The Express Tribune Newsletter: March 07, 2012

Today's Headlines

March 07, 2012

Election commission: 'Contemptuous' letter sparks court's ire Azam Khan A new chapter was added to the apex court's row with the Election Commission on Tuesday after the court examined 'contemptuous' contents of the commission secretary's resignation. Contents of the letter, which alluded to the apex court, were reported by a section of the media on Tuesday. _______________________________________________ National/City Bigger plot: 'HuT has formed a shadow govt for Pakistan' News Desk Brigadier (retd) Ali Khan, who is accused of plotting to topple the democratic government and mount attacks on the army headquarters, had met the chief of banned group Hizb-ut-Tahrir for Palestinian territory while he was conspiring to overthrow the government and create Islamic caliphate, the BBC quoted a senior military officer as saying. Nato supply: US CENTCOM chief to visit Pakistan, discuss ground supply route Huma Imtiaz Top US military commander General James Mattis has said he will be visiting Pakistan in the next ten days to discuss re-opening NATO supply routes, with officials. Senate top slot: Race heats up with new entrants Zahid Gishkori With an addition to the list of contenders, the battle for the top slot in Senate intensified on Tuesday, making the choice even more difficult for President Asif Ali Zardari. Coalition partners, meanwhile, attempted to claim the second spot of deputy chairman. PM contempt case: Nargis Sethi appears before SC as witness Web Desk Defence and Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi appeared before the Supreme Court on Wednesday as a witness in the contempt of court case against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. Maiden trip: Vladimir Putin to visit Pakistan in Sept Kamran Yousaf It was -8 degrees Celsius in Moscow on Tuesday but a telephone call from Islamabad to the Kremlin brought about some warmth in the otherwise frosty Pakistan-Russia relationship. _______________________________________________ Business Political battles bad for Pakistan's credit image: S&P Shahbaz Rana In the fast-paced world of the international bond market, nobody has the time or patience to listen to long-winded explanations, so the credit rating agency Standard & Poors' assessment of Pakistan's creditworthiness is remarkably blunt: the three-way political struggle between the executive, the judiciary and the military is the single biggest risk to Pakistan's economic stability and it is growing. Lahori entrepreneurs outclass Karachiites in Allworld Pakistan 100 list Farooq Tirmizi Karachi may lay claim to being the financial and economic capital of the country, but Lahori entrepreneurs appear to have taken the lead over their southern rivals. Lahore-based firms dominate Allworld Network's Pakistan Fast Growth 100 list with the 41 companies to form the largest contingent from any single city, handily outdoing Karachi which has 33 companies featuring on the list. _______________________________________________ Sports Cricket: Pakistan upbeat ahead of Asia Cup Fawad Hussain With the Asia Cup eluding them for more than a decade, Pakistan are confident of improving their record in the tournament that starts on March 11. Mohsin terms Asia Cup tough assignment Our Correspondents Former chief selector and interim coach of the national squad Mohsin Khan has wished the team the best of luck in the upcoming Asia Cup, saying that the players will need it in the tough assignment. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Stuntman: The unsung hero Sher Khan At the Crew Films studio in Lahore, stuntman Muhammed Afzal Khan Baloch sits uncomfortably because the physical and emotional wounds given by his profession are still bothersome. Commonly known as Baloch by his peers and most popular for playing iconic Sultan Rahi's double, the 57 year-old Bahawalpur-born daredevil is a living, breathing archive of stories about an underappreciated career and the stoic world of Lollywood, that didn't pay any heed to his life-altering injury. Creative furniture: 'Little dreams' made reality Momina Sibtain The beginning of March saw the opening of the first concept store for children's furniture called Little Dreams. Aysha Haye, creative director, furniture designer, owner and director of this project welcomed guests and potential clients from all over Lahore to her intimate showroom in Gulberg. Little Dreams comprises nine different concept rooms and it is specifically designed to give the client a feel of not only what the furniture looks like, but also what the entire room can look like upon completion. _______________________________________________

