http://www.dawn.com/news/1158043/herald-exclusive-resetting-the-stage

ISLAMABAD: In a first for Islamabad, Satrang Gallery presented its first performance art show, featuring the work of four cutting edge contemporary women artists. The exhibition encapsulated the experience of human interaction, captured from both the societal and the woman’s perspective.

Asma Rashid Khan said, “Satrang Gallery takes the lead in celebrating art in all its forms. We are proud to have Pakistan’s first exhibition of performance and video based art in ‘A String Quartet’. Using their bodies as the media, the artists portray the dichotomy of existence with taciturn performances, both live, and on screen. They implore you to listen and to feel,”

According to Zahra Khan, “This candid artwork examines what it means to be a contemporary woman with wants, needs and opinions in a society that is becoming increasingly intimidating. These artists are taking back a woman’s right to touch, her right to beckon and express herself.”

The quartet, Shanza Elahi, Natasha Jozi, Nida Ramzan and Umme Farwa Hassan Rizvi, attempted to redefine how a woman decides to communicate and what she selects to reveal about herself to prying gazes. The performances are based on the idea that one can both communicate and touch via the gaze.

Nida Ramzan’s work traces a woman’s attempts to redefine how she is perceived, by creating a personal, independent standard of beauty and fashion, viewable through protective layers and screens.

“I am trying to combine socio-political issues with complex human emotions. Certain symbols in the videos are used to reflect ideas of violence, endurance and communication,” she said.

Shanza Elahi’s artworks highlight the widely practiced self-censorship. For example, her work titled Instinct, two anonymous, cloaked and figures try to touch one another. She said, “Women have traditionally been judged by their appearance, how they act in public and what they say. They are constantly trying to ‘fix’ themselves in order to meet the standards set for them. I am simply portraying reality in my work.”

According to Farwa Hassan Rizvi, her aim is to cause her viewers discomfort. Her work features protagonists who are relentless and forceful in their demands from the viewer.

Regarding her work she said, “I am testing my own limits, stubbornly refusing to conform and doing something that would provoke the viewer. I work with performance and video, playing the protagonist in the videos to create a confrontation with the viewer. This, conveys my ideas and disrupts the audience’s comfort in an otherwise passive act of watching a screen.”

Natasha Jozi explores the deep impact of a gentle caress through her participatory performance pieces. By touching the audience members, she incorporates them into her work, transferring energy to different pressure points in their bodies. “We experience and understand ourselves in our interaction with others. I am interested in the self and in its experiences,” she said.

Professor Nazish Attaullah travelled from Lahore to inaugurate the opening of the exhibition. She said, “I am delighted that Satrang Gallery actually took a step in this direction, where art has come off the walls and is in the forms of performance and video. I believe that this is the first performance art exhibition in Pakistan.”

She added, “We are increasingly encountering artists who are working in both the mediums of video and live performance. In these very difficult times, art is a means through which we can reflect on what is going on in a creative way. Pakistan is very fortunate to have such talented artists.”

Asma thanked both the ambassadors of Sweden and Bosnia who took the time out to visit the gallery and appreciate Pakistani art. She went on to praise the contribution and support of Mr. Aziz Boolani in promoting young artists from across Pakistan.

A guest, Faisal Mushtaq said, “I think for the first time, as a teacher and an educator, I saw performance art. I have heard about performing arts but not performance art – a live art form that does not have a story line. It was very exciting particularly the girl peeling the watermelon for the young couple. It is both exciting and entertaining.”

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2015

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KARACHI: Pakistan paceman Mohammad Amir could return to first-class cricket as early as next month after a relaxation of the conditions of his ban for spot-fixing, an official said on Friday.

Amir, 22, was banned for five years along with then-captain Salman Butt and fellow paceman Mohammad Asif in a spot-fixing case in England in 2010, and the trio were jailed by a UK court in 2011.

The paceman was interviewed in Lahore on Friday by the International Cricket Cou­ncil (ICC) after the governing body revised the players’ code of conduct in November last year, adding a provision that allows a banned player to play in domestic games a certain period prior to the end of the ban.

The change of rules prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to file an appeal with the ICC to relax certain conditions of Amir’s ban last year.

A final decision on Amir`s appeal will be taken in ICC Board meeting in Dubai next week.

A PCB spokesman confirmed Amir’s potential return.

“It is most likely that Amir will get reprieve to play domestic cricket,” said the spokesman Agha Akber.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan last week said Amir will be monitored in first-class cricket before returning to international cricket. His five-year ban expires in August this year.

The PCB has said that since the other two banned players -- Salman and Asif -- took time to plead guilty and have not completed a mandatory rehabilitation, their cases will not be taken up with the ICC.

Before the ban Amir was described as cricket’s “hottest property” by legendary Pakistan pace-man Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn January 24th , 2015

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KARACHI: “I missed my family members a lot and often thought that I might not see them again. It’s great to be back,” said Shehzad, a young fisherman in his 20s who along with his 17 colleagues was warmly welcomed at the Karachi fish harbour on Friday after their recent release from a jail in the Indian state of Gujarat.

They were arrested while fishing in the Kajhar Creek in separate incidents that occurred in the last two years. Most of them had no contact with their families for 13 months.

“I am eager to see my family back in Kharochaan, though I would now fear going into the sea,” Shehzad added.

