The Express Tribune Newsletter: July 14, 2012

Today's Headlines Moody's downgrades Pakistan's credit rating Farooq Tirmizi This is one of the few advantages of the Pakistani financial system not being intertwined with global capital markets: the downgrading of the country's sovereign credit rating by Moody's is unlikely to become an immediate crisis, or have any serious short-term impact on the economy. Balochistan hearing: FC given 10 days to present missing men Our Correspondents  The apex court has given the head of the Frontier Corps (FC) until July 24 to present eight persons who were allegedly picked up by the paramilitary force from different parts of the volatile province.    Spiralling violence: Bomb blast near ANP rally in Quetta kills six Our Correspondents A powerful bomb went off outside a public rally of the Awami National Party (ANP) on the outskirts of the provincial capital on Friday, killing six people and wounding over a dozen more. Inmates at Hyderabad prison take 15 jail wardens hostage Z Ali Prisoners at Hyderabad Central Prison took at least 15 jail wardens hostage after clashes on Friday. Business Short-term programme: IMF shuts door on another loan Shahbaz Rana The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cleared the air saying that any new short-term loan programme should not be signed with Pakistan, as reforms envisaged in the last previous programme could not be implemented. Pakistan100 entrepreneurs brief Google, US State Department Our Correspondents Over thirty Pakistan Fast Growth 100 entrepreneurs and business leaders (Pakistan100) have arrived in Washington DC for the last leg of the AllWorld Summit@Harvard. During the summit, the delegates briefed executives from Google and US State Department officials, and networked with corporate leaders and members of the Pakistani diaspora community. _______________________________________________ Sports 'Some PCB officials want the team to lose' Our Correspondents It seems like Shoaib Akhtar cannot stay away from the headlines despite being out of action. Lee gives up international cricket Our Correspondents Australian pace bowler Brett Lee announced his retirement from international cricket after a 13-year career, saying his body and mind were no longer up to the stresses of touring. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Best Mooch Award and Waderai Ka Beta Our Correspondents An eclectic group of youngsters gathered at the Pakistan American Cultural Centre (PACC) auditorium Thursday night to witness Ali Gul Pir aka Saeen perform "Waderai Ka Beta" live for the very first time.  Theatre: Kamla holds up a mirror for journalists Saadia Qamar The Napa Reparatory Theatre's (NRT) latest production "Kamla" is a play that revolves largely around hypocritical journalistic practices and the state of human rights in the subcontinent. Written by Asif Farrukhi and directed by Meesam Naqvi, the play is based on a script written originally by Indian playwright Vijay Tendulkar in 1981. _______________________________________________

Opinion Visualising a tolerant Pakistan Farahnaz Ispahani The seeds of discontent and conflict Ajmal Kamal A demolition in Kharian Amna Agha Shiva weeps no more Salman Rashid The more things change ... Amina Jilani   Blogs Culture cousins: Beirut and Karachi Yasmeen Ibrahim He who changed my life Taimur Arbab Let's not blame Obama Fakhra Hassan Euro Cup 2012: The highs, the lows and the just plain funny! Samee Zahid  Poll Do you think Pakistani TV dramas accurately depict issues in society?  No (63%, 340 Votes) Yes (37%, 197 Votes) Total Voters: 537 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

The Express Tribune, 5 Expressway Off Korangi Road, Karachi, Sindh 75500, Pakistan You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.