Opinion Politics: the art of riding people? Khaled Ahmed The case against drone attacks Asad Rahim Khan A depressing state of affairs Anwer Mooraj Queering the pitch Tariq Fatemi The agents of justice Osama Siddique Blogs What Dr Hoodhboy got wrong Danielle Sharaf Traders paradise or political nightmare? Farhan Zaheer Dear Google, you have failed me! Saira Malik Why Ponting was dropped and Tendulkar wasn't Dr Amyn Malik Poll Are you for or against the ban on kite flying during Basant? Against (61%, 276 Votes) For (39%, 178 Votes) Total Voters: 454 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: March 06, 2012

Today's Headlines

March 06, 2012

Contempt case: Court gives 37 reasons for rejecting PM's appeal Azam Khan Having earlier rejected the prime minister's appeal against his indictment in a contempt case, the Supreme Court on Monday gave detailed reasons why it chose to do so – 37 of them to be precise. _______________________________________________ National/City Aftermath: After Senate win, PPP, allies weigh options Our Correspondents Losing an almost guaranteed Senate seat has clearly left a bitter taste for the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) – despite the heavy presence it now holds in the upper house of Parliament. Nuclear standoff: Attack on Iran will spell disaster: Pakistan Owais Jafri A day after a veiled threat from US President Barack Obama to Iran over its nuclear programme, Pakistan warned that aggression against the Islamic Republic would have 'disastrous consequences' for the whole region. The new Europeans: Trimming beards and selling beer in Barcelona Imran Yusuf Ask the Pakistanis of Barcelona why they chose this city over other European options and two answers dominate. Firstly, it's warmer and brighter than the pale-skied Anglo-Saxon north of the continent. Secondly, of more significance, it takes three years for a Pakistani to get a full work permit. Cracks in PTI?: Qureshi vexed at Imran over by-poll boycott Zia Khan The 'tsunami' of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, it appears, is hurting his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) more than anybody else. DCO Gwadar found murdered in Karachi Web Desk The bullet riddled body of District Coordination Officer Gwadar, Abdul Rehman Dasti was found from a car in Defence Phase V, Karachi, Express News reported on early Tuesday morning. _______________________________________________  Business Agricultural: Punjab rebuffs Monsanto attempt to sell BT cotton seeds to farmers Zafar Bhutta The Punjab government has refused to agree to US agrichemical giant Monsanto's demands for intellectual property rights protection for its BT cotton seeds and has accused the company of a "monopolistic" plan to take over agriculture in Punjab. PIA employees fear hiring of retired air force men Our Correspondents Leading associations of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) employees have voiced concern over expected hiring of retired Pakistan Air Force (PAF) employees in the airline, saying the government's decision will further destabilise the national flag carrier. _______________________________________________ Sports Cricket: Pacemen will deliver the goods, says Sarfraz Nawaz Fawad Hussain After being given the responsibility to fine-tune the skills of a struggling fast-bowling unit, former Pakistan paceman Sarfraz Nawaz has promised a better show from the pack in the upcoming Asia Cup. Judo federation cancels training camp Natasha Raheel The Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) has been forced to cancel the national training camp after the interior ministry declined entry to its Iranian coach Sajjad Kazmi. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Uth Records: Musical exploration Our Correspondents The much-awaited season 2 of "Uth Records" — a show that has gained nationwide recognition for showcasing young talent from Pakistan — has finally kicked off with a US-based Pakistani musician Jarar Malik. I'm not stripping for any film: Veena Our Correspondents Lollywood actor Veena Malik, who shot to fame with reality show "Bigg Boss", refutes rumours that she is going nude for Rajeev Ruia's Zindagi 50:50, reports Times of India. _______________________________________________

Opinion Pakistan's polio crisis Raza Rumi Ranking of universities Dr Tariq Rahman Can an Oscar prevent acid attacks? Syed Mohammad Ali The Afghan peace Rasul Bakhsh Rais Balochistan boiling over Zahrah Nasir Blogs Why Ponting was dropped and Tendulkar wasn't Dr Amyn Malik Rinkle Kumari was Hindu last month Kapil Dev Suffering through Humsafar Meiryum Ali Confessions of a Humsafar fan girl Sonia Tahir Poll Should Pakistan request for Aafia Siddiqui's deportation under UN convention for exchange/repatriation of prisoners? No (32%, 174 Votes) Yes (68%, 368 Votes) Total Voters: 542 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: March 05, 2012

