When will the poor not sleep hungry, SC asks govt

 

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has summoned the final report from the Centre and the provinces on July 17 on the practical steps taken for the provision of flour to poor persons at subsidised rates.
Heading the bench, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked during the flour subsidy case the government should tell when the day will come when no poor will sleep hungry.He remarked “It seems as if we are measuring water. The court does not need empty consolations but it should be told about the practical steps. Officers should shun officialdom and adopt the norms of serving the common man. Extreme obsession is also needed along with sanity for addressing the problems facing the poor segments of the society.”

He remarked. “Running the government is the job of elected representatives of people. But getting articles 9, 14 and 38 implemented is our obligation. Nine months have passed but no workable solution is becoming visible in this respect. We will not allow the poor to die of hunger despite an abundant supply of wheat grains.”

Additional Attorney General (AAG) Attiq Shah and law officers of the provinces appeared in the court. Justice Khawaja remarked, “For how long this job will be done in the provinces? We want low priced atta is distributed among the poor and its monitoring is done. We have come tosuch stage where we don’t want empty consolations. We want work, not the committees.”

AAG Attique Shah said the government is working out how atta will reach the poor. This is issue of over 67 percent population of the country, he added. Justice Khawaja remarked, “We have vast experience of judicial review as we have been doing it for the last 40 years. We will conduct judicial review when the things come before us. You all please sit together and resolve this matter. It was told by Punjab that chief minister is on the visit to China and he has however directed the concerned authorities to gear up all efforts. Tell us outline of the solution at least.”

The authorities concerned said it is being considered to use Watan card for this purpose. Justice Khawaja remarked, “There should be online system. Don’t tell more about subsidy. Tell us about proposals. Running the government is your job.”

He said the whole exercise will be of no use if deserving people don’t benefit from it. He said in his remarks that the case hearing has been ongoing since October 2013 but no steps are being taken.

He ordered all four provinces to come up with a joint solution.He said that he is aware there are difficulties, adding that the solutions to those difficulties are also available.

ISIL militants declare Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as the caliph

BAGHDAD: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Sunni militants fighting across Syria and Iraq – have proclaimed the establishment of a “caliphate” in a move that experts say could signal the birth of a new era of transnational jihadism.

Now calling itself the Islamic State, the group has called on all other related Sunni factions, including al-Qaeda, to pledge their allegiance to the new state, which it says stretches from Aleppo in Syria to Diyala in Iraq. Put simply, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has declared war on Al-Qaeda.

In a statement distributed online on Sunday – the newly-minted Islamic State declared its chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as "the caliph" and "leader for Muslims everywhere". Baghdadi is thought to be the leader and strategic thinker behind ISIL.

Its announcement that it has restored the Caliphate “is likely the most significant development in international jihadism since 9/11,” said Charles Lister, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Centre who studies jihadist groups.

The impact of this announcement will be global as al-Qaeda affiliates and independent jihadist groups must now definitively choose to support and join the Islamic State or to oppose it.”

The group’s statement – translated from Arabic into English, French, Russian and German – made it clear it would perceive any group that failed to pledge allegiance an enemy of Islam,” Mr Lister said.

Already, this new Islamic State has received statements of support and opposition from jihadist factions in Syria, he confirmed.

Released on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the statement establishing a caliphate, a system of rule that ended nearly 100 years ago with the fall of the Ottoman Empire, reads: “Here the flag of the Islamic State … rises and flutters. Its shade covers land from Aleppo [Syria] and Diyala [Iraq].

“The infidels are disgraced. The Sunnis are masters and are esteemed. The people of heresy are humiliated. The Sharia penalties are implemented, all of them.

“The front lines are defended, crosses and graves demolished. Governors and judges have been appointed, a tax has been enforced and courts will resolve disputes and complaints.”

ISIL, also known as ISIS, already controls large swathes of northern Iraq after a sustained assault which began with the overthrow of Iraqi control of the country’s second largest city of Mosul, near the Syrian border, on June 9.

Over the last two years it has established a strong presence in parts of Syria, controlling key oil fields in eastern Syria in the area bordering Iraq, levying taxes and other penalties and implementing strict Sharia law on besieged communities.

“Geographically, ISIS is already fully operational in Iraq and Syria; it has a covert presence in southern Turkey, appears to be establishing a small presence in Lebanon; and has supporters in Jordan, Gaza, the Sinai, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere,” Mr Lister said. “This could well be the birth of a totally new era of transnational jihadism.”

The announcement was also interpreted as a threat to al-Qaeda and its long-held position of leadership of the international jihadist cause.

“Put simply, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has declared war on al-Qaeda.”

Baghdadi took over the group in 2010. Back then ISI, as it was known, was aligned to al-Qaeda and in a weakened state following a surge of US forces deployed to Iraq and the coalition of Sunni tribal groups that fought against al-Qaeda’s presence in the country. But under his leadership the group thrived and is now believed to be the wealthiest militant organisation in the world with assets in the billions, “simultaneously implementing harsh mediaeval justice and a whole range of modern social services”, Mr Lister said.

Relations between between ISIL and its prior incarnations and al-Qaeda have been fraught with distrust, open competition, and outright hostility, said Aaron Zelin, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, describing the two groups as “now in an open war for supremacy of the global jihadist movement”.

ISIL “holds an advantage but the battle is not over yet,” he wrote in the institute’s journal.

Meanwhile, a fierce battle raged in the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit after the Iraqi military, backed by Shiite militia, launched an offensive to try to take back Tikrit from Sunni insurgents after they lost control of the area on June 11.

And while the military and Iraqi state television claimed security forces had cleared the centre of the city of militants, it appeared the army had been pushed back 15 kilometres from the city as the insurgents fought back, Tikrit residents said.

CJP says intolerance is the real threat to democracy

LAHORE: Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani said on Saturday that the real threat to democracy and rule of law in the country stems from intolerance.

Addressing a ceremony in honour of Justice Umar Atta Bandial being elevated to the Supreme Court, the CJP said Pakistan lacks a culture of tolerance.

Chief Justice Jillani added that independence of the judiciary could not only be achieved through what was written in the constitution and it was essential to restore the trust of people in the justice system.

According to the CJP it is required that the authority of law and supremacy of constitution be established in the country.

I´m not the retiring type, says Venus

LONDON: Defiant Venus Williams made it clear she has no intention of retiring following her painful Wimbledon exit.

Venus´s 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 third round defeat against fellow former champion Petra Kvitova on Friday means the five-time Wimbledon winner has failed to reach the last 16 at a major since 2011.

At 34, Venus was the oldest woman left in the Wimbledon singles and, plagued for the last three years by Sjogren´s Disease -- an immune system disease that leaves her battling fatigue and joint pain -- she hasn´t won a Grand Slam since securing the last of her seven major titles in 2008 at Wimbledon.

That has led to plenty of talk that Venus will opt to retire sooner rather than later and she was again quizzed about her plans for the future following the loss to Kvitova.

But Venus, in her 17th Wimbledon appearance, had made it to the last 32 at a major for the first time since the 2013 Australian Open and took heart from the way she gave a glimpse of her former glories to push the higher ranked Kvitova all the way.

"No, people have been trying to retire me since I was like 25. For some reason in tennis we always do that to our players," Williams said when asked if this might have been her Wimbledon farewell.

"I´m finding my way back on my feet. I´m proud of myself for what I´m achieving on the court.

