SC judgment wiped out any imaginary deal with Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: A landmark Supreme Court ruling that declared General (R) Pervez Musharraf as violator of the Constitution had wiped out the unimplemented parts, if any, of the “deal” which the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) government had worked out for his safe exit prior to his resignation as president in 2008.

All the judges of the apex court, sitting in one panel, handed down a historic judgment on July 31, 2009, which found the state of emergency imposed by Musharraf on November 3, 2007 as violative of the Constitution. It prescribed the former dictator’s trial for high treason under article 6 for suspending the Constitution in his capacity as the Chief of the Army Staff.

Under the deal that former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has talked about, Musharraf was given graceful exit out of the presidential office with an unusual guard of honour amid vociferous taunts and boos by different opposition parties.

This happened in August 2008 a few months after Gilani had assumed office of the prime minister and Asif Zardari was yet to be elected as the president. By virtue of his office, Gilani was mainly involved in talks with the establishment on Musharraf’s fate.

However, senior PPP leader Jehangir Badr has quickly contradicted him saying that the PPP had not signed any deal with Musharraf.

“Zardari had given two choices to General Ashfaque Parvaz Kayani that either Musharraf should resign or be prepared for impeachment,” he said.

What weight and worth Gilani’s assertions may carry when they have been denied by a senior party stalwart, who enjoys the confidence of the top PPP leaders including Zardari and Bilawal.

However, at the time there was an unwritten understanding between the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) that they would mutually decide about their joint presidential candidate after Musharraf’s ouster. But the PML-N was stunned when Zardari put himself up as the contestant without consulting it. This created bad blood at the very outset. Not only the previous government gave Musharraf safe exit as per the deal but it also kept dragging its feet on enforcing the Supreme Court decision to try him for high treason for nearly four years till March 2013 when its term exhausted. He traveled out of Pakistan without any hindrance by the government.

He comfortably lived in and out of Pakistan, but he decided to return to Pakistan last year to contest the general elections. After that, his woes intensified and he is in deep trouble since then.

Whatever the deal, it was swept away by the PPP’s massive electoral defeat and PML-N’s convincing triumph.

In the meantime, while holding hearing on the case of implementation of its July 2009 judgment, the Supreme Court finally asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to arraign Musharraf on high treason charges or face contempt proceedings in the last quarter of the previous year. As a result, he was left with no choice but to order the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe the matter. Then, the case was filed with the special court, which will decide Musharraf’s fate.

“The responsibility of decision about the treason case is on the court; the judiciary is free,” Information Minister Senator Parvaiz Rashid says. “The complainant in Musharraf’s case is the State and not the government. It is up to the judiciary to decide if the steps taken on November 3 by Musharraf constitute a violation of article 6 or not.

If everyone is equal, then every citizen is answerable before the court of law.”

The Nawaz Sharif government denies that the PML-N was part of any deal that the PPP signed with the establishment on Musharraf in 2008.

If there is such an agreement, Musharraf should present it in court, Parvaiz Rashid stresses.

Gilani was right when he said that Musharraf stepped down after striking a deal that he would be given a safe exit. On his resignation, Musharraf was allowed such exit from Pakistan. However, Gilani slipped when he stated that after signing a deal with the establishment, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should not have violated it. Where is that accord?

“The establishment had also taken Nawaz Sharif into confidence at the time of striking the deal for Musharraf’s safe exit. At the time of the Bhurban Accord, when the issue of impeachment of Musharraf came up, the establishment contacted me as well as Nawaz Sharif and it was agreed that Musharraf would be provided a safe exit from Pakistan if he stepped down from the Presidency,” Gilani said.

World Cup 2014 enters knock out stage

SAO PAULO: The last 16 teams at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil have been decided, and the knockout rounds get underway on Saturday when Brazil take on Chile.

Notable casualties from the group stages include reigning champions Spain as well as Italy, England and Portugal.

Costa Rica were the surprise package in the first round, coming through on top of a group including the Three Lions, the Azzurri and South America's Uruguay.

