The Express Tribune Newsletter: January10, 2012

Today's Headlines

January 10, 2012

Memogate case: Kayani, Pasha replies were illegal, implies PM Our Correspondents Having initially backtracked from cutting comments made against the military in a scathing speech in parliament, the prime minister has fired another salvo – this time questioning the acts of the military brass.____________________________________ National/City Balochistan conflict: 'Nawaz success hinges on army's consent' Qaiser Butt While the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif's proposal for an all-party conference (APC) to resolve Balochistan's issues, the success of the conference depends "on the mood of the military establishment", Friends of Baloch (FoB) president Amanullah Gichki said. Memogate scandal: US scholars concerned over Haqqani's safety Huma Imtiaz Sixteen US scholars from think tanks in Washington have written to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to express concerns over the safety of Pakistan's former ambassador to the US, asking the Obama administration to "make appropriate public statements to ensure that Husain Haqqani is not physically harmed and that due process of law is followed." Ruling out clash: Zardari warns against anti-govt scheming Our Correspondents President Asif Ali Zardari throws down the gauntlet. Political masquerades should know that their conspiracies cannot topple the Pakistan Peoples Party government which enjoys the people's support, said President Zardari while chairing a meeting of senior members of his party at Bilawal House in Karachi on Monday. Haqqani shies away from providing data Qaiser Zulfiqar A fast-paced day of proceedings by the Memogate commission saw a number of interesting developments on Monday – including an exchange between former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani and the counsel for principal accuser Mansoor Ijaz over access to data regarding their alleged conversations on the issue.  Starstruck: 3 die, 5 injured in stampede at Atif Aslam concert Shahram Haq An Atif Aslam concert on Monday turned into a tragedy when three girls got killed while five were critically injured in a stampede, Express News reported. ______________________________________________ Business Infrastructure spending: With US help, power grid to get 'smart meters' Zafar Bhutta Pakistan and the United States on Monday agreed to a programme where Washington would spend $60 million in financing the installation of 'smart meters' on the national electricity grid, in a bid to help power companies accurately book their revenues and collect bills from consumers, helping eliminate one of the major sources of financial leakages in the power sector. Attari-Wagah border: Checkpost being upgraded for Rs2.6b Our Correspondents Checkposts at Attari-Wagah border will be upgraded by February 2012 at a cost of Rs2.6 billion (INR150 crore) to cope with the spurt of trade expected following Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status granted to India by Pakistan, according to Indian newspaper Business Standard. _______________________________________________ Sports UAE tour: With yet another desert-sweep in mind... Our Correspondents Pakistan arrived in the UAE yesterday, hoping for an improved show against England as compared to the poor performance the team displayed when the two sides met last. Revamping football brings new twists and worries Natasha Raheel The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is all set to revamp Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) into the Elite League where each team will represent a club instead of any sports department. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Waging Waar Sher Khan Bilal Lashari's major directorial effort Waar has been much-awaited since its trailer release on the New Year weekend. Starring big names like Shaan Shahid, Aisha Khan, Shamoon Abbasi, Meesha Shafi, Ali Azmat and Hamza Abbasi, the project seems fated for blockbuster success. Kayseria: Going back to the roots Hani Taha The lawn explosion this summer saw many new players enter the market and several seasoned ones upping their ante to define their hallmark in the wake of the 'designer lawn' phenomenon. _______________________________________________

Opinion Memogate redux Feisal H Naqvi How many Punjabs? Rasul Bakhsh Rais New provinces Yaqoob Khan Bangash Beyond repair? Zahrah Nasir A boy named Arsalan Anna Khan Blogs India and Pakistan: Sharing one soul Zahid Gishkori Dear dictator, your rally really sucked Shaheryar Popalzai Another Imran Khan article that's not about Musharraf's rally. Sorry. Meiryum Ali Don't be yourself, be pretty instead Faraz Talat Poll Is the Pakistan cricket team in good shape to defeat England in the upcoming test series? No (21%, 100 Votes) Yes (79%, 372 Votes) Total Voters: 472 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: January 09, 2012