Sitting beside him in the conference hall where the Fishermen Cooperative Society had invited journalists to meet the fishermen was 16-year-old Habibullah from Chohar Jamali in Thatta district. He said: “The saddest part of our story is that we had no idea how our families are surviving in our absence. We used to pray for them all the time.”

The youngest among them was 10-year-old Qurban who was arrested with his two brothers. With a garland hanging around his neck and an Ajrak on his shoulder, he seemed quite excited. “I can’t wait to go back to my village (Jungi Sar in KT Bundar) and see my family. I am happy that my brothers have also been released.”

About treatment meted out to them by the Indian authorities, the fishermen complained they were severely beaten up upon arrest, adding that later they were not physically tortured. “Their behaviour was not friendly though. What could one get to eat in a prison?” one of them responded to a question.

Earlier, their relatives — only male family members — waited at the harbour for hours to receive them. A major problem all the families had faced with the detention of the fishermen was economic hardship.

Living on the edge, these families had nothing to rely on once their breadwinners were taken away. Their burden of hunger and disease increased but they continued to suffer in silence as there was no financial support from the government.

“Often there was nothing to eat. I had to look after families of my nephew, brother-in-law and two brothers after their arrest,” said a fisherman whose relatives were also held in the Kajhar Creek.

Fourteen-year-old Shakeel was compelled to go on fishing following the arrest of his elder brother. “At times I was given Rs2,000 for a 10-day trip but when there was little catch, I got nothing,” he said.

Representing the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Mustafa Gurgaze said that Pakistan and India could end this humanitarian crisis if they decided not to make innocent people suffer due to their conflict. “India and Pakistan share their waters with Sri Lanka and Iran, respectively, but we don’t see such problems there. This is because both countries have an understanding with the other countries not to persecute fishermen crossing sea limits by mistake. Both countries are signatory to the UN law of the sea that prohibits arrest of fishermen in such cases,” he said.

FCS chairman Dr Nisar Morai congratulated fishermen on their return and said that 89 fishermen had been released since he had taken charge of the office. “Around 124 are still in the Indian custody. The government is making efforts for their early release,” he said.

He claimed that the FCS supported all fishermen families whose kith and kin were in Indian jails.

The released fishermen also included Ismail, Mohmmad Hanif, Kareem Buksh, Mohammad Hussain, Nazir Ahmed Solangi, Saddam Hussain, Asghar Ali, Bilawal, Ghulam Ali, Osman Shah and Daulat Khan.

39 Indian fishermen sent to prison

Meanwhile, a judicial magistrate remanded on Friday 39 Indian fishermen in judicial custody for fishing illegally inside Pakistani waters.

The Maritime Security Agency detained the fishermen and seized their boats after finding them fishing inside the exclusive economic zone of Pakistan. They were handed over to police for legal action.

The police produced them before a judicial magistrate (west), who sent them to prison on judicial remand till Feb 4.

The magistrate asked the investigation officer to file a charge-sheet on the next date of hearing.

The fishermen were booked under Sections 3/4 of the Foreigners Act and 3/9 of the Fisheries Act at the Docks police station.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2015

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LAHORE: Friday witnessed what the power sector managers called “electricity emergency” in the country when total generation dropped to 6,300MW against a national demand of about 14,000MW, or a shortfall of 60 per cent, and the National Power Control Centre (NPCC) had to shut down even grid stations at the mass level.

The disastrous blow to the system, which was barely surviving furnace oil shortage and canal closure, was delivered when saboteurs blew up an 18-inch gas pipeline near Dera Murad Jamali, taking both Uch-I (500MW) and Uch-II (300MW) off the system and widening the power deficit by another 800MW.

Know more: Miscreants blow up gas pipelines in two Balochistan districts

The severe furnace oil shortage has already reduced the output of public sector generation companies to mere 700MW from 2,000MW.

Major production plants — Muzaffargarh, Kapco and Jamshoro — are running only at 30pc of their capacity because of oil squeeze. “One can imagine the generation crisis from Kot Addu Power Plant which is producing only 475MW against total capacity of over 1,300MW,” says an official at the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC).

Balancing the system was a tightrope walk for the entire day as the NPCC had to continuously juggle the generation around: switching off grid stations, not feeders. Only Lahore saw as many as 14 grid stations shut down at one point of time. The official said it was an emergency situation where everyone forgot delivering service to people and concentrated on saving the system.

“Although the water and power ministry is spiritedly denying any furnace oil squeeze, it failed to explain 1,200MW reduction in generation,” said a former head of the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco).

The generation last year was around 8,500MW, but this year it was around 7,300MW when the gas pipeline blast switched off both Uch stations and took a toll of another 900MW.

Generation drops to 6,300MW after gas pipeline blown up

The difference of 1,200MW was created by the furnace oil crisis, despite the ministry’s denial. The system is saved because Hubco is still working and both AES (Lal Pir and Pakgen) plants came back over the past three days, jacking up the system by around 500MW. Otherwise, it could have been a disaster in the country, the former Pepco head said.

“Hiding behind the canal closure for the generation decline is dishonest on part of the water and power ministry because it is a planned closure that happens every year and brings hydel generation down to 700 to 800MW,” says a Pepco official.

The situation is the same this year as well, as the hydel generation is hovering around the same figure. Since it is planned, it has to factor in the planning. The ministry should have planned additional generation to compensate hydel component, rather than using it as an excuse to explain the current crisis. The current crisis is much bigger than mere the hydel factor can explain.

