Apple Will Launch New iPhone on September 9

The event will take place in the Flint Centre in Cupertino. The company is expected to reveal a new larger smartphone at the event, with a 4.7in screen. The new device is expected to compete with larger phones manufactured by Apple’s rivals Samsung, LG, HTC, Sony and even Microsoft. The rumors are that the company will also announce the launch of another new iPhone with a larger 5.5in screen and wearable.

In addition, the industry expects that the new Apple’s smartphone will have a harder, more scratch-resistant sapphire screen. However, the recent indications from the supply chain suggest that the tech giant may struggle to meet demand for the new screen.

Traditionally, the fall event will also mark the launch of the new iPhone and iPad software, iOS 8. The updated system will include lots of new features focused around flexibility and interaction with Apple’s desktop and laptop machines.

Finally, the company’s new Health application is supposed to capitalize on the increasingly popular “quantified self”, collecting information from various fitness trackers and medical devices into a single application. In this connection, many industry observers expect iPhone 6 to also include expanded fitness tracking and health monitoring capabilities.

In the meantime, the market researches suggest that the iPhone 6 may become the biggest launch in Apple’s history. The matter is that the current demand for the new larger smartphone is expected to be extremely high, with iPhone users upgrading to the larger form factor popularized by Android and Windows Phones.

iPhone is what most of Apple customers are waiting for, but the tech giant is also expected to launch a smartwatch later in 2014. This device is expected to compete with the new raft of Google smartwatches from LG, Samsung, Motorola and others. However, it is unknown for sure whether Apple is going to reveal it during the September event.

2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Hambantota

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat 

Sri Lanka Team
WU Tharanga, TM Dilshan, KC Sangakkara†, DPMD Jayawardene, AD Mathews*, SMA Priyanjan, NLTC Perera, S Prasanna, KMDN Kulasekara, HMRKB Herath, SL Malinga

Pakistan Team
Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal†, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Fawad Alam, Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan

Do not let the Sharifs flee, says Qadri

Do not let the Sharifs flee, says Qadri  

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri has ordered his workers to not let the Sharif brothers flee the country, ARY News reports on Friday.

Addressing his party workers on Thursday night, PAT Chairman Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri said that he has come to Pakistan to give the nation a good news. He further said that the country achieve victory soon.

“Include their (Sharif Brothers) names in the Exit Control List (ECL). Don’t let them flee”, Qadri said.

A qawwali night was organized by PAT last night in which protesters requested their favourite qawwalis throughout the night.

PAT Chairman breathed a new spirit within the participants of the Inqilaab March (Revolution March) with his sermon

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri has ordered his workers to not let the Sharif brothers flee the country, ARY News reports on Friday.
Addressing his party workers on Thursday night, PAT Chairman Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri said that he has come to Pakistan to give the nation a good news. He further said that the country achieve victory soon.
“Include their (Sharif Brothers) names in the Exit Control List (ECL). Don’t let them flee”, Qadri said.
A qawwali night was organized by PAT last night in which protesters requested their favourite qawwalis throughout the night.
PAT Chairman breathed a new spirit within the participants of the Inqilaab March (Revolution March) with his sermon
- See more at: http://arynews.tv/en/do-not-let-the-sharifs-flee-says-qadri/#sthash.FgGAys28.dpuf

SLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri has ordered his workers to not let the Sharif brothers flee the country, ARY News reports on Friday.
Addressing his party workers on Thursday night, PAT Chairman Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri said that he has come to Pakistan to give the nation a good news. He further said that the country achieve victory soon.
“Include their (Sharif Brothers) names in the Exit Control List (ECL). Don’t let them flee”, Qadri said.
A qawwali night was organized by PAT last night in which protesters requested their favourite qawwalis throughout the night.
PAT Chairman breathed a new spirit within the participants of the Inqilaab March (Revolution March) with his sermon
- See more at: http://arynews.tv/en/do-not-let-the-sharifs-flee-says-qadri/#sthash.FgGAys28.dpuf

SLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri has ordered his workers to not let the Sharif brothers flee the country, ARY News reports on Friday.
Addressing his party workers on Thursday night, PAT Chairman Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri said that he has come to Pakistan to give the nation a good news. He further said that the country achieve victory soon.
“Include their (Sharif Brothers) names in the Exit Control List (ECL). Don’t let them flee”, Qadri said.
A qawwali night was organized by PAT last night in which protesters requested their favourite qawwalis throughout the night.
PAT Chairman breathed a new spirit within the participants of the Inqilaab March (Revolution March) with his sermon
- See more at: http://arynews.tv/en/do-not-let-the-sharifs-flee-says-qadri/#sthash.FgGAys28.dpuf

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri has ordered his workers to not let the Sharif brothers flee the country, ARY News reports on Friday.
Addressing his party workers on Thursday night, PAT Chairman Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri said that he has come to Pakistan to give the nation a good news. He further said that the country achieve victory soon.
“Include their (Sharif Brothers) names in the Exit Control List (ECL). Don’t let them flee”, Qadri said.
A qawwali night was organized by PAT last night in which protesters requested their favourite qawwalis throughout the night.
PAT Chairman breathed a new spirit within the participants of the Inqilaab March (Revolution March) with his sermon.
- See more at: http://arynews.tv/en/do-not-let-the-sharifs-flee-says-qadri/#sthash.FgGAys28.dpuf

Mathews keeps Sri Lanka’s unbeaten record intact

DHAKA - A characteristic captain’s knock under pressure from Angelo Mathews saw Sri Lanka end the qualifying round of the Asia Cup on an unbeaten note when they defeated hosts Bangladesh by three wickets with one over to spare at Dhaka on Thursday. 

