The Express Tribune Newsletter: April 08, 2012

Today's Headlines Zardari, Singh to talk trade over lunch Abdul Manan President Asif Ali Zardari is visiting Ajmer to pay respects at the shrine of Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti. Under US pressure, Pakistan prepares plan to counter IEDs Our Correspondent Under constant pressure from the US over the increasing use of Improvised Explosive Devises (IEDs) by militants on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghan border, Pakistani authorities have worked out a strategy to counter the threat. Minority rights: Gill, Bhatti concerned over parliament's silence Zahid Gishkori The lack of willingness to discuss marriages enforced on Hindu women, in parliament, will have seriously detrimental consequences on the country's largest religious minority, according to the government's top minority representatives. Bugti murder case: Impasse persists as police file charge sheet Shehzad Baloch Crime Branch, the investigative wing of the Balochistan police, submitted a challan (charge sheet) in the Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case on Saturday. However, no evidence or witness statements were presented to convict those responsible for the crime. Business Weekly review: Stock market all set to move up in the world Bilal Umar The market witnessed a mixed week after the benchmark KSE-100 index surged past the 14,000-point barrier only to be brought down again by profit-taking and posting a modest gain of 114 points (0.8 percent) to close at the 13,875 points, during the week ended April 6. Centre distances itself from Reko Diq dispute Zafar Bhutta The central government has distanced itself from the multi-billion-dollar Reko Diq gold and copper mining project and wants Balochistan to pay damages relating to the project if the international court of arbitration decides case in favour of Canadian and Chilean joint venture Tethyan Copper Company (TCC). _______________________________________________ Sports Tennis: Aisam-less Pakistan humiliated in Manila Our Correspondent Pakistan lost the Davis cup Asia/Oceania zone group II tie against Philippines 3-0 in Manila after Aqeel Khan and Jalil Khan were beaten 6-1 6-4 6-2 in the must-win doubles match yesterday. Boxing: Wasim one win away from Olympics dream Our Correspondent Pakistan's realistic hope of making it to the boxing event of the London Olympics – Muhammad Wasim – reached the quarter-finals of the Asian qualifying event in the 52-kg category with a 15-9 win over Turkmenistan's Zarip Jumayev in Kazakhstan yesterday. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Mathira: 'Yeah, so what if my top fell down?' Web Desk It took over two years for Fashion Pakistan Week to come together and just a few steps down the cat walk for TV show host Mathira to provide the event its defining fashion faux pas. DW Baig: Tunes from the valleys Sehrish Ali Research suggests that there are approximately more than 69 languages spoken in Pakistan. Many of these languages are indigenous and are fast becoming extinct as people now tend to mix Urdu and sometimes even English with their local language. And since 'music is the universal language of all mankind', the best way of garnering interest towards a certain language is through melody. That's exactly what DW Baig set out to do when he started singing in the Wakhi language. _______________________________________________

Opinion Why Ziaul Haq should not be forgotten Saroop Ijaz What to expect of Zardari's India visit Hamid Mir Why Gilani is right on LeT Aakar Patel Bhutto lives on Rasul Bakhsh Rais Middle class myths Khaled Ahmed   Blogs India and Pakistan's role in Afghanistan M.Hassan Khan Bahria University: Arsalan Bilal's hunger for justice Syed Nadir El Edroos Exposing corruption: Threats to journalists Asad Kharal The dilemmas of a Muslim shopper Daliah Merzaban  Poll Has your household ever experienced domestic violence? Yes: 31% (105 votes) No: 69% (234 votes) Total: 339 votes 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: April 07, 2012

