Monday, December 12, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 13, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 13, 2011

 

Women-specific bills passed: Fourteen-year jail term for acid-throwers
Sumera Khan

Acid victims sitting in the gallery of the upper house witnessed the landmark Senate proceedings in awe.
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National/City

Crafting a response: Envoys want less emotion, more strategy in policies
Kamran Yousaf
Pakistani diplomats serving in key world capitals have tried to calm down the government over its 'kneejerk' reaction to last month's Nato airstrikes that killed two dozen troops. 

Discipline?: 45 students chained up in seminary, recovered
Noman Ahmed
The police moved into the Afghan Camp on Monday night near Sohrab Goth to recover around 45 persons who were kept chained-up in a basement of a seminary. 

US hopeful of mending ties after Salala setback: Munter
Our Correspondents
United States Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter  in an interview on Monday said that the Mohmand Agency border incident, in which at least 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed, was a setback for Pakistan-US ties, and that his country wanted to rebuild cooperation in areas of economy, military and intelligence sharing. 

No more 'tax holiday': Pakistan mulls ending tax breaks for NATO trucks
Our Correspondents
Pakistan is considering charging "millions of dollars" in taxes on Nato trucks and tankers which pass through Pakistan on their way to Afghanistan under what was previously a 'verbal understanding'. 

'Third force': Musharraf vexed about Imran's rise in politics
News Desk
The rise of Imran Khan and his party Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) as an 'alternative third force' in mainstream politics isn't sitting too well with former president Pervez Musharraf and his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).
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Business

PSO gets new chief
Our Correspondents
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday appointed Naeem Yahya Mir as managing director of Pakistan State Oil (PSO), replacing Acting MD Jehangir Shah, as part of a planned restructuring of oil and gas companies, says the Prime Minister's House. 

Spiralling cost: PM reconstitutes Neelum-Jhelum project board
Zafar Bhutta
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has reconstituted board of directors of Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Company, a special purpose vehicle created for executing the project whose cost has escalated to Rs330 billion from Rs130 billion because of delay in work and modification in design after the 2005 earthquake, sources say.
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Sports

Afridi looking for 'good innings'
Fawad Hussain
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi wants to improve his batting as he prepares for the T20 Big Bash to be held in Australia. Afridi will represent Melbourne Renegades and is aiming for useful exposure in Australian conditions. 

Boxing: Amir plans inquiry after shock loss
Our Correspondents
Amir Khan's camp has announced that the British boxer plans an inquiry with sanctioners over the performance of referee Joe Cooper and the ringside judges after his controversial defeat to Lamont Peterson.
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Life & Style

Moin Khan: What's your agenda?
Hani Taha
Creativity and patriotism rarely seem to go hand in hand. When one thinks of doing something for one's country or its people, it's usually along the lines of traditional campaigning or fighting for some grave cause. Moin Khan, a young 24-year-old biker from Lahore, however, has demonstrated quite quirkily that there are myriad ways of showing love for the country,riding around the world on your trusted bike, for instance.

Ali Zafar & LPNY: Musical pair
Our Correspondents
Ali Zafar, who has turned composer for his upcoming Bollywood film, London Paris New York (LPNY), told his fans earlier that his film's music is not going to be conventional. The singer's publicist, Ammara Hikmat, has also announced on Twitter that "Ali Zafar has taken two female singers from Pakistan with amazing vocals to add that oomph to LPNY's music". The names of these singers have not been disclosed yet.
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Opinion

Jettison external load
Shahzad Chaudhry 

Politics and memogate
Zafar Hilaly 

Perspective for a policy review
Dr Akmal Hussain 

Misguided threats
Aasim Zafar Khan 

Veena Malik and the battle for hydro-influence
Jyoti Malhotra 

Blogs

Gabriel Garcia Marquez: Journalist, writer and carpenter
Intezaar Hussain 

'No Baba, not her 18th birthday party, her wedding'
Meiryum Ali 

Pakistan's trouble can never be India's gain
Sanjay Kumar 

Bonded to brick kilns: A song for revolution
Ammar Aziz 

Poll

Do you employ minors as domestic workers in your home?

