The Express Tribune Newsletter: February 28, 2012

Today's Headlines

February 28, 2012

PM contempt case: Aitzaz calls for Awan, Sethi to be summoned Azam Khan  New and key players may enter the fray in the prime minister's contempt case today if his counsel Aitzaz Ahsan's application, submitted to the apex court on Monday, is heeded. _______________________________________________ National/City Media ethics: Minister defends new media regulations| Sumera Khan Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan on Monday dispelled the impression that new proposed laws and regulations will curtail the media's freedom in Pakistan and said all stakeholders will be consulted before any decisions are arrived at. Fraud claims against Mansoor Ijaz surface: Report Our Correspondents Mansoor Ijaz, the principal character in the Memogate case, has come under speculation for fraud, The Hindu reported on Monday. Despite teary rebuttal, no unconditional apology from Maya Khan Ferya Ilyas Teary-eyed Maya Khan broke her silence. According to her, all the people that she had questioned during her morning show's infamous episode, were paid actors. OBL was in contact with members of Pakistan's spy agency: Report Our Correspondents Osama bin Laden was in routine contact with several senior figures from the Pakistan's military and its intelligence arm while hiding in the country, British newspaper The Telegraph reported on Tuesday. _______________________________________________ Business Up, up and away: CNG price increased by up to Rs1.06 per kg Our Correspondents The price of compressed natural gas (CNG) has been increased by up to Rs1.06 per kilogramme in a bid to raise funds for gas import projects including Iran-Pakistan and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline projects. Case filed against PSO in US court Zafar Bhutta ICC Chemical Corporation has filed a case against Pakistan State Oil (PSO) in a US court, alleging that PSO has caused losses to it by breaching a contract for import of base oil. _______________________________________________ Sports Cricket: England have the last laugh as Pakistan lose T20 series Our Correspondents Pakistan lost the third and series deciding T2o match against England, in the three match series, by five runs on Monday. Cricket: The end of Mohsin's eventful innings Fawad Hussain Mohsin Khan appreciated the praise and encouragement he received during his tenure as head coach of the national team after his stint ended with Pakistan's Twenty20 against England yesterday. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Saving Face: Pakistan's golden moment Our Correspondents For Pakistan, 2012 could not have started on a sweeter note. If Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy scoring an Academy Award nomination for her documentary Saving Face in the category of Best Documentary (Short Subject) wasn't good enough, then her getting to take home the Oscar this Sunday night at the 84thAcademy Awards presentation, definitely was. With the entire nation rejoicing at her victory, it seemed she had won the Oscar for all of Pakistan. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy: One of a kind Our Correspondents We highlight some of Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's ventures that have been recognised on the global level for their razor sharp coverage of the plight brewing in the heart of Pakistan. _______________________________________________

Opinion  Pakistan's Oscar moment Rafay Mahmood The burden of radicalisation Raoof Hasan Who is a liberal Pakistani? Saleem H Ali The language of justice Osama Siddique Attempting a precarious balance Syed Mohammed Ali   Blogs Crowded classroms: Three teachers for 500 students Mehak Ameer Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, you are my role model Aaminah Qadir The thick blood of a journalist Anum Sadiq Rahul fights for his destiny, not for the dynasty Sanjay Kumar   Poll Pemra has warned TV channels against airing interviews of "disgruntled Baloch sardars." Do you agree with this? No (46%, 315 Votes) Yes (54%, 375 Votes) Total Voters: 690   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 27, 2012

