4 Feb 2016

CMYK 

CMYK 

CMYK 

Metropolitan: 

Sindh Assembly 

passes condemn 

resolution against 

PIA employees' torture 

Page 2 

National: 

Present rulers 

have broken 

Asif Zardari's 

record: Imran Khan 

Page 3 

International: 

Obama 

makes first 

trip to US 

mosque 

Page 5 

CMYK 

Member APNS 

ABC CERTIFIED 

Reg. No. 1655 

CMYK 

CMYK 

Rs 10.00 Vol. VIII No.35 8 Pages 

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4 children of a 

family died due 

to cylinder blast 

LAHORE, Feb 3: At least 

four children of a family 

died due to cylinder blast in 

Lahore, capital city of 

Punjab province on 

Wednesday night. 

The blast of gas cylinder 

claimed lives of five children 

of a family in Hassan 

Pura area of Karachi. Fire 

erupted due to explosion in 

the house situated on 

Multan Road in Hassan 

Pura. There were divergent 

views on total deaths. Some 

reports had it that four children 

died and another was 

wounded and some claimed 

five were dead. 

MPA Sania's 

house raided 

KARACHI, Feb 3: Law 

Enforcement Agencies 

(LEA) raided the house of 

Member Sindh Assembly 

Sania Naz in Lyari and 

released her after half an 

hour inquiry. 

LEAs personnel raided 

Sania Naz's house in wee 

hour of Wed and interrogated 

her about link with Lyari 

gang war. However, they 

released her after half an 

hour. According to sources, 

LEAs personnel seized her 

passport and other traveling 

documents. 

ESMA enforcement 

in PIA challenged in 

Lahore High Court 

LAHORE, Feb 3: A petition 

was filed in the 

Lahore High Court on 

Wednesday challenging 

enforcement of Essential 

Services Maintenance Act 

(ESMA) 1952 in PIA. 

Act was promulgated by 

federal govt to ban protest 

and strikes of PIA workers 

who have been protesting 

against govt’s plan to privatize 

the airline. But despite 

promulgation of the law, 

workers went ahead with 

their plan to bring countrywide 

flight operations to 

standstill on Tuesday. 

Shahzada Zulfiqar 

Senior Staff Writer 

PASNI/HOSHAB, Feb 3: 

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif 

on Wednesday inaugurated 

193-kilometres long Gwadar- 

Turbat-Hoshab Motorway in 

Balochistan. 

The portion of motorway, 

mostly constructed by engineers 

of Frontier Works 

Organization (FWO) to serve 

all Gwadar-bound traffic, is a 

vital part of western, central 

and eastern routes of China- 

Pakistan Economic Corridor 

(CPEC). Addressing the inaugural 

ceremony, he said the 

government is constructing a 

network of roads to connect all 

parts of the country with each 

other for development. 

“These projects will bring 

huge benefits for the country 

and it will also connect 

Pakistan with Central Asia, 

China and Afghanistan,” the 

PM said. PM said project has 

great importance for the development 

of the country. He said 

Balochistan is being given 

preference for development, 

and equal allocations are being 

made for the province. 

He also announced three 

road projects, saying that 

KARACHI EDITION – Thursday, February 4, 2016, Rabi-al-Thani 24, 1437 http://www.dailymessenger.com.pk 

Govt committed to economic 

uplift of Balochistan: PM 

PM inaugurates 193km long Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab Motorway 

Govt has strategy to foil political 

scoring of parties on PIA: Rashid 

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: 

Information Minister 

Pervaiz Rashid on 

Wednesday said the government 

has the strategy to foil 

attempts by some political 

parties to cash on the issue 

of PIA. 

Talking to newsmen in 

Islamabad on Wednesday, he 

said representatives of PIA 

unions met Prime Minister 

Nawaz Sharif who gave 

them six months to cooperate 

in overcoming challenges 

facing the national 

NEW DELHI, Feb 3: 

Rescuers on Wednesday 

began searching for 10 Indian 

soldiers feared buried in an 

avalanche in Indian occupied 

Siachen, an Indian army 

spokesman said. 

The soldiers were hit as 

they patrolled a glacier at an 

altitude of 5,800 metres 

(19,000 feet), Colonel SD 

Goswami said. 

“In the early hours of 

Wednesday, 10 soldiers were 

hit by an avalanche at the 

northern Siachen Glacier 

while on patrol,” Goswami 

told media. Rescuers from the 

HOSHAB: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is driven by Chief of 

Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on the newly built 

Hoshab-Gawadar (M-8) road after its inauguration. 

flag carrier. 

He said the representatives 

were told that the decision 

to find a strategic partner 

is being deferred for six 

months. The Government 

would assess the situation 

during this period and then 

take a decision. 

The Minister said patriotic 

employees of PIA were 

cooperating and flights were 

proceedings as per schedule. 

He asked what was justification 

for strike six months 

ahead of a development. 

army and airforce have been 

deployed to search for them, 

he added. Indian troops patrol 

the Siachen Glacier, dubbed 

the world’s highest battlefield, 

in the Kashmir region which is 

disputed between India and 

Pakistan. 

Avalanches and landslides 

are common in the area during 

the winter and temperatures 

there can drop as low as minus 

60 degrees Celsius (140 

degrees Fahrenheit). 

In January, four Indian soldiers 

were killed by an avalanche, 

while last year another 

four died when their vehicle 

Quetta-Khuzdar highway will 

be dualised, and work on 

10 Indian soldiers missing 

in Chiachen avalanche 

was buried under an avalanche 

near Leh, the main city of the 

high-altitude region known as 

Ladakh in IoK. An estimated 

8,000 Indian troops have died 

on the glacier since 1984, 

almost all of them from avalanches, 

landslides, frostbite, 

altitude sickness or heart failure 

rather than combat. 

Nuclear-armed rivals India 

and Pakistan, which each 

administer part of Kashmir but 

claim it in full, fought over 

Siachen in 1987. But guns on 

the glacier have largely fallen 

silent since a peace process 

began in 2004. 

NEW DELHI: An army chopper on a rescue mission following an avalanche near Gund in 

Ganderbal district. Rescuers on Wednesday began searching for 10 soldiers feared buried 

in an avalanche. 

B a s e e m a - K h u z d a r , 

Shahdadkot highway and 

Bela-Awaran highways will 

start soon. 

Nawaz Sharif said several 

projects have been initiated to 

link Gwadar with the rest of 

the country. 

The Prime Minister 

referred to mega projects like 

Diamer Bhasha dam, Dasu 

Dam and Bunji project and 

said each of them would generate 

4000 mw of electricity. 

Nawaz Sharif lauded 

Army Chief General Raheel 

Sharif for his whole hearted 

support in addressing problems 

of Balochistan and welfare 

of its people. 

The 870 km motorway 

has been completed with the 

cost of 13 billion rupees in 18 

months. According to ISPR, 

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) 

General Raheel Sharif 

arrived at Hoshab to inspect 

the new roads being built by 

army engineers and FWO 

with an “amazing pace and 

quality of work.” 

The army chief held meetings 

with Governor, CM and 

Chief Secretary Balochistan 

before the inauguration. 

Karachi incident will be allowed to 

be swept under carpet: Zardari 

DUBAI, Feb 3: While 

denouncing the killing of 

two PIA employees in 

Karachi, PPP Co-chairperson 

Asif Ali Zardari has said 

that the incident will not be 

allowed to be swept under 

the carpet like the Model 

Town incident 

“The government’s frenzy 

and fright is unpardonable. 

Those behind the 

killings cannot escape. The 

people will not allow the 

Karachi incident to be treated 

like the Model Town incident,” 

he said in a statement 

issued here on Wednesday. 

Zardari said that he was 

extremely shocked over the 

killings. “Violence against 

peaceful demonstrators is 

not tolerable,” he said 

demanding to bring the culprits 

behind the heinous 

incident. 

“There is need to introduce 

reforms in national flag 

carrier instead of selling it 

off at a throwaway price,” he 

said adding that its privatisation 

will bear no fruit. 

ATC summons 

Rehman Malik in Benazir 

Bhutto murder case 

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: An 

anti-terrorism court (ATC) in 

Rawalpindi has summoned 

former interior minister senator 

Rehman Malik to record 

his statement in the Benazir 

Bhutto murder case against 

the former dictator General 

(Retd) Pervez Musharraf. 

Rehman Malik was the 

head of Benazir Bhutto’s 

security when she was assassinated 

in December 2007 at 

Liaquat Baagh, Rawalpindi. 

He is also one of the prime 

witnesses that the prosecution 

has presented the ATC 

against General Musharraf. 

According to the prosecution, 

Rehman Malik claims 

that he was present with 

Benazir Bhutto when 

General Musharraf threatened 

her at the Dubai meeting 

in 2007. Mr. Malik testified 

that General Musharraf 

told the former prime minister 

that her future depended 

on her relationship with him 

(Musharraf). 

The former interior minister 

also claims that he 

wrote numerous letters to 

General Musharraf requesting 

him to provide appropriate 

security for Benazir 

Bhutto but he never 

received any reply from the 

former dictator. 

Main facilitator of BKU attack nabbed 

PESHAWAR, Feb 3: In a 

major breakthrough, intelligence 

agencies have claimed 

to have arrested the main facilitator 

of the attack on the 

Bacha Khan University that 

left about 20 people dead and 

several others wounded, credible 

sources said. 

According to them, 

WaheedAli aliasArshad, categorised 

as “Terrorist A”, was 

arrested in Nowshera last themilitant 

week. 

“He had made arrangements 

to flee to Afghanistan 

and hired a taxi to take him to 

the Pak-Afghan border at 

Torkham. Had there been any 

further delay, the man would 

have slipped away,” the 

sources said. 

“He had shaved his beard 

and had packed up. His taxi 

was intercepted and he was 

picked up after positive identification,” 

said the sources, 

requesting they not be identified. 

In his initial statement, 

according to the sources, the 

alleged facilitator who is in 

his early 30s said the planning 

of the attack on the university 

had been in works for 

six months in Achin district 

of Afghanistan, the base of 

commander 

Khalifa Omar Mansoor alias 

Omar Naray. He said he had 

surreptitiously made videos 

of the Punjab Regiment 

Centre and a police station in 

Mardan as possible targets 

and taken the footages in a 

memory chip to Omar Naray, 

but the plans had been 

dropped because of heavy 

security in the two places. 

formation of the committee, 

which would be headed by a 

brigadier-rank officer. 

He told senior SAMAA 

KARACHI, Feb 3: Sindh 

Rangers chief on 

Wednesday announced the 

establishment of a highlevel 

investigation team to anchorperson 

probe the shooting incident, 

which left two workers of 

Pakistan International 

Airlines (PIA) killed on 

Tuesday. 

DG Rangers Maj-Gen 

Bilal Akbar confirmed the 

Nadeem 

Malik that the committee 

would examine every aspect 

of the incident. 

Joint Action Committee 

(JIT) representing PIA 

workers accused the paramilitary 

force of opening 

The mastermind and planners, 

Waheed said, later opted 

for Abdul Wali Khan 

University in Mardan and prepared 

a group of four militants 

to carry out the attack. He said 

that he was the one who had 

made the video of the four 

attackers with Khalifa 

Mansoor and that was the reason 

why the Abdul Wali Khan 

University was mentioned in 

the video. 

He said Khalifa Mansoor 

had provided him Rs1 million 

to execute the plan and procure 

arms and ammunition for 

the attack. The plan to attack 

the Abdul Wali Khan 

University was also cancelled 

because of better security 

arrangements and the mastermind 

was informed about the 

new target in Charsadda. 

Army Brigaider-headed Committee 

to probe killings of PIA’s employees 

fire at the demonstrators, a 

charge Rangers spokesman 

denied as baseless. 

The firing incident 

prompted PIA workers to go 

on strike across Pakistan, 

halting flight operations. 

Dozens of scheduled 

flights were suspended, 

causing losses of billions of 

rupees to the cash-strapped 

national flag carrier. 

KARACHI: Employees of Pakistan International Airlines and members of Joint Action 

Committee are protesting against privatization of PIA during demonstration against 

Privatization at PIA head office. 

Afghan officials confirm 18 TTP 

terrorists killed in latest drone attack 

PESHAWAR, Feb 3: A drone 

strike in Afghanistan’s border 

Paktiya province killed at 

least 18 fighters of the 

banned Tehreek-e-Taliban 

Pakistan, Afghan officials 

said on Wednesday. 

Afghan officials confirmed 

the Pakistani Taliban 

were killed in the latest strike 

by an unmanned aircraft in 

the Pak-Afghan border areas. 

Nabiullah Peerkhel, the 

Paktika governor’s 

spokesman, told Mashaal 

Radio the militants were 

heading to the border region 

in Afghanistan when the 

drones rained down missiles 

on them in Gomal district. 

While the exact identity 

of the militants killed could 

not be determined, reports 

from Wana, South 

Waziristan suggested that 14 

men were from the Mehsud 

ECP admits new registration, removal 

of votes in NA-122 constituency 

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: The 

Election Commission of 

Pakistan (ECP) has admitted 

the registration of new votes 

and removal of old votes in 

the constituency NA-122 

Lahore. 

ECP’s sources told Online 

that about 800 votes were 

transferred from NA-122 

while 4542 new votes had 

been registered; however the 

process of registration and 

removal of new and old votes 

was conducted prior to 

announcement of schedule of 

by-polls in NA-122. 

The credible sources while 

providing relevant document 

in this regard told Online that 

allegations leveled by political 

icon of the country about 

transfer and registration of 

votes in constituency NA-122 

were baseless. 

It was told through document 

that phase of registration 

and transfer of votes in 

said constituency had been 

completed prior to by polls 

and registration and transfer 

of votes has blocked as the 

schedule of by polls 

announced. The applications 

which received before 

the announcement of election 

schedule were entertained 

only. 

tribe and four from the 

Ahmadzai Wazir tribe. 

Officials confirmed the 

report, saying a number of 

bodies have been shifted and 

buried in villages scattered 

near the border areas. The 

compound of TTP militants 

headed by Said Khan Sajna 

is located just across the border 

in the Beermal area connecting 

Waziristan with 

Paktiya province. 

Opposition parties 

express solidarity with 

PIA protesting workers 


representatives of opposition 

parties on Wednesday showed 

solidarity with the protesting 

Pakistan International 

Airlines (PIA) workers. 