“The ministry is there for planning, and not to explain reasons for the reduction,” the official said. He warned: “If, God forbid, one more plant goes off for any reason, everything will collapse.”

The crisis also stoked off social unrest, especially from industrial consumers. In Lahore, the factory owners of Quaid Azam Indusrial Park took out a rally, condemning the unscheduled closure that continued for hours.

Published in Dawn January 24th , 2015

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FAISALABAD: Textile exports of Pakistan have witnessed a drop of 6.38 per cent in December last as compared to 2013, causing a panic among exporters.

Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) Chairman Sohail Pasha said the unprecedented energy shortage and lack of working capital were the prime reasons for the significant drop in exports despite GSP Plus status.

He apprehended export situation might worsen in the future as the textile industry in Punjab had been deprived of fuel and working capital.

Giving details, Mr Pasha said Pakistan exported textile products worth $1.175bn in December as against exports of $1.255bn in same month of previous year. Export of value-added items also witnessed negative growth as cotton cloth came down by 13.62pc, bedwear 11.54pc, towels 11.39pc and made-ups 10.04pc.

Slow poisoning of economy was being precipitated due to the nonserious attitude of the government as exports of the country were heading towards a collapse, he added.

Mr Pasha added that the drop in exports would have serious consequences for the economy but the government was not addressing the reasons behind it. Policymakers were not serious in resolving gas supply issue of the textile industry, he said, adding that instead the available gas was being supplied to the unproductive sectors, causing a loss in terms of foreign exchange. The GSP Plus facility had not brought about desired results and the efforts had been wasted as we were unable to produce export surplus due to massive energy constraints, he said.

Rizwan Riaz, vice chairman of the PTEA, said drop in exports and the health of textile sector was being taken up at various forums but the government did not understand the gravity of the situation and no steps were being taken to rectify the situation. He criticised the policies, which had failed to encourage investment in the textile sector during last five years whereas competitors had made huge investments due to the positive and business-friendly environment provided by their governments.

Mr Riaz said the rivals, taking advantage of the situation, were creeping into Pakistan’s traditional markets, throwing its textiles out. He said less increase in exports than non-GSP Plus India was not a good omen for Pakistan as India’s extraordinary surge in exports reveals its preparedness to deal with the GSP Plus advantage of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2015

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF) has formed the Domestic Workers Trade Union, the first union of its kind in the country.

The ‘Domestic Workers Union’ has been registered with the office of the Registrar Trade Unions, Lahore, under the provisions of the Punjab Industrial Relations, 2010.

The union currently has 235 members out of which 225 are female domestic workers. The PWF is in the process of registering the union with the global ‘International Domestic Workers Federation’.

“We take care of some of the most important things in our employers’ lives, their homes, their children, their food, but our work is not considered important,” says Shamshad Muree, a domestic worker in Lahore and is now the vice-president of the Domestic Workers’ Union.

“Now that I have the skills and I am part of a trade union, I feel confident in negotiating better wages and terms and conditions for work”.

The Domestic Workers’ Trade Union was established under the ILO project, Promoting Gender Equality for Decent Employment (GE4DE), funded by the Canadian government. The project, which aims to improve women’s skills and employment by working with the government, employers, workers and media, identified domestic work as a sector where many women were employed in the most vulnerable, unprotected conditions, completely outside the purview of labour laws.

Millions of workers, including women, girls and boys, are engaged in domestic work in Pakistan and are contributing to the informal economy significantly.

They are not recognized as ‘workers’ as per the definition of workers set in the national labour laws whose definition only covers workers in the formal sector, working in factories, shops and formal establishments.

Recognising importance of domestic work, the ILO Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189), provides guidance and benchmarks to ensure decent work in the domestic work sector.

To date, a total of 17 countries have ratified the convention. Though Pakistan has not ratified the convention, making domestic work safe, secure and properly paid is a priority of the government, with all provincial departments of labour identifying domestic work as a policy priority.

“The initiative also includes the piloting a model contract between employer and employee and a grievance redressal system. So far some 400 domestic workers have been trained and are being helped by a placement officer, to find jobs in conditions of decent work”, claimed Razi Mujtaba Haider, ILO programme officer.

Tahir Manzoor, the director of Department of Labour and Gender Focal Person, Punjab, said the registration of the union was an important step in recognising domestic workers and workers under law.

“Now steps should be taken to establish minimum wages and expanding access to social security schemes,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2015

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The Gullu Butt Dhaba is the vision of three diverse individuals – the owner of a production house, an art director, and a commercial pilot. Their friendship and their love for food is precisely the glue that holds the trio together. What gave birth to this roadside dhaba was the need to have a place where one can sit and talk with friends over a hearty meal and a great cup of chai.

The Gullu Butt Dhaba's pink sign became very popular on social media.

One of the proud owners, Akhlaque (who coincidentally sports a Gullu Butt-esque moustache) shares that venturing into the restaurant industry he felt there was no better way to understand the business than a humble roadside dhaba. Gullu Butt aims to be a Pakistani local café, bringing people together from all walks of life.