Today's Headlines

February 27, 2012

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's documentary wins Oscar for 'Best Documentary, Short Subject' News Desk / Reuters Pakistani journalist and documentarian Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's latest venture Saving Face has won an Oscar award under the category 'Best Documentary, Short Subject'. _______________________________________________ National/City Contempt case: PM, Aitzaz mull writing letter to Swiss govt Zahid Gishkori In spite of the Supreme Court coming down hard on the prime minister for not writing a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen money-laundering charges against President Asif Ali Zardari, the government is no closer to deciding whether it should submit the letter or not. Lobbying efforts: Baloch nationalist parties may boycott next polls Zia Khan The next general elections may be boycotted by all Baloch nationalist parties as pressure builds from separatist groups to abandon parliamentary politics. Professionals, not politicians, to handle energy sector: PTI Qamar Zaman The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) on Sunday announced it will delegate decision-making authority from politicians to professionals in the energy sector to tackle the prevailing crisis. Paradigm shift: In political vacuum, JI stands at crossroads Saba Imtiaz / Noman Ahmed Even though the February 12 Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) rally in Karachi was organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the ground was predominantly filled with Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat (ASWJ) and Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) supporters. Terms of engagement: US favours early joint session on resetting ties Our Correspondent Acting US Ambassador Richard Hoagland said on Sunday that Washington is waiting for the Pakistani parliament to debate and approve the new terms of engagement between the two countries. _______________________________________________ Business Free trade: Size does not matter Ali Salman On January 27, business sections of various newspapers carried two contrasting news on free trade. Some papers reported the Secretary Commerce's briefing to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Trade about the reluctance of the US to enter a free trade agreement with Pakistan and its suggestion to ask for trade concessions instead.  Attracting investment: Finnish entrepreneur preaches the gospel of Pakistani opportunity Maha Musaddaq On January 20 of this year, viewers of Finnish television channel MTV3's popular show "Good Morning Finland" were witness to something rather unusual: a businessman making the argument that one of the great unreported emerging markets' business opportunities in the world lay not in India or China, but in Pakistan. _______________________________________________ Sports Time for Amir to rise above the turmoil: Bajwa Fawad Hussain Mohammad Amir's mentor and coach Asif Bajwa has said that this was the time for the banned fast-bowler to rise above his turmoil and prepare himself for a strong comeback to compensate for the years lost in international cricket. Saqib clinches maiden squash title Nabeel Hashmi Pakistan's Mohammad Saqib Yousaf claimed his maiden Tour title as he clinched the inaugural $5000 Men's Doha Bank PSA Challenger, defeating Egypt's Ahmed Hawas in a four-set thriller. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Hira Mandi: A dangerous affair Momina Sibtain Pinky's very pink yet empty existence pulled Claudine Le Tourneur d'lson towards Hira Mandi, the infamous red light district of Lahore. French-born Claudine discovered the area during her visit to Pakistan in 1988 and that was the beginning of a dangerous love affair that drove her to visit again and again. 10 Biggest fashion faux pa Saba Khalid Gone are the days when women could live the hippy life and be proud of their unshaved armpits and manly legs. _______________________________________________

Opinion Is Rohrabacher wrong on Balochistan? Pervez Hoodbhoy Ranking the state of higher education Muhammad Hamid Zaman Time to makes amends Rasul Bakhsh Rais East Pakistan all over again? Dr Akmal Hussain Sailing in stormy straits Tanvir Ahmed Khan Blogs The 101 on how to survive an admission test Meiryum Ali My friend, the outcast Taimur Arbab "Just call me Muslim" AbuBakr Agha Defy Pakistan: How the right-wing turned rogue Mohammad Rizwan Poll In your opinion, should military officers pay the same as civilians for property in DHA? No (16%, 93 Votes) Yes (84%, 485 Votes) Total Voters: 578 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 (Feb 19-26 2012)

Top 10 stories of the week

Feb 19-26, 2012

1. HEC releases Pakistan's top universities lists – Web Desk 2. Wheel of misfortune: The 82-year-old Olympian who drives a rickshaw – Taha Siddiqui 3. Will support US, Nato or Indian intervention: Brahamdagh Bugti – Shahzad Baloch 4. The real Mahira – Anum Mansuri 5. Veena Malik denies nude photo shoot for FHM – Web Desk 6. Amid tens of thousands of cheering women, Altaf rattles off topics lost in political rallies – Zainab Imam 7. Balochistan crisis: 'Unrest created by Pakistan, not India' – Rana Tanveer 8. Training aircraft crashes in Model Town area of Lahore – Web Desk 9. Humsafar — Mohabbaton ka safar – Atiqa Odho 10. Why are Pakistani students science-phobic?- Pervez Hoodbhoy

