Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The Express Tribune Newsletter: March 14, 2012

 

Today's Headlines

March 14, 2012

 

Financing the project: Chinese bank 'backs off' from Iran gas pipeline
Shahbaz Rana

The all-weather friendship appears overcast, purportedly due to Western pressure.
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National/City

Misappropriation: Govt withdrew millions from Intelligence Bureau's account
Asad Kharal
The incumbent Pakistan Peoples Party government withdrew Rs270 million from the secret fund of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) – allegedly for pushing its political agenda in Punjab, intelligence sources familiar with the issue told The Express Tribune.

Apex court hearing: Rampant corruption in Steel Mills irks SC
Azam Khan
The apex court took the Ministry of Production to task on Tuesday for failing to take action against losses worth billions in Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) – the same institution that the court had stopped from a dubious privatisation deal many years ago in a move which had first brought the current chief justice and judicial activism to the forefront.

Court martial proceedings: Brig Khan shifted to undisclosed location
Mudassir Raja
The defence lawyer of Brig (retd) Ali Khan, who is facing a court martial for treason and mutiny, said on Tuesday that his client had been relocated from the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) in Rawalpindi in violation of Lahore High Court orders to provide him with medical care.

Reboot of relations will help achieve clarity with US: PM
APP
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani met with German Defence Minister Dr Thomas de Maiziere at the PM House on Tuesday to discuss cooperation and military collaboration between the two countries.

Upcoming elections: PTI to introduce US-style ticket-award process
Mohammed Rizwan
In an American-style nomination and ticket-holding process, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will introduce local caucuses on district levels throughout the country, which in turn will elect a local party leader who will contest elections on national and provincial levels.
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Business

Growing importance of social media for the suits
Farooq Baloch
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has announced gas curtailment for all industries of Punjab for an indefinite period of time. According to a notification issued by the company, the decision was taken to provide the gas to its domestic consumers.

Financing infrastructure: CDWP to consider projects worth Rs292b for approval
Shahbaz Rana
The government will consider approval for 76 new development schemes on Wednesday (today), worth an estimated Rs292 billion, including a Rs30.5 billion package for the worse-than-bankrupt Pakistan Railways.
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Sports

Bangladesh series: PCB remains optimistic amid uncertainty
Fawad Hussain
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf has said that a 'misunderstanding' caused Bangladesh to take a tough stance on their proposed series in the country and remained optimistic that the tour will go ahead and revive international cricket.

Asia Cup: Kohli, Gambhir star in India's win
Our Correspondents
India's Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir both cracked their 10th One-Day International (ODI) centuries to set up a comfortable 50-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup.
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Life & Style

Napa's Performing Arts Festival: Rising stars
Rafay Mahmood
They say "All good things come to an end" but Napa's Performing Arts Festival, which concluded on Sunday, is a new beginning for the academy and its artists. Years of hard work and rigorous studying finally paid off as the artists shone and received great applause from the audience.

6th Mini INPUT: Our past and other problems
Saadia Qamar
The 6th Mini INPUT, a short film festival which kick-started on March 12 at the Goethe Institut, is an ode to the political upheavals faced in recent times in Ecuador (Republic in South America) and North Korea. The film festival that will run till March 16 revolves around Yodok concentration camps and its survivors who fled to South Korea to start their life from scratch.
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Opinion

Privatisation of PTCL: A lesson for policymakers
Kamal A Munir

Of war crimes and whistle-blowers
Zarrar Khuhro

Only a slap?
Amber Darr

Bracing for another bout of dengue
Syed Mohammed Ali

Crude pressure and deft diplomacy
Tariq Fatemi

Blogs

Mata e Jaan Hai Tu: A new age drama
Bilal Mughal

Girls can throw acid too
Naeem Asghar

Who can answer the silent questions of a young Hari boy?

Taimur Arbab

How to avoid getting slapped
Fyez Ahmed

Poll

Do you agree with the idea of stockpiling nuclear weapons for deterrence?
No (55%, 236 Votes)
Yes (45%, 191 Votes)
Total Voters: 427

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Monday, March 12, 2012

The Express Tribune Newsletter: March 13, 2012

 

Today's Headlines

March 13, 2012

 

Fresh faces: PPP celebrates Senate conquest
Zahid Gishkori / Sumera Khan

As 54 newly-elected senators entered the chambers of the upper house on Monday, victorious roars of "Zinda hai Bhutto, zinda hai" (Bhutto is alive) erupted, as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerged as the single largest party in the house.
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National/City reports

Four years on: The National Assembly, in retrospect...
Qamar Zaman
Completing its four-year tenure, the 13th National Assembly (NA) passed a total of 50 resolutions and 91 ordinances during its four parliamentary years with private members taking the lead in legislation-making — with the next session (Wednesday) marking the start of the fifth year.

