Afghan Mela commemorates World Refugee Day

The Society for Human Rights and Prisoner’s Aid (SHARP) organised a one-day festival for Afghan refugees residing in Lahore as a part of the World Refugee Day events. The SHARP Afghan Mela was arranged near an Afghan locality in Manzoor Park. The main objective was to provide entertainment for the less fortune segment of society which does not get a chance to enjoy life due to limited resources. A large number of refugees from scattered localities throughout Lahore and its adjacent areas participated in the Afghan Festival. During the event, Dettol Warriors gave a lecture on hygiene and also distributed swords among the children. Godh, a local NGO, presented a puppet show to spread awareness about education and health. A magic show and a performance by Pashto singer Ansar Abbas was also organised. GRAP Gender Specialist Memoona Batool Khan emphasised the importance of educating Afghan women. SHARP Lahore Field Manager Sher Afgan Khan said Pakistan had always welcomed the Afghans. He said SHARP had organised the programme to commemorate the World Refugee day with Afghan nationals.

Pakistan media plays down Abu Jindal arrest

http://ibnlive.in.com/

In complete contrast to the Indian media, the Pakistani media Tuesday appeared to play down the dramatic arrest of a key mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack. Most newspapers carried New Delhi-datelined stories by AFP on Sayyad Zabiuddin alias Abu Jindal Hamza, an Indian who was deported to India from Saudi Arabia despite carrying a Pakistani passport. A Geo TV report quoted the Indian media as saying that the Special Cell of Delhi Police had made the arrest at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.Quoting police sources, the report said the man "is believed to have provided assistance to 26/11 terrorists. He is reported to be involved with the Indian Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba terror groups. "The suspect had been on the run since 2006 when he went to Pakistan, Indian media claimed." The Daily Times, The Nation, The News and the Dawn newspapers carried AFP stories. Abu Hamza, an Indian-born member of the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, was allegedly one of the handlers who from Karachi instructed by telephone the 10 gunmen as they went on a killing spree in Mumbai in November 2008. The Mumbai carnage left 166 people dead and led to major tensions between India and Pakistan.

India makes key arrest in Mumbai terror plot

A key suspect in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed more than 160 people has been apprehended, Indian authorities said Tuesday. The Indian-born man, known as Abu Jundal, was recently arrested in New Delhi, said public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. "He was a key conspirator, who abetted the attack and carried out the planning," according to Nikam, who did not say when the arrest was made. Investigators believe Jundal was on the phone coordinating the attack from Pakistan as 10 gunmen staged the bloody three-day siege throughout India's commercial capital."He was there in the terror control room," Nikam said. "His voice was intercepted here." While New Delhi police refused Tuesday to comment on the arrest, the Mumbai court handling the case has issued a warrant asking that Jundal appear before it. The attacks targeted Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace and Tower and Oberoi-Trident hotels, the city's historic Victoria Terminus train station and the Jewish cultural center, Chabad House. India blamed the attacks on Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, a Pakistan-based terror group allied with al Qaeda. The group denied responsibility. Indian forces killed nine of the 10 gunmen and later put the lone survivor on trial. In May 2010, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani who was photographed holding an assault weapon during the siege, was convicted of murder, conspiracy and waging war on India. Two Indian nationals accused of conspiracy in the case -- Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed -- were acquitted by the court in Mumbai. More than 160 people were killed in November 2008, as the 10 men attacked Mumbai buildings including the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower and Oberoi-Trident hotels, the city's historic Victoria Terminus train station, and the Jewish cultural center, Chabad House. India blamed the attacks on the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, a Pakistan-based terror group allied with al Qaeda. Authorities said Kasab was trained by the organization, which was banned in Pakistan in 2002 after an attack on India's parliament. The development derailed a fragile peace process between the nuclear-armed neighbors for about 15 months. Under American pressure, the two arch-rivals resumed their full spectrum of dialogue last year in their bid to build trust. The news of Jundal's arrest comes ahead of next month's meeting in New Delhi between Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries. Pakistani diplomats said they will continue to cooperate with India on such matters. "Pakistan has been in the forefront in the campaign against terror," a statement from the Pakistani high commission in New Delhi said. "As agreed at the highest level between Pakistan and India, terrorism is a common concern and counter-terrorism cooperation is in the mutual interest of both countries."

KARACHI: Uncontrolled target killing claims six more lives in Karachi

At least six persons including an officer of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) were killed and five others injured in fresh spate of target killings in different localities of the city on Tuesday. According to police, armed motorcyclists opened fire at the car of KESC Deputy Manager Syed Imran Jafferi in North Nazimabad area near Saifi College while he was on his way to office, killing him on the spot and fled the scene. In 5-D area of Sarjani Town, unidentified gunmen kidnapped and shot dead one man named Naseer. The deceased was running a tyre shop in the area. Unidentified persons opened fire and killed a 28-year-old man in Godhra area when he was sitting outside his house. Police said that the deceased belonged to a banned organization. In Khawaja Ajmernagri, motorcyclists opened fire and killed a Special Investigation Unit official identified as Nisar Abbasi. In yet another incident of firing, a man named Muhammad Ali was shot dead in Chakiwara area. Police have termed the incident result of an old enmity while some unidentified persons killed a man in Manzoor Colony. Meanwhile, the police rescued injured Sheraz Baloch from Gul Muhammad Line in critically condition. He was kidnapped a couple of days earlier from Bahar Colony. He was shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi for treatment. At least four persons were injured in separate firing incidents in Sohrab Goth, Pak Colony and other areas of the city.