Here is the full schedule for the last 16, the first stage where a loss categorically means returning home:

World Cup 2014: Last 16 Schedule

June 28 9pm PST Brazil vs. Chile
June 28 1am PST(Sunday) Colombia vs. Uruguay

June 29 9pm PST Netherlands vs. Mexico
June 29 1am PST(Sunday) Costa Rica vs. Greece

June 30 9pm PST France vs. Nigeria
June 30 1am PST(Sunday). Germany vs. Algeria

July 1 9pm PST Argentina vs. Switzerland
July 1 1am PST(Sunday). Belgium vs. USA

The Netherlands have so far looked one of the best sides in the tournament, winning all three of their games including a 5-1 demolition of Spain.

They take on a strong Mexico side—who held Brazil to a draw in Group A—in one of the last 16's best matchups, which could well go to extra time or penalties.

Colombia will be buoyed by the suspension of Uruguay's Luis Suarez, per FIFA World Cup, and should see themselves through to the quarter-finals as a result. They have been one of the tournament's standout teams so far, impressing with their attacking flair.

One of Costa Rica or Greece will also make the last eight, having both upset the odds to make it out of the group stages to the surprise of many.

Many people's favourites for the competition, Argentina, face a Switzerland side who have bucked their previous trends in the tournament so far, conceding plenty but also scoring more goals than many had expected.

Lionel Messi should have enough to inspire his side to victory but the Swiss have shown their quality and will present a stiff test.

The last 16 is where the World Cup really gets interesting. The games do not come quite as thick and fast, but they are of even greater importance as survival is on the line.

Apart from Spain, most of the pre-tournament favourites still remain and the quality of football is likely to only get better as the competition moves forward and last-eight places are on the line.

Why is Dr Qadri being singled out?

ISLAMABAD: The gearing up of FIA to probe financial matters of Dr Tahirul Qadri is a case of political victimisation as this initiative was not taken by the government as a routine matter but following the recent launch of anti-government campaign by Qadri.
There may have been some dubious dealing on part of the PAT Chief but the initiation of investigations against Dr Qadri by the FIA at this stage speaks volumes about how the state institutions are still used as tools for political gains of the rulers.

The tax matters and financial dealings of many political figures including cabinet members, MPs, opposition leaders and others are doubtful but hardly in any case during the last one year of the present government’s tenure, the FIA has moved against any bigwig of Pakistani politics.

The FIA is one of the leading state agency that besides doing other jobs has also been mandated the role of checking corruption.However, after the creation of National Accountability Bureau, the FIA hardly did any major anti-corruption work. Instead, because of massive corruption, incompetency and politicisation of the FIA; the need for the creation of NAB was felt.

In its official website, the FIA defines its “Vision” as “A law enforcement agency which not only enjoys respect of the society, for its integrity, professional competence, and impartiality but also serves as a role model for provincial police forces.” However, in reality it continues to be used as a tool for political gains of the rulers.It is said that after the recent emergence of Dr Tahirul Qadri as an anti-government voice, the FIA all of a sudden woke up to initiate a probe into the financial matters of the PAT Moulana. Not only the details of money transferred by the PAT chief during recent years were collected but his tax matters and bank accounts were also probed.

Of late the FIA has approached the Election Commission of Pakistan to get Qadri’s nomination paper along with the details of his assets as were submitted by him while contesting the 2002 elections for the National Assembly. It is believed that the information gathered by the FIA is quite convincing to proceed against Qadri, however, there is no explanation as to why only Qadri and not others, and why at this point of time.

The recent killings at Model Town Lahore was also the consequence of the government’s drive to remove illegal encroachments of Minhjul Quran. The authorities were confronted by the Qadri followers, which led to a bloody clash between the two and culminated in the killing of more than 10 persons.

In that case too, the authorities decided to remove the years old encroachments of Minhajul Quran only at this time when Qadri emerged in a confrontational mood against the government.

It is suspected that Qadri is playing someone else’s game to derail the system but the dealings of Lahore municipal and police authorities as well as that of the FIA show the extent of the politicisation of the institutions.

Because of the politicisation, systems here have become non-responsive to general violators and corrupt etc. Any action taken is as per the wishes and whims of the rulers.All these proceedings against Qadri could be justified only if other influential tax evaders, money launderers, encroachers etc are also proceeded against.

Circles close to the federal government, requesting anonymity, told The News that it was wrong to assume that Dr Qadri was being singled out. They said that institutions like FIA could only proceed upon availability of some solid evidence and facts which, in the instant case, surfaced during recent active demonstration by him.