Though the name makes it sound controversial, the Gullu Butt Dhaba is anything but – in fact, the choice of name is only a marketing gimmick to attract customers. The menu carries the political satire forward with items like Inqalibi Parathas (their take on the aaloo paratha), Shahbaz Shareef Special (Half-Fry) and Nawaz Special Special (Full-Fry).

Chicken Green Boti with Lache Walay Parathay

Did the strategy succeed?

The owner claims it has: "Considering the amount of cars lined up to just get a picture at the dhaba, it definitely did exactly what we had hoped."

People can have some Azaadi Chai, take a ‘selfie’ with the cafe's bright pink signboard at the back and check in via the free WiFi.

The thing with using any fad or gimmick is that no matter how clever it initially sounds, it fails if the product (or the food) isn’t good enough. In this case, Gullu Butt Dhaba delivers on its promises. Situated opposite Chatkharay in Karachi's main Khadda market, the dhaba operates round the clock. It offers the traditional breakfast of Anda Paratha in the morning, and after 7 pm, the grill begins to sizzle for BBQ items to be served in the evening.

The dhaba starts serving BBQ items in the evening.

Their specialties include the parathas, with the Inqalibi (aaloo) Cheese Paratha deserving a special mention due to the crisp layers, ample stuffing of both potatoes and melted cheese and the white chutney and salad served alongside.

Aaloo Cheese Paratha.

In the BBQ items list, the specials are the Beef Bihari& the Green Chicken Boti– nicely marinated and grilled perfectly for that melt in the mouth taste. The serving size is generous for prices ranging from Rs300 – Rs450 for all BBQ items. On the side, one can order the traditional lachay/warqi parathay or the Malwari Parathay– both were served crisp and had minimal oil.

Beef Bihari Boti

To go to a dhaba and not have karak chai would be a travesty. From the basic Doodh Patti (also available with malai) to kahwa and green tea, Gullu Butt has a range of options. Kashmiri Chai, a welcome winter addition, is also on the menu.

Azaadi Chai/Doodh Patti.

Gullu Butt is all set to make its mark on the city, especially in an area where there are relatively few places serving a good Anda Paratha & Chai. The placement of net screens at one end creates a make-shift family enclosure so people can enjoy reasonable privacy. With generous servings and reasonable prices, the cafe caters to all socio-economic classes thus having a diverse range of people all enjoying the food.

With the successful launch of their first foray into the food business, the owners have lofty plans for this dhaba. Menu expansions and options for delivery are the basics with plans for possible international expansion. Soon, the brand might turn towards merchandising and souvenirs as well. Just like the fine-print on the menu, the founders have no plans of doing anything simple: “If you are out of cash, don’t worry. We are accepting jewellery, watches, cars, traveller cheques because dish-washing is so mainstream.”

Kiran Afzal is a researcher by profession, who enjoys food blogging and reading on the side.

All photographs have been taken by the author.

Often in the news due to his political views and affiliations, actor Hamza Ali Abbasi has been appointed Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's Secretary Culture for Karachi.

The budding star has been a staunch supporter of Imran Khan's party for some time now. He joined the party late last year and given his continual engagement with PTI it is no surprise that on January 23, the party's Karachi President Ali H. Zaidi announced that Abbasi will now take on the role of PTI Karachi's Secretary Culture.

The position entails an overall responsibility to develop strategy when it comes to the party's take on culture-related issues as well as the media. An actor and director by profession, Hamza often appeared by Imran's side at the dharnas and protests across the country. He also made a documentary about Imran's life inside the container during the sit-ins. The A-lister is also very vocal on social media regarding his political views.

Read: Kambakht was delayed due to dharnas: Hamza Ali Abbasi

The Pyaray Afzal actor hails from a family of civil servants. His father Major Mazhar Ali Abbasi was an army officer and his mother Begum Nasim Akhtar Chaudhry is currently a Member of the National Assembly representing Pakistan Peoples Party.

The filmmaker has often talked about his admiration for the founder of PPP, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and has expressed plans about making a movie on his life. However, it is clear that as far as politics goes, the Waar actor's loyalties lie with PTI.

Over a year after its first trailer was released, Jaliabee's director Yasir Jaswal has finally announced a release date for the movie. Dubbed as one of the most anticipated films of 2015, Jaliabee will be hitting theatres nationwide on March 20.

The date was announced on Jalaibee's official Facebook page where the film's first poster was also revealed.

The first official poster for the movie.- Photo courtesy: Jalaibee's official Facebook page.

Jalaibee's cast includes many silver screen first-timers such as Ali Safina, Danish Taimoor, Uzair Jaswal and Wiqar Ali Khan. Zhalay Sarhadi is the only one in the lot who has appeared in a feature film prior to Jaliabee (Ramchand Pakistani.)

The cast of Jalaibee takes a selfie. - Photo courtesy: Jalaibee's official Facebook page

The movie is partially animated and Yasir Jaswal has promised it will be "pure entertainment". The film has been produced under the banner of RedRum Films in association with Jaswal Films and Sermad Films.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court directed on Friday the federal and provincial governments to submit replies on a petition seeking revival of free dialysis service for acute renal failure (ARF) patients, which was introduced by the last PML-N government but which is now available only in Punjab and two hospitals in Sindh.

The directive was issued by a two-judge bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal during the hearing of the petition moved by Advocate Tariq Asad in 2009. He has asked for an order to the federal government to restore the service in the entire country without any delay.

