The Express Tribune Newsletter: February 04, 2012

Today's Headlines

February 04, 2012

Retirement plan: ISI chief looking forward to golfing instead of spying? Kamran Yousaf Arguably, it is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. Heading a spy agency that has more often been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons is certainly a tough task. And perhaps that is why the incumbent chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha does not seem keen to get another extension in his service. _______________________________________________ National/City Preparations: Gilani sets ground for fresh court encounter Our Correspondents A tactful prime minister, it would seem initially, had gone into his shell. A day after being indicted by the apex court in contempt proceedings, he did not use the word 'immunity' or defend his actions. Benazir Income Support Programme:  Does the cash flow to blue-eyed voters? Gulraiz Khan / Zahid Gishkori / Irfan Ghauri The numbers don't make sense at first glance. Punjab, with more than twice the population of Sindh, has two-thirds of the number of families considered eligible for income support in the latter. Pen-friends: Mullah Omar writes to Obama, asks for Gitmo prisoner transfer Our Correspondents The White House received a letter last year, purportedly directly from Mullah Omar, the reclusive leader of the Taliban, asking the United States to deliver militant prisoners whose transfer is now at the heart of the Obama administration's bid to broker peace in Afghanistan. Off the hook: Three phrama firms get clean bill of health Asad Kharal The Federal Investigation Agency Punjab has discharged cases against three pharmaceutical laboratories allegedly responsible for supplying contaminated medicines to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) after they were cleared of criminal offence. Comfort & style: First business train chugs its way out of Lahore Our Correspondents Pakistan's first-ever business train – with trappings of luxury, comfort and style – made its debut journey from the Lahore city station to Karachi on Friday even as Pakistan Railways struggles to chug out of cash crunch. _______________________________________________ Business From Kamra to Karachi via the Chinese: Military debuts in the handheld market Saba Imtiaz The newest entrant in the market for tablets and eBook readers – dominated by the likes of Apple, Amazon and Samsung – is none other than the Pakistani military. Money matters: ICAP graduates pocket the highest salaries Kazim Alam "If you're a social outcast who's emotionally numb and creatively challenged, you may well be on your way to becoming a chartered accountant," thus began the speech of a high achiever at the gold medal distribution ceremony of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) last October. _______________________________________________ Sports 3rd Test: Rehman spins Pakistan into contention Our Correspondents England edged to a slender five-run lead over Pakistan at stumps on the opening day of the third and final Test against Pakistan in Dubai. India finally taste success in Australia Our Correspondents MS Dhoni must have breathed a sigh of relief as India ended their win-drought on the Australian tour, clinching the second and final Twenty20 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground by eight wickets to level the series. ______________________________________________ Life & Style In the spotlight: Screening of Hashtnagar Momina Sibtain The team of Heinrich Boll Stiftung (HBS) hosted an evening at their Lahore premises on February 2, screening Ammar Aziz's documentary Hashtnagar. In the documentary, Aziz focuses on the obscure area in the middle of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Rise of the Oppressed: The one to watch Our Correspondents Singer, film-maker and Marxist activist Ammar Aziz was recently included in the Christian Science Monitor's '30 under 30' list and was the only Pakistani amongst 4,300 applicants for the Talent Campus of the Berlin International Film Festival 2012 for his film Rise of the Oppressed. _______________________________________________

Opinion The very excellent Difa-e-Pakistan Council Tazeen Javed Oh, democracy! Amina Jilani Khar in Kabul Tanvir Ahmad Khan Samarkand Fort Salman Rashid The sack of Rajshahi Ajmal Kamal Blogs Welcome to the war in Balochistan Jahanzaib Haque Saving Face at the Oscars Faisal Kapadia  The Pakistan-Iran pipedream Michael Kugelman The limits of judicial review Ahmad Sultan Poll A leaked Nato report claims Pakistan's security services are secretly aiding the Afghan Taliban. Do you agree? No (60%, 458 Votes) Yes (40%, 310 Votes) Total Voters: 768 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: February 3, 2012