On this form, Williams has every reason to feel she can still compete with the best and she is determined to mount a strong challenge for more major titles in the future.

"I want to win Grand Slams. Everybody does. You don´t get ´em easily," she said."Look at what happened today. No one gives it to you. They snatch it away and say ´Mine´.

That ferocious desire for success was on full display as 30th seed Williams gave one of her best displays for years against Kvitova in a high-quality encounter in front of an enthralled Centre Court crowd. And rather than be content with putting up a good fight, she was adamant that the sting of defeat was still as painful as it was during her prime. (AFP)

Finance ministry challenges figures given in report by The News

ISLAMABAD: The finance ministry has issued a rebuttal to the report in The News titled “GDP Growth Worked Out?” written by Khalid Mustafa, published on June 23, and called it misleading and based on an ignorance of the system of computation of GDP estimates followed in Pakistan as well as internationally.

It said the reporter is harping on the issue that the GDP growth number for 2013-14 are much lower than those estimated by the PBS.

This issue has already been responded by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) in different newspapers.“It is clarified that annual estimates of GDP as well as GFCF for the year 2011-12 (Final), 2012-13 (Revised) and 2013-14 (Provisional) were approved by the National Accounts Committee (NAC) Meeting on 15th May, purely on the basis of data available up to that point of time and not in accordance with the desires of any one in the government hierarchy. The data for the balance of the year is projected, which is the reason that these numbers are provisional and remain provisional till full data becomes available over the following months.

The correspondent has also commented on the quarterly GDP estimates.

The first quarter growth and the second quarter/mid-year growth, both were released by PBS; one is acceptable to the writer while the other is not. The IMF accepted the figure of PBS which should be ample proof of the reliability of the statistics released by PBS.

As far as the question of withholding the information of large scale manufacturing is concerned, it is completely baseless. The Quantum Index Manufacturing Industries (QIM), the indicator being used to measure the performance of this sector, is compiled on the basis of information received from three major sources including Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC), Ministry of Industries and Provincial Bureau of Statistics which takes time and is published after certain time lag. The latest available information was up to the month of February, 2014 was used to derive the estimates of large scale manufacturing which were approved by the NAC. Further, the writer has completely misstated the facts by quoting that the budgeted PSDP of Rs1150 billion has been used in the compilation of value addition of construction. The fact is that total value addition of construction sector even at current prices is Rs494.3 billion; therefore, the question of inclusion or exclusion of these PSDP figures is not relevant.

The correspondent has also mistakenly attributed the profits of commercial banks with the value addition of finance and insurance sector. The value addition of this sector, being compiled through Financial Intermediaries Services Measured (FISM), is based on the amount of advances and loans and not on profits of banks.

The correspondent gives his verdict that the GDP growth is 3.5 %. He has not given any analysis to support his claim but has picked up a number that is being bandied about in the press. The commentators need to familiarise themselves with the methods of GDP computation before commenting on technical issues.

In connection with his view on budget number to show lower budget deficit; it is stated that writer’s view is not correct. PTA is a government authority responsible to collect the licensing / auction fees on behalf of the federal government and such auction fees on behalf of the federal government and such auction fees are always form part of the Federal Consolidated Fund. Similarly, the non-tax revenues receipts are revenue of the federal government administered by various ministries/divisions/departments and comprise of following main sources: i) Income from property and enterprise, ii) Receipts from civil administration and other functions, iii) Miscellaneous receipts.

The income from property includes the mark up recovered from the provinces and public sector enterprises, dividend and other receipts of the regulatory bodies. The receipts from civil administration comprise of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Profit, Defense Receipts, Law & Order Receipts etc.

The foreign grants are reflected under non-tax receipts according to the Chart of Accounts, as per International Best Practices. These are always form part of the federal government and the actual receipts under these heads can be verified from the historical data disseminated on the Website of the finance division.

Khalid Mustafa adds: I am grateful that the Ministry of Finance has given me the opportunity to further highlight the mistakes the government has committed in calculating the provisional GDP growth of current financial year 2013-14 at 4.1 percent. The article I wrote in Money Matters — the magazine of The News International which was published on June 23, is not misleading, rather it mirrors the manipulations done to show better GDP growth.

Some of the issues the finance ministry has raised in the clarification I have factually not mentioned in my article. For example, I have not mentioned anything about the revised GDP growth targets; rather I kept my focus on provisional GDP growth which the government has worked out based on the numbers of first 9 months of the current fiscal which suit the government.

Coming to paragraph three of the clarification, I know very well that PBS came out with the work-in-progress quarterly estimates of GDP and according to PBS calculations, as per the work in progress, the real GDP grew by 5.1% in the first quarter of 2013-14. The officials of PBS went to show this number to finance minister; because that was the first time they calculated quarterly GDP. The finance minister got excited knowing the fact that this is a work in progress and went ahead and informed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and leaked the number to the press.

It attracted widespread criticism from professional economists because the number was beyond their expectations. After that the finance minister started saying, “I don’t own this number, but at the same time I don’t disown this number.”

In the paragraph 4 of the clarification, finance ministry claimed that it has not withheld the information about Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM). I do not agree with the ministry as it has withheld the information of large manufacturing scale for the month of March that shows negative growth of 2.7% and for July-March period, the number was down to 4.3% as opposed to 5.3% used in calculation of the GDP keeping in view of the number of first 8 months not the 9 months. Here the government has visibly played the foul.

About the 11% growth in construction sector the government has worked out is highly questionable as there is no one-to-one correspondence between PSDP and value added in construction. It is known to everyone that construction growth is derived from the cement production and growth in cement production has alarmingly stayed at 0.13% which is almost flat. When there is flat growth in cement production, then how construction sector can grow by 11%. The 11% growth in construction sector becomes more controversial when the PSDP has already been slashed to Rs393 billion. Here I would appreciate if the government shares with the masses and with me the methodology of calculating value added in construction as the 11% growth in construction sector is not understandable. If the cement is not utilised, then what’s the rationale of 11% growth in construction? Here I’ll be happy to see the methodology used by the government.

In the clarification, the ministry has criticised the author of the article saying he had given his verdict that the GDP growth is 3.5% without any analysis to support his claim. Here I want to clarify that I have mentioned 3.5% growth with supporting facts by stating both saving and investment have declined sharply compared to last year. How on the earth, GDP growth can accelerate in the midst of declining saving and investment rate. I will appreciate if the government clarifies this anomaly.

In the clarification the ministry stated that writer’s view is not correct on government’s intention to show the better growth arguing that PTA is a government authority responsible to collect the licensing / auction fees on behalf of the federal government and such auction fees on behalf of the federal government and such auction fees are always form part of the Federal Consolidated Fund. Similarly, the non-tax revenues receipts are revenue of the federal government administered by various ministries/divisions/departments and comprise of following main sources.

Here I clearly want to mention that I did not raise the said issue what clarification says. However, I did mention about the utilisation of Universal Services Fund (USF) for which cellular companies contribute a certain portion of their profits. USF is meant for infrastructural development in telecommunication sector and the huge amount in the fund was accumulated over the last several years and how can the government use the resources accumulated over the years in just one year. To the best of my knowledge, cellular companies have already gone to Supreme Court and challenged the taking over of this amount as non-tax revenue.

In the last paragraph of the clarification, the finance ministry says that the foreign grants are reflected under non-tax receipts according to the Chart of Accounts, as per International Best Practices. If this is the best international practice, then why does IMF treat fiscal deficit separately with and without foreign grants.