The petitioner, who himself pleaded his case, expressed surprise over the delay by the court in taking up “such an important case concerning public health”.

When he was reminded by the court that he could have filed an application for an early hearing, he retorted that he did not think that “humanitarian cases like this need filing of an application for urgent hearing”.

The petitioner has requested the court to order the federal government to arrange funds for the treatment of ARF patients from international organisations and also utilise its own resources available through Baitul Mal and Zakat funds.

He has also sought orders to set up a commission to investigate the reasons why the scheme, introduced by Nawaz Sharif during his second stint as prime minister, was terminated and what were the causes of its failure.

He has also sought punishment of the delinquents in accordance with the law if misappropriation of funds or inefficiency/lack of interest of officials concerned are discovered as the reasons for failure of the scheme.

During the proceedings, Additional Advocate General (AAG) of Sindh, Shafi Mohammad Chandio, told the court that free dialysis service was available at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation in Karachi and a medical sciences institute in Khairpur.

Petition calls for immediate restoration of the service

The AAG of Punjab, Razzaq A. Mirza, said the provincial government had allocated Rs540 million in the year 2007-08 to meet recurring expenditure for the provision of dialysis service at all healthcare facilities in the province, including district headquarters and tertiary level hospitals. The same amount was sanctioned in 2009-10.

The second government of Nawaz Sharif had introduced the Prime Minister’s Dialysis Programme in 1998 under which the facility of dialysis to ARF patients was provided free of cost by the federal government through Baitul Mal at selected centres as a life-saving intervention for the ailing.

Under the programme, which continued till 2000, coupons were issued to registered patients who were treated at designated dialysis centres in different cities of the country. The dialysis centres claimed re-imbursement of the cost from the budgets allocated by the federal government out of Baitul Mal funds.

After the military takeover of 1999, the scheme was substituted with the National Dialysis Treatment Scheme, but it did not last long and was eventually closed.

Later Shahbaz Sharif launched the scheme again as part of his initiative to provide healthcare facilities to people soon after becoming Punjab chief minister in 2008.

Mr Asad has argued in his petition that the right to life and liberty has been guaranteed under Article 9 of the Constitution through which an assurance has been given to the citizens that no one can be deprived of life. The right to life has a wider meaning, which has been explained in different judgments of the supreme courts of Pakistan and India.

He has cited a judgment of 1994 in which the apex court had held that the phrase ‘deprived of life’ should not refer only to the extreme case of death. Life in this context should mean to include all those aspects of life which go to make a man’s life meaningful, complete and worth living. “It consists ... a person’s legal and uninterrupted enjoyment of his life, his limbs and his body, his health and his reputation,” the verdict explained.

From this established law on the right to life, the petition argues, it is apparent that because of the government failure to provide basic human needs, like unpolluted water and food, and protect people from being exposed to hazards of polluted environment, ARF patients have suffered from this ailment and their right to life under Article 9 has been infringed upon.

Therefore, it contends, it is a legal obligation of the government to create and provide funds to honour the fundamental rights of the citizens.

Published in Dawn January 24th , 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf accused the president’s secretariat on Friday of helping the family of Najam Sethi, former Punjab caretaker chief minister, in what it termed a tax evasion case.

In a press statement, PTI information secretary Dr Shireen Mazari alleged that the presidency had rescued family members of Mr Sethi in the tax case in which they had been found guilty by the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO).

She cited a Jan 16 letter written by the Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) to President Mamnoon Husain, containing details of the tax evasion case.

Take a look: The story Of ‘35 punctures’

Dr Mazari said she was shocked over the Presidency’s efforts to shelter Najam Sethi and members of his family from serious financial charges levelled against them by the Federal Board of Revenue.

She said the TIP letter pointed out how the Presidency’s legal wing had admitted “an illegal petition” on behalf of Sethi’s family which cast a shadow of corruption over the office of the Presidency.

“The Presidency shouldn’t enter into what is an effort to conceal ill-gotten financial gains by Sethi and his family.”

Dr Mazari claimed that Sethi, who currently holds an important position in the Pakistan Cricket Board, had used his influence to prevent publication of the TIP letter. “The president should take immediate action not only to dissociate him from this contentious move to shelter corruption but also punish those responsible for dragging the Presidency into this issue,” she demanded.

In its letter, the TIP maintained that faced with the charges of concealing huge investment created out of income from undisclosed sources, family members of Mr Sethi had filed three complaints with the FTO which rejected them in April last year.

Instead of filing representation before the president, they preferred review petitions before the FTO which were also rejected in November 2014.

The TIP now says that under the law of the land, after exhausting a review petition at the FTO level, the complainant cannot approach the Presidency and that’s where officials are committing violations.

Published in Dawn January 24th , 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Haunted out of the Lal Masjid by civil society’s legal action, Maulana Abdul Aziz reappeared there on Friday - but in virtual form.

Maulana sahib delivered his sermon to the Friday congregation by telephone.

That delighted his supporters in the congregation but alerted his detractors.

“How can a person who has warrant of arrest against him use the microphone of the Lal Masjid which is run by the government,” asked Jibran Nasir, the moving spirit behind the civil society campaign against the Maulana.

Take a look: Maulana Abdul Aziz under house arrest?

“We are considering filing a petition in the Islamabad High Court to stop him from using the microphone of the mosque,” Nasir told Dawn.