Today's Headlines Day 2: President continues to take shots at Sharifs Abdul Manan The president continued his astonishing frontal assault against the Sharifs for a second successive day. Dera Bugti operation: Largest mammal fossils may have been bombed into oblivion Salman Siddiqui The scorched, dusty hills of Dera Bugti held invaluable treasure that could have made the world a richer place. That treasure, however, may have been destroyed in a military operation in 2006. Apex court hearing: After a month of denials, police cough up four 'missing men' Our Correspondents The apex court's ultimatum worked. The police presented before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court at the Quetta registry four of the seven missing persons from the Marri tribe following days of denial. Shifting allegiances: Amir Muqam formally joins PML-Nawaz Manzoor Ali After much clamour on both sides, Amir Muqam, the former chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chapter, formally joined Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday.  Business IP gas pipeline: Russia agrees to financial and technical assistance Zafar Bhutta While refusing to succumb to pressure from the United States (US), Russia has agreed in-principle to extend financial and technical aid to Pakistan for the $1.5 billion Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project. Analysis: How Byco's new refinery might change the industry Farooq Tirmizi By global standards, Byco's new refinery is not technologically very advanced. In fact, it is not even new, having first been set up in the United Kingdom in 1967. But it represents an important step forward for the country's refining sector, and Byco's competitors are likely to have noticed. _______________________________________________ Sports 'Unsanctioned league has done me wonders' Fawad Hussain Former Pakistan captain Rehan Butt has termed his stint with the unsanctioned World Series Hockey (WSH) 'hugely beneficial' to his game as the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) ponders over the punishment it wants to hand out to those who took part in the event. Taufeeq wants to play for another seven years Nabeel Hashmi Restricted to just the longest form of the game, Pakistan opener Taufeeq Umar wants to pass the 6,000-run mark before hanging up his boots.  _______________________________________________ Life & Style Karachi Council: FPW three opens doors today Hani Taha It took them over two years, a truck load of paperwork and legalities and last minute date and venue changes to finally bring back Fashion Pakistan Week at full throttle. Lawn for a cause: Rosy Patel, S&S exhibition raise charity for TCF Maha Mussadaq For once, a lawn exhibition was not all about the flowery prints or women with bulging bags of lawn. The fabric on sale at the Serena Hotel on Friday aimed to raise funds for The Citizens' Foundation (TCF) – a non-profit organisation which provides education to the less-privileged. _______________________________________________

Opinion Owais' career options Tazeen Javed Reading Manto in context Ajmal Kamal The man who walks miles and miles — to teach Salman Rashid Civil-military tensions in India Kuldip Nayar Is population our elephant in the room? Syed Mohammad Ali   Blogs 10 things I hate about losing weight Erum Naqvi Lights out in Faisalabad: Protest or civil war? Shamsul Islam Naz Zaid Hamid: Treason against reason Abdul Majeed Gilgit is to blame for this bloodshed Sultan Mehmood   Poll Should we observe public holidays given the number of strikes observed in Pakistan? No (48%, 245 Votes) Yes (52%, 262 Votes) Total Voters: 507   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: April 06, 2012

Today's Headlines Joint sitting of parliament: PM bemoans ill-timing of US bounty on Hafiz Saeed Zahid Gishkori / Zia Khan The joint sitting of parliament was once again taken hostage on Thursday, when the US bounty on JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and President Asif Ali Zardari's upcoming 'private' visit to India on April 8 hijacked the debate on resetting ties with the US. Memogate proceedings: Pasha denies any coup planned after May 2 raid Our Correspondents In his testimony to the memo commission, former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) director general Ahmad Shuja Pasha has claimed that no military coup was planned in the aftermath of the May 2 raid by US Special Forces in Abbottabad. Unprecedented aggression: President launches verbal assault against Sharifs Mohammed Rizwan It is unclear what triggered it, but the president unleashed an uncharacteristic verbal barrage against his principal rivals, the Sharifs, on Thursday. Panic at Malir: SSP escapes bomb attack Shaheryar Mirza Five people were killed and eighteen injured in Malir Halt when SSP Malir Rao Anwar's armoured personnel carrier (APC) came under attack in a bomb blast. Business Sigh of relief: Govt rules out any increase in income tax on banks Shahbaz Rana The government has ruled out any increase in income tax on banks in the upcoming budget, saying such a move will single out the banking sector. At the same time, it has hinted at bringing few more politically pampered businesses in the tax net by withdrawing exemptions. State influence on economy grows to 60% Our Correspondents The government's influence on the economy has grown to 60% of gross domestic product (GDP) and the bureaucracy is facilitating ruling classes to further expand their hold, says Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Nadeemul Haque. __________________________________ Sports Cricket: BCB avoids discussion on Pakistan tour Fawad Hussain The Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) coach-hunt committee, headed by Intikhab Alam, will meet tomorrow to discuss the applications for the position of the national team's bowling coach, a position left vacant after Aqib Javed left to take over as UAE's head coach. Snooker: Majid maintains 100% record in Goa Our Correspondents Pakistan's Mohammad Majid Ali maintained his 100% record in the Asian U21 Snooker Championship as defeated Iran's Slyavosh Mozayani 4-2 in Goa, India. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Sadaf Rosewood House: Every day is not Sunday Saadia Qamar With the global economic crisis hitting almost every sector, it's no surprise that the furniture business has also suffered a blow. Due to the dip in local demand coupled with detrimental export policies, Mohammad Aslam Khan, who has been in the furniture business for a while, has seen his income spiral downwards.. Bollywood masterpiece: Sholay in 3D Rafay Mahmood We have all been told about the time when Gabbar Singh was synonymous with the monster under the bed, anyone fond of his or her vehicle would call it Dhanno and bestfriend duos would cheekily call themselves Jai and Veeru. This was the impact of the 1975 blockbuster Sholay, which was phenomenally successful at the box office and is still considered one of the most trendsetting films in the history of Bollywood. _______________________________________________