Sri Lanka, who will meet defending champions Pakistan in the final on Saturday, kept Bangladesh down to 204-9 before overcoming early jitters to chase down the target in 49 overs. The four-time champions won all their four matches, this time with some tight bowling and resilient batting led by skipper Angelo Mathews who hit an unbeaten 74.
It was Mathews and Chaturanga de Silva (44) who lifted Sri Lanka from a struggling 75-5 through their sixth wicket stand of 82 runs. Mathews was in command throughout his 103-ball knock, hitting seven boundaries and a six, while de Silva ably supported him during his 52-ball knock, smashing five fours. Despite two late wickets, Mathews kept his cool, hitting the winning boundary towards mid-wicket. Paceman Al-Amin Hossain finished with 2-42.
Bangladesh, whose dreams of reaching the final were shattered after Tuesday’s three wicket defeat against Pakistan, had a sniff of a victory after Al-Amin removed Kusal Perera (nought) and in-form Kumar Sangakkara (two) in his first two overs. Mahela Jayawardene (nought), Lahiru Thirimanne (33) and Ashan Priyanjan (24) were also removed before Mathews took over the responsibility of steering the team to winning shores.
Bangladesh, who won the toss and opted to bat, were left stranded after a good start. Spinners Priyanjan (2-11) and Ajantha Mendis (2-55) put the brakes on before Thisara Perera (2-29) and Suranga Lakmal (2-32) wrapped up the middle and lower order.
Opener Anamul Haque, who scored a brilliant hundred in Bangladesh’s highest one-day score of 326-3 against Pakistan on Tuesday, was once again the mainstay of the batting with an 86-ball 49. Anamul and Shamsur Rahman (39) gave the home team a solid 74-run start before Mendis struck twice, dismissing Shamsur and Mominul Haque (one) in the 18th over.
Anamul hit two boundaries and a six during his 86-ball knock while Shamsur’s 57-ball innings included six hits to the fence. Nasir Hossain (30) and Mohammad Mahmudullah (30) shared an innings-repairing sixth wicket stand of 55 to give the total some respectability. Shakib Al Hasan made 20. Five-time champions India crashed out of the event on Wednesday after losing two of their four matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Bangladesh, who were runners-up to Pakistan in the last Asia Cup in 2012, finished the event with four defeats in as many matches. Afghanistan was the fifth team who upset Bangladesh in their maiden appearance in the Asia Cup but lost their remaining three matches.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:
Anamul c Thirimanne b Priyanjan    49
Shamsur lbw b Mendis    39
Mominul b Mendis    1
Mushfiqur lbw b de Silva    4
Shakib c Mathews b Priyanjan    20
Nasir c Jayawardene b Lakmal    30
Mahmudullah b Lakmal    30
Ziaur b NLTC Perera    12
Arafat Sunny not out    2
Rubel b NLTC Perera    0
Al-Amin Hossain not out    0
EXTRAS: (b 4, lb 3, w 10)    17
TOTAL: (9 wickets; 50 overs)    204
FOW: 1-74, 2-76, 3-87, 4-106, 5-119, 6-174, 7-183, 8-203, 9-203
BOWLING: RAS Lakmal 10-0-32-2, NLTC Perera 8-0-29-2, SMSM Senanayake 10-1-37-0, PC de Silva 10-0-33-1, BAW Mendis 9-0-55-2, SMA Priyanjan 3-0-11-2.
SRI LANKA:
MDKJ Perera c Anamul b Al-Amin    0
HDRL Thirimanne c Rubel b Arafat    33
KC Sangakkara c Nasir b Al-Amin    2
DPMD Jayawardene run out    0
SMA Priyanjan c Anamul b Ziaur    24
AD Mathews not out     74
PC de Silva c Anamul b Mahmudullah     44
NLTC Perera run out    15
SMSM Senanayake not out     7
EXTRAS: (b 4, w 5)    9
TOTAL: (7 wickets; 49 overs)    208
FOW: 1-0, 2-6, 3-8, 4-47, 5-75, 6-157, 7-193
BOWLING: Al-Amin Hossain 10-2-42-2, Rubel Hossain 6-0-25-0, Shakib Al Hasan 10-0-27-0, Ziaur Rahman 10-0-34-1, Arafat Sunny 7-0-46-1, Mahmudullah 6-1-30-1.
TOSS: Bangladesh
Player of the match: Ad Mathews (SL)
Umpires: BF Bowden (New Zealand)
and BNJ Oxenford (Australia)

BD women beat Pakistan to seal ODI series

DHAKA - Bangladesh women contrived to turn a simple chase into a low-scoring thriller but managed to hold their nerve to a three-wicket victory over Pakistan women to take the ODI series 2-0.  Pakistan’s decision to bat backfired enormously as they were routed for 87. Seamer Lata Mondal set the pace early by dismissing both openers with only 15 on the board.

 A brief period of solidity ensued with Nain Abidi and Sana Mir adding 38 runs for the fourth wicket but once that stand was broken the innings collapsed. Pakistan lost three further wickets with the score on 67 and crumpled there on. Shohaly Akhter picked up 3 for 13 and Panna Ghosh produced a tight seven overs for nine runs and two wickets.  Mir, the Pakistan captain, led the fightback with the ball forcing the hosts into a wobble. Ayasha Rahman and Fargana Hoque had ushered to score to 50 when the batting began to come apart. They lost three wickets for 13 runs and then a further three with the score on 87 to be seven down. Fortunately for the hosts, there was only one run for victory. Mir ended with 4 for 26 off her 10 overs, but would rue gifting 15 runs in extras, 13 of which were wides.

Root century tops Ramdin as England take series

NORTH SOUND - A stroke-filled maiden century by Denesh Ramdin just wasn’t enough as England held on to defeat the West Indies by 25 runs in the deciding third and final one-day international on Wednesday.

Ramdin’s 128, the first ODI hundred by a West Indies wicketkeeper, lifted the home side from 43 for four in pursuit of a daunting target of 304 when he was last out with the total on 278, bowled by Tim Bresnan having taken 14 runs off the first three deliveries of the 48th over.  Earlier, Joe Root battled through the considerable pain of a sore right thumb — the result of a blow inflicted by fast-medium bowler Ravi Rampaul at the start of his innings — to stroke his first hundred in this form of the game while Jos Buttler fell one run short of his own first ODI century to take England to 303 for six.
Root, who was named man of the match, and Buttler put on 175 for the fifth wicket after the innings was at a crossroads when Sunil Narine bowled the experienced Eoin Morgan to reduce England to 116 for four in the 24th over. 
The spinner came in for some rare punishment later in the innings, conceding 21 runs off his ninth over.  “It was good to watch what our boys did with the bat over the final ten overs, given what happened to us in the first match,” said England skipper Stuart Broad.
“The overall effort is encouraging looking ahead to the World Twenty (in Bangladesh later this month).”  West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo finished with three wickets, including two off consecutive deliveries but Moeen Ali’s 55 at the top of the order was necessary to avoid a complete collapse before Root and Buttler took over.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Buttler was left to rue an attempt to sneak his 100th run in the final over as he only succeeded in spooning a catch back to the bowler Rampaul.  “England batted well and this was a much better wicket,” said a rueful Bravo.
“But we can’t blame the bowlers. It’s our batsmen who have to take the blame for this loss.”  As in the previous two matches, the West Indies top-order batting again failed to fire and not even the inclusion of the experienced Marlon Samuels seemed capable of halting the slide. However Ramdin played the limited-over innings of his life, dominating half-century partnerships with Bravo and Darren Sammy before taking on the improbable task virtually on his own.
Two sixes in one over off James Tredwell took him to the century-mark, yet just when it seemed England were poised to self-destruct under the pressure, Bresnan produced the perfect yorker to end Ramdin’s effort and seal victory in the match and the series.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND:
M Lumb c Narine b Dwayne Bravo    20
M Ali c and b Miller    55
B Stokes c Rampaul b Dwayne Bravo    0
J Root c Darren Bravo b Dwayne Bravo    107
E Morgan b Narine    1
J Buttler c and b Rampaul    99
R Bopara not out    5
T Bresnan not out    1
EXTRAS: (lb5, w8, nb2)    15
TOTAL: (6 wickets, 50 overs)    303
FOW: 1-37, 2-37, 3-115, 4-116, 5-291, 6-300
BOWLING: Dwayne Bravo 10-0-60-3, Rampaul 8-0-55-1, Sammy 5-0-35-0, Smith 1-0-6-0, Narine 10-1-52-1, Miller 10-0-48-1, Samuels 5-0-29-0, Simmons 1-0-13-0.
WEST INDIES:
K Powell b Root    1
D Smith c Ali b Broad    9
Darren Bravo c Bopara b Ali    16
L Simmons b Broad    16
M Samuels c Buttler b Parry    23
D Ramdin b Bresnan    128
Dwayne Bravo c Buttler b Bopara    27
D Sammy c Stokes b Bresnan    24
N Miller c sub (Jordan) b Bresnan    10
S Narine run out    10
R Rampaul not out    0
EXTRAS: (b3, lb6, w5)    14
TOTAL: (all out, 47.4 overs)    278
FOW: 1-10, 2-10, 3-42, 4-43, 5-80, 6-131, 7-202, 8-246, 9-263, 10-278
BOWLING: Root 3-0-24-1, Broad 9-0-58-2, Ali 1-0-5-1, Parry 9-1-60-1, Bresnan 8.4-0-45-3, Tredwell 10-1-38-0, Stokes 4-0-21-0, Bopara 3-0-18-1
RESULT: England won by 25 runs
England won series 2-1
UMPIRES: M Erasmus (RSA) and J Wilson (WIS)
TV UMPIRE: R Tucker (AUS)
MATCH REFEREE: A Pycroft (ZIM)
RESERVE UMPIRE: G Brathwaite

3 more n-plants to be purchased from China

LAHORE - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday disclosed talks were in progress with China for the purchase of another three nuclear power plants, but he did not say anything about their capacity, the cost and the schedule of their completion.