Move lends credence to rumours that he may be under house arrest

“It seems the police are not willing to arrest Maulana Aziz.”

Indeed, his telephoned Friday sermon strengthened the rumours, circulating since he disappeared from the mosque over a week ago, that the administration has confined him to his house.

Civil society activist Shan Taseer said that the police did not respond to their request to replace the police investigation officer with a Grade-18 officer. “So we have no option but to go to court,” he said.

“If the police arrest Maulana Aziz before February 16, we will say ‘thank you’, otherwise a protest will be held against the police,” he said.

Maulana Abdul Aziz had emerged a controversial figure from the military operation was conducted in 2007 to clear the Lal Masjid of ‘militants’ entrenched inside.

Though he rehabilitated his image after the departure of military President Pervez Musharraf the next year, the Maulana earned more opprobrium by saying the December 16 massacre of Peshawar schoolchildren was ‘in reaction’ to the military operations against the militants.

Civil society protested the remark outside the Lal Masjid for two days and the confrontation led to the registration of an FIR with the police against the Maulana’s alleged threats to the protesters.

As the civil movement persisted, a court issued warrant for arrest of Maulana Aziz who, however, said he would neither seek bail before arrest nor offer himself for arrest.

Things changed on last Friday when Maulana Aziz, though staying in the nearby Jamia Hafsa seminary for girls, did not turn up to lead the prayers.

That gave rise to speculation that he has been put under house arrest.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Mir Vaiz Niaz and Lal Masjid’s Naib Khateeb Maulana Amir Siddique both denied the rumours. His preference for addressing the January 23 Friday congregation by telephone revived the rumours, however.

When contacted, Lal Masjid official Haider Zaman said that he was not aware why Maulana Aziz did not come to the mosque.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2015

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SIALKOT: UN peacekeeping mission observers on Friday visited border villages in Zafarwal and Shakargarh sectors of the Working Boundary that were hit by Indian shelling.

According to senior officials of the Chenab Rangers, the UN observes met affected people and sought details from them about the recent spell of shelling.

The Chenab Rangers officials gave a detailed briefing about fresh hostilities of the BSF along the Working Boundary. – Correspondent

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2015

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KARACHI: Deputy Speaker of Sindh Assembly Syeda Shehla Raza on Friday had to close the question hour related to food and kutchi abadis departments and abruptly adjourn the session till Monday after she could not pacify the protesting opposition members and bring the house in order.

The session, which was chaired by deputy speaker Ms Raza, began around 50 minutes behind the scheduled time of 10am as mentioned in the order of the day.

The session had to be adjourned as the opposition members, including former chief minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz legislator Arbab Ghulam Rahim, had asked supplementary questions, which were not related to the main question, cornering provincial minister Jam Mahtab Dahar to the touchy subject of sugar cane price and the sugar mills in southern parts of Sindh which were refusing to pay the official price.

The main question asked by PML-Functional legislator Nusrat Sehar Abbasi was related to wheat but PML-N legislator Sorath Thebo asked a supplementary question regarding the sugar cane price not being paid by many sugar mills. Although the supplementary question was not related to the main question that was about wheat, Mr Dahar replied to him that in the northern parts of province the millers had agreed but there was some resistance in the southern parts. He added that the government was making efforts to resolve the issue amicably.

Mr Rahim and some other PML-F legislators asked further supplementary questions regarding action being taken against the sugar mills resisting to pay the official price.

It then dawned on the treasury benches where the issue was being dragged, as a number of sugar mills in the southern Sindh are reportedly managed/ operated / controlled by a top ruling party leader.

Former speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and some other senior Pakistan Peoples Party legislators stood up and informed Ms Raza that the questions about sugar cane were irrelevant, as the main question pertained to wheat.

Therefore, they said, such questions should not be allowed or responded to, but by then many opposition legislators, including leader of the opposition Shaharyar Mahar, had come in front of the speaker and demanded that their questions be responded to.

Eventually, Ms Raza had to announce the end of the question hour. Even then the opposition members did not return to their respective seats and continued protesting in loud noise. Despite repeated requests by the deputy speaker for order in the house, when she could not pacify the opposition lawmakers she adjourned the session to Monday.

Earlier, responding to a question by Muttahida Quami Movement legislator Nishat Qadri regarding the encroachment on the katchi abadis department land, katchi abadis minister Javed Nagori said that in Kotri district 3.16 acres of low-cost housing scheme Sasti Basti comprising 145 small residential, 52 commercial and five amenity plots and two acres of the Sasti Basti in the Mauripur area of Karachi had been encroached upon. The minister said efforts were being made to get the land vacated.

Ms Abbasi asked about the storage of 500,000 bags of wheat in the open that could damage the commodity. Responding on behalf of chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah who holds the portfolio of food but was not present in the assembly, Minister Dahar agreed that 500,000 wheat bags were stored in open areas but they were properly covered with polythene sheets and tarpaulins and were fumigated also besides soon after the availability of the storage space in Karachi the wheat was shifted to the metropolis.

He claimed that not a single wheat bag was affected.

In reply to her question about wheat prices and the volume of commodity procured, the minister said that price per 40 kilos of wheat in 2011 was Rs950. He added that 1.412 million metric tonnes (MMT) of wheat was procured. Similarly, its price jumped to Rs1,050 in 2012 and 1.29 MMT wheat was procured, the following year the price increased to Rs1,200 and 1.039 MMT wheat was procured.

