Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 28, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 28, 2011

 

At Garhi Khuda Bux: PPP stares down critics with own show of strength
Sarfaraz Memon

He took to the stage resurgent, smiling, and confident. In his first public appearance since his return to Pakistan after an illness, President Asif Ali Zardari addressed a large gathering of supporters of his ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), vowing to defend democracy and even humorously replying to some of the jibes his political opponents had thrown his way in recent days.
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National/City

Memogate case: Asma Jehangir drags ISI chief into the ring
Faisal Shakeel
The role of the country's premier intelligence agency came under the spotlight at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, as Asma Jehangir, counsel for former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani, defended her client in the Memogate case. 

Pak-India talks: Vital accords on nukes, missile tests extended
Kamran Yousaf
The end of the two-day talks held between Pakistan and India showed some results, but it was apparent no drastic changes were on the agenda. Both sides have agreed to extend two vital accords on the pre-notification of ballistic missile tests and reducing the risk of accidents related to nuclear weapons for another five years. 

Black magic: Cradle snatching to grave robbing
Shamsul Islam
The body of a newborn baby was excavated from the Malikpur graveyard in Faisalabad on Monday evening. 

Resources for military hinder welfare schemes
Rabia Mehmood
The division of resources between the defence and the social sector in Pakistan is tilted towards the former, preventing improvements in the welfare of the people, according to Human Rights Commission of Pakistan report on the federal and provincial budgets of the current year. 

Balochistan security review: Sharp fall in target killing of settlers
Shehzad Baloch
While violence appeared to have declined in Balochistan in 2011, its contours also changed, data available to The Express Tribune suggests.
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Business

Ministry seeks slower pace for new gas connections
Zafar Bhutta
When in a hole, the first rule is to stop digging. As the gas shortage continues to worsen, the petroleum ministry is moving to reverse the damage caused by the government's revisions to the gas supply policy, which has put enormous stress on the existing gas supply infrastructure, raised consumer prices and strained the financial position of the state-owned gas supply companies. 

All textile units closed as gas supply stops
Shamsul Islam
Gas pressure in Faisalabad industries has dropped to zero, leading to closure of all textile manufacturing units which have got notices of an indefinite suspension of gas supply.
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Sports

'Next time, I'll come here to fight' - Amir Khan
Obaid Abbasi
Amir Khan is in Islamabad as a guest at the ongoing Second Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Championship but the former world champion has confirmed that his lifelong dream of entering the ring in the country of his parents' birth will force him to visit Pakistan as a contestant in the next championship. 

Waseem crushes Indian opponent in semis
Our Correspondents
Mohammad Waseem beat India's Madan Lal in the 52-kilogramme semi-finals of the second Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Tournament, prompting the Pakistan coach to label him better than Haroon Khan.
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Life & Style

For Danish Ali, laughter is the best medicine
Rafay Mahmood
Despite the popularity of international stand-up comedian Russell Peters and the daily show host Jon Stewart amongst Pakistani audience, stand-up comedy, especially in English, remains a relatively new concept. 

Syed Mukhtar Ahmed: 'Dramas should be a realistic escape'
Saadia Qamar
Syed Mukhtar Ahmed launched his career in 2000 in the PTV produced serial "Sahab Bahadur" by Qaiser Nizamani. Soon after, he got an offer to work in Qasim Jalali's play "Aik Hi Rishta", which was again a PTV project. Today, this gifted actor has taken a break from acting and is working for a multinational company and simultaneously running his own production house called Gold Bridge Media.
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Opinion
 

The Bold and the Beyghairat
Feisal H Naqvi 

What does Pakistan want in Afghanistan?
Najmuddin A Shaikh 

Dishonourable murder
Syed Mohammad Ali 

Seeking clarity within confusion
Tariq Fatemi 

The road much travelled
Amber Darr 

Blogs

CNG blasts: Too many deaths
Asad Kharal 

A tribute to Benazir, the eighth queen of Bhittai
Suleman Akhtar 

Pakistani politics, a messy affair
Taimur Arbab 

The fall of Blackberry
Muhammad Umair Maqsood 

Poll

Do you believe a civil nuclear deal between US and India would be harmful to Pakistan's nuclear program?