Pakistan Peoples Party 

(PPP) and opposition leader 

in National Assembly 

Khursheed Shah while criticizing 

Prime Minister (PM) 

Nawaz Sharif vowed to support 

PIA workers at every 

step against privatization. 

He said we are ready to face 

any challenge but won’t 

stop favoring PIA staffers as 

they have only asked for 

their rights. 

CMYK 

CMYK 

CMYK

2 

Thursday, February 4, 2016 

Metropolitan 

Sindh Assembly passes condemn 

resolution against PIA employees' torture 

Irfan Ali 

Staff Reporter 

KARACHI, Feb 3: Sindh 

Assembly after arguments 

has passed a condemn resolution 

against killings of two 

workers of Pakistan 

International Airlines. 

Members of the provincial 

assembly attended the 

session with black ribbons 

tied to their arms. 

The session offered fateha 

for the deceased persons 

and prayed for the well 

being of injured. The condemn 

resolution was moved 

by Education Minister Nisar 

Khuhro which received 

opposition from Muttahida 

COURTS 

Rangers detain MQM's 

Minhaj Qazi for 90 days 

KARACHI, Feb 3: Pakistan Rangers, Sindh on 

Wednesday produced Minhaj Qazi, a worker of 

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), before 

Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) and informed it 

about his 90 days preventive detention for questioning. 

The Rangers along with its counsel produced 

the suspect before administrative judge of ATC, 

Justice Muhammad Farooq Shah under tight 

security. The paramilitary force told the judge 

that they have credible information about suspect's 

involvement in killing, extortion and other 

offences came within the ambit of Anti- 

Terrorism Act. The Rangers informed the court 

that Qazi was arrested in a raid conducted on 

Friday. 

The court allowed the Rangers to detain the 

KARACHI: Senior Sindh Provincial Minister Nisar Khohro addressing during the session of Sindh 

Assembly with a back ribbon tied on his arm in a protest against the PIA employees’torture. 

CPNE expresses condolence over the death of Ahsan Shakir 

KARACHI, Feb 3: The 

Council of Pakistan 

Newspaper Editors (CPNE) 

has expressed its condolence 

over the death ofAhsan Shakir 

Senior member of CPNE, 

Columnist and Chief Editor 

Monthly Mayyar Lahore. 

According to details 

Mujeeb Rehman Shami president 

of CPNE, senior vice 

president Ilyas Shakir, vice 

presidents Tahir Farooq, 

Shaheen Qureshi, Ayaz Khan, 

Owais Khusnood, Siddiq 

Baloch, Secretary General 

Dr.Jabbar Khatak, joint secretary 

Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi 

and finance secretary Hamid 

Hussain Abdi while expressing 

their condolence over the 

Community participation and social 

mobilization can play vital for the success solid 

waste management system: Roshan Ali Shaikh 

KARACHI, Feb 3: 

Managing Director Sindh 

Solid Waste Management 

Board Roshan Ali Shaikh 

emphasized the involvement 

of general public, communities 

and the civil society 

organization in the success of 

Karachi Integrated Municipal 

Solid Waste Management 

Plan. He said that under the 

new system community will 

be organized at every street, 

mohallah, neighborhood, UC 

and District levels and an 

elaborate system of rewards 

on good performance will 

come in place, He said while 

presiding over a meeting 

regarding community participation 

and social mobilization 

in solid waste management 

system in Karachi, He 

said thatBesides a comprehensive 

strategy for community 

awareness at all levels, 

especially at school children 

level will be initiated involving 

different mediums to 

inform the citizens about their 

responsibilities towards safe 

disposal of garbage, 

Managing Director saidEntire 

civil society, communities 

and all governmental agencies 

will combine and coordinate 

together to effectively 

implement the new system of 

garbage collection and disposal 

in a safe and environment 

friendly manner. Mr. 

Shaikh asked all NGOs and 

CSOs working in the field of 

solid waste and environment 

to come forth and play their 

crucial role in making their 

streets and neighborhoods 

clean and healthy. 

Busy street awaits encroachment removal 

KARACHI, Feb 3: A busy 

street behind the Sindh 

Secretariat is blocked by 

encroachers including 

illegal garages set up on 

footpaths, and faulty vehicles 

waiting repair are 

parked on the street, 

blocking traffic flow and 

creating nuisance for general 

public. 

The local government 

department of the Sindh 

government has been 

claiming to remove illegal 

encroachments from 

Karachi, but sadly this 

department is blind to 

wholesale encroachments 

on the street that is just 

behind the seat of Sindh 

government, the New 

Sindh Secretariat Building 

and Tughlaq House. 

KARACHI: Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat ul Ebad having a meeting with Vice Chancellor Sindh 

Madrassa tul Islam Dr Muhammad Ali Sheikh at Governor House. 

MQM worker for the period of three months. It 

also directed to form the Joint Investigation 

Team (JIT). 

The court allowed the Rangers to keep the 

suspect considering legal provision 11 EEEEE 

(1) of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The production 

of the suspect along with other documents was 

made in compliance with 11 EEEEE (3) 

of ATA for the information and record of 

the court. 

According to sources, Qazi was at 

MQM's headquarter, Nine-Zero, along 

with Amir Khan when the Rangers raided there 

on 11th March 2015, but he managed to flee and 

had been off the scene since then. Qazi was 

allegedly involved in providing shelter to alleged 

terrorists who were arrested from the Nine-Zero. 

Earlier, the ATC had issued his non-bailable 

arrest warrants along with other party workers 

Raees alias Mama, Shehzad alias Mullah, Naeem 

and Imran Aijaz in Amir Khan's case of instigating 

terrorism and harboring criminals. 

Wine shop in Muslim majority area: SHC 

seeks govt comments: The Sindh High Court 

death of Ahsan Shakir said 

that all members of CPNE are 

with bereaved family of late 

journalist. 

They prayed God bestow 

the courage to bereaved family 

to bear the great loss. 

Man shot dead 

in Karachi 

KARACHI, Feb 3: A man 

was shot dead by unidentified 

armed men in the 

Mauripur area of metropolis 

on Wednesday. 

According to rescue 

sources, Abid-ur-Rehman, 

30, son of Habib-ur- 

Rehman, was shot dead by 

unidentified armed men near 

Gol Masjid, Machar Colony 

in Mauripur. 

The body was shifted to 

Civil Hospital Karachi 

(CHK) for an autopsy. 

Qaumi Movement (MQM) 

members. 

The arguing members 

said that they had filed a resolution 

last night and should 

be permitted to present that. 

MQM among opposition 

parties got up from their 

seats and protested against 

the government. 

However, the resolution 

was passed with consent 

after ruckus in the assembly. 

The resolution demands 

establishment of a judicial 

commission to probe the 

incident. On the other hand, 

PIA employees held a candlelight 

vigil to remember 

their colleagues who lost 

their lives on Tuesday. 

Experts for cervical 

cancer vaccination 

at national level 

KARACHI, Feb 3: Health 

experts have urged the 

government to include the 

vaccine for cervical cancer 

in the national immunization 

program to save precious 

lives as Pakistan is 

one of the top ten countries 

with highest number of 

Cervical Cancer deaths in 

the world. 

Talking to journalists in 

a briefing arranged by 

United Against Cervical 

Cancer (UACC) on cervical 

cancer awareness in the 

backdrop of World Cancer 

Day, at Karachi Press 

Club. They said that 

Pakistan is bearing the burden 

of 7311 women fatalities 

due to cervical cancer, 

and ranked 7th out of 50 

countries by Cervical 

Cancer Global Crisis Card 

in 2013. 

Overflowing gutters main 

issue for Karachiites 

KARACHI: Commuters facing hardships due to sewerage 

water lodged on the main road of Jail Chowrangi. 

KARACHI, Feb 3: 

Chairman Karachi Business 

Alliance MD Frank Line 

Marketing Ayaz Memon 

Motiwalla on Wednesday 

said that sewerage water is 

overflowing in almost nentire 

Karachi which is a grave 

civic issue. 

Addressing a press conference 

at Saddar, he said 

that gutter water is overflowing 

around every 

streets, bazaar, school, 

mosque, and hospital. He 

said mosquitoes have been 

breeding in the stagnant 

water, which causes malaria 

and other diseases and due 

to this situation citizens are 

mentally disturbed. 

He further said that when 

we decided to resolve sewerage 

issues of Karachi 

some people reacted wrongly 

and yesterday some miscreants 

threatened us and 

said that why we are highlighting 

the civic issues of 

Karachi. 

He stated that we have 

firmly decided to resolve 

these important issues of 

people. He announced a 

'sewerage road demonstration' 

on Wednesday. 

He added that to hold 

such unique demonstration 

is not meant that we are 

doing politics. 

(SHC) on Thursday directed Excise & Taxation 

department and SHO Awami Colony police station 

to submit their comments on the petition for 

closure of wine shops from thickly Muslim populated 

areas. 

SHC bench, headed by chief justice Sajjad 

Ali Shah was hearing the petition filed by 

Muneer Ahmed, the resident of 

Korangi No.4, who moved the court 

against open selling of wine in the 

areas where Muslims are in majority. 

The petitioners submitted that “Lucky 

Wine Shop” has been established near 

Kornagi where Muslim population is in 

majority in all the nearby areas. “The residents 

registered their complaints to authorities 

concerned but no action has been taken 

yet,” he submitted in the petition. 

Citing SHO Awami Colony police station, 

Excise & Taxation's secretary and Director 

General as respondents, the petitioner prayed to 

the court to direct the respondents to perform 

their responsibility and exterminate the wine 

shops from thickly Muslim populated areas. 

12 million Pakistanis suffer from hepatitis 

KARACHI, Feb 3: About 12 

million people are affected 

with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) 

and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) 

in Pakistan. Hepatitis is an 

inflammation of the liver. 

Pakistan is among the worst 

afflicted nations. One person 

dies of hepatitis after every 30 

seconds in the South Asian 

region. Both the diseases are 

life-threatening but curable, 

people are not aware of the 

facts in the country. 

G a s t r o e n t e r o l o g i s t 

Specialist Prof Dr Saad 

Khalid Niaz of the Health 

Foundation expressed these 

views at a public awareness 

seminar entitled “Awareness 

on Hepatitis B & C”, held at 

Dr. Panjwani Center for 

Molecular Medicine and 

Drug Research (PCMD), 

International Center for 

Chemical and Biological 

Sciences (ICCBS), 

University of Karachi here on 

Wednesday. 

PCMD, University of 

Karachi and Virtual 

Education Project Pakistan 

(VEPP) jointly organised the 

seminar. 

Dr Niaz said that hepatitis 

B and C were the major causes 

of liver failure in Pakistan. 

He said jaundice was mainly 

caused by hepatitis A and E 

viruses, which is one of the 

outcomes of inflammation of 

the liver. He said that there 

was no vaccine for HCV but 

HBV vaccine was available, 

and used to prevent HBV. 

KARACHI: Anis Zaidi, Nadeem Hashmi, Mehmood Khan, Fatima Hassan, Sultan Ahmed and other 

guests in a group photo with the host, Dr Farhat Abbas after dinner in honour of Yawar Mehdi. 

Three terrorists killed near Kalat 

KARACHI, Feb 3: Frontier 

Corps (FC) on Wednesday 

killed three alleged suicide 

bombers after encounter in 

Kalat area of Balochistan. 

According to FC 

spokesperson, FC cordoned 

off Gidar area of Kalat on a 

tipoff about the presence of a 

vehicle loaded of explosive 

material, and started snap 

checking. 

FC personnel stopped a 

suspected vehicle but terrorists 

riding it fled. FC chased 

and surrounded them, but 

the terrorists blew up the 

vehicle. As a result three 

alleged terrorists inside the 

vehicle died and three FC 

personnel were injured in 

this incident. 

Further investigation is 

under way. 

KARACHI: Administrator DMC Malir, Tariq Hussain Mughal along with Municipal Commissioner 

DMC Malir, Manzoor Hussain Abbasi inspecting ongoing operation against Illegal Sign Boards. 

KARACHI: Commissioner Karachi, Syed Asif Haider along with Parliamentarians, Syed Asif 

Hasnain, Syed Khalid Ahmed, Moin Amir Pirzada, Deputy Commissioner, Ejaz Hussain 

Baloch, Administrator DMC Korangi, Ghullam Rasool visits Arif Hussain School. 

KARACHI: Deputy Commissioner East, Asif Jan Siddiquie along with Administrator DMC 

East, Rehmatullah Sheikh inspecting sewage problems at District East. 

KARACHI: Administrator DMC West, Sajjad Ahmed Memon along with Municipal 

Commissioner DMC West, Ashfaq Ahmed Mallah inspecting cleanliness work at District West.


National 

3 

Present rulers have broken 

Asif Zardari's record: Imran Khan 

PESHAWAR, Feb 3: 

Lashing out at the federal 

government for violently 

handling the protesting PIA 

employees in Karachi, 

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf 

(PTI) Chairman Imran Khan 

on Wednesday stated that 

present rulers have become 

‘dictators’ as instead of 

addressing reservations of 

the protestors, the authorities 

tried to ‘bulldoze’ them. 

Talking to media after the 

ground breaking ceremony 

of Peshawar Zoo, Imran 

Khan said the rulers don’t 

know anything about democracy. 

They are production of 

dictatorship. 

He said that Pervez 

Musharraf’s era was less 

harder than the PML-N’s 

present rule. 

To a question, Khan said 

the country has been 

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister KP Parvez Khattak performing ground breaking of Peshawar 

Zoo Project at Pakistan Forest Institute Peshawar. Chairman PTI Imran Khan is also seen 

in the picture. 

engulfed by joblessness and 

the present rulers have broken 

former president Asif Ali 

Zardari’s record. 

The PTI chief announced 

that he will participate in the 

anti-government protest on 

February 6 from Karachi or 

Islamabad. 

Earlier today, addressing 

a gathering at the ground 

breaking ceremony of 

Peshawar Zoo, Khan said 

this project is a necessity in 

the city for kids and families. 

“When we start investing 

on our people, that’s called 

real tabdeeli (change),” he 

added. 

Reportedly, Peshawar 

Zoo will be open for public 

by Eid-Ul-Azha. 

Twenty nine acres of land 

has been allotted for the zoo 

which will be completed at 

the total cost of Rs128.968. 

SBCA seals 9 buildings being 

constructed without permission 

Abbas Kassar 

HYDERABAD, Feb 3: 

Sindh Building Control 

Authority has under orders 

of its Regional Director took 

action against as many as 9 

buildings in various areas of 

Hyderabad, Latifabad and 

Qasimabad which were 

being constructed without 

getting permission from 

competent authority. 