The Finance Division is best advised to look at the IMF program document. By treating foreign grants as revenue, the government has eliminated the difference and readers can see in the IMF document, particularly in fiscal table that foreign grants appear as separate line item and has never been treated as part of non-tax revenue.

Therefore, the author stands by its article.

Qadri tells followers he has returned to fight the war for Pakistan

LAHORE : Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahir-ul-Qadri says that even in the face of political highhandedness, he is present among his people.

Addressing his party workers and followers at the Minhaj-ul-Quran International secretariat in Lahore, Qadri paid high accolades to the independent electronic and print media in Pakistan terming them his “revolutionary army” adding that now the world will witness the Pakistani revolution.

The PAT chief added that the Almighty has given him wealth, respect and recognition but he has come to Pakistan for the people of this country whose future has become bleak due to the corrupt system.

He told his followers that soon the government will be toppled and the leaders will be held accountable, taunting that he can be killed but the revolution will not be stopped.

He termed the present leaders thugs and criminals, taunting again that his war is with them and the fight will continue till only a victor is left standing.

Tahir-ul-Qadri promised his followers that he will not let the corrupt leadership flee from the country; he will hold them accountable and send them behind bars.

He announced that after consultations with political forces he will give the final call for the revolution.

Why does Qadri want to land in the capital, asks Nisar

 

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday questioned the intentions of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri for landing in Islamabad while he had planned to proceed to Lahore.
“There should be no doubt that no one will be allowed to conduct any march on Islamabad in the guise of a rally or sit-in,” Chaudhry Nisar said in a statement from his office after a high-level meeting called to discuss security matters relating to Dr Tahirul Qadri.

The minister said due to severe security threats, it was the responsibility of the government to safely guide Dr Qadri and his companions to Lahore.The minister said everyone was allowed to take part in political gatherings but lawful action would be taken against those intending to destablise the government through unconstitutional means.

Nisar said that currently the attention of all the security institutions was towards the war against terror, and it was beyond understanding why Tahirul Qadri wanted to create a disturbance at this critical moment.

It is understood that once Dr Qadri lands in Islamabad, he will be immediately dispatched to Lahore by air. He will have to face some questioning about allegations of money laundering at the airport by the officials concerned before proceeding, the sources said.

The government has decided to keep the federal capital an ‘out of bounds area’ for processions and any huge rally that could be termed a ‘long march’. The government in close and extensive consultations at the high-level has reached the conclusion that Islamabad being the seat of power of the federal government must be protected against any agitation since such activities become a symbol of the erosion of the authority of the administration.

APP adds from Lahore: A spokesman for the Home Department Punjab said Dr Qadri was facing a security threat.He said after the military operation in North Waziristan, terrorists had announced attacks on important political and religious leaders and added that there was also a threat of terrorism at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad and other airports.

The spokesman said terrorists could also target the slow moving convoy of the PAT on the GT Road. He said that leaders of the Tehrik-e-Minhajul Quran had been informed about the security threats.

Robson on the brink of maiden Test century

LEEDS: Australia-born opener Sam Robson was on the verge of his maiden Test hundred as England closed in on Sri Lanka´s first innings total in the second Test at Headingley on Saturday.

England were 211 for two in reply to Sri Lanka´s first innings 257, a deficit of 46 runs, at tea on the second day.

Robson was 98 not out, having put on 142 with Gary Ballance (74) for the second wicket after England captain Alastair Cook had been dismissed early in the day´s play.

Ian Bell, in his 100th Test, was eight not out. Robson was left two runs shy of a coveted century when, to the last ball before tea, he played defensively to Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews.

England resumed Saturday on 36 without loss after bowling out Sri Lanka on Friday, with Yorkshire fast bowler Liam Plunkett taking Test-best figures of five for 64 and Stuart Broad the second hat-trick of his Test career.

Cook was 14 not out, having survived an appeal for a catch by Kumar Sangakkara in the slips on five when replays were inconclusive. But there was no doubt when Cook, who had added just three runs to his overnight score, felt uncertainly for the ball outside off stump and edged Dhammika Prasad to Sangakkara at first slip. That meant in 23 innings since compiling the last of his England record 25 Test hundreds at Headingley last year, Cook had scored 585 runs at a modest average of 25.43.

England were now 49 for one. But Robson, 21 not out overnight, confidently off-drove Shaminda Eranga for four in what was an important innings after his England debut at Lord´s yielded scores of just one and 19.

Meanwhile left-hander Ballance, on his Yorkshire home ground and fresh from his maiden Test hundred at Lord´s, uppercut seamer Nuwan Pradeep and swept spinner Rangana Herath for well-struck fours.

Robson´s edged boundary off Pradeep saw him to fifty in 102 balls including eight fours. At lunch, England were 106 for one with Robson 55 not out and Ballance 30 not out. Ballance had added just one to his lunch score when rapped on the pad by left-arm spinner Herath.

New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden upheld Sri Lanka´s lbw appeal but England challenged and, with tracking technology indicating the ball would have turned past leg stump, Zimbabwe-born Ballance survived. And, to the delight of the crowd, Ballance went on to complete a 116-ball fifty with his seventh four, a cut off Pradeep.Robson, increasingly confident, went down the pitch to Herath and lofted the bowler high back over his head for a boundary.
Ballance had another reprieve when on 61, he was dropped at short leg off the inside edge by Kaushal Silva, with Herath again the luckless bowler.

Robson, on 78, also had a moment of good fortune when hit on the pad by paceman Prasad. But Sri Lanka, thinking he´d jammed down with his bat didn´t appeal although replays indicated the ball would have hit the bottom of middle stump.

Mathews brought himself on, with England 183 for one off 65 overs. And the all-rounder´s ninth ball did the trick, Ballance edging a good-length delivery to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal, recalled after Prasanna Jayawardene broke a finger at Lord´s. (AFP)

Punjab CM shows law minister the door

 

LAHORE: After an announcement from Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday evening, Punjab Minister for Law and Local Government Rana Sanaullah Khan resigned from the cabinet, while Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr Tauqir Shah was also removed in the wake of the Model Town incident.
Shahbaz Sharif, during a press conference on Friday evening, claimed that steps had been taken to fulfil the norms of justice. Shahbaz said Rana Sanaullah was his close friend and had rendered invaluable services for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He said when there was a martial law in the country, Rana Sana was in jail. Similarly, he added, Dr Tauqir was like his younger brother and he had been performing his duty honestly and devotedly for the last 15 years. After Rana Sana’s resignation, Education Minister Rana Mashood has been given the additional charge of law and local government departments.

The Punjab chief minister said tough decisions had to be taken for upholding the norms of law and justice as he considered himself answerable to Almighty Allah, the people and history. Shahbaz said he had full confidence in high court and ifapplication in the Supreme Court for the change of judicial commission. He said if the SC took suo moto notice of the incident, even then he had no objection.

Shahbaz said he was grieved at the tragic incident and, to fulfil requirements of justice, he had formed a judicial commission. He said the case registered against sons of Tahirul Qadri was withdrawn the same night. He said with the blessings of Allah Almighty, he survived a deadly disease like cancer and returned to the country and started serving masses. He said his six years’ tenure as Khadim-e-Aala Punjab was before the people. Shahbaz said he was the person who served the affected people round-the-clock during flood and other natural calamities. He said he always helped the oppressed whether cruelty was committed against girls in Sahiwal or in Muzaffargarh and spared no effort to take to task the powerful and cruel people.