No (44%, 225 Votes)
Yes (56%, 291 Votes)
Total Voters: 516 

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Monday, December 26, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 27, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 27, 2011

 

Memogate scandal: Govt blames army for keeping PM 'in the dark'
Faisal Shakeel
The battle lines appear to have been drawn. The embittered government is in no mood to go down without a fight. On Monday it hit back at the military in the Memogate scandal, squarely blaming the army and intelligence chiefs for "keeping Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the dark" on the issue.
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National/City

Cooling temperatures: No plan of sacking Kayani, Pasha: Gilani
Ferya Ilyas
Amidst strained relations with the powerful security establishment, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday sought to quell widespread rumours that the government planned to sack the army and intelligence chiefs as a last resort in the Memogate controversy. 

Old rivals to team up against 'common foe'
Zia Khan
Alarmed by the growing popularity of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), two bitter rivals of the past have started warming up to each other. 

Bilateral talks: India, Pakistan consider demilitarising LoC
Kamran Yousaf
Pakistan and India are considering a new proposal to remove weapons from the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed region of Kashmir, in a development that may prove crucial for a resolution of the longstanding issue. 

President, PM strategise before BB death anniversary
News Desk
Before President Asif Ali Zardari left on Monday to attend the death anniversary of former premier Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bux, he held a hush-hush meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, widely considered an interlocutor in the recent government-military row. 

Old rivals to team up against 'common foe'
Zia Khan
Alarmed by the growing popularity of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), two bitter rivals of the past have started warming up to each other.
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Business

Cut your losses: Temasek may be selling off NIB Bank to Chinese bank
Farooq Tirmizi
Fed up with mounting losses at its only major investment in Pakistan, the Singapore-based Temasek Holdings is selling off its stake in NIB Bank and is reportedly in talks with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, sources told The Express Tribune. 

PEPCO's debt soars to Rs350b
Shahram Haq
The debt of Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) has soared above Rs350 billion this month as the company could not make enough recoveries from the government and private sector to prevent its debt from piling up, The Express Tribune has learnt.
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Sports

Boxing star Amir Khan arrives in Pakistan for tournament
Our Correspondents
British boxer Amir Khan arrived in Pakistan on Monday to participate as a chief guest in the second Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Tournament. 

Boxing: Good day for Pakistan in the ring
Obaid Abbasi
Two boxers from Pakistan-B qualified for the semi-finals of the second Benazir International Championship.
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Life & Style

The acting prowess of Zeba Bakhtiar
Saadia Qamar
With the scorching heat of the Karachi sun over my head, I relentlessly searched for Zeba Bakhtiar's residence in one of the confusing lanes of Defence Housing Authority (DHA). After much ado, I finally stepped inside the star's house and waited for her to appear. 

Amrika Chalo: Satire leads the way
Ali Usman
One of the most creative ways to make a statement about a certain sensitive or serious issue, without raising too many eyebrows, is to rely on the age-old literary technique of satire. And that's exactly what Ajoka did with its new play "Amrika Chalo — Destination USA".
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Opinion 

On the fourth death anniversary of my mother
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari 

The Pied Piper in Karachi
Atika Rehman 

Remembering Benazir
Farahnaz Ispahani 

On a collision course
Kuldip Nayar 

The mother of all dictatorships
Anwer Mooraj 

Blogs

Think before you kill
Talha Nadeem 

PTI rally: Sights, sounds, observations from Karachi
Muhammad Bilal Lakhani 

Grooming batsmen for all conditions
Muhammad Ali Nekokara 

Is the PPP defiant or in disarray?
Nadir Hassan 

Poll

Do you believe Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's Karachi rally was a success?

No (8%, 77 Votes)
Yes (92%, 904 Votes)
Total Voters: 981 

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 26, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 26, 2011

 

PTI rally: Imran lights up Karachi
Saba Imtiaz

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan looked entirely assured at his party's rally in Karachi. With a slew of big-name politicians under his belt and attendance by hundreds of thousands of people from Karachi and other districts in Sindh and Punjab, Imran addressed the crowd with his usual mix of rhetoric, emotions and a few well-placed jibes, all set to a catchy soundtrack.
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National/City

135th birth anniversary: Pakistan pays tribute to the Quaid-e-Azam
Our Correspondents
Today (Sunday) marks the 135th birth anniversary of the founder of Pakistan ­– Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Cadets from Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) marched at the mausoleum of the Quaid-e-Azam in Karachi early morning on Sunday and hoisted the guard of honour. 

