The Express Tribune Newsletter: January 05, 2012

Today's Headlines

January 05, 2012

Mocking press conference: PPP's top cadre served contempt notices Qaiser Zulfiqar  Taking action against the 'contemptuous' press conference which categorically rejected a Supreme Court decision in the Memogate case, the apex court on Wednesday issued contempt of court notices to Babar Awan and four other Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leaders, including two sitting ministers. _______________________________________________ National/City 50% drop in drone strikes as Pak-US ties plunge Our correspondents US drone strikes in Pakistan are still considered a taboo topic, but in spite of the little information available, reports indicate strikes have decreased by almost 50%.  A total of 118 drone attacks were reported in 2010, while in 2011 this figure dropped to 67 strikes, a comparative analysis by The Express Tribune reveals. Relations with neighbours crux of new foreign policy, asserts Khar Zahid Gishkori Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar announced on Wednesday that Pakistan's foreign policy was being reassessed with a significant focus on improving relationships with its neighbouring countries. Haqqani set to challenge Memogate commission's constitution Qaiser Zulfiqar On one hand, the judicial commission constituted by the Supreme Court to probe Memogate formally served notices to all   respondents in the case on Wednesday – while, on the other, one of the protagonists of the controversy is set to challenge the constitution of the body. 'Thorough review of setup': ICRC shuts three offices – more could follow Iftikhar Firdous The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the private humanitarian institution which has carried out operations even during the First and Second World Wars, has found the 'current situation and constraints' on its Pakistani mission, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) taxing enough to thoroughly review its setup in the country. Year of abnormalities: Capricious weather patterns to persist in 2012 Sumera Khan The year 2011 was indicative of the increasing capriciousness of Pakistan's weather patterns; and the country will be worse-off in 2012 if the government does not plan ahead, warn meteorological experts. _______________________________________________ Business Civilian aid dries up: US refuses to fund Pakistan-American Enterprise Fund Shahbaz Rana After suspending military assistance, the United States has now refused to finance the $300 million Pakistan-American Enterprise Fund as tensions between Islamabad and Washington start taking their toll on civilian aid. Grounded for life: One year after crash, JS Air finally closes its doors Saad Hasan A year after a deadly accident killed 21 people, JS Air – reputed to be have been one of the leading chartered air service providers in the country – has decided to shut down its operations after several of its customers were scared away towards its competitors, senior company officials told The Express Tribune. _______________________________________________ Sports 'Players want foreign coach' Shahzada Usman Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has backed the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) stance of hiring a foreign coach, confirming that majority of the players in the national squad will also back such a move. 2nd Test: Captain Clarke pummels sorry India Our Correspondents Michael Clarke posted the highest score by an Australian at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Ricky Ponting struck his first Test century in two years as the hosts pounded India to finish on 482 for four in the second Test. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Ain't no mountain high enough Sarah Khan From being a painter to a model to a musician to an actor, Pakistani pop superstar Ali Zafar has come a long way.  Block Seven turns up the heat Saadia Qamar Anoushey Ashraf knows how to wear a lot of hats. She has established herself in the past as a VJ with a cult following, a host for some of the biggest shows in the industry and a designer with her label Block Seven in 2010. This winter, Ashraf along with her two sisters, Natasha Qizilbash and Alizeh Ashraf, put on their designer hats again and created an exclusive 2012 post winter collection which has been on display at The Forum from January 3 and will continue till January 7. _______________________________________________

Opinion The gas fix Khurram Husain The Great Game revisited Imtiaz Gul Doctors, meet engineers Mohammad Hamid Zaman A petition on land reforms Syed Mohammad Ali Pakistan-US relations: year end review Tariq Fatemi  Blogs Salmaan Taseer's sacrifice was in vain Jahanzaib Haque We are left to fend for ourselves Anum Fatima 10 things I miss about PTV Sarmad Tariq How is 'marital rape' not rape? Aneka Chohan Poll Should Pakistan import gas from Iran despite the possibility of US sanctions? No (8%, 52 Votes) Yes (92%, 602 Votes) Total Voters: 654  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: January 04, 2012