Opinion Digging our own graves Kamran Shafi No journalism free of bias Jahanzaib Haque Hoar chupho Shahzad Chaudhry Fight for real democracy Syed Talat Hussain Was the seventh NFC Award a disaster? Dr Pervez Tahir   Blogs Why women fight other women Saba Khalid Why announce a bounty on Hafiz Saeed? Michael Kugelman For the family of a dead soldier Ashfaq Shah Why must only the dead deserve attention? Zain Ahmed Siddiqui   Poll Has the Gilgit Baltistan situation been mishandled by the government? No (10%, 32 Votes) Yes (90%, 290 Votes) Total Voters: 322 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: April 05, 2012

Today's Headlines NATO supplies, military bills: Pakistan, US agree on new framework Kamran Yousaf / Shahbaz Rana While parliament squabbles over the contours of a future relationship with the United States, Islamabad and Washington have agreed to revisit two key issues: Nato supplies and military reimbursements. $10 million reward: Islamabad seeks 'evidence' as Hafiz Saeed mocks US bounty Mudassir Raja / Huma Imtiaz In its first official reaction to the $10million US bounty on Jamaatud Dawa founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Pakistan on Wednesday said it would 'prefer concrete evidence' against the man than to engage in a public discussion on the matter. New questions for PCNS as PML-N ends boycott Irfan Ghauri As the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) mulls over the resumption of Nato supplies, Pakistan is simultaneously working out the anticipated costs to its infrastructure when foreign troops start withdrawing from Afghanistan next year. Eyewitness account: The day hell broke loose in Gilgit Shabbir Mir It was one of the most tragic days in the history of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B). A sense of uncertainty prevailed in Gilgit town as a bloody sectarian strife gripped the serene, tranquil mountainous region known for its awe-inspiring scenic beauty. Business Distributing responsibility: Provinces spurn inefficient power distributors Zafar Bhutta Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have turned down a proposal to set different power tariffs for provinces by handing over management of inefficient power distribution companies (DISCOs) to them.  'Outsider' starts attending 3G auction meetings Shahbaz Rana President's Secretary General Salman Farooqi's has started attending 3G auction meetings despite not being a member of the committee, alarming stakeholders and raising doubts about transparency in the auction. _______________________________________________ Sports Cricket: PCB U19 trounces touring universities' side Our correspondent Opener Sami Aslam smashed an unbeaten double century as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) U19 thrashed the visiting British Universities Charity XI by 302 runs in the first one-day match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Football: Bomber kills Somali sports chiefs AFP A woman strapped with explosives blew herself up during an address by Somalia's prime minister, killing four people, including the country's Olympic and football bosses. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Major Ishaq Muhammed: Take it to the streets Sher Khan Major Ishaq Muhammed has a unique legacy in Pakistan's Punjabi folklore as a symbol for the downtrodden in a society bent on making political compromises. As a leftist-leader, he went to jail on several occasions and mobilised one of the largest peasant movements in Punjab under the banner of 'Mazdoor Kisan Party'. Why this Kolaveri di?: Petitioner seeks ban on 'epic' song Yousuf Saifuddin "Why this Kolaveri di?", one of the most popular songs out of South India in recent times and a worldwide sensation, has had a public interest litigation petition filed against it in the Kerala High Court, seeking a ban on the song, Express News reported on Wednesday. _______________________________________________

Opinion Emperor Nero and the US Ejaz Haider Cops and murderers Sami Shah The riot of power Khurram Husain Remembering a freedom fighter Malik Tariq Ali The smart money on drinking  Ahmad Rafay Alam   Blogs   Why must only the dead deserve attention? Zain Ahmed Siddiqui Hafiz Saeed: The (10) million dollar man Salman Qureshi Beat the heat with a banana split Saba Callea Pak-US ties and those who matter most Mohammed Rizwan  Poll   Is the US justified in putting a bounty on JuD chief Hafiz Saeed? No (62%, 1,011 Votes) Yes (38%, 626 Votes) Total Voters: 1,637   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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