The CM said those doing politics of dead bodies were levelling allegations against him that God forbid he was involved in the murder of the innocent people. He said when 42 people were killed in Karachi in 2007, those shedding crocodile’s tears and “Shaikh-e-Haram were celebrating Jashan with those waving fist in Islamabad”. He asked where those people were at that time who were now talking about justice and demanding resignations. Shahbaz said his past stood witness to the fact that he never compromised on justice and reiterated that he would not take rest till justice was provided in the Lahore incident. He said orders had been issued for immediate arrest of those who opened fire on innocent citizens and all-out steps would be taken to uphold the norms of justice. He said he would not compromise nor allow any hindrance in the way to justice.

Shahbaz said the day was very unfortunate for him when he put behind the bars his own son-in-law with handcuffs. He said God forbid such a time came to even an enemy. He said he was not praising himself but giving an example so that no one should raise a finger at him and those criticising him should know about his character. Shahbaz said he wanted that only doing justice was not enough but it should be seen being done so.

Replying to questions of journalists, the CM said he was not taking a defensive position and he had no concern with the demands of Shaikh-e-Haram. He said when the country was passing through difficult times and he was going to every nook and cranny of the province including Rahim Yar Khan, DG Khan and Muzaffargarh to help the people, those enjoying cool breeze and recreational foreign trips were saying that he was doing jugglery. The CM said by the grace of Almighty Allah the south Punjab gave the PML-N the biggest mandate of the history of the country, which was a proof of the fact that Allah Almighty did not waste services and hard work of any one.

Shahbaz said they decided to send a delegation comprising ministers to Minhajul Quran for expressing condolences, but they refused to receive. The CM said he was Khadim of the people and he was deeply shocked over the loss of precious human lives. If Minhajul Quran authorities permitted, he was ready to go there for offering Fateha. He said the people of Punjab were like his family members and those who died in the incident were his own people and he fully realised the grief of the heirs of the deceased. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, federal and Punjab governments and the entire nation equally shared the grief of the bereaved families.

Shahbaz said maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of the government and it would discharge its responsibility efficiently.The CM said Nandipur power project was completed within a record period of seven months and Chinese also termed it a miracle. He said those not aware of the miseries of the poor people of Balochistan, KP, Sindh and Punjab must know that a number of programmes had been launched for reducing sufferings of the people. “Is stopping energy projects a service to Pakistani nation?” he asked.

No other choice but to stand with the army: Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan Monday said his party was left with no other choice but to stand with the army after the decision of going ahead with the comprehensive offensive has already been taken.

He said he learnt about the launch of operation in North Waziristan on TV and questioned ‘shouldn’t they have taken us into confidence first?’ “Now what other choice do we have except for standing with the army?”

Imran Khan asked is it a good practice in democracy that the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) comes forward to announce that an operation has been launched?

He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, which is the biggest victim of terrorism, was not taken on board. The KP government, therefore, has not made any arrangements for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), he added.

“If there was no other choice but to go ahead with an operation, then at least we should been taken into confidence,” he lamented.

He said the Prime Minister did not ensure to put the dialogue process under a leadership it had deserved.

Imran Khan said the Prime Minister kept undertaking tours for attracting investment but the terrorism was a much bigger issue. “Investment would automatically flow to Pakistan if it rids itself of terrorism,” he added.

Withdrawal of subsidies to further trouble the poor

ISLAMABAD: Members of the opposition parties demanded further increase in salaries and pensions and bringing affluent people into the tax net as the National Assembly continued debate on federal budget on Saturday.

The members of the National Assembly also strongly condemned killing of a member of Balochistan Assembly Handery Maseh in Quetta.

The parliamentarians said that withdrawal of subsidies will further burden the life of the poor. Keeping in view the security situation of the country, they also demanded that defence budget should be enhanced.

Dr Nafeesa Shah of PPP said the National Security Policy evolved by the present government was appreciated by all the political parties across the board but it is surprising that no amount has been allocated in the budget for the implementation of this policy.

She said war against terrorism was not confined only to Waziristan and government will have to take some major steps for the protection of all cities.

She demanded that Sindh and Balochistan should be given one percent from divisible pool for the security purpose.

The members of the National Assembly also strongly condemned killing of a member of Balochistan Assembly Handery Maseh in Quetta.

The issue in the House was raised by minority member Khalil George who demanded protection for the minorities and inquiry into the incident.

Members from different political parties including Ejaz Jhakrani (PPP), Shaharyar Afridi (PTI), Ayesha Syed (Jamaat-e-Islami), Maulana Amir Zaman (JUI-F) and Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan (MQM) while condemning murder of Handrey Maseh said such incidents involving minorities damage Pakistan’s perception in the comity of nations.

The members demanded of the federal and provincial governments to hold inquiry and bring the culprits to book.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad assured the House that the federal government would direct the provincial government to hold impartial inquiry into the incident.

Kicking off debate on the budget, Amirullah Marwat of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) observed 10% increase in salaries and pensions was not sufficient. “The salaries and pensions should be increased by at least 30%,” he said.

He was of the view that 10% increase announced in the budget was not adequate keeping in view the prices of essential commodities.

Amirullah Marwat also observed that increasing financial assistance to Rs1500 from Rs1200 under the BISP was also not sufficient as the prices of essential commodities have gone up beyond the reach of poor people.

Murad Saeed of PTI regretted that despite big claims, the government has failed to bring affluent class into the tax net saying indirect taxes have added to the woes of the poor people while rich are enjoying different perks through tax amnesty schemes.

He said the federal government would also have to pay attention to address the grievances of small provinces. He said that equal development activities should be carried out in all the federating units to remove the sense of deprivation of backward areas.

PkMAP’s Abdul Qahar Khan Wadan criticised withdrawal of Rs120 billion subsidy on power. He said imposition of new taxes will trigger a new wave of inflation in the country.

Abdul Wasim of MQM said the government should facilitate establishment of new industries in the country as this will help end unemployment and improve economy as well as the ratio of tax collection.

He said tax reforms should be implemented in letter and spirit and the common man should be given relief by reducing the ratio of indirect taxes.

Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry of PML-N supported the government’s privatization policy saying it is not government’s job to do business but only the private sector. “This will lead to economic growth and strengthen the institutions,” he said.

He said the money being spent on sick units should be diverted to the law enforcement agencies keeping in view the current situation in the country.

Siraj Muhammad Khan said Overseas Pakistanis are an asset and they should be facilitated through launch of low cost housing schemes. He criticized ban on government jobs and removal of low cadre contractual staff from the public sector departments.

Minority member Aasiya Nasir of JUI-F said the next year’s budget is neither participatory nor people oriented. She said the budget should be prepared in consultation with the elected representatives. She said minorities are an important part of the society but they continue to face social and economic discrimination.

She proposed that a ministry of minorities should be established at the federal level for the protection of rights of this deprived segment of the society.

Nabeel Gabol of MQM said law and order is the biggest issue of the country and the government should take necessary steps to address the issue. He said the decision to hold dialogue with Taliban helped the outfit to regroup and stage an attack on the old Karachi airport.

Tahira Aurangzeb of the PML-N said the present government has taken unprecedented steps for the economic empowerment and emancipation of women folk.

She said it was for the first time in the history that a quota of fifty percent has been fixed for them in the Prime Minister’s Youth Loan Scheme. She said Rawalpindi Islamabad metro bus project is a gift of the present government to the poor labourers and workers of the twin cities.

