The Express Tribune Newsletter: April 10, 2012

Today's Headlines Siachen tragedy – Day 3: With hope lost, rescuers face new dangers Sumera Khan With a search operation under way for the past 52 hours and fresh snowfall, hopes of finding 135 people buried by an avalanche faded swiftly — and new concerns emerged. Repatriation: Deportation papers of OBL's family completed  Our Correspondent The travel documents of Osama bin Laden's family members have been completed by the interior and foreign affairs ministry — his Yemini wife and five children will be deported back after serving a seven-day prison sentence. Politics of minority: MPA accused of posing as Christian to get seat Rana Tanveer A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking the disqualification of an MPA elected on a minority seat on the grounds that he is actually a Muslim. Joint session: No breakthrough on domestic violence bill Our Correspondents Deadlock remained over the passage of the Domestic Violence Bill, 2009 in Parliament, despite the government's promise to address the opposition's concerns over some controversial clauses. Business The switcheroo: Instead of Iran, import power from Central Asia, says US Zafar Bhutta It seems that the United States will try just about any approach to dissuade Pakistan from going ahead with the Iran-Pakistan pipeline, pitching ideas that are overly optimistic at best and delusional at worst. The latest in this line-up is the idea that Pakistan should import about 8,300 megawatts of electricity from the Central Asian republics, with the transmission lines passing through war-torn Afghanistan. Fertiliser sector expected to post losses for first quarter of 2012 Farooq Tirmizi A combination of gas supply issues, plant shutdowns, and cheaper imports have led to abysmal sales for nearly all of the major companies in the fertiliser sector, and most of them are expected to post losses in the first quarter of 2012, according to analysts. _______________________________________________ Sports Pakistan-India series: PCB happy with progress on bilateral ties Fawad Hussain President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to India and the comments coming in from the Indian cricket board have seemingly broken the deadlock that blocked the resumption of cricketing ties between the two countries. Iran players 'did not want to wait for a connecting flight' Natasha Raheel Frustrated by the teams' withdrawal from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) under-14 festival, the country's federation has registered an official complaint against Iran. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Day 2: Fashion Pakistan Week 2012 Hani Taha It's been an intense fortnight of fashion with the Showcase having ended last weekend only to herald in Fashion Pakistan Week 2012 this weekend. And while the Showcase made no claims of gaining an edge over other fashion platforms for 'content', FP certainly did announce a theme: high street. 'Afsoos': Khan ends 'Uth Records' on a high note Rafay Mahmood Following the reverberating performance of Orangenoise, "Uth Records" introduced their final artist for this season, Rahim Saranjam Khan, who hails from Peshawar, a place that has lately become the powerhouse of raw Pakistani talent. _______________________________________________

Opinion Who controls foreign policy in Pakistan? Dr Tariq Rahman In defence of Misbah Sahibzada M Irfan Can we emulate Turkey? Imtiaz Gul A Pakistani miracle in India Jyoti Malhotra Zardari's visit to India and after Tariq Fatemi  Blogs How the One Rupee Project can help literacy Muhammad Mustaqeem Yousfani Why Imran Nazir should be on the T20 team Waqas Ahmad Ibn-e-Khaldun and other forgotten Muslim heroes Tamiur Arbab Not impressed by Pawnay 14 August Salman Abedin  Poll Do you think President Zardari's visit to India will help ease tension between the two countries? Yes (38%, 335 Votes) No (62%, 550 Votes) Total Voters: 885 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 09, 2012