Inaugurating a grand auto show here on Thursday, he enlisted the steps his government was taking to overcome the energy crisis, end joblessness, expand motorways and save hundreds of billions of rupees the country is unjustifiably spending to keep the major loss-making projects afloat.
Pakistan has been facing serious energy crisis for several years and the menace of load shedding is hitting the industrial sector as well as domestic consumers even after payment of about Rs 500 billion in circular debt last year. The debt has again exceeded Rs 200 billion. The average demand-supply gap at present stands at 5,000MW and the situation will worsen during the summer which is about to start.
The prime minister said Pakistan’s total power generation capacity attained during the past 65 years stood at 17,000MW. To meet all existing and future requirements, he said, the capacity would be doubled during the five-year term of the present government.
The auto show was organised by Pakistan Association of Automative Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM). A total of 150 local and international exhibitors and global buyers are taking part in the three-day show at the Expo Centre, Johar Town.Giving a brief account of the energy projects, the premier said 660MW Port Qasim and 2,200MW civil nuclear plant projects had been launched in Karachi while work had also been started on Diamir-Bhasha Dam and Basu Dam. He said the fourth expansion plan of Tarbela Dam had also been started to generate 1,410MW electricity.
Nawaz Sharif told the show participants that he planned to extend the motorway to Karachi and work on the new segment would be started during the current calendar year. The design of the Lahore-Karachi motorway would be identical to the existing Lahore-Islamabad section. According to the prime minister, a motorway needs re-carpeting after about a decade. The process was, therefore, due for the Lahore-Islamabad segment, he said, adding it would be started during the current year and completed in about 18 months at a cost ranging between Rs 30 billion and Rs 40 billion.

Sharif said the Lahore-Karachi railway track would be upgraded to improve the performance of the facility.
Criticising the nationalisation policy of the then PPP government, the prime minister said it had ruined the economy. Loot and plunder, mismanagement and embezzlements had started immediately with the launch of the nationalisation policy. However, he said, he was determined to set the situation right.
The government, it may be recalled, has already started a policy of privatisation and a schedule has been prepared for the purpose. The opposition parties are averse to the idea as it would render a large number of people jobless. But the government is determined to go ahead at all costs.
The prime minister also stressed the need to increase exports. For this purpose, he directed the commerce minister to take necessary steps. He said he was aware of the security situation and was doing his best to restore peace to the country.
Punjab Governor Ch Sarwar, Commerce Minister Engr Khurram Dastgir, Minister for Industries Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Privatisation Board Chairman Muhammad Zubair, the Board of Investment chairman and eminent industrialists were also present on the occasion.
APP adds: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Thursday said that Pakistan’s progress was linked with a thriving industry and the government was exploring new vistas to provide avenues to the business community for economic progress.
Addressing the inaugural session of the Pakistan Auto Show at Expo Centre here, he said the world exports spread over 216 countries, but 76 percent of Pakistan’s exports were confined to only 20 countries of the world, stressing the need to enhance this number.
The prime minister said the award of GSP+ status by the European Union (EU) was an achievement of the PML-N government, adding the facility would provide access to 90 per cent of the Pakistani products to the EU market at zero-tariff. Nawaz said the government’s task was to provide an environment conducive to the businesses to flourish. He said: “If industry thrives, the whole country prospers.”
He said the government had inherited a shattered economy from the previous regime and every institution was on the decline. The PML-N government had faced the challenges with conviction and did not lose heart at any moment, he remarked.
Nawaz Sharif said the government had finalised seven-year projects worth $32.690 billion with China, which would attract an annual foreign investment of $4 billion.
Nawaz Sharif asked the auto show management to follow Geneva and other models for effective auto shows and maintain the same standards.

Nato airstrike kills five Afghan soldiers

PULI ALAM : A NATO airstrike in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday accidentally killed five Afghan soldiers, government officials said, while the coalition said it was investigating reports of the incident. “At 3:30am this morning, due to a NATO airstrike in Charkh district, Logar province, five service members of the Afghan national army were martyred and eight others were wounded,” defence ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi said on his Twitter account.

Beggars on prowl

RAWALPINDI  - Beggars have been prowling Benazir Bhutto Islamabad International Airport (BBIIA), irking passengers and posing a security scourge. 

Concerned at security, the BBIIA manager wrote to regional police officer and ASF high-ups, but to no avail. Alarmingly enough, beggars often breached airport security by jumping walls, according to airport officials. A visit to the airport Thursday revealed that one- and- half dozen beggars, including women and children, were on the loose at the airport. A bunch of women beggars welcomed South Africa-returned Ishtiaq Ahmed Karim as he landed homeland at 8:15am. To his surprise, they begged foreign currency.

“The presence of a bunch of beggars at such a sensitive spot shows security claims. Authorities should put beggars behind the bars,

Umrah returnee Waqar Ahmed said he got himself freed after paying Saudi Riyals.  The beggars have also been enjoying pick-and-drop services. An official said on anonymity that these beggars were being dropped and picked by taxicabs. An ASF official said barring beggars from the airport was the responsibility of Civil Aviation Authority. “We are here to maintain law and order, not to put a bar on beggars” the ASF personnel said, adding that most of beggars got into the airport by ‘wall-jump’.

On the other hand, a CAA spokesman said they are bound to keep vigilance, not to counter flux of people and beggars. “Barring baggers is the responsibility of cops deployed at the airport police post” he stressed.  He went on to say: “The ASF has been toeing (police’s) policy of lethargy. Police and ASF must cope with its protection and security needs since they are equipped with guns and sticks. Many times, the CAA official caught beggars and handed over to police who set them free the next day.” The RPO could not be reached for comments.

I am better off coaching myself, says Shahid Afridi

DHAKA - The Asia Cup is Pakistan’s first tournament under a new-look team management, with Moin Khan as coach and Zaheer Abbas as chief consultant. The regime change has coincided with a stunning return to batting form for Shahid Afridi, whose unbeaten 18-ball 34 against India and a brutal 25-ball 59 against Bangladesh were instrumental in Pakistan reaching the final. 

But correlation, Afridi has said, didn’t quite mean causation. While praising the support staff for backing him, he said he was essentially his own coach. “It was different earlier, it’s not that it was not good,” Afridi said, after Pakistan’s practice session on Thursday. 

“The support team that we have now are all knowledgeable and keep you positive. As I’ve said earlier also, having played at this level for so many years, I don’t need a coach. I am better off coaching myself. I know very well what to do and what not to do. It’s about having the right people to back you and support you.” 

Pakistan, Afridi said, had peaked at the right time in the tournament, and this would help them at the World Twenty20 as well. “I’ve already mentioned before how important for us this series is,” he said. “The World Twenty20 is coming up after this. I think we peaked at the right time, that was the requirement.” Pakistan have never beaten India in an ICC world event, be it the 50-over World Cup or the World T20. Asked if they could overcome the jinx when they meet in the World Twenty20 on March 21, Afridi said he wouldn’t think about it till the Asia Cup ended. 

“I’m not looking that ahead,” he said. “My and my team’s focus is just on the Asia Cup final at the moment. When the World Twenty20 comes, we will talk about the India-Pakistan then.” Afridi said India and Pakistan should play each other more frequently. 

“It should be like that only,” he said. “Pakistan have always supported India at every step. Despite threats, Pakistan have always toured India. I think cricket can only revive India-Pakistan relations. Sport brings friendship. The way I enjoyed my cricket in India, I never enjoyed anywhere else. We are after all neighbours. The relations should be good between us. Cricket can only help better the relations.” This year’s IPL, like most other editions before it, will not include Pakistan players. “Ask your Indian government,” Afridi said, when his views were sought on this. “Why ask me?” 