Top Business Not always greener on the other side: Obsession with Indian model not healthy Imtiaz Paracha Top Sports Cricket: Pakistan makes a comeback, wins first T20 Reuters Top 3 blogs 1. Trading sex on Zamzama Hammad Sarfraz 2. An American in Lahore: Pakistan saved me Elisa dunn 3. Will I ever be a Pakistani? Kapil Dev 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 26, 2012

Today's Headlines

February 26, 2012

Gilani interview: 'Opposition will be consulted before polls' Our Correspondent Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the government will consult the opposition before holding the next general elections. _______________________________________________ National/City reports By-elections: Parties consolidate positions in build-up to Senate polls Our Correspondents Completing the electoral college for the upcoming Senate election, voting for six National Assembly seats and four provincial assembly seats ended on Saturday. Not that plain: PTI urges SC to take notice of PIA aircraft deal Our Correspondent Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded the cancellation of the 'dubious deal' for the purchase of five 777 Boeing aircraft for $1.5 billion. Demolition squad: Bin Laden compound becoming history Muhammad Sadaqat Authorities on Saturday evening began tearing down the infamous compound of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden where he was hunted down by US commandos in a top-secret raid in May last year. Incitement to mutiny: Officers accused of influencing Brig Ali's trial News Desk The family of an army brigadier, who was arrested on charges of inciting mutiny and plotting attacks on the army headquarters, has alleged that the military brass is influencing his court martial proceedings. Indo-Pak relations: 'We shouldn't have wasted resources on war' Our Correspondent Instead of indulging in an arms race, India and Pakistan should compete instead in fields of education, science and arts, said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday. _______________________________________________ Business Weekly review: Stocks rally as focus shifts to earnings Bilal Umar There was no stopping the bulls at the country's bourses as the market's impressive rally continued, with the benchmark KSE-100 index closing a 45-month high after climbing 1.7% or 211 points during the week ended February 24. Exploited sector: Farmers overcharged for urea, dealers pocket Rs14b Zafar Bhutta Fertiliser dealers are likely to have pocketed Rs14 billion because of a wide difference between prices of imported commodity and local produce and to check this trend a proposal has been floated for increasing the sale price of imported urea to reduce the gap. _______________________________________________ Sports Second T20: England beat Pakistan by 38 runs to level series Reuters Jonny Bairstow and Steven Finn inspired England to a 38-run victory over Pakistan in Dubai on Saturday to level the three-match series of Twenty20 internationals at 1-1.  Asian Games rewards: 14 months on, promises remain unfulfilled Our Correspondent Pakistan's encouraging show at the 2010 Asian Games, where the contingent won several medals, drew instant recognition from Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who announced hefty cash rewards for the medallists. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Chinoy's Oscar moment: Dreams of gold Hani Taha February 26 will see Pakistanis on the edge of their seats, wanting to see if Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy will bring home the country's first Oscar for her documentary Saving Face. Firdous Lawn 2012: Two thumbs down Saadia Qamar Firdous Summer Carnival 2012 held at Zevar Hall, Pearl Continental Hotel on Saturday showcased the first volume of summer designs from the house of Firdous. The price of this year's collection ranges from Rs3,000 to Rs5,000, unlike last year, when it went as high as Rs8,000. _______________________________________________

Opinion Nothing to lose in Balochistan — but Balochistan Saroop Ijaz When rickshaws turn jihadi Raza Rumi Silencing of the Baloch moderates Fahd Husain Lessons from the riots in Gujarat Aakar Patel Why Muslims kill Muslims Khaled Ahmed Blogs "Just call me Muslim" AbuBakr Agha Tendulkar: A retirement or a century? Mateen Khalid Defy Pakistan: How the right-wing turned rogue Mohammed Rizwan Trade with India, for a better Pakistan Farooq Tirmizi Poll In your opinion, should military officers pay the same as civilians for property in DHA? Yes (85%, 182 Votes) No (15%, 31 Votes) Total Voters: 213 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 25, 2012