Pak Taliban claims to be using Afghan soil

Press Trust of India

The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has admitted for the first time that it is using Afghan soil as a springboard for launching attacks on Pakistani security forces. A spokesman for the group said Maulana Fazlullah, who earlier led Taliban fighters in Swat Valley, was currently leading the attacks from Afghan soil. Fazlullah, also known as Mullah Radio, escaped to Afghanistan when the Pakistan Army launched an operation in Swat in 2009."Maulana Fazlullah is leading TTP attacks from Afghanistan's border provinces and is in touch with fighters in Malakand division," Sirajuddin, the spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban chapter in Malakand area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said on phone from an undisclosed location. "We regularly move across the porous border," Sirajuddin said. He claimed Fazlullah was leading over 1,000 diehard fighters. Pakistani officials believe top Taliban commanders, including Fazlullah, Maulvi Faqir and Waliur Rehman, and hundreds of their loyalists fled military offensives in Swat and Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies to seek shelter in Afghanistan. Contrary to Pakistani claims that the Taliban cadres escaped to Afghanistan over the past few years, Sirajuddin said the commanders and fighters fled to Afghanistan in recent months and were now settled in that country's border regions. Till recently, the government of President Hamid Karzai was in denial about the Pakistani Taliban's bases in Afghanistan. However, Kabul has now conceded the presence of "some TTP militants" in the border regions, according to a senior Pakistani official. Thirteen Pakistani soldiers were killed in a cross-border attack launched by Taliban fighters in Upper Dir area on Sunday. Seven soldiers were beheaded by the Taliban fighters. Pakistan's Foreign Office called in the Afghan Deputy Chief of Mission yesterday and lodged a strong protest over the incident.

China says it will ‘firmly support’ new Pakistan PM

China on Monday said it would “firmly support” Pakistan amid political uncertainties in the country, pledging to work with the newly appointed Prime Minister to strengthen the two countries' “all-weather partnership”. "As a close and friendly neighbour of Pakistan, we will firmly support its efforts to realise social stability and to boost national development and economic and social progress,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular briefing, when asked about the appointment of Raja Pervez Ashraf as Prime Minister following the removal of Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani. "We are willing to continue strengthening our all-weather partnership with Pakistan,” Mr. Hong said. The State-run Xinhua news agency highlighted the fact that Mr. Ashraf had, in his first major speech to parliament, pledged to enhance ties with China, declaring that “Pakistan's friendship with China is higher than mountains and China has helped us in every hour of need and we would further enhance it.” "The prime minister referred exclusively to Pakistan's historic and time-tested relations with China and praised Beijing for siding with Islamabad in all difficult times,” Xinhua reported. “Ashraf’s comments on China received applause in parliament at a time when Islamabad is struggling to put on track its relations with the United States.”

Dhaka to honour Indian Colonel who rescued Hasina

http://www.thehindu.com

Bangladesh will confer the Friends of Bangladesh Award on a retired Indian Army officer for his outstanding contributions in the 1971 war. Colonel Ashok Tara, now retired from service, rescued Sheikh Hasina, who is now Prime Minister, her mother Begum Fajilatunnesa Mujib, her sister Sheikh Rehana and her brother Sheikh Rasel from a house in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi where they were held captive by Pakistani military throughout the nine months of the country’s liberation war. A team led by Colonel Tara rescued them on December 17, a day after the Pakistani Army surrendered to the joint Bangladesh-India command in Dhaka. Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuyan said the award was decided on Monday at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hasina. Earlier this year, the Hasina government prepared a list of 561 “foreign friends” to be honoured. The highest national award, the ‘Bangladesh Freedom Honour’, was awarded to Indira Gandhi for her role in the country’s liberation. In March this year, the government conferred awards to a total of 83 individuals, institutions and organisations in two categories — the Bangladesh Liberation War Honour and the Friends of Liberation War Honour. The maximum number of individual awardees, 31, were from India followed by 15 from the United States, seven from the former Soviet Union, five from the United Kingdom, three from Japan, two from Germany and one each from Nepal, Bhutan, the former Yugoslavia, Italy, Sweden, Ireland and Denmark.