Today's Headlines Siachen tragedy: Amidst fading hopes, rescuers search for survivors Farman Ali / Sumera Khan With no sign of survivors nearly 36 hours after an avalanche smashed into a Pakistan Army camp near the Siachen Glacier, the military hoped for a 'miracle' on Sunday as rescuers searched for the 124 soldiers and 11 civilians buried beneath a blanket of snow. New Delhi rendezvous: Under JuD's shadow, Singh accepts Pakistan invitation Aditi Phadnis Indian Premier Manmohan Singh has accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan but renewed his country's demand that Islamabad prosecute the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai siege – a clear reference to Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed. Stranded by violence: Over 100 foreigners evacuated from G-B Shabbir Mir Pakistan Army on Sunday evacuated more than 100 foreign tourists and aid workers stranded in the restive Gilgit-Baltistan region following a deadly bout of sectarian violence that claimed about 20 lives in the region. Generosity: Zardari pledges $1m to Ajmer shrine Our Correspondents President Asif Ali Zardari announced on Sunday a generous donation of $1 million for the upkeep of the shrine of a revered Muslim Sufi saint in western India. Business The rising tide: An emerging water crisis - the next big threat to Pakistan Zeeshan Shah Water dominates world economics as a silently rising threat to global stability; in the corridors of power, some fear that the next big war will be fought over scarce water resources. Reinventing the wheel: How not to use the taxpayers' money Dr Haider Shah Using taxpayers money intelligently has become the yardstick of sound fiscal policy making all over the world. Efficient savings can be achieved at two levels of decision making. At the strategic level welfare maximisation depends on good decisions about sources of funds and their ultimate utilisation. At the operational level the concern for efficiency demands that every rupee of the taxpayers' money is well spent. _______________________________________________ Sports Cricket: Players to undergo fitness trials under coach's supervision Fawad Hussain Pakistan's foreign coaching panel will kick off plans to improve the team's performance in all departments of the game, including the players' fitness levels, at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) today. Cricket: Blind team players, management probed Our Correspondents A four-member commission, formed to probe Pakistan blind team's defeat to their Indian counterparts last month, has questioned the players and team management on the unexpected loss against the archrivals. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Blood Moon Therapy: Beyond diplomacy Sher Khan A blood moon is essentially a full moon, except it is orange in colour and it happens rarely, but when it does it is a therapeutic and relaxing sight. And the beauty of the moon is so captivating that the New York-based musicians decided to name their band 'Blood Moon Therapy'. Recently, the band made headlines for its 'rock diplomacy' tour across Pakistan. Although cynics cringed at the poor sound quality, one thing was certain — rock can transcend boundaries. Lifestyle Pakistan: TDAP flies to India Saadia Qamar The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) held a press conference in Karachi on Friday to announce the country's first mega lifestyle exhibition, Lifestyle Pakistan, in New Delhi, India. _______________________________________________

Opinion Why Karachi burns again and again Pervez Hoodbhoy Days of mourning Amina Jilani The Bhutto factor Dr Akmal Hussain Islamabad's indifference towards global issues Shahid Javed Burki Are BRICS building a hollow pillar? Tanvir Ahmad Khan   Blogs In marriage, golden jubilee anniversaries do happen Jonaid Iqbal Party campaigns: Where does their money come from? Adnan Khalid Rasool India and Pakistan's role in Afghanistan M Hassan Khan Exposing corruption: Threats to journalists Asad Kharal   Poll Should the UN demarcate Siachen glacier to help resolve the conflict between Pakistan and India? Yes (60%, 469 Votes) No (40%, 313 Votes) Total Voters: 782   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 stories of the week (April 01-08 2012)

Top 10 stories of the week

April 01-08, 2012

1. Free laptops for Punjab students, now sold online – Web Desk 2. Avalanche traps 135 people near Siachen, rescue operation underway – Shabbir Mir/Farman Ali/Agencies 3. Marvi Memon loses out on vacant PML-N seat – Abdul Manan 4. Mad dogs and laal topiwallahs – Feisal H Naqvi 5. Hafiz Saeed to US: I'm in Lahore tomorrow, contact me anytime – Web Desk/Huma Imtiaz 6. Mrs Pakistan World accused of committing grand theft in US – Huma Imtiaz 7. Most wanted: $10 million bounty on Hafiz Saeed, says US aide – News Desk 8. Cricket: Anwar Ali, from pressing socks to making it big – Nabeel Hashmi 9. Dera Bugti operation: Largest mammal fossils may have been bombed into oblivion – Salman Siddiqui 10. Hafiz Saeed calls for jihad against America – Rana Tanveer/AFP

Top Business Global IT ranking: Pakistan drops 14 places in a year Our Correspondent Top Life & Style I'm hopeful, that's why I'm here: Naseeruddin Shah Ali Usman Top 3 blogs 1. Letters from abroad: Shame on you, you are Pakistani              Musab Memon 2. Najeeb Haroon: A not-so-high-profile PTI founder Yasmine Ibrahim 3. Javed Chaudhry's misogynistic excuse for violence against women Abira Ashfaq 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 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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