Afridi will turn 35 during the 2015 World Cup, and will have entered the 19th year of his international career. But the thought of retirement, he said, had not entered his mind yet. “Obviously, the World Cup 2015 is going to be a huge thing for me and my team,” he said. “As long as I’m fit and give my life to cricket, I’ll continue playing the sport. I will sideline myself the moment I start thinking that I’m becoming a burden on my team. I will not give anyone an opportunity to talk.”

Graeme Smith deserves every accolade: Kallis

CAPE TOWN - Jacques Kallis called for the South African public to give Graeme Smith the credit he deserves as former players paid tribute to the retiring Proteas captain. Smith called time on a 12-year international career late on Monday, and had his last bat on Tuesday when he was dismissed for 3 on Day four of the third Test against Australia at Newlands.

While he led South Africa's revival in the wake of World Cup disappointment in 2003 and guided the team to the top of the world Test rankings, the 33-year-old has not always enjoyed universal approval in his own country. "A lot of our sportsmen are like that," Kallis, who retired from Test cricket in December, said on Tuesday. "Maybe it's a South African thing that we like to keep our guys down on the ground. Hopefully we'll celebrate his retirement and give him the due respect and recognition that he deserves."

Smith's predecessor, Shaun Pollock, agreed with Kallis, but also spent time recalling how Smith had "a very good cricket brain" from an early age. Pollock said he felt from the start that Smith would go on to great things as a captain. "The last five or six years is where he's really come to the fore," Pollock said. "He's had a good team that's been very settled and he's known how to get the best out of them. "He's been very clear about the tactics he wants to employ and that's why he's had a lot of success." Smith retires as the most capped Test captain in history, and with over 9,000 runs at an average of 48. He also scored 6,989 runs in 197 one-day internationals. 

However he will also be remembered for the bravery he showed on the field, most notably when he walked out to bat with a broken hand in a Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2009.

"A lot of guys in the dressing room actually got emotional because they realised what had happened on that tour - the Australian crowd had come to fall in love with a captain who they probably hated so much," former wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher recalled. "I've never seen the SCG crowd, having played there for quite a few years and gone through some abuse, actually stand up for an opposition captain. That was big."

A bulky left-hander who scored his runs through grit as opposed to sound technique, Smith generally flouted the batting textbook. Boucher suggested this may have contributed to his decision to retire at a relatively early age for a batsman. "When Jacques wasn't quite up to it his technique took over and he could still score runs, but Graeme has been the type of player who has really needed a bit of heart and passion and enthusiasm to get out there and dominate," Boucher said. "I think he woke up a couple of mornings ago and realised he couldn't get himself up for the challenge, and then he probably gets more exposed than a guy who has a good technique."

Herschelle Gibbs, who shared in three triple-century partnerships whilst opening the batting with Smith, gave Smith credit for the burden he was willing to carry as captain from a young age. "He's always led the team from the front, right from when he took over the team at the tender age of 22," he said. "He always wanted the job and he was very comfortable with having that responsibility."

Triumphs in Asia Cup result of team’s good work

ISLAMABAD - Shahid Khan Afridi, Ahmed Shahzad and Fawad Alam played superb knock to guide Pakistan to a thrilling victory against Bangladesh in the last group match played at Shera Bangla Stadium, Mirpur.

Green shirts never chased such a huge total earlier in their cricket history. Despite poor umpiring and unfriendly crowd, men in green stamped out their authority and chasing a huge total, they also managed to remove the tag of poor run-chasers.

Bangladeshi batsmen gave a real rough treatment to one of the best bowling attacks of the world with their sensational batting while sloppy fielding, drop catches and full-fledged support of the on-field umpires also supported the Bangladeshi batsmen’s cause. None of the Pakistani bowler except Hafeez escaped punishment, otherwise, Umar Gul was the main culprit, as he gave away 76 runs in his quota of overs. M Talha also disappointed the nation as he failed to carry on with the good form he showed against India and gave 68 runs in only seven overs. Afridi (64), Ajmal (61) were the other bowlers, who were severely punished by the Bengali Tigers.

The most astonishing thing was three beamers bowled by Abdul Rehman which cost Pakistan dearly, as his inclusion in the team was purely due to his bowling but his stupidity left team with high and dry. Instead of committing blunders in the team selection, now the team management should use commonsense and select Anwar Ali for the finals as he is the best option because he can bowl well and can also hit some lusty blows when it matters the most. Hafeez showed some courage by opening the innings and played well. Sharjeel should be rested and Anwar should be given chance ahead of Abdul Rehman or Junaid Khan.

It was a real treat to watch Afridi in full flow as his majestic knock almost ensured Pakistan post highly unlikely victory, which at one stage was almost out of the hands of green shirts when they lost three quick wickets. Fawad Alam also played crucial role in team’s triumph as he not only stayed at the wicket, but also sneaked quick singles. It was by all means team work, especially by the batsmen, who were long being blamed for their irresponsible batting and throwing wickets away but they performed their duty well and helped the team register victory and berth in finals.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must take up the umpiring issue with the International Cricket Council (ICC). They must ask the reasons why only Pakistani team is given such a special treatment by the umpires in almost all their matches and this attitude must be stopped once for all. PCB chairman Najam Sethi should stop giving unnecessary and unwanted statements. What was the reason of attributing victory against India to changes in Pakistan Cricket Board as it has nothing to do with changes in the board or Najam Sethi rather it is a sheer good work of the entire team.

Now the momentum is very much in the favour of green shirts so they carry it on in the final against Sri Lanka and beat them to bring the trophy to home.

Australia beat South Africa in epic Test nailbiter

CAPE TOWN - Australia won the third and final Test against South Africa by 245 runs at Newlands on Wednesday in a nailbiting finish with just 27 balls to spare after a day of epic home resistance.

Ryan Harris bowled Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel with the first and third balls of his 25th over as Australia won the match as well as the series by two Tests to one. Steyn and Vernon Philander (51 not out) came together with 19.5 overs remaining and survived until Harris returned to the attack for a final burst. Michael Clarke's side became the first team to win a series against South Africa since Ricky Ponting's Australians won by the same margin in South Africa in 2008/09.

South Africa will retain their number one position in the official Test rankings, but the defeat could signal the imminent end of an era, with captain Graeme Smith stepping down from international cricket. Smith's retirement, announced after the third day's play, follows the retirement earlier in the season of star all-rounder Jacques Kallis, while long-serving wicketkeeper Mark Boucher was forced to quit through injury in 2012. Australia, on the other hand, continued a resurgence under the leadership of Clarke and coach Darren Lehmann, following their 5-0 Ashes triumph against England earlier in the season.

When South Africa resumed on 71 for four it seemed unlikely they could pull off another great escape to go along with a draw they earned against Australia in Adelaide in 2011/12 and India in Johannesburg earlier this season. But a succession of stubborn partnerships took the match down to the last five overs. AB de Villiers and nightwatchman Kyle Abbott defied Australia's bowlers for just over an hour and a half during an extended morning's play before Abbott, who batted for 116 minutes and faced 89 balls in scoring seven runs, did not play a shot to a ball from James Pattinson which cut back and clipped the top of his off stump.

The home side's hopes seemed to rest with De Villiers and Faf du Plessis, two of the key figures when South Africa fought out a draw from a similar position in Adelaide in November 2012. De Villiers, normally a free-scoring batsman, started his innings after tea on the fourth day.  He was dismissed in the fifth over with the second new ball when he edged Harris to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. He had batted for 326 minutes and faced 228 balls. 

It was an effort reminiscent of De Villiers' innings in Adelaide when he batted for more than four hours and faced 220 balls in scoring 33. On that occasion, Du Plessis, making his debut, saved the match with a marathon innings of 110 not out. Du Plessis was again resolute but shortly before tea he was leg before wicket to the first ball of a new spell by part-time leg-spinner Steve Smith, who pitched a ball on a good length on leg stump, turning slightly towards middle, with Du Plessis misjudging the line. Du Plessis sought a review but it confirmed that umpire Kumar Dharmasena had made the right decision. Du Plessis batted for 157 minutes and faced 109 balls in making 47. But the drama was not finished as Philander defied the Australians for 155 minutes and 105 balls. 