Demolition cell of SBCA led 

by concerned deputy directors 

and officers sealed these 

buildings taking action under 

ABCO 1979/82; The buildings 

sealed as such were: 

Plot near Taxi stand Liaquat 

colony Ward G; plot 347 city 

survey No.31, Liaquat 

colony Ward G Taluka city 

Hyderabad;plot B -33 New 

Memon Housing Scheme, 

plot 28-A phase 2 North 

Nazimab ad; plot 226 Block 

C Unit 2,plot 741 unit 2,plot 

590 block D Unit 2, plot K- 

380 Unit 4,plot 220 block D 

and plot 35 block D/3 Taluka 

Latifabad Hyderabad. 

SBCA has asked all 

builders/property owners to 

avoid construction of buildings 

without approval by 

HBCA otherwise such buildings 

would be demolished 

and heavy fine imposed. 

Concluding ceremony of three day 

workshop on Democracy Technology Camp 

PEF partners directed to follow 

govt instructions about security 

LAHORE, Feb 3: The 

Private Schools associated 

with Punjab Education 

Foundation (PFF) have 

directed to follow government 

instructions about 

security. 

The private schools associated 

with Punjab Education 

Foundation (PEF), under its 

different free educational 

programs, should strictly follow 

instructions of the 

Punjab government as well 

as the School Education 

Department with regard to 

schools’ security. 

The purpose is to ensure 

JAMSHORO, Feb 3: In view 

of directives by Sindh 

Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad 

Khan, who is also Chancellor 

of public sector universities in 

province, regarding enhancing 

security over the campus, 

a meeting of the officials of 

various sections of University 

of Sindh was held which was 

presided over by Prof Dr. 

safety and security of students 

and teachers there. 

Managing Director PEF 

Tariq Mahmood has stated 

this while presiding over 

coordination meeting of high 

officials at his office on 

Wednesday. 

DMD (Ops) Tariq Rafiq 

and program directors attended 

the meeting. The meeting 

reviewed in detail the pace of 

progress on different programs 

and expressed the satisfaction 

that this has been 

helping the needy communities 

to educate their children 

without being burdened. 

Muhammad Siddique 

Kalhoro, Acting Vice 

Chancellor, UoS. In the meeting, 

besides construction of 

boundary wall, various proposals 

for establishment of 

check posts and installation of 

modern close circuit cameras 

and other measures were discussed. 

In the meeting, directives 

were also issued for taking 

more effective measures 

to make present surveillance 

system fool proof to ensure 

the security of the people on 

the campus. 

SU: First M.Phil 

Seminar will be held today: 

Dean Faculty of Natural 

Science, University of Sindh 

has announced that the First 

MD PEF said that the 

foundation is playing an 

important role in the education 

of brick kiln workers’ 

children in the province. He 

said that all facilities, including 

free education, will be 

provided to such children 

enrolled in PEF partner 

schools and vouchers will 

also be issued for studying in 

private schools so that no one 

is left unattended. 

He said that PEF has also 

launched ten mobile schools 

for nomad communities in 

vast. Cholistan desert where 

teachers are also provided 

Sindh University moves for effective 

on campus security measures 

JAMSHORO: Prof. Dr. Muhammad Siddique Kalhoro, Acting Vice Chancellor University of 

Sindh presiding over the meeting of Security. 

M.Phil Seminar of the scholar 

Mansab Ali Jakhrani of 

Physics Department on the 

topic of “Synthesis of Novel 

Zinc Oxide Nanostructures 

of Antibacterial and 

Antifungal Activities” will 

be held today 4th February 

2016, at Video Conference 

room, Office of the Dean 

Faculty of Natural Sciences. 

The scholar is carrying his 

study under the supervision 

of Dr. Riaz Hussain Mari and 

Co-Supervisor Dr. Zafar 

Hussain Abopoto. 

motor cycles to reach such 

communities. He further 

said that state of the art 

online complaint management 

system is being 

devised to promptly facilitate 

the school partners. 

The participants, while 

discussing the socio-economic 

benefits of the PEF 

sponsored educational programs, 

said that PEF has 

especially promoted girls’ 

education in remote and 

under-developed areas 

where no other facility was 

available for such disfranchised 

communities. 

Book launching 

ceremony 

Waheed Phulpoto 

SHIKARPUR, Feb 3: A 

poetry book named “Peaks 

& Perils of life” launching 

ceremony organized by 

Akbar Development 

Organization [ADO] at 

Press club Shikarpur here 

late Tuesday. 

Kamran Akbar Soomro 

was the chief guest on the 

occasion. 

Addressing on the occasion 

author Nasir Soomro 

said that he penned down 

his thoughts in English language 

in order to convey 

his message and feelings to 

the larger audience. 

Dr Aamir Abbas 

Soomro, Waheed Mohsin, 

Anwar Ali, Ayaz Sair, 

Nasim Bukhari, Maqbool 

Mahar and others attended 

the book launching ceremony. 

Imran Akbar Soomro the 

vice president of the [ADO] 

thanked all the participants 

and assured to organize 

such events in future as 

well on the occasion. 

26 government schools 

in Rawalpindi city 

declared sensitive 

RAWALPINDI, Feb 3: As 

many as 26 government 

schools of Rawalpindi city 

have been declared sensitive. 

The management of 

these 26 schools have been 

directed to ensure fool 

proof security arrangements 

in their respective 

schools immediately failing 

which legal action would 

be initiated against them . 

Sources said that AC 

Rawalpindi City Ahmad 

Hassan Ranjha visited the 

government schools along 

with his team and 

declared 26 schools of 

Rawalpindi city including 

all the schools of 

Khiaban-e-Sirsyed sensitive. 

He issued directives 

that school administration 

should ensure security 

arrangements forthwith 

otherwise stern action 

would be taken against 

them. 


Nazriya Pakistan Council 

(NPC) would hold all-parties 

Kashmir conference 

today Thursday in 

Islamabad. Chairman Al- 

Parties Hurriyat Conference 

KHAIRPUR: A group photo of participants of the three-day workshop on Democracy 

Technology Camp with Prof. Dr. Parveen Shah, Vice Chancellor SALU, Khairpur, Prof. Dr. 

Yousuf Khushk and Mr. Shoaib Akbar Raja at Shah Abdul Latif University. 

KHAIRPUR, Feb 3: A 

Concluding Ceremony of 

the Three-Day Democracy 

Technology Workshop 

organized by Faculty of 

Arts & Languages and 

Centre for Peace and 

Development Initiative 

(CPDI) was concluded at 

Shah Abdul Latif 

University, Khairpur. Prof. 

Dr. Parveen Shah, Vice 

Chancellor, Shah Abdul 

Latif University, Khairpur 

distributed the certificates 

among the participants of 

the three-day workshop. 

Speaking to the participants, 

Prof. Dr. Parveen 

Shah said, it is matter of 

pleasure and rejoice for me 

to distribute the certificates 

among the participants of 

the workshop. Dr. Shah said, 

I believed in teamwork and 

collaborative efforts, the role 

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq will 

address the conference on 

telephone. 

According to media 

reports, Federal Minister for 

Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit- 

Baltistan Muhammad 

of Centre for Peace and 

Development Initiative 

(CPDI) is remarkable for the 

capacity building of the students. 

I am optimistic that 

such type of the events will 

be continue in future. 

Prof. Dr. Mohammad 

Yousuf Khushk, Dean, 

Faculty of Arts & Languages 

said, our University has 

inked national and international 

MoUs for the capacity 

building of the students. The 

CPDI is one of its glaring 

example for holding of 

workshops, seminars, debate 

and essay competition at our 

University. He praised the 

proactive role of the CPDI. 

Mr. Shoaib Akbar Raja, 

Program Manager, CPDI, 

Islamabad said, Shah Abdul 

Latif University, Khairpur is 

our largest partner in 

Pakistan for the capacity 

Barjees Tahir and President 

of Azad, Jammu and 

Kashmir Sardar Muhammad 

Yaqoob Khan would attend 

the conference. 

National Kashmir 

Solidarity Day conference 

building and awareness of 

the students. The students of 

the University eagerly participated 

in the various 

activities and showed their 

enthusiasm and commitment. 

The faculty remained 

cooperative during the entire 

course of activities. Mr. Raja 

extended his cordial thanks 

to Vice Chancellor Dr. 

Parveen Shah who provided 

an opportunity to sign a 

Memorandum of 

Understanding and provided 

a viable platform for co-curricular 

activities. 

At the end, the certificates 

among the participants 

of the workshop were distributed. 

Prof. Dr. Taj Mohammad 

Lashari, Prof. Dr. Amir Ali 

Chandio, Dr. Sofia Yousuf 

Khushk and others were 

present on this occasion. 

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq to address 

Kashmir conference on phone 

will also be held in 

Islamabad on Thursday. The 

conference will pay homage 

to Kashmiri martyrs and 

express unity with struggling 

people of occupied 

Kashmir. 

Man dies of heart attack, 

standing in NADRA centre 

TANK, Feb 3: A tribal man died of heart 

attack on Wednesday, while standing in a 

queue to collect his national identity card 

at a NADRA centre in Tank in Khyberpakhtunkhwa. 

Safeer Barki, a resident of 

Ladha in South Waziristan, stood in the 

line for hours to collect his CNIC before 

he collapsed and died on the spot. 

Internally displaced persons alleged that 

that they have to wait for hours in queues 

to get their national identity cars, while 

agents demand bribes for handing over 

of cards. They demanded that the 

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali 

Khan and Governor K-P Sardar Mehtab 

Abbassi take notice of the issue and 

issue necessary directives to high-ups of 

Tank NADRA centre. 

How selfies are giving us TEETH paranoia 

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: Our 

obsession with taking selfies is 

leading to a rise in ‘dental dysmorphia’, 

dentists have 

warned 

Our obsession with taking 

selfies is leading to a rise in 

‘dental dysmorphia’, say dentists. 

Surgeons say they are seeing 

an increase in the number 

of people wanting to correct 

what they wrongly believe are 

‘horsey’ teeth, not realising 

that their phone is creating a 

distorted photo. 

In real life, their teeth are 

often perfectly fine, the 

experts say. 

‘The problem with a selfie 

is that the picture is taken quite 

closely, so the image can be 

distorted,’ said Tim 

Bradstock-Smith, clinical 

director of the London Smile 

Clinic. 

‘Teeth often look more protruding 

than they are in real 

life and appear “horse-like”, 

which can also be emphasised 

by the unflattering light of the 

flash. 

‘As teeth are at the centre 

of the image, people are 

increasingly, and understandably, 

driven to make them 

look nicer. ‘While these photos 

will undeniably exaggerate 

defects, they can also be misleading.’ 

Dr Bradstock-Smith said 

selfies have become the most 

popular way for women to 

appraise their looks, especially 

as many now use them to 

apply their make-up on the 

move in lieu of the traditional 

compact mirror. 

He said he has to dissuade 

several patients a week from 

having unnecessary treatment. 

‘It’s always been thought 

that the two front teeth look 

good being a little more dominant 

with a step in length 

between these and the next 

two,’ he said. 

‘It creates a “smile curve” 

and it’s a highly aesthetic, natural, 

feminine, youthful 

appearance. 

‘However if your selfies 

are taken too close it can be 

distorted and exaggerate the 

size of the two front teeth. 

‘We will take some undistorted 

photos to see what’s 

really going on before diving 

into treatment but selfies have 

caused an increase in demand 

for a reduction in this natural 

dominance of the front two 

teeth. ‘We have seen a 30 per 

cent rise over five years in the 

number of patients sending in 

selfies through the website 

with concerns about the look 

of their front teeth, yet when 

the patients come in person, 

often the teeth don’t look too 

bad at all. 

‘We dissuade approximately 

2-3 patients now each week 

from treatment and for many 

others will recommend simple 

alignment of front teeth with 

clear aligners instead of major 

intervention work– and we 

now even offer tips on taking 

better photos.’ 

To take the best selfie, it is 

suggested that you either use a 

selfie stick to achieve that 

extra distance or extend your 

arm as far as possible but use 

judicious zooming on the 

screen. 

Dr Bradstock-Smith said 

selfies have become the most 

popular way for women to 

appraise their looks, especially 

as many now use them to 

apply their make-up on the 

move in lieu of the traditional 

compact mirror.

4 


National 

PML-N MPA Kanwal Nauman's 

condition out of danger: Doctors 

KARACHI: Head office: 509, Land Mark Plaza, I.I Chundrigar Road, Karachi, Pakistan. 

Ph: +9221-32214988- 32214990, Fax: +9221-32214989 

messengerdaily@yahoo.com, editor@dailymessenger.com.pk 

Chief Editor: Muhammad Taqi Alvi 

Associate Editor: Ali Razavi - Hyderabad Bureau Chief: Abbas Kassar 

ISLAMABAD –– LAHORE –– RAWALPINDI –– KARACHI 

EDITORIAL 

Violent sports of injuries, lifetime 

disabilities or deaths be banned 

(I) 

To start with, sports is basically an activity done 

for pleasure, which needs physical effort and 

skill. Some people, who dedicate themselves to 

this activity, consider it as a passion to compete against 

others in their skill, ability and spirit. Sports also help in 

inculcating a certain discipline as well as the spirit of 

brotherhood or the ‘team spirit’ in the sports persons. 

Sports ideally are not meant to do anything with violence. 

Sports for some is a mode of attaining fame, for 

some it is their job. Some do it as their hunger to compete 

and win, while the others take it as an enjoyment 

to watch. 

But, in today’s scenario, the sports that include 

aggressive activities are gaining more popularity, as they 

present much a way of entertainment to the spectators. 

Since the youth are more volatile by nature they enjoy 

these ‘violent sports’ such as boxing, kick boxing, 

wrestling etc. Today’s Young generation does not make 

an effort to know the grave dangers that these sports put. 

Therefore, should violent sports be banned?: To 

quote from a writing of now world famous writer 

George Orwell: ‘Serious sport has nothing to do with 

fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy and boastfulness, 

disregard of all rules, and sadistic pleasures in 

witnessing violence: in other words, it is war without 

shooting.’ - George Orwell 

Banning violent sports remains a highly debated topic 

in today’s society. Throughout history, sport and violence 

have been synonymous. Sport was originally a form of 

military training, used as a method to keep in shape and 

develop new skills used during times of war. However, 

many ancient sporting games have been adapted into 

modern day forms and are still relevant today. 

