Pakistan Batting coach on merit: PCB

LAHORE – Salim Malik’s dream of becoming national team batting coach in doubt as he has no coaching badges and did not fulfil the conditions and requirements that stipulated by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in its advertisement placed at its website, it has been learnt. The PCB will announce the batting coach after the approval of coach selection committee headed by Intikhab Alam as earlier it rejected Mohsin Khan as coach due to lack of qualification despite having many successes to his credit, the source claimed.On the other hand, Malik insisted that he didn’t need the coaching certificates to prove his credentials as he had played 103 Tests and more than 280 ODIs for Pakistan and wants to serve Pakistan cricket in some way. Malik last week had applied for the batting coach job claiming he was under no bar after a Pakistani court lifted his life ban for match-fixing in October 2008, though the sport’s governing body has not publicly endorsed the ruling.
A source in the PCB confirmed that Malik had applied for the batting coach job last week. “Malik’s application was received last week and now it is up to the coach selection committee to choose the candidate for the job on merit and nothing has been finalised as yet on Malik by the committee or PCB chairman,” the source stated.The panel earlier this year selected former Australian batsman Dav Whatmore as the head coach, Englishman Julian Fountain as fielding coach and former Pakistan paceman M Akram as bowling coach. “The committee will also assess the credentials of Malik in a similar way as they assess the credentials of other candidates who have applied for the job and in Malik’s case they will also check whether he is eligible to take a cricket-related job,” the source stated.Malik was banned from cricket for life in 2000 by a judicial inquiry after Australian players Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh alleged Malik had offered them money to under-perform during their team’s tour to Pakistan in 1994. Malik has been recently involved in private coaching but his failure to clear the lifting of the ban with the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been a hurdle in him taking a cricket-related job. PCB had to reverse its decision of appointing Malik batting coach for their academy in Lahore in 2008 after the ICC reportedly objected.Meanwhile, Chairman Zaka Ashraf reportedly said that while the PCB would be looking into the current status of Malik, as far as his ban was concerned, he needed to have the coaching degrees to be considered for the job. “People don’t realise that nowadays cricket has changed and so has the mindset, that is why all top nations are now laying so much stress on national academies and specialised and qualified coaches,” the PCB chief said.“We have the greatest of respect for our former players and the board is trying to utilise their experience in many ways but as far as the specialised coaching positions with the national team are concerned the coaching committee has set certain criteria levels to be fulfilled and every candidate has to meet that to be considered for the job,” Ashraf added.Ashraf added that the board would not haste in appointing the batting coach but insisted that it would be done before the tours to India and South Africa in December. Zaka said the need of the time was to have qualified coaches. “My vision is to move Pakistan cricket forward and introduce a system of qualified coaches in the country who can help us fill the void between our domestic cricket and international cricket,” he said.

China seconds stop-drone call

ISLAMABAD (Pakistan Politics Reporter ) - Seconding Pakistan’s stance on the issue of US drone strikes in the tribal areas, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Zhao Qizheng, has said such air raids are a violation of regional sovereignty, a media report said.
Separately, addressing a joint press conference with Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Haji Muhammad Adeel on Monday, Zhao valued Islamabad’s role in bringing peace to once violence-hit Xinjiang province of China. "The Chinese nation is thankful to Pakistani nation for adopting adequate measures to handle the issue of miscreants active in Xingjian in the name of jihad," he said.
Zhao led a delegation at a meeting with Pakistani parliamentarians at the Parliament House. Pakistan reiterated its support to China over the issues of Taiwan, Tibet, Xingjian and other major challenges confronting China.

Thanking for the support assured by Pakistani parliamentarians, he said his country and the people were grateful to Pakistani people and government for such an unshaken support. "It took more than 60 years of Pakistan and China in brining bilateral ties to the current level braving challenges and problems" he said, adding that the situation had changed drastically as cold war had ended, globalisation promoted and war on terror had intensified.
Zhao said his delegation discussed all bilateral issues with Pakistani senators openheartedly and the two sides agreed to promote mutual ties and enhance cooperation in different fields. He announced that his country would grant 500 scholarships to Pakistani students in next five years and hold training workshops for Pakistani media persons.
“Moreover, China will also increase the number of schools and computer labs along with provision of volunteers to impart Chinese language to Pakistani students. Yesterday, beautifully architected Pak-China Friendship here in Islamabad, but I felt least utilisation of the facility. Language courses could be organised at this building to bridge lingual gap between people of the two states.”

Reaffirming Pakistan's support to Chinese policy on Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang issues, he said: “We urge both Pakistan and China not to tie knot with any other nation at the cost of friendship of each other.
For the first time, both the delegations expressed their viewpoint in the meeting in their native national languages with the assistance of interpreters. The miscreants were also condemned for disturbing peace in the name of jihad and defaming Islam in pursue of Western agenda and personal gains.
Adeel said the meeting successfully developed consensus on increasing exchange of visits of parliamentarians to benefit from each other's experiences and bring people of the two countries closer.
He added that all political parties, parliamentarian and people of Pakistan had strong desire to cement relations with China.
Senate Standing Committee on Defence Chairman Mushahid Hussain, Senators Zafar Ali Shah, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Farhatullah Babar and Mudassar Sehar Kamran, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Mushahid Hussain assured the visitors of Pakistan’s all-out support to China on the issues of Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang.

26 killed in Bahawalpur road mishap

As many as 26 persons were killed when a fully packed passenger van collided with a truck in Bahawalpur district on Tuesday.
Sohail Tajik, District Police Officer of Bahawalpur, told media that the accident took place at noon when a Hiace passenger van had a head-on collision with a truck on a highway in Bahawalpur, a private television channel reported.