'Memogate' scandal: Haqqani says he never denied contact with Ijaz
Our Correspondent
Categorically denying allegations by Mansoor Ijaz in the Memogate case, former Pakistan ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, said he never denied having contacts with Ijaz, but did not discuss any memo with him.

Payback: PM compensates 'betrayed' Senate nominee
AH Nizami
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday announced appointment of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) nominee for a Senate seat from Punjab Aslam Gill as his 'special assistant' with the status of a federal minister.

Police refuse to take Raisani case back, say matter is in court
Our Correspondent
The police have ruled out the possibility of retracting multiple cases filed against the two sons of Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani on charges of harassing people and beating police officers, a senior official said on Monday.

The BackBencher: New look for Sindh Assembly, but same old ugly mood
Saba Imtiaz
The Sindh Assembly sparkled on Monday. Rows of new potted plants graced the steps, the hall had new curtains in a rather lovely shade of mint green, there was soft lighting (perhaps the MPAs will not end up looking so wrinkly in photos now).
But the mood was anything but pleasant.
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Business

Double the work: Ministry wants fortnightly revision of oil prices
Zafar Bhutta
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet, which is scheduled to meet today (Tuesday), is going to take up the proposal for revising oil prices on a fortnightly basis from the current monthly basis in the wake of a continuous rise in the international crude market.

Under observance: SBP orders review of charities' accounts
Our Correspondent
In a sudden move, the central bank has issued fresh instructions to financial institutions to maintain strict vigilance over non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and charities – and ordered that a complete review of all such organisations' accounts be undertaken and completed before the end of this financial year.
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Sports

ICC dismisses India match-fixing claims
AFP
The International Cricket Council on Monday dismissed a claim in a British newspaper that Indian bookmakers were fixing the results of English county games and overseas fixtures.

Federer records comfortable win
Natasha Raheel
Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi's chances of making it to this year's London Olympics got a serious hit as he and Dutch partner Rojer Jean-Julien crashed out in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open men's doubles event at the Indian Wells.
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Life & Style

British fashion in Pakistan: When fashion meets culture
Hani Taha
Reconstruction is as synonymous with fashion as smoke is with fire. Indeed, there can be no creation without an ingenious process of construction and reconstruction, of constant borrowing and building.

Shaan injured during shooting of film in Lahore
Sher Ali
Actor Shaan was injured during the shooting of an action sequence for the Punjabi film Acha Gujjar. The actor was rushed to Razzaq Hospital in Shalimar Bagh, where he was treated for a minor back injury and discharged with orders of three weeks' rest.
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Opinion

Founding stories
Feisal H Naqvi

The Siachen issue
Shahzad Chaudhry

How to say yes to online censorship
Jahanzaib Haque

Governance model and 'mehrangate'
Dr Akmal Hussain

Hungry, homeless and hopeless
Zahrah Nasir

Blogs

How to avoid getting slapped
Fyez Ahmed

Why fighting Mullah Radio is not easy
Tayyeb Afridi

Whatmore: Magician or mistake?
Amna Lone

There is a Muslim in evolution class
Ahmad Ali

Poll

Do you agree with the idea of stockpiling nuclear weapons for deterrence?

No (61%, 126 Votes)
Yes (39%, 80 Votes)
Total Voters: 206

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Sunday, March 11, 2012

The Express Tribune Newsletter: March 12, 2012

 

Today's Headlines

March 12, 2012

 

Black sunday: Bomber kills 15 mourners at Peshawar funeral
Riaz Ahmad

Indiscriminate Taliban violence continues unabated in the volatile north of the country. On Sunday, a suicide bomber struck at a funeral on the outskirts of Peshawar, killing 15 mourners and injuring scores more.
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National/City

Presidential immunity: Direct contempt notice to parliament, says PM
Abdul Manan
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday appeared to deflect on to parliament the judicial reprimands he had borne earlier for inaction over the Swiss cases allegedly involving President Asif Ali Zardari. 