Prime Minister Ashraf invites Baloch leaders for talks

The Express Tribune

Chairing his first cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said on Tuesday that Balochistan was the government’s priority and invited Baloch leaders to come and sit across the table in finding an amicable solution to the province’s issues. Speaking at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Ashraf said that the coalition government was committed to resolving the energy crisis as their top priority. “Our government would like to see the agriculture sector growing and will not let electricity constrains hit this sector.” Addressing the federal cabinet, Ashraf paid tribute to former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for his stand to protect the Constitution. The prime minister also invited all political parties to join hands in the service of country. Ashraf urged the management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), Pakistan Railways (PR), Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and other state-run enterprises to focus on their operational efficiency. He said, “Pakistan values its relations with the Islamic states, United States, China, European Union, Japan and all its neighbours including India and Afghanistan.”

Pakistan cricket stars warned on tax evasion

Pakistan on Tuesday warned cricket stars against submitting tardy tax returns, rubbing salt in their wounds after they lost the first Test to Sri Lanka. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued notices to Test and one-day captain Misbah-ul Haq, Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal and Wahab Riaz. "We have issued notices to six cricketers who have either not given correct statements or have not filed their returns and directed them to do so within 30 days," Riffat Shaheen, FBR spokeswoman, told AFP. Misbah missed the first Test owing to a suspension following the fifth one day against Sri Lanka earlier this month, while Akmal and Riaz are not in the Test squad. Pakistan's tax revenues are among the lowest in the world at just 9.8 percent of GDP in fiscal year 2010-2011, says the Asian Development Bank, and less than two percent of the population pays tax on their income. The country has long defied Western pressure to end tax-dodging and the IMF in 2010 halted a $11.3 billion assistance package over a lack of progress on reforms, principally on tax. The FBR says Riaz does not have an national tax number while Hafeez, Akmal and Taufeeq failed to submit their tax returns for 2010-2011. Misbah submitted statements only for 2010 and Ali did not declare his complete earnings. Cricketers earn tens of thousands of dollars in contracts, endorsements and match fees. Since the Pakistan Cricket Board raised pay last month, players earn between $3,400 and $1,300 a month depending on their category. Those who appear in the three formats of the game also get a match-fee, with the top eight players getting $4,000 a Test, $3,800 for a one-day and $2,900 for a Twenty20 international.

U.S. Supreme Court splits its verdict on Arizona immigration law

The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the main provision of Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigrants but threw out three other parts, handing partial victories to President Barack Obama in his challenge to the law and to the measure's conservative supporters. In an important test of whether federal or state governments have the power to enforce immigration laws, the top U.S. court unanimously upheld the statute's most controversial aspect, a requirement that police officers check the immigration status of people they stop, even for minor offenses such as jay-walking. But in a split ruling, the court also struck down other provisions of the southwestern U.S. state's 2010 law, the first of its kind in the country, that the Obama administration had challenged in court. The votes on those provisions were 5-3 or 6-2, with the more conservative justices in dissent. These three provisions required immigrants to carry immigration papers at all times, banned illegal immigrants from soliciting work in public places, and allowed police arrests of immigrants without warrants if officers believed they committed crimes that would make them deportable. Critics have argued that the law could lead to illegal racial or ethnic profiling of Hispanics in Arizona. Hispanics are the largest U.S. minority group, representing 16 percent of the population. Most U.S. illegal immigrants are Hispanics. In the court's majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy left open the possibility that constitutional or other challenges to the law, including claims it will lead to profiling, can proceed once it takes effect. "I am pleased that the Supreme Court has struck down key provisions of Arizona's immigration law," Obama said in a statement. His administration had argued in court that the federal government has sole power over immigration, not states. The court still dealt a setback to Obama by preserving the key part of the law months before he seeks re-election on November 6 against Republican challenger Mitt Romney, who has taken a tough stance against illegal immigration. But it was less of a setback than had been envisioned after oral arguments before the justices in April. Conservatives also took heart. Arizona Republican Governor Jan Brewer, who has championed the measure, called the decision to preserve the heart of the statute "a victory for the rule of law" and said her state will implement it fairly and without resorting to racial profiling. The immigration dispute was viewed as the second most important case in the Supreme Court's 2011-12 term, behind only the historic legal battle over Obama's healthcare overhaul law. A ruling in that case is expected on Thursday. CONCERN FROM MEXICO Arizona borders Mexico, where the foreign ministry issued a statement assailing the high political costs it said were attached to such laws and voicing concern for the civil rights of Mexicans living in or visiting U.S. states with such laws. Kennedy cited safeguards and limits written into the law. He said an immigrant is presumed to be in the United States lawfully if a valid driver's license or similar identification can be produced. If an immigrant lacks such identification, the officer then checks with the federal government on the immigrant's status. Kennedy said the federal government has significant power to regulate immigration, pointing to how federal policy could affect trade, investment, tourism and diplomatic relations. "Arizona may have understandable frustrations with the problems caused by illegal immigration ... but the state may not pursue policies that undermine federal law," he said. The majority that struck down three challenged parts of the Arizona law also included Chief Justice John Roberts, as well as the more liberal justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor, the nation's first Hispanic justice. The court's ninth member, liberal Justice Elena Kagan, did not take part in the immigration ruling - believed to be because she worked on the case in her prior job as Obama's solicitor general. The decision went to the heart of a fierce national debate between Democrats and Republicans over the 11.5 million illegal immigrants the U.S. government estimates to be in the country. OBAMA EXPRESSES CONCERNS In his reaction to the ruling, Obama alluded to fears about racial profiling of Hispanics in Arizona. "No American should ever live under a cloud of suspicion just because of what they look like," Obama added. "Going forward, we must ensure that Arizona law enforcement officials do not enforce this law in a manner that undermines the civil rights of Americans, as the court's decision recognizes." In upholding the police checks, Kennedy said their mandatory nature did not interfere with the federal immigration scheme, and found unpersuasive the Obama administration argument that federal law preempted this part of the law at this stage. He said it was improper to block that provision before state courts had an opportunity to review it, and without some showing that its enforcement conflicted with federal immigration law. Romney had opposed the federal challenge to the Arizona law. "Today's decision underscores the need for a president who will lead on this critical issue and work in a bipartisan fashion to pursue a national immigration strategy," he said in a statement. SCALIA ANGRILY DISSENTS Justice Antonin Scalia read an angry dissent from the bench, saying he would have upheld the entire Arizona law. It "boggles the mind" that the president might decline to enforce federal immigration law, Scalia said, referring to Obama's June 15 executive order stopping deportation for certain young people in the United States illegally. Obama has vowed to push for comprehensive immigration legislation if re-elected. Opinion polls show Hispanic voters overwhelmingly support Obama. Arizona became the first of half a dozen U.S. states to adopt laws to drive illegal immigrants out. About 360,000 of the country's illegal immigrants, or 3 percent, reside in Arizona. Most of the state's nearly 2 million Hispanics are in the country legally. The majority opinion's sweeping rhetoric could cloud state efforts to try to curb illegal immigration. After the ruling, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security rescinded the authority a joint state-federal task force had given Arizona to enforce federal immigration laws, senior administration officials said. This means that even if Arizona police hold illegal immigrants, they cannot deport them unless they also broke a state law, said Evelyn Cruz, an immigration law professor at Arizona State University. The Arizona governor's office issued a statement critical of the Homeland Security action, saying that 68 law enforcement entities in 24 states had such agreements but only Arizona's was eliminated on Monday. Roberts said from the bench that the court's last day of the term will be Thursday, and that all remaining opinions are expected to be issued that day. Last year, the court upheld a different Arizona law that penalizes businesses for hiring illegal immigrants.