26 persons including women and kids have been killed in  the accident, said the district police officer, adding that the accident occurred due to over-speed.
Tuesday marks the end of a four-day national holiday in Pakistan. Many people return to work after spending the holidays in their hometown.

Why Afridi continues to play

The memes, the posters and the profile display pictures are no more. No longer does he inspire remixes nor are his exploits celebrated in his mother tongue. Barely eighteen months on from being celebrated as the reincarnation of Jinnah, Shahid Afridi is being dragged down from the pedestal he was put upon – it is pertinent to note that he was hoisted onto that pedestal by the same nation who is now determined to bring him down. Afridi’s presence in the national team has divided the spectators with the loudest and the most extremist viewpoints being presented as the two truths. His supporters claim that he is the best thing since the helmet grill, and is never at fault for a loss. His detractors complain about sixteen years of false promises and keeping his betters out of the team using his influence in the dressing room and the media. His retirement is asked for by many – as if that has ever solved anything (and we’ve had plenty of those anyway). Surely, there must be another truth – one that lies somewhere in between. But like any, and every, issue (and non-issue) in Pakistan, the middle-ground-truth seems hard to establish.

The first – and most obvious – mistake that Pakistanis on either side make is to assume that Afridi is a batsman of any repute. Much like the England football team, the discussion about Afridi’s batting consists of undeserved hype, outrageously high expectations and references from the distant past. For pundits employed to sell the match as a product, over-hyping Afridi makes sense. But it is senseless for fans accustomed to his ever-increasing collection of failures to raise their hopes every time he takes guard. He averages under 20  with the bat in ODIs over the last two years – certainly not the record of a messiah. A lot of great – and not that great – sportsmen overestimate their abilities once their bodies begin to creak and their reflexes begin to slow. But the fans have no need to be slaves to the delusions of an ego.  It is unreasonable to expect him to succeed with his record and ability being so apparently flawed.

But that doesn’t mean that he should be forced to retire. If we were to consider him purely a bowler, there is a pretty strong case for him being part of the national squad. Perhaps the worst – and the best – thing to happen to Afridi in his career was THAT century in Nairobi. That innings has skewed expectations and perceptions so much so that a pretty decent career with the ball is overlooked.

Over a five-year period from the start of 2007 till the end of last year he took 140 wickets in ODIs – no spinner anywhere in the world had more – at an average under 30 and economy rate of 4.5. By modern standard that is a record of a stalwart.  Furthermore, he is the 2nd highest wicket-taker in the short history of T20Internationals. And this is all before considering the “intangibles” he has provided. While he may not be the messiah, he – along with Waqar and Misbah – did resurrect the national team from the depths of Summer 2010. There’s a reason that his interpretation of the Vitruvian Man is now part of Pakistani folklore.

But there’s a caveat to all of this. The numbers given above are mostly down to his record in the five years before 2012. This year he has taken 15 wickets in 16 ODIs at an average above 40, and has had his worst year with the bat since 2006. Despite this he has only missed one of Pakistan’s 17 ODIs.

And therein lies the problem with the Pakistan setup. Pakistan’s inability to rotate has led to a culture where there are untouchables within the playing XI. Our lot complain of bench strength, even when promising young players like Hammad Alam and Fawad Alam are never given an extended run to flourish. It took two years before Raza Hasan was given a look-in: he was part of the squad for the tour of England in 2010, but only made his debut last month. It is this inability to rotate – borne out of short-termism – that has led to Pakistan having to call up tried-and-tested failures again and again. There is a middle ground between calling for Afridi’s head and putting it up on a spike; that is to ask for the XI to be chosen on form. Not really that difficult a concept to grasp.

But is it really the fault of the management? Or are they afraid of reprisals? After all, every series – nay, every match – that Pakistan plays is given overwhelming importance by the public, be it an actual big match (like the World T20) or not (like the summer ODI series against Sri Lanka). There’s a reason Afridi continues to play every match, it’s because a majority of Pakistanis continue to back him even as he struggles for fitness and form.

Pakistan cleared to tour India: BCCI

PAKISTAN POLITICS Repoted: New Delhi India’s cricket board said Tuesday it has secured government clearance to host Pakistan for a short tour later this year.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has invited Pakistan to play three one-dayers and two Twenty20 matches in December-January, the first bilateral contests between the arch-rivals in five years.

“We have discussed all security aspects (and) the tour is on,” board spokesman Rajiv Shukla told reporters after a meeting between its officials and Indian Home Secretary R. K. Singh in New Delhi.

A report by the Press Trust of India said the venues for the ODI games would most likely be Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi while the Twenty20 matches would take place in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

The rivals have not played a series since Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007, after cricket ties were snapped following the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai by militants from Pakistan.

Cricket ties have been the subject of discussions between the governments of both nuclear-armed countries. They have been holding regular meetings in a bid to improve relations and eventually thrash out a peace agreement.

The countries – where cricket is hugely popular – have fought three wars since independence in 1947.

The Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have only met in international tournaments since 2007.

They clashed in the ODI World Cup semi-final in the northern Indian town of Mohali last year, a match that was attended by both countries’ prime ministers.

Six killed in violence, five arrested across Karachi

KARACHI: Six people, including a policeman were killed in incidents of violence whereas five people were arrested across Karachi, Pakistan Politics reported on Tuesday.
A body of a woman was recovered from an apartment near the Karachi airport.

Another body, bearing torture marks, was found near crown cinema at Maripur Road. The deceased had been shot dead.

A man died in lockup due to torture at the Mominabad police station.

The body of a policeman, posted at the Crime Branch, was found near the Civil Hospital with its throat slit.

A young man was shot dead in a firing incident in Baloch Colony in Manghopir while another man was killed by unknown gunmen in Mujahid Colony.