The Express Tribune Newsletter: July 13, 2012

Today's Headlines   Ultimatum: No-nonsense court gives PM till July 25 to write Swiss letter Azam Khan This time, the Supreme Court did not require a flurry of litigation to get to the bottom line: Write the letter or face 'appropriate action'. Cordial ties between Pak, Afghan soldiers top priority: ISAF Tahir Khan As the Afghan endgame nears its 2014 deadline – with international coalition forces slated to withdraw from the region – the Nato-led Isaf forces spokesman in Afghanistan says that building cordial ties between Afghan and Pakistani soldiers is a top priority. Reactions: 'New contempt law won't save PM Ashraf' Qaiser Zulfiqar The Supreme Court's order in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation case on Thursday triggered a fresh round of legal debate regarding the fate of the premier, and the role that the controversial new contempt legislation will play in saving him from disqualification. Terror in Lahore: Nine killed in attack on police hostel Rameez Khan Nine policemen were killed and eight others injured in an early morning terrorist attack on a hostel rented by the National Prison Academy in Lahore on Thursday. The incident is the second attack on security personnel in the country following the reopening of the Nato supply routes to Afghanistan.   Business Party's over: Next revision of oil prices due; rates may rise again Zafar Bhutta After a brief respite from rising oil prices, consumers may once again face a hike in petroleum product prices by up to Rs5.64 per litre due to an increase in global oil prices. Under the decision, all products – except High Speed Diesel (HSD) – are expected to become more expensive in the next two weeks. METRO, Makro complete merger Our Correspondents METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan and Makro-Habib Pakistan have announced on Thursday, the completion of their merger, after obtaining approval from shareholders and the anti-trust and corporate authorities of Pakistan. _______________________________________________ Sports 3rd Test: Sri Lanka end series drought with drawn Test Our Correspondents Sri Lanka won their first Test series in three years after the third and final match against Pakistan ended in a thrilling draw in Pallekele yesterday. Cricket: 'Full marks to Shafiq, Junaid' Our Correspondents Despite losing the Test series – the first since August 2010 – the Pakistan team will return home with a few positives. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Bollywood is hard work, says Ali Zafar Saadia Qamar After his energetic performance with actor Humaima Malik at the Lux Style Awards Tuesday night, The Express Tribune caught up with actor-singer Ali Zafar for a quick chat backstage. Ready for 'The Nabeel Nihaal Project?' Rafay Mahmood There is good news for rock music lovers. Two of the finest rockers from Pakistan's pop-rock scene are all set to collaborate on a project. _______________________________________________

Opinion An open challenge to the propagandists Kamran Shafi Coke Studio's Indian mystery — resolved Rafay Mahmood Manna from heaven Meekal Ahmed Political seasons Avirook Sen An island of transparency Dr Pervez Tahir Blogs Euro Cup 2012: The highs, the lows and the just plain funny! Samee Zahid The defect in the dual nationality law Sufiyan Rana Yes, I trashed your comment! Narjis Fatema PTI and PML-N: Pro-US or anti-US? Syed Kashif Nawaz  Poll Have you ever travelled on a public bus? Yes (88%, 610 votes) No (12%, 85 votes) Total Votes: 695 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

 

The Express Tribune, 5 Expressway Off Korangi Road, Karachi, Sindh 75500, Pakistan You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.

The Express Tribune Newsletter: July 12, 2012

Today's Headlines Nick of time: With PM's reply due in court, contempt bill sails through Senate Sumera Khan / Azam Khan The stage is set for a dramatic hearing today. Hours before a potentially decisive hearing of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation case, the government bulldozed the controversial contempt of court amendment bill through the Senate on Wednesday. Transition time: PPP, PML-N set for talks on caretaker setup Zia Khan After having reached an amiable consensus over a new chief election commissioner, the country's two largest political parties are now said to be planning to open talks for bringing in a caretaker setup to oversee general elections.  Govt to enhance minority quota in legislatures Our Correspondents The cabinet has approved an increase in the representation of minority communities in the federal and provincial legislatures of the country. Skardu accident: Army chopper crash kills five Shabbir Mir  An Army Aviation helicopter crashed during a 'test' flight in Skardu on Wednesday, killing all five people on board.   Business Pre-election stunt: Plan to freeze power tariff under study Zafar Bhutta As part of an election strategy to attract voters, the government is considering freezing the power tariff until the next general election is held, setting aside concerns of multilateral donors. Misleading claims: Minister falsely tells PM export target achieved Shahbaz Rana Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has apparently been misled by Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who on Wednesday told the premier that the country had achieved its export target of $25 billion – a claim contrary to reality. _______________________________________________ Sports Boxing: Amir Khan gets back WBA crown ahead of Garcia fight Our Correspondents Britain's Amir Khan will walk into the ring as a world champion Saturday after the World Boxing Association told him on Wednesday that he has been reinstated to the light-welterweight throne. Hockey: Pakistan embark on Olympics journey Fawad Hussain On paper it looks a likely contender but on recent form, the Pakistan hockey team may return empty-handed. _______________________________________________ Life & Style LSAs 2012: Winners, fashionistas and a little bit of drama Our Correspondents The results are out! As guests gossiped about nominees that lost out and applauded the winners that took home the award, it was heartening to see the industry's camaraderie – however superficial and short-lived it may be.  Ready for a Ferrari experience? Saadia Qamar When you hear the term Ferrari, only one thing comes to mind – a beautiful sports car. But when it comes to Ferrari World, it's not just about the car. In the great city of Abu Dhabi, an entire world appreciating the concept has been set up. The world's first Ferrari theme park is the largest attraction of its kind and the best way of paying gratitude to passionate Ferrari lovers out there. _______________________________________________