At this point, the topic of questions changed from wheat price issue to sugar cane price that eventually led to the abrupt adjournment of the session without completion of the legislature’s business as mentioned in the order of the day.

MQM legislators Sardar Ahmed, Izhar-ul-Hassan, Waqar Shah, Rana Ansar, Zubair Khan, Dilawar Qureshi, and PPP’s Ghazala Siyal and others also spoke.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2015

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BHUBANESWAR: Indian police arrested a 35-year-old man on Friday in the eastern state of Odisha, accusing him of passing military secrets to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Police said Ishwar Chandra Behera was passing on information about missile activities conducted at a unit of India's Defence Research & Development Organisation, where he worked as a cameraman.

“He was providing vital information related to missile tests and other military activities to an ISI agent for the past 8-10 months,” Odisha's inspector general of police A.K Panigrahi told Reuters. “He confessed that he had met an (ISI) agent in Kolkata a number of times.”

India accuses elements in Pakistan's security apparatus of shielding or working with militant groups, which Islambabad denies.

Tensions between India and Pakistan, which are also at odds over the disputed region of Kashmir, have risen since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called off peace talks in August.

Troops on both sides have exchanged fire across the border in recent months.

Police said they found a substantial amount of money had been transferred to Behera's bank account from several places including Abu Dhabi and Mumbai.

They are investigating if he was assisted from elsewhere.

“We had information that his activities are suspicious and he should be watched ... He confessed he is in touch with the ISI agent and is passing on very vital information,” Panigrahi said.

Reuters could not contact Behera, who is in custody. The Reuters report moreover had no comments from the Pakistan foreign office whose spokeswoman Dawn is trying to contact.

India has stepped up security, especially in the capital New Delhi, in preparation for a three-day visit by US President Barack Obama, starting on Sunday.

ISLAMABAD: The recent fuel crisis was one of the main topics of discussion at Friday’s advisory committee meeting at the Planning Commission, where Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal observed that one of the main causes of this pandemonium was institutional inefficiency at different levels.

He described the crisis as unfortunate, but said it should not distract us from the positive growth which the country had been seeing in different sectors.

The Planning Commission is already working to revamp the public sector by enhancing the capacity of its human resource, with the government concentrating on an agenda of reform, aimed at restoring quality and building new capacities within public sector organisations, he said.

Also read: Govt may cut PSDP by Rs258bn to meet fiscal deficit ceiling

While civilian institutions suffer and are weakened during martial law regimes, democratic governments have to deal with complex challenges in their aftermath, he remarked.

Mr Iqbal revealed that the Planning Commission was moving towards an open data regime and was working to make available for public scrutiny all details regarding Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects on a website.

The advisory committee also discussed the monitoring and evaluation processes, which are in place at the Planning Commission for public sector development projects.

The minister said that during the last year, the commission had rationalised PSDP projects to the total cost of Rs490 billion, which was almost equivalent to the total allocation for PSDP in a year. He blamed this on negligence and a lack of capacity in the ministries and divisions concerned for presenting poor project estimates.

Commenting on the government’s selective approach towards PSDP projects, he said the federal government was no longer investing in the areas that fell within the purview of provincial governments after the passage of the 18th amendment. However, the federal government was still committed to including projects of strategic and national importance in the PSDP, he said.

He referred to initiatives such as the National Curriculum Council and the National Examination System as examples of how the federal government was working to promote national integration and cohesion. “Public funds earmarked for development ought to be spent transparently to create highest value, as we are answerable to the people of Pakistan,” he added.

“We do not accept grants for projects in the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting that do not conform to our national economic and development agenda, envisaged in Vision 2025”, Mr Iqbal said.

Published in Dawn January 24th , 2015

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ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain has decided to confer Tamgha-i-Shujaat on 145 students and staff members of the Army Public School in Peshawar who were killed in a terrorist attack on Dec 16. At least 132 students were among those killed.

An official said a meeting chaired by the president had decided that the civil award would be conferred on the principal, teachers, other staffers and students of the school who were killed by the terrorists. A civilian who died in the attack would also be given the award. Those who were injured would also be given some awards.

Also read: Prayers offered for victims of APS tragedy in KP, Fata

The presidency will prepare a summary which will be sent to the cabinet division.

Take a look: This ISPR tribute to Peshawar's lost children will move you to tears

Tamgha-i-Shujaat would also be conferred on a policeman killed while intercepting a suicide bomber at the gate of the Peshawar Press Club in December 2009.

Published in Dawn January 24th , 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Friday directed the power regulator to build over Rs55 billion additional cost of system and managerial inefficiencies into the consumer tariff and allowed 1.2 million tonnes of wheat export at Rs6 billion public expense.

While taking these decisions having impact on public life, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar who presided over the ECC meeting also expressed deep sense of shock and grief over the sad demise of King Abdullah.An official statement said the “ECC approved issuance of policy directive to National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to build in costs incurred by the power sector into the tariff without affecting the end consumer”.

Take a look: Power consumers to pay Rs117bn more due to govt’s mismanagement

When contacted, a senior government official told Dawn that the decision to issue policy guidelines to Nepra was to block re-emergence of circular debt again and again which was considered by many as the major factor behind recent petrol crisis.