One man was killed in a firing incident in the Metroville locality of the SITE area.

A body of a swimmer drowned off the Manora Beach was also found. This incident occurred yesterday.

On the other hand, CID police arrested four suspects belonging to a banned militant outfit.

According to the SSP CID, four pistols and two hand grenades were recovered from the arrested.

The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of police also arrested an extortionist from Ferozabad.

There were also five incidents of arson at various locations across the city.

Pakistan strongly supports human rights’ application: FM Khar

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday said Pakistan strongly supports the promotion and application of universally recognized human rights.

In her opening statement at the 14th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan’s resolve and commitment to combat terrorism remained unwavering.

However she termed the drone attacks as counter-productive, unlawful, against international law, and violation of sovereignty.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan as the Chair of the OIC Group on Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva has played a constructive role in building convergences between West and Islamic world on the most contentious and challenging issues in the Human Rights Council.

She said Pakistan welcomes this engagement with the international community through an open and constructive dialogue on its human rights record in line with the provisions identified in the Institution Building Package.

She thanked the “Troika” comprising Chile, China and Congo, for facilitating Pakistan’s review.

The Foreign Minister said following restoration of democracy in 2008, Pakistan had taken a number of steps to restore the democratic nature of state institutions.

Today Pakistan is a functional democracy with an elected and sovereign parliament, an independent judiciary, a free media and a vibrant and robust civil society, she added.

She said the reporting period (2008 to 2012) had been one of the most challenging in recent years for Pakistan. Pakistan continued to face enormous challenges on different fronts, ranging from security and terrorism to the economy, apart from natural calamities.

“Despite these serious challenges, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights,” she said.

The Foreign Minister said during the last four years, there had been transformational changes in the legislative framework.

She mentioned passing of three constitutional amendments requiring two-third majority as part of a overarching compact between the country’s major political parties to engender long-term democratic values in the country, after the trauma of repeated military interventions.

She said in April 2010, Parliament unanimously passed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, addressing the many imbalances of power that had entered the legislative framework at the behest of military governments.

She said among the key features of the 18th Amendment is its strengthening of human rights guaranteed under the Constitution. The Right to Education (Article 25A), Right to Information (Article 19A) and Right to Fair Trial (Article 10A) are now recognized as fundamental rights, which cannot be suspended, she added.

The Foreign Minister said consistent with its longstanding commitment to promote and protect human rights, Pakistan ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Convention against Torture (CAT) in June 2010.

She said in August 2011, Pakistan ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Option Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.

Foreign Minister Khar said Pakistan has now ratified seven out of nine core international human rights treaties. Joining these international human rights instruments demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to international human rights standards.

Hafiz Saeed offers US storm aid

ISLAMABAD: The founder of a Pakistan-based group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, who is under a $10 million US bounty, Tuesday offered humanitarian aid to the United States as it battles superstorm Sandy.

Sandy hammered the eastern United States early Tuesday, flooding much of New York City, hitting several states with heavy winds and torrential rain and leaving at least 14 people dead.

Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the founder of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant outfit and now head of the charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), said his organisation was ready to offer every possible help to the storm-hit American people.

“Jamaat-ud-Dawa is ready to send its volunteers, doctors, food, medicines and other relief items on humanitarian grounds if the US government allows us,”Saeed said in a statement.

“America may have any opinion about us, it may fix bounties on our heads but as followers of the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed, we feel it is our Islamic duty to help Americans trapped in a catastrophe.”Saeed’s statement said the charity had carried out relief work in Indonesia and Sri Lanka after the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004.

JuD is seen as a front for LeT, which Washington and Delhi blame for the commando-style attacks on India’s financial capital in 2008 that killed 166 people.

In April the United States offered $10 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Saeed, who lives openly in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore.

Saeed’s charity has long denied terror accusations and is known around Pakistan for its relief work in the wake of the devastating Kashmir earthquake of 2005 and the floods of 2010, which were the worst in the country’s history.

He was put under house arrest a month after the Mumbai attacks, but was released in 2009 and in 2010 as Pakistan’s highest court upheld his release on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence to detain him.

Last month Saeed led a number of protests in Lahore against a US-made anti-Islam film. Pakistan Politics reporter

Non-resident Pakistanis should be given right to vote: CJ

ISLAMABAD: During the hearing of a case pertaining to voter lists, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked that non-resident Pakistanis should be given the right to vote, adding that, they sent significant remittances to the country, Pakistan Politics reported.

The chief justice remarked that the court had been told that the procedure to enable non-resident Pakistanis to vote in the elections was encountering difficulties.

Image of Pakistan Supereme Court (Pakistan Politcs)

During the proceedings, senior lawyer Rashid A. Rizvi said that a significant portion of Karachi’s population had been denied the right to vote.

He further alleged that the affected voters had been drawn out of the city’s limits.

Upon which, the chief justice said that Rizvi should approach the election commission on the issue as the elections were approaching.

He remarked that if anyone had any complaint(s) pertaining to the electoral rolls, they should approach the concerned authorities for correction(s).

Subsequently, the case’s hearing was adjourned due to the absence of the counsels for the Jamaat-i-Islami and Imran Khan.

The hearing was adjourned to Nov 7.

Pakistan Politics

PCB adds to confusion over Malik’s eligibility

Pakistan cricket chiefs have made no decision yet on disgraced former captain Salim Malik’s bid to become the national side’s batting coach, an official said Monday.

The 49-year-old Malik last week applied for the post, saying he was under no bar after a Pakistani court lifted his life ban for match fixing in October 2008, though the sport’s governing body has not publicly endorsed the ruling.

