The Express Tribune Newsletter: April 1, 2012

Today's Headlines

April 1, 2012

PCNS recommendations: 'Pakistan should have clear role in Afghan endgame' Zahid Gishkori It's an either-or situation. Either the US should define Pakistan's role in the Afghanistan reconciliation process as troop withdrawal draws closer – or continue to face a stalemate over the resumption of Nato supplies, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) said on Saturday. _______________________________________________ National/City reports Out of favour: Sidelined Awan feels the heat Qamar Zaman / Abdul Manan Once seen as the president's closest aide, Babar Awan is feeling the effects of falling out of favour. Unprecedented: After diesel, petrol smashes Rs100 barrier Zafar Bhutta For the first time in the country's history, petrol prices have crossed the Rs100 per litre barrier. Behind the scenes of constitutional revival Farman Ali The third tenure of the Pakistan Peoples Party government has earned all the negative epithets it could earn for its performance. It will, however, be remembered for its historic achievement in bringing the 18th Amendment to the constitution and giving Pakistan a federal structure. Karachi mayhem: As violence toll soars, police contest figures Our Correspondents Karachi marked another day of mourning – the third in a week – on Saturday as the death toll from the violence since Tuesday soared to 33 – a figure that was contested though by police officials who attributed other reasons for some of the deaths. In Gilgit-Baltistan, people await Imran's 'tsunami' to tide over sectarianism Shabbir Mir The Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf's (PTI) "tsunami" seems to have washed away the party chief's memories of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), where people await his visit in the hope that it will help restore calm in the region, periodically inflamed by sectarian strife. _______________________________________________ Business Weekly review: Bourse surges upwards despite many concerns Bilal Umar The announcement of the delay in the implementation of the revised Capital Gains Tax regime had little bearing on the market as the KSE-100 index marched forward 488 points or 3.7% during the week ended March 30. Analysis: The government is not to blame for rising petrol prices Farooq Tirmizi President Asif Ali Zardari is not a particularly well-liked politician, and indeed, his record on economic policymaking leaves much to be desired. But he is not in the least bit responsible for the spike in oil prices and has absolutely no control over them. _______________________________________________ Sports 'Tradition ignored in Sindh Games' Natasha Raheel While the provincial games are held to highlight the traditional sports of the region, the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) seems to have missed that important point. Super Eight T20 Cup: Shahzaib blasts Dolphins into final Our Correspondent A blistering half-century by opener Shahzaib Hasan allowed Karachi Dolphins easy entry into the final of the Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup after they beat Lahore Lions by seven wickets in the first semi-final yesterday. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Showcase 2012: A vexing affair Hani Taha The recently concluded fashion week 'Showcase 2012' had rather mysterious origins which left one confused and annoyed at the same time. Every day's not a Sunday Saadia Qamar For most of us, Sundays are spent relaxing, watching films and spending time with friends and family. However, for Mohammad Hanif, it's the most tiring day of the week as he busies himself with selling beanbags at the Defence Sunday Bazaar in Karachi. _______________________________________________

iPad users, download the new Tribune app now! Opinion Burning face Saroop Ijaz No legs to stand on Fahd Husain National honour and foreign policy Khaled Ahmed The debris he leaves behind Aakar Patel A regional orientation Rasul Bakhsh Rais Blogs Lusting for heroin, living in excess Fyez Ahmed An open letter to Nawaz Sharif Nadeem Akram When will project Jihad end? Mohammad Jawad Mohammad Hafeez: The real Boom Boom Shariq Najeeb Poll Do you think the government is doing enough to preserve cultural heritage sites? No (92%, 159 Votes) Yes (8%, 13 Votes) Total Voters: 172 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

 

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The Express Tribune Newsletter: March 31, 2012

