Saturday, May 11, 2013

Analysis: Getting here was quite a ride

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KARACHI: 
Clichés are only clichés because they are repeated so often. And they are repeated so often because they are so often true. Thus, to call this election ‘landmark’ and ‘historic’ may be absolutely clichéd, but it is also absolutely true.
Getting here was quite a ride; it was full of pain, bitterness and thwarted hopes but along with all the despair is also a faith that simply refuses to die.
I say this because not since 1988 have I seen this level of political awareness among the people. From the dhaba where I have my tea, to corporate boardrooms and every place in between there is palpable evidence that the people of Pakistan are invested in their future, and are convinced that they can change it for the better. Pakistanis who were never interested in politics are canvassing on the streets. Those who had pledged to never return are back just to cast their votes. The change we have so longed is already here, no matter who wins the elections.
For the PPP, it is past time to realise that one cannot campaign on slogans alone. To give credit to the PPP government, its greatest service to democracy is that it survived, ensuring that democracy itself survives. If it must now sacrifice itself on that very altar it is indeed for the greatest good, and for the good of the party itself.
A stint away from the helm will give the party a chance to rediscover itself and identify those responsible for its very real decline. Perhaps in 2018 we may see a revived and rejuvenated party emerge. Certainly, it has ensured that whoever comes in will have a solid constitutional framework to build on. For that, it deserves respect and recognition.
To the PML-N, you fought well, and when compared to the other provinces, your government stood out. The development, however lopsided, is laudable as was the energy of your campaign. Whatever comes, I pray that your new maturity translates into a will to build Pakistan not just through massive projects but also in a way that benefits the man on the street. By and large, you have been a positive force for democracy and deserve credit for not crashing the system, despite many opportunities to do so.
For the PTI, you have truly been a breath of fresh air in the smoke-filled room of Pakistani politics. You managed to infuse the apolitical millions with a new spirit and have offered that most fragile of all commodities: hope. Whatever May 12th brings, do not despair. Do not lose hope. And most of all, do not disappoint those who have pledged themselves to you, trolls and all.
To the ANP, a red salute. No one suffered like you did, no one paid such a high price. I only wish you could have prevailed upon your allies to do the right thing when the time was right for action.
To the MQM, credit for, more often than not, saying the right things and for standing for what is for the most part a progressive agenda. But also a qualification: the people who support you deserve peace and security. Don’t punish them when someone attacks you; that only plays into the hands of those who would see you fall. You are capable of greatness, and if you reach out there will be millions who will never let you down. That’s a promise.
To the TTP, we know that military means alone will never crush you. But know that you have already lost. For every one person you slaughter, hundreds will rise against you. For every candidate you kill, an entire party will unite against you. And every ink-stained thumb will be a bullet in your dark heart. We know that it is democracy and Pakistan itself that is your final target; and it is democracy and Pakistan that will destroy you in the end.
Democrats will come and go; some will be killed, others simply voted out and discarded. But democracy shall live on, and so will we. Here’s to new beginnings.
‘Fight not with monsters, lest ye become a monster yourself…and know that when you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares also into you’ – Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
‘Give a man enough rope and he will hang himself’ – Proverb
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk


New York Times protests expulsion of its Pakistan bureau chief

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The New York Times (NYT) on Friday strongly protested the expulsion of their Pakistan bureau chief Declan Walsh, a report on their website read.
“The Times has strongly protested the move and is seeking his reinstatement.”
The paper’s executive editor Jill Abramson in a letter to the caretaker Interior Minister Malik Habib Khan protested the move and asked him to reinstate Walsh’s visa.
Walsh has been covering Pakistan and Afghanistan for close to a decade first for the Guardian and, since 2012, for the NYT.
Early on Thursday morning, Walsh was served a notice from the government that his visa had been cancelled and that he had 72 hours to leave the country.
According to the NYT, the notice cited Walsh’s “undesireable activities” as the reason for his visa being cancelled. No specific reason was reportedly offered.
“It is informed that your visa is hereby canceled in view of your undesirable activities. You are therefore advised to leave the country within 72 hours.”
The orders came just two days before general elections scheduled for Saturday May 11.
Walsh’s twitter timeline though did not speak for much about his expulsion except for the report about his organisation’s protests with the authorities.
His last article for the NYT before he received expulsion orders was about the political make up of Multan and the longstanding culture of patronage.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk


