her shoot on March 4.