The Express Tribune Newsletter: May 16, 2012

Today's Headlines

Key decision: Chicago invite further smoothes NATO route

Kamran Yousaf

A Nato invitation to Pakistan for a key summit in Chicago hours before a high-level civil-military huddle says it all: The decision to reopen vital land routes for the foreign forces stationed in Afghanistan was a foregone conclusion.

Homecoming: After 20 years, Dr Chishty finally crosses border

Umer Nangiana

It was a historic day for Pakistan-India relations, and perhaps a symbol of hope for the hundreds of prisoners languishing on both sides of the border indefinitely – scenes of jubilation were witnessed at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad and Dr Khalil Chisty's home in Karachi as he finally crossed the border.

Rare move by watchdog: Withdraw all luxury vehicles, PAC tells govt

Shahbaz Rana

In a rare move, the top parliamentary watchdog has directed the government to withdraw all luxury and bullet-proof vehicles being 'illegally used' by the services chiefs, federal ministers and top politicians within a month or amend rules to provide for such favours.

CEC's appointment: PML-N floats new names as panel elects chairperson

Zia Khan / Abdul Manan

Just as the ruling coalition managed to get its man at the helm of a parliamentary panel to appoint a new chief election commissioner (CEC), the opposition rolled out its nominees for the constitutional post.


Business

An abortive plan: Pak-Iran barter trade deal hits major roadblock

Zafar Bhutta

A barter trade arrangement between Pakistan and Iran has hit a stumbling block before it could take off, as Iran has declared that Pakistan's wheat is of low quality and has asked it to pay cash for urea supply instead of wheat.

First ever: Nokia holds global mobile launch in Pakistan

Farooq Baloch

Nokia's first ever global handset launch in Pakistan, kept everyone guessing till the formal announcement of what was behind the curtain. With officials tight-lipped, everyone could only guess which Nokia phone was about to be unveiled. Bloggers on the edge of their seat were sending live tweets questioning whether it would be a 'Nokia Galaxy' or some other smartphone.

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Sports

Sri Lanka tour: Snub only a temporary setback, says Wahab Riaz

Fawad Hussain

Snubbed fast-bowler Wahab Riaz has termed his omission from the Sri Lanka bound squads a temporary setback, saying he will regain his place in the side by showing his worth though sheer hard work.

Cricket: Mushtaq unlikely to get the job

Our Correspondents

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed is unlikely to get the national bowling coach's position despite expressing interest in the role and even coming in for an interview with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). 

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Life & Style

Pakistani cinema: Promising projects in the pipeline

Our Correspondents

There's been a lot of hue and cry about the decline of Pakistani cinema, but with a number of feature films under production and a lot of TV directors switching to films, the situation is expected to drastically change and the industry may get its much-needed overhaul. Here is a list of all those projects which are currently under production.

Ensemble introduces the 'Kaani Collection'

Saadia Qamar

"Whenever I want to treat myself, I invest in a good bag or a nice shawl," says Zeba Husain, the owner and director of the retail store The House of Ensemble. Perhaps it's this love for shawls and their designs that Husain decided to toy with the idea of bringing the kaani designs — usually associated with shawls — on summer fabrics like silk, chiffons and cottons.

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Opinion

The paradox reigns supreme

Ejaz Haider

Re-evaluation of our Afghan policy

Asad Munir

Truth will set you free

Farrukh Khan Pitafi

Not enough to paper over differences

Tariq Fatemi

Plenty

Feryal Ali Gauhar

Blogs

Is it a crime to be a girl?

Cheryl Javed

The legacy of UK's Pakistani Muslim predators

Sufiyan Rana

Please don't close down the zoos

Adil Mulki

Spoiler Alert: The Avengers – entertaining, not excellent

Salman Khalid

Poll

Prime Minister Gilani says Pakistanis unhappy with the country should leave - do you agree?

No: 73% (620 votes)

Yes: 27% (233 votes)

Total Voters: 853

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Dunya TV

Dunya TV


Sahiwal: Old enmity claims two more lives

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>As per details, a firing incident occurred between two groups in limits of Farid Town police station, leaving at least two people dead injuring two others. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The injured persons have been shifted to nearby hospital.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Police have registered a case and started investigation. <br />&nbsp;</p>


Govt mulls to introduce health insurance for govt employees

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Sources from the Finance Ministry told Dunya News that a proposal regarding introducing health insurance scheme instead of health allowance for government employees is being considered.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Under the new scheme, health insurance cards would be issued to the employees and their families for medical treatment.<br />&nbsp;</p>