Pakistan: A list of 19 journalists allegedly bribed by Malik Riaz

A record of payments allegedly made to 19 senior-journalists of Pakistan, by the Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz has surfaced on the social networking site Twitter, Aaj News reported. UPDATE: Mubasher Lucman finally speaks out; resigns via YouTube. UPDATE: Hamid Mir ready to present himself for accountability UPDATE: Hassan Nisar says that SC has taken on too many powerful enemies and that they should have finished the job when they had the chance to. UPDATE: Talat Hussain shreds Media-Gate issue to pieces; Mazhar Abbas questions the authenticity of the list. UPDATE: Dr. Shahid Masood’s quirky response to Bahria Town List accusations. UPDATE: Meher Bokhari explains the leaked footage; denies bribery allegations. UPDATE: Kamran Khan has denied the allegations brought forward against him. UPDATE: Nusrat Javed and Mushtaq Minhas deny bribery allegations. Nusrat claims Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) is planning a conspiracy against him. Renowned names of various news television anchors and journalists like Dr. Shahid Masood, Najam Sethi, Kamran Khan, Nusrat Javed, Meher Bokhari, Mubasher Lucman, Hamid Mir, Javed Chaudhry, Sana Bucha, Sohail Waraich and Asma Shirazi among a few others, are present in the lists below. An account of favors allegedly given to these journalists in shapes of money, cars and property etc is recorded in these trademarked letterheads of Bahria Town. Up till now, almost every accused journalist has questioned the authenticity of the list below, claiming its a fake document.