Azhar Khan Jadoon called for creation of more provinces on administrative basis. He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has passed a resolution for the establishment of Hazara province and the National Assembly should also pass a resolution in support of the province.

Khalil George said the new budget is in accordance with the public aspirations. He said priority has been given to projects such as motorways and infrastructure, which will bring a visible change in the country. He appreciated the government for enhancing funds for the welfare of minorities.

Iqbal Muhammad Ali said the government should give relief to the common man by reducing the prices of oil and gas. He said the money being spent on the metro bus project should have been diverted to address the energy crisis.

He opposed the privatization of Pakistan Steel, PIA and Pakistan Railways saying competent and capable people should be appointed to transform these institutions into profitable entities.

Shahjehan Mangrio said credit goes to the present government for taking the initiative to revive the national institutions and launching mega projects such as metro bus for the convenience of the people.

Dr. Nisar Ahmed Jatt said the government inherited electricity and other crises from the previous government but the visionary leadership of PML-N has put the country again on the right track.

He said agriculture is the backbone of the economy and reforms should be enhanced in this sector to ensure food security.

Engineer Hameedul Haq was of the view that the budget is not pro-people and suggested 50% increase in the salaries of the government employees

Muhammad Khan Daha said the budget augurs well for economic growth and progress of the country. He said agriculture sector is provided subsidies throughout the world and this should be done in Pakistan as well.

Sajida Begum was of the view that the budget contains no worthwhile relief for the poor. She said 10% increase in salaries and pensions was not enough and should be increased by at least 50% in view of growing inflation.

Maulana Qamaruddin expressed concern over growing violence in the country and especially against minorities.

Aasia Naz Tanoli said the measures proposed in the budget would help tackle problems like food and shelter. She said these measures would also help increase the GDP growth rate.

Dr. Imran Khattak said the country could get rid of the problem of loadshedding only if hydropower potential of KP province is realized.

He regretted that the government had to revise the tax collection targets to the downward level during current year and it also could not make any significant progress towards expansion of tax net.

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.

ASF saved the day; it could have been worse...

 

ISLAMABAD: For those addicted to action, the flight from Tarbela was probably not worth it. By the time the Zarrar Company of the Special Operations Task Force got in the game, it was almost over.
Pakistan’s toughest crack team of commandos — the same unit that saw action and sacrifice in the Lal Masjid operation in 2007 — didn’t get to do much at the Jinnah International Airport on Monday morning except secure some aircraft that were idling on the tarmac. Ghosts, entering shells, at around 0430 hours, as the call to Fajr prayers soared across the Jinnah Terminal’s tarmac.

A directive from an infantryman who was watching from afar had decreased their workload. The country’s most powerful soldier – some still maintain that he’s also the country’s most powerful man – General Raheel Sharif, was up all night: demanding ‘SitReps’, getting updates from the V Corps Commander and in direct contact with the operational brains on the ground behind the counter-assault, the Director General of the Pakistan Rangers.

“Spare no quarter. Show no mercy,” is what the Chief of Army Staff had told Lt. Gen. Sajjad Ghani and Major General Rizwan Akhtar, according to the military spokesperson, Major General Asim S. Bajwa. “Do not wait for the battle to evolve. Win the fight, now.”

If the television media’s hyper narratives were to be believed, no was really in charge in those first few hours. If social media were to be believed, PAF’s drones and the Navy’s frogmen were in the mix, too. But detailed conversations with senior and mid-level officers on the ground indicate that despite intelligence and security lapse - or is it failure, for how else would ten terrorists infiltrate Pakistan’s busiest airport but without proper reconnaissance and surveillance that “probably took several days, even weeks”, according to an insider - the heavy lifting was done by those who were responsible for it: The Airport Security Force. And quick, aggressive operational decision-making and joint coordination between multiple intelligence, security and even information machines took care of the rest.

Led by Brigadier Azam Tawana, JIA’s ASF contingent is slightly larger than a proper army-sized brigade, around 3,000 officers and men. Pakistan is one of the few countries in the world that maintains a purpose-built force – around 10,000 across all of Pakistan’s airports. Not fully military, not fully civilian, the ASF usually gets its fair share of criticism for being in on airport-related scandals, usually smuggling. Detractors also recall how the same ASF had caused a serious lapse in letting Palestinian hijackers play havoc with the same target, Karachi’s old terminal, in 1986 when Abu Nidal terrorists were actually saluted on their way to the tarmac as they took over Pan-Am flight 73. Just like this contingent, the Arabs of ‘86 were sporting ASF uniforms.

But those were different times. The ASF went through a beefing up in the ‘90s, as it saw its now redundant elite Air Guards occupy a First Class seat in every PIA flight between Pakistan and everywhere.

By the early 2000s, budget cuts and decreased threat indices caused the ASF to scale back and limit its Air Guard program, forcing it to morph the commandos into a dedicated company-sized Quick Reaction Force, that came into play when terrorists broke cover at the second barrier of the old terminal on Sunday night and caused the initial casualties to regular ASF personnel. It would be that same QRF contingent’s role in the fighting that would ensue from around 2330 hours to 0130 hours, which would be decisive.

By the time regular contingents of the paramilitary Rangers, led by the Bhittai Sector that watches over this area, had set up the outer cordon, the ASF had “borne the initial brunt and stood their ground”, according to Major General Bajwa.

“It’s their home. It’s their area of responsibility. They are not as well trained as our boys, nor do they see as much as action as we do, but they were very brave,” said a senior commander from the Rangers who took part in the action. “Even when some of them ran out of ammo, they threw aside their weapons and acted as our guides”

As the Rangers own Special Operations force – the RATS (Rangers Anti-Terror Squad), and the crack troops of the 4th Frontier Force Regiment, which is an armoured infantry battalion based nearby and connected to the 25th Mechanized Division had joined the action, the ASF had taken hits but also managed to isolate the terrorists into two groups. It’s dedicated, terminal-centric training – apron cordoning, parameter fencing - had paid off. The militants were holed up, and even though it would take 450 men to clear one hangar, and more good guys than bad guys would be lost – 11 ASF personnel and one Ranger, versus 10 militants - “it had to be done that way”, according to a senior commander.

“At the height of it, it was room to room combat, and we moved in two groups, left and right, and kept on forming inner and outer cordons and forcing tighter concentric circles around the terrorists” said a senior officer who participated in the fighting. “And the fact that the DG Rangers and the IG Police and everyone else got there fast, only helped in aggressive decision-making. Frankly, we were done in the first one and half hours because nobody was in the mood for a debate.”

Security experts would have a field day in dissecting all that went wrong with the way the operation was handled: The media’s coverage of weapons, platforms and contingents of troops that were deployed was a straight giveaway, a serious compromise, of the security footprint that was being committed to the cause of saving the airport; the Sindh Chief Minister’s token arrival and photo-op at the scene, which only created more chaos than security; the confusing contradictions between Sharjeel Memon, the Sindh Rangers public relations officials and the Inter-Service Public Relations Directorate (especially regarding the “Indian connection”); and the hyper-activity on social media, even by responsible politicians, ‘journalists’ and ‘religious leaders’, which only compounded the insurgent confusion.

But these are the facts: The attack was unequivocally a failure on the part of the state; as an international news editor in London I was updating through the night eventually pointed out, “it’s pretty humiliating to have the largest airport of the largest city of the world’s fifth largest country taken on by a bunch of thugs, especially given the size the military and intel apparatus you guys have.”