Today's Headlines

January 09, 2012

CIA likely to resume drone strikes Zia Khan America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is likely to resume the drone campaign that it had apparently called off following a deadly Nato airstrike on Pakistani border posts in the Mohmand tribal region on November 26, 2011.  However, this time around, the frequency and intensity of attacks by pilot-less aircraft would not be as high as it was in the past. _______________________________________________ National/City 'Brotherly' countries turn down Pakistan's request Zafar Bhutta All rhetoric of brotherhood notwithstanding, two 'friendly' Arab countries have refused to supply oil to Pakistan on long-term credit.  Karachi rally: Musharraf to defy threats, return home this month Rabia Ali As political fervor whips up across the country, the former dictator has decided to jump in, head first. Clad in a crisp white shalwar kameez, former president and chairman All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Pervez Musharraf announced he would return to Pakistan between January 27 and 30, despite 'baseless' court cases, and risks to his life. Democratic transition: Sparring rivals converge behind closed doors Abdul Manan For all their barbed exchanges in public, the country's two largest parties have met two-thirds of the way in backdoor negotiations over the democratic transition process, well-placed sources told The Express Tribune. Afghan endgame: US ready for Haqqani talks Kamran Yousaf Despite having suffered serious setbacks in the aftermath of the November 26 Nato airstrikes which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, Washington and Islamabad have continued 'dialogue' even amidst flaring tensions. No subscription needed: Hitteen delivered to your doorstep Rana Tanveer Al Qaeda continues to preach jihad through an Urdu monthly magazine, The Express Tribune has learnt. The 200-page magazine, Hiteen, is delivered by post. _______________________________________________ Business Foreign exchange: Currency swap with China a bid to shore up, diversify reserves Farooq Tirmizi / Shahbaz Rana The recently concluded currency swap agreement between Pakistan and China is a bid by Islamabad to shore and diversify its foreign currency reserves, allowing the government to borrow up to $1.5 billion under the pact, said sources familiar with the matter. The rise of the Pakistani middle class: How new suburbs made the good life affordable Kazim Alam The decision by Abdul Manan Shaikh's family to move to Gulshan-e-Hadeed 10 years ago marked the beginning of his upward social mobility. Hailing from Larkana, where he learned the English alphabet at a government-run 'taat' school in sixth grade at an annual fee of less than Rs50, Shaikh has since attended three elite business schools of Karachi in the past decade. _______________________________________________ Sports Pakistan tour: Security team's visit yet to be finalised Fawad Hussain The Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) directors have given approval to a security team's visit to Pakistan ahead of the proposed series between the two countries. Amir Khan's trainer says he knows the 'mystery man': Report Our Correspondents Boxer Amir Khan's trainer Freddie Roach has claimed that he knows the 'mystery man' seen at the ringside during Khan's match with Lamont Peterson and said that he was not an International Boxing Federation (IBF) official, a BBC Sport report said on Sunday. _______________________________________________ Life & Style 2012: The impending apocalypse Rayan Khan While we've approached the first week of the New Year relatively unscathed, the bell still tolls for us as the supposed end of the world is just around the corner.  Make-up & style hallmarks: Who's trendy now? Our Correspondents Asmaa Mumtaz proudly sticks out like a stylish totem because of her vibrant persona and her bold make-up and styling. The proof of this is the dexterity with which she created dark edgy looks for Karma's bridals at the PFDC L'Oreal Paris Bridal Week 2011, with as much ease as she managed to conjure up feminine innocence at Karma Pink's PFDC Fashion Week 2011 collection. _______________________________________________

Opinion The PTI's education policy Ayesha Ejaz Khan What a government should always do Atika Rehman On Neutrinos and Angels Pervez Hoodbhoy Pluck the low hanging fruit Shahid Javed Burki Storm clouds over the Gulf Tanvir Ahmad Khan Blogs My blue passport doesn't make me American Ahsan Parvez daredia I pledge not to travel in the pink bus Ayesha Hasan The media made a mess of Memogate Adnan Khalid Rasool The rights and wrongs of Imran Khan's politics Usman Asif Poll In your opinion, should Pakistan establish relations with Israel? No (64%, 605 Votes) Yes (36%, 335 Votes) Total Voters: 940 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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Top 10 on Tribune (January 1-8 2012)