Afghans sing again—of love and war

DAWN.COM

In a country where music was silenced in the name of God for five years, the beat is back and even rock shares the airwaves with the romantic strains of traditional Afghan songs. The Taliban, who banned all music as sinful while they were in power between 1996 and 2001, are now waging an insurgency against the Western-backed government—but they can’t stop the music. They have even developed an acapella style of their own, chanting religious poems to the glory of suicide bombers and their fighters waging war on government forces and some 130,000 Nato troops. The Central Asian nation has an ancient tradition of songs built on its rich culture of poetry, ranging from war, heroism and epic tales of life in this harsh land, to delicate love stories. But there is a vast difference between traditional lyrics and those of the Taliban. Traditional: “Last night I stole a quick glance at your moon-like face through your dark hair,” goes a famous Afghan song performed in the 1970s by celebrity Abdul Rahim Sarban. “Your half-open crimson dress was prettier than a hundred roses in the garden… a narcissus shies away before the beauty of your seducing eyes.” Taliban: “The youth is out on a fedayee (suicide) mission, his heart filled with passion for his religion. “The youth is out on fedayee mission, the angels are watching him, the paradise houris (pure companions) are watching when the suicide bomber strikes.” Even in the new forms of pop and rock, imported along with the Nato troops, the war is never far away. In a makeshift studio in their apartment in west Kabul, four young men have formed a band called Morcha (Ants), which they describe as Afghanistan’s first rock band. Vocalist Shekib Musadeq, drummer Shafiq Najafi and two bass players Hassanzada and Behroz Shujahi gather daily for practice, rocking their building—and their neighbours—with Western beats. “Music has been part of the people’s life ever since history remembers,” says Hassanzada. He describes their lyrics as “neither about love, nor Taliban hatred” but about current realities in their war-shattered country: a deadly insurgency, corruption, the illicit drugs trade and natural disasters. “Fifteen died in Helmand, the drought ended in Herat… Nato conducted a rapid air strike on a wedding party,” the band sings against the beat of drum and bass guitar while practising for a big concert in Kabul. “The Taliban peace plan on the president’s desk, the elders of Paktika endorsed it… The headlines from Afghanistan, thanks to the world are all about these.” But love songs accompanied by traditional tabla drums and elegant, lute-like rubab strings, remain a staple of the old style: “I’m a worshipper of flowers, drunk without drinking (because) tonight I’m with a flower,” sings Sarban. And in a country where many women still wear the all-enveloping blue burqa that was enforced by the Taliban, lyrics are not short of erotic elements. “I still smell your scent in my bed, feeling your sweet lips all over me,” sang the late Ahmad Zahir, who was nicknamed “Afghanistan’s Elvis”. The Taliban, who shunned modernity while in power, now use video and the Internet to get their message across. As a background to a video posted on their website showing dozens of Taliban fighters attacking a US military base in Paktika province, they chant: “The lion cubs can’t be tamed… you’ll be crying, lost, unable to find your way home, your child will never see you again… leave our home before it’s too late or Afghanistan will become your second Vietnam.” The Taliban chants are sometimes used as mobile phone ring tunes across southern Afghanistan, the heartland of the insurgency—where they can be a passport through any trouble with the militants. But the rest of the range of musical styles can be heard on dozens of radio and television channels, and drifting though open car windows as drivers negotiate the chaotic streets of the once silent capital, Kabul. Abdul Satar Qasimi, a professional rubab player and singer who runs a musical instrument shop in Kabul’s “Musician Street”, says Western-style music has pushed many classical performers to the sidelines. Qasimi, 45, fled to Pakistan when the Taliban took Kabul in 1996, and his music store was destroyed by the militants. He returned after the Taliban were toppled in a US-led invasion in late 2001. “Now music has flourished but not for us. More and more people are listening to the new music, rock, pop and all these new forms of music,” he said.

President, PM condemn attack on Aaj TV office

AAJ TV

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf condemned the attack on Aaj TV office late on Monday. The President made an official statement condemning the miserable event in which two employees of Aaj TV were injured. Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, along with his condemnation, stated that proper measure would be taken to provide protection to media personnel within the country. The PM further ordered the apprehension of the miscreants by the earliest possible time. Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on the contrary, has ordered a detailed investigation into the horrible incident further ensuring that security would be provided at the Aaj TV office.

Gunmen open fire on Pakistan television station

Gunmen opened fire on a local television station in Pakistan's largest city, injuring a guard and an employee, police and TV officials said late Monday evening. "Four men on two motorcycles attacked our station in Karachi with automatic guns," Rashid Mehmood, local Aaj News TV's director of news told AFP. "They also damaged some cars and fled," he said, adding that the guard's injuries were serious. Police official Asghar Ali confirmed the report. "The two injured men have been shifted to a local hospital and we are on the lookout for the culprits of the attack," he said. Mehmood said there had been no threats made from any militant group to the television station. "We had no threat whatsoever, from any militant group," he said. Ehsanullah Ehsan, spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for Monday's attack, threatening that the militants could attack again if coverage of their stance "is not given equal to that of government and the army". "We should be given the coverage equal to what media gives to the government and the army," he said. "We had called the Aaj News TV and asked them to hear us as well, but they turned down our plea. "We have attacked them today and can go far if our stance is kept unheard." The shooting was the second attack on Aaj TV in five years. The channel was previously attacked amid a frenzy of political violence in May 2007.