He explained that Nepra had been asked to determine separate tariff for Azad Kashmir in the light of the Mangla Dam Agreement under which the government of Pakistan was required to provide electricity to AJK at a lower rate as a compensation for dislocation of millions of residents and their properties for increasing the water storage capacity.

He said Nepra determined tariff for AJK as part of national tariff which the distribution companies could not recover due to Mangla Dam Agreement and resulted in contribution of Rs14 billion annually to the circular debt.

Secondly, Nepra had reduced system losses for distribution companies from 16 to 13pc as part of consumer tariff setting which caused Rs20bn loss to the power companies. The power ministry believed it was too stringent a condition for distribution companies which should be eased.

ECC allows export of 1.2m tonnes wheat with Rs6bn subsidy

Thirdly, the policy directive would also like Nepra to allow the cost of debt servicing, estimated to be in excess of Rs27bn every year, to be built into the consumer tariff because there was no way distribution companies could finance loans and terms and finance certificates against settlement of circular debt.

The official said the ECC desired Nepra to allow this financing through consumer tariff as the government could provide subsidy only for consumers using less than 200 units per month under the IMF agreement.

WHEAT EXPORT: The ECC approved export of 1.2 million tonnes of wheat out of the surplus stocks available in Punjab and Sindh. It was reported that about 2.5 million tonnes of wheat was surplus.

It decided to provide, out of federal exchequer, $55 per tonne subsidy for export of 800,000 tonnes of wheat from Punjab and $45 per tonne on 400,000 tonnes from Sindh. The difference between the two provinces was due to transportation cost from the port.

It was informed that over 100pc increase in wheat support price from Rs600 to Rs1,300 per 40 kg in a few years had encouraged farmers to deliver bumper crops, resulting in surplus stocks, but its domestic price was quite lower than international market. This had resulted in glut and feared damaging the produce.

The ECC also issued directives for immediate ban on import of wheat by-products that were competing out local industries and domestic wheat byproducts.

The ECC also approved a proposal of the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (Safron) for provision of 30,000 tonnes of wheat to the United Nations World Food Programme for distribution among Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) of Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, catering for the period up to March 31, 2015. The ECC also observed that in case of further requirements, Safron could revert to the ECC with a fresh proposal.

ATTRACTING INVESTMENT: The ECC also approved a summary of the water and power ministry on policy to attract private sector investment in transmission line projects with the inclusion of upfront tariff as an option. Nepra is empowered to grant licence authorising the licensee to engage in the construction, ownership, maintenance and operation or specified transmission facilities on specified terms and conditions in the public interest.

The committee also approved for the extension of gas sales agreement between OGDCL and Fauji Kabirwala Power Company Limited (FKPCL) for provision of 20mmcfd of gas at the earliest possible, but not later than February 1, 2015 till the time LNG was made available to the company for power generation. At its maximum generation capacity utilisation the plant will generate157MW of electricity.

It also approved the re-lending of the buyer credit loan to Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) as per actual terms and conditions available to the Government of Pakistan. Based on the above approval, the revised rate comes to 9 per cent comprising actual cost of loan and exchange rate risk.

Published in Dawn January 24th , 2015

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LAHORE: The inspection judge of a local commission, Ghulam Hussain Awan, recorded his statement on Saturday before election tribunal judge Justice Kazim Ali Malik regarding irregularities in NA-122 polling stations and also submitted a report in this regard. NA-122 is one of the four constituencies where the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had sought a recount and verification of voters' thumb impressions.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had defeated PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the 2013 general elections from NA-122 and the party had challenged the results.

Awan told the tribunal judge today that due to the negligence of polling staff, ballot bags with broken seals have been included in the report along with invalid votes and different coloured ballot papers.

Judge Kazim stated that if what the report states is true, he will personally inspect the NA-122 ballots and form a decision based on the commission's findings, adding that he will take action against rigging in NA-122 polling stations in accordance with the law.

The tribunal judge has also summoned 150 witnesses on January 31, the list of whom Sadiq's lawyer submitted to the tribunal today, stating that 'Imran Khan is untruthful'. The witnesses will provide evidence on the fact that rigging did not take place in the said constituency.

Previously, the commission which was tasked to inspect the record of the NA-122 constituency, where National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq had been declared winner, submitted its report to the election tribunal earlier this week.

Know more: NA-122: commission submits its report to election tribunal

The commission was directed to de-seal/open polling bags to check whether they had been closed with a proper seal or with a broken or damaged seal.

It was also required to check the number of polled ballots which did not bear the stamp and signature of a presiding officer or an assistant presiding officer.

According to the 42-page report, the commission found 180,115 verified votes and 23,639 without signature/ stamp of the authorised polling staff. It declared that 3,642 votes were invalid or rejected.

The report said Sadiq obtained 92,393 votes whereas Khan received 83,542 votes. The remaining 4,180 votes went to other candidates.

It further revealed that 806 votes in Form-14 did not match the counterfoils. Based on these findings, the commission submitted a report to the tribunal today.

Also read: Claim, counter-claim by govt, PTI about recount for NA-122

Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid had previously claimed that victory margin of Ayaz Sadiq has ‘increased’ after a vote recount in Lahore’s NA-122 constituency.

Making a counter-claim, PTI said that ‘polling fraud has been exposed’ after the vote recount, and urged the National Assembly to ‘prepare resignation’ of the speaker.