They said that the government institutions are working independently to their full capacity. The PML-N government and its Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had brought many members of the parliament into the tax net, the added.

Besides, they said, that the FBR was in action against private parties in cases of tax evasion and other financial issues and the same had also been reported by media. Two former prime ministers had also been proceeded against by the NAB.

Therefore the impression of sparing the influential figures and singling Dr Qadri out was incorrect, the circles maintained. The said that the government has hardly completed a year in office and its achievements on the issues mentioned above are unparalleled, they concluded.

Portugal beat Ghana 2-1 but fall out of World Cup

BRASILIA: Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner for Portugal as they beat Ghana 2-1 in Brasilia in Group G on Thursday but both sides still crashed out of the World Cup.

Ronaldo missed three chances with only goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda to beat that would have been enough to put his side into the last 16.An own goal from John Boye gave Portugal the lead before Asamoah Gyan equalised for the Black Stars.

Ronaldo scored the second half winner but he will be ruing the misses which left Portugal stuck behind second place United States on goal difference.

Germany won the group after beating he United States 1-0. (AFP)

Costa Rica beat Italy to advance and put England out

RECIFE: Costa Rica beat Italy 1-0 on Friday to secure their progress to the World Cup knockout stage from a Group D containing three previous winners and guarantee England´s first-round exit.

Captain Bryan Ruiz met Junior Diaz´s cross from the left with a great 44th-minute header to cap an excellent first-half display by his team, who had a strong penalty claim turned down moments earlier.

Mario Balotelli wasted two good early opportunities for the four-times winners but Italy failed to impose themselves on the game as the group outsiders played with confidence and control to claim their second victory.

Costa Rica lead the group on six points and go into the knockout stage for the second time.

Italy and Uruguay, who meet on Tuesday, each have three points but Italy´s superior goal difference means they need only a draw to go through. England, on zero points, are now certain to go out at the group stage for the first time since 1958. (Reuters)

Sri Lanka 257 all out against England

LEEDS: Liam Plunkett took his Test-best figures and Stuart Broad his second Test hat-trick as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 257 by England on the first day of the second Test at Headingley on Friday.

Fast bowler Plunkett, on his Yorkshire home ground, took five for 64 in only his second Test in seven years after he was recalled for the drawn first match of this two-Test series at Lord´s.

Broad, who previously took a hat-trick against India at Trent Bridge in 2011, became the first England bowler, and only the fourth in all to perform the feat twice in Tests, when he removed Kumar Sangakkara (79), Dinesh Chandimal (45) and Shaminda Eranga with successive deliveries split across two overs.

It was only the third Test hat-trick at Headingley after Broad´s England predecessors J.T. Hearne (against Australia in 1899) and Peter Loader (against the West Indies in 1957) also performed the feat at Yorkshire´s headquarters. (AFP)

Robson out for 19 in second England knock

LONDON: Australia-born Sam Robson fell for 19 in the second innings of his England debut in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord´s on Sunday.

The opener, on his Middlesex home ground, had been in for over an hour when he was late pushing forward uncertainly to Sri Lanka seamer Shaminda Eranga and was bowled off the inside edge by a delivery that nipped back after he´d left a significant gap between bat and pad.Robson faced 50 balls and struck two fours.

His exit meant Robson´s first Test had seen him score just 20 runs in total after he was caught behind for one off Nuwan Pradeep in England´s first innings 575 for nine declared.

Robson´s dismissal on Sunday left England 51 for two, an overall lead of 173 in the first of a two-match series.

Previously, Eranga also had England captain Alastair Cook caught behind for 28 as he removed both openers in a burst of two wickets for one run in 10 balls.

The 24-year-old Sydney-born Robson, the son of an English mother, was selected for a Test debut after England dropped Michael Carberry following their 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia.

Although there was some controversy regarding his decision to opt for England, Robson said last week when the squad was announced that he felt no conflict of loyalties.

"I grew up in Australia until I left school but moved here when I was 18 and have lived here for my whole adult life really," Robson told BBC Radio. "This is my home; this is where my cricket has taken me.