Top 10 stories of the week

Jan 01-08, 2012

1. Child prodigy: Lights dim on a beautiful mind – Shamsul Islam  2. PTI-Musharraf alliance?: Decision after due deliberation, says Qureshi – Owais Jafri  3. Zardari, Nawaz consider united front – Zia Khan  4. Veena Malik denies nude photo shoot for FHM – Web Desk  5. Qadri supporters offer Rs100m for 'holy gun' – Rana Tanveer  6. Remembering Salmaan Taseer – Pervez Hoodbhoy  7. If all else fails, president may pardon Haqqani – Zahid Gishkori/Zia Khan  8. Online trolling: Imran Khan wants supporters to reply 'intellectually' – Web Desk  9. Pakistan tops Google search for 'Muhammad (pbuh)', 'Quran' – Web Desk  10. Stepping up: Imran mulls civil disobedience – Zahid Gishkori

Top Business New airlines: PIA protests as skies get crowded Tufail Ahmed Top Sports Mohammad Amir might be released late January: Sources Web Desk Top 3 blogs 1. How is marital rape not rape? Aneka Chohan 2. Rehman Malik tops 2011 'Hall of Shame' Tanzeel Ahmad 3. Photoshopping the Prime Minister Musab Memon 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: January 08, 2012

Today's Headlines

January 08, 2012

Memogate judicial probe: 'SC can't work on whims of an individual' Our Correspondents While the setting up of parallel investigations into the memo scandal has created a sense of conflict between the government and judiciary, Nawaz Sharif questioned, on Saturday, the wisdom behind the executive's decision to task a parliamentary panel with the job to begin with. _______________________________________________ National/City reports Zardari rules out leaving office Our Correspondents President Asif Ali Zardari said that leaving office is not an option and no one has asked him to resign, responding to speculation that the military wanted his departure. Memogate scandal: Petition in IHC seeks Mansoor Ijaz's arrest Qaiser Zulfiqar An Islamabad court has sought a report from the police secretariat by January 10 following a preliminary hearing of a petition calling for the arrest of Mansoor Ijaz, the central figure of the Memogate scandal, upon his arrival in Pakistan. Switching sides: Zulfiqar Khosa calls Hashmi a 'sellout' Our Correspondents Senior Adviser to the Punjab Chief Minister Zulfikar Khosa has questioned the integrity of Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, saying that if he couldn't stay loyal to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, how he could remain loyal to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Gilani, Khosa shouted off stage by lawyers Abdul Manan In a sense, you could say Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's worst nightmare came true on Saturday evening. The democratic leader of Pakistan was indeed replaced … by dancing girls. Govt bluffing to score political points: Qureshi Owais Jaffery Calling the government move to create more provinces a 'political bluff', Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday that the incumbents of the Prime Minister House wanted to score political points. _______________________________________________ Business Weekly review: Bourse kicks off new year on a negative note Bilal Umar The bearish trend at the Karachi stock market continued as the benchmark KSE-100 index shed 2% or 223 points during the week ended January 7. Gas crisis: 'The government had a plan in 2005 but did nothing' Zafar Bhutta The government had a gas allocation plan as early as 2005 but did not bother to implement it, resulting in the current crisis in the energy sector, according to sources familiar with the matter. _______________________________________________ Sports We want to deliver a disciplined show: Misbah Our Correspondents Misbahul Haq has confirmed that his team was fully focussed on delivering a solid, disciplined performance against England in the upcoming Test series that kicks off in Dubai on January 17. Spot-fixing: Banned, jailed but still appealing Our Correspondents Banned and imprisoned Pakistan fast-bowler Mohammad Asif has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against his five-year ban handed out by the International Cricket Council (ICC). _______________________________________________ Life & Style 2011 – The year of colossal letdowns Saba Khalid Here's a list of all the disappointing entertainers and entertainment projects of the year. Face to face Saadia Qamar Model-turned-designer Nadia Hussain recently ventured into the field of aesthetics by launching Radiance at the Transform Clinic which is run by renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr Mabroor Bhatti in Karachi. _______________________________________________