No (74%, 279 Votes)
Yes (26%, 96 Votes)
Total Voters: 375 

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Sunday, December 11, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 12, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 12, 2011

 

PM's interview: Gilani says president to return in two weeks
Our Correspondents
Political pundits have two more weeks to speculate about the president's absence. In an interview to the BBC on Sunday, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that President Asif Ali Zardari is making "rapid improvement", but needs rest and will take two more weeks to return home.
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National/City

Analysis: Opening a space for women's legislation
Fouzia Saeed
After several decades, women's issues have begun to get a renewed level of attention at policy and legislative levels. The recent bill on anti-women practices and the amendment on Acid Crimes in the Pakistan Penal Code, passed by the National Assembly, are seen as significant leaps forward.

Decade-long stay: Tensions nosedive as US vacates Shamsi airbase
Kamran Yousaf
As the last US plane left Shamsi airbase, an unexpected sense of optimism hung in the air, as Pakistan seemed prepared to move forward and US President Barack Obama asked for an early report into the Nato air raid which precipitated the move. 

Backdoor diplomacy: PTI 'comfortable' working with the US
Mohammed Rizwan
Sloganeering and public rhetoric aside, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would be willing to partner with the United States, party leaders say. 

Swap arrangement: Azerbaijan offers power export to Pakistan
Zafar Bhutta
To ease the severe power crisis in the country, Azerbaijan has offered to export electricity to Pakistan through a proposed swap arrangement with Iran. 

Being a Bhutto: Before leading PPP, Bilawal must learn Urdu, Sindhi
Hafeez Tunio
If Machiavelli wrote The Prince in present-day Pakistan, an additional chapter in the book would be titled: Learn local languages before leading your party.
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Business

Bubble bursts: Farmhouse development sector takes a nosedive
Kazim Alam
The farmhouse development sector in Karachi has taken a nosedive with business activity dropping by as much as 75%, farmhouse developers told The Express Tribune. 

Kosher money: Islamic micro finance fails to take centre stage
Farhan Zaheer
Despite the extraordinary potential in the country, financial institutions in Pakistan are still not taking Islamic micro financing seriously, said Al Baraka Bank Chief Operating Officer Ahmed Shuja Kidwai.
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Sports

Boxing: Khan ready for rematch after shock defeat
Our Correspondents
Britain's Amir Khan, saying he felt a rightful victory was stolen from him on Saturday, vowed to return stronger after a controversial majority decision defeat to American Lamont Peterson. 

Cricket: Pakistan eye win in 1st Test
Our Correspondents
Younus Khan cracked an unbeaten double century and Asad Shafiq made his maiden international hundred as Pakistan closed in on victory in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.
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Life & Style

Waqar Ali: The melodious maestro
Rafay Mehmood
I remember seeing Waqar Ali for the first time on Pakistan Television (PTV) channel when he dominated the Top of the Pops charts for seven consecutive weeks with his song 'Paisay Anay Day'. With his quintessential sideburns and curly hair, he ruled the charts back then. However, little did we know, two decades later, the same musician will give us the original soundtrack (OST) to the celebrated Pakistani television serial Humsafar. 

Son of Pakistan: Breaking stereotypes
Sher Khan
After several long delays, Jarrar Rizvi's film Son of Pakistan is set to be released across Pakistan on December 15. The film, which portrays the police as heroes rather than a corrupt and inefficient arm of the state, was originally slated for an April 1 release.
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Opinion

What does Pakistan want in Afghanistan?
Najmuddin A Shaikh 

The imaginations of Pakistani patriots
Afiya Shehrbano Zia

Corporatising universities
Rasool Bakhsh Rais 

Fai and Kashmir
Sabina Khan 

Putting growth on top of the agenda
Shahid Javed Burki 

Blogs

Is my blood not good enough for you?
Sami Saayer 

The Upper Crust: A taste of Paris in Karachi
Farah S Kamal 

Virender Sehwag: The Genghis Khan of modern cricket
Rohan KalliCharan 

What really happens inside a madrassa
Farhan Jaffri 

Poll

Do you think discontent with the PPP will translate into votes for PML-N in Sindh?