"I love living in London; I love England, and this is where my life is," he insisted. (AFP)

The immediate agenda to get us out of this mess

DUBAI: This may sound a bit drastic to many interested parties and vested interests and some may say I have gone out of my mind, but the fact is that Pakistan and its critical institutions have collapsed and it is now time for a major, immediate, almost earthshaking, political and administrative renovation effort, to get back control before everything spins out of hand.
This major effort would need input and agreement of everyone, whether within or even slightly outside the strict ambit of the constitution and whether someone likes it or not. Legal or judicial approval has to be and will be quickly obtained for this effort.

This has to be done quickly as the military launches a decisive operation against the terrorists, now in close coordination with the US/Nato help, definitely inviting a severe blow back from terrorists all round the country.

Politicians who know or have been given hints and desperate political forces have already launched what they think would be a decisive strike against the existing inefficient and collapsing political set up. Once these forces get unleashed, the steering wheels would get jammed and there would be no going back.

The collapse that I am talking about is at various levels and these include:

- Non-existent civilian control, direction, vision and responsibility on matters of national importance and survival, including national security, safety and protection of the people and safety of vital institutions, installations and organisations.

- Failure of parliament, federal and provincial governments to inspire confidence and give hope in the present supposedly democratic system, elected though it may be but dysfunctional as it is.

- Lack of leadership by giving confidence and assurance to the people that this leadership can handle and protect national, regional and international geo-political and strategic interests of the country.

- Failure to provide for the day to day lives of the people, their present, their future, their economy, education, health or whatever. The sense of despair has aggravated beyond limits.

- Failure of governments, political parties and organisations to take a high moral ground by taking control and accepting responsibility or carrying out any accountability at any level, be it for failure to perform their duty or for financial loot and plunder, in the past or the present.

- There is not one case when anyone in authority has taken responsibility for any big or small blunder or lapse whether while running the government, managing the economy or providing security.

- Failure of government and politicians to frame policies without keeping personal vested interests in mind. Every party, big or small has been showing lack of leadership and confidence, taking major and minor U-Turns and demonstrating a lack of wisdom, vision and authority. Except blaming others there is nothing common in uttered words and deeds and acts of omission and commission.

- Every major economic initiative has back-fired, including the hundreds of billions spent, almost wasted, on load shedding, circular debt, inflation, oil and gas prices, exports and remittances. At best the economy is drifting, big claims and fiddling with the figures apart.

- All government successes claimed have been in borrowing billions of dollars and signing long-term projects, which may end up in smoke if all other prerequisites like physical and economic security, infrastructure development and uninterrupted flow of goods and services, are not guaranteed. No one is in a position to do that.

- The military has been bogged down, unnecessarily on external, internal and even political fronts, pitched against the terrorists and the politicians lately, weakening its confidence and resolve at worst and confusing it at best. This is not a good sign for a major war against local and foreign terrorists that is about to be waged.

- With no one to lead, or take control or accept responsibility, the country is spiralling towards internal and social anarchy leading eventually to be declared a failed state.

-So what to do in such a mess. Here are some suggestions that are being discussed and debated in drawing rooms but many agree the time for action on these lines has come:

- An immediate declaration of national emergency is needed, administrative and constitutional

as well as on security and economic fronts.

- Security and running of all key installations must be handed

over to the army including airports, seaports, sensitive buildings like Parliament etc so that the verbal diarrhoea on the media exchanging blame and responsibility for failures can be avoided.

- Parliament should be suspended for six months to a year.

- Cabinet must be dissolved and a 10 to 12-member Emergency Council be set up, with honest, competent civilians (politicians or technocrats or both), representing each province and the centre, the judiciary and the army.

- This Council should hire competent, honest and experienced/tested people to run the affairs of key institutions and installations without political influence or favouritism. Short and Medium Term tasks should be given and strictly monitored. Those not up to the mark must be quickly replaced.

- Provinces should be handed over to similar Emergency Councils, with clean politicians, judges, technocrats and generals on the same pattern as the centre.

- The first task given to them should be to fight the terrorists and run the affairs through a clean, effective and transparent administration, with zero tolerance for corruption, past or present.

- All unnecessary and juicy mega projects must be scrapped or put on hold until the country settles down on the internal war front.

- The media should be told to understand the needs of the national emergency and cooperate.

- Politicians should be told to take a back seat for a while.

This agenda will, as obviously expected, be described by many as a recipe for a military takeover.

In fact what is needed is not a takeover but implementation of this agenda to prevent a military takeover.