Throughout history, sport has been a form of entertainment. 

Some fans and spectators see sport as a social 

activity, bringing communities together through fair 

play and friendship, whereas for others, sport represents 

a celebration of a community’s rich cultural history. 

Overtime however, we have seen an increase in the 

commercialization of sport. Sport has become a commodity; 

one that allows players to be traded in the market 

place for the highest price, and athlete and team 

branding have become the norm. In the US alone, the 

Sports Industry generated over $400 billion in gross 

revenues during 2010. 

The dangers that these sports cause are susceptibility 

to major accidents that may even prove to be even 

By Francis Matthew 

Yet another round of talks on Syria is underway 

in Switzerland, based on the patently untrue 

premise that all sides want to talk and all sides 

want to make peace. They do not, and at this stage most 

sides still see more advantage in seeking their fortune in 

the battlefield, rather than through negotiations. This 

makes the job of UN envoy Staffan de Mistura almost 

impossible as he struggles with bringing intransigent 

leaders together and overcome a legacy of centuries of 

mistrust and rivalry. 

The talks are based on the optimistic assumption that 

all sides want to look for a reasonable solution. The 

United Nations may be based on the premise that all 

humanity should look to live together in mutual respect 

and harmony, but far too many people at the talks are 

there to build or preserve their hegemony at the expense 

of others, as Syrian city states have been doing for centuries. 

But the talks also make a basic assumption that the 

state of Syria is something that the people of Syria 

recognise and want to preserve. Despite widespread 

regional agreement that nation states are vital for the 

region’s stability, it is not certain that the Syrians agree 

and this is the vital issue that any long-term talks will 

have to address. 

The history of Syria does not point to any automatic 

success in getting any Syrian buy-in to a new round of 

nation building as well-intentioned outsiders try to broker 

an end the devastating civil war. 

The modern Syrian state was founded in the 1920s 

on the basis of Arab nationalism that had expected the 

new state to include what is now Jordan, Palestine and 

Lebanon. After Britain and France hacked at the borders 

a much smaller entity emerged, which was again 

trimmed to assuage Turkish ambitions for Alexandretta 

(Iskenderun). 

After such a difficult start, the people lived in what 

was becoming Syria and had to endure endless rounds 

of coups and counter coups, until the decades of 

President Bashar Al Assad’s rule started, all of which 

made it hard for Syrians to buy into the idea of being 

Syrian, and it is still not clear what ‘Syria’ means emotionally 

to a Syrian, even if their latter-day nation state 

had clear borders. 

Prior to the mandate and independence, what was to 

become Syria languished under long centuries of 

Ottoman imperial rule. Life was relatively calm as the 

great city of Aleppo acted as a global entrepot to the 

riches of the Silk Road, and the future capital of 

Damascus was a rural backwater. The vilayat of Aleppo 

OPINION 

worse than fatal. The injuries which may be for lifetime 

may be a cause of greater torture and helplessness than 

death itself. Certain instances in the past, such as the 

accident of Fred Guirrero and ‘Umaga’ because of accidents 

during the match have resulted in their death in 

the arena themselves. Also, these violent sports are 

responsible for major injuries to the sportspersons, such 

as rupture of the spine, brain haemorrhage, excessive 

blood loss, irregular clotting etc. 

Not only the sportspersons are affected by these 

kinds of sports, but also, the viewers get an indirect 

impact on them. Young children as well as adults, try to 

imitate the actions that take place in these sports. 

Statistics say that almost 15000 deaths take place annually 

in the USA because of people imitating the 

sportspersons of boxing, wrestling, sword fighting etc. 

Repeated watching of such sports unconsciously affects 

the very psyche of the young which ultimately reflect in 

their behaviour in their social environment. One of the 

major causes of ‘road rage’, shooting spree by 

teenagers in their own schools and colleges, acts of suicide, 

involvement in murders, loots etc, are the consequences 

of being in constant influence these ‘violent 

sports’ and other such activities. 

The media sensationalizes images and enhances 

rivalries, pitting opponents against each other to create 

tension. This tension is central to the success of sport. 

Fans and spectators live for the edge of the seat 

moments and the close call games, drawing them into 

stadiums and television screens around the world. 

Violence is a common factor in many of these sports, 

and to date, the most popular spectator sports are considered 

to be some of the most violent. 

Sports persons like footballers, cricketers, wrestlers 

and boxers have died due to extreme violence. 

Audience takes a sadistic pleasure in seeing sports 

persons in torn flesh and oozing blood. It is sickening 

to see human nature becoming so uncivilized, dehumanized 

and beastly. What is the logic behind 

sportspersons indulging themselves in such inhuman 

activities and the viewers watching blood smeared 

sportsmen in the ring with broken limbs? It seems 

greed of money is prompting certain people to participate 

in such type of violent activity. Also, it is very 

contradictory to the spirit of sports that they spread 

violence and suffering instead of providing pleasure 

and joy. 

Syria needs inspirational thinkers 

ran all the way north, deep into what is now Turkey and 

west to the coast, and that of Damascus looking south 

ran down to Jerusalem and what is now Jordan. 

When modern Syria was created, both these capital 

cities lost their historic hinterlands to other nation 

states, and had to learn to survive together in modern 

Syria. 

Going further back, it is even harder to see any trace 

of a united Syrian spirit. Pre-Ottoman Syria was made 

up of medieval predatory city states seeking any advantage 

for themselves as they made and broke alliances 

which each other. They frequently crossed faith, sect or 

tribe as they sought temporary friends to garner and 

keep territorial power. The ever-changing principalities 

of Antioch, Tripoli, Damascus, Aleppo and Edessa (to 

name only the major ones) dominated the rough politics 

of the region for many centuries after the first flush of 

the Muslim first invasion faded and left the cities and 

their rulers able to seek their independence. 

Like today, outsiders frequently sought to profit 

from dominating the rich Syrian cities, and the Mongols 

were one of a long line of invaders, although particularly 

brutal. They gave their opponents the choice of complete 

surrender or utter destruction, and the horror of 

those days was recounted by the Muslim geographer 

Yaqut Al Hamawi, writing of cities that the Mongols 

under Genghis Khan had “effaced from off the earth as 

lines of writing are effaced from paper, and those 

abodes became a dwelling for the owl and the raven, in 

the palaces the screech owls answer each other’s cries, 

and in those halls winds moan”. 

Genghis’ descendent Timur invaded Syria and after 

taking Aleppo he massacred many of the inhabitants, 

ordering the creation of a tower of 20,000 skulls outside 

the city. Given this history of centuries of bitter rivalry, 

and the more recent betrayal of the original nationalism, 

any rekindling of a unified Syrian spirit will be very 

hard. 

Building a new Syria will need some inspirational 

thinkers like the early Arab nationalists who both 

inspired widespread popular support and encouraged 

political leaders to take action on a unified platform. 

The current set of militia leaders struggle to find a 

shared sense of Syrian identity as they wrestle with a 

very inadequate inner sense of Syrian-ism. The talks are 

focused on the practicalities of stopping the fighting, 

and they lack a shared vision of building a new Syria 

that can overcome centuries of violent history. Without 

an unexpected outbreak of good fortune, the talks are 

doomed to disappointment till the militias fight themselves 

to a standstill. 

Durani meet the press program 

Our Correspondent 

Abbas Kassar 


Communist Party of 

Pakistan has condemned 

brutal killing of 3 employees 

of PIA and injured many others 

at hands of Rangers and 

has demanded to arrest those 

responsible for firing on 

peaceful PIA employees who 

were protesting against sell 

out of PIA and also demanded 

to withdraw privatization 

SHIKARPUR, Feb 3: 

Pakistan People Party has 

rendered the sacrifices for 

restoration of democratic 

system in the country in 

order to enable the people to 

avail the democratic rights in 

getting their outstanding 

problems resolved and 

redressed the grievances facing 

by them through local 

bodies institutions at local 

level which were their fundamental 

rights to be availed. 

Addressing the journalists 

at meet the press program 

held at Shikarpur press club 

on Tuesday night the senior 

PPP leader of Agha Meshiul 

uddin Khan Durani further 

said that the people of the 

country generally and 

province of Sindh particularly 

were demanding for local 

government elections to be 

held in order to settle the out 

standing problems through 

local body institutions since 

of PIA by federal government. 

CPP has also criticized 

imposition of Essential 

Services Act. In a statement 

issued here Comrade Imdad 

Kazi secretary general of 

CPP said by imposing ESA 

and to deploying Rangers 

was dictatorial attempt to 

crush the protesting workers. 

He said this proves that 

country was being ruled 

under dictatorship. He said 

long which were accepted 

and the local government 

elections were held in the 

end of last year on this 

ground that the people of the 

areas could get the basic 

amenities at their door steps. 

But we are still awaiting for 

further orders from the 

Election Commission of 

Pakistan [ECP] for elections 

of chairmanships of district 

councils, municipal committees 

and town committees in 

the province of Sindh. 

CPP condemns brutal killing of 

PIA employees: demands to withdraw 

privatization policy by, Essential Services Act 

Indian forces occupying 

45 industrial units in 

Kashmir valley 

SRINAGAR, Feb 3: In occupied 

Kashmir, the puppet 

administration has admitted 

that 45 industrial units are 

under the occupation of 

Indian armed forces in the 

Valley. 

According to Kashmir 

Media Service, this was said 

during a meeting held by 

Divisional Commissioner 

Kashmir with officers of 

Industries Department, 

Jammu and Kashmir Police 

and civil administration. 

The meeting was held to 

review the status of industrial 

units presently 

under occupation of 

Indian armed forces in the 

Kashmir Valley. It was 

informed that out of the 

131 industrial units were 

occupied in the Valley by the 

forces, 86 were retrieved 

while 45 units were still 

under their occupation. 

Son-in-law hurled 

life threats to 

father-in-law 

RAWALPINDI, Feb 3: The 

New Town police have 

booked a man for allegedly 

hurling life threats at his 

father-in-law. 

afseer Ahmed, a resident 

of Satellite Town, lodged a 

complaint with the local 

police that his son-in-law 

Zulfiqar would beat his 

daughter Shumaila* over 

domestic issues and when he 

(Ahmed) refused his request 

to send his daughter back, he 

(Zulfiqar) has threatened 

him of dire consequences. 

The police have registered 

a case and started 

investigation. 

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: A 

District and Sessions Court 

in Islamabad has sent CDA 

Inspector Enforcement Bilal 

Zafar to jail on 14 days judicial 

remand in the Kachchi 

Abadi case. 

Senior Civil Judge 

Islamabad, Abdul Ghafoor 

Kakar sent Zafar on judicial 

remand for his involvement 

his party with backing of 

workers would resist privatization 

policy of rulers which 

in other words means occupation 

of national assets by 

capitalists. He said CPP was 

with workers of 

PIA,WAPDA and other institutes 

in their protest against 

privatization. CPP would 

continue resist IMF,World 

Bank and other monitory 

institutions, he added. 

in facilitating establishment 

of slum in the federal capital 

. FIA Anti-Corruption Circle 

Inspector Afzal Khan Niazi 

told the court that the accused 

was arrested on cancellation 

of his bail from the court of a 

special judge central, therefore, 

he should be sent to jail 

on judicial remand. 

The court while granting 

LAHORE, Feb 3: Renowned television 

actress and Pakistan Muslim 

League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA 

Kanwal Nauman’s condition is said 

to be out of danger. 

According to doctors of Jinnah 

hospital, her health is now improving 

and condition is stable. 

Kanwal Nauman was immediately 

rushed to Jinnah Hospital in Lahore 

on Monday as she suffered a brain 

hemorrhage at her Gulber residence. 

Doctors blamed high blood pressure 

for the stroke. 

“Although she has developed 

some complications, she is out of 

danger and being moved to a room 

from the intensive care unit,” a doctor 

said. 

Kanwal Nauman became PML- 

N’s member of provincial assembly 

(MPA) on a reserved seat in the 2013 

General Election. 

8 persons die in 

559 road traffic 

accidents: Rescue 1122 

LAHORE, Feb 3: At least 

eight peoples lost their lives 

while 445 received serious 

injuries in total 559 road traffic 

accidents in all 36 

Districts of Punjab during the 

last 24 hour. 

According to a press statement 

by Rescue 1122, the 

injured were shifted to different 

hospitals of relevant districts. 

However, some 203 

victims, who sustained minor 

injuries, were discharged on 

the spot after provision of 

first aid by Emergency 

Medical Teams. 

According to the data, 259 

drivers, 20 underage drivers, 

88 pedestrians and 309 passengers 

were among the victims 

of these road traffic 

crashes. The statistics show 

128 RTAs were reported in 

Lahore Control Room, which 

affected 125 persons placing 

the Provincial Capital at top 

of the list followed by 47 

RTAs in Faisalabad with 59 

victims and Multan remained 

at third position with 34 

RTAs and 40 victims. 

The details further show 

that total 656 in victims were 

affected by road traffic crashes 

including 525 males & 

131 females, while age group 

of the victims show that 101 

were under 18 year of age, 

403 were between 18 and 40 

years and rest of the 152 victims 

were reported above 40 

years of age. According to 

the data, 454 motorbikes, 90 

auto rickshaws, 69 motorcars, 

22 vans, 05 passenger 

buses, 23 trucks and 81 other 

types of auto vehicles and 

slow moving carts were 

involved in aforesaid road 

traffic accidents. 

CDA inspector enforcement 

sent to jail on judicial 

plea of FIA sent the accused 

to jail on 14 days remand. 

The court ordered the FIA to 

present the accused before it 

with a challan in the next 

hearing. 

The accused was arrested 

under section 109 and 409 

for playing the role of facilitator 

in setting up Kachchi 

abadi in G-7/4. 

LAHORE: Old structure of Choburji, which was a part of Shalamar Garden, came to the view 

once again after demolishing of building of Shalamar Town which came under Orange Line 

train project in front of the garden.


International 

5 

Obama makes first 

trip to US mosque 

WASHINGTON, Feb 3: 

Seven years into his presidency, 

Barack Obama will 

make his first trip to an 

American mosque on 

Wednesday, offering a symbolic 

rebuttal of harsh 

Republican election rhetoric 

against Muslims. 

Obama, whose grandfather 

converted to Islam, will 

make the short helicopter 

ride to the Islamic Society of 

Baltimore mosque, where he 

will meet community leaders 

and deliver remarks. 