Off to polls: Destiny calling

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ISLAMABAD: 
Millions of Pakistanis go to the polls today after witnessing the bloodiest election campaign ever in the country’s history, which has taken some of the gloss off a civilian government transferring power to another via the ballot box.
Some 86.16 million people are set to exercise their democratic right. The polls are unique for its many ‘firsts’. These are the first elections where the youth comprises 40% of the total number of registered voters. It will be the first time that polls held in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) will be on a party basis. But above all ‘first’, these novel elections will not see the ‘establishment’ at work – not visibly at least.
In the 10 general elections held since 1970, Pakistan Peoples Party has emerged victorious four times, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) or the Islami Jamhoori Itehad (IJI). No government could be formed in 1977, while the 1985 elections were held on a non-party basis under General Ziaul Haq’s military rule.
However, the ‘establishment’ has been at play in almost all elections. The 1990 elections, when the IJI came into power with Nawaz Sharif as prime minister, the polls were described by both local and international observers as being “massively rigged.”
After completing its five-year tenure, PPP seems to be in trouble, perhaps for the first time. PPP and its allied parties were singled out by terrorists in the run-up to the 2013 elections. But many said it was their performance over the past five years that was seen as a deciding factor contributing to their poor electioneering.
Managing the ballot
The biggest elections of the country’s history would be supervised and executed by 644,234 polling personnel deployed at 69,729 polling stations, hosting 193,235 polling booths.  48, 613, 963 males and 37, 548, 676 females would exercise their right to vote in today’s polls.
In the wake of dwindling law and order situation in the country, particularly in Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has termed 15,681 polling stations as high sensitive, 15,214 as sensitive and 38, 834 as normal.
Police, along with other law enforcement agencies, will guard all polling stations. The army is deployed at high sensitive polling stations while its presence will be seen in the form of a Quick Response Force if polling staff requisition them.
The players
A total of 15,621 candidates will be contesting 268 National and 570 provincial assembly seats.
From the 250 registered political parties, 148 parties were allotted symbols, however, not all of them fielded candidates to contest elections.
Elections have been postponed for three national and six provincial assembly seats, as candidates from these constituencies have been murdered. These include NA-254 (Karachi-XVI), where Awami National Party (ANP) leader Sadiq Zaman Khattak was murdered, NA-241 (Karachi-III), where independent candidate Shakeel Ahmad was killed, NA-83 (Faisalabad-IX) where independent candidate Mian Amjad died.
Other constituencies of provincial assemblies, where elections are delayed include PP-217, PP-254 Muzzaffar Gardh, PB-32, PS-64 and PP-254.
In one constituency, NA-38 (Tribal Area-III), Kurram Agency, elections were postponed due to the deteriorating law and order situation.
Party alliances
Unlike the 2002 elections, when religious parties struck a coalition named Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), there is no major pre-poll alliance among religious parties going into the ballot, exacept the Mutahida Deeni Muhaaz (MDM) – an electoral alliance of five religious groups including Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islami-Sami (JUI-S) and Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP).
The alliance, however, has slim chances of winning an MMA-like victory.
MMA – an alliance of JUI-F, Jamaat-e-Islami and other religious parties – managed to form governments in Balochistan and North West Frontier Province (NWFP) but the alliance disintegrated prior to the 2008 elections. This time, both JUI-F and JI are taking solo flights.
In today’s polls, many major political parties including PML-N, PML-Functional, JI and other parties formed an alliance with nationalist parties in Sindh called the 10-Party Alliance. They have gone for seats adjustment with one another.
Unlike the 2008 polls, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, no political parties have boycotted elections.  Previously, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), JI, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) boycotted the 2008 elections, refusing to go to ballot under President General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf’s reign.
The only exception, to boycott the polls, would be firebrand scholar Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).
Party Position 2008/2002
In 2008, PPP-Parliamentarians formed the government in the centre by forging an alliance with ANP, MQM and JUI-F. It secured 122 seats in National Assembly with PML-N as a runner up with 92.  PML-Quaid, with 61 seats, jumped into the coalition later.
In 2002, PML-Q — also known as the ‘King’s Party’ – fully backed by former president Musharraf secured 118 seats and managed to form a government in the centre by securing an alliance with MMA that won 61 seats.
PPP was the main opposition with 81 seats, while PML-N managed to win only 19 seats.
This assembly also completed its five-year term but under Musharraf’s de-facto command, hence it could not be called a completely democratic government.
Ensure impartiality, says ECP
The Election Commission has urged polling staff to ensure impartiality to make the voting exercise credible.
ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan told reporters that every institution affiliated to the election process should have to play its role to establish the 2013 elections as the most credible elections in the history of the country.
He said around 700,000 staff will be performing election duties, while 75,000 army personnel would be performing security duties.
Despite their assurances, the ministry of water and power did not fulfill its promise of no power shutdowns in the country on Friday, the ECP secretary said.
“If there will be power shutdowns for even a minute tomorrow, there will be a question mark on the performance of the ministry.”
Results procedure
Once polling will be over, counting of votes will be carried out at every polling station in the presence of polling agents of political parties.
The presiding officer will sign the result sheet and will also get it signed by the polling agents and deliver a copy to representatives.
The same copy along with ballot papers will be sent to the district returning officer’s office, where results of all the polling stations would be compiled based on result sheets coming from polling stations.
Once compiled, the returning officer will send it to ECP headquarters through fax. The ECP will announce results, which will be unofficial at that point.
The next day contesting candidates can ask the returning officer to recount all the ballots if they want so.
Similarly, they can ask him to open the postal ballots already reached his office in sealed envelops and add these votes accordingly in the final results.
ECP will later notify the official results completing all the formalities after a few days.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk


BBA graduates: SZABIST conducts survey to gauge trends in job market

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KARACHI: 
Graduates of the latest batch of the four-year BBA programme of the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) received on average a monthly salary of Rs35,448, according to the institute’s recent employment survey.
While most business schools all over the world conduct such exercises regularly to gauge the acceptance level of their fresh graduates in the job market along with average starting salaries, it is the first-ever employment survey that the institute has carried out specifically for its BBA programme graduates, according to SZABIST President Dr Saqib Rizavi.
“We carried out the survey to formulate policies in line with job market expectations based on empirical evidence,” Rizavi told The Express Tribune in an interview.
A total of 758 students graduated from SZABIST in December 2012. About 21%, or 159 students, belonged to the BBA programme. However, results of the employment survey are based on a response rate of about 60.3%, or 96 graduates, as many recent BBA degree-holders chose not to participate in the survey.
“I believe that a response rate of over 50% is reflective of actual trends in the job market. I think 60% is a healthy response rate,” Rizavi said.
While the average monthly salary across all sectors of the economy was Rs35,448, the highest average salary that recent SZABIST BBA graduates received was in the category of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, which was Rs72,333 per month.
Even though no credible data in the form of employment surveys is available for graduates of past years, Rizavi believes that the job market within the FMCG sector has gradually become less attractive for SZABIST graduates of late. With only six students out of the 96 respondents joining this sector, he said the share of BBA graduates joining FMCG companies seems to have declined in the recent past.
Logistics and distribution companies paid on average a monthly salary of Rs49,667, which made the sector the second most attractive employer for SZABIST’s BBA graduates of 2012. Although only six graduates joined logistics and distribution companies, the SZABIST president believes it to be a growing sector, which will likely absorb more graduates in coming years.
The largest number of SZABIST BBA graduates went into the media, communications and advertising field. Interestingly, the average monthly salary these 40 graduates received was Rs34,075, which was lower than the average monthly salary across all sectors of the economy.
The second largest number of those surveyed, 23 graduates, joined banking and financial services in spite of the fact that the average monthly salary for the sector remained Rs31,391, which is lower than the overall average.
According to Rizavi, lower salaries in the banking and financial sector is a temporary phenomenon, which will be over soon. “Despite consolidation of many banks, I believe there is still room in the financial sector to absorb our future graduates,” he noted.
The lowest average salaries per month were offered in technology (Rs26,250) and education and consultancy (Rs25,750), which brought the overall average salary down considerably.
Although the names of many multinational companies appear on the list of employers, a majority of them are of Pakistan origin. Some of the big names include Unilever, Philip Morris, Nokia, Toyota, National Foods, Nielsen, KPMG, EFU and several private medium-sized banks.
The highest remuneration that a SZABIST BBA graduate is getting is currently working at Toyota at a monthly salary of Rs150,000.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk


Locally assembled car sales dive 21%

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KARACHI: 
Sales of locally assembled cars dived 21% to 11,737 units in April compared to 14,792 units in the corresponding period of last year, data from Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association’s website shows.