Muscle and push to implement it must come from supporting political parties, the civil society, a responsible media, an understanding judiciary and a military not having political ambitions.The firepower to help this national agenda get on the track should be provided by the army, using force at times, if need be. The alternate to this will ultimately be a ruthless military intervention which no one will like. So better take a bitter pill now than face an invasive surgery soon.

Jennifer Lopez pulls out of WC opening ceremony

RIO DE JANEIRO: Pop superstar Jennifer Lopez has pulled out of the World Cup opening ceremony in Brazil, FIFA said Sunday, four days before the tournament kicks off.

Lopez, who recorded the official World Cup song, "We Are One," with rapper Pitbull and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte, had been due to perform with them at the opening ceremony in Sao Paulo but had to cancel, said the football governing body.

"For production issues, Jennifer Lopez, one of the artists of the official song ´We Are One,´ will not be able to perform at the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony," it said in a statement.

The 25-minute ceremony will feature 600 artists including acrobatic gymnasts, trampolinists, marshal arts-style capoeira performers and stilt walkers.

The grand finale will be a performance of "We Are One" -- now minus Lopez -- accompanied by Brazilian drumming collective Olodum. Pitbull did not let J-Lo´s withdrawal dampen his enthusiasm.

"To be performing ´We Are One´ to the world, especially in such a beautiful country like Brazil, is going to be a lot of fun. But more than this, it is going to show the world that music is the universal language," he said in a statement released by FIFA.

Lopez also missed the January event where Pitbull and Leitte unveiled plans for the song alongside FIFA officials in Rio de Janeiro.

More than 60,000 people will be in Sao Paulo´s Corinthians Arena to watch the ceremony and kick-off match between Brazil and Croatia.

Around a billion people are expected to tune in on TV worldwide. (AFP)

PML-N, JI agree to take country out of crisis

 

ISLAMABAD: On the directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Federal Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Railways Minister Saad Rafique and Special Assistant to PM Irfan Siddiqui met Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Siraj-ul-Haq.
During the meeting – also attended by JI leaders Liaquat Baloch and Mian Muhammad Aslam – the two parties agreed to make joint efforts to take Pakistan out of the crisis and continue interaction in future as well.

The two sides discussed matters pertaining to the political and security situation, developments taking place in Karachi and the local government polls.Earlier, the government formed a special committee to contact political and religious parties for consultation on the current political situation of the country.

The committee comprises Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Irfan Siddiqui.The committee has contacted the Awami National Party (ANP). ANP leader Zahid Khan told a private TV channel that Khawaja Saad had contacted his party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan on the telephone and sought time for a meeting. However, the time and venue for the proposed meeting had not been decided as yet. Zahid said the committee wanted a discussion on the overall affairs of the country.Meanwhile, sources say the committee also contacted Haji Adeel of the ANP and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah, who belongs to the PPP.

France´s Ribery out of World Cup

PARIS: France´s World Cup hopes suffered a massive blow Friday when star winger Franck Ribery withdrew from the tournament because of a back injury that has virtually stopped him running.

The latest in a series of injuries to hit the 31-year-old Bayern Munich forward´s this year, flared up again Friday and forced the last-minute change on the shocked French camp. "We had stepped up his level of work this week and it was in a training session this morning, before even he could join team training, which involved him running and stepping up his routine that he pulled up with a sharp pain in his back," Deschamps told a press conference. "We had him undergo examinations which unfortunately confirmed that he had aggravated his back problem and there was no question of him being able to either train nor play," the coach added.

Ribery, who has scored 16 goals in 80 appearances for France, had said before the tournament that this would be his last World Cup.

Deschamps also announced that midfielder Clement Grenier would not be fit for Brazil because of a groin injury. He called up Montpellier´s attacking midfielder Remy Cabella and Southampton´s Morgan Schneiderlin as replacements.

Quitting the tournament completes a miserable six months for Ribery, veteran of the past two World Cups, who arrived at France´s training camp already laid low with the back pain.

His form even before that had dipped after he suffered depression, which he blamed on his failure to land the Ballon d´Or trophy for the world player of the year.

He finished third behind Portugal´s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina´s Lionel Messi.

Ribery underwent a buttock operation and his performances on his return to the Bayern team were way below his stunning displays in 2013 when Bayern won Europe´s Champions League and every Germany trophy.