Today's Headlines

January 04, 2012

US wants relations with Pakistan 'to get back to normal' Huma Imtiaz The US State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, on Tuesday said that following the passage of the defence authorisation act, the United States would now have to certify that cooperation is going well in order to release military funds. It's essentially a continuation of some of the issues that we've had before. _______________________________________________ National/City Positive signals from US-Pak relations panel Kamran Yousaf The government has asked the panel tasked with rewriting the terms of engagement with the United States to speed up its work, amid whispers that strong bilateral cooperation on the ground will resume shortly. The development indicates Islamabad's willingness to sort out its differences with Washington sooner than later. Stepping up: Imran mulls civil disobedience Zahid Gishkori The rising political force has decided to take it up a notch.  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said he would escalate pressure on the government to step out, or face a 'civil disobedience movement'. The countdown begins...: Govt given seven days to implement NRO verdict Faisal Shakeel With the leadership of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party still dealing with the allegations of Memogate, another legal front has been reopened in the Supreme Court - that of its 'original sin', the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance. The real essence of Salmaan Taseer Ayesha Tammy Haq A little over 30 years ago I met Salmaan Taseer in Dubai. I was straight out of law school and working for a US-Pakistani firm in Dubai. There were few people a 22-year-old could find much commonality with. Salmaan was different that way.  Deadlock ends: Transporters, CNG union call off strike Zafar Bhutta The All-Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) and transporters called off their strike in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after successful negotiations with the petroleum ministry on Tuesday. _______________________________________________ Business Pakistan's only coal-fired power plant gathering dust since 2006 Farooq Baloch Out of order since 2006, two units of the Lakhra Power Plant – the only coal-fired power plant in Pakistan – will continue to be nonoperational since the Water and Power Development Authority has not disbursed the plant's maintenance fund, apparently due to a leasing dispute. ECC meeting: Govt finally decides to buy 378,000 tons of sugar Our Correspondents After dithering for months, the government on Tuesday finally decided to procure 378,000 metric tons of sugar at a cost of about Rs17.5 billion, or about Rs46.25 per kilogram, a move that is likely to come under sharp criticism since it pays the entire amount to the winning bidders upfront without requiring any immediate delivery. _______________________________________________ Sports Contracts list may be expanded Fawad Hussain The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may expand the list of centrally-contracted players as the selection committee meets this week to finalise fresh list for the first half of the year, according to acting chief selector Mohammad Illyas. 2nd Test: Pattinson continues dream start as India falter again Our Correspondents Australia were on top after a remarkable beginning in the second Test against India, recovering from a shaky start to their innings on a day that saw 13 wickets tumble. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Palwashay: Music never dies Sohail Khattak After fleeing from the Taliban's custody and struggling for more than five years as a helper in a tyre showroom at Purana Maripur, Rehman Shah Betani, a young Pashto singer has finally succeeded in releasing his second album Palwashay in Karachi. 2012 flicks: Films frenzy Our Correspondents It's already been a couple of days since the new year started; which means we can officially start looking ahead — a future of promise and potential. What this year will bring in terms of movies is one of the most exciting parts of the prediction game. Below is the list of some of the most awaited films to come this year. _______________________________________________

Opinion We never learned Sami Shah Has anything changed since Taseer's murder? Raza Rumi Banishing memogeist Ejaz Haider An unbecoming tantrum Feisal H Naqvi Copts and the Arab Spring Khaled Ahmed Blogs How is 'marital rape' not rape? Aneka Chohan Do we remember what Taseer was fighting for? Hafsa Ahmad Call me an Indian Pakistani Dr Ilmana Fasih Why Memogate doesn't matter Farooq Tirmizi Poll Do you believe women should change their last name after getting married? No (45%, 380 Votes) Yes (55%, 459 Votes) Total Voters: 839 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: January 03, 2012