Australia were on top virtually from the start of the decisive Test, with opening batsman David Warner setting the tone with a rapid century in the first innings which he followed with another hundred in the second innings. 

Australia took a first innings lead of 207, with Mitchell Johnson taking four wickets and Ryan Harris three, then rattled up 303 for five declared in their second innings to set South Africa a nominal target of 511.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA, 1ST INNINGS: 494-7 decl
SOUTH AFRICA, 1ST INNINGS: 287
AUSTRALIA, 2ND INNINGS: 303-5 decl
SOUTH AFRICA, 2ND INNINGS:
(Overnight: 71-4)
A Petersen lbw b Harris    9
G Smith c Doolan b Johnson    3
D Elgar b Johnson    0
H Amla lbw b Pattinson    41
A de Villiers c Haddin b Harris    43
K Abbott b Pattinson    7
F du Plessis lbw b Smith    47
J Duminy c Lyon b Johnson    43
V Philander not out    51
D Steyn b Harris    1
M Morkel b Harris    0
EXTRAS: (b8, lb5, nb5, w2)    20
TOTAL: (134.3 overs)    265
FOW: 1-12, 2-12, 3-15, 4-68, 5-95, 6-136, 7-173, 8-246, 9-265
BOWLING: Harris 24.3-15-32-4, Johnson 34-11-92-3, Pattinson 27-10-62-2, Lyon 22-17-10-0, Watson 9-6-6-0, Smith 13-3-43-1, Clarke 5-2-7-0
TOSS: Australia

UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (PAK), Kumar Dharmasena (SRI)
TV UMPIRE: Richard Illingworth (ENG)
MATCH REFEREE: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)

US plans $280m mily aid for Pakistan

WASHINGTON - The United States has proposed $280 million in military assistance to Pakistan in next year’s budget, while underscoring its key role in the security and economic development of the region.

Hit by the financial constraints, the Obama administration also proposed $446 million in civilian aid in 2015, which is substantially less than $703 million in 2013.
“The OCO (Overseas Contingency Operations) resources will support critical US activities such as sustaining close cooperation with Pakistan, ensuring the safety of Pakistani nuclear installations, working with Pakistan to facilitate the peace process in Afghanistan, and promoting improved relations with India,” the State Department said in its budget document.  The Obama Administration’s around $ one billion request for Pakistan in the new financial year is part of $ 46.2 billion budget for State Department and the US Agency for International Development.  “FY 2015 funding for Pakistan is crucial to meeting key US strategic priorities of combating terrorism, strengthening security in both Pakistan and the region, and maintaining stability in Afghanistan post-transition,”the department said.  
“Pakistan will remain a key player in US counter-terrorism and nuclear nonproliferation efforts in FY 2015, as well as in our long-term objectives of economic development and stability in the region,” the State Department said in its annual budget proposals to the Congress.
“Developing an enduring and collaborative relationship with an increasingly stable and prosperous Pakistan that plays a constructive role in the region will therefore continue to be a priority for the United States,” the State Department said proposing USD 100 million to Pakistan under the Economic Support Fund (ESF) for the fiscal year 2015.  Given the ongoing transition in Afghanistan and continued terrorist attacks against civilian and military targets throughout Pakistan, Foreign Military Financing (FMF) is essential to Pakistan’s efforts to increase stability in its Western border region and ensure overall stability within its own borders, the department said.  “The USD 280 million Pakistan requests will enhance the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, Air Force, and Navy’s ability to conduct Counter Insurgency (COIN) and Counter Terrorism (CT) operations against militants throughout its borders and will improve Pakistan’s ability to deter threats emanating from those areas, and encourage continued US-Pakistan military-to-military engagement,” the State Department said.  The OCO supports a robust diplomatic presence and critical assistance programmes to support the government and its people following Pakistan’s first democratic transition, it added. “These funds will help facilitate increased stability and prosperity in this strategically important nation and will enable us to sustain a presence necessary to achieve essential strategic priorities of eliminating terrorism and enhancing stability in Pakistan and the region following the transition in Afghanistan,” the State Department said.  “Developing an enduring and collaborative relationship with an increasingly stable and prosperous Pakistan that plays a constructive role in the region will therefore continue to be a priority for the United States,” the State Department’s stressed while justifying its request for foreign assistance in the financial year 2015 stated.
The FY 2015 base funds will support the new Government of Pakistan in its reform, economic growth, and long-term stabilisation efforts and “demonstrate that the US will remain engaged in the region following the transition in Afghanistan.”

“These funds will continue our long-term engagement policy that is designed to strengthen Pakistan’s civilian government and enhance its ability to respond to the economic, social, and security needs of its people.” According to the document, these resources will sustain the five-pillar strategy that includes supporting the government’s efforts to build a commercially viable energy sector, including both reforms and expanding power generation; fostering economic growth and employment; increasing long-term stability in volatile areas threatened by extremism, particularly those along the border with Afghanistan; and improving Pakistan’s ability to provide education and health care to its population.
Given the ongoing transition in Afghanistan and continued terrorist attacks against civilian and military targets throughout Pakistan, the FMF is essential to Pakistan’s efforts to increase stability in its Western border region and ensure overall stability within its own borders, the document said.

 Pakistan lies at the heart of the US counter terrorism strategy, the peace process in Afghanistan, nuclear non-proliferation efforts, and economic integration in South and Central Asia, it said.

ANF foils bid to smuggle 61kg heroin

RAWALPINDI - The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) have unveiled the novel technique of smuggling drugs abroad by seizing a huge quantity of heroin-filled onion besides arresting five carriers in Karachi, informed a spokesman of ANF Headquarters here on Wednesday.

“ANF Karachi assisted by Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) recovered 61.5 kg of fine quality heroin filled in onion for smuggling abroad and busted a 5-member gang,” he said adding that the value of seized drug is approximately Rs 43 million in the international market. According to him, the force stationed in Karachi received information from sources that a racket was busy for smuggling heroin abroad by using innovative concealment methods.  Initial ground-check revealed suspicious activities, however, to further authenticate the information, a discreet surveillance of ANF was imposed, he said.  

A surveillance team substantiated the information as well. However, planning and execution of raid remained a challenge, owing to the gravity of crime in inhabited area, the spokesman added. He said that finally ANF and Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) conducted a raid at House D-119, Musarat Colony, Mallir City, Karachi, and recovered 61.5 kg of fine quality heroin and arrested 5 persons involved in the crime.

Initial investigation revealed that heroin was tactfully concealed inside onions by making a hole in onions. Later, the heroin filled capsules were inserted and finally capped by onion. During interrogation, he said, the accused disclosed that onions were also useful in evading the smell of drugs by sniffing dogs. A case has been lodged against all the arrested persons at ANF Police Station and further investigations were under process.

Insulin Bank to be inaugurated in KP soon

PESHAWAR - The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister, Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, has said that the present provincial government in accordance with its agenda is taking initiatives to provide best healthcare facilities to the poor of the province. 

Besides others fruitful initiatives, the Insulin Bank is being established in Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, which will soon be inaugurated formally. He said Rs 25 million has been allocated for this project out of which Rs 12.5 million has been released to the Health Department and the remaining Rs 12.5 million has been transferred to Hayatabad Medical Complex. He said the focal persons have also been identified in eight hospitals.

This he said while talking to the doctors and other concerned officials at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. Deputy Director EPI Dr Janbaz Afridi, Chief Executive LRH and other concerned authorities were also present on this occasion.