The back problem plagued him into the dying weeks of the domestic season and prevented him from playing in Bayern´s two final Bundesliga matches.

He had not been fit to train even after he appeared in Bayern´s German Cup final win over Borussia Dortmund on May 17.

His withdrawal means he misses also the chance to atone for his role in France´s humiliating 2010 World Cup finals campaign.

Ribery was part of the he French team that went on strike for a training session in protest at striker Nicolas Anelka being sent home for a foul-mouthed outburst against coach Raymond Domenech. Ribery was given a three game suspension for his role. But he returned to become a central figure in the French team.

The loss is a major blow to Deschamps as Ribery was one of only perhaps two world class players in the squad, with Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

Ribery has instilled fear into opposing teams for years with blistering runs as he displayed in the 2006 World Cup, playing a large part in France´s surprising acheivement in reaching the final.

The class that he was capable of and which France will miss was seen to devastating effect in the 2012-2013 season for Bayern Munich.

In a remarkable 12 months, Ribery -- whose face was scarred in a car crash as a child -- was arguably the standout player in a Bayern side that won the Champions League, Bundesliga, German Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup. (AFP)

'We are shutting down Geo out of respect for law’

KARACHI: “Although we don’t agree with Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) decision to suspend our license for 15 days, we are going to shut down our transmission out of respect for law,” said Geo News on Friday few hours after the media watchdog decision.

“We have received a letter from PEMRA asking us to shut down the channel. We are shutting down the channel and say you goodbye out of respect for law despite we don’t agree with the decision,” said Geo News.

Geo News has been shut down despite government’s repeated assurances that the channel would not be taken off the air.

Strategy chalked out to tackle anti-talks Taliban

 

ISLAMABAD: The government has prepared a strategy to tackle the Taliban who are not willing to take part in the peace talks.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting of the civil and military leadership here on Friday to review the security situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Balochistan.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Zahirul Islam, Chief of the General Staff Lt General Ashfaq Nadeem, Secretary to PM Javaid Aslam and Additional Secretary to PM Fawad Hasan Fawad.

The meeting prepared a strategy to deal with the Taliban unwilling to hold the peace talks with the government.The meeting also discussed the recent military action in North Waziristan, split within the Taliban leadership and prime minister’s visits to India and Afghanistan.

The interior minister briefed the meeting on the status of the Rapid Response Force being raised at the federal and provincial levels.The prime minister appreciated the improved coordination within the law enforcement and intelligence agencies in Balochistan, which has led to an improvement in the law and order situation there.

Imran out to support third force: Sethi

LAHORE: Senior analyst Najam Sethi said PTI chairman Imran Khan had decided to support the third force as some people in his party were advising him short-cuts.
Speaking in Geo News programme ‘Aapas Ki Baat’ on Sunday, Sethi said apparently Imran wanted to protest rigging in elections. “He moved the election tribunal and realised the process will take two years and then moved the Supreme Court which again sent him to the tribunal. He wanted verification in four constituencies and if rigging proved, he would declare the whole election a fraud and demand fresh polls. He wants the government to call new elections and its ouster if the government refuses it, so that new elections are held in a fair way,” he observed.

He said the timing of the move was intriguing as it would complete one year of the government. “However, there is some trouble as Tahirul Qadri will join him. Contrary to Imran, Qadri talks of a change of the system. Imran earlier supported democracy and Geo but now he has changed and blamed Geo for his defeat but he cannot explain it. There are also tensions between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the military leadership over the Musharraf case, Pak-India relations and talks with the Taliban. They are not on the same page. Then tensions arose between the army leadership and Geo and it appears the army is not willing to relent,” he added.

The noted analyst said some people were advising Imran Khan to exploit the differences between the prime minister and the army leadership, loadshedding and rigging in elections and launch a movement to bring the government on the back foot, even if violence occurred. “It is a dangerous situation,” he added. To a question, Sethi said Imran was targeting Geo to please the third force. “Geo has differences with the military leadership over Pak-India trade, friendship and Aman Ki Asha. Geo also had a difference of opinion with the military leadership on Musharraf’s trial. If some people are angry with the prime minister, they are also annoyed at Geo. The channel was a big target in the attack on Hamid Mir,” he elaborated.