Malik was banned from cricket for life in 2000 by a judicial inquiry after Australian players Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh alleged Malik had offered them money to under-perform during their team’s tour to Pakistan in 1994.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf had effectively ruled out Malik’s appointment a few days ago saying: “Only those candidates will be considered who meet our eligibility process.”

But a PCB spokesman confirmed Malik, a dashing middle-order batsman in his day, had applied for the post and that there was no final decision on his appointment yet.

“Malik’s application was received last week and now it is up to the committee to choose the candidate for the job on merit and nothing has been finalised as yet on Malik by the committee or PCB chairman,” PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said.

Pakistan last year formed a coaching committee under former captain and PCB director Intikhab Alam, with legendary batsman Zaheer Abbas, Naushad Ali and former captain turned commentator Ramiz Raja as members.

The panel earlier this year chose former Australian batsman Dav Whatmore as the head coach, Englishman Julian Fountain as fielding coach and former Pakistan paceman Mohammad Akram as bowling coach.

“The committee will also assess the credentials of Malik in a similar way as they assess the credentials of other candidates who have applied for the job and in Malik’s case they will also check whether he is eligible to take a cricket-related job,” the spokesman said.

Announcing his bid for the job on Friday, Malik said he was not put off by the fact he has no coaching badges — a requirement stipulated by the PCB.

Malik has been recently involved in private coaching but his failure to clear the lifting of the ban with the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been a hurdle in him taking a cricket-related job.

PCB had to reverse its decision of appointing Malik batting coach for their academy in Lahore in 2008 after the ICC reportedly objected

Helicopters pound militant hideouts in Khyber; 10 killed

KHYBER AGENCY: At least ten suspected militants were killed and six others injured Monday when Pakistani gunship helicopters pounded suspected militant hideouts in Bara Tehsil of Pakistan’s restive Khyber tribal region, officials said.

The assault followed an earlier clash in the Akakhel area of Bara Tehsil which had left one soldier dead and three injured, the officials added.

According to the officials, armed militants ambushed a security convoy leading to a deadly clash between the militants and security forces. The clash resulted in the death of a soldier while thee others were wounded.

Following the clash, security forces assisted by gunship helicopters targeted militant hideouts in Akakhel area, killing ten militants and injuring six others, the official sources said.

Officials said security forces also destroyed four militant bases and claimed to have arrested 15 suspects as the offensive continued.

Meanwhile, another soldier was also killed in a road side bomb explosion in Tehsil Bara’s Shalobar area during a search operation, the officials added.

The reports could not be independently verified as journalists have limited access to Pakistan’s remote tribal areas.

Khyber is among Pakistan’s seven tribal districts near the Afghan border which are rife with homegrown insurgents and are alleged to be strongholds of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives.

Sarkozy aide charged in ‘Karachi’ corruption scandal

PARIS: An aide of French former president Nicolas Sarkozy was on Monday charged in an illegal political funding scandal known as the “Karachi Affair,” a complex probe into alleged kickbacks on arms deals.

Nicolas Bazire, the current number two of luxury group LVMH, was heard by judges for four hours and accused of handling illicit funds used for political campaigns.

A former campaign manager for ex-prime minister Edouard Balladur, Bazire had been under investigation since September.

Investigators are looking into irregularities in the financing of Balladur’s 1995 presidential campaign. Sarkozy was Balladur’s campaign spokesman and budget minister at the time.

Judges suspect Balladur’s campaign of receiving illicit “retro-commissions” from the sale of French submarines to Pakistan. Two Sarkozy political aides and a former minister are under formal investigation over the affair.

Judges are also probing claims that a 2002 bombing in Karachi that killed 11 French naval engineers was carried out by Pakistani agents in revenge for the cancellation of bribes secretly promised to officials.

The payment of arms sales commissions was legal in France until 2000, but the payment of kickbacks back to France was and is illegal.

The probe focuses on the 1994 sale of submarines to Pakistan and frigates to Saudi Arabia.

Drone attacks render Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts ineffective: Malik

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik demanded a halt to US drone attacks in Pakistan, adding that, the attacks were rendering Pakistan’s efforts to countering terrorism ineffective, DawnNews reported on Monday.

In an interview to a US-based television channel, Malik said that despite having all the resources, the United States was not making sufficient gains in Afghanistan.

Moreover, the minister said a military operation was not a solution to the problem of militancy in any region in the country.

On a question about Malala Yousufzai, the teenage Pakistani activist shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban, Malik said she was the pride of Pakistan and that the people awaited her return after a full recovery.

Malik said the police had offered protection to Malala on three separate occasions, adding that, her father had refused security.

The minister said Malala was attacked by two men who were both Afghan nationals, adding that, they had come to Mingora with the help of a man named Ataullah, a resident of Swat.

He said the police was looking for both the attackers, adding that, Malala and her family would be provided with maximum security upon their return

Pakistani, British, UAE ministers visit Malala’s hospital

LONDON: Pakistan’s interior minister and the foreign ministers of Britain and the UAE visited the English hospital treating shot Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai on Monday, Britain’s Foreign Office said.

Britain’s Foreign Office said the trio also met with the father of 15-year-old Malala, who was shot in the head by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) gunmen earlier this month for campaigning for girls’ education in an attack that shocked the world.

She was flown from Pakistan on October 15 for treatment at a specialist hospital in Birmingham, central England, in an air ambulance provided by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“I visited the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham today to enquire after the health of Malala and to convey messages of good health and best wishes on behalf of the government and the whole Pakistani nation,” said interior minister Rehman Malik.

“We are grateful to the hospital authorities, especially the doctors treating Malala, for taking care of her in a most professional manner. As a result, she has made very good recovery in the past few days.”