SC to announce verdict in Steel Mills corruption case today

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The court will announce its judgment in a suo motu case regarding alleged corruption of Rs 26 50 billion in the Pakistan Steel Mills.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>As per details, a three-member bench of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry conducted short hearing of the Steel Mills corruption case on March 15 and reserved its verdict.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Earlier, the CJP said that the forensic audit report has proved corruption of Rs 26.50 billion within a year in the Steel Mills. Some accused also has been nominated in the report, he said. In the last hearing, Secretary Production had assured that some of the cases of accused would be referred to the NAB.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Steel Mills&rsquo; counsel Fakhruddin Ibrahim told to the court the nominate accused were on pre-arrest bail while Steel Mills former chairman Moen Aftab was also hospitalised. The chief justice commented that detailed judgment would be announced soon.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Florida: Mother committed suicide after killing her four children

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>A mother shot and killed her four children before turning a gun on herself in a small town in Florida on Tuesday, authorities said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The shooting happened at a house in Port St. John, in Brevard County, about 15 miles (approximately 24 km) from NASA&nbsp;s Kennedy Space Center.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A spokesman for the Brevard County Sheriff&nbsp;s office identified the victims as four children aged 12, 13, 15 and 17. They were shot by their 33-year-old mother, Tonya Thomas, who then turned the gun on herself, Tod Goodyear said. All were shot with what appeared to be a handgun, he said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Goodyear said a neighbor called police before dawn on Tuesday to report gunfire. When police arrived they found a fatally injured 17-year-old girl in the front yard of the house, which is in a quiet neighborhood of single family residences.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Memo commission to meet on 18th

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The meeting will hold on Friday at Islamabad High Court building under the chair of Justice Faiz Esa. Notices have been issued to all the parties concerned.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>According to sources, the meeting will analyse the forensic report of Mansoor Ijaz&rsquo;s mobile phone.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Husain Haqani&rsquo;s advocate Zahid Bukhari said that he had already boycotted the memo commission and would not appear before the commission on May 18.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Islamabad: PPP workers torture journalists

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>As per details, on the arrival of Dr Khalil Chishti a chaos was witnessed at Islamabad International Airport. The PPP workers chanted slogans and stopped the media from coverage. The workers also tortured the media persons and damaged their cameras.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>On the other hand, ASF did not tried to control the situation. <br />&nbsp;</p>


Restoration of NATO supply not decided yet: Kaira

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Talking to the media after Defence Committee of the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the meeting has decided to continue talks with the US regarding the restoration of NATO supplies adding that the issue would be decided after further consultations.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He said the meeting welcomed the unconditional invitation by the NATO Secretary General to the President Asif Ali Zardari to attend NATO summit in Chicago and endorsed the visit of the president for the summit.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The committee further decided that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to remain engaged with the government of the United States on other parliamentary recommendations&sbquo; including the question of apology and cessation of drone attacks, he added.<br />&nbsp;</p>


India suspends 5 cricketers after sting operation

Posted:

<p>The board suspended five players for illegal activities following a sting operation by a TV news channel that showed them either agreeing to spot-fixing in domestic games or to negotiate Indian Premier League contracts, which is not allowed as per tournament rules.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced provisional suspensions on T.P. Sudhindra, Shalabh Srivastava, Mohnish Mishra, Amit Yadav and Abhinav Bali after watching footage provided to it by the news channel. The cricket board also named ICC&nbsp;s former head of anti-corruption unit, Ravi Sawani to hold an inquiry that will look into &quot;the involvement of players in illegal activities or activities against the interests of the BCCI and the game.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The TV sting involved reporters posing as agents of a sports management firm offering players money to perform in a certain way at specific times in the match. The channel showed Sudhindra, who plays for Deccan Chargers in the Twenty20 Indian Premier League, allegedly bowling a no-ball in a local T20 game in the central Indian city of Indore for $1,000.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Pictures captured by a hidden camera appeared to show Sudhindra agreeing to bowl a no-ball with his second delivery of the game. Broadcaster India TV then showed clippings of the game in which Sudhindra bowls a no-ball by well over a foot at the pre-determined time.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Though the video does not show Sudhindra agreeing to fix an IPL game, the channel did play out a purported telephone conversation with Srivastava of the Kings XI Punjab team agreeing to bowl a no-ball in the IPL. Srivastava, who did not get to play in the IPL this season, denied the allegations.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;This is a false allegation and I will definitely file a case against them (India TV),&quot; Srivastava told the NDTV news channel. &quot;They have video clippings of me in other conversations, but why is it that they don&nbsp;t have a video of me demanding money for spot fixing in IPL? Why is that only an audio clipping?&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The India TV also showed some players claiming IPL teams lure players by offering them more money than allowed under tournament rules with undeclared transactions.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Pune Warriors player Mishra and Kings XI Punjab&nbsp;s Yadav were shown apparently agreeing to negotiate with other teams in the IPL, which is not allowed under tournament rules. Delhi player Bali, who does not play in the IPL, was shown in the sting operation as claiming that such negotiations are common practice.</p>