Nato soldiers on rampage: 16 civilians mowed down in Kandahar
Our Correspondents
Western troops shot dead 16 civilians, including nine children, in Kandahar province on Sunday, Afghan officials said, in a rampage that witnesses said was carried out by Americans who were laughing and appeared drunk. 

Rohrabacher's Balochistan resolution could undermine Pak-US ties: Sherry
Huma Imtiaz
Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman expressed serious concern on Sunday over Congressman Dana Rohrabacher's resolution on Balochistan, in a letter addressed to US House of Representatives speaker John Boehner. 

PTI to target youth for next elections: Imran
Our Correspondent
In a mass-contact campaign aimed at capitalising on its appeal in the country's youth, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) decided on Sunday to initiate a nationwide drive. 

Peace overtures: Rehman Malik offers olive branch to Taliban
APP
Interior Minister Rehman Malik invited the Taliban on Sunday to prove themselves Pakistanis by renouncing violence and sitting across the table with the government for peace talks.
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Business

Allworld network's Pakistan 100: The Oscars of Pakistani entrepreneurship
Farooq Tirmizi
Perhaps it is fitting that the lighting and stage at the event were reminiscent of an Apple product launch, because the Allworld Network's inaugural Pakistan Fast Growth 100 summit seemed to be no less than the coming out party of Pakistani entrepreneurship. 

Branded seeds: Free market, copyrights and farmers' welfare
Ali Salman
Pakistan is the largest exporter of cotton yarn in the world and the third largest exporter of raw cotton. About 1.3 million farmers (out of a total of 5 million) cultivate cotton over three million hectares, covering 15% of the cultivable area in the country. Cotton and cotton products contribute about 10% to GDP and 55% to the foreign exchange earnings of the country.
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Sports

Asia Cup: Too close for comfort
Our Correspondents
Mohammad Hafeez and Umar Gul put in impressive all-round performances as Pakistan posted a close 21-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening match of the Asia Cup. 

Match fixing: PCB not jumping to conclusions
Fawad Hussain
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided against jumping to conclusions after a report, published in the UK newspaper Sunday Times, quoted a bookmaker claiming to have fixed international matches including the World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan.
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Life & Style

Running Water: Spare the rod
Saadia Qamar
A mother smacks her daughter for answering back; a father beats his son because he has hit another child; a teacher hits the student with a ruler because he hasn't done his homework — these incidents are not unfamiliar as stories of child corporal punishment float around all the time. 

London Asian Film Festival: A big leap for Bol and Tamanna
Sher Khan
Following the success of Saving Face, which earned an Oscar last month, the films Bol and the yet-to-be releasedTamanna have started generating buzz as they have been shortlisted for the 14th London Asian Film Festival, set to place from the March 16 to 24.
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Opinion
 

Some learned from Fukushima. Did we?
Pervez Hoodbhoy 

Making the system inclusive
Shahid Javed Burki 

Women against extremism
Tanvir Ahmad Khan 

Indian democracy's hidden flaws
Kuldip Nayar 

Love you, Lahore
Chintan Girish Modi 

Blogs

There is a Muslim in evolution class
Ahmad Ali 

Kony 2012: What Uganda didn't need
Ali Rafi 

Seven reasons girls can't answer the phone
Adeel Ansari

Good riddance to Imran Farhat!
Umair Qazi 

Poll

In your opinion, is the government move to ban sectarian organisations effective?

No (63%, 197 Votes)
Yes (37%, 116 Votes)
Total Voters: 313 

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Top 10 on Tribune (March 4-11 2012)

 

Top 10 stories of the week

March 4-11, 2012
 

 

1. Cracks in PTI?: Qureshi vexed at Imran over by-poll boycott – Zia Khan

2. Run for your life – Pervez Hoodbhoy

3. Veena Malik's 'holi' moment – Web Desk

4. 'Forced conversion': Teen insists she converted of own free will – Sarfaraz Memon

5. New spymaster: Lt Gen. Zaheerul Islam to succeed Pasha as ISI chief – Web Desk

6. Muzaffargarh 'revenge' plot: 10 women stripped, one paraded naked – Owais Jafri/Shamshad Qureshi

7. Bigger plot: 'HuT has formed a shadow govt for Pakistan' – News Desk

8. Disqualified: Slap costs Waheeda Shah seat, next elections – Qamar Zaman

9. Pakistan-born NFL team owner has grand plans - Reuters

10. Madhuri unveils her wax statue in London - IANS

 

 


Top Business

Lahori entrepreneurs outclass Karachiites in Allworld Pakistan 100 list
Farooq Tirmizi