The health minister on the occasion urged doctors and other staff to play their vital role in bringing about a visible change as the provincial government was fully committed in this regard and has taken these historical steps which were the long-standing demand of the province. He said, moreover, a graceful structure had been formulated for the doctors, which would certainly be helpful to redress the problems of doctors. 

He said poor people of the province were depending on public run hospitals as due to low income they could not afford expenditures of private hospitals.  He said the government was trying to provide them free treatment in regard fatal and costly diseases. He said establishment of Insulin Bank was a historical achievement of the present government, where free treatment of diabetes would be available for poor patients. The purchase of Insulin had already been done while the registration had also been started from February 1, 2014, he concluded.nds.

TTP, Ahrar-ul-Hind ate and slept together

Two court attack militant brothers arrested | AH part of web including Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Jundallah

ISLAMABAD - The law enforcement agencies (LEAs) on Wednesday claimed to have arrested two terror suspects belonging to a militant outfit involved in the deadly attack at Islamabad district courts on Monday that left at least 11 people dead.

The reported arrests were made following a police encounter in the suburbs of Attock on Tuesday night, highly placed security official told this correspondent. The reported terrorists are said to have direct linkages with Ahrar-ul-Hind, which, the source said, is a split faction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

According to a reliable source in the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the Islamabad incident, two terror suspects involved in the deadly attack looked like Uzbek militants associated with the TTP and it is, he said, under investigation how they managed to break into the highly secured and posh sectors of Islamabad. 

“Both the militants are Punjabi Taliban and real brothers, and they founded Ahrar-ul-Hind,” the official shared, adding they have a direct hand in the attack that took place in Islamabad.
One of the main targets of the militants, the source further shared, was the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Atiq-ur-Rehman who narrowly escaped the attack due to the reason that his court room was shifted from the place following an intelligence agency’s report just a few days before.
“Ahrar-ul-Hind is funded from across the border. Certain groups of Taliban had trained the militants of this outfit outside Pakistan to carry out gorilla attacks in Pakistan’s urban areas,” the officials said.
Ahrar-ul-Hind was formed when TTP activists were divided after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud.
A commander of banned militant outfit shared with this correspondent that the newly formed group derived its name from “Ahrar” because the Ahraris were against the formation of Pakistan and they believed that the entire subcontinent was their motherland. They plan to expand the fight to “the remaining part of subcontinent, India and Occupied Kashmir,” the commander explained the AH manifesto. 

Apart from the TTP, Ahrar-ul-Hind has reported ties with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Jundallah.
A neighbouring country, sources believe, has been involved in training the Ahrar-ul-Hind militants, who have fought alongside the TTP against the Pakistan army and LEAs. 

“Practically, Ahrar-ul-Hind and TTP are the two facets of the same coin even though they have apparently parted ways. The militants of both the terrorist outfits always stick together. In most of the cases, they even sleep and eat together under one roof, besides receiving militant training together to fight against Pakistan’s Armed Forces.”

However, surprising was a statement, reported by a section of the media quoting Maulana Sami-ul-Haq that the Taliban themselves did not know “who the hell” Ahrar-ul-Hind is (Ahrar-ul-Hind kis bala ka naam hai). The Maulana was also quoted as saying that the TTP was trying to track the AH and rather they had tracked them using Facebook. 

Six soldiers martyred in Hangu blast

PESHAWAR -  At least six personnel of Frontier Corps (FC) were martyred and eight others sustained injuries on Wednesday when a bomb planted on roadside went off in the district Hangu and Kurram Agency border area.

The remote-controlled device hit a convoy of paramilitary Frontier Corps on Wednesday as it was moving from the town of Hangu to Kurram district, one of seven tribal areas along the Afghan border where militants have strongholds.  A security official in Peshawar told The Nation that the blast killed six soldiers and wounded eight.

Ansar-ul-Mujahideen militant group which has been active in the tribal areas for around three years claimed responsibility. “We have carried out this attack to avenge drone victims. We are not part of the Pakistani Taliban, so we aren’t bound to follow any ceasefire,” the group spokesman, Abu Baseer, said in a telephonic conversation. 

The Pakistani Taliban announced a month-long ceasefire on Saturday in a bid to restart stalled peace talks with the government. The military halted air strikes on suspected militant hideouts in response.

Several defunct organisations are continuously targeting security forces and government installations despite the recent announcement of ceasefire by Tehreek-e-Taliban.  Disassociating itself from the recent terrorist activities in various parts of the country, Tehreek-e-Taliban has vowed to form a committee to probe these incidents.

Peace talks enter ‘decisive’ phase

Negotiators agree to expand govt team to include army, parliamentary figures | Direct talks between state, Taliban shura also proposed | Irfan says now panelists will focus on decision making 

PESHAWAR - The peace negotiators representing the government and Taliban met on Wednesday to resume the stalled peace talks, saying they were ready to move to a decisive ‘second phase’.
The government committee visited Akora Khattak and met with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) named peace negotiators to resume the stalled peace process and work out modalities for future engagement. They agreed to the proposal to setup a bigger and more powerful government negotiating team to make the process more meaningful and result oriented.

The government opened negotiations with the TTP last month in a bid to end their bloody seven-year insurgency, but the process broke down more than two weeks ago after militants killed 23 kidnapped soldiers. The Taliban announced a month-long ceasefire at the weekend and the two sides met in the country’s northwest on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, government committee head Irfan Siddqui, along with other members – Major (r) Amir, Rustam Shah Mohmand and Rahimullah Yousufzai – met Taliban negotiation committee head Samiul Haq, member Prof Mohamamd Ibrahim Khan and coordinator Yousaf Shah and formally resumed the frosted process.

The resumption came despite a major attack in Islamabad on Monday claimed by a splinter group that killed 11 people and a roadside bomb killing six paramilitary troops on Wednesday. A joint statement read out after the meeting in Akora Khattak, 50 kilometres east of Peshawar, said the talks had entered a ‘crucial stage’.

Both the committees would soon hold a joint meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to draw future line of action, sources said. The first phase of talks has successfully come to an end and more important decisions would be taken in the second round, they said. The two committees, therefore, agreed to include representatives of the federal government, the army, the parliament and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in the government committee, sources said.

The recommendation was pushed forward by retired Major Amir Khan during a meeting of the committee members with PM Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday. The federal government may work on the proposal immediately to make the second round more productive, sources said. The proposed new government committee may comprise members from PML-N led government as well as members from the armed forces. Moreover, KPK chief minister or his representative would also be added to the committee, while Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan would be the focal person, sources said.
Inclusion of Taliban shura members in the Taliban committee was also recommended, source said, 
adding government and Taliban committees agreed to welcome direct talks between government and Taliban, as direct talks could take the talks to success soon, sources said. They said that proposal to dissolve the existing government and Taliban committees also came under discussion. After a ceasefire between government and Taliban there is no need of the existing committees anymore, sources quoted a negotiator as saying. However, Samiul Haq and Irfan Siddiqui – the heads of the two committees reportedly disagreed with the dissolution of existing committees.

However, they fully agreed that after the big achievement of a ceasefire, Taliban shura members and state representatives should sit together and carry forward peace talks. Both sides also agreed that Taliban should denounce all terrorist acts occurring after the announcement of the ceasefire.
Lead government negotiator Irfan Siddiqui told reporters they had made “satisfactory” progress. “We are now launching the second phase of the dialogue after completion of the first one”, which involved making contacts, working on the framework for the dialogue process and on mutual consultations on relevant issues.

“The second phase will be of decision-making and we have to make important and far-reaching decisions... Our committee felt and had informed the prime minister that in this new phase, to make the dialogue more productive, we may have to make some changes,” he said. He refuted the media reports that government committee was being dissolved. “If it were so, we wouldn’t be here,” he said.
Siddiqui said any decision to make any change in the govern team or dissolution of the existing committee will be taken by the government. He said that Taliban committee had expressed the desire to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and “they will be facilitated”. 