Today's Headlines

February 03, 2012

Reaction: Everything, and anything, is possible Qaiser Zulfiqar As the tussle between the Supreme Court and the prime minister approaches breaking point, constitutional experts and lawyers are eager for the rule of law to be established. Senator S M Zafar, a renowned lawyer, termed the situation 'unusual' and hoped that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would change his attitude. _______________________________________________  National/City PM summoned again: Charged with contempt Azam Khan The political calm was short-lived. The prime minister, it transpired on Thursday, will indeed have to face contempt charges.  Resolution passes: Joint charge on fuel price puts govt on back foot Zahid Gishkori / Zia Khan Fuel prices is the incumbent government's Achilles' heel – it managed, yet again, to bring the opposition and the allied parties together, a feat even the notorious Memogate could not achieve. Landmark women's bill clears last hurdle Sumera Khan It has been a long time in the making.  I will quit politics if proved ISI funded PTI: Imran Zainab Imam Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has thrown down the gauntlet that he will quit politics if it is proven that his party has been funded by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.  Regulating live TV: How to tame the watchdog? Zehra Abid Pakistan's freewheeling electronic media, still in its nascent stage, needs much disciplining to step out of its current "state of anarchy," journalists say. _______________________________________________  Business TAPI pipeline: Pakistan proposes uniform transit fee Zafar Bhutta Pakistan has proposed Afghanistan a uniform transit fee for the import of gas under the $7.6 billion Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, government officials say.  BlackBerry woes: Technical glitch takes down app store in a day Farooq Baloch A technical glitch at the end of Canadian smartphone maker Research in Motion (RIM) has restricted BlackBerry users to access its app store after using it for almost a day for the first time across Pakistan. App World – RIM's official store for BlackBerry applications – was accessible across Pakistan on Tuesday evening but went down late Wednesday, marking an abrupt end to the jubilations of BlackBerry users. _______________________________________________  Sports 3rd Test: With aims of a whitewash Our Correspondents Not even the most optimistic of Pakistan fans would have predicted the team would go into the third and final Test, which starts in Dubai today, aiming for a clean sweep over the world's top-ranked team.  Pakistan too hot to handle, says Rashid Latif Our Correspondents Pakistan go into the final Test against England with the series already in the bag and former captain Rashid Latif said the triumph indicated the giant strides that cricket has taken in the country. _______________________________________________  Life & Style Over 6 million Pakistanis on Facebook! Web Desk While Pakistan's burgeoning young population is often termed a "time bomb", for social networking website Facebook the mammoth number suggests significant growth potential.  Toni & Guy: Music to my hair Hani Taha Hair is like fabric," states Shammal Qureshi, Director of the Toni & Guy salon in Pakistan whose vision and understanding of hair is akin to a fashion designer's interpretation of bare cloth. _______________________________________________

Opinion  A pyrrhic civilian victory Nadir Hassan  Some sanity, but the shenanigans go on Kamran Shafi  Dual citizens and political office Arshad Zaman  Moral policing and taxes Saad Shah  The BISP and the coming election Dr Pervez Tahir  Blogs The limits of judicial review Ahmad Sultan  Pak vs England: Fantastic stats for Team Green Umair Qazi  Of laptops, marriages and Nawaz Sharif Arif Ahmed  Iran and the oil embargo Manal Shakir  Poll Do you believe Pakistan should place madrassas under intelligence scrutiny? No (22%, 116 Votes) Yes (78%, 423 Votes) Total Voters: 539  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: February 02, 2012

Today's Headlines

February 02, 2012

PIC medicine disaster: Isotab is the killer pill Ali Usman A London laboratory has determined that Isotab, a medicine manufactured by Efroze Chemical Industries, caused the reaction that has so far cost 120 lives. _______________________________________________ National/City The upper house convenes: Senate revs up on petrol price increase Our Correspondent The government is facing stiff resistance in Parliament – not only from the opposition parties but also some of its allies – against the recent rise in the prices of petroleum products. 'Secret' leaked: Pakistan stoking Taliban insurgency: NATO Our Correspondents Just as Pakistan and Afghanistan started warming up to each other following months of mutual recrimination and tension, British media has outed a secret Nato document that can potentially blight relations again between the two neighbours. Hitting back: It's old wine in an even older bottle, says Khar Kamran Yousaf Talk about bad timing. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar's first trip to Kabul since taking office last year took a turn for the worse on Wednesday after the visit was primarily eclipsed by a leaked Nato report accusing Pakistan of secretly aiding Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. And the world reacts...: Sri Lanka bans import of Pakistani medicines Sehrish Wasif / Zahid Gishkori Following the PIC medicine debacle, Sri Lanka has banned the import of medicines from Pakistan — a move that would badly hurt the export of locally-manufactured medicines, which had surged to over $400 million over the last two years. Concession for Pakistan: EU duty waiver on 75 items crosses key hurdle Shahbaz Rana A World Trade Organisation (WTO) committee on Wednes­day approved a long pending European Union-proposed trade waiver for Pakistan – a move that is intended to help the country recover from devastating floods in 2010. _______________________________________________ Business Rebound: Inflation slips into double digits again Our Correspondents After slipping to single digit in December last year, inflation has once again crept to double digits in January compared to a year ago with statistics indicating that the pace of increase can accelerate in coming months. BlackBerry opens doors to much-awaited app store Farooq Baloch Threatened by rising popularity of rival smartphones, BlackBerry has finally enabled App World – official store for BlackBerry applications – in Pakistan, The Express Tribune has learned. _______________________________________________ Sports Mohammad Amir released from prison Zainab Imam Fast bowler Mohammad Amir has been released from prison in England, where he was serving a six-month sentence for spot-fixing. Adnan under consideration for limited-overs squad Fawad Hussain Adnan Akmal's performance in the first two Tests against England has paid dividends, forcing the team management and the selection committee to consider his name for the One-Day International (ODI) series that follows. _______________________________________________ Life & Style The Deli: High tea and matters of the heart Hani Taha Reading correctly into the psychology of the society, women in particular, it was an ingenious move by The Deli to promote their High Tea with a free fortune telling session. The Jaipur Literature Festival Amir H Jafri Jaipur is called the Pink City. The reason, I found out, was that the whole city was painted pink to welcome the Prince of Wales in the mid-19th century, the heyday of the British Empire.  _______________________________________________