Today's Headlines

March 05, 2012

Kabul helped dismantle Brahamdagh camps: Malik Zahid Gishkori In a startling revelation on Sunday, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Baloch Republican Party chief Brahamdagh Bugti operated training camps in Afghanistan which were dismantled after Islamabad conveyed its concerns about the matter to Afghanistan. _______________________________________________ National/City Rapprochement signs: PML factions warm up to each other Abdul Manan The two main factions of Pakistan Muslim League – PML-N and PML-Q – appear to be warming up to each other. 'Forced conversion': Hindu community demands release of 'kidnapped' girl Sarfaraz Memon / Rabia Ali Dozens of Hindus took out a rally and staged demonstration outside the press club in Pannu Aqil on Sunday against the alleged kidnapping and forceful conversion of Rinkle Kumari who was named Faryal. Informant still awaits reward: 'Justice must be dispensed for Schon whistleblower' Asad Kharal Despite an immense response from Pakistan and abroad on a story published by The Express Tribune on February 13 titled "Exposing graft: 14 years on, informant awaits just reward", Pakistani authorities and the Supreme Court have not initiated any action till the filing of this report. Mysterious death: Scottish lawyer found dead in Lahore hotel Our Correspondent A Scottish lawyer was found dead in mysterious circumstances in his room at a five-star hotel in Lahore on Sunday. Los Pakistaníes de Barcelona Imran Yusuf El Raval is in el centro of town but it's the one area avoided by tourists in Barcelona. What a timid creature is the modern sightseer, for El Raval is a fascination, packed as it is with pimps, prostitutes, peddlers of drugs and doner kebabs, and Pakistanis. _______________________________________________ Business MFN and beyond: Getting a foothold in the Indian market Sahibzada M Irfan Since the government's decision to grant MFN status to India, considerable debate has abounded over the benefits the decision is likely to accrue for Pakistan. With potential access to the world's second largest market in sight, a new dawn in economic relations with our neighbour is being heralded. Changing hands: Creating a populist model for privatisation Humayon Dar There is a lot of talk in and outside the country about the government's failure in Pakistan, with some political analysts categorising it as a "failed state". Whether Pakistan provides an example of a failed state – or as Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani terms it "a state within a state" – is subject to political debate. However, President Asif Ali Zardari acknowledges that state-run corporations are not functioning up to the mark. _______________________________________________ Sports Pakistan appoint Whatmore as head coach for two years Our Correspondents Australian Dav Whatmore has been appointed Pakistan's head coach for two years, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Sunday. Cricket: Bangladesh delegation gives thumbs-up to Pakistan security Fawad Hussain Hopes of international cricket's revival in the country rose after the Bangladesh delegation expressed its satisfaction on security arrangements in Pakistan as it prepares to give its feedback ahead of a proposed series between the two countries. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Shiraz Uppal: A new beginning Sher Khan If one were to say that Pakistani musicians and Islam go hand in hand, the controversial statement wouldn't be a far cry from the truth. From Junaid Jamshed and Najam Sheraz to Ali Haider, the magnetism and appeal of Islam have pulled some of the best Pakistani acts to its forte. The latest musician to shun his old life as a singer and songwriter is Shiraz Uppal regarded as an influential musician within Pakistani pop music. All Pakistan Music Conference: The good, the bad and the ugly Saadia Qamar If hell is full of musical amateurs then Arts Council did a terrific job of recreating the devil's abode on earth with the All Pakistan Music Conference (APMC) which took place on March 2. Except, of course, the artists featured in the festival weren't amateurs by any means. However, the way some of their performances turned out to be, it would definitely make one think otherwise.  _______________________________________________

Opinion Run for your life Pervez Hoodbhoy The great (fire)wall of Pakistan Jahanzaib Haque How to avoid political decay Shahid Javed Burki Neighbourhoods of harmony Tanvir Ahmad Khan Winning space for sovereignty Dr Akmal Hussain Blogs We expected better from you, Marvi Memon Madiha Saeed Think you have gonorrhea? Call Rahnumma Tooba Masood Don't vote (but don't complain) Tooba Masood Bailing out Radio Pakistan Kazim Alam Poll Should Pakistan request for Aafia Siddiqui's deportation under UN convention for exchange/repatriation of prisoners? Yes (67%, 155 Votes) No (33%, 75 Votes) Total Voters: 230 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: March 4, 2012