He has visited mosques 

from Malaysia, to Indonesia 

and Egypt as president, but 

has yet to visit one 

America’s 2,000-plus places 

of Islamic worship. 

In 2009, a freshly elected 

Obama traveled to the 

Egyptian capital to call for a 

“new beginning” with the 

Muslim world. 

Much of Obama’s foreign 

policy agenda has focused 

on improving ties with 

Muslim nations, from making 

a nuclear deal with Iran 

to improving ties with 

Indonesia and ending wars 

in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

But the effort has been 

stymied by continued confrontation 

with jihadist 

groups and military strikes 

in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, 

Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and 

Yemen. 

His latest effort to ease 

intra-faith relations comes as 

a shrill election debate has 

sullied America’s image 

abroad and jihadist attacks 

in San Bernardino and 

Philadelphia threatened to 

shatter post-9/11 religious 

solidarity at home. 

Six days after the 2001 

attacks in New York and 

Washington, then president 

Arabs, Kurds retake northern Iraq village from IS 

ERBIL, IRAQ, Feb 3: Sunni 

Muslim Arab fighters backed 

by Kurdish forces and U.S.- 

led air strikes retook a village 

in northern Iraq on 

Wednesday in an example of 

effective military cooperation 

on the ground between 

them against Islamic State 

insurgents. 

The offensive in the 

Makhmour district south of 

Erbil began early on 

Wednesday, resulting in the 

recapture of Kudila - part of 

a series of planned operations 

to clear Islamic State 

from the area, Kurdish and 

Arab commanders said. 

Kurdish forces have driven 

the ultra-hardline Sunni 

militants back in northern 

Iraq, but have been reluctant 

to push further into predominantly 

Arab territory for fear 

of being seen as an occupying 

force by inhabitants and 

provoking a backlash. 

Local Sunni Arabs have 

been training in the 

Makhmour area as part of the 

Hashid Shaabi or Popular 

Mobilization Force, a coalition 

of mainly Shi'ite 

Muslim militias in which 

Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi 

would like to include Sunni 

groups. 

"In coordination with the 

(Kurdish) peshmerga and 

supported by coalition planes 

they have a plan to clear and 

Israeli police shoot dead 3 

Palestinians in al-Quds 

SEOUL, Feb 3: South Korea 

warned on Wednesday of 

"searing" consequences if 

North Korea doesn't abandon 

plans to launch a longrange 

rocket that critics call 

a banned test of ballistic 

missile technology. 

The South's rhetoric 

about unspecified harsh 

consequences comes less 

than a month after North 

Korea's defiant fourth 

nuclear test and as diplomats 

at the UN work on 

strong new sanctions against 

the North. 

North Korea on Tuesday 

informed international 

RAMALLAH, Feb 3: Israeli 

forces have shot and killed 

three Palestinians in al-Quds 

(Jerusalem) over an alleged 

attack on police officers, in the 

latest act of violence against 

Palestinian people. 

The shooting took place on 

Wednesday at the Damascus 

Gate, which is one of the 

entrances to the Old City of al- 

Quds. 

Israeli authorities claim 

that the Palestinians were 

armed with guns, knives and 

explosives had attacked Tel 

Aviv regime’s police who 

approached them for an identity 

check. 

At least two Israeli policewomen 

were said to have sustained 

injuries in the incident, 

one of them critically. 

The deadly attack on the 

three Palestinians came a day 

after Israeli military forces 

shot and critically wounded a 

14-year-old teen during skirmishes 

in the central part of 

the occupied West Bank. 

The occupied Palestinian 

territories have been the scene 

of heightened tensions. The 

latest wave of tensions was 

triggered by Israel’s imposition 

in August 2015 of restrictions 

on the entry of 

Palestinian worshipers into the 

al-Aqsa Mosque compound in 

East al-Quds. 

organizations of its plans to 

launch an Earth observation 

satellite on a rocket between 

Feb. 8 and 25, and if North 

Korea's past patterns are any 

clue, angry warnings by its 

neighbors and Washington 

probably won't dissuade a 

coming launch. 

The launch declaration, 

which is meant to warn civilians, 

shipping and aircraft in 

the area about the rocket and 

falling debris, follows North 

Korea's disputed claim on 

Jan. 6 to have tested a hydrogen 

bomb, the country's 

fourth nuclear test. A launch 

would be seen as a snub by 

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the 

third holiest site in Islam after 

Masjid al-Haram in Mecca 

and Masjid al-Nabawi in 

Medina. 

The restrictions have 

enraged Palestinians, who are 

also angry at increasing violence 

by Israeli settlers frequently 

storming the al-Aqsa 

Mosque. 

The Palestinians say the 

Tel Aviv regime seeks to 

change the status quo of the 

compound. More than 170 

Palestinians, including children 

and women, have lost 

their lives at the hands of 

Israeli forces since the beginning 

of last October. 

liberate all the areas that the 

terrorists seized," said peshmerga 

commander Qader 

Qader. "These attacks will 

continue". 

Speaking via phone from 

Kudila with the sound of 

heavy machine gun fire in 

the background, one peshmerga 

said Islamic State had 

deployed three suicide car 

bombs to fend off the assault 

and at least eight militants 

had been killed. 

Greek journalists 

strike against 

pension reforms 

GREECE, Feb 3: Greek 

media on Wednesday pulled 

all news broadcast off the airwaves 

and news websites 

were left without updates 

ahead of a general strike set to 

disrupt services across the 

country in protest against pension 

reforms promised to 

international creditors. 

The newspaper staff also 

quit their offices so that no 

prints will be available on 

Thursday. 

The 24-hour labor action 

comes one day ahead of the 

general strike called by Greek 

unions which will see all 

schools and public offices 

shut down. State-run hospitals 

have also declared that they 

will operate on emergency 

staff only. 

The strike action is directed 

against the government’s 

plans to lower the maximum 

pension to 2,300 euros a 

month from the current 2,700 

euros. The nationwide strike 

is also against a new minimum 

guaranteed basic pension 

of 384 euros. 

The administration of 

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras 

seeks to merge pension funds 

and increase social security 

contributions by both employers 

and staff. 

George W. Bush visited the 

Islamic Center of 

Washington, declaring 

“Islam is peace.” 

Today Republican presidential 

candidate Donald 

Trump has wooed conservative 

voters by demanding a 

ban on Muslim immigrants, 

while frontrunner Ted Cruz 

has advocated Christianonly 

admissions and championed 

“Judeo-Christian values.” 

Law-abiding Americans 

The White House is keen 

to offer a different image of 

America and draw a contrast 

between what it calls 

Republican’s “divisive rhetoric” 

and the country’s secular 

tradition. 

White House spokesman 

Josh Earnest said Obama 

will “affirm the important 

role that Muslim Americans 

play in our society” and 

argue that “law-abiding 

Americans should be able to 

worship God in the manner 

that they see fit.” 

“And they shouldn’t be 

subject to ridicule or targeting 

by anybody, let alone 

somebody who aspires to 

leading the country,” Earnest 

added. 

“We have seen an alarming 

willingness on the part 

of some Republicans to try 

to marginalize law-abiding, 

patriotic Muslim Americans, 

and it is offensive.” 

Russia to keep 

bombing Syria until 

'terrorist organizations’ 

defeated: Lavrov 

MOSCOW, Feb 3: Russia said 

Wednesday it would continue 

its bombing campaign in Syria 

until “terrorist organizations” 

such as the Islamic State group 

are defeated amid the latest 

global push to end the conflict. 

“Russian air strikes will 

not cease until we truly defeat 

the terrorist organizations 

Islamic State and Jabhat al- 

Nusra,” the Russian Foreign 

Minister Sergei Lavrov told 

reporters on a visit to Oman, 

referring to the Islamic State 

and Al-Nusra Front militant 

groups, Interfax news agency 

reported. “And I don’t see 

why these air strikes should 

stop.” 

Earlier, Russia scolded 

British Foreign Secretary 

Philip Hammond on Tuesday 

for suggesting that President 

Vladimir Putin was fanning 

the flames of the Syrian civil 

war. 

Hammond told in an interview 

on Monday that Putin 

was strengthening Islamic 

State militants on the ground 

by bombing President Bashar 

al-Assad’s opponents, who the 

West hope can shape Syria 

once Assad is gone. 

Did Varun Dhawan turn down 

Rohit Shetty’s ‘Ram Lakhan’? 

NEW DELHI, Feb 3: Rohit 

Shetty had announced that 

he's planning the remake of 

Ram Lakhan. While the 

announcement was made 

over a year ago, his project 

has now hit a roadblock. 

Why? Whoever Rohit has 

approached has turned him 

down. After the dismal run 

of Dilwale at the box office, 

Rohit approached Varun to 

play Lakhan that is Anil 

Kapoor's character from the 

original. But we now hear 

that Varun has opted out. 

It seems Varun didn't like 

the idea of working in the 

film and he isn't ready to 

play Lakhan. Insiders from 

the industry tell us that the 

situation is rather different. 

Varun is very unhappy at the 

way he was portrayed just as 

a mere sidekick in Dilwale 

and has hence maintained 

distance from Shetty. 

Previously, Ranveer 

Singh too was approached 

for the role but he had also 

turned down the film. 

What's happening to Rohit? 

Once a director who was on 

everyone's wishlist, the 

newcomers are rejecting his 

films now. As of now, Rohit 

has moved on and is now 

planning to start his next 

instalment for either 

Golmaal or Singham with 

Ajay Devgn instead. 

Arms, financial supply to terrorists 

must be blocked: Iran's Rouhani 

TEHRAN, Feb 3: Iranian 

President Hassan Rouhani 

has described terrorism as a 

serious threat to the entire 

world, including Europe, 

calling for measures to stop 

financial and arms supply to 

terrorists. 

The Iranian president 

made the remarks in a meeting 

with visiting German 

Foreign Minister Frank- 

Walter Steinmeier in Tehran 

on Wednesday. 

Rouhani further pointed to 

MOGADISHU, Feb 3: A blast 

on a passenger airplane 

punched a hole in the side of 

the fuselage soon after takeoff 

from the airport at Somalia’s 

capital Mogadishu, police said 

Wednesday. 

The airplane, operated by 

DaaloAirlines and flying from 

Mogadishu to Djibouti with 

around 60 passengers, landed 

safely. Two passengers were 

slightly injured, police said. 

“The passenger plane 

made an emergency landing 

soon after it took off on 

Tuesday, and there was a damage 

on one side of the aircraft 

over the right wing,” Somali 

police officer Mohamed Ise 

said. He added it was not clear 

what had caused the explosion 

the landmark nuclear agreement 

between Iran and the 

five permanent members of 

the UN Security Council – 

the UK, the US, France, 

Russia and China -- plus 

Germany, noting that the precise 

and immediate implementation 

of the deal serves 

the interests of both sides. 

“The JCPOA (Joint 

Comprehensive Plan of 

Action), as a successful 

model, has prepared a very 

good condition in the international 

area for dialogue and 

interaction on other issues. 

We should try to utilize this 

win-win equation for the resolution 

of other regional 

issues,” Rouhani pointed out. 

He added that Iran has a 

great deal of opportunities 

available in the fields of 

industry, mining, energy, railway 

transport and tourism, 

and that Berlin can seize the 

opportunity to have a more 

active business cooperation 

with Tehran. 

Somalia airplane makes 

emergency landing after blast 

North Korea of its only 

major ally, China, whose 

representative for Korean 

affairs landed in the North 

for talks on Tuesday. 

South Korean and US 

officials said the launch 

would threaten regional 

security and violate UN 

Security Council resolutions 

that ban the country from 

engaging in any ballistic 

activities. 

"We warn that if North 

Korea proceeds with a longrange 

missile launch, the 

international society will 

ensure that the North pays 

searing consequences for it 

as the launch would constitute 

a grave threat to the 

Korean Peninsula, the 

region and the world," senior 

South Korean presidential 

official Cho Tae-yong 

said in televised remarks. 

In Washington, Daniel 

Russel, the top diplomat for 

East Asia, said the US was 

tracking reports of the 

North's planned launch. He 

said a launch that uses ballistic 

missile technology 

would be another violation 

of a UN ban and strengthens 

the argument for the international 

community to impose 

"real consequences" on 

and fire and those investigations 

were being carried out. 

“Passengers were terrified,” 

said Abdiwahab 

Hassan, an airport official. 

Photographs show a large 

hole — about a metre in diameter 

— ripped in the side of the 

plane just above the engines 

on the right wing, with streaks 

of soot on the plane. 

Boeing CEO pitches F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet to India 

NEW DELHI, Feb 3: US aircraft 

maker Boeing Co is in a 

“conversation” on manufacturing 

its F/A-18 Super 

Hornet fighter jet in India, 

Chief Executive Officer 

Dennis Muilenburg was quoted 

on Wednesday as saying 

on his first visit to the country. 

“We see the Super Hornet 

as an opportunity … to tie 

directly into the ‘Make in 

India’ strategy,” Muilenburg 

told the Hindustan Times in 

an interview whose authenticity 

was confirmed by the 

company. Prime Minister 

Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in 

India’ drive is designed to 

expand India’s industrial 

base. 

Boeing was willing to 

back the project with billions 

of dollars in investment to 

India meet its operational 

needs, according to 

South Korea warns North Korea not to launch satellite 

Muilenburg’s comments in 

the interview. 

India is locked in talks 

with France’s Dassault 

Aviation SA to buy 36 

French-built Rafale combat 

jets at a price said to be close 

to $200 million apiece. 

But an earlier tender to 

buy 126 Rafales collapsed. 

Plane makers are queuing 

up to fill the shortfall with 

revised offers, stressing their 

readiness to locate production 

in India, with Saab AB of 

Sweden also pushing its single-engine 

Gripen aircraft. 

North Korea for destabilizing 

behavior. He called for 

the imposition of tough 

additional sanctions. 

Russel said a launch 

"would be an unmistakable 

slap in face to those who 

argue that you just need to 

show patience and dialogue 

with the North Koreans but 

not sanctions," in an apparent 

reference to China. 

China urged all sides to 

show restraint Wednesday 

over North Korea's 

announcement of its launch 

plans, and expressed skepticism 

over the US calls for 

tough new sanctions.

6 


Biz 

Oil rises after Russia says 

open to talking to OPEC 

LONDON, Feb 3: Oil rose on 

Wednesday after Russia repeated its 

willingness to take part in talks with 

OPEC producers to cut output and 

boost prices, although analysts said 

rising U.S. crude inventories could 

put a brake on a bigger rally. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei 

Lavrov said if there is consensus 

among the Organization of the 

Petroleum Exporting Countries and 

non-OPEC members to meet, "then 

we will meet". 