Opinion Seen to be done? Saroop Ijaz The narcissism of victimhood Khaled Ahmed Game, set, match to Zardari? Fahd Husain Of Punjab's partition, castes & martial races Aakar Patel The Karachi that was — and will never be Anwer Mooraj Blogs I pledge not to travel in the pink bus Ayesha Hasan The media made a mess of Memogate Adnan Khalid Rasool The rights and wrongs of Imran Khan's politics Usman Asif I am ashamed Shazia A Poll In your opinion, should Pakistan establish relations with Israel? No (53%, 243 Votes) Yes (47%, 215 Votes) Total Voters: 458 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: January 07, 2012

Today's Headlines

January 07, 2012

Rabbani pours cold water over new province firestorm Qamar Zaman The question of new provinces has ignited a political firestorm in the National Assembly over the last few days – so much so that the slanging matches between political parties even disregarded a plea by the prime minister himself to calm the situation down during Friday's session. _______________________________________________ National/City Zardari breaks silence: 'Govt will accept parliamentary panel's findings on memo' Our Correspondents President Asif Ali Zardari has said that his government will accept the findings of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security on the Memogate scandal because parliament is the supreme institution of the country. Memogate: US wants Husain Haqqani to be accorded due consideration of law Huma Imtiaz State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland says that they hope that former Pakistan ambassador to US, Husain Haqqani would be accorded due consideration under law, and that they maintain regular contact with his wife, Farahnaz Ispahani. Corruption in district courts must be wiped out: CJP Azam Khan Corruption in the judicial system adversely affects and lowers public confidence in judicial system, Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry stated while addressing an inauguration ceremony of a lawyers' club and chamber at the Rawalpindi district courts. Govt offloads projects from development budget Shahbaz Rana The government appears serious about managing its development funds, and has started trimming non-development expenditures from the scarce pool. Pakistan rejects New Delhi's baseline system for Sir Creek Our Correspondents Pakistan on Friday posted a strong challenge to India's position on the Sir Creek estuary border dispute. The manifest has been posted on the United Nations web site, saying Islamabad does not recognise the New Delhi-promulgated baseline system._____________________________________________ Business Power outages: Energy crisis linked to rising crime in Punjab's industrial heartland Imran Rana It has not been a happy new year so far for both labourers and industrialists in Faisalabad, both of whom oddly find themselves allied against what they perceive to be the government's gross mismanagement of the energy crisis. Alternative investments: Cyan - tailoring private equity to local market Farooq Tirmizi It is tough to be a private equity investor in a country with a small public equity market that does not have enough investment avenues into the growth sectors of the economy. For Cyan, the key to being a successful private equity firm in Pakistan appears to be to create an "eco-system" of businesses that the company maintains relationships with.____________________________________________ Sports 'Thanks for 2011 guys. Let's see more of that...' Our Correspondents Cricket captain Misbah-ul Haq was full of confidence his fast-rising team will have more success in 2012 after overcoming a spot-fixing scandal and remaining unbeaten last year. Khan accuses unidentified man of 'interference' Our Correspondents British boxer Amir Khan, who lost his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles to American Lamont Peterson, has accused an unidentified man of 'interfering' with officials and the judges' scorecards during his defeat, according to BBC Sport. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Movie on Imran Khan: Kaptaan's wheel in motion Our Correspondents The much-awaited Kaptaan — a film based on the life arc of Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan is slated to release nationwide by the end of February, according to the film's PR and communication agent Amar Tareen.  Ghostbusters: Nightwalking in the capital Rayan Khan Black magicians, demons, spirits, jinn, afreet — the supernatural pantheon continues to haunt the human psyche. Take an artist like Lady Gaga — the paranoid songstress invested thousands of dollars in specter-sensing technology and employed a team of Ghostbusters from New York to scan all hotels and concert venues before she checks in. For those of us who can't afford such frivolous expenditures, paranormal activity is accepted as a regular part of daily life.______________________________________________

Opinion Origin, authenticity, purpose? Amina Jilani More equal than others in death Tazeen Javed Arab origins Salman Rashid Hope and forgetting in Pakistan Britta Peterson 'Them' and 'us' Ajmal Kamal Blogs 10 things I hate about Indian soapsSana Iqbal Photoshopping the prime minister Musab Memon Spare me the Zionist conspiracies Mani Khawaja Who is the ISI reporting to? Nadir Hassan Poll Do you feel the media gives enough coverage to minority issues? No (90%, 309 Votes) Yes (10%, 36 Votes) Total Voters: 345 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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