Sugar can affect brainpower: research

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) fed two groups of rats a solution containing high-fructose corn syrup -- a common ingredient in processed foods -- as drinking water for six weeks.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>One group of rats was supplemented with brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids in the form of flaxseed oil and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), while the other group was not. Before the sugar drinks began, the rats were enrolled in a five-day training session in a complicated maze. The rats were placed back in the maze six weeks later on the sweet solution to see how they fared.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;The DHA-deprived animals were slower, and their brains showed a decline in synaptic activity,&quot; said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;Their brain cells had trouble signaling each other, disrupting the rats&nbsp; ability to think clearly and recall the route they&nbsp;d learned six weeks earlier.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A closer look at the rat brains revealed that those who were not fed DHA supplements had also developed signs of resistance to insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar and regulates brain function. &quot;Because insulin can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, the hormone may signal neurons to trigger reactions that disrupt learning and cause memory loss,&quot; Gomez-Pinilla said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In other words, eating too much fructose could interfere with insulin&nbsp;s ability to regulate how cells use and store sugar, which is necessary for processing thoughts and emotions.<br />&nbsp;</p>


US Army opens jobs in combat battalions to women

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Female soldiers this week are moving into new jobs closer to the battlefield in once all-male units, as the U.S. Army breaks down formal barriers in recognition of what&nbsp;s already happening in Iraq and Afghanistan.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The policy change announced earlier this year is being tested at nine brigades before going Army-wide. It opens thousands of noncombat jobs to female soldiers after experience over the past decade showed women were fighting and dying alongside male soldiers anyway.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>More than 250,000 jobs still remain closed to women. The new jobs within combat battalions are in personnel, intelligence, logistics, signal corps, medical and chaplaincy. The Army is also opening jobs that were once entirely closed to women, such as mechanics for tanks and artillery and rocket launcher crew members.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Col. Val Keaveny Jr., the commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team that is testing the change, said it has been common to have women temporarily attached to combat units and serve alongside them.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;Women have served in our Army since the Revolutionary War, and they have done phenomenal work and continue to do so today. There is great talent, and now we can have it in the headquarters of infantry, armor and cavalry,&quot; he said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Capt. Elizabeth Evans, a 44-year-old mother of five, is one of the first women assigned to the combat battalions. She will oversee personnel issues including casualties, human resources and other administrative responsibilities.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Evans, who has deployed to Afghanistan, noted that women have been serving in dangerous jobs in Iraq and Afghanistan for 10 years.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;With the fluidity of the battlefield and how there are no front lines, it just makes more sense to me to allow women to come into those roles, those noncombat staff roles,&quot; she said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Kayla Williams, author of &quot;Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the US Army,&quot; served with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team under the 101st Airborne Division during the initial invasion into Iraq as an enlisted soldier in military intelligence.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Early in the war, she wasn&nbsp;t even issued plates for her ballistic vest &quot;because females can&nbsp;t serve in combat,&quot; she said.<br />As an Arabic translator, she was doing the same things as her male infantry counterparts, including going on foot patrols and living in remote combat outposts.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;Women have been serving in very forward-deployed roles, and women have been serving side-by-side with combat arms personnel, just not in a formalized assigned method,&quot; said Williams, who is a fellow at the Truman National Security Project.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>She acknowledged that the military still has a long way to go in leveling the field for women. &quot;It is my personal opinion that the institutionalization of women as not being able to serve in combat arms has a way of subtly allowing sexism within the military,&quot; she said.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Merkel meets new French president