To a question on talk of martial law in drawing-room debates, he said the prime minister should also think about it and remove misunderstandings with the military. To another question, he said it was difficult to remove an elected government. “The prime minister should act to defuse tensions with the military as it is also not good for the economy which is of prime importance today. The judiciary and the media should also not be weakened,” he added.

Posthumous Michael Jackson album due out May 13

NEW YORK: When Michael Jackson´s record label released his first posthumous album in a year after his 2009 death, producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins was asked to work on the project.

He declined.Years later, the hitmaker who worked heavily on Jackson´s 2001 comeback album "Invincible," says he´s finally comfortable again producing the King of Pop´s music.

He produced the title track from the upcoming album, "Xscape," out May 13.Says Jerkins: "I had a personal relationship with Michael, (so) it was about, ...´What would he want it to sound like now?´""Xscape" was executive produced by Timbaland and includes songs Jackson recorded in the 1980s and 1990s.

Some of the tracks are taken from early recording sessions for successful albums such as "Bad" and "Dangerous."

Pak journalist turns out to be Indian agent?

 

BAHAWALPUR: A Geo News cameraman was subjected to thrashing and a bid was made to snatch his camera here the other day.Geo News cameraman Asif Kabir was going to the channel’s office located in Model Town A, when three bike riders wearing helmets intercepted him.
The cameraman told this correspondent: “The three men called me a traitor and an Indian agent and assaulted me. They thrashed me and I received slaps and punches. I repeatedly told them that I’m a poor servant and have nothing to do with any issue but they never stopped and kept punching me. They also tried to snatch my camera.”The Geo cameraman said that when a car appeared on the spot, the three men escaped

Pakistan not doing much to root out terrorism: Dobbins

 

WASHINGTON: US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins has said that Pakistan is not taking appropriate measures to curb terrorism in the country as the religious seminaries (Madaris) in Fata and Balochistan were the cause of attacks inside Afghanistan and India.
He said that the relations between Pakistan and the US had become “abysmally low and gravely worst”. He said that Pakistan’s role in solution to the Afghan crisis was very vital.During the hearing into the Afghan crisis in the US Congress, Dobbins said that mutual confidence was lacking in the relationship between Pakistan and the US and so the ties of the two countries were facing a grave crisis. He said that both the countries had shared trade, economic, social and security interests.

Meanwhile, the US has ruled out any mediation on the Kashmir issue as long as India rejects such a proposal and asked Pakistan to avoid employing militancy as an instrument of state policy.

“As long as India rejects any actual mediation, there’s not much we can do in that regard specifically,” James Dobbins told Pakistan’s state-run television.“India has consistently rejected any third party mediation and argued that it is an issue that needs to be negotiated directly and without the participation of any third party. So they’ve rejected mediation,” said Dobbins, who was recently on a visit to Pakistan.

“I think as long as they reject mediation, there is only a limited amount that the US or any other party can do. We, certainly in our dialogue with Pakistan and India, encourage improved relations, improved trade relations, improved dialogue on strategy and military issues and we certainly encourage dialogue and negotiation on the territorial issues that separate the two countries,” he said.

Echoing India’s apprehensions about cross border terrorism, he said India was concerned about cross border militancy and terrorist attacks that had been conducted in India which they believed had their origin in Pakistani territory.

“I think as is the case with Afghanistan, this is something that is in everybody’s interest. I think all of the states of the region need to avoid employing militancy as an instrument of policy,” he said.

“This has been a long-term strategy which has created a cancer in societies and particularly in Pakistani society which is now threatening the actual existence of the state and its democratic institutions,” he said.“So it’s in the interest not just of Pakistan, but of all of its neighbours to move away from that approach to diplomacy and to geopolitical strategy, and to avoid employing these kinds of instruments and, as I’ve said, move towards the elimination of violent extremism in Pakistan and around Pakistan and all of the neighbouring societies,” Dobbins said.

Referring to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Dobbins said India would have a new government soon.“It will be a new opportunity. Pakistan now has a government that still has a long life in it with a clear political mandate,” he said.

“I think two governments with clear political mandates and a long future in each case offer an opportunity for both governments to take some of the risks and the political costs that are always inherent in any real opportunity to overcome differences. The US will certainly use its influence to encourage both the sides to take those risks,” he said.