Analysis: Be careful, the road is full of landmines!
M Ziauddin
Imran Khan is a great achiever. And by Sunday he seems to have already achieved nearly half of what he had set for. He certainly faces a more formidable, uphill task on his way to achieving the next half, but for that he has 12 more months – enough to affect decisively the results of next general elections. 

Firdous throws in towel, takes it back, wipes tears
Hafees Tunio
A weeping cabinet member resigning live on air: an unprecedented event, even in the often bizarre world of Pakistani politics. 

No military coup?: If Kayani's, Pasha's heads roll, SC may come to rescue
Kamran Yousaf
Rumours abound as to who's going to make the first move – the civilian government, or the military establishment? In the possible scenario that the government sacks Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani or Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) Shuja Pasha over Memogate, the army  may approach the Supreme Court (SC).
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Business

Retail expansion: World's largest chain silent on entering Pakistani market
Farooq Baloch
Even as its efforts to enter the Indian retail market have been rebuffed by regulatory constraints, Walmart, the world's largest retailer, neither confirmed nor denied speculation that it was eyeing opportunities in Pakistan. 

From gold to dollar: How the modern financial system is undermining Pakistan
Zain Raza
When Pakistan gained independence, it entered a financial system in which the odds were stacked against it. As the financial system changes almost every 40 years, it is vital to analyse its history and mechanism in order to understand the dynamics that influence Pakistan.
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Sports

Hockey: Pakistan complete China clean sweep
Shahzada Usman
Pakistan defeated China 2-1 in the fourth and last game of the Friendship Hockey Series to complete a clean sweep at the National Hockey Stadium, Lahore. They earlier clinched the first match 3-0 before recording a 5-3 and 3-1 wins in the following two matches. 

Pakistan invites Whatmore to coach team
Our Correspondents
Pakistan's cricket board Sunday said it has invited former World Cup winning Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore to finalise his appointment as head coach of the national team, an official said.
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Life & Style

Qavi Khan: An artiste's lament
Saadia Qamar
His riveting performance as Ghalib at Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) or his acting in PTV drama "Koi Na Adda Sanj Mila" are a testament to Qavi Khan claim. Besides television and theatre, he has continuously showcased his artistic ability  in films and radio as well. Currently, the actor has his eyes set on a project for the Express Entertainment Channel called "Main Baba Ki Ladli". 

4084: 'Hawa Hawa' flies to Bollywood
Rafay Mahmood
Rumours of Hassan Jahangir's "Hawa Hawa" featuring in a Bollywood film have finally been confirmed. Director Hriday Shetty's latest film titled 4084 (Chaalis Chaurasi) is going to feature a remixed version of the original "Hawa Hawa" sung by Hassan Jahangir.
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Opinion 

A story on memogate
Shahzad Chaudhry 

Targeting dual nationals
Ayesha Ijaz Khan 

Personal accounts of 1971
Ajmal Kamal 

Saving democracy
Rasul Bakhsh Rais 

Iraq — still a potential battlefield
Tanvir Ahmad Khan 

Blogs

Demystifying Jinnah's Pakistan
Kashif Chaudhry 

8 things I love about Christmas
Rosario Fernandes 

The spirit of Christmas
Roland DeSouza 

The curious case of Aisha Khan
Mani Khawaja 

Poll

Do you think Makhdoom Javed Hashmi's decision to join the PTI is a wise one?

No (35%, 594 Votes)
Yes (65%, 1086 Votes)
Total Voters: 1680 

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Top 10 on Tribune (Dec 18-25 2011)

 

Top 10 stories of the week

Dec 18-Dec 25, 2011
 


1.
Veena Malik denies nude photo shoot for FHM – Web Desk

2. Karachi goes gaga over Imran Khan telephone call, in new PTI marketing ploy – Rabia Ali

3. Musharraf announces January 2012 return – Abdul Manan

4. Army wants Zardari out but not a coup: Military sources - Reuters

5. Talking dog most watched YouTube video of 2011 - IANS

6. Shifting tides: Javed Hashmi on verge of joining PTI – Abdul Manan

7. Swelling ranks: PML-N loses stalwart to PTI – Saba Imtiaz

8. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf rally in Karachi: Live updates – Web Desk

9. Aisamul Haq ties the knot – Web Desk

10. Veena Malik, India in the line of fire – Abdul Manan

 

 
Top Opinion

Our golden boy
Anna Khan

Top Business

Pakistani rice exporters losing out to India

Imran Rana

Top 3 blogs

1. The curious case of Aisha Khan
Mani Khawaja

2. Not with that thing on, sister
Nuvaira A

3. Humsafar: Here's what the noise is about
Quratalain Tejani

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You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 25, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 25, 2011

