The Express Tribune Newsletter: July 21, 2012

Today's Headlines   Dir Bala: 3 killed, 7 injured in bomb attack on peace militia bus Web Desk At least three people were killed and seven others were injured in a remote controlled bomb attack on a bus carrying members of the peace militia in Dir Bala, Express News reported on Saturday. Next elections: Zardari tells opposition to wait 'eight more months' Hafeez Tunio While speculation on early elections is rife, President Asif Ali Zardari has asked leaders of opposition political parties to wait eight more months. Allies differ: ANP not ready to relent on dual nationality bill Sumera Khan The Awami National Party (ANP) formally conveyed its opposition to the dual nationality bill on Friday when the party's lawmakers met Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. Nisar opts out of govt-opposition talks Abdul Manan Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, a key leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will not be a part of the high-level team that will negotiate with the government on the timing of the elections and the choosing of a caretaker set-up.   Business Euphoria evaporates: Pakistan and India fail to strike oil trade deal Zafar Bhutta As Pakistan wants to meet only 20% to 25% of its needs for petroleum products from India to avoid overreliance on the old rival due to security concerns, the two countries have failed to seal a big deal as Islamabad has asked Delhi to compete in tenders floated by Pakistan State Oil (PSO) for oil supply through land route. Dictum meum pactum: S&P reaffirms Pakistan's sovereign credit rating Farooq Tirmizi Exactly one week after Moody's downgraded Pakistan's credit rating to its lowest ever, Standard & Poor's (S&P) – its bigger and better-known rival – has reaffirmed the country's sovereign creditworthiness rating at B-minus, and maintained its stable outlook on the country. _______________________________________________ Sports Flame to make dramatic entrance Our Correspondents The Olympic flame will make a dramatic arrival in London to tour the capital before it plays a starring role in the opening ceremony in one week's time. Security tight for Bolt and Jamaica stars Our Correspondents Olympic 100m and 200m champion Usain Bolt and Jamaica's star-studded track and field team have been training under heavy security at the University of Birmingham since their arrival here just about a week ago. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Veena Malik's Ramazan show called off after public outrage Our Correspondents The idea of the controversial Veena Malik repenting for her sins on national television did not settle well with the awaam. From internet petitions calling for the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ban the show, which had been scheduled to air during the holy month, to comments on social media forums, the anger was hot and unrestricted. India's 'Coke Studio' raises the bar with new season Rafay Mahmood While India's "Coke Studio @ MTV" was the recipient of much criticism last year for its abominable music, this year's Indian music producers have delivered a gem to silence the critics. _______________________________________________

Opinion The 'new land' in Punjab Ajmal Kamal Tilla Jogian Salman Rashid Stop Myanmar violence before jihadis step in Naveed Hussain India's regent Prime Minister Kunal Majumdar The sleepwalkers walk Amina Jilani Blogs India: Who's the fairest of them all? Raksha Kumar How is Abdul Qadir Gilani's win a victory for democracy? Salman Latif Greece wishes it used the Pakistani rupee! Ali Mehdi Is there really no 'gent' with you? Anam Abbas Poll In your opinion, would the presence of international observers ensure transparent elections? No (51%, 265 Votes) Yes (49%, 250 Votes) Total Voters: 515 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 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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