Today's Headlines

February 25, 2012

Afghan reconciliation: Gilani urges Taliban to extend olive branch Irfan Ghauri It seems Afghan President Hamid Karzai's persistence has finally paid off. _______________________________________________ National/City Pakistan safe havens could jeopardise US strategy in Afghanistan: Report News Desk Suspected militant havens in Pakistan could jeopardise the US strategy in Afghanistan, secret cables exchanged between the US Ambassador in Kabul and his superiors in Washington revealed, the Washington Post reported on Friday. Senate candidates: Lists revised, candidates get elected unopposed Our Correspondents Following the unopposed election of nine Senate candidates, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday announced that 98 candidates are now in the fray for 45 seats of the upper house of parliament. Reaction: Plea makes waves in Afghanistan Tahir Khan / Naveed Hussain Afghan officials and an insurgent group reacted positively to an impassioned appeal from Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for all stakeholders to enter into an intra-Afghan dialogue in order to stabilise their country. Dialogue participants: Will army, intel chiefs be part of Balochistan APC? Zia Khan With the announcement of an all-parties conference (APC) on Balochistan, the government set the ground for dialogue on the simmering issue. Powerful connections: Middlemen play salesmen for govt jobs Hafeez Tunio Aside from idiots, every village also has a pompous middleman, who will never stop crowing about his connections to the rich, powerful and political. _______________________________________________ Business 3G licence auction: Regulator to work out modalities afresh Shahbaz Tana Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday directed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to work out fresh modalities for auction of 3G licence after finding that the watchdog worked against government's policy directives. Barter trade: Pakistan to export 1m tons of wheat to Iran Zafar Bhutta Under a barter system, Pakistan will export one million tons of wheat and 200,000 tons of rice to Iran in exchange for fertiliser and iron ore, in a move aimed at enhancing bilateral trade in the face of US sanctions against Tehran. _______________________________________________ Sports PCB planning major reshuffle Fawad Hussain The 4-0 defeat against England in the One-Day International (ODI) series has gone a long way in prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider a major overhaul as part of its plans for the 2015 World Cup. Don't take squash away from Pakistan: Jahangir Our Correspondents Pakistan Squash Federation's (PSF) reported plans of hosting tournaments out of the country will hamper the progress of the game that is already in its decline, according to Jahangir Khan. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Musical Pakistan tour: Strings attached Saadia Qamar Pakistani band Strings have been on an extensive Pakistan tour covering 10 cities which started on February 2 and ends on March 3 as part of the Colgate Max Fresh campaign. They have already entertained audiences in seven cities and performed in Sialkot last night. The Express Tribune spoke to the talented twosome about their month-long tour. La Cage Aux Folle: When even Begum Nawazish lets you down Rafay Mahmood The fact that there are no retakes to conceal your weak acting skills and no lens to airbrush your looks, makes theatre a much tougher medium to act on as compared to television or film. As a result, an actor keeps feeling the pangs of anxiety right till the end of the performance because no matter how big a cinematic icon you are, a minor glitch can break your performance for that night. _______________________________________________

Opinion Humsafar — Mohabbaton ka safar Atiqa Odho Women and political parties Tazeen Javed The flayed province Amina Jilani For the greater glory Salman Rashid More on the unpalatable Manto Ajmal Kamal Blogs Will I ever be a Pakistani? Kapil Dev How the mighty dollar weakens the rupee Asif Punjwani Marie Colvin's journalism of attachment Farwa Zahra Iran, laughing in the face of nuclear disaster Manal Shakir Poll Is a tax on mobile users and car purchasers to support Radio Pakistan justified? No (86%, 529 Votes) Yes (14%, 84 Votes) Total Voters: 613 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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