Taliban committee head Samiul Haq welcomed the ceasefire announced by the government and the TTP calling it ‘big achievement’. He said the TTP hadn’t demanded any amendment in the constitution. He applauded the role of PM for continuing dialogue process despite international pressure. Sami also announced that the two committees will be meeting with the PM on Thursday (today).

Sami said the committees had opened the door for dialogue and it was now up to the stakeholders to make the decisions. Sami, while reading out the joint statement, said that after successful first round of talks there is a need to adopt a comprehensive strategy to carry forward the process for meaningful resolution of the issue.

But he stressed the two sides need to stop blaming each other and identify the enemies of peace – ‘the third powers which are averse to peace in Pakistan’. He said that Taliban have disowned the Islamabad district court attacks this week, adding Taliban have said they have never heard of Ahrarul Hind – an unknown militant group that claimed responsibility for the attacks. Taliban themselves were investigating to know whereabouts of that militant group, he said, adding enemies of peace will continue to make their attempts to sabotage the process. “We will have to deal with the situation with patience,” he stressed.

Reacting to the reports of getting the army involved in the peace talks, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah, while speaking in Islamabad, said inclusion of any army officer in the government committee to hold talks with the Taliban will be dangerous.

Shah said that army was meant to obey government’s order and armed forces’ involvement in peace talks with terrorists will have serious consequences if the negotiations failed. However, he said a retired army man could be included in the committee if it was essential. He added that he does not have any objections to whether the government holds the peace talks themselves or via an intermediary committee.

Senators from opposition as well as treasury benches on Tuesday criticised the government’s policy of holding talks with the banned TTP and said it betrayed “weakness of the state”. They said Monday’s terrorist attack on Islamabad courts revealed a “serious security lapse” and “failure of the state”. In their hard-hitting speeches in the house, the opposition senators lashed out at Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for not coming to the house to brief them on the incident and refused to listen to his deputy Balighur Rehman.

The Leader of Opposition in the Senate, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, even declared the prime minister and the interior minister “absconders” and the PPP’s parliamentary leader Raza Rabbani asked Chaudhry Nisar to resign in the wake of the attack that had take place despite his tall claims about security arrangements in the capital city. The opposition also disrupted the proceedings by staging walkout and pointing out lack of quorum, for the third time during the current session of the Senate, forcing Chairman Nayyar Bokhari to adjourn the sitting.

Al-Qaeda continues to operate from FATA: Pentagon

WASHINGTON- Al-Qaeda continues to operate from Pakistan's tribal areas, a top Pentagon commander has said while adding that the long-lasting tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir are a threat to regional stability.

"Long-standing tensions between Pakistan and India also threaten regional stability as both states have substantial military forces arrayed along their borders and the disputed Kashmir Line of Control," General Lloyd J Austin, Commander of the US Central Command said in his testimony before House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.

"Al-Qaeda continues to operate in Pakistan's federally administered tribal areas and, to a lesser extent, areas of eastern Afghanistan," he said. Austin said continued pressure on Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan could result in the outfit's advancement towards less restrictive areas that would serve as safe heavens for terror activities.

He said that the US faced a host of challenges in Pakistan that have long hindered the efforts of the Pakistan government to fight terrorism and America's ability to provide needed assistance.

"Central to Pakistan's struggles is its poor economy and burgeoning "youth bulge." Given these conditions, radicalism is on the rise in settled areas and threatens increased militant activity and insurgency in parts of Pakistan where the sway of the state traditionally has been the strongest," he said.

"At the same time, terrorist attacks and ethno-sectarian violence threaten the government's tenuous control over some areas. Further compounding these internal challenges are Pakistan's strained relationships with its neighbors," he added.

The US-Pakistan military-to-military relationship has improved over the past two years, reflecting increased cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including the defeat of Al-Qaeda, reconciliation in Afghanistan and support for Pakistan's fight against militant and terrorist groups.

Greater security assistance, training, support and operational reimbursement through the Coalition Support Fund have enhanced Pakistan's ability to conduct counter-insurgency (COIN)/CT operations, the Pentagon Commander said.

"In November 2013, we held the second strategic-level Defense Consultative Group meeting, focused primarily on implementing a framework for promoting peace and stability based on common COIN (counterinsurgency) and CT (counterterrorism) interests," he informed the lawmakers.

"The Out-Year Security Assistance Roadmap will focus on enhancing Pakistan’s precision strike, air mobility, survivability/counter improvised explosive device (IED) capability, battlefield communications, night vision, border security and maritime security/counter-narcotics capabilities," he said.

 "Additionally, we are nesting these initiatives within our Military Consultative Committee, which finalizes our annual engagement plan and the USCENTCOM exercise program," Austin said. He said the end result will be a synchronization of activities aimed at helping Pakistan build capabilities in support of their common objectives across all security cooperation lines of effort.

"While we continue to strengthen our cooperation in areas of mutual interest, we are engaging with Pakistan where our interests diverge, most notably with respect to the Haqqani Network which enjoys safe haven on Pakistan soil," General Austin said.

Pakistan has paid a heavy price for terrorism: PM

The Prime Minister said this while addressing a breakfast meeting today. He added that the present committees would only perform coordination duties and the teams would consider new strategies to make the decision-making process more effective. He reiterated that in the absence of peace, there would be no prosperity in Pakistan and that all forms of terrorism would be eliminated. He said the new phase of decision-making would require consultation and guidance from both the committees.

ISLAMABAD- Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan has paid a heavy price for terrorism and will not rest until this menace is eliminated.

He said that safeguarding the lives of the citizens and peace in the country are top priorities of the government. He added that the time has come to stop blood-shed and restore peace.
The Prime Minister said the government prefers the dialogue option for lasting peace.

Musharraf seeking permission to go abroad

ISLAMABAD- Special Court will hear the petition filed by Former President Pervez Musharraf today, seeking permission to go abroad to meet his ailing mother in Dubai and for his own medical treatment.

Former military dictator has taken a plea in the petition that even though he looks healthy apparently but his health condition is alarming. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Former President Asif Ali Zardari had also gone abroad for their treatment; therefore, he should also be allowed to leave the country for his medical treatment.

The application further stated that AFIC Medical Board, which was constituted under the order of the court, had also mentioned in its report, that he could suffer a heart attack  due to stress during the process of surgery in connection with diagnosis of heart problem. This heart attack can prove life threatening. Even though outstanding facilities are available for the treatment of heart patients in AFIC but, when angiography of his father was conducted therein, his father could not survive due to certain problems ensued in consequence of this test. Its psychological impact on him is but natural. He was not ready to take the risk and wants to go through angiography from abroad.  

In the application he also pleaded that his mother was ill and she needed his support.  So he should be granted permission to meet her to make all the arrangements for her treatment and proper health care. It also stated “I will appear whenever court summons me”

The court has issued notices to prosecution with reference to this petition. This application will come up for hearing before the court on March 7, 2014.

Musharraf's lawyer appeals against military court decision

ISLAMABAD- The counsel for former military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, Anwar Mansoor, on Thursday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the decision of the special court to not conduct the treason trial of the former president in a military court.

Earlier, the special court raised objections against Musharraf’s appeal to conduct the treason trial of the former president in a military court. Previously on Feb 21 the special court constituted to try former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf ruled that the treason trial of the former president would not take place in a military court and has summoned him before it on March 11, 2014. Meanwhile, the defense team had argued that Gen Musharraf should be tried by a military court and not the special court.

The three-judge court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court, had deferred the framing of charges and said these would be read out once the court announced its judgment on whether or not the special court has the jurisdiction to try the retired general for treason. Initially, Musharraf had filed three applications that challenged the appointment of the head of the prosecution team, the establishment and the jurisdiction of the special court.