Today's Headlines

March 31, 2012

Reopening NATO supply lines: US ready to offer more compensation Kamran Yousaf The United States has agreed to pay compensation and additional taxes on Nato supplies passing through Pakistan in a move that indicates Washington's eagerness to end the blockade of the vital supply line for coalition troops stationed in Afghanistan. _______________________________________________ National/City Blackout: Court strikes down rental power deals Azam Khan They came. They idled. They produced little (or no) electricity. And then, in a hard-hitting verdict on Friday, all rental power project (RPP) deals were declared 'non-transparent, illegal and void ab initio' by the apex court. Descent into chaos: Death toll rises in fresh round of violence Our Correspondent As the situation in Orangi Town and its surrounding areas was beginning to settle down, a man identified as Ashiq was shot at and injured in Qasba Colony on Friday. He passed away later in the evening. Upcoming budget 'relief': Tax exemption mulled for salarymen Shahbaz Rana Salaried individuals and small business owners are likely to receive significant tax relief in the upcoming budget. The government is considering exempting up to Rs350,000 in income from tax calculations entirely. High alert: Defend yourself, Altaf Hussain tells Pakistanis Our Correspondent Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain says people must step up to protect themselves given the harrowing and dangerous conditions in Pakistan. Foreign policy review: Opposition drags govt back to drawing board Zia Khan In its desire to muster political consensus on foreign policy reconfiguration, the government has given in to the opposition. _______________________________________________ Business Power shortfall: US asks for political will to resolve the energy crisis Our Correspondents US has asked Pakistan's legislators to extend support and bring reforms in the energy sector to overcome the 3,800 megawatt power shortfall and with it the 10 and 12 hours daily outages, according to a report. RPP contract cancellation: Decision to have little or no impact on power shortfall Zafar Bhutta Though cancellation of rental power plant (RPP) contracts will have no impact on the country due to low power production at a higher cost, the government has decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court. _______________________________________________ Sports Injured Junaid strives to improve Fawad Hussain Junaid Khan might have been laid low by injuries but his resolve and determination still flies high as he remains optimistic about an impressive return to the playing-eleven, learning the art of swing as he recovers from a knee injury.  Karachi on top of 'poorly organised' Sindh Games Natasha Raheel Karachi dominated the opening day of the 15th Sindh Games that got underway in Mirpurkhas yesterday with athletes ruing poor facitlies. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Showcase 2012 day four: The perfect concoction Saadia Qamar The finale of Showcase 2012 brought in the bigwigs of the fashion world who showcased a variety of themes ranging from Feeha Jamshed's Parisian streetwear to Datch's grungy casual wear, Prada's neon jumpsuits to Adnan's classic sherwanis. Documentary detailing life and works of Abdul Sattar Edhi wins French awards Our Correspondent The Edhi Foundation has said that a documentary on the life and works of Abdul Sattar Edhi, "The Kingdom of Mr Edhi", has bagged an award in France. _______________________________________________

iPad users, download the new Tribune app now! Opinion Let us just deny it out of existence Ajmal Kamal Karachi, the automatic city Bina Shah Shame on us Salman Rashid The lost generation Tazeen Javed Pakistan National Human Rights Commission Iqbal Alimohamed Blogs A disappointed Pakistani Christian Cynthia Roberto Pawnay 14 August: Silence for brilliance Adil Mulki Pakistani diplomats and misplaced priorities Zubair Khan My dream for Pakistan Usman Mukhtar Poll Should Pakistan reforge ties with the US? No (51%, 236 Votes) Yes (49%, 231 Votes) Total Voters: 467 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

 

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The Express Tribune Newsletter March 30, 2012

Today's Headlines

March 30, 2012

Verdict out: Dissolve all rental power projects, says SC By Web Desk   Announcing the verdict of the rental power plant case on Friday, a two-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that all the rental power projects should be dissolved. _______________________________________________ National/City reports Reviving the recommendations: Gilani gathers stakeholders in bid to break impasse By Irfan Ghauri Deadlocked politically, the already-prolonged exercise of reviewing relations with the US was facing an unceremonious death in Parliament – so the prime minister gathered all stakeholders outside it. Scrap scandal: Railway operations head arrested By Zahid Gishkori / Asad Kharal In its first high-level crackdown against rampant corruption in Pakistan Railways, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested General Manager Operations Pakistan Railways (PR) Saeed Akhtar on Thursday. Targeted killings: Five Hazaras, two UN workers, shot dead in Quetta, Mastung By Our Correspondent At least five people were gunned down, and six others injured, when a van carrying people belonging to the Hazara community was ambushed on Spini road in Quetta Thursday morning. PM's initiative: Rs6 billion to stifle electricity protests By Our Correspondent As protests against power outages continue to rage across Punjab, the prime minister used his executive authority on Thursday for the immediate release of Rs6 billion to provide relief to the mostly blacked out province. Bill pending in legislature: Hindus demand law to protect marriage rights By Sehrish Wasif The country's largest minority, the Hindu community, has demanded the government to introduce and implement legislation on an immediate basis to protect their marriage rights. _______________________________________________ Business No respite: Hike in oil prices of up to Rs9 per litre on the cards By Zafar Bhutta Oil prices for the month of April are likely to go up to Rs8.94 per litre in line with a hike in global oil prices as provinces appear unwilling to bear the cost of subsidy on petroleum products except High Speed Diesel (HSD). Karachi violence makes March tax target difficult to meet By Shahbaz Rana As violence in Karachi entered the third day, the federal government has suffered revenue loss of Rs18-20 billion, which is likely to cost it the tax collection target for March. _______________________________________________ Sports 1st Test: Tangled England humiliated once again By AFP Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath claimed a match haul of 12 wickets as Sri Lanka condemned top-ranked England to their fourth consecutive Test defeat with a 75-run win in the series opener. Super Eight T20: Tanvir blames poor batting for Rams' ouster By Nabeel Hashmi Sohail Tanvir blamed Rawalpindi Rams' poor batting for the side's exit from the Super Eight T20 Cup, the event they won in Faisalabad last year. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Showcase 2012 day three: Hits and misses By Saadia Qamar Day three of the Showcase 2012 remained a combination of extreme highs and disappointing lows. While designers like Ishtiaq Afzal Khan and Bibi Russell left audiences wanting more, others left a bad taste. Revival of Cinema: 'Screening of Bollywood movies a temporary measure' By AFP With major Pakistani productions few and far in between, screening of Indian movies in Pakistan have become a temporary guardian angel  for the local cinema industry, Chairman Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) said on Thursday. _______________________________________________