Pakistan: Micro-finance credit bureau

State Bank of Pakistan has been stressing the importance of micro-finance for the last few years. On Wednesday, the 20th June, 2012, it went a step further by setting up micro-finance-exclusive credit information bureau (MF-CIB) in its organisational structure to give a boost to the micro-finance sector. Highlighting the importance of this sector in Pakistan's economy, Governor, SBP, Yaseen Anwar stated that the bureau would help micro-finance banks and micro-finance institutions in developing a robust risk management system, which in turn would reduce the risk of multiple borrowings and loan defaults. As such, the MF-CIB would open access to credit for millions of potential poor borrowers and reduce the credit risk cost of the lenders, besides lowering the loan price for borrowers. At present, even the creditworthy borrowers of micro-finance institutions face difficulties in accessing larger loans due to non-availability of their history of past loans and timely repayments to a micro-finance institution. The MF-CIB could facilitate the "graduation" of such livelihood-based workers into small entrepreneurs. SBP, according to the Governor, had played a sterling role in the development of micro-finance sector as an alternative to conventional banking to serve the lower end of the market. Financial inclusion, which was a core component of SBP's financial sector development strategy, envisages transferring the financial market into an equitable system with efficient market-based financial services to the otherwise excluded - poor and marginalised - population, including women and young people. Pakistan had one of the lowest financial penetration levels in the world, with 56 percent adult population totally excluded, and another 32 percent informally served. We totally agree with the basic idea of State Bank establishing the MF-CIB but are also aware of its limitations. As in the case of existing credit bureau in the SBP, the new bureau would also certainly serve a very useful purpose by identifying the habitual loan defaulters in the micro-finance sector. The raising of red flag in these cases would not only help the micro-finance institutions in refusing loans to applicants with a dubious history but would also oblige these institutions to open access to potential creditworthy borrowers who could play a really useful role in reviving economic activities in the country. The opening of MF-CIB, could also have an indirect impact on alleviation of poverty and creation of more employment opportunities. Since the ratio of loan default in micro-finance in Pakistan is usually higher than in conventional lending, the establishment of such a facility in the SBP was of course long overdue. However, while commending the usefulness of MF-CIB, it needs to be kept in view that State Bank, as a matter of policy, should not be so much concerned about equitable distribution of credit or helping the poorer or marginalised sections of society. While assistance to the poor is a noble idea, it is the proper management of fiscal policy which should carry the burden of a welfare regime and ensuing equity, bank credit must be facilitated to flow to business activities which yield the highest returns to ensure its use in an optimal fashion. Also, the situation, at present, demands that the State Bank must continue to concentrate on ensuring price stability and persuading the government to borrow less from the banking system in order to spare more resources for the private sector credit expansion including for the micro-finance sector. Nobody can refute the importance of micro-finance in the country's economy and the need to remove impediments to its free flow but the nation will be served better if the State Bank continues to accord priority to its primary responsibility of reducing inflationary pressures on the economy and checking sub-optimal use of bank credit.

Polio vaccination banned in South Waziristan

The Express Tribune

In yet another setback to the polio eradication campaign in the country, the Mullah Nazir group in Wana subdivision of South Waziristan banned polio vaccination in the agency on Monday till the United States halts all drone strikes in the tribal region. According to the Taliban pamphlets distributed in Wana, Western powers were running a spy network in the region in the garb of immunisation. The leaflet went on to cite the example of Dr Shakil Afridi, the doctor who helped the CIA hunt down Osama bin Laden by conducting a fake polio vaccination programme in Abbottabad. Earlier, warlord Hafiz Gul Bahadur banned the administration of oral polio vaccine to children in North Waziristan, also demanding cessation of US drone attacks. The pamphlet went on to compare polio drops to sugar-coated poison, adding that Western powers had never been loyal to Muslims. “If they [the United States and its allies] were so sincere with the Muslims, then why did they bomb us so mercilessly,” the pamphlet said. The distributed message also gauged US sincerity, questioning why two million children had suffered in Iraq due to the lack of medicines in the 90s, referring to US sanctions on the Saddam Hussein regime. Furthermore, the leaflet also discussed the psychological effect drone strikes have had on children in the tribal region. “On the one hand, they are killing innocent children in drone strikes, while on the other hand they are saving their lives by vaccinating them … it’s like a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” the pamphlet said. The decision to ban polio vaccination was taken by the higher council of North Waziristan Mujahideen, according to the pamphlet, which also warned all polio teams to bring their campaign to a close or accept responsibility for any future mishap. A local resident, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune, that the pamphlet requested parents to avoid the vaccination of their children till drone strikes continued in Waziristan. There has been no official reaction from the political administration or security forces till the filing of this report.

Pakistan: Govt schools facing shortage of books

Frontier Post

Despite the lapse of three months government schools in Dir Lower are still facing shortage of course books for students. Talking to local journalists here on Monday, school teachers and parents complained that schools in the district needed course books. They said that new academic session had been started since April, 8 but required books had not been provided to schools despite repeated demands. "Whenever we contacted school administration we were told that books are coming," said a father, adding that still his son needed three course books. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had provided free of cost course books to students of state run schools in the province in March, sources told, adding that the government had stopped supply of some books after the opposition especially religious parties protested against changes in Islamic studies and other books. The schools' administration had been asked to send its report about shortage, sources said, adding that majority of high schools both male and female had the shortage of three books and they had sent the report to the EDO education office well in time but to no avail. The parents said that their children had been without books for three months how they would be able to appear in examination, they asked and demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to ensure immediate supply of books to schools in Dir Lower.