But, remembering the attack on PNS Mehran, I will go on a limb and claim, as my sources do, that it could have been worse. Given what the attackers had on them besides their weapons - dry rations to keep them going, blood thickeners like Oncodox 50 to keep them fighting – anything was possible: a long-haul hostage drama; a blown up international airliner; a live suicide-bombing caught on tape. As a worn-out operational commander who had spent the night in combat brusquely pointed out: “They got inside our house, but they couldn’t touch our mothers and sisters: our vital assets remained.”

Entire wedding party takes the plunge

CROSSLAKE: It wasn't just the bride and groom taking the plunge at this central Minnesota wedding.

Dan and Jackie Anderson lined up on a dock with all their groomsmen and bridesmaids for a photo shoot about an hour before the wedding was due to begin in Crosslake last weekend. But the weight of the 22 people was too much for the dock and it collapsed beneath them into the lake.

A couple of bridesmaids were able to dash off the dock, but the rest ended up in waist- or chest-deep water.

The bride, groom and their entire wedding party were still drying off as the guests arrived for the wedding.

KMSP-TV says despite the lake plunge, the ceremony started just 10 minutes late.

 

How can those who can’t manage a province run the country, asks PM

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that this was the time to take practical steps to resolve the problems of the people and not to stage sit-ins, adding how could those who could not manage the affairs of one province, run the country.He said those who couldn’t get votes in the 2013 elections should wait for the 2018 general elections instead of hatching conspiracies.
Addressing the second computer balloting for the grant of loans under the Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loans at the Convention Centre here, the prime minister said that in the first phase 38,000 applications for loans were received under the PM Youth Business Loan Scheme including 31,000 men and 7,000 women. “Of them, 6,000 were selected for grant of loans through computer ballot in the first draw and 6,000 more are being selected through the second draw,” he added.He expressed the confidence that youth borrowing loans for businesses would prove to be a harbinger of a social and economic revolution in the country.

He said the government had launched a number of development projects and was completing them in record time. He said that $35 billion would be invested in the power, road and railway sectors during the next ten years.

He said 21,000MW of electricity would be added to the national grid in eight to 10 years.“I see great potential in the youth of Pakistan who can bring about an economic revolution and development in the country through their energy and dynamism”, he added. He said that the middle and lower-middle classes had contributed to the development of nations like Germany and Japan, and therefore, he had great expectations from the youth of these classes in Pakistan.

He further said that the Business Loan Scheme would enable thousands of Pakistani youths to gain financial independence and also prove to be a source of major economic activity. “The scheme is totally transparent and based on merit, and I’m emphasising the role of women in the development of Pakistan,” he added. He said that his government was providing equal opportunities to women in all sectors and therefore all the schemes of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program contained a 50 percent quota for females.

He directed the governor State Bank to engage other Pakistani private banks to participate in these schemes. “Previously, banks only entertained the affluent class as the poor were not even allowed to enter the banks. But our government provided opportunities to the marginalised population for gaining economic independence,” he maintained.

“The money accumulated in the treasury belongs to the people of Pakistan and they have every right to utilise it for their benefit. It is our obligation to provide services and initiate welfare projects”, he noted.

The premier also appreciated the efforts put in by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for presenting a development-oriented and pro-poor budget for 2014-15. As he elaborated the salient features of the budget, he said that they expected to control inflation, and attract significant investment and launch development projects. He said that by the grace of the Almighty and the hard work of the team, the government had been able to achieve 16.4 percent revenues against a target of 21 percent which is almost a 90 percent success.

He informed that the livestock insurance scheme had been included in the budget for 2014-15 that would provide security to small-scale and poor farmers in protection of investment.The premier emphasised that the government’s top priority was to get rid of the power loadshedding and for this purpose, 21,000MW of power projects for the next eight to 10 years had been planned.

He stated that unfortunately, previous governments did not pay attention to the energy crisis and the machinery for the Nandipur power project was abandoned, rusting at the Karachi port while people were suffering long hours of loadshedding. “Our government, in a short period of only eight months reactivated and completed this project which shows our commitment to solve the energy crisis,” he remarked.

He further said that the multi-purpose mega project of Diamer–Bhasha Dam with a cost of $12 billion and with a capacity of 4,500MW was being undertaken which would not only generate electricity but also help in managing our water resources that were being wasted.

He also referred to the $35 billion Pak-China Economic Corridor that would change the fate of the country. He further said that work on the Karachi-Lahore Motorway would be initiated soon as Rs55 billion had been allocated for land acquisition to be completed in three months.

The prime minister said that they should not indulge in the politics of leg-pulling and unnecessary criticism. The people of Pakistan have shown their confidence in us in the last elections and it was they who would again decide in the 2018 elections based on our performance.

Later, he performed the 2nd computerised balloting of the Youth Business Loan Scheme in which 5,169 loans were awarded to the applicants whose applications were approved by the National Bank. It may be noted here that a 50 percent quota was reserved for women with a quota for martyrs and special persons.

He also distributed cheques to some of the successful candidates of the first balloting. He also directed the president of the National Bank to forward all the cheques by June 15, 2014.Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar said the present government was focusing on the welfare of the downtrodden sections of society and the launch of six youth-related schemes were part of that strategy of the PML-N government.

Captains focus on the basics

BANGALORE: Kolkata Knight Riders would go in to Sunday's IPL final with a slight edge over Kings XI Punjab. They won the title two years ago, they are on a eight-match winning streak and they have beaten Kings XI twice in three matches this season. Gautam Gambhir, the Knight Riders captain, termed Kings XI a "dangerous side" and said both teams would be on an equal footing when they stride out at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

"You don't need to do anything different tomorrow," Gambhir said on the eve of the final. "Ultimately, it is still a game of cricket, which needs to be played well. The pressure will be equal on both the sides and whichever side holds their nerves for long periods of time and whoever can do their basics well, will end up being the winner."

George Bailey, the Kings XI captain, while acknowledging Knight Riders' remarkable run mirrored Gambhir's view ahead of the final. "As much as it sounds clichéd and boring, we are not going to go out with any brand new tactics," Bailey said. "As a team, we will try to go out and do the same things. In some ways, the bigger the game, the more it is just about doing the basics as well as you can."

Politics of the ’80s and ’90s not to work: Nawaz

 

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that some leaders were engaging in the politics of the ’80s and ’90s, but it had become obsolete now and no one will pay attention to their false accusations.
Addressing a ceremony to mark ‘Youm-e-Takbeer’, the prime minister said those holding protests and rallies should shun the politics of the ’80s and ’90s and wait for four years to let the people decide who they wanted to elect as their rulers. “The politics of delivering and fulfilling peoples’ promises will now work and not that of the ’80s and ’90s,” he maintained.

Nawaz said he could not comprehend the agendas of those embarking on long marches as he wondered on whose agenda they were working and for what purpose. “After four years, our performance will be before the people who will decide through the ballot who deserves to rule them and can deliver.”

He questioned whether these elements were taking the course of agitation because of the development projects of his government which they wanted to impede.

The prime minister said Pakistan was aspiring for good relations with neighbouring countries in the interest of securing peace and development inthe region. They wanted to eliminate terrorism and establish peace in the region with ideal ties with the neighbours to achieve the objective, he added.

He said his visit to India was successful and the affairs were moving on in the right direction, adding that Pakistan would become a centre of peace very soon.