Opinion The philosophy of judicial restraint Murkandey Katju The Parthasarathy doctrine Shahzad Chaudhry The crisis in Pakistan's jihadist community Arif Rafiq What if Bulleh Shah were alive today? Raza Rumi Who is Pakistan's enemy? Imtiaz Gul   Blogs Why I love public buses Ema Anis Why are our female MPs against women's rights? Ayesha Asghar Stuffed chicken breast with pineapple sauce the Salt n' Pepper way! Yousuf Bawany Najiba: Murdered amidst cheers of 'God is Great' Shan Nasir   Poll In your opinion, should Pakistani parents have only two children or less? No: 32% (227 votes) Yes: 68% (482 votes) Total Voters: 709 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

The Express Tribune, 5 Expressway Off Korangi Road, Karachi, Sindh 75500, Pakistan You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.

The Express Tribune Newsletter: July 11, 2012

Today's Headlines Missing persons case: Supreme Court adamant on FC's involvement Our correspondents Among a number of refutations and counter-allegations, the Frontier Corps (FC) insisted that they did not have any more missing persons in their custody in Balochistan – but the chief justice was not buying this reply, or any other for that matter. The Supreme Court asked the FC to present the missing persons within a week. 'Load'-shedding?: PIA sacks deputy chief amid political reservations Saad Hasan Cash-strapped Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Tuesday sacked Deputy Managing Director Salim Sayani after succumbing to pressure from parliamentarians wary of his high perks, officials said. Contempt of court bill challenged in apex court Azam Khan A day after it sailed through the National Assembly, the Contempt of Court Bill 2012 was challenged in the apex court. Following suspension: Rehman Malik resigns from Senate Hafeez Tunio In a surprise move, an under fire Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik announced his resignation from the Senate on Tuesday. Business The rise of the Pakistani middle class: Why is the retail sector in Pakistan booming? Farooq Tirmizi It is the paradox that puzzles everybody: the headline numbers indicate an economy in an abysmal state, but everywhere one looks, there are people shopping like there is no tomorrow. How is this possible? An analysis conducted by The Express Tribune reveals a surprising answer: women. Economic dilemma: Excessive govt borrowing shakes public trust Our Correspondents Incessant government borrowing from the central bank to finance the budget deficit is shaking public trust in national economy and eventually leading to financial crisis and pushing the country into debt trap, warns an audit report. _______________________________________________ Sports 3rd Test: Perera's late blitz puts SL on top Our Correspondents Young all-rounder Thisara Perera followed his four wickets on the first day with 75 off 86 balls as Sri Lanka seized control of the final Test against Pakistan in Pallekele. 'Sword still hanging on our heads' Fawad Hussain Despite a two-month extension to implement the 2005 National Sports Policy, the Pakistan Olympics Association (POA) President General Arif Hasan is worried that the international governing body may still take action against the violation of its charter before the London Games. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Lux Style Awards 2012: Glamour's night out Saadia Qamar / Atika Rehman Lights…camera…shine! Its that time of the year again when Pakistan holds its most celebrated awards ceremony, The Lux Style Awards (LSAs) 2012. The end of the road for Lollywood? Sher Khan After the disappointing news that none of the funds from this year's budget were allocated for the film industry, here is another dreary fact: 2012 may just be the year that sees the least number of film releases in the industry's history. According to a source within the film industry, only two or three Lahore-based productions are scheduled to be released this Eid; film-makers have moved from Lahore to greener pastures, leaving the once busy studios silent and empty. _______________________________________________

Opinion Define relations with the US Ejaz Haider Nuclear power and energy security Adil Sultan It wasn't about an apology Lt-Gen (r) Asad Durrani Syria — the next Afghanistan? Dr Ahmad M Zaidan A deeply flawed decision Tariq Fatemi   Blogs Unfathomable is He Tayyaba Hassaan What exactly is a Hindu rasm anyway? Ali Rahman Farida Afridi: Killed in broad daylight Sumera Khan Af-Pak relations: Brothers at war Farooq Yousaf Poll Do you feel the issue of bullying was properly addressed in your school? No: 83% (297 votes) Yes: 17% (61 votes) Total Voters: 358 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

The Express Tribune, 5 Expressway Off Korangi Road, Karachi, Sindh 75500, Pakistan You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.