GWADAR WITHOUT WATER, ANKARA KAUR DAM RESERVOIR DRIED

Balohistan’s future economical and port city is facing the problem of drinking water and the Ankara kaur Dam is empty now which was build in 1993. Thanks the wrong and defective designing and architect by the NESPAK. Balochistan National Party (BNP- Awami) leader Kahuda Babar told this scribe that leaders from federal government had always made tall claims that Gwadar is on its way for development but they cant see the local people of the Gwadar are facing acute shortage of drinking water. “The Ankara Kaur Dam is empty now there is no more water is available for drinking. If the positive steps are not taken than there will be the loss of a large number of the human life,” he said and adding that the former district Government had taken the water issue and they made the tube wells for local people but it is not fulfilling the full demand of the port city. He demanded from the federal government to take immediate steps in this issue and bring water from Mirani Dam. If these steps are not taken than the Gwadar city will be a ghost town in near future and people search for water or migrate to other human settlements. The Ankara Kaur Dam, built in 1993 and stretching over an area of 17,000 acres, remains the sole source of water supply to the local inhabitants. The crisis worsened in 2006 as population increased following construction of the Deep Water Port. Gwadar town and Jiwani are constituting 50 per cent of the total population of Gwadar district, they rely on the Ankara Kaur Dam reservior for all their water needs. Residents of the other three coastal towns of Pasni, Ormara and Sunt Sar are dependent upon seasonal rivers for meeting their demand. The citizens decried the utter failure of authorities to come up with a viable solution to the problem. “There are always making tall claims about developing Gwadar city, but in reality we are deprived of basic necessities,” says a local journalist Dilshad Diyani. “The government is doing nothing except making false claims. Gwadar has been suffering from an acute water shortage for the past decade, but no concrete steps have been taken to overcome this problem.” The incumbent provincial government, however, remains optimistic that they can overcome the crisis. “We have taken up this issue with the Chief Minister who visited Gwadar recently. He not only approved several water projects but also directed authorities concerned to expedite their efforts,” says Hamal Kalmati, Provincial Minister for Fisheries, elected to the Provincial Assembly from Gwadar. According to Kalmati, the Balochistan government has approved Rs 4 billion for Shadi Kaur Dam and another Rs 2 billion for Sawar Dam, both of which are currently under construction. To avert the crisis in the short term, a plan to connect Gwadar with the Mirani Dam in Kech district is also being done round the clock. However, according to Kalmati, the political administration in Kech is against the move. The crisis of water for Gwadar was expected when the wrong planning and designing of the Ankara Kaur Dam was prepared by the NESPAK. The storage are of the Dam had silted up in less than 25 years while it was designed for half century. The Government should start desilting the storage ground of the dam and also carrying out raising the dam on the pattern of Mangla Dam, local engineers and independent economists suggested.

Pakistan: Time to Rethink

EDITORIAL:DAILY TIMES

With the removal of PM Gilani retrospectively from office on June 19, the fate of dozens of orders passed and decisions made by him from April 26, when he was convicted for contempt of court, hung in the air. This constitutional vacuum had the potential to destabilize the democratic process already rocked by the unprecedented rift between the judiciary and the executive. The void was therefore hurriedly filled by the passing of the Validation Ordinance 2012 by President Zardari, with the insight to mitigate the destabilising factors as soon as possible. Providing legal cover to the Budget 2012-13 passed by Gilani’s government was the biggest challenge facing the government. Similarly the appointments and confirmation of some judges and protocols signed with foreign countries needed a legal shield to keep the wheels of the state moving. A petition has already been filed in the Supreme Court for declaring void all the acts by Gilani after his disqualification on April 26 and putting his name on the exit control list. The detailed judgment of the three-member bench that declared Yousuf Raza Gilani defunct is still awaitedj it may or may not protect all the legal acts of Mr Gilani between April 26 and June 19. However, given the charged political atmosphere, the ordinance was deemed urgent for the continuity of state business. Many believe that the statement issued by the Chief Justice on June 23 about parliament not being allowed to enact any law repugnant to the constitution, fundamental rights and Islamic provisions, geared up the government for the swift issuance of the Ordinance. Exercising extra caution, the Presidential Ordinance hence restrains the courts, including the Supreme Court, from accepting any challenge against it. Chances are that the forces bent on seeing the back of the government may still challenge the Ordinance, creating a new fissure in the political set up. The removal of Gilani was unprecedented given the role of the judiciary rather than parliament in sacking him. The controversial letter to the Swiss authorities seems to have acquired outsized importance against the grave issues afflicting the country. Now that the polity appears to be inching towards new elections, spanners in the works, whether coated in judicial activism or other approaches may derail democracy rather than allowing it a chance to survive. There is no gainsaying the fact that the government has performed poorly. Nevertheless, the politics of rift and stigmatization would further complicate the situation. Until now the PPP has remained unprovoked by the orders of the court in the case of Yousuf Raza Gilani and has amicably acceded to his removal. This time round, however, chances are that if Raja Pervez is implicated in the letter issue, the PPP would pursue the legal fight to the finish. This might open up a new saga of confrontation, harming the cause of the judiciary as well as democracy. No one doubts the importance of freeing the nation from the clutches of corruption and holding politicians accountable, but that should not be done at the cost of political stability carrying huge economic costs. Should the CJ revisit his statement that he issued on Saturday: “No one can claim supremacy over and above the law,” the political temperature would come down leaving some breathing space to think clearly. Widely seen as the last hope by many in the country to close the door to any extra-constitutional development, it is fervently believed that in the wake of any attempt to oust the present set up unconstitutionally, the CJ would always throw his support behind the constitution.