Nawaz said the government wanted every province to enjoy the fruits of development and no part of the country would remain backward for which they were struggling while rising above the politics. He said his government had the potential to translate Pakistan into the dreams of Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal into reality, but regrettably, whenever they tried to move ahead, others started pulling their legs.

The prime minister said the government could achieve the target of development, progress and prosperity within 10 years provided it was allowed to work uninterruptedly. He said after Pakistan had become self-sufficient in defence and the focus of the government was on economic development for which they were making untiring efforts.

The premier said there should be no politics on the government endeavours regarding ending poverty, terrorism and revamping economy.Nawaz regretted that an atomic power should not have its economy in a shambles, poverty, unemployment and extremism like that in Pakistan. However, he said, his government was determined to turn around the situation and end the problems.

He promised to overcome the energy crisis and lower the electricity tariff, saying the government launched many projects to produce electricity from hydel, solar, coal and other sources.“My government has barely completed a year when a number of power plants have been set up in the country which is a major breakthrough,” he said, adding they had a futuristic approach on producing energy in view of the industrial and domestic needs after the 20/25 years.

In this regard, he especially cited the ventures launched with the Chinese assistance and the Thar coal project.Nawaz informed the gathering that the work on Lahore-Karachi Motorway was to be started soon and an amount of Rs50 billion had already been released to acquire land for the purpose.He was very confident while saying all energy and other projects would be completed during his tenure.

Why Imran did not respond to Jang Group’s notice — the real story

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan has developed a habit of hurling baseless allegations against the Jang Group, apparently at the behest of angels.

After losing the May 11 election, he had been crying of rigging. First, he accused the judiciary and now the Jang Group of depriving him of an imminent victory, which the angels had assured him.

Last year, when Geo Television Network’s winning the bid of rights of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka cricket tournament series caused sleepless nights for local media and dark hidden forces, Imran came out with so-called allegations that Geo was favoured by Najam Sethi, the then acting chairman of Pakistan Cricket Broad. However, Imran kept a mysterious silence over a similar series rights (Pakistan vs South Africa) awarded to an Indian sports channel in which Zee TV owns 95% of the shares and is headquartered in Mumbai.

Here are some facts for Imran Khan: This was the first time that a Pakistani TV channel had acquired world rights of an international series with the responsibility to produce in High Definition and the venture was only set to upgrade the standards and expertise of a Pakistani company and production resources.

Importantly, Najam Sethi had no role whatsoever in the bids process of the two series rights. The entire process of award of media rights to sports channels was done through Pakistan Cricket Board’s bids committee. Regarding Pakistan Cricket Board’s bids committee that awarded Pakistan-Sri Lanka series rights to Geo Super after transparent and competitive bidding, it is stated that its chairman was none other than Ehsan Mani.

Mani is a former ICC president and has managed ICC’s bundling of commercial rights since 2000. It included media rights for ICC events that valued millions of dollars. He has also successfully managed media rights for West Indies and South Africa and also PCB since 1993. He has been one of Trustee of 15-member Board of Trustees of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital. He also has been Chairman Audit Committee of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital.

Other members of the bids committee included PCB Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed — Masters in Business Administration with 19-year experience in cricket. He has worked with the ICC and wrote the contingency plans for ICC Cricket World Cups in 2003 and 2007; Chief Financial Officer Badar M Khan — Chartered Accountant with pertinent experience of cricket finances and good business practices; Member of PCB’s Governing Board Rafiq Bughio who oversaw and monitored the entire process, and an independent member Justice (R) Shabar Raza Rizvi, former judge who authored the report of Sri Lanka team attack. The whole process was monitored by an independent audit firm Ernst and Young, one of the leading audit firms hired to observe and report on the bid process for transparency.

The bidding committee submitted its recommendations to PCB governing board for approval after finishing their proceedings. This transparent process helped sell media/ broadcasting rights both for South Africa and Sri Lanka at a price more than what it got from the 5-year media rights deal which it had with an India-based sports TV channel for the same South Africa and Sri Lanka series played in Dubai/ Abu Dhabi. In fact, the PCB got around $1 million more from this South Africa and Sri Lanka series as compared to what it got in the last series played against both the countries at the same venues in the UAE.

Geo TV did bid in 2008 for securing media rights for five years, however, these rights were not given to Geo TV, though Ehsan Mani was heading the Bids Committee at that time too. Ten Sports got the contract for 5 years, which expired in 2013. In the case of Pak-SL series, it was the PCB Governing Body which approved the media rights contract and Najam Sethi remained out of this process.

It should be remembered that the Jang Group had issued a notice to Imran Khan for leveling basesless allegations at that time which made Imran angry. Instead of replying to the Jang notice, a hue and cry was made on the pretext of freedom of speech. The Jang Group then sent to Imran all the record showing its clear position and asked him to get the record examined through independent auditors. He should have replied to the notice then so that the Jang Group could move courts to prove his allegations wrong. The Jang Group did not pursue the notice and kept waiting for Imran Khan’s reply till todate. Now Imran had again started leveling the same allegations and Jang Group will have to also pursue its notice. Particular people including Lal Top Wala are following angels’ agenda on a particular channel. Imran Khan has visited that particular channel for five times. The Jang Group has moved courts against this particular channel.

Regarding the bidding process, Imran Khan is informed that the PCB floated a tender for two home series at different venues in the UAE - one against South Africa and the second against Sri Lanka on August 8, 2013. Against which, technical and financial proposals were sought from the interested parties. Two-stage tender process involved opening of financial and technical proposals, of which, the later was to evaluate financial standing, prior sports broadcasting and television production experience, details of company ownership including parent company/ share holdings etc and international distribution plans in case if their bids are successful.

On 30th of August, after careful evaluation, the Bids Committee approved India-based TV channel and Geo TV’s technical proposals and proceeded to the second round of opening the financial proposals. According to the process laid out, the Bids Committee announced reserve price for each series before opening of financial proposals which was not met by either Ten Sports or Geo TV for both series after which both parties were given the opportunity to submit revised offers the next day i.e. August 31, 2013 by 10 a.m. In the second round, Geo TV’s financial offer exceeded the reserved price for Sri Lanka series whereas India-based TV channel retained its original offer which was still lower than the PCB reserve price and not capable of acceptance by any standard and hence Geo TV was declared the successful bidder for Sri Lanka series. On South Africa series, both Geo and India-based sports TV channel could not meet the PCB reserve price and bidding committee decided to award rights to India-based sports TV channel on the basis of comparatively higher offer, though this offer was around $0.8 million, less than the reserve price fixed by the PCB.

The PCB, however, in line with a term of bidding document awarded contract to India-based sports TV channel without further negotiations. However, no one, including Imran Khan, raised any objection for the reasons best known to him.

Importantly, Abdul Rahman Bukhatir had sold 50% stakes in the company (Ten Sports) to India-based Zee TV Network for $57 million in November 2006 with Zee further acquiring further 32.2% stakes against $31 million in February 2010 and finally adding another 12.8% stakes against $13.4 million to take up its stake in the company at 95%. With the completion of 95% of control in Ten Sports by Zee, the corporate headquarters are now based in Mumbai and the entire up-linking operations of channel have now been shifted to Noida in India.