iPad users, download the new Tribune app now! Opinion Ugly ceremonies; traitors galore Kamran Shafi In parliament's court Syed Talat Hussain Bury her standing Amber Darr Pakistan's voter turnout conundrum Ibrahim Khan Quality and plagiarism Dr Pervez Tahir  Blogs My dream for Pakistan Usman Mukhtar Why the Pakistan Army makes state policies Hussain Nadim Bhagat Singh the intellectual Sher Khan Bangladeshi Tigers: Not ready to roar just yet Khurram Baig  Poll Should Pakistan reforge ties with the US? No (54%, 129 Votes) Yes (46%, 111 Votes) Total Voters: 240 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

 

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The Express Tribune Newsletter: March 29, 2012

Today's Headlines

March 29, 2012   iPad users, download the new Tribune app now!

Resolving impasse: US commanders offer 'new proposals' Kamran Yousaf In a second sign in as many days, the frost on Pakistan-US bilateral ties may be melting. _______________________________________________  National/City Behind closed doors: Govt, opposition agree to leave resolution pending Abdul Manan The opposition fears the political backlash; the government is unwilling to take blame by itself. The recommendations of a parliamentary panel have become a veritable hot potato.  Karachi violence: After ANP worker murdered, 6 killed, 3 injured, 11 vehicles torched Our Correspondents As Karachi recovered from a day of violence that saw over eight people killed earlier on Tuesday, an Awami National Party (ANP) worker was killed. The ensuing spate of violence saw six more people being killed, three injured and 11 vehicles being torched in the city on Wednesday.  Power shortage: Govt scratches its head as crisis aggravates Shahbaz Rana As power crisis deepened, sparking violent protests in Punjab for a fifth day, the government on Wednesday was unable to find a solution after the petroleum ministry refused to give additional gas for power generation.  Memogate: SC extends commission's term for six weeks Web Desk The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday extended the term of the commission probing into the Memogate scandal for six weeks.  Backchannel diplomacy: Pak-India civil societies to set the agenda for peace Arif Rana The 'ultimate goal' of peace will be top priority for a group of former military and civilian leaders from India and Pakistan who are due to congregate in New Delhi at a two-day conference on 'Pak-India strategic relations' from March 29 onwards. _______________________________________________ Business Energy needs: Russia may be awarded IP contract by April Zafar Bhutta Ignoring mounting pressure from the United States, Pakistan has finally decided to negotiate a $1.5 billion financing and construction contract for Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline with Russia and crucial talks between the two sides are expected to be held early next month. Auditors unearth Rs35m loss to PPL in acquiring BP assets Our Correspondents The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has unearthed a loss of Rs35.7 million to state-owned oil and gas explorer Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) in hiring of a consultant in a short time that also led to rejection of the bid for acquiring British Petroleum (BP) assets in Pakistan. _______________________________________________  Sports Cricket: Afghanistan safer than Pakistan for MCC Our Correspondents Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) are contemplating a tour of Afghanistan indicating that a visit to the war-torn nation was more likely than a trip to neighbouring Pakistan, according to the club's president.  Hockey: Abbas likely to don captain's arm-band Fawad Hussain As the fate of former captains Shakeel Abbasi and Rehan Butt hangs in the balance given their involvement in the unsanctioned World Series Hockey (WSH), the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is mulling over the choice of a new captain with world's leading goal-scorer Sohail Abbas emerging as the top candidate. _______________________________________________  Life & Style Farhan Saeed: Yet another failed attempt Rafay Mahmood Given the current situation of the local industry, it's no surprise that Pakistani musicians are queuing up to be given an opportunity to unleash their talent — and make some moolah — in Bollywood. And this is not just a one-sided affair. Not only are Pakistanis eager to work on the other side of the border, Indians have also developed a taste for the Pakistani sound.  Showcase 2012 day two: Ode to colour Saadia Qamar Fashion Showcase day two brought some promising fashion designers to the fore. The young Pakistani designers seem to love playing with colour and the concept of 'Pakistaniyat', as many collections were inspired by the cultural heritage of Pakistan. _______________________________________________