Today's Headlines

January 03, 2012

'Secret' talks with Taliban reach decisive phase Zia Khan 'Secret talks' between Pakistan's security agencies and the local Taliban – who have reportedly splintered down into many different groups – have entered a decisive phase. _______________________________________________ National/City Memogate commission: Frenzied first day sees spate of orders, questions Qaiser Zulfiqar With only four weeks to complete investigations, time is of the essence for a judicial commission formed to probe the Memogate scandal. No regrets for setting up military court: Nawaz Our Correspondents Nawaz Sharif, the eponymous chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said on Monday that he felt no qualms for whatever he did for Karachi's peace during his time as the country's prime minister. NATO wants relations with Pakistan back on track Our Correspondents Nato wants to get relations with Pakistan back on track "as quickly as possible" to reopen its key supply route for foreign troops fighting in Afghanistan, a coalition spokesman said Monday. Suicide attacks registered marked decline: report   Mohammed Rizwan Some silver lining appears to be on the horizon – the year 2011 witnessed a marked decline in suicide attacks in the country, according to a Conflict Monitoring Centre report, a data collection NGO which taps into interior ministry, health department and inter-services public relations (ISPR) resources. In times of peril: 'Petrol prices up 47% in four-year period' Our Correspondents Consumers have borne a whopping 47 per cent increase in the prices of petroleum products under the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led government, lawmakers were told on Monday. _______________________________________________ Business Price stability: December inflation down to single digits Shahbaz Rana For the first time in over two years, inflation in Pakistan dropped to single digits, with the consumer price index climbing by 9.75% in December, compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Monday. Balancing act: Power ministry seeks Rs90b for oil purchase Zafar Bhutta As the country faces an acute power shortage due to drop in hydropower production, the Ministry of Water and Power has requested the prime minister to immediately release Rs90 billion for purchase of an additional quantity of oil for thermal power plants, which will help reduce outages in the current month. _______________________________________________ Sports 2012 will show us where we stand: Misbah Our Correspondents Misbahul Haq might have led Pakistan to a perfect series-record in 2011, but his defensive approach, questioned by coach Mohsin Khan as well, has forced the team captain to face a lot of criticism. Mohsin not worried about future Fawad Hussain With recent events linking Dav Whatmore to the position of Pakistan's head coach, the interim coach Mohsin Khan has remained unperturbed about his future, opting to focus, instead, on the upcoming series. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Knowledge Factory: A step towards New Age education Hani Taha Despite the fact that Lahore has been the seat of culture in the country and had an enviable social calendar once, replete with plays and concerts, certain inertia has set in with the change of the general dynamics of in the country. The public spaces that once offered a ground for creative expression for young people and the young at heart are no longer there. 'Nek Parveen': A mixed bag of highs and lows Rafay Mahmood After a successful curtain raiser for Napa Repertory Theatre's (NRT) "Nek Parveen", there was much hype surrounding its staging at the Karachi Arts Council on December 30 till January 8. With a winning combination of literatis and a stellar cast behind the production, it seemed it was bound for success.  _______________________________________________

Opinion The problem lies with you Bina Shah The Taliban's pound of flesh Farrukh Khan Pitafi Fake scholarship Dr Tariq Rahman This year, I resolve to shave in a cup of water Arif Belgaumi A bleak political horizon Anwer Mooraj Blogs Being a nurse in Pakistan Maati TV Fashion 2011: Here to stay or totally passé? Laaleen Khan Wanted: More than a uniform education system Syed Nadir El Edroos This year, I need to get in to college Meiryum Ali Poll Has the current rift between Pakistan and the US benefited Pakistan? No (38%, 246 Votes) Yes (62%, 406 Votes) Total Voters: 652 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: January 02, 2012