Opinion The watchers must watch the watchers Jahanzaib Haque Land of some haves, many have-nots Imtiaz Gul Of elections and education Muhammad Hamid Zaman On providing sewage Ahmed Rafay Alam The State Bank blinks Khurram Husain Blogs Shia killing: If we tolerate this, our children will be next Absar Ul Hasan Privacy issues and the media Anwer Sumra Contraband hits and misses Noman Ansari Why firing Maya Khan is not the solution Maria Waqar Poll Do you believe Islamophobia is spreading in Europe? No (23%, 115 Votes) Yes (77%, 387 Votes) Total Voters: 502 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: February 01, 2012

Today's Headlines

February 01, 2012

Leaked NATO report claims to expose direct links between ISI, Taliban AFP/ News Desk A secret NATO report claims to "fully expose" direct links between Pakistan's Inter Sevices Intelligence (ISI) and the Taliban, the BBC reported early on Wednesday. _______________________________________________ National/City President Karzai to visit Pakistan in mid-Feb Tahir Khan As Pakistan and Afghanistan warm up to each other following almost four months of tensions sparked by the assassination of top peace negotiator Burhanuddin Rabbani, President Hamid Karzai is scheduled to visit Islamabad in February. Costs a ton: Diesel shatters Rs100 barrier Zafar Bhutta What was once an exaggerated expression to bemoan inflation has now become reality: The price of diesel has crossed Rs100. Analysis: The US is acting over and above the law Niaz A Shah While drone attacks might have some tactical advantage against al Qaeda and its affiliates, as is being argued, they are against the UN Charter, the law of armed conflict and international human rights law. Major assault on Kurram: Troops repulse Taliban attack on strategic post Our Correspondents Security forces repulsed a major Taliban attack on a strategic check-post in the Kurram tribal region, triggering bloody clashes that left 43 people, among them eight troops, dead and dozens others wounded, the military said on Tuesday. As death toll rises at home: PIC drugs samples sent abroad for testing Ali Usman As the authorities fumble to grasp what is going on, the Pakistani pharmaceutical industry is suffering severe financial losses, with claims that over two billion rupees has been lost so far. _______________________________________________ Business Gas crisis: Govt plans to expand supply, constrain demand growth Zafar Bhutta Pushing ahead with LNG imports, despite opposition from end buyers.The buyers think that the economics just does not work, but the petroleum ministry seems hell-bent on importing liquefied natural gas anyway. Permission granted : ECC allows export of 100,000 tons of sugar Shahbaz Rana The government on Tuesday relaxed a ban on sugar export and allowed the private sector to export 100,000 tons, a move aimed at stabilising prices in the local market and resolving cash flow problems of mills. _______________________________________________ Sports Mohsin saga: Coach gets approval from Latif, Afridi Our Correspondents With another impressive series-win in the bag, Pakistan's interim coach Mohsin Khan, who was first appointed for the series against Sri Lanka, continues to draw support from various quarters with Rashid Latif the latest voice to back his full-time appointment. Pakistan-India series: BCCI president keen on revival, says PCB chief Fawad Hussain Attempts to revive bilateral series between Pakistan and India keep being made but the road seems to end at the Indian government's doorstep. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Qayaas: Bringing rock back Rafay Mahmood Almost a decade later, when the prospects of the Pakistani music industry go from gloomy to gloomier, the sight of hordes of eager fans cheering outside the same venue was pleasantly surprising. It was in anticipation of Islamabad-based rock band Qayaas that made the fans' voice go up by several decibels. Beyond Kismat: Lahore gets some Josh Sher Khan South Asian-Canadian fusion band Josh came to Lahore to film the second music video from their recently released album Beyond Kismat.  _______________________________________________