Ten Sports was the rights holder of Pakistan home series during the term 2008-2013 and in this period major changes in its parent company’s shareholding took place. Most television broadcasting agreements done by cricket boards do not allow such changes of corporate/ management controls without prior written consent by the cricket board concerned. In this case, the PCB can clarify whether it actually provided its consent to Ten Sports to continue working as its host broadcaster during the period 2009-2010 when India-based Zee Network gained 95% controlling shares of the company. Imran Khan preferred keeping mum when Indian channel had all the media rights for five years and only woke up when Geo got the rights of only one series.

Moon will block the sun in first solar eclipse Tuesday

SYDNEY: The moon will block the sun in the first solar eclipse of the year on Tuesday (April 29), and stargazers in Australia have some of the best seats on the planet.

Two online skywatching groups — the Slooh community telescope and the Virtual Telescope Project — will provide live webcasts of the solar eclipse from Australia, beginning at 2 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT) on Tuesday. You can watch those solar eclipse webcasts live on Space.com. It will be Tuesday afternoon local time across Australia during the eclipse, with the sun setting before the event concludes.

Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between the sun and earth, as seen from the surface of the earth, and blocks part or all of the sun's disk. When the moon and sun align perfectly, a total solar eclipse occurs. Because the moon's orbit around earth is tilted, the moon and sun don't align in an eclipse every month.

Tuesday's solar eclipse will be what scientists call an annular solar eclipse. The event, also known as a "ring of fire" solar eclipse, occurs when the sun is too far from earth to completely obscure the sun's disk. The result is a bright ring of sunlight around the moon's silhouette, as viewed from the earth's surface.

But on Tuesday, the potentially dazzling "ring of fire" eclipse will only be visible from one uninhabited spot in Antarctica, where the only audience may be penguins on the frigid landscape.

"This is a thoroughly bizarre eclipse," Slooh astronomer Bob Berman said in a statement. "When Slooh brings its live feeds from Australia, and we watch in real time as the inky black hemisphere of the moon partially obscures the sun, the greatest thrill might be an awareness of what's occurring — unseen by any human — in a tiny region of Antarctica."

The April 29 solar eclipse will begin at 1:15 p.m. local time in Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and end at 3:59 p.m. local time. The time of greatest eclipse occurs at 2:41 p.m., when the moon will obscure about 65 percent of the solar disk. The event will begin later in the day for observers in Melbourne (3:58 p.m. local time) and Sydney (4:13 p.m.), with the sun setting before the eclipse ends.

Tuesday's solar eclipse is the second eclipse of 2014 after the total lunar eclipse on April 15. The next total lunar eclipse will occur on Oct. 8 and will be primarily visible from the Pacific Ocean and its bordering coastlines. A partial solar eclipse visible from most of the United States and parts of Canada will then follow on Oct. 23.

Let’s hear the unheard answers

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani media went berserk last week. ‘Patriotic’ anchors heaped scorn on Geo TV for its remarks about those in an agency held responsible in the wake of an attack on senior anchorperson Hamid Mir.

They were furious about the negative portrayal of those in the agency held responsible but oblivious to the growing concerns over threats to journalists from the intelligence agencies. Their debate was centered on the coverage of allegations against the responsible. Not a single segment, let alone complete programme, was devoted to a discussion of why journalists consider elements in the agencies a threat.

In a majority of the cases, the anchors were found hand-in-glove with the choice panelists. A dissenting voice would form part of the panel but only for the purpose of ‘flogging’ which was inevitable if one belonged to the Jang Group.

My personal experience was no different. One ‘patriotic’ anchor wanted my presence in his show but didn’t want to hear me. In a desperate attempt to make an issue out of nothing, he dismissed the Saleem Shahzad Commission report (demanding legislation for the intelligence agencies) on the grounds that it had wrongly alleged this correspondent of not recording his statement. (As a matter of fact, the then-PFUJ President Pervez Shaukat had conveyed my unwillingness to the commission to record the statement without even contacting me). I told the anchor that it was not the commission’s fault; our journalist representative fed them the wrong information about me but he was unconvinced and handed his own verdict that could discredit the commission report demanding laws for the agencies.

Another channel that invited me for a discussion on the issue censored when I demanded laws for the agencies and said that holding them accountable was the only way forward. The said channel also muted the voice of Kamran Shafi, who was a co-panelist. Even the conclusion of the talk show host, Absar Alam, was censored.

Air Marshal (retd) Shahid Latif regularly featured in the programmes on this subject. He would repeat two questions: (1) Why was the Jang Group against the defence organisations? (2) Why was it that journalists belonging to this group alone who felt threatened by the agency? I tried to answer his questions but it was a cry in the wilderness.

To his first question, I gave a personal example. I have been meeting Shahid Latif several times. He would discuss the issues relating to nepotism and lack of accountability in the defence organisations. Wasn’t he anti-Pakistan by that standard? He was not. Traitors are only those giving voice to the concerns raised by the likes of Shahid Latif.

What about Lt. Gen. (retd) Shahid Aziz who authored a book “Ye Khamoshi Kab Tak.” Any civilian author of such a book could have been termed a traitor, if not killed. Was Lt. Gen. (retd) Shuja Pasha wrong when he told the Abbottabad Commission that his agency had roughed up some ‘decent gentlemen’? Was it the right decision of Musharraf to tell the US channel, ABC TV, about the rogue elements within the agency?

His second question is equally important. Incidentally, he has been found raising this question during TV shows hosted by the channel which lost several employees to terrorism and the TTP had claimed responsibility for the attacks. Does it look good putting this question to the channel inquiring the reason for becoming a specific target of the TTP? By the way, an anchor of that channel had also echoed the same line taken by Shahid Latif. For their education, journalists of the Jang Group and other organisations are also facing similar threats from the agencies.

Rauf Klasra, a senior journalist, is not affiliated with the Jang Group. His recent column would make instructive reading for the likes of Shahid Latif. He should also ask Kamran Shafi, who is also a retired soldier, who had also blamed the agencies for firing at his home in 2010. Absar Alam is also not affiliated with the Jang Group. Azaz Syed was not with Geo TV when his house was attacked twice. Imtiaz Alam is yet another example. Saleem Shahzad is not alive to tell him why he had sensed danger and accused an agency of an attempt on his life. He was silenced through violence. Abdul Salam Soomro, a cameraman of a Sindhi TV channel who made the video of Sarfraz Shah who was gunned down by Sindh Rangers in Karachi, could also explain his threat concerns.

Let’s believe for a moment that Hamid Mir’s suspicion that an agency is involved is baseless. His vocal position on a number of issues earned him many enemies. It is quite likely that somebody else might have attacked him. However, the question remains as to why he considered the agency the main threat to his life.

Let’s suppose that my allegations about the agency’s involvement in my kidnapping and torture were wrong. But it will also have to kept in mind that my belief in this regard was strengthened with the passage of time. The more I interacted with informed persons the more they endorsed my view.

This perception among journalists regarding threats from the agency must be taken up as a challenge by the agency. Equally important is for the ‘patriotic’ anchors to take up this issue in their programmes. Among them are those who were harassed in the past, something they had been sharing. A debate about this negative perception is not going to malign the agency. It will herald a new era of trust with each other.

American journalist Tim Weiner’s book on the CIA — ‘Legacy of the Ashes’ — could not weaken the most powerful agency of the world; it was a litany of failure though. The book rather generated a new debate and triggered reforms making the agency stronger and better.

Note: This reporter and some other people were not allowed to speak. As the Jang Group is being incriminated, to educate people and give the reporter a full opportunity to be heard, it is necessary to publish this story. – Editorial Board