Top 3 blogs

1. We expected better from you, Marvi Memon
Madiha Saeed

2. Rinkle Kumari was Hindu last month
Kapil Dev

3. Confessions of a Humsafar fan girl
Sonia Tahir

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Saturday, March 10, 2012

The Express Tribune Newsletter: March 11, 2012

 

Today's Headlines

March 11, 2012

 

Senate top slots: Allies back PPP nominees Bokhari, Baloch
Our Correspondent

A meeting of coalition parties at the Presidency late Saturday night endorsed the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) move to retain the top slots of the Senate – a house in which the ruling party now has an imposing presence.
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National/City reports

Blast at funeral in Peshawar, 7 dead
Web Desk / Our Correspondent
Atleast seven people were killed and around 26 others were injured in a blast in the Mamakhel area in the outskirts of Peshawar on Sunday.

Contempt case: PM says apex court orders are 'not clear'
Sumera Khan
Despite the court's recent direct order to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani regarding the writing of a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, the premier still says he is "confused".

Investigating generals: Military refuses to assist NAB in NLC scam
Zahid Gishkori
Military authorities have turned down a request by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to share details of a multi-billion rupee National Logistic Cell (NLC) scam involving three former generals, officials said on Saturday.

Barelvi leader alleges pro-Deobandi bias in Defence Housing Authority
Rana Tanveer
A Barelvi leader has asked the Lahore Corps Commander to stop the Defence Housing Authority's (DHA) Religious Affairs Department from interfering in the appointment of khateebs and muezzins – sermon givers and givers of the call to prayer – alleging that the department is biased towards Deobandi clerics.

Army denies new ISI chief related to Shah Rukh Khan
News Desk
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has denied reports that the new ISI director-general designate Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam was distantly related to Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. The Times of India had reported that the new ISI chief shared a tenuous link with Shah Rukh Khan.
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Business

Weekly review: Stock market climbs for eighth successive week
Bilal Umar
The market continued its relentless upward drive, as the benchmark KSE-100 index rose for an eighth consecutive week, by posting a 2% or 264 points gain to close at the 13,353-point level during the week ended March 9.

3G Spectrum: Vodafone and Qtel not interested in Pakistan market
Farooq Baloch
Strong indications have emerged that international telecommunications investors, who sought more time to arrange finances for participating in the auction of 3G and Instaphone licences, are no other than parent organisations of existing players in the domestic market.
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Sports

Asian giants ready to lock horns
Reuters
Pakistan will play the Asia Cup opener against Bangladesh in Dhaka today, desperate to bounce back from the slump that witnessed the team losing both the One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 series to England.

Return of international cricket: Ashraf criticises May's remarks
Our Correspondent
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf criticised the statement issued by Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) Chief Executive Officer Tim May after the Australian said that the sport's world governing body should postpone Bangladesh's proposed series in Pakistan.
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Life & Style

All's well that ends well
Rafay Mahmood
National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) has already left all the theatre aficionados speechless with their outstanding performances and deft command on the field of theatre. However Saturday was a chance for music graduates to flaunt their skills on Napa's musical fusion night. The show was hosted by the well-known Chef Shae (who also happens to be a music student at Napa).

LPNY — it's a guilty pleasure
Erum Shaikh
London Paris New York (LPNY) started off as a typical run-of-the mill Bollywood style movies. Girl (Aditi Rao-Hyderi), Lalita, very desi, a Madrassi feminist who goes to pursue education in New York, bumps into boy, Nikhil (Ali Zafar), son of a rich film-maker daddy, spoilt, gets everything served to him on a silver platter; we had to applaud the originality. The "accidental bump" happens at Heathrow Airport in London.
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Opinion

The lies and triangulations of Imran Khan
Saroop Ijaz

No plots anywhere (no pun intended)
Raza Rumi

Generals — theirs and ours
Khaled Ahmed

Jalaluddin — the other side of the coin
Muhammad Izhar Ul Haq

Is Rahul Gandhi a loser?
Aakar Patel

Blogs

Good riddance to Imran Farhat!
Umair Qazi

How America occupied Kashmir
Vaqas Asghar

Sexual abuse: Can we protect Amna?
Ameena Tariq

I am from Balochistan
Rafeel Wasif

Poll

In your opinion, is the government move to ban sectarian organisations effective?

No (64%, 106 Votes)
Yes (36%, 59 Votes)
Total Voters: 165

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