He expressed gratitude to Britain and the UAE for their support for Malala, who needs reconstructive surgery after a bullet grazed her brain, coming within centimetres of killing her.

“Malala’s incident should not be seen in isolation,” Malik said. “She is a symbol of courage and determination against the forces of extremist ideology.

“The attack on her was also meant to tarnish the true face of Pakistan and to discourage those struggling for human liberties and for the democratisation of our society.

“Let me reassure our international friends that such acts of cowardice will not deter us, and the whole Pakistani nation stands behind Malala and her cause.”

British foreign secretary William Hague said Malala’s swift recovery was Britain’s “absolute priority”.

“The people of Pakistan have paid a high price from terrorism and extremism,” he added. “We will stand by all those who, like Malala, are courageously defending the rights of women, in Pakistan and around the world.”

The UAE’s foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said his government had provided assistance because its citizens were “appalled” by the attack on Malala’s school bus in the Swat valley, a former Pakistani Taliban stronghold.

“She is in our prayers,” he said. “Malala’s courage inspires us to reinforce our commitment to rejecting ideologies rooted in intolerance and extremism.”

The hospital said the teenager had spent a “restful” weekend surrounded by her family, who arrived in Britain last week.

“She continues to make good progress,” it said in a statement.

The hospital released a photograph at the weekend of Malala’s parents and two brothers gathered around her bedside.

Doctors say the Taliban gunman’s bullet travelled through her head and neck before lodging in her left shoulder.

Before reconstructive surgery, she must fight off an infection in the path of the bullet and recover her strength, which could take months.

Her skull will need reconstructing either by reinserting bone or using a titanium plate.

Malala has received thousands of goodwill messages from around the world.

Former British prime minister Gordon Brown, now a UN education envoy, has said he will meet Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on November 9-10 to present him with a list of supporters worldwide for Malala’s campaign for education.

November 10 has been declared a global day of action and some 850,000 people have signed petitions backing Malala’s call for millions of girls to be allowed to attend school.

Malala rose to prominence three years ago, aged just 11, writing a blog for the BBC Urdu service describing life under the Pakistani Taliban’s hardline rule in the Swat valley in northwestern Pakistan.

Interview: Veena Malik

The real Veena Malik

Well, Veena Malik is a simple girl. I’m like any other girl of my age because I eat simple and live simple. Well, except my dreams, which are probably bigger than anyone else’s. I try doing everything in a straightforward and honest way and I am very sincere to anything I do.

I have sleeping and eating disorders and mood swings. I even forget to remove my makeup sometimes before sleeping. I am not particular about these things because I am very casual and simple in my personal life. If people think I’m beautiful, then the credit for it goes to my mom and dad. I think my siblings are much prettier than me! I guess in that way, I’m genetically blessed with good looks.

Her inspiration…
Myself. Experience has taught me that you’re all alone and you don’t have friends.

On her celebrity status

I am a celebrity since my childhood! Everything I do, like having a cup of coffee with someone in a public place, is news. Every smartphone is a camera these days.

Veena is a hit!

Well, my first movie Dal Main Kuch Kala was a flop, but Veena Malik is a hit. I am still getting offers from India to work in movies.

On working in the Kannada remake of The Dirty Picture

Working in a Kannada film was a very different experience for I am not familiar with the language. Apart from acting, I will also be singing in the film on the director’s request.

The drama queen

I’m so excited to release my album Drama Queen, everyone is always tagging me like this, so I thought, why not make a song on it. The song is fun and cheeky at the same time and I hope everyone loves all the work we’ve put into it.

Controversy’s favourite child?

No, I’m not controversial. My reputation is because of my line of work. Nowadays, every famous person is controversial. And if being bold and honest means being controversial, then of course, I am that!

On Ashmit Patel

Ifind it surprising that people actually believed that I would fake my affection for someone on national television. What Ashmit and I had on Bigg Boss was genuine. He was a good friend and we both have respect and regard for each other. However we are not together anymore.

On sponsoring destitute children

I just realized I can make a difference in someone’s life. If I can’t help the whole world or satisfy it, I can help a few people and make a difference in their life instead. I sponsored two boys from Afghanistan and a girl from India named Payal. I have not adopted them; I am just sponsoring their education and life.

On settling in India

Honestly speaking, I am working in India till I have a working visa. And I will work here till the time I get offers to work. There is no plan to settle in India permanently.

What next?

This year, 2012, is my ‘Bollywood with a bang’ year with four movies and three special appearances. I’m doing an item number, Channo in Gali Gali Mein Chor Hai. Then there’s
 The Dirty Picture remake, apart from Super Model and Mumbai 125Km

Zardari discusses political situation with Altaf, other leaders

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday made separate telephone calls to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ameer Haider Hoti and Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to discuss overall political situation of the country.

The president, who is in Karachi, greeted all of them on the occasion of Eid.

During his telephone call to the MQM chief, both leaders strongly condemned the blast outside Kaka Sahib Darbar in Nowshera and attacks on girls’ schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that resulted in loss of innocent lives and caused injuries to many.

Condemning the dastardly act, the president said that militants by targeting the innocent people were showing their real face to the world.

He said, “Such cowardly acts can never deter us pursuing our struggle against the militants till its logical conclusion.”

Both leaders discussed the overall political situation of the country, terrorism, promotion of democracy and other important issues.

They also agreed that the MQM and the PPP would continue to work together for overcoming challenges facing the country and said that both the parties would continue to play their due role for the progress and prosperity of the country.

At least four killed in Nowshera shrine blast

PESHAWAR: A powerful bomb went off outside the shrine of a Sunni Muslim saint in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least four people, police said.