This helped push the price of oil, 

which had earlier been set for a third 

day of declines after data on Tuesday 

showed another big build in U.S. 

inventories, off the day's lows. 

Brent for April delivery LCOc1 

rose 75 cents to $33.46 a barrel by 

1444 GMT, pulling away from a session 

low of $32.30. U.S. crude 

futures rose 58 cents to $30.45, off a 

session low of $29.40. 

The low of $32.30 in Brent also 

marked the halfway point between 

the price lows in January and the 


Special Assistant to the 

Prime Minister (SAPM) on 

Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq 

Fatemi said that the China- 

Pakistan Economic Corridor 

(CPEC) had added a new 

dimension to Pakistan-China 

all weather partnership. 

According to a press 

release on Wednesday, the 

highs seen earlier this week, and a 

point at which speculators swooped 

in to buy. 

"$32.30 is exactly the 50-percent 

retracement of the rally that we've 

had and that's helped. Now, attention 

has turned toward inventory (data) 

for today, on the assumption that a lot 

SAPM who is currently on 

an official visit to China 

called on State Councilor 

Yang Jiechi in Beijing and 

discussed measures to 

enhance further collaboration 

between Pakistan and 

China on economic, commercial 

and political 

spheres. 

During the meeting, the 

Special Assistant to the 

Prime Minister fondly 

recalled the historic visit of 

President Xi Jinping to 

Pakistan last year. Fatemi and 

Yang also discussed a range 

of regional and multilateral 

issues of mutual interest. 

Yang expressed continued 

support for Pakistan's 

membership of the Shanghai 

of the expected 'bad news' has been 

priced in already," Saxo Bank manager 

Ole Hansen said. 

"Then obviously there is Lavrov 

doing his utmost to verbally intervene 

in the market and I think that is also 

playing its part. So we are having a 

small bounce at the moment, trying to 

Cooperation Organization 

(SCO). 

The two countries will 

focus this year on greater 

cultural exchanges and 

deepen people-to-people 

contacts in the context of the 

65 year celebrations of the 

establishment of diplomatic 

relations between the two 

countries. 

make up for some lost ground." 

The 70 percent drop in the crude 

price over the last 18 months has hit 

the budgets of oil-dependent nations 

such as Nigeria, Venezuela, Russia 

and even some of the richer Gulf 

nations such as Bahrain. 

Demand for oil, particularly in 

Asia, proved robust last year, but not 

enough to absorb near-record supply 

and ballooning inventories of 

unwanted crude. 

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories 

likely increased last week to a 

new record high, while gasoline 

stocks also built and distillates drew 

down, an extended Reuters survey 

showed on Tuesday. The data is due 

at 1530 GMT on Wednesday. 

[EIA/D] 

Goldman Sachs in a note on 

Monday said volatility in the oil 

price, which is at its highest since the 

collapse of failed U.S. investment 

bank Lehman Brothers in 2008, 

could reach 100 percent as storage 

capacity comes under pressure. 

Need stressed for 

single digit sales tax 

CPEC gives new dimension to 

Pak-China partnership: Fatemi 

to enhance tax base 


Textile Asia 

India toughens business visa International Trade 

rules for Pakistani entrepreneurs Fair from March 9 

KARACHI, Feb 3: Shaikh 

NEW DELHI, Feb 3: 

Pakistani entrepreneurs 

seeking the special business 

visa known as the ‘India 

business card’ for SAARC 

nations should run an enterprise 

worth INR10 million, 

Indian media quoting 

Ministry of Home Affairs 

reported on Wednesday. 

India is open to the free 

movement of entrepreneurs 

in the South Asian region, 

but permission for Pakistani 

businessmen will come with 

conditions, MHA said. The 

scheme aimed at boosting 

regional trade across South 

Asia is expected to be rolled 

out by April 1. 

A Pakistani business 

should have an annual 

income of at least Rs1 million 

to be eligible for a 

three-year multiple entry 

card. Further, the entrant 

should be a member of a 

Chamber of Commerce in 

Pakistan that is recognised 

by India. 

These conditions have 

been set up keeping in mind 

concerns raised by intelligence 

agencies, sources said. 

However, a few relief 

measures have been offered 

to Pakistani travelers. Under 

the scheme, Pakistani entrepreneurs 

will be able to travel 

to 15 cities for a period of 

three years. 

Currently, they are eligible 

to avail the multipleentry 

business visa for a 

maximum period of one year 

and can only travel to 10 

places. 

Pakistani entrepreneurs 

will also be exempt from 

reporting at the local police 

station, which has been a 

requirement for Pakistanis 

coming to India on any 

other visa. 

CAPTION. Mr. June. Esrriail Makda, Presider, SITE Association of Indsutry presenting crestto Mr. 

nal. Rahman, Managing Director, Southern Gas Company Limited, with Mr. Siraj Kassam Teli, 

Patron-In-chief, on the occasion of his visit to S.I.T.E. Association Office. Also seen in the Picture 

are Mr Zubair Motiwala, Former Chairman, Mr. Jawed Bilwani, Immediate Past Presider, Mr. Arif 

Lakhani, Senior Vice Presider, Mr. Asad Nisar, Former senior Vice Presider, Mr. Naeem Malik, Mr. 

Farhan Ashrafi, Members Executive Committee of SITE Association in Industry. 

Pakistan has no systematic agribusiness 

laws: FPCC's ex-chairman 

KARACHI, Feb 3: Countries 

where agriculture is a major 

economic activity have greater 

room for improving key regulations 

that govern the 

agribusiness sector, a new 

World Bank report finds. 

In contrast, countries 

where agriculture accounts for 

less than 25 percent of GDP 

have better regulatory systems 

that foster agribusiness and 

ensure quality control and 

safety of food production, says 

the first edition of Enabling 

the Business of Agriculture 

2016: Comparing regulatory 

good practices. The report, 

examines regulations that 

affect private enterprise in 

agribusiness in 40 countries 

around the world. 

Global population is estimated 

to grow to 9 billion by 

2050, from the current 7.3 billion 

people, and food demand 

is projected to rise by 20 percent 

over the next 15 years. 

The largest increases are 

expected in Sub-Saharan 

Africa, South Asia and East 

Asia. As countries accelerate 

their efforts to achieve the new 

Sustainable Development 

Goals (SDGs), ending poverty 

and hunger will require wellperforming 

agriculture and 

food sectors that can cater to 

the rising demand, which in 

turn depends on smart regulations 

that enable agribusinesses 

to thrive. 

Mohammad Shafiq, 

Chairman, Pakistan 

Readymade Garments 

Manufacturers & Exporters 

Association announced to 

hold 15th Textile Asia 2016 

International Textile & 

Garment Machinery Trade 

Fair incorporating Clothing, 

Fabric & Textile Asia in 

Karachi in collaboration 

with Ecommerce Gateway 

(Pvt) Ltd. 

This three-day trade fair 

will held from 09-11 March, 

2016 and has been termed as 

the Pakistan's biggest B2B textile, 

garment, embroidery, digital 

printing machineries and 

chemical and allied services. 

Islamabad Chamber of 

Commerce and Industry in 

collaboration with the 

Association of Chartered 

Certified Accountants 

(ACCA) organized seminar 

on sales tax on services and 

inter-provincial harmonization. 

A large number of business 

community and tax professional 

attended the event. 

The event highlighted 

that after the passage of 18th 

amendment to the constitution, 

three provinces except 

for Baluchistan, have established 

their own tax authorities 

for collection of sales 

tax on services, however, the 

issues like overlapping 

between federal & provincial 

tax authorities and double 

taxation were creating 

problems for taxpayers. 

They were of the opinion 

that federal government 

should have drafted a framework 

within which 

provinces could tax services. 

They said without cross 

provincial consensus and 

inter-provincial harmonization 

on tax collection of 

sales tax on services, there 

would be issues of double 

taxation and excessive 

administration burden both 

on the businesses and tax 

authorities. 

Think tanks sign MoU for 

policy research on SDGs 

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: A MoU was signed between Institute of 

Policy Studies (IPS) and Sustainable Development Centre 

(SDC) for collaboration in research, publications, training and 

policy seminars vis-a-vis development studies, especially the 

SDGs and their implications for Pakistan. 

According to a press statement issued here on Wednesday, the 

MoU signing ceremony took place in first meeting of ad-hoc 

committee of the newly formed Pakistan Panel for Climate 

Change – an alliance of civil society organizations, academia, 

industry and other stakeholders with a view to providing science-based 

thought leadership to public and private sector in the 

country to cope up with climate change challenges. 

BEIJING, Feb 3: China has 

set its growth target for this 

year at between 6.5 and 7 percent, 

the country's top economic 

planner said 

Wednesday, an acknowledgement 

that expansion will continue 

to weaken. 

Global investors are closely 

watching the slowdown in 

the world's second largest 

economy, which has created 

turbulence in world markets. 

In 2016 "downward pressure 

on economic growth still 

exists and will expand to 

some extent", Xu Shaoshi, 

chairman of the National 

Development and Reform 

Commission, told a press 

briefing. 

"Business operations 

remain in a tough situation 

and risks in some areas are 

accumulating," he said, 

adding "but we are capable 

and confident to deal with the 

issues and challenges." 

Xu said China would 

move to tackle chronic problems 

with overcapacity and 

underperforming "zombie" 

companies. 

The announcement was 

the first time in two decades 

Corporate Corner 

PTCL to provide free broadband 

to Pakistan Sweet Homes 

KARACHI, Feb 3: Pakistan Telecommunications Company 

Limited (PTCL) has provided free broadband services to 

Pakistan Sweet Homes, a non-profit organization established 

by the Bait-ul-Mal for the care of young orphans. In this way, 

PTCL will enable orphans to become contributing members 

of society. 

Under the scheme, PTCL has provided high-speed broadband connectivity free of 

charge to 12 Sweet Homes located in all the four provinces for a period of three years. 

The Sweet Homes are in Sargodha, Gujrat, Okara, Attock, Karachi, Nawabshah, 

Mansehra, Mardan, Swat, Kohat, Zhob and Quetta. 

Sikandar Naqi, Chief Business Development Officer PTCL, has reiterated the company's 

goal towards achieving various social objectives and has emphasized the role the 

Broadband service will play in the mental development of the children. 

“State-of-the-art ICT services will definitely help the Sweet Homes to transform children 

into individuals who are not only self-reliant and financially independent but who 

are also adept at social integration,” Naqi said. 

“By providing an enabling environment, PTCL has encouraged the Sweet Homes children 

to learn and become better citizens,” he added. Pakistan Sweet Homes is a non-profit 

organization committed to the care and upbringing of nearly 100 orphans aged between 

4 and six years. Located in various parts of the country, Sweet Homes offer food, clothing 

and shelter as well as free education, medical care and counseling/legal aid to young 

victims of violence and abuse. 

ISLAMABAD: CEO Mobilink Mr. Jeffrey Hedberg called on minister of state for it & telecom 

Mrs. Anusha Rehman. 

Telenor to issue online bus, movie tickets 

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: Telenor Pakistan has joined hands 

with Bookme.pk to issue online bus and movie tickets 

through online transaction shops in Karachi Lahore and 

Islamabad. 

The facility will be extended to other cities as well in 

the future, said a press release issued here on 

Wednesday. 

It said that easyshops have been installed with a bespoke Bookme.pk e-ticketing portal 

to enable customers to book and pay for their bus and movie tickets online. Potential 

customers will not have to physically got to bus stands or cinemas or stand in queues to 

get the tickets and they will get the same online through emails or SMSs. 

Deputy CEO and CMO Telenor Pakistan Irfan Wahab Khan said: “This valuable partnership 

between Telenor Pakistan and Bookme.pk is fully aligned with our vision of 

facilitating people through inclusive digital solutions. This enablement will not only 

bring ease and convenience to Telenor Pakistan and Bookme.pk users, but also generate 

alternative revenues for the thriving e-commerce industry associated with both the financial 

players, including hundreds of easyshops across the country. We are committed to 

forging new partnerships between various service sectors to bring ease and access to our 

customers to realize our dream of digital inclusion.’’ 

ISLAMABAD: Mr. Muhammad Faisal Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer of Lucky 

Cement receiving the South Asian Federation of Accountants Award by ICAP for the 

Lucky Cement Annual Report 2014 from Mr. Ishaq Dar Finance minister of Pakistan. 

China sets 2016 growth target at 6.5-7pc 

that the country has expressed 

its economic target in a range, 

instead of a single number, 

Bloomberg News reported. 

The spread, said Natixis 

SA economist Iris Pang, 

"gives more room for policymakers 

to exercise their creativity 

to boost the economy", 

according to Bloomberg. 

Chinese leaders have previously 

hinted that they might 

move away from strict 

growth targets. Last year 

Premier Li Keqiang said 

Beijing had "never said we 

must defend any target to the 

death". 

Diminished growth, he 

said, is an inevitable consequence 

of the country's shift 

to a "new normal" of slower 

and more sustainable expansion 

following the doubledigit 

growth of the past. 

China's economy, a vital 

driver of global expansion, 

grew 6.9 percent last year, its 

weakest rate in a quarter of a 

century. 

China's leaders -- who last 

year targeted growth of 

"about seven percent" -- are 

looking to transform the 

economy away from the 

investment and exports of the 

past to one more oriented 

towards domestic consumer 

demand. 

But the transition is proving 

bumpy and the growth 

slowdown has alarmed 

investors worldwide.

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Pakistan overcomes Sri Lanka to 

top Group B ahead of quarters 

PSL Shooting Star Trophy unveiled 

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DHAKA, Feb 3: Pakistan rode 

on a fine all-round performance 

by Hasan Mohsin to 

defeat Sri Lanka by 23 runs in 

the last league match and top 

Group B in the ICC U19 

Cricket World Cup in 

Bangladesh on Wednesday. 

Mohsin top-scored with 86 

and then rattled Sri Lanka with 

two early wickets as Pakistan 

fought back after being dismissed 

for 212 to bowl its rival 

out for 189 in Mirpur. Pakistan 

will take on the West Indies in 

the fourth quarter-final in 

Fatullah on February 8. Sri 

Lanka, which finished second 

in the group, meets England on 

February 7 in Mirpur. 