No (64%, 253 Votes)
Yes (36%, 142 Votes)
Total Voters: 395 

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Saturday, December 10, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 11, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 11, 2011

 

Venturing south: In Bhutto heartland, Nawaz promises justice for Benazir
Sarfaraz Memon

http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/304625-NawazSharif-1323512398-845-640x480.JPG

It may not have been the most impressive rally the Bhutto heartland has seen, but Nawaz Sharif managed to hit all the right notes.
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National/City

Zardari went to hospital in Dubai due to security: Gilani
Qamar Zaman
The president's absence has put the premier in the hot seat.Justifying President Zardari's visit to Dubai, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani referred to an alleged terrorist plan when the president's father, the late Hakim Ali Zardari, was admitted at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

Memogate petition: Once bitten, Haqqani knocks on SC's door again
Faisal Shakeel
Pakistan's former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani seems adamant.
A day after Supreme Court Registrar Fakir Hussain returned his application with some objections, Haqqani filed an appeal on Saturday through his counsel Asma Jahangir challenging the registrar's decision to turn down his application against the apex court's December 1 order.

Afghanistan transit trade agreement: 'Treaty being used to bypass NATO supply suspension'
Irfan Ghauri
Just as Pakistan announced it would revise terms of engagement with the US and Nato, it is now considering doing the same with eastern neighbour Afghanistan, in what appears to be a continued revamping of foreign policy.

Balochistan: The province where human rights are bullet-riddled
Shehzad Baloch / Sohail Khattak
Saturday was International Human Rights Day, though in Pakistan the focus remained squarely within its own borders and on one province in particular.

The torture cells of Lahore
Taha Siddiqui
For neuroscientists and those who care about human rights, there are two arguments against torturing someone for information: that it is wrong, and that it doesn't even work.
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Business

Weekly Review: Politics and fertiliser sector keep KSE-100 at bay
Bilal Umar
The market finally managed to breathe a sigh of relief as the benchmark KSE-100 index closed in the positive during the week ended December 9. However, the index managed to climb by 0.8% (92 points) as politics and adverse news for the fertiliser sector held it at bay.

Evading LDI charges: After criticism, FIA and PTA crack down on grey traffic
Asad Kharal / Shahbaz Rana
The Federal Investigation Agency has uncovered one of the largest ever networks of illegal "grey" international telecommunications traffic in Lahore, conducting a raid against a company called Vocal Solutions, seizing equipment and questioning several employees, according to an internal FIA report made available to The Express Tribune.
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Sports

Younis piles more misery on Bangladesh
AFP
Younis Khan completed his 19th test century as Pakistan piled the misery on Bangladesh in the first test, reaching 525-4 at lunch on the third day in Chittagong on Sunday.

7 years of cricket left in me: Kamran Akmal
Shahzada Usman
Kamran Akmal has not played for Pakistan since the World Cup semi-final but hopes to make a comeback for next month's series against England and represent Pakistan for another seven years.
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Life & Style

Zahra Saeed Lifestyle: A taste of finesse
Hani Taha
Fashion designer Zahra Saeed presents a unique success story. Married at 17, with basic education, Saeed has managed to open a chain of fashion stores all across the United States.

Improv Comedy: Saad Haroon's Agency
Our Correspondents
Saad Haroon, the man who introduced improvisational theatre in Pakistan and set the tradition of English stand-up comedy, is back with another extempore venture called The Agency.
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Magazine

Empire of the sun
Ameer Hamza Ahmad
Shortly before dawn, waves of photons, hurled from the surface of the sun in the direction of the earth, complete the 150-million-kilometre voyage in just eight minutes; the stream of light crashes into the silicon wafers on Muhammad Ismail's roof, sending electrons roaring down a copper wire.

10 things I hate about getting mugged
Saba Khalid
The stunned reflexes. As soon as someone taps your car window with a gun, it seems time stands still, everything moves in slow motion and all your body parts give up their ability to move.
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Opinion

Here we go again
Saroop Ijaz

Why our bomb may be unsafe
Khaled Ahmed

The information war
Ayesha Ijaz Khan

What human rights?
Dr Farzana Bari

Pakistan's strategic dependence
Shibil Siddiqi

Blogs

The Upper Crust: A taste of Paris in Karachi
Farah S Kamal

Virender Sehwag: The Genghis Khan of modern cricket
Rohan Kallicharan

What really happens inside a madrassa
Farhan Jaffri

A journalist in Peshawar: My encounter with a militant
Iftikhar Firdous

Poll

Do you think discontent with the PPP will translate into votes for PML-N in Sindh?