Karachi peace top priority

Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has said that peace in Karachi was a government priority and vowed to solve all other problems with the help of allies. The prime minister was speaking to the media following his visit to MQM headquarters Nine Zero and his meeting with Pir Pagara at Kingri House on Monday where he thanked them for the support in his election. Raja reiterated that parliament was supreme and the major problems facing the country were the energy crisis and law and order that he hoped would be solved soon. “The parliament is the mother of all institutions and if all state institutions continue to work within their ambit, there will be no instability in the country,” the prime minister said. Raja added that he would continue his predecessor Yousuf Raza Gilani’s policies formulated in consultation with the allies. To a question about his future, he said “I am here till Allah’s will and wish of the PPP and the allied parties. I got the coveted post because it is Allah’s will and I will stay here till He wills so.” Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said he would do his best to follow the vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari and would take along all the allied parties to serve the masses. “We believe in love for all and hatred for none.“ About the last night attack by Afghan militants in Upper Dir that led to the killing of several Pakistani security personnel, he said the government had strongly protested and he would also talk to Afghan President Hamid Karzai about the incident. The PM was welcomed by large gathering of MQM’s workers at Nine Zero, flowers petals were showered on the PM and slogans were raised in the favor of the PM. MQM chief Altaf Hussain, speaking over the telephone during Raja’s visit to Nine Zero, welcomed the new prime minister. He said he was happy that Pervaiz Ashraf was not born with a ‘silver spoon’ but was “also a worker (like him). This has happened for the first time in Pakistan that a worker has become a prime minister”. Defending Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s tenure as the power minister, Altaf said that Raja was misguided and misled by others but all the blame was put on him. He hoped that the new PM had learnt from past mistakes and in his six months in power, he will put all his capabilities to good use. “He will take such courageous decisions that people won’t have any reservations, but they will rather appreciate him later.” He asked the prime minister to work for the country and not just his party. He advised him to initiate talks in Balochistan to address the law and order situation. “I also want to advise those sitting in the mountains of Balochistan to prepare for talks as this will be beneficial for you as well as the country”. After seeking permission from the prime minister to go off-topic, Altaf said he would like to ask famous astrologist ‘Mamu’ to explain the strange coincidence of coming into power of people who share their names. First it was former president Pervez Musharraf, then the current Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and now the newly elected Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, noted Altaf. Altaf said President Zardari had experienced a tough time during his four and a half years in office and anyone else in his place would have lost hope. “With patience, he accepted all Supreme Court orders. His prime minister, Gilani was disqualified, and with a heavy heart he removed former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani. The Supreme Court also suspended his wife’s membership. Rehman Malik was also suspended from his Senate seat. But the president maintained patience.” “By accepting Gilani’s disqualification, the president had avoided confrontation,” the MQM chief said, adding that army, judiciary and parliament should work within their ambits. “The trend of institutions working outside their jurisdiction is dangerous,” Altaf said. He stressed that individuals who looted the nation should be boycotted, saying this could only happen if democracy is not derailed. He appealed to the opposition not to engage in anti-democracy politics. Altaf called upon the opposition to join hands with the ruling parties to steer the country out of the crisis. On the issue of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), Altaf Hussain invited all opposition parties to gather at one place and have a debate with him on the issue. “If they beat me over it, I’ll leave politics forever,” he challenged. He added that those holding dual nationalities help in strengthening the country’s economy. During Raja’s visit, MQM central leader Farooq Sattar said that holding of transparent general election is necessary to strengthen democracy in the country. The PM held a meeting with Rabta committee of MQM and discussed the law and order situation of the city. The PM assured the MQM that the federal government would take every possible measure to bring peace in Karachi, adding that the centre was ready to work with MQM to restore peace in the city. Earlier, the PM also visited Kingri House to meet the PML-F chief Pir Sahib Pagara on Monday to personally thank the spiritual leader of Hur Jamaat for his support in his election as prime minister. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Senior Interior Advisor Rehman Malik accompanied the PM to Kingri House and MQM headquarter. The prime minister and Pir Pagara agreed to sustain the ongoing reconciliatory policy in the interest of country and Sindh. Pir Pagara said he would continue alliance of his party with the government which was agreed by his father. Karachi peace top priority, says Raja