Pakistan's total was built 

around Mohsin's attractive 

run-a-ball innings which was 

studded with eight hits to the 

fence and a six. Pakistan was 

struggling at 96-4 after being 

sent in to bat on a hazy morning 

when Mohsin stepped in to 

stem the rot with a 61-run 

DUBAI, Feb 3: HBL 

Pakistan Super League 

reached a landmark agreement 

with Google for digital 

streaming of the first 

season of the League. 

This arrangement is 

another feather in the HBL 

PSL cap as top international 

brands continue to join 

hands with Pakistan 

Cricket. 

With the agreement in 

place, fans across Pakistan 

MIRPUR: Hasan Mohsin raises his bat after scoring his first fifty of the tournament, 

Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Under-19 World Cup 2016. 

stand for the fifth wicket with 

Salman Fayyaz (33). 

Mohsin, who was on 61 at 

the fall of the seventh wicket, 

will be able to enjoy all 24 

action-packed matches live 

on YouTube, the biggest 

online video sharing portal 

worldwide. In addition 

video packages and matchrelated 

content including 

highlights will be made 

available to fans across the 

world. 

smashed 23 runs in the 47th 

over bowled by seamer Asitha 

Fernando which included five 

runs for an overthrow. 

Chairman PSL 

Governing Council Mr. 

Najam Sethi shared his 

excitement about the development. 

" We are thrilled at the 

prospect of partnering up 

with Google. This is great 

news for Pakistan Cricket 

and PSL fans, the ease and 

accessibility that YouTube 

provides to the viewer is 

unparalleled. I am sure that 

fans will now be able to 

stay tuned to all the action," 

says Najam Sethi. 

"This first-of-its-kind 

arrangement with HBL PSL 

Moshin was bowled in the 

next over, trying to reverse 

sweep left-arm spinner 

Damitha Silva, who finished 

HBL, PSL to be streamed live on Youtube 

New Zealand crush 

Australia by 159 runs 

AUCKLAND, Feb 3: At 

Eden Park last February, 

New Zealand secured the 

Chappell-Hadlee Trophy 

with a tense one-wicket 

victory in a low-scoring 

contest, one of the most 

thrilling matches of the 

World Cup. At Eden Park 

this February, New 

Zealand have gone one 

step towards retaining the 

Chappell-Hadlee Trophy 

with a much more comfortable 

win. This time only 

half the match was lowscoring: 

Australia were 

bundled out for 148 inside 

25 overs. They were only 

160 short of their target. 

It was New Zealand's 

second-biggest ODI win 

over Australia in terms of 

runs; the only larger victory 

was the 206-run margin 

secured at Adelaide Oval in 

1986, when Richard Hadlee 

and Ewen Chatfield ran 

through the Australian top 

order. This time it was 

Trent Boult and Matt Henry 

who reduced Australia to 

41 for 6. From there, 

Australia's all-time ODI 

low total of 70 was in danger, 

until James Faulkner 

and Matthew Wade nudged 

them into triple figures. 

Chasing scores around 

300 might have proved 

simple for the Australians 

against India last month on 

the flat pitches of home, 

but on a slowish Eden Park 

surface and against a quality 

pace attack, it was not 

so easy. In fact, Australia 

had done well to even drag 

New Zealand's total back 

to 307 for 8, after Martin 

Guptill started the innings 

off with 90 before the 25- 

over mark. But Australia's 

attack, missing Mitchell 

Starc who had taken six 

wickets in last year's game, 

lacked penetration. 

Bangladesh recall Mithun for World T20 

DHAKA, Feb 3: 

Wicketkeeper-batsman 

Mohammad Mithun is the 

surprise inclusion in 

Bangladesh's 15-man squad 

for the upcoming World 

Twenty20. Bangladesh have 

also recalled allrounder 

Nasir Hossain for the tournament 

that starts in India 

from March 8. 

Mithun's selection means 

the Bangladesh squad has 

three wicketkeeper-batsmen, 

including Mushfiqur Rahim 

and Nurul Hasan, although 

the keeping duties will likely 

be taken up by Nurul. 

Mithun last played a T20 

international in August 2014 

though that game against 

West Indies was abandoned 

due to a thunderstorm. He 

played mostly for Bangladesh 

A thereafter, and hit a century 

for the team on their tour of 

Zimbabwe in November last 

year. Although he made only 

130 runs in nine innings for 

Rangpur Riders in BPL 

2015, his two half-centuries 

in practice matches after the 

Zimbabwe series last month 

played some part in his 

selection. 

Nasir's recall is less surprising 

as Shuvagata Hom, 

who was tried in his place in 

the four-match T20 series 

against Zimbabwe in 

January, didn't quite grab the 

spot with his performances 

while batting or bowling. 

Chief selector Faruque 

Ahmed explained that 

Mithun's inclusion wasn't 

straightforward but his performances 

for Bangladesh 

A and his ability to shuttle 

between the top and middle 

order were taken into consideration. 

Faruque said 

that Imrul Kayes, who 

played two of the four T20s 

against Zimbabwe, was also 

considered but eventually 

missed the cut. 

"Mithun impressed in 

South Africa and Zimbabwe 

for Bangladesh A last year," 

Faruque said. "We thought 

of a particular place, and we 

discussed that with the 

coaching staff. This is why 

we picked Mithun as a batsman 

who can play in the top 

and middle order. He is 

quite experienced in this 

format. We always felt he is 

a T20 player and his A-team 

performance put him in 

consideration. 

is set to bring the best of 

Pakistan cricket to millions 

of fans in Pakistan and 

around the world via 

YouTube " said Tania 

Aidrus, Country Manager, 

South Asia Emerging 

Markets at Google." 

The matches will also be 

streamed live on pslt20.com 

and pcb.com.pk. 

HBL Pakistan Super 

League kickstarts today 

(Thursday) in Dubai. 

India hockey captain 

Sardar Singh accused 

of sexual harassment 

by fiancée 

NEW DELHI, Feb 3: A 

British woman has reportedly 

filed a written complaint 

against India hockey captain 

Sardar Singh, accusing him of 

sexual harassment. 

She has accused that the 

veteran midfielder "mentally, 

physically and emotionally 

tortured" her. 

The 21-year-old, in a startling 

revelation, has also 

claimed that Sardar, whom 

she met during the London 

Olympics in 2012 and has 

been engaged to him for the 

past four years, also forced 

her to abort their child in 

2015. 

"I met him during the 

London Olympics and we got 

to know each other better after 

that. We got engaged but in 

2015 I got pregnant. He told 

me to abort the child, which I 

did against my wishes and 

without getting support from 

anyone," The Indian Express 

quoted her as saying. 

The Ludhiana Police 

Commissioner P S 

Umranangal said that, though, 

a written complaint has been 

filed but they haven't registered 

an FIR. 

BEIJING, Feb 3: Asian 

champions Guangzhou 

Evergrande smashed China 

s transfer fee record 

Wednesday when they 

announced a deal to secure 

Atletico Madrid s unsettled 

Colombian striker Jackson 

Martinez for 42 million 

euros ($46 million). 

Martinez, 29, is the latest 

Europe-based player to 

move to the cashed-up 

Chinese Super League and 

was described as a "goal 

poacher" and "fox in the 

box" in a Chinese-language 

statement on the club s 

website. 

"The moment has 

arrived to start a new stage 

in my career," Martinez 

told Atletico s website. 

"The club and I have 

spoken in the last few days 

and we are agreed this is 

the best thing for everyone." 

with two wickets for 41 runs. 

Thilan Nimesh and Wanidu 

Hasaranga also claimed two 

wickets each, but ambidextrous 

17-year-old Kamindu 

Mendis caught the eye with his 

rare talent to bowl both rightarm 

off-breaks and left-arm 

spin. Mendis gave away 21 

runs in four wicketless overs. 

Mohsin, who was later 

named man of the match, 

stung early in Sri Lanka's 

reply, grabbing the first two 

wickets by the sixth over with 

his medium-pace bowling. Sri 

Lanka was reduced to 63-4 

before Mendis, who bats lefthanded, 

scored 68 and Vishad 

Randika made 46 while adding 

84 for the fifth wicket. 

Pakistan kept the pressure 

on the batsmen to clinch victory 

in the 47th over as legspinner 

Shadab Khan finished 

with three for 31 runs. 

Sameen Gul, Mohsin and 

Ahmad Shafiq shared six 

wickets between them. 

Al-Hamid 

Engineering cricket 

team trials today 

KARACHI, Feb 3: Trials 

will be conducted to select 

Al-Hamid Engineering 

(Pvt) Ltd. cricket team for 

upcoming Hino Pak KCCA 

Inter-Firms Cricket 

Tournament here at Custom 

Cricket Academy on 

February 4. 

Hino Pak KCCA Inter- 

Firms Cricket Tournament 

will be held in the second 

week of this month. 

Two-member selection 

committee – comprising of 

former first class cricketer 

Ejaz Ahmed and Atiq 

Ahmed will observe the trials 

and select the team. 

Interested cricketers 

from all over Karachi are 

advised to report to Team 

Manager Atiq Ahmed in 

proper cricket attire on the 

above mentioned date and 

place. –PPI 

DUBAI, Feb 3: With power 

packed cricket action ready to 

take place the winning team of 

the first-ever Pakistan Super 

League will win The Shooting 

Star, a specially designed trophy 

by Swarovski. 

The Shooting Star was 

unveiled Wednesday here in a 

ceremony attended by Najam 

Sethi, Chairman PSL 

Governing Council, Naveed 

Asghar, Chief Marketing 

Officer HBL, Andrew Mojica, 

Managing Director Swarovski 

Middle East. The star studded 

press conference saw the 

Shooting Star being unveiled 

by Wasim Akram, Shahid 

Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, Azhar 

Ali and Shoaib Malik. 

Also present were the five 

team owners: Salman Iqbal, 

Javed Afridi, Nadeem Omar, 

Fawad Rana and Aamer Zaidi. 

Stop blaming each other after 

every defeat: Younis Khan 

LAHORE, Feb 3: Pakistan 

veteran batsman Younis 

Khan has urged his side to 

stop blaming each other for 

their poor performances and 

The purchase broke the 

week-old Chinese record 

fee of 28 million euros, 

paid by Jiangsu Suning to 

acquire Brazilian midfielder 

Ramires from Chelsea. 

It lifted the Chinese 

Super League s total spending 

during the current transfer 

window to 203.9 million 

euros, according to website 

transfermarkt which tracks 

commercial dealings in the 

sport -- second only to the 

English Premier League. 

Atletico bought 

The Shooting Star carries 

huge symbolic value since it is 

the first winning trophy of the 

tournament and it encapsulates 

the spirit of our League. 

“Our story is a story of 

hope and positivity and The 

Shooting Star is a perfect 

depiction of this spirit,” said 

Sethi. Andrew Mojica of 

Swarovski shared his enthusiasm 

about the arrangement. 

“We are delighted that the 

Pakistan Super League has 

chosen our Shooting Star trophy 

for the tournament, hopefully 

this is the first of many 

collaborations to come”. 

Following the trophy 

unveiling, Wasim Akram, 

Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, 

Shoaib Malik and Azhar Ali 

spoke to the media. 

Peshawar Zalmi captain 

Shahid Afridi announced that 

called on the top management 

to boost their confidence. 

Younis' comments came 

in the wake of the Pakistan's 

Javed Afridi, the Peshawar 

Zalmi owner will pay for the 

entry of every Zalmi fan wearing 

the team’s shirt. 

Sharing his thoughts, 

Afridi said: “ This will be a 

great platform for young players 

to showcase their talent at a 

global stage”. 

Former Pakistani captain 

Wasim Akram, Director 

Cricket of Islamabad United 

said: “ It has taken a long time 

for this to happen but I am 

glad that we have our own 

T20 league. Pakistanis will 

own this product proudly and I 

urge the fans to come to the 

stadium as they will see some 

exciting cricket”. 

The HBL Pakistan Super 

League is bringing 24 action 

packed cricket games to Dubai 

and Sharjah from February 4 

to 23. 

recent defeat in limited-over 

formats against England and 

New Zealand. 

The former skipper 

believes that dropping the 

players would not make any 

difference and insisted that 

players should be given 

respect, Indian media reported. 

Considering the role of 

top management as crucial, 

Younis admitted that there 

was a lack of encouragement 

in the team which needs to be 

improved. 

The middle-order batsman, 

who took retirement 

from ODIs last year, is 

Pakistan's highest run scorer 

in Tests with 9,116 runs at an 

average of 53.94. 

Early goal removed Man Utd shackles, says Van Gaal 

MANCHESTER, Feb 3: 

Manchester United manager 

Louis van Gaal said an early 

goal had made all the difference 

after his side beat Stoke 

City 3-0 in a vastly improved 

performance. 

United had not scored a 

first-half goal in 11 games at 

Old Trafford and were booed 

off after losing 1-0 to 

Southampton in their previous 

home match. 

But Jesse Lingard s 14thminute 

header eased the tension 

on Tuesday and United 

went on to score a superb second 

through Anthony Martial 

before the break and a third 

courtesy of captain Wayne 

Rooney in the second half. 

Playing down suggestions 

that it had been United s best 

display of the season, Van 

Gaal said: "No, I don t think 

so. The difference is the first 

half we score and then it is 

much more easy. 

"Michael Carrick said 

when you score like that in the 

first half, everything is going 

more easily. 

"We have played games for 

90 minutes with a lot of pressure 

and also against an opponent 

who had a higher level 

than Stoke City tonight 

(Tuesday). "I think the players 

have made a great performance, 

not only defensively, but 

now also attackingly because 

we created a lot of chances. 

"We had fantastic finishing 

of team goals, building up 

from the back, which is what I 

like to see." 

Although he did not get on 

the scoresheet, Juan Mata was 

a pivotal performer for United 

in a central position behind 

Rooney, creating several 

chances and having opportunities 

to score himself. 

The Spaniard had been left 

out of United s starting line-up 

for their previous three 

Premier League games, but 

Van Gaal said that he cannot 

Martinez joins Evergrande in record China deal 

drop him again if he continues 

this form. 

"He was participating in all 

the three goals so that is also 

what I like to see," said the 

United manager. 

"When he is playing how 

he is playing now, the chance 

is big, but every player has to 

prove it every week. 

Martinez last year for 35 

million euros from FC 

Porto where he had scored 

an impressive 92 goals in 

133 games. But he struggled 

to establish himself in 

Spain, scoring just two 

goals in 15 La Liga appearances. 