No (63%, 160 Votes)
Yes (37%, 96 Votes)
Total Voters: 256

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Friday, December 9, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 10, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 10, 2011

 

Return plans: Memogate progress to shape Zardari's homecoming
Irfan Ghauri

President Asif Ali Zardari initially planned to return to Pakistan on Monday – but how the memogate case unfolds will determine when he ultimately does.
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National/City

Closing NATO routes tells a lot about US-Pakistan relationship: General Dempsey
Huma Imtiaz
Dubbing the current state of US-Pakistan relations as "strained", US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey reiterated that the US did not deliberately attack the Pakistani border post on November 26. He added that closing supply routes said a lot about the US relationship with Pakistan. 

Damage control: US submits proposals to put ties back on track
News Desk
In an attempt to commence damage control, the US Ambassador to Pakistan is believed to have handed over a proposal to the government, envisaging a series of measures to repair bilateral ties, strained after last month's Nato airstrikes on a Pakistani border post. 

'To be a Baloch is to embrace death'
Rabia Ali
What is happening in the largest province of the country remains behind a veil of secrecy. There are some who dare to speak, but only if their privacy is protected. For "to be a Baloch openly is to embrace death," says one such woman. 

Building capacity: Anti-poverty unit to fund 109 infrastructure projects
Our Correspondents
The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) on Friday announced to provide Rs238 million grant to finance 109 small-scale community development schemes in the poorest areas of the country. 

'Dengue will continue to haunt Pakistan for many years'
Qaiser Butt
The lethal dengue virus might be dormant at times but it will strike back. In a startling revelation, against all hopes, the chief of the Dengue Eradication Programme warned that the deadly virus will continue to haunt Pakistan for several more years to come.
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Business

Air space wars: Three new airlines to fly domestic routes
Saad Hasan
The sharp rise in air passengers in recent years has prompted at least three business groups to start their engines and try and capture part of the local aviation industry, officials told The Express Tribune on Friday. 

Banking system assets grow 8%: SBP
Farhan Zaheer
The assets of Pakistan's banking system increased by 8% or Rs577 billion to Rs7.7 trillion during January-June, 2011. This surge in the banks' total assets, both in absolute and growth terms, was the most significant since 2007, the State Bank of Pakistan's (SBP) Financial Stability Review (FSR) said on Friday.
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Sports

1st Test: Pakistan maintain supremacy
Our Correspondents
Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar cracked unbeaten half-centuries to put Pakistan in command after Bangladesh crashed to 135 on the opening day of the first Test. 

Sehwag carnage: 'I thrive on expectations'
Our Correspondents
Virender Sehwag was hailed a 'genius' by teammates and opponents after smashing the highest individual score in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) with a scintillating 219 off just 149 balls.
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Life & Style

'Sim Sim Hamara': A world of joy and laughter
Hani Taha
The "Sim Sim Hamara" set is as enchanting as one's childhood. Shiny and bright, clean and alluring, it's a happy world of laughter where creativity and intellectual curiosity thrive along with furry friends and adult role models. 

Ladies, make a statement
Sehrish Ali
Did you take out your sweaters and pullovers and wrinkle your nose with distaste? Did the thought "that is so last season" run through your brain? Unfortunately, as much one would want to recycle one's wardrobe, trends are changing and cash has to be spent.
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Opinion

Zarteef Afridi: Hero of Jamrud
Salman Rashid 

Personal accounts of 1971
Ajmal Kamal 

Qui bono?
Amina Jilani 

Implications of the Durban climate conference
Syed Mohammad Ali 

Measures Rahul Gandhi should adopt
Kuldip Nayar 

Blogs

An Indian who moved to Pakistan
Dr Ilmana Fasih 

Why thank the Taliban, minister?
Peer Muhammad 

A tribute to my cousin, a brave soldier
Ambreen Ejaz 

Zardari khappay!
Suleman Akhtar 

Poll

Do you think the Abbottabad commission report on the May 2 Osama bin Laden raid will be made public?