Opinion Ferozepur Road Bus Rapid Transit project Ahmad Rafay Alam  Facing Goliath Shehzad Salim  Tyranny of the majority S Aman Rana Creating history Roland DeSouza  The continuing legal standoff Anwer Mooraj  Blogs Bangladeshi Tigers: Not ready to roar just yet Khurram Baig  I'm a Pakistani marrying a gora Saira Khan  Inside Parliament: A state of oblivion Qamar Zaman Karachi violence: Gunshots on bus U-10 Saadia Qamar  Poll In your opinion, which city is safer? Lahore (84%, 832 Votes) Karachi (16%, 164 Votes) Total Voters: 996  Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

 

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The Express Tribune Newsletter March 28, 2012

Today's Headlines

March 28, 2012

Obama hopes review will respect US security needs By Agencies  During meeting US president, PM Gilani vows to rescue anti-terror alliance. _______________________________________________ National/City reports 'Day of mourning': Double homicide costs 10 more lives, brings Karachi to a halt By Faraz Khan A day of mourning for two men turned into one for at least ten others in Karachi as reaction unfolded over the double homicide of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activists on Tuesday. Yemen urges Pakistan to free Bin Laden's widow By Reuters Yemen urged Pakistan on Tuesday to free one of Osama bin Laden's injured widows, saying Yemen-born Amal al Sadeh and her four children were not guilty of any crime. Lal Masjid cleric wants enforcement of Shariah By Azam Khan After already managing to get pricey land in Sector H-11 for rebuilding the madrassah that was razed during the 2008 military operation, Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz shifted attention in the Supreme Court from the mosque's reconstruction to the enforcement of Sharia law in the country. 2010 airplane crash: 'AirBlue to compensate heirs only if cases are withdrawn' By Umer Farooq Budget airline AirBlue has decided to compensate heirs of the 2010 crash victims if they withdraw their lawsuits against the company, the petitioners' counsel told Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday. Reconfiguring foreign policy: After showing intent, opposition defers debate By Qamar Zaman A day after it was ignored, debate on proposals for reconfiguration of foreign policy showed up in Parliament on Tuesday – but momentarily. _______________________________________________ Business Energy crisis: Sovereign credit rating on the line By Zafar Bhutta The government's inability to pay its electricity bills on time may once again put the nation's credit rating in jeopardy as the independent power producing company have threatened to invoke their sovereign guarantees if the state-owned Central Power Purchasing Agency fails to clear its dues. Bouncing back: After record profits, Bank of Khyber set to continue expansion By Manzoor Ali / Farooq Tirmizi Having just completed its best year ever, the Bank of Khyber will continue the rapid expansion of its branch network, with 16 new branches slated to be opened in the year 2012, said CEO Bilal Mustafa. _______________________________________________ Sports England hit back in opening Test By AFP England bounced back after being spun out cheaply by Sri Lanka to leave the first Test evenly poised at the Galle International Stadium. Premier League: Ferguson admits United escaped paying the penalty By AFP Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that Manchester United had a narrow escape despite establishing a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League with eight games remaining. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Showcase 2012 day one By Saadia Qamar The celebrated four-day event Showcase 2012 kick-started on March 26 in Karachi, at the DHA Country and Golf Club's Convention Centre with nine designers displaying their collections on the ramp. Over the next three days, 27 more designers will be exhibiting their collections. Rangeen: Life is a drama By Sher Khan Shoaib Khan's yet-to-be-released directorial debut, Rangeen, is already generating buzz due to its bid to revolutionise film-making in the industry. With a cast of leading actors and a unique story structure, Rangeen hopes to bring an atypical film-making style to Pakistani cinema. _______________________________________________

Opinion The Parliamentary Co353mmittee on National Security's laundry list Ejaz Haider Isolated indignation Hamna Zubair The myth of our sovereignty Shahzad Chaudhry Pakistan and Turkish democracy Imtiaz Gul The rentier attitude remains alive! Tariq Fatemi Blogs Karachi violence: Gunshots on bus U-10 Saadia Qamar Are we in spiritual crisis? Ahmad Ali For economy's sake: Can India and Pakistan forgive and forget? Sanjay Kumar Steal a baby, sell a baby Vaqas Asghar Poll In your opinion, which city is safer? Lahore (83%, 333 Votes) Karachi (17%, 67 Votes) Total Voters: 400 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

 

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