Barack Obama gets a kick out of footballing robot

TOKYO: Barack Obama on Thursday came face to face with Japan's newest sporting phenomenon - an eerily realistic humanoid robot which can run, jump and enjoy a kickaround with the president of the United States.

The US leader marvelled at Asimo, a robot developed by Honda, as he highlighted Japanese technology and the potential for joint projects with US universities and firms on the first full day of his Asian tour.

He encountered Asimo, a robot which is about the size of a 10-year-old child in an astronaut suit, as he toured the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo.

"It's nice to meet you," the robot cheerily hailed Obama, prompting the amused president to reply "It's nice to meet you too."

Asimo then went through its paces for the president, showing off its realistic but somewhat spooky range of movements, before telling the US leader in its metallic voice: "I can kick a soccer ball too."

"OK, come on then," Obama said, bracing for a pass as the robot backed off to line up his shot before coming in and delivering a sharp kick, sending the ball towards Obama. He deftly controlled it with a shiny dress shoe.

"How about that? That was pretty impressive," Obama said, before the robot showed off its newest trick - jumping around the room.

Moments later, talking to students, Obama admitted: "I have to say the robots were a little scary, they were too lifelike."

Asimo is the latest prototype in a 20-year project by Honda to develop a humanoid robot that can be used as an aid for elderly people or to perform tasks hazardous to humans, like fighting fires or cleaning toxic spills.

According to the Honda website, the robot, controlled by a laptop computer over a wireless network, can climb stairs and grasp objects and is the first such machine that can actually run like a human.

Man City slips further out of title contention

MANCHESTER: The Premier League trophy could be out of reach for Manchester City after a 2-2 home draw with last-placed Sunderland on Wednesday that capped a demoralizing four days for title chasers.

Samir Nasri´s 88th-minute equalizer at Etihad Stadium will be of little consolation to City, which is now six points behind league leader Liverpool and four points behind second-place Chelsea.T

Third-place City has a game in hand but the surprise result against Sunderland, coupled with Sunday´s 3-2 loss at Liverpool, may be a setback too far in its bid for a second championship in three seasons. "I think we are more mentally tired than physically tired," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who is still not giving up hope. "Remember this team, two years ago, were six points behind the leaders and ... won the title at the end. So it is difficult, but it is not the last game we play."

Sunderland is six points from safety with a game in hand, but could have been a lot closer if goalkeeper Vito Mannone had gathered Nasri´s shot rather than fumbled it into the back of the net.

That could be the difference between staying in the Premier League and being relegated. "It´s one more blow," Sunderland manager Gus Poyet said. "I tell you what, I´m testing my heart this year."

Without the injured David Silva and Yaya Toure and with star striker Sergio Aguero lacking match sharpness, City lacked its usual creativity going forward and was sloppy in possession.

Fernandinho gave City the lead in the second minute, running onto a short pass from Aguero that was dummied by Alvaro Negredo and scoring inside Mannone´s near post, but Sunderland had the better of the chances for the rest of the first half.

Connor Wickham finally took one of them in the 73rd minute, volleying in a cross from substitute Emanuele Giaccherini, and the same players combined for Wickham´s second that came on the counter-attack in the 83rd.

City escaped with a point thanks to Nasri, but Liverpool and Chelsea will be celebrating another twist in the title race. "We believe we can win the title," Fernandinho said. "Chelsea and Liverpool have four games and they may drop some points — we think we can still win the title." (AP)

 

CIA’s Pakistan drone campaign carried out by US air force: Report

LONDON: A report published in ‘The Guardian’ reveals that a US air force unit in the Nevada desert is flying the CIA’s drone strike programme in Pakistan.

The report published in ‘The Guardian’ is based on a documentary ‘Drone’ in which former drone operators claimed that personnel from the US air force were flying the CIA’s Predator missions in Pakistan.

The documentary identifies the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron operating from a secure compound in Creech air force base in the Mojave Desert as the unit conducting CIA drone strikes in Pakistan.

The National Security Council and CIA declined to comment when approached by ‘The Guardian’ while the Pentagon did not respond.

A former US Predator operator, Brandon Bryant told the film he had decided to speak out after senior officials in the Obama administration gave a briefing last year in which they wanted to “transfer” control of the CIA’s secret drones programme to the military.

Bryants claims were corroborated by six other former drone operators who worked alongside the unit but none of them were prepared to go on the record.