 

'Tsunami' intensifies: PTI bags Hashmi, eyes more bigwigs
Abdul Manan / Irfan Ghauri http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/311648-Hashmi-1324760258-788-640x480.jpg

The surging Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s latest show of strength, in Karachi today, will be performed on the back of an aggressive bagging spree, which has seen it woo politicians from across the political spectrum.
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National/City reports

Benazir Bhutto assassination: Prosecution makes plea to expedite case
Mudassir Raja
Four years after former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi, the prosecution in the case requested the trial court on Saturday for day-to-day hearings to bring the arrested accused to justice.

Executive-judiciary relations: All's well, but history bothers us, says Chandio
Z Ali
Despite fervent attempts to dispel the spectre of clash amongst state institutions, a senior ruling party leader admitted they were concerned by the judiciary.

Parliamentary Committee on National Security: What Musharraf agreed to do, post 9/11
Zahid Gishkori
After over a decade of secrecy and silence, some semblance of the nature of nine agreements between former president Pervez Musharraf and the US and its allies have finally been publicised. All agreements were drafted after Pakistan joined the 'war on terror' in 2001.

Nisar warns govt against removing army, ISI chiefs
Qamar Zaman
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Saturday threatened agitation if the government took any steps against the chief of army staff and director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence prior to the Supreme Court's decision on Memogate.

NATO attack was deliberate: K-P governor
Umer Farooq
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Barrister Masood Kausar has termed the November 26 Nato air strike at Salala check-post in Mohmand Agency "deliberate".
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Business

Weekly review: Stock market makes modest recovery
Bilal Umar
The return of President Asif Ali Zardari improved market sentiments as the benchmark KSE-100 index gained of 2.5% or 273 points during the week ended December 23.

Gas supply: Fertiliser, CNG lobbies beat back power companies
Zafar Bhutta
Strong lobbying efforts by the compressed natural gas (CNG) and fertiliser sector has resulted in more than 600 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) being diverted from power plants to those sectors, and resulted in a nearly-fold jump in the cost of electricity production.
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Sports

Hockey: Pakistan clinch series against China
Shahzada Usman
Pakistan continued their winning ways against China, beating the tourists 3-0 in the third match of the four-Test series in Faisalabad to clinch the Friendship Hockey Series.

Aqeel bags singles title at tennis tournament
Natasha Raheel
Pakistan number one Aqeel Khan stormed to victory in the men's singles final at the UBL International Hardcourt Tennis Championship, beating Muhammad Abid Mushtaq 6-1, 6-0 at the Karachi Gymkhana.
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Life & Style

Patriotic partners
News Desk
A few months ago, Junoon's vocalist and guitarist Salman Ahmad tweeted about his collaboration with Junaid Jamshed.

Topi ke peechay kia hay?
Saadia Qamar
When it comes to the subject of hats, couture hat designer Louis Green says its best: "wearing a hat is like having a baby or a puppy; everyone stops to coo and talk about it."
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Magazine

The diamonds glitter no more
Ali Usman
As night time approaches, the synchronised sounds of the tabla and the jingling ghunghroo reach a crescendo and the high-storey houses, with intricately carved balconies and awning windows, begin dazzling with bright lights. Their windows and doors remain ajar till the wee hours of the morning, offering potential customers a sneak peek of the revelry of music and dance going on inside.

10 things I hate about Bollywood
T Pasha
Every movie has the same storyline. In the old days, movies always involved the hot guy saving the hot girl from the villains. Now, the hot guy falls in love with the girl, but somehow they just can't or don't want to be together, so the movie is a series of events which makes them fall for each other. Where is the originality?
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Opinion

Our warrior princess
Saroop Ijaz

Why is the army so popular in Pakistan?
Aakar Patel

IK2: Ghost protocol
Fahd Husain

Setting right our railways
Dr Nadia Tahir

Muslim view of 'decline'
Khaled Ahmed

Blogs

8 things I love about Christmas
Rozario Fernandes

The spirit of Christmas
Roland DeSouza

The curious case of Aisha Khan
Mani Khawaja

News that is music to the ears
Samia Saleem

Poll

Do you think Makhdoom Javed Hashmi's decision to join the PTI is a wise one?

Yes (60%, 795 Votes)
No (40%, 520 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,315

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