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>German Chancellor Angela Merkel met new French President Francois Hollande Tuesday for their first-ever talks set to be dominated by differences over crisis remedies for Europe as the risk of a Greek eurozone exit piles on the pressure.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After the collapse of talks in Athens on forming a new government, forcing new elections, Merkel will have to to overcome a rift with the newly sworn-in French leader over the eurozone&nbsp;s economic roadmap. Their face-to-face talks began more than an hour late after lightning hit Hollande&nbsp;s presidential plane en route, forcing it to turn around before he again set off for the German capital in another aircraft.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He finally arrived at Merkel&nbsp;s chancellery in light rain, shaking hands with the German leader and chatting before walking up a red carpet to a podium where the French and German national anthems were played by a military band.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Their talks were expected to last around one hour to be followed by a news conference and working dinner. While Merkel has championed austerity through belt-tightening and debt reduction to battle the crisis dogging the 17-nation eurozone, the Socialist Hollande swept to victory on a pledge to refocus EU fiscal efforts on growth.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Since his May 6 routing of Nicolas Sarkozy, both Berlin and Paris have publicly dug their heels in over their respective positions, talking tough on policy ahead of their meeting. Just hours before his arrival, Hollande reiterated his vow to turn the page on austerity and invest for the future, saying he would propose to France&nbsp;s partners &quot;a new pact that links a necessary reduction in public debt with indispensable economic stimulus&quot;. But with financial markets and international partners seeking reassurance that Europe&nbsp;s traditional Franco-German engine will continue to drive the eurozone, the pair are under pressure to find common ground.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Merkel has played down expectations for the meeting, saying it will be about the two leaders getting acquainted rather than a major decision-making summit. She has said she would welcome the Socialist president &quot;with open arms&quot; despite having openly supported her fellow conservative and ally on the euro crisis, Sarkozy, for the presidency.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Hollande has argued that austerity is no longer &quot;the only option&quot;, ruffling feathers in Berlin which drove through the EU fiscal pact enshrining tougher budget discipline for the 25 of the 27 EU members who signed up to it. He vowed during his election campaign to reopen talks on the pact prompting repeated warnings by the German government that the accord, which has already been ratified by some EU states, is not open for renegotiation. But observers see room for compromise, with Hollande likely to agree to additional stimulus measures without a rewrite of the pact.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;In the euro crisis, the pair has no choice but to get along,&quot; news weekly Spiegel Online said, noting their future as heads of Europe&nbsp;s two biggest economies would be &quot;pegged to one another&quot;. &quot;Berlin and Paris have carefully worked out the scope for compromises,&quot; Die Welt newspaper said, adding that Hollande wanted to soften Merkel&nbsp;s &quot;savings diktat&quot;.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Merkel says she is all for growth but worries that governments must balance their budgets too and argues growth must be fostered through structural reforms and not incur new debt. She is also under pressure at home from the main opposition party which again Tuesday echoed Hollande&nbsp;s call for growth-stimulating measures to be added to the pact and whose support she needs to ratify the deal in parliament.<br />&nbsp;</p>


Dr Chishti arrives in Pakistan

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Chishti, an 80-year-old Pakistani virologist who has spent at least 20 years at a prison in Ajmer, has reached Pakistan. The Indian Supreme Court had permitted Dr Chishti to visit Pakistan during the pendency of his appeal against his conviction in a murder case and life imprisonment.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Earlier, talking to media at Jaipur railway station, Chishti said, &quot;I am happy that I am going to my home land to meet my family and friends. I would like to offer thanks giving prayer as soon as I reach airport and thereafter I will go to my home.&quot;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Dr Chisti said that he would also go to Lahore to meet Sarabjit Singh, the Indian national facing death sentence on charges of involvement in bomb blasts in Pakistan.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;When I am in Pakistan, I would like to visit the whole of the country. I would like to go to Lahore and meet Sarabjit Singh,&quot; he said.<br />&nbsp;</p>


PM recommends reopening of NATO supplies

Posted:

<p><br />In this regard, an important meeting of the Defence Committee was held in Islamabad with PM Gilani in the chair. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Finance Minister Hafiz Sheikh, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira and Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar attended the meeting.</p><p><br />Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Khalid Shamim Waen, heads of armed forces, DG ISI and DG IB were also present in the meeting. The participants of the meeting discussed the issue of reopening the route of NATO supplies in detail.</p><p><br />According to Dunya News Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani recommended the restoration the NATO supplies.</p><p><br />It is worth mentioning that PM Gilani and FM Hina Rabbani Khar had said that that NATO supplies concerned 48 countries and it should be resolved on permanent grounds.</p>


Oil tankers owners get signal for resumptions of NATO supplies

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Arrival of loaders and tankers has started to make their way into Pakistan from Afghanistan.</p><p><br />The Chairman of Oil Tankers Association, Yousuf Sherwani has said that supply of oil to Nato would begun immediately after a decision to reopen the routes. The decision would be conveyed through a press conference by the Interior Ministry officials, he added.</p><p><br />However, Opposition leader in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar in his reaction to the possible restoration of Nato supplies said Pakistan Tehreek Insaf and Jamat-e-Islami would be contacted for a campaign against the decision.</p><p><br />&quot;Muslim Legue-N does accept the restoration of Nato supplies,&quot; he said<br />&nbsp;</p>


Peshawar: Blast outside trader's house; kid hurt

Posted:

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>The building of house was also partially damaged. Explosive material had been installed with some item outside the house.</p><p><br />According to bomb disposal unit, the blast was exploded by a time device.</p><p><br />Weight of bomb was approximately one and a half kg.</p><p><br />Terror and horror hovered over the area after the incident. Police cordoned off the area and started search operation but nobody could be arrested.</p>


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