His team has said more than once that unless the jurisdiction of the court was decided, Gen Musharraf could not be indicted. The 70-year-old is facing treason charges, which can result in a death penalty, over his imposition of a state of emergency in 2007 while he was president. The former general has been in a military hospital since falling ill with heart trouble while travelling to court on Jan 2, 2014.

Ch. Nisar briefs PM on law and order situation

RAIWIND- Federal Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Raiwind to discuss issues relating to law and order situation in the country and ongoing dialogue process with Taliban. PM also reviewed the future strategy to carry forward the peace talks.

Khurshid Shah to become party in petition against appointment of NAB chairman

ISLAMABAD- Supreme Court (SC) has allowed the opposition leader of the National Assembly (NA), Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, to become a party in a petition filed by Imran Khan against the appointment of chairman NAB and issued notices to Attorney General, Imran Khan and others.

A 3-member bench of SC presided over by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani took up the case for hearing Thursday.

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan appeared on behalf of Syed Khurshid Shah in the court. " Consultation with the leader of the opposition has been made mandatory in this regard," he argued.

He said that much is unclear about the appointment of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry as the chairman NAB and allegations of compromise are being leveled. “We want transparency in this matter,” he contended.

“ Imran Khan has tried to malign us . We have not made any compromise with government on this account. If Imran Khan had any complaint then he should have filed a petition against the government but he has leveled allegations against the opposition leader which is not appropriate,” said Aitzaz Ahsan.

The court while allowing Syed Khurshid Shah to become a party to the case, admitted his petition for a regular hearing besides issuing notices to Imran Khan, Chairman NAB and others concerned.
Imran Khan has challenged the appointment of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry as chairman NAB who may be disqualified as a result. The court adjourned the hearing of Imran Khan’s petition till March, 27 due to the absence of the Attorney General.

KP prepared to hold LG polls next month: Khattak

PESHAWAR - Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pervez Khattak, has said that all preparations including delimitations have been completed for local bodies’ polls and April 30 has been proposed to the Supreme Court for the purpose.
 
“Now in light of the directives of the apex court the provincial government is fully prepared for any date fixed by the Election Commission of Pakistan,” he added. He was talking to the delegations of the provincial cabinet of PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Insaf Students Federation (ISF), which separately called on him here at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
Progress made on the implementation of the reforms agenda of the provincial government, preparations regarding upcoming LG elections, problems of the respective areas, people welfare-oriented schemes and other matters of mutual interest were discussed during the meetings.
The delegation of the PTI provincial cabinet was led by Provincial President Azam Khan Swati while ISF was led by its Provincial President Sohail Afridi. Those present on the occasion included Provincial Secretary General PTI Khalid Masood, Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Higher Education Mushtaq Ghani, Advisor to CM for Physical Planning Yasin Khan Khalil and Chairman District Development Advisory Committee (DDAC) Peshawar Ishtiaq Urmar.
The chief minister said that the provincial government has laid the foundation of unique local government system which will actually empower people at grassroots level. He said that under this system, besides maximum administrative powers, 30 per cent development funds of the provincial government would also be transferred to local governments while Punjab and other provinces through copying the old local bodies’ government system have done a mockery and injustice with their people. Terming LG polls very important for the party and people of KP, the chief minister stressed on the PTI office-bearers to strictly adhere to the party discipline not only themselves, but also make it obligatory on the other workers to deliver to the people in real sense.
The chief minister said, “Owing to better performance, revolutionary steps and people-friendly policies of the provincial government, we will not only win the local bodies’ elections, but will also remain triumphant in next general elections with thumping majority from the whole country.” Assuring immediate resolution of the problems highlighted by the delegations, the chief minister stressed on the provincial cabinet of PTI and office bearers of ISF to set aside their petty internal differences and forge unity and discipline in their ranks. He asked the party office-bearers and workers to make preparations for the forthcoming local bodies’ polls with a zeal and enthusiasm, activate party workers and further accelerate mass contact campaign.
The chief minister further asked the party workers for the resolution of their internal differences in consultations at party level and refrain from involving in issues. Similarly they besides taking political allies along also exhibit full political maturity and learn about their limits. Regarding complaints about negative attitude of police and patwaris with the people, the chief minister said that corruption and bribery have been rooted out to maximum extent in both police stations and patwar khanas and now steps are being taken for bringing positive change in their behaviour with the people. He directed the party office bearers and workers to establish provincial and district level public complaint cells in consultations and approval of party leadership and connect it with central cell established in Chief Minister’s Secretariat to redress the complaints and problems of the people as soon as possible. He said that in last general elections the people have voted PTI into power for the sole aim of bringing about positive change and the accomplishment of this goal will automatically resolve all problems of the people.
“Change does not mean the change of faces but the system.... a change in which there is quick dispensation of justice, no corruption in government departments, no bribery in patwar offices, no wrong is done to poor in police stations, there is education in schools and better treatment facilities in hospitals, recruitments, posting and transfers are made on the basis of merit instead of personal likings and un-likings and government jobs are not sold for money”; he added. He said that as Chief Minister, he is supposed to implement the policy of the party, and the same he would do at all costs whether it pleases someone or not adding that such a foolproof system is being put in place in the province in which there will be no political interference and neither bribery and nor political favour will work rather all the works will be done purely on the basis of merit while the public exchequer would be spent on developmental works and public welfare only. Referring to the reforms introduced in police, the Chief Minister said that for the first time in the history of the province police had been totally depoliticized. He revealed that on the pattern of education, health and other departments, all types of recruitment in police would be made through National Testing Service to ensure transparency and similarly reforms were being introduced in all other sectors as well. “I rectified almost everything in the province and can say with surety that positive change has been brought about to a great extent and people will feel optimistic environment in their surroundings with each passing day”, maintained the Chief Minister.
Khattak said that corruption had been eradicated at upper level whereas there still noticed incidents of corruption at lower level. He was not only well aware of that but also taking effective measures to curb it adding that all those involved in corrupt practices will not only be exposed but be given exemplary punishment as well. “We are human beings and as such can commit mistakes, but we will not do anything wrong deliberately because not only the media but the party chief Imran Khan, young party workers and the general public always keep a vigilant eye on the performance of provincial government”, continued the Chief Minister and urged upon the party workers to point out the mistakes of the government so that the same could be rectified well in time.

Pervez Khattak said that unlike the previous rulers they would neither appoint their blue eyed on executive posts in government, semi government departments and autonomous bodies nor there would be any posting/transfers on political basis rather all such postings and transfers would be made purely on the basis of merit adding that we will appoint efficient and impartial officials on higher posts even if they happen to be our opponents.
On the complaints of ISF delegation about keeping illegal weapons by certain students groups in some public sector universities specially by boarder students in hostels, the Chief Minister directed the advisor for higher education, Mushtaq Ghani, to soon convene a joint meeting of the management of those universities, police and other relevant quarters to chalk out a strategy to purge the educational institutions and student hostels of weapons. He termed such activities in Universities as intolerable and said that those involved in disturbing the peaceful environment of educational institutions would be dealt with iron hands. He urged upon the students of ISF to mainly focus on their students and side by side play their part to spread the message of the party to every single household.

The delegates of both the PTI provincial cabinet and ISF expressed their satisfaction on the measures and efforts of the provincial government to implement the change agenda and eliminate corruption and said that due to the revolutionary measures of the government change had begun to be visible and the public itself acknowledged the same. The assured their full support to the provincial government for the implementation of its reform agenda.

Two bodies recovered in Jamrud

PESHAWAR - Two dead bodies were recovered from Jamrud area of Khyber Agency on Wednesday morning.
The deceased were identified as Pervez and Bahar Ali, residents of Peshawar. According to political administration of the agency, the dead bodies were found in Shah Kas area of Jamrud. Both the victims were gunned down. The reason of their killing was not ascertained till filing of this report.  The political administration launched a probe into the incident.