Opinion So who will watch the watchdog? Fahd Husain Moral panics Dr Tariq Rahman Colour me rainbow Amber Darr America and the Taliban Zahrah Nasir Political influence of fringe religious groups Tariq Fatemi Blogs Left to die in an old age home Maati TV Why firing Maya Khan is not the solution Maria Waqar We need domestic violence legislation…now Hira Anwar Team Misbah did us proud Rafay Awaan Poll Can Pakistan be a US ally in the war on terror without compromising its sovereignty? No (69%, 337 Votes) Yes (31%, 148 Votes) Total Voters: 485 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 31, 2012

Today's Headlines

January 31, 2012

Haqqani sets sail from Pakistan Zahid Gishkori Pakistan's former Ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani departed from Pakistan under thick security blanket in the early hours of Tuesday morning. _______________________________________________ National/City Losing steam: Rust sets in on Memogate Our Correspondents With an extension for a judicial probe and a removal of a travel ban on the principal accused, the urgency, it seems, has officially abated – despite another "secret letter" to the chief justice by Mansoor Ijaz. Tainted medicines: With no answers forthcoming, SC enters the fray Azam Khan / Samia Saleem The Supreme Court has summoned the authorities involved in the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) free medicine disaster. As the court took suo motu notice, the death toll was reported to have reached 114, with at least 400 people currently under treatment at various hospitals in Lahore. The case will be heard on Tuesday (today). Sectarian & ethnic attacks?: One killed in Gulberg, 3 in New Karachi Faraz Khan A wave of killings continue to plague Karachi, as another man from the Shia sect was targeted in the limits of Gulberg Police Station on Monday. Youth awareness: How to build a nation Ayesha Hasan 'Be the change you want to bring' was the message given by panellists at a seminar held on Monday at Kinnaird College for Women. Obama admits US drone strikes into Pakistan AFP President Barack Obama on Monday admitted that US drone aircraft have struck Taliban and al Qaeda targets within Pakistan -operations that until now had not been officially acknowledged. _______________________________________________ Business Neelum-Jhelum project: Pakistan negotiating $448m loan with China Shahbaz Rana Pakistan and China are negotiating a $448 million loan to help finance the 969-megawatt Neelum Jhelum hydropower project, which has run into cash flow problems owing to bureaucratic delays. Those delays have caused the cost of the project to rise to Rs330 billion ($3.7 billion). Increase of 3 to 6 per cent expected in oil prices Zafar Bhutta Consumers may face an increase of 6 per cent or Rs6.29 in oil prices per litre from February 1 following a rise in crude prices in the international market, government officials say. _______________________________________________  Sports Pakistan vs England: Spinning magic, wreaking havoc Fawad Hussain In stark comparison to the 1990s when Pakistan were blessed with the pace duo of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis who won the team several matches and destroyed the strongest batting line-ups, the team now relies on death by spin, with Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman drawing the world's best to their knees. Hockey: I'm with the federation in age row, says Heuvel Our Correspondents Pakistan hockey coach Michel van den Heuvel has backed the country's hockey federation for imposing an age-restriction ban on players participating in the national championship, terming it one that will help find young blood. _______________________________________________ Life & Style FCP's dining revolution disappoints Hani Taha When a company announces a 'dining revolution', one automatically envisions a grand gastronomical fest with golden platters containing aesthetically pleasing food. And if the company in question is the vibrant food portal, Food Connection Pakistan (FCP), with clever invites in the form of inscribed plates, then one rightfully expects its launch (event) to be serious 'food for thought' (pun intended). Shah Rukh Khan slaps Farah Khan's husband over RA.One remarks Our Correspondents Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan allegedly assaulted former close friend Farah Khan's husband and filmmaker Shirish Kunder at a party thrown by actor Sanjay Dutt on Sunday, Indian newspaper The Hindustan Times reported. _______________________________________________

Opinion Bloggers vs thanedars Feisal H Naqvi The good doctor and other questions Aasim Zafar Khan Did no one kill Saleem Shahzad then? Farrukh Khan Pitafi Bacha Khan: our forgotten Quaid Yaqoob Khan Bangash The many faces of Afghan peace Adam Ahmed Blogs Who says I can't be a Muslim feminist? Fatemeh Fakhraie The great brain waste Jamal Uddin Shaming Maya: Two wrongs don't make a right Vaqas Asghar Humsafar: A comic review Hammad Ali Poll In your opinion, should Pakistan become a secular state? No (37%, 314 Votes) Yes (63%, 540 Votes) Total Voters: 854 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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