No (72%, 280 Votes)
Yes (28%, 110 Votes)
Total Voters: 390

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 09, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 09, 2011

 

Cabinet and Senate briefings: 'Military to up the ante on western front'
Irfan Ghauri / Zia Khan

Pakistan has matched its recent verbal offensives against Nato and Isaf forces with major changes on the ground.
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National/City

SC issues detailed NRO verdict, addresses govt objections
Our Correspondents
The Supreme Court issued a detailed verdict on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) on Thursday night, saying that the federation had failed to establish that it was aggrieved by the court's decision against the controversial ordinance. 

Pentagon: Closure of NATO supply routes has not had significant impact on troops
Huma Imtiaz
Addressing a press briefing at the Pentagon, Press Secretary George Little said that the NATO supply routes were important and expressed hope that the routes closed by Pakistan could be reopened in the future. He added that while ISAF commander General Allen and ISAF were making contingency plans to compensate the logistics efforts, however the closure of the supply routes had not led to a significant impact in the US' ability to "provide for the war effort." 

President in Dubai: US quashes coup rumours
Our Correspondents
As Pakistan battles perhaps its worst ever crisis in US relations, the absence of the president from the country has never been more acute. However, rumours that a Zardari resignation was imminent were dismissed by the US State Department on Thursday, as the office publicly stated they believed his irregular movements were "completely health-related". 

PTI statement: 'Only threat to Pakistan is from Zardari'
Owais Jafri
Standing by his earlier statement, newly appointed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that if Pakistan faces any danger, it is from President Asif Ali Zardari and not from any threats to the country's nuclear installations. 

Mumbai attacks probe: Pakistan members on judicial panel notified
Asad Kharal
Three years after the siege that rocked Mumbai, the probe to investigate the attacks has seen sluggish progress due to a lack of cooperation between Pakistan and India. The government of Pakistan has now issued a gazette notification for the appointment of members to preside over the judicial commission in Mumbai, The Express Tribune has learnt.
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Business

Back to square one: Cabinet rejects gas load management plan
Zafar Bhutta
The Cabinet, on Thursday, rejected the gas load management programme for the ongoing month of December that proposed gas load-shedding in Punjab and Sindh while exempting Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Baluchistan, due to constitutional constraints. 

Pakistan Steel: White elephant for the govt, messiah for its employees
Kazim Alam
A reference to Pakistan Steel often evokes the image of an overstaffed, money-guzzling white elephant that needs a government bailout every few years.
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Sports

Hockey: Too late, Pakistan end losing streak
Fawad Hussain
After three successive losses that sealed Pakistan's Champions Trophy fate, the team's 6-2 win over Korea may help them finish fifth in the event and qualify for the next edition. 

Confidence the ingredient behind my success: Afridi
Our Correspondents
Dealing confidently with the pressure that accompanied his return to international cricket was the ingredient behind Shahid Afridi's man-of-the-series show against Sri Lanka, according to the former captain himself.
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Life & Style

Veena Malik concedes to shooting 'topless' for FHM, but not 'nude'
Saadia Qamar
Pakistani actress Veena Malik has conceded to being photographed in a "topless" shoot for FHM India, but denied that she shot a photograph in which she was "nude". 

Sim Sim Hamara: Rafi Peer's magnum opus
Sher Khan
Almost a year ago, news about a joint collaboration between the popular US children's series "Sesame Street" and the Pakistani puppet show group Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop caused quite a stir in Pakistan. This four-year long, $20 million USaid project called "Sim Sim Hamara" was staged to promote entertainment for children in Pakistan.
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Opinion 

Shia-Sunni reconciliation
Saleem H Ali 

Selective memory and 'kutti' diplomacy
Kamran Shafi 

Four myths about Kerry-Lugar-Berman
Michael Kugelman 

Withstanding the pressure economically
Dr Pervaiz Tahir 

Time to make new friends?
Anwer Mooraj 

Blogs

Zardari khappay!
Suleman Akhtar 

Video blog: A tribute to my cousin, a brave soldier
Ambreen Ejaz 

Will this be Ponting's last year?
Dr Amyn Malik 

Sex, sleaze, and The Dirty Picture
Sami Saayer 

Poll

In your opinion, is the PTI demand for politicians to declare their assets just a campaign tactic?

No (56%, 360 Votes)
Yes (44%, 282 Votes)
Total Voters: 642 

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