Senior police officer Mumtaz Khan said 23 people were also wounded in the attack at the shrine of Kaka Sahib in the town of Nowshehra. Hundreds of devotees were present there at the time, and the dead and injured had been transported to a hospital.

There was no claim of responsibility but Pakistani militants such as the Taliban have been blamed for previous such attacks.

The militants follow a strict version of Islam and they claim visiting shrines is not allowed.

Nowshehra lies 50 kilometers east of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. It is also believed to a hiding place for insurgent militants, who often target security forces and government officials to force Islamabad to stop backing Washington in the war in Afghanistan.

Three killed, five injured in Karachi violence

KARACHI: Various incidents of firing claimed three lives and injured five persons early on Monday whereas Rangers and police conducted a targeted operation in Dalmia area of Karachi, DawnNews reported.

Two persons were injured of firing in Karachi’s North Nazimabad area. One of the victims succumbed to his wounds whereas the other was shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

A tortured body was found in a gunny bag near West Wharf Bridge on Mauripur Road of the city.

Another person died of gunshot wounds when unknown gunmen opened fire at him in Karachi’s Sukkun area.

Two people suffered gunshot wounds during a scuffle that broke out, following a traffic accident in North Nazimabad area of Karachi.

Another person was injured ina separated incident of firing in Karachi’s Gulshan-i-Iqbal area.

Rangers and police conducted a joint targeted operation in Karachi’s Dalmia area during which security personnel performed door to door search in the neighbourhood.

Earlier on Sunday two people had died of gunshot wounds in Baldia and North Nazimabad areas of the city.

Two killed, 25 injured in Nowshera blast

PESHAWAR: Two people were killed and at least 25 injured when an explosion took place in the Ziarat Kaka Sahib area in Nowshera on Sunday.

According to the Nowshera police, a remote-controlled bomb had been planted on a bicycle in front of the main gate of the shrine of Ziarat Kaka Sahib.

Police also said that the death toll could increase.

Meanwhile, security forces have cordoned off the area and the injured have been shifted to local hospitals.

The shrine is often frequented by locals and a large number of people were also gathered there today on the occasion of Eid.

Karachi factory fire intensifies

KARACHI: A fire that broke out in the chemical warehouse of a plastic bag manufacturing factory in Karachi’s Gulbai area engulfed the entire factory on Sunday as the intensity of  blaze increased , DawnNews reported.

Fire tenders reached the spot from across the city.

Fire tenders of the Air force and Army had also been deployed and were making efforts to put the fire out.

The fire that begun late on Saturday rendered the structure of the building hollow causing large portions of the five-story building to collapse and had spread to an adjoining factory in the vicinity.

Two production units along with chemicals and other raw materials worth millions were reduced to ashes as a result of the fire.

Fire brigade officials declared the fire as a third-degree hazard.

Citizens Police Liaison Committee chief Ahmed Chinoy said that it was difficult to immediately bring the fire under control as there was a lack of equipment and resources, as the nature of fire was not normal. He added that water was not useful in extinguishing the fire and that additional fire retardant foam had been sought.

Chinoy further said that the firemen were trying their best to contain the fire and to stop it from spreading to other areas.

Rescue and fire teams were concerned about the fire spreading to the basement of the factory which contained drums of inflammable and explosive chemicals and were instructed to maintain a distance from the fire site keeping in view the fear of an explosion.

Smoke billowing from the fire was visible from miles away.

Some fire experts suggested that attempting to put out the fire with water was useless as chemical fires can only be extinguished using a special kind of a fire retardant foam.

A large number of people had gathered to spectate the site of fire.

In another unrelated incident a warehouse storing wooded goods caught fire in Orangi Town area of Karachi. Fire tenders were dispatched to the location to put out the fire.

Romney: the Pakistan perspective

The few words spoken by Mitt Romney in Monday’s debate seem to have strengthened the myth in Pakistan that Republicans are more favourably disposed towards Pakistan than Democrats. Like all myths, there is a grain of truth in this. But, as a study of the mercurial nature of US-Pakistan relations shows, by chance Republicans happened to be presidents precisely at times when situations required America to act the way it did.

A Democrat, Harry Truman, was in the White House when Liaquat Ali Khan, the first prime minister, became the first Pakistani leader to visit America. His visit produced no spectacular results.

Those days, Pakistan and India occupied a unique place in world politics. There were hardly any other sovereign ‘coloured’ states in the world and, for that reason, Pakistani and Indian leaders were given great respect and importance.

Liaquat’s visit should be seen in that perspective. It didn’t result in any alliance, but it did indicate the orientation of Pakistan’s foreign policy in days to come in a bipolar world.

The turning point came during the Eisenhower administration (1953-61) when Pakistan became a member of the US-led military pacts, besides having a bilateral military relationship with the US, and earned the sobriquet of being America’s most ‘allied ally’, prompting some analysts to say that Pakistan suffered from ‘pactitis’.

The friendship held good even during the Democratic administration led by Kennedy. Old-timers like me recall the popular enthusiasm that swept the country when Jackie visited Pakistan, rode a camel and donned the Jinnah cap. Ayub was then in power. Those were halcyon days, when Pakistan had no domestic enemies, no party or group waged jihad on Pakistan because it was an infidel state, and no madcap issued the fatwa that friendship with America was contrary to Sharia.

All except the communists were happy that Pakistan was in the right camp.

Yet, by chance, it had to be a Democratic administration when the relations between the two countries developed a chill for the first time when the Indians crossed the McMahon line and were beaten back by China. Pakistan’s position on the 1962 conflict in the Himalayas was what it should have been, and this led Kennedy to complain that Pakistan had not played the role expected of an American ally.

Would a Republican administration have behaved differently? Suppose China and India had gone to war when Eisenhower was in power.