Chinese businesses 

have invested huge sums in 

football since President Xi 

Jinping, an avowed fan of 

the sport, declared that 

hosting, qualifying, and 

winning a World Cup were 

national goals. 

In the past the highestprofile 

international signings 

by Chinese clubs tended 

to be ageing stars in their 

30s nearing the end of their 

playing days. 

But many of those 

bought in the current transfer 

window have been in 

their late 20s. 

Questions have been 

asked about whether some 

are past their prime. But 

David Hornby, sports business 

director of the 

Mailman brand management 

group in Shanghai, 

said: "These are not guys at 

the end of their career just 

looking for a payout." 

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Promotion of education govt’s 

foremost priority: President 


President Mamnoon Hussain 

has said government is laying 

great emphasis on promoting 

education in the 

country as a part of nation 

building efforts. 

He was talking to 

Chairman Higher Education 

Commission Dr Mukhtar 

Ahmed, who called on him 

in Islamabad on Wednesday. 

He emphasized upon the 

crucial role of the universities 

in human resource 

development which ultimately 

contributes toward 

economic progress of the 

country. He said education 

cannot be completed without 

character building of the 

younger generation and 

asked the HEC Chairman to 

further improve the standard 

ISLAMABAD Feb 3: 

Islamabad High Court 

(IHC) has sought rejoinder, 

issuing notices to 

Managing Director of Oil 

and Gas Development 

Company (OGDCL), 

Ministry of Petroleum and 

Established Division in 

illegal appointments in 

OGDCL. 

Division bench comprised 

Justice Noor-ul-Haq 

ISLAMABAD: Dean and Director IBA, Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Rector International Islamic 

University, Dr. Masoom Yasinzai and Vice Chancellor Allama Iqbal Open University, Dr. Shahid Siddiqui separately called on 

President Mamnoon Hussain at Aiwan-e-Sadr. 

of education. 

Meanwhile, Rector 

International Islamic 

University Islamabad Dr M. 

Masoom Yasinzai also called 

on President in Islamabad. 

The President appreciated 

International Islamic 

University is imparting quality 

education in contemporary 

disciplines besides 

offering courses in religious 

injunctions and Islamic 

jurisprudence to help build 

N. Qureshi and Justice 

Athar minallah heard the 

case here on Wednesday. 

Appearing before the 

court, Syed Khawar Ameen 

Bukhari lawyer of 

OGDCL’s workers adopted 

the stance that OGDCL is 

hiring people by direct 

appointments for EG3 designations 

that is against 

recruitment policy 2007 

and OGDCL service regulation 

1994. 

Bukhari further said that 

direct appointments could 

not be made on these designations. 

“Justice Muhammad 

Anwar Khan Kasi had 

declared direct appoints as 

illegal in 24 November 

2014 verdict but Justice 

Shaukat Aziz Siddiqi had 

rejected the plea filed by 

OGDCL’s workers in this 

an Islamic society imbibed 

with tolerance and moderation. 

In another meeting with 

Vice Chancellor Allama 

Iqbal Open University Dr 

Shahid Siddiqui, the 

President commended the 

IHC seek reply from MD OGDCL, Ministry of Petroleum, 

Establishment Division on illegal appointments 

Various political, social, labour organizations take out 

rallies against state terror on PIA workers in Karachi 

HYDERABAD: Awami workers party demo against brutal killing of PIA employees at 

Karachi airport. 

Abbas Kassar 


Various political, social and 

labor organizations took out 

separate rallies here Wenesday 

as mark of protest against the 

state violence on protesting 

workers of Pakistan 

International Airlines (PIA) 

and brutal killing of 3 of them 

at hands of security personnel. 

Rally ofAwami Workers Party 

was led by Buxul Thalho, 

Iqbal Khan and Alia Buxul, 

National Labour Federation 

rally was led by Rana 

Mahmood Ali, Wapda 

Paigham union by Sajjan 

Pahanwar, H.D.A employees 

union by Abdul Qayoom 

Bhatti, HMC staff union 

Ghulam Muhammad Qureshi, 

OGDC rally by Ghulam 

Shabbir Halai and Saeen Bujx 

Dahyo. The leaders in their 

address said that brutal violence 

was committed with 

firing on unarmed employees 

of PIA who were protesting 

against privatization of 

PIA has reminded the days 

of dictatorship. They said 

rulers were selling assets of 

national institutes to hide 

their corruption. They said 

on one hand the corruption 

and loot by rulers while on 

the other pressure of 

IMF/World Bank, the country 

was being pushed 

towards unemployment, 

price hike and maladministration 

has pushed country to 

backwards. They said rulers 

have failed to give good 

governance to country due 

to which they were now selling 

out assets. They said 

rulers were causing more 

economic worries by selling 

national institutes instead of 

improving governance. 

They demand action against 

those involved in brutal violence 

on PIA workers and 

FIR be lodged against federal 

ministers Pervez Rashid 

and Senator Mushahidullah 

who instigated the security 

agencies on violence. 

Pakistan is a safe place as contrary to reputation 

in international media: Rana Tanvir Hussain 

RAWALPINDI, Feb 3: 

Pakistan and Germany 

have decided to enhance 

defence cooperation and an 

understanding to this effect 

reached during a meeting 

of Ms. Ina Lepel, German 

Ambassador and Rana 

Tanvir Hussain, Minister 

of Defence Production 

(MoDP) here on 

Wednesday. 

They exchanged views 

on matters of mutual interest 

and enhancing cooperation 

in defence production. 

According to Ms. Ina 

Lepel, Pakistan is a quite 

safe country and she is 

very much interested in 

travelling entire Pakistan. 

“Pakistan is a safe place 

as contrary to reputation in 

international media. The 

degree of terrorism is 

greater in Pakistan than the 

rest of the world due to its 

geo strategic location. 

Pakistan is very much successful 

in combating the 

menace of terrorism”, 

Rana Tanveer Hussain told 

the envoy. 

They further discussed 

areas of mutual interest 

between Pakistan and 

Germany. It was mentioned 

that defence ties are 

good between two countries, 

but these bonds needed 

to be strengthened 

more. 

Rector Comsat was also 

present in the meeting. He 

invited German ambassador 

to Abbottabad in order 

to develop mutual venture 

on research on drugs and 

study on high mountains. 

This is second tenure of 

Ms. Ina Lapel as ambassador 

in Pakistan. She served 

between 2006 and 2009 as 

Permanent Representative 

of the ambassador in 

Pakistan. 

Latter, in July 2015 she 

again resumed charge of 

ambassador of Germany in 

Pakistan. 

regard and decisions by two 

benches are contradicted 

each other”, he added. 

“Court should order to 

stop direct appointments in 

the OGDCL, he requested 

the court.” 

After hearing the case, 

Court has sought the reply 

issuing notice to MD 

OGDCL, Ministry of 

Petroleum 

and 

Establishment Division. 

Bangladesh war crimes 

trials violate int’l human 

rights treaties: RSIL 

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: In a 

legal workshop organized by 

Pakistan's leading legal 

think-tank, the Research 

Society of International Law 

(RSIL), it was concluded 

that the Bangladesh war 

crimes trials violate various 

provisions of international 

human rights treaties. 

Ahmer Bilal Soofi, president 

RSIL, speaking on the 

occasion, gave a slide presentation 

introducing the 

audience to the legislation 

enacted in Bangladesh over 

a period of time, under 

which the present trials are 

being conducted. 

services of Allama Iqbal 

Open University in catering 

to the educational needs of 

students living in far-flung 

areas. The Vice Chancellor 

AIOU also presented his 

book to the President. 

Been offered Pak 

visa, now don't have 

dates: Indian actor 

NEW DELHI, Feb 3: A day 

after Indian artist Anupam 

Kher claimed he was denied 

a visa to visit Pakistan for 

the Karachi Literature 

Festival, he said on 

Wednesday that he has now 

been offered one. 

However, the veteran 

actor has "given away those 

dates" and won't be travelling. 

The actor thanked 

Pakistani 

High 

Commissioner Abdul Basit 

on Twitter for offering him 

the visa. 

"Thank you Mr. @abasitpak1 

(Abdul Basit) for your 

call and offering me (a) visa 

to visit Karachi. I appreciate 

it. Unfortunately, I've given 

away those dates now," 

Anupam tweeted on 

Wednesday morning. 

The actor was to attend 

the three-day Karachi 

Literature Festival which 

begins on Friday. However, 

while 17 out of the 18 

Indians who were due to go 

for the event, received their 

visas, the 60-year-old said 

he was "singled out". 

However, a diplomat 

from the Pakistan High 

Commission said that the 

actor had not submitted any 

visa application for his visit. 


Federal Minister for Water and 

Power, Chaudhry Abid Sher 

Ali visited Hyderabad Electric 

Supply Company (HESCO) 

head quarter on Wednesday 

and presided high level meeting 

with the HESCO Chief, 

Akhtar Ali Randhawa and 

officials and emphasized completion 

of mission of Prime 

Minister, Muhammad Nawaz 

Sharif to make Pakistan 

‘LOAD-SHEDDING FREE’, 

spokesman told. 

Abid Sher Ali offered special 

thanks to the Director 

General Sindh Rangers for 

providing security to HESCO 

field officers and hopeful for 

the continued cooperation to 

the operations successful. 

Talking to media, Abid 

Sher Ali said courts giving 

relief and restoration of their 

connections when HESCO 

nabs electric thieves and 

appealed to the Chief Justice 

of Supreme Court of Pakistan, 

Sindh High Court to help and 

advise to revive HESCO. 

HESCO has to recover over 

Shahzad Town police arrests (retd) 

colonel in parliament attack plan’s case 

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: In 

what appeared to be a major 

development in parliament 

attack plan’s case, Shahzad 

Town Police Station has 

arrested a retired colonel 

and presented him before 

MUMBAI, Feb 3: After 

Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina 

Kaif’s breakup, comes the 

shocking news that Anushka 

Sharma and cricketer Virat 

Kohli have split. Buzz is that 

Virat wanted to marry the 

actress this year for which he 

had even grown a beard as per 

Punjabi custom. However, 

when he proposed to her, 

Anushka said she wasn’t 

ready to tie the knot yet. 

Adds an insider, “She 

wants to concentrate on her 

career now both as an actress 

and producer. While she has 

almost completed the shooting 

of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, 

Anushka is currently busy 

with Sultan that has her opposite 

Salman Khan. She will 

also be producing three films 

under her banner.” 

After she turned down his 

proposal, Virat has unfollowed 

Anushka on Twitter and 

Instagram. She is still following 

him on social media. The 

cricketer has also trimmed his 

beard. The two were one of 

the strongest couples who 

were always there for each 

other, so the news of their split 

is shocking, especially in the 

wake of India defeating 

Australia in the T-20 series. 

Civil Judge Sohail 

Thaheem. 

The court sent Colonel 

(Retd) Tasaddaq Basheer on 

four-day remand in police 

custody. It is vital to mention 

here that Tasaddaq 

Basheer is accused for making 

a plan of attack on parliament 

in 2011. According 

to police, it recovered 15 

missiles, 9 hand grenades 

and two suicide vests from 

his possession. 

Anushka Sharma-Virat Kohli split: 

Here's proof that it's actually happening! 

NA body to discuss issue of 

Bol News employees’ salaries 


National Assembly’s Standing 

Committee on Information & 

Broadcasting will raise the 

issue of the suspension of Bol 

News and entertainment 

licenses and salaries of its 

employees in an in-camera 

meeting planned for next week 

in which representatives of the 

Interior Ministry, FIA and 

PEMRA have been summoned. 

Representatives of the Bol 

Media Group have been also 

asked to attend the meeting, 

which will also discuss Interior 

Ministry’s controversial decision 

to cancel the NOC of Bol 

News’ no-objection certificate 

after first giving it clearance. 

The decision was made on 

Wednesday at the National 

Assembly’s Standing 

Committee meeting, which 

was chaired by Pir 

Muhammad Aslam Bodla. 

The special in-camera meeting 

to discuss the Bol News issue 

has been called over Imran 

Zafar Leghari’s recommendation, 

which was unanimously 

agreed by all members. 

Chairman PEMRA Absar 

Alam informed the Standing 

Committee that the Interior 

Rs65 billion from federal 

govt, provincial govt, commercial, 

private and residential 

consumers (out of which 

Rs2.18 billion from federal 

govt institutions, Rs33.86 billion 

from provincial govt institutions 

and Rs29.73 billion 

from commercial, private, residential 

consumers. 

33 percent national transmission 

line is out of service. 

Lines between Matiari to 

Lahore, Qasimabad to 

Faisalabad will be completed 

during the current year, 72km 

transmission line will also be 

added in HESCO region, 4 

Ministry remains responsible 

for the closure of Bol licenses 

and the regulator has no role in 

it. If the Interior Ministry 

issues the no-objection certificate 

to Bol, PEMRA will take 

up its license issue in the very 

next meeting, he said. 

PEMRA illegally suspended 

licenses of Bol in 

September 2015 over the recommendations 

of the Council 

of Complaints, which does not 

have any authority under the 

law to make such a proposal. 

The Bol Media Group has 

already gone to court against 

this decision. 

Federal Minister holds HESCO officials, advises 100 percent recovery, ending pilferage & line losses 

Abid Sher Ali appreciates 

improved performance of HESCO 

Line losses: Better, effective measures saved Rs133 billion during 2015 

HYDERABAD: Abid Sher Ali, Minister of State for Water and Power addressing a press conference 

at HSCO office at Hussainabad. 

new grid stations in Latifabad, 

Shaikh Bharkio, Kot Ghulam 

Mohammad and Hyderabad 

bypass, 66 grid stations will be 

upgraded to 132KV. 

HESCO is already maintaining 

‘ZERO LOAD 

SHEDDING’ at 10 feeders on 

100 percent payment and 

HESCO special recovery 

teams continuously conducting 

un-tired operations 

throughout HESCO region 

with the help of Sindh 

Rangers for 100 percent of 

recovery from payment 

defaulters and culminating 

power pilferage. 

HYDERABAD: State minister for water and power Abid Sher Ali presiding a high level meeting 

at HESCO headquarters. 

CMYK CMYK 

CMYK 

Chief Editor and Publisher Muhammad Taqi Alvi, Office No.509, Land Mark Plaza, I.I. Chundrigar Road Karachi. Tel. 021-32214988/32214990 Fax: 021-32214989 Printed by Jilani Printing Press ST-8 Block-10/A Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi.

4 Feb 2016

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