The Express Tribune Newsletter: July 20, 2012

Today's Headlines   NA-151 by-elections: Gilani's son emerges as victor after close battle Owais Jafri The first family of Multan scraped through to a hard-fought win in the by-elections for NA-151 after a neck-and-neck contest with an independent candidate on Thursday. Breaking silence: Parliament supreme, can enact any law: Zardari Hafeez Tunio Having maintained a public silence on a number of new issues that have cropped up between the government and the judiciary, the president has finally spoken out. This time around…: No jail or Jeddah for me, says PML-N chief Our Correspondents The main opposition party's chief, Nawaz Sharif, held his ground on Thursday, insisting he would not go to "jail or Jeddah" and those trying to make him do so should "stop dreaming". Stalled reconciliation process: Kabul, Islamabad to resume peace talks Kamran Yousaf Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on Thursday to resume stalled talks on Afghanistan's peace process with Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf pledging to help arrange meetings between Afghan and Taliban representatives. Business President intervenes: Pakistan, Iran break deadlock over barter trade Zafar Bhutta Pakistan and Iran have broken the deadlock over barter trade as they have reached an understanding about export of wheat to Tehran following the intervention of President Asif Ali Zardari. Extortion cases return to haunt businessmen again Farhan Zaheer With rising cases of extortion just days before the start of Ramazan, the business community of Karachi believes that extortionists (Bhatta mafia) have given a strong signal to businessmen and law enforcement agencies that they are prepared to repeat the horrific tale of the same month last year. _______________________________________________ Sports World Twenty20: 'Selection was made in haste' Fawad Hussain Former coach and chief selector Mohsin Khan has said that Pakistan's selection for the World Twenty20 was made in haste given the number of 'flaws' in the squad. Rabiya dedicates run to late friend Nabeel Hashmi With just a week to the departure of Pakistan's athletes for London, 800m runner Rabiya Ashiq has decided to dedicate her Olympics' run to her late friend Mubeen Akhtar. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Maheen Khan: The restless innovator Saadia Qamar In a stately home tucked away in Clifton resides the doyenne of fashion, Maheen Khan. With 40 years to her credit, the style icon is famed for The House of Maheen, under which run The Embroidery House, Maheen and the recent addition of Gulabo. Dressed in a stylish black top paired with casual brown pants, Maheen talks to The Express Tribune about her journey as a fashion designer and some projects in the pipeline. A one-stop shop for home products Momina Sibtain After its successful venture with Elan this summer, Kamal Limited has decided to bring its export quality products to the local market. While the company primarily manufactures textiles including bed linen and apparel for retail outlets such as Macy's and Ralph Lauren, it launched its first Pakistan-based retail outlet with a brand new lifestyle store, So Kamal, on Tuesday. _______________________________________________

Opinion Sow the wind ... Kamran Shafi Contempt for the rest Nadir Hassan Don't meddle with the police! Dr Azhar Hassan Nadeem Abu Jundal vs the people of India-Pakistan Jyoti Malhotra Utility stores and policy consistency Dr Pervez Tahir   Blogs Don't play God with the lives of innocent children Dr Ilmana Fasih Why Rajesh Khanna was Bollywood's first superstar Zainab Imam Social media is lying to you about Burma's Muslim 'cleansing' Faraz Ahmed The feminism behind gender bias Tasneem Z Faridi Poll Do you think religious political parties will gain ground in the 2013 elections? No (77%, 575 Votes) Yes (23%, 170 Votes) Total Voters: 745 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: July 19, 2012

Today's Headlines North Waziristan: Jirga backs Taliban ban on polio drive Our correspondents A tribal jirga endorsed a Taliban ban on polio vaccinations on Wednesday, linking the lifting of the ban to the cessation of drone strikes in the region, and consequently closing the door to the prospect of any child being vaccinated in North Waziristan as part of a nationwide campaign. Orakzai bombing: 13 dead as bomb tears through passenger van Our Correspondents  A bomb ripped through a passenger van in the Orakzai tribal agency on Wednesday, killing 13 tribesmen of the same clan in an attack apparently motivated by sectarian hatred. Reopening cases: Court summons Sharif family members on July 28 Mudassir Raja An accountability court has summoned the family of former premier and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on July 28 in three dormant graft cases. After Rehman Malik's efforts, Shia website unblocked Our Correspondents  The Shia website which acts as a watch dog on sectarian murders in the country and had been banned last week, was made accessible early Thursday morning after Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take legal action against those who posted objectionable material on the website.   Business Gas import: Iran to lay Pakistan's portion of pipeline Zafar Bhutta Avoiding pressure from the United States, Pakistan and Iran have committed to press ahead with the gas pipeline project and constituted a joint working committee to finalise a deal for laying Pakistan's portion of the pipeline by Tehran. View from McLeod Road: Can MCB Bank succeed in India? Farooq Tirmizi It is an interview that created quite a stir: Mian Muhammad Mansha, Pakistan's richest man, was quoted by India's Economic Times as saying that his MCB Bank would be venturing into India. Mansha sounded optimistic about the financial crossing of the Wagah, but will MCB Bank be able to make money? A closer examination of the numbers by The Express Tribune reveals that the Indian banking market is not as attractive as it seems from the outside. _______________________________________________ Sports World Junior Squash: Pakistan thrashed by Egypt in final Nabeel Hashmi Pakistan had to settle for silver in the WSF World Junior Squash Team Championship after they were humbled 2-0 by defending champions Egypt in yesterday's final that took place in Doha, Qatar. Basketball: Kobe calls Olympic age cap idea 'stupid' Our Correspondents Kobe Bryant, the face of the US men's team favoured to retain its gold medal in London, has slammed the NBA for considering an age-limit that would prevent many of the world's top basketball players taking part in future Olympics. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Remembering the colours of Rajesh Khanna Rafay Mahmood Be it a monologue on the existential dilemma of a cancer patient or a drunkard's confession of love for a singer at a brothel, Rajesh Khanna's fans felt his character's anguish. After a prolonged illness, the actor who was lovingly called Kaka by his peers, passed away at the age of 69 at the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. Kuch Khaas Builds provincial bonds Myra Iqbal An enriching evening of raw artistic expression proved to be somewhat of a genius prescription in removing some of the layers of what is a deep-rooted class struggle within Pakistan. The Institute for the Preservation of Art and Culture (IPAC) invited 20 bright students from varying demographics to participate in an eight-day workshop that culminated in a vibrant showcase for family, friends and enthusiasts at Kuch Khaas this Monday. _______________________________________________