Today's Headlines

January 02, 2012

Pak-US relations: Ties may thaw soon, as back channels intensify Kamran Yousaf A seasonal thaw in frosty Pakistan-US relations may be round the corner, thanks to backdoor efforts currently under way, sources say. _______________________________________________ National/City If all else fails, president may pardon Haqqani Zahid Gishkori / Zia Khan The counsel for the main accused has quit, citing foul play, while the government is considering a pardon if a verdict of treason is reached. Memogate, essentially, has only just begun. 'Third force': Gilani warns Nawaz that both lose if govt falls Abdul Manan The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has again sent a message to its rival, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, that when it comes to defending democracy, the two parties are 'in this together'. Raisani 'mediating' between PPP, PML-N Our Correspondents The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party and its arch rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz are warming up to each other in an attempt to put up a united front against the common foe: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, whom they call the 'establishment's party'. Kidney trade: Sell an organ, become worse off Taha Siddique Just over a year ago Pervez Masih from Youhanabad, a Christian neighbourhood outside Lahore, had an argument with his wife. This was not caused by run-of-the-mill domestic irritation. His wife's grievance was legitimate: she wanted to stop Pervez from selling his kidney. PIA's downward spiral: Great people become late people Shahram Haque Muhammad Nadim, a frequent business traveller on Pakistan International Airlines, recalls the days when he actually looked forward to flying on the national carrier. "The food was good, the service on domestic flights was average. The biggest advantage was reliability. PIA was usually on time and when there was a delay, a replacement aircraft would soon be arranged. _______________________________________________ Business Lights, camera, action!: The revival of the cinema industry in Pakistan Farooq Baloch / Rafay Mahmood Struggling for its survival for the past few decades, Pakistan's cinema industry has recovered dramatically, only to emerge as a lucrative business witnessing 'biggest opening' records made and broken one after another. Global financial fiasco: End of the age of US economic dominance Zain Raza In the spring of 2008, the real estate bubble popped in the United States and it triggered a financial tsunami that engulfed the entire globe. _______________________________________________ Sports Whatmore resigns as Knight Riders' coach Our Correspondents Dav Whatmore, who has been touted as the front-runner to become Pakistan's next head coach, has resigned from his coaching job at the Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, according to ESPNcricinfo. Cheema wants controversy-free series Fawad Hussain From blame games to altercations between players, Pakistan's last series against England in 2010 saw plenty of unwanted controversy. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Maula Jutt and aliens: Kachee Goliyan launch their first comic book Our Correspondents The New Year kicked off with the launch of "The Fallen Warrior", the comic book by Kachee Goliyan. The two main characters of the Kachee Goliyan, were inspired from its creators, 21-year-old Ramish Safa and Nofal Khan, who study at the Institute of Business Management (IoBM). JC and Sufi, who are passionate about Doodh Pati and Nihari, get themselves in bizarre situations and find solutions to them. Strings rock India Shahzeb Shaikh Live performances have always been Pakistani pop rock band Strings' forte. The latest one was a Times of India Mumbai Mirror concert at the Bandra Fort, a beautiful open amphitheatre with a crowd attendance of approximately 2,000.  _______________________________________________

Opinion Remembering Salmaan Taseer Pervez Hoodbhoy Why a 'bloody civilian' cannot be at the ISI? Shahzad Chaudhry A true leader in the making? Arsla Jawaid Climbing out of the deep hole Abid Hasan Uneasy thoughts in the New Year Tanvir Ahmad Khan Blogs 10 notable protests, political movements of 2011 Michael Kugelman Rehman Malik tops 2011 'Hall of Shame' Tanzeel Ahmad Top 5 video games of 2011 Noman Ansari Star struck 2011 Anum Sadiq Poll In your opinion, has PML-N been a 'friendly opposition' to the PPP-led government? No (22%, 137 Votes) Yes (78%, 493 Votes) Total Voters: 630 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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Top 10 on Tribune (Dec 25-Jan 01, 2012)

Top 10 stories of the week

Dec 25-Jan 01, 2012

1. Child prodigy: Lights dim on a beautiful mind – Shamsul Islam 2. Imran's dream team wows Karachi – Saba Imtiaz/web Desk 3. On the fourth death anniversary of my mother – Bilawal Bhutto Zardari 4. Happy holidays: Christians gather at St Andrew's Church for mass on Christmas day – Noman Ahmed 5. Pakistan maintains top slot in Google search for 'sex' – Web Desk 6. Veena Malik denies nude photo shoot for FHM – Web Desk 7. Aarifa Randhawa: Breathing proof that miracles happen – Shamsul Islam 8. Veena Malik says FHM photoshoot was a 'mistake': Indian media – Web Desk 9. If Kayani's, Pasha's heads roll, SC may come to rescue – Kamran Yousaf 10. PTI rally: Imran lights up Karachi – Saba Imtiaz

Top Business Retail expansion: World's largest chain silent on entering Pakistani market Farooq Baloch Top Sports 'Next time, I'll come here to fight' - Amir Khan Obaid Abbasi Top 3 blogs 1. Dear Imran Khan, I beg to differ… Imran S Syed 2. The curious case of Aisha Khan Mani Khawaja 3. PTI rally: Sights, sounds, observations from Karachi Mhd Bilal Lakhani  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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