Today's Headlines

March 4, 2012

Abbottabad operation: Zardari, Kayani deny prior talk on May 2 raid Our Correspondents   The Presidency and the General Headquarters may be physically apart, but appeared on the same page in denouncing allegations purportedly made by Memogate whistle-blower Mansoor Ijaz. _______________________________________________ National/City reports Appeal process: Another attempt to repatriate Aafia Siddqui Zahid Gishkori Pakistan is writing a letter to the US, again, seeking the repatriation of Pakistani neuroscientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui, incarcerated in the US. Pakistan-India ties: Chaophraya dialogue calls for friendly relations Our Correspondent Any act of violence bearing an impact on bilateral relations must be investigated impartially and professionally before reaching conclusions regarding their nature, perpetrators and origin. All formal and informal government channels should be used more effectively to share information on a real-time basis. Quitting Quetta: Abductions spark exodus of Balochistan's Hindus Gulraiz Khan Over 50 members of the Hindu community across Balochistan have been kidnapped in the last four years, compared to seven instances of kidnapping during former president Pervez Musharraf's nine years, said Basant Lal Gulshan, the human rights and minorities affairs minister for Balochistan. Muzaffargarh 'revenge' plot: 10 women stripped, one paraded naked Owais Jafri / Shamshad Qureshi As part of a 'revenge' plot, a mob disrobed a woman and paraded her naked around a village in Muzaffargarh district, after accusing her son-in-law of kidnapping a married girl. Inspection duty: Women officers may get motorcycle rickshaws Anwer Sumra The government has decided to provide 220 motorcycle rickshaws to carry women assistant education officers (AEO) so they can inspect and monitor performance of primary schools under the Punjab Schools Reforms Roadmap (PSRR) programme. _______________________________________________ Business Weekly review: Five-day rally takes bourse to three-year high Bilal Umar Bullish sentiments prevailed at the stock market as a five-day upward trend took the benchmark KSE-100 index past the 13,000-point psychological barrier and in doing so, crossed a level last witnessed more than three years ago in June 2008. Tobacco industry: Philip Morris feeling the squeeze in Pakistan Farooq Tirmizi Philip Morris Pakistan is beginning to feel a financial pinch, and is already reducing the scale and scope of some of its manufacturing operations inside the country. _______________________________________________ Sports Cricket: Malik, Farhat axed by new-look selectors Nabeel Hashmi The Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) new-formed selection committee made its objectives clear by axing Shoaib Malik, Imran Farhat and Adnan Akmal from the Asia Cup squad that will be held in Bangladesh from March 11. Latif wants wicket-keeping coach for the team Our Correspondent Former captain Rashid Latif has stressed on the need of having a wicket-keeping coach in addition to batting, bowling and fielding coaches for the national side. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Everybody loves Ali Taneeya Hasan Apart from the bond one feels with London, Paris, New York because it has "humara Ali Zafar" in it, one also feels compelled to watch this film because it gives audience the hope that the genre of clean, family-entertainments is still alive. Sieger Dog Show 2012: At a competition for dogs, German Shepherds strut their stuff Umer Nangiana Since becoming a recognised breed at the turn of the twentieth century, German Shepherds have been among the most popular dogs, both as pets and working dogs. The two-day Sieger Dog Show 2012, which opened here on Saturday, displayed that the popularity of the breed lives on, despite a great shift in dog lovers' priorities. _______________________________________________

Opinion Silence is criminal Saroop Ijaz The 'castle of Islam' concept Khaled Ahmed Urdu and the bilingual Pakistani Aakar Patel Human rights in Balochistan Sabina Khan How aid from the UK helps Pakistan George Turkington Blogs Don't vote (but don't complain) Erum Shaikh Bailing out Radio Pakistan Kazim Alam 5 steps to solving Pakistan's energy crisis Adnan Khalid Rasool A semblance of security Anum Fatima Poll In your opinion, which political party is a better match for Marvi Memon? PTI (64%, 526 Votes) PML-N (36%, 296 Votes) Total Voters: 822 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: March 03, 2012