Opinion The great India-Pakistan tamasha Shahzad Chaudhry The world according to an Afghan Zahrah Nasir Two options before the Supreme Court Markandey Katju Shifting Pakistan and Saudi Arabia relations Arif Rafiq Combating congestion Ahmad Rafay Alam   Blogs What to do with your child in the summer Sana Saif A sneak peak into Eidolon: A post-apocalyptic scenario Babrus Khan India vs Pakistan: Replace diplomacy with Cricket Amna Lone Ramazan with Veena Malik: Lord forgive us all Sidrah Moiz Khan Poll Should private schools keep a quota for enrolling underprivileged children? No (7%, 45 Votes) Yes (93%, 555 Votes) Total Voters: 600 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: July 18, 2012

Today's Headlines ISI-CIA meeting: Spymasters plan US rendezvous Asad Kharal In a key development in thawing ties with Washington, the chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) will visit the US in coming days, The Express Tribune has learnt. No insurgency: PM warns of ripple effect in Balochistan Zia Khan Amidst a debilitating tribal insurgency in Balochistan, the prime minister has issued an ominous warning: if the 'unrest in small pockets' is not quelled immediately, it might seep into other areas. US officially nominates Richard Olson as Pakistan ambassador Huma Imtiaz Ending weeks of speculation and rumours, the White House has officially announced that they are nominating Richard G. Olson as the next US ambassador to Pakistan. Backlash?: UN polio doctor shot in Karachi Faraz Khan The threats against critical polio vaccination drives may have been for militant-infested tribal areas in north-western parts of the country – but they seem to have played out in none other than Pakistan's commercial hub, Karachi.   Business Revitalisation needed: Women chambers gathering dust since inception Kazim Alam Some blame it on the alleged covert opposition from mainstream chambers of commerce and industry while others point a finger at the lack of enthusiasm on the part of women entrepreneurs, but the fact remains that the two women's chambers of commerce and industry established in Sindh side by side about five years ago have remained 'dormant' for many years now. Mood swings: 'Rating downgrade to further dent investor confidence' Shahbaz Rana Moody's decision to downgrade Pakistan's sovereign credit ratings will affect trading in the stock market as foreign investors will further shy away from investing in equities, said Muhammad Ali, Chairman Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) here on Tuesday. _______________________________________________ Sports Kamran, Razzaq make T20 return Fawad Hussain The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee has recalled wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and opener Imran Nazir as a 15-man squad was announced for the Twenty20 series against Australia and the World Twenty20. Snooker: Majid closes in on second round Nabeel Hashmi Pakistan cueist Mohammad Majid registered another victory at the IBSF World U21 Snooker Championship, defeating New Zealand's Rogan Beedle 4-0 in their group encounter played in Wuxi, China. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Catching up with Fuzon Shahzeb Shaikh Even without an album release in almost four years, the Fuzon trio is as busy as ever. The band has kept fans entertained by releasing singles at regular intervals, such as last year's world cup track and the song in collaboration with Azm-e-Alishan. Do you have an appetite for Veena in Ramazan? Our Correspondents When the promo for Veena Malik's Ramazan show "Astaghfaar" made the rounds on the internet Monday evening, a large chunk of internet commenters were appalled. "I am Veena Malik. In the entire month of Ramazan, I will seek forgiveness for my sins and yours, with you on Hero TV," Veena says in her promo, with a slightly quivering lip and tear-streaked cheek. _______________________________________________

Opinion The story of a story Ejaz Haider Fixing democracy Farrukh Khan Pitafi Mere patch-up will not do! Tariq Fatemi An index where Pakistan does well! Dr Niaz Mustufa Mysteries of Hobson-Jobson Khaled Ahmed Blogs Ambassador Munter misunderstood Imran Khan Azeem Ibrahim Karachi Zoo: A threat to endangered animals? Saba Khalid Burma killings: Think before you point fingers Shehlah Zahiruddin Poetry of the Taliban: An oxymoron? Khadijah Ali Zai Khan Poll Do you think the TV licence fee should be charged with the electricity bill? No (77%, 448 Votes)  Yes (23%, 136 Votes)  Total Voters: 584 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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