Would the Republican president have behaved any differently during those mad, mad cold war days when there was a commie under every bush?

Three years later Pakistan and India fought their second war on Kashmir, and the Johnson administration made it absolutely clear where its sympathy lay by cutting off all arms supplies to Islamabad. The breach was complete, and even though Ayub, frustrated as much by the negative outcome of the war as by the aid cut-off, visited Washington to ‘explain’ things, Johnson refused to resume military supplies.

He was very angry. However, even when a Republican, Eisenhower’s vice president, moved into the White House, Bhutto failed to persuade Nixon to review US arms policy. Yet there was no trace of hostility in Nixon’s policies and utterances, and one has to read his books to see how they are full of kind and friendly references to Pakistan and Ayub.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was to bring the two countries closer than ever before. But bonhomie came only when a Republican from Hollywood was installed as America’s president. Even though the invasion on Christmas eve, 1979, came when a Democrat was the president, Carter refused to resume aid because of Ziaul Haq’s rule by the lash. With his strong human rights agenda Carter was in no mood to be friendly.

Under pressure from hawks in Congress, he reluctantly agreed to the CIA’s covert aid to the anti-Soviet fighters, but insisted that American arms should not fall into Soviet hands and that arms must come from some other countries.

Those arms came from Israel and Egypt (see Charlie Wilson’s War), both of which rushed captured Soviet arms to Pakistan.

The massive pouring of economic and military aid in two packages — including the F-16s — came during the Reagan and first Bush administrations. That perhaps was the apogee of US-Pakistan relations. Yet, let us not forget, that when the aid cut-off did finally take place again, it was a Republican president, the senior Bush, who refused to issue the annual certificate required under the Pressler amendment for aid to continue.

Charismatic Clinton had no reason to pump money into Pakistan, because terrorism had started raising its head, and a Pakistani, Aimal Kansi, had shocked the American people by murdering two CIA agents outside its Langley headquarters.

On the whole Clinton was quite friendly towards Pakistan and praised Islamabad’s role in Somalia, where Pakistani peacekeepers, along with American, had suffered casualties. And when Benazir visited the White House in 1995, Clinton said he was the first American leader to admit that it was wrong to hold back both the F-16s and the money.

Would Clinton have maintained his ‘no military aid’ posture if 9/11 had occurred in his presidency, America attacked Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and Pakistan joined the war on terror? By an extraordinary coincidence, it was again a Republican, George Bush Jr in the White House when Afghanistan once again became a battle theatre. Pakistan joined the war on terror and became America’s ‘major non-Nato ally’.

Barack Obama has not withheld aid; it continues and will for the next 15 years. As president, Obama’s policy has been in sharp contrast to his threats during the 2008 campaign that he would send troops into Pakistan to take out the ‘safe havens’.

That posture was good for winning votes; as president, he has behaved with restraint and shown a lot of understanding of Islamabad’s problems in dealing with the militants and didn’t agree with those who thought Pakistan knew where Osama bin Laden was hiding. If Romney wins, of which there is a fair chance, it is unlikely that US policy will undergo a major change towards Pakistan. As history shows, by sheer coincidence Republicans happened to be White House occupants when turmoil in Pakistan’s neighbourhood created situations in which America had no chance but to act the way it did.

Nor is there any evidence that any Democratic president, save Lyndon B. Johnson, showed any persistence in hostility towards Pakistan

FPCCI delay strike call for 15 days

KARACHI: After being given assurance by Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad that their grievances will be addressed, Karachi’s business community have said that their call for a strike will be delayed for 15 days, DawnNews reported.

A meeting was held by the governor, which included Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) representatives along with other members of the business community.

After being given assurance by the governor that the problems of extortion will be dealt with, members of the business community said that they will delay their call for a strike which was to be held on November 10.

The governor said that talks will continue to be held with the business community. He said that arms licenses will be provided to them for security purposes.

Richard Olson arrives in Pakistan to take up duties as new US envoy

ISLAMABAD: Richard G. Olson arrived in Pakistan on Saturday to take up his duties as the new US Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Upon his arrival, Ambassador Olson said: “I am excited to begin my work in Pakistan. I look forward to presenting my credentials to President Zardari as soon as possible and to start working with Pakistanis from all sections of society to build a relationship based on mutual respect and common interests.”

He added that he wished “to see as much of this beautiful country as possible and meet its talented people. There is tremendous potential in this country and I want to work with Pakistanis to increase economic opportunity, expand trade between our two countries, address the energy crisis, and improve the quality of education and health care for all.”

Ambassador Olson was sworn in by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on September 24, 2012. His previous assignment was as the Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012.

Olson’s predecessor Munter, who had been an advocate within the Obama administration for reconciliation with Pakistan, resigned in May 2012 after a turbulent tenure in which US forces secretly killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. People close to him have said he was frustrated that the CIA and Pentagon took the lead on Pakistan policy, with Munter’s job effectively to contain the fallout.

Governor KP alleges links exist between Punjab govt and “terrorists”

PESHAWAR: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Syed Masood Kausar on Saturday alleged that the Punjab government had covert links with “terrorists”, DawnNews reported.

Speaking at a fund distribution for the displaced people of Bara, the governor said that the Punjab government had been encouraging the “terrorists” hiding in the madrassas and had secret links with them.

He further said that the “terrorists” were neither friends of Pakistan nor were they the friends of the tribesmen.

Moreover, he said that the tribesmen were not involved in terrorist activities and that people belonging to all religions resided in the tribal areas.

On the issue of the construction of the controversial Kalabagh dam, Governor Kausar said it was not wise to discuss the matter.

Man accused of cashing in on Malala

ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: Malala Yousufzai may be recovering steadily in Great Britain but some of her compatriots are not averse to using her tragedy to gain some personal benefit and glory.