Today's Headlines

March 03, 2012

Senate elections: Despite drama, upset, PPP comes out on top Our Correspondents The Senate polls had their fair share of drama on Friday – and even one rare upset. _______________________________________________ National/City Situationer: What does this victory mean for the PPP? Gibran Peshimam Despite all the rhetoric of conspiracy, the Senate polls did take place. The party that stands victorious following the polls, as expected, is undisputedly the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) – which now holds 41 seats (including the 3 withheld Balochistan seats) of the 104-member Senate. Slapping incident: SC rejects Waheeda Bukhari's apology Azam Khan The Supreme Court on Friday rejected an apology from Pakistan Peoples Party's Waheeda Shah Bukhari for assaulting a polling staff member during Saturday's by-election in Tando Mohammad Khan, cautioning her that she would have to face the music for her "shameful" act. Stabilising Balochistan: Shahzain Bugti unveils eight-point formula Our Correspondent President of the Balochistan chapter of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), Shahzain Bugti, called on PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Friday at his Raiwind estate where he unveiled an eight-point formula for stabilising the restive province. Memo commission: Haqqani given until March 15 to submit response Qaiser Zulfiqar The judicial commission investigating the so-called 'memogate' scandal directed former ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani to respond to the evidence presented against him by March 15. Suicide attack, clashes leave dozens dead in Khyber region Our Correspondents In one of the deadliest days in the Khyber tribal region, dozens of people were killed in clashes and a suicide blast on Friday, officials said. _______________________________________________ Business Vertical integration: New PSO head to focus on diversification Kazim Alam Pakistan State Oil may already be the largest corporation in the country based on revenues, but its new managing director is certainly not content with the state-owned enterprise being just an oil marketing and distribution company operating in the least-profitable segment of the fuel supply chain. According to managing director Naeem Yahya Mir, the company will actively be pursuing a vertical integration policy in the coming few years. Setback: 3G auction running into snags, yet again Shahbaz Rana There are strong indications that the government may ignore the competitive bidding process as envisaged in the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and appoint consultants directly to oversee the much anticipated 3G auction. _______________________________________________ Sports Pakistan coach: Whatmore arrives to take charge Fawad Hussain Former Australia cricketer Dav Whatmore arrived in Lahore early yesterday morning to take charge of the Pakistan team, with this month's Asia Cup his first assignment. 'Pakistan cricket hasn't progressed since the 90s' Faras Ghani Pakistan cricket has not progressed since the late 1990s, according to outgoing bowling coach Aqib Javed who is scheduled to take over as UAE's head coach on Monday. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Woh humsafar tha... Hamna Zubair A typical TV serial generates hype when it keeps viewers guessing, creating nail-biting suspense that lasts right till the last episode. By that standard, the phenomenon that is "Humsafar" is anything but typical  —tonight hundreds and thousands of eager fans will have their eyes glued to their TV screens at exactly 8 pm even though they know precisely how this modern-day tragedy will play out. In the worst of times, K-P sang along Rafay Mahmood If you're not from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and you still know Haroon Bacha, Sardar Ali Takkar and Nazia Iqbal then clap your hands. These names may be something new to someone who isn't from that region, but for the people residing in the purported war-torn region, they are the epitome of Pashto music. However, much to the dismay of Pashto art lovers, these stalwarts have halted their musical journey after receiving death threats from terrorists. _______________________________________________

Opinion A country for minorities Mohsin Hamid Our democratic kleptocrats Amina Jilani Naya Qanoon censored Ajmal Kamal Land of bigots Tazeen Javed The malefic saint Salman Rashid Blogs The perfect romantic comedy: London Paris New York Sami Saayer Racism and football Frayan Doctor Obama's apology and the ashes of the Holy Quran Michael Kugelman Shia killing: Identified, offloaded and shot Suleman Akhtar Poll Should Mohammad Amir appeal against the 5 year ban imposed on him for spot-fixing? No (41%, 292 Votes) Yes (59%, 418 Votes) Total Voters: 710 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights JobsClassifieds

 

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