This appears to be the real story behind the school girl in Islamabad who was being threatened by the Swat militants.

Reayatullah Khan, the city resident who made international news by claiming that the Taliban were after his daughter like Malala, has been discovered as a habitual liar and a fraud.

Police sources told Dawn on Thursday that the man had four cases of fraud registered against him in two police stations and had been on bail in two. They dismissed his story as an attempt to ride out his troubles on a wave of worldwide sympathy for Malala Yousufzai.

A native of Swat, Reayatullah had moved to Islamabad before the military operation was conducted there in 2009 to clear the area of militants. The history of his alleged crimes in his new home goes back to the same year, the sources said.

But the police pieced it together only after Interior Minister Rehman Malik received an application from Reayatullah on October 13 that militants had been threatening his family, and ordered the Islamabad police chief to investigate.

Subsequent investigations found that four FIRs were pending against him in Shalimar and Ramna police stations, filed by his alleged victims over the last three years.

According to the police sources, the victims have charged him of defrauding them by paying back the money he owed them in bogus cheques. Reayatullah could do that as police often advised the victims to reach a compromise and recover some of their money rather than go into litigation and probably lose all.

In fact, only three days after claiming to the interior minister that he was on the hit list of the militants, Reayatullah paid his latest victim, Mohammad Younus, Rs100,000 and secured bail against a bogus cheque for Rs342,000 that he owed the victim.

Hukum Dad was the first victim to go to the police. He said in the FIR he lodged with Shalimar police on October 7, 2009, that Reayatullah had taken Rs500,000 from him in 2008 in Kohistan area, close to Swat, to get a job for his brother. He failed to arrange the job and issued three cheques to return the amount but all three bounced.

Ramna police have registered two complaints against – one in September 2011 after he was caught driving a stolen car, and the other in April 2012 in which a citizen, Wali Mohammad Anjum, accused him of taking a loan of Rs310,000 from him and twice issued bogus
cheques to pay back he money.

Anjum told Dawn that police investigators had advised him to settle the matter out of the court.

According to police sources, Reayatullah is adept in spinning tales and glib talk.

In his application to the interior minister he claimed that he had helped the civil and military authorities to build peace and defend the rights of women and children in Swat and Malakand but had to move to Islamabad in 2007 when the situation started deteriorating there.

On October 3, he said, he noticed his residence in sector G-11/1 marked by a red cross and removed it. But it reappeared again and on October 11 he received two threatening calls that assassins have reached Islamabad to kill his daughter.

Later some people were spotted taking photographs of his house, he claimed, according to the police.

Rehman Malik briefs President Zardari on law and order situation

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik met with President Asif Ali Zardari here at the Aiwan-i-Sadr on Saturday and informed him about the law and order situation in the country on the occasion of Eidul Azha.

The interior minister briefed the president on the security measures taken by his ministry to ensure peace on the occasion.

The president appreciated the efforts of the interior minister in maintaining law and order on the eve of Eidul Azha and on the occasion when the faithfuls offered Eid prayers in different parts of the country.

He also expressed his satisfaction over the law and order situation.

US ‘interrogates’ Imran Khan on drones

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani politician Imran Khan has said he was pulled off a New York-bound plane by US immigration officials and interrogated about his view on American drone strikes in his country.

Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), was headed to New York to attend a fund raiser organised by his party when he was stopped by US officials in Toronto on Friday, he said.

“I was taken off from plane and interrogated by US Immigration in Canada on my views on drones. My stance is known. Drone attacks must stop,” he wrote on Twitter.

Officials from Khan’s party said the delay meant he missed his flight and was late for the party fundraising event in New York, but he insisted “nothing will change my stance”.

“My stand on drones is very clear. I did not say sorry to them,” Khan said after arriving in New York, according to a local news channel.

“I still couldn’t understand why they did this. The official was questioning me about drones but I think he himself didn’t understand what he was talking about,” he added.

The US ambassador to Pakistan “knew that I will always oppose the drone attack, then why (did) they issue me visa”, he later said at the fund raising event.

Ali Zaidi, a senior party leader demanded “a prompt and thorough inquiry into this sordid episode” and sought “an unconditional apology from the US government”.

US officials in Washington declined to comment.

Khan has campaigned vociferously for an end to the controversial US campaign of missile strikes against suspected Taliban and al Qaeda militants in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

He argues they are illegal and counterproductive and earlier this month he led thousands of supporters – and a group of American peace activists – on a march to the edge of the restive tribal districts to protest against drones.

Khan led the two-day protest march against US drone strikes with some 15,000 of his supporters and dozens of Western peace activists to Tank, the last town before the semi-autonomous tribal belt.

It was an unprecedented gesture from a mainstream politician in one of the most dangerous parts of the country, a semi-autonomous zone that is a hotbed of activity by Taliban and al Qaeda militants.

Pakistani authorities did not allow the protesters to enter the tribal district of South Waziristan – where missiles fired by US drones routinely target militants – for security reasons and blocked the road to Tank with shipping containers.

US officials say the drone program is a key weapon in the war on terror. But peace campaigners condemn it as a breach of international law, Pakistanis as a violation of sovereignty that breeds extremism, and politicians including Khan as a sign of a government complicit in killing its own people.

Khan, who is campaigning ahead of general elections next year, has made opposition to the drone programme a key plank of his party’s policy.

Critics accuse him of merely trying to further his own career and of ignoring both atrocities blamed on militants and abuses by the Pakistani army.

Although leaked US cables have revealed tacit support for the drone strikes from Pakistan’s military and civilian leaders, Islamabad has increasingly condemned the programme as relations with Washington have deteriorated

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