Analysts attribute the drop in sales to discontinuation of the Punjab Taxi Scheme that concluded in the middle of 2012. Discontinuation of the Daihatsu Cuore and the Suzuki Alto last year also played its part in the decline of car sales.
In terms of volumetric outlook, analysts are optimistic for the remainder of the fiscal year as the impact of imported used cars will finally start to subside.
A full recovery is expected 2014 onwards, where the impact of used/imported cars will eventually die down, a BMA Capital report said on Friday.
Market leader, Pak Suzuki Motors, saw its sales go down 12% month-on-month (MoM) as Bolan and Ravi – pickup truck – sales decreased by 42% MoM and 165% year-on-year (YoY), and 9% MoM and 3% YoY respectively.
The company’s prime product also failed to compensate for the lost volumes as Mehran sales remained almost unchanged. Cultus also witnessed a decline of 14% MoM in its volumes; however it seems that its volumes were up 49% YoY by virtue of being the only car in the 1000cc segment.
Indus Motor Company – the makers of Toyota Corolla – sales remained stagnant with total sales of 3,696 units in April. Corolla, the revenue driver for the car assembler, saw its sales stay constant at 3,284 units in the month.
Sales from Fortuner, a new product of Indus Motor, provided some support to the company’s total volumes after the discontinuation of Daihatsu Cuore, an 800cc engine that the company was making until last year.
Atlas Honda continues to keep its volumetric streak going as the company sold 1,100 units of Honda City in April, however, Honda Civic sales lost momentum as sales dipped 44% MoM.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk


Credibility crisis?: PPP govt fails miserably in securing enough foreign funding

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ISLAMABAD: 
Pakistan could obtain only $1.8 billion in foreign funding during the first nine months of the ongoing fiscal year, owing to the last government’s failure in floating a $500 million Euro bond and less-than-anticipated funding from all major international lenders. Foreign loans are budgeted as a part of the government’s overall projections for the balance of payments for the year.
Receipts for the July to March period totalled just 47.6% of the annual budgeted estimate of $3.8 billion, according to documents released by the Economic Affairs Division. Out of the $1.8 billion, a sum of $228 million was received in grants, while the remaining was accounted for by different loans.
The United Kingdom provided the largest component of aid, as it gave $100.8 million in grants. The UK had promised to give $97.1 million for the full year. That sum was higher than even the US, the country’s coalition partner in the war against terror, as the Obama administration disbursed only $70.4 million under the Kerry-Luger package according to official documents. The disbursements from the US came to less than 40% of the annual budgeted amount of $179.7 million.
The US had committed $7.5 billion over five years under the Kerry-Luger package, but the documents show a wide gap between commitments and actual disbursements.
Analysts have revised their estimates after the fresh data was released: they are now anticipating an external financing gap to the tune of $1.5 billion – $500 million higher than initial estimates. That shortfall is likely to bring the rupee under further pressure due to the rapid depletion of foreign currency reserves, they added. Pakistan has already begun negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a second bailout programme in less than five years.
According to the documents released, the PPP government failed to float a $500 million exchangeable bond, which was to be backed by shares of the Oil and Gas Development Company. The debt crisis in the euro zone and deteriorating domestic economic conditions restrained the last regime from going to international debt markets, officials said.
Similarly, the flows of funds from Japan, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and other bilateral lenders trickled in far below estimates.
Japan had promised $444.4 million in loans and grants, but instead gave $114.7 million or 25.8% of the annual assistance promised. The World Bank, on the other hand, gave only $326 million as against annual commitments of $762 million. The disbursements came to only 42.5% of annual commitments, according to the Economic Affairs Division.
The Islamic Development Bank gave only $315.3 million or 53% of the annual assistance promised, including an expensive loan worth $256 million. The ADB disbursed $277 million or 61.3% of annual budget estimates.
International lending agencies had suspended additional budgetary support to Pakistan besides slowing releases of funds in the pipeline due to the last government’s inability to implement taxation and energy reforms. During the ongoing dialogue, the IMF told Pakistan that it will provide fresh loans only to the extent of what Islamabad already owes to the Fund. For additional funding requirements, the Fund asked negotiators to separately talk with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
Authorities estimate a financing gap of $6.5 billion for fiscal 2013-14. If the IMF and Pakistan agree on the terms for a new programme, the Fund will give Islamabad $3.6 billion for the first year. Pakistan will separately negotiate with other lending agencies in order to bridge the $3 billion gap.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk


Football: KRL defeat Global FC 2-0

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KARACHI: 
KRL strengthened their position at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Cup after a win over hosts Global FC 2-0 in Cebu, Philippines yesterday.
Midfielder Mahmood Khan scored the opener in the 12th minute before Muhammad Adil sealed victory with a 77th-minute strike. KRL have now moved to second place in Group B with four points behind Kyrgystan’s FC Dordoi, who crushed Bhutan’s Yeezdin FC 9-0 in their second match of the tournament. Global FC are placed third with three points.
KRL conclude the group campaign with their final match against Yeezdin FC tomorrow.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk


Vettel edges past Alonso in practice

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BARCELONA: 
Defending triple world champion Sebastian Vettel outpaced home hero Fernando Alonso to clock the fastest time in yesterday’s second free practice session ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old Red Bull driver narrowly edged out the Ferrari man with a best time of one minute 22.808 seconds, after Alonso had delighted his compatriots during a wet morning session by clocking the early fastest time.
Just 0.083 seconds covered the top three men as Alonso split the two Red Bulls of Vettel and his teammate Mark Webber, who was third fastest.
After an all-Mercedes battle involving both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton in the early stages of the afternoon session, it was Alonso and the Red Bulls that dominated the lead order through the low-fuel runs in the final part.
Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus was fourth fastest ahead of Brazilian Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari, Hamilton and Rosberg, with the struggling McLarens of Jenson Button and Sergio Perez down in 12th and 13th respectively.
Hamilton spun his Mercedes at Turn 11 during the early runs, swiftly rejoining without problems and ultimately taking sixth on a day when tyre wear was again a major issue, with Paul di Resta suffering a major scare when the left rear tyre on his Force India car delaminated on the main straight.
The Scot parked his car on the grass. He ended up 10th, two places behind teammate Adrian Sutil.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk


Four-member snooker squad selected for Doha tour

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KARACHI: The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) has finalised a four-member squad that will participate in the upcoming Asian Team Event and 6-Red Snooker Championship.
Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sajjad, Humza Akbar and Mohammad Majid Ali have been selected to take part in the two tournaments that will be held on May 24-30 in Doha, Qatar.
PBSA President Alamgir Sheikh has also requested Mubarak al Khayarin, Asian Confederation of Billiards and Snooker general secretary and chairman of the Qatar Snooker Academy, to allow the Pakistan team to train with their professional coach at the snooker academy in Doha.
The request was made when al Khayarin was in Karachi for the Asian Snooker Championship and the PBSA was given a positive feedback. However, a formal response will be obtained within the next two days. Sheikh said that an answer was expected soon with the team scheduled to leave for training on May 15.
“I’m confident that our request will be accepted and our players will get a chance to train under a top-notch professional coach,” Sheikh told The Express Tribune. “Our players are really good and proper training will only get them in better shape, which is why we came up with this idea.”
Sheikh added the squad is a balanced one. “Among seniors, Asif is the current IBSF world champion while Sajjad is the former Asian number two. Similarly, Majid ended as runner-up in the Asian U21 Championship recently, while Humza surprised everyone by clinching the national event. So every player has some kind of an achievement to his name and I’m hopeful one of them will be able win this time.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk

Bangladesh look for uplift in Twenty20s

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BULAWAYO: 
Bangladesh take on Zimbabwe in two Twenty20 internationals this weekend seeking to end a disappointing tour on a high, wondering if the matches represent an opportunity for Mushfiqur Rahim to change his mind about quitting the captaincy.

Mushfiqur said on Wednesday that he would be resigning at the end of the Zimbabwe tour, in an unexpected announcement that came in the wake of Bangladesh’s One-Day International (ODI) series defeat.
The announcement took Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials by surprise, and the matter will be discussed upon the team’s return to Dhaka.
In the meantime, two big wins at Queens Sports Club today and tomorrow could cause Mushfiqur to reconsider — particularly if the BCB urge him to continue.
“It was very disappointing to lose the one-day series after winning the second Test pretty convincingly,” said Mushfiqur. “But we didn’t play to our potential. However, the Twenty20 is a different format, so it’s an opportunity for us to play good cricket.”
Having claimed a rare ODI series victory, Zimbabwe will go into the Twenty20s with renewed belief that they can break a 16-match losing streak in cricket’s shortest format.
Zimbabwe have not won a Twenty20 international since beating the West Indies in February 2010, with their only successes in that time coming in unofficial matches against Bangladesh and an experimental South African side last year.
“It’s a format that we haven’t played a lot of, but having won the ODI series, there is definitely some sort of momentum we can take,” said captain Brendan Taylor.
“This surface will suit them and their strokeplay, so we’re going to have to be up for it and hit the ground running.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk


English Premier League: Gary Cahill challenges Chelsea

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BIRMINGHAM: 
Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has challenged his side to finish the season in triumphant style as they aim to qualify for the Champions League and win the Europa League in their remaining three games.

The midweek failure to beat Tottenham means Rafael Benitez’s side must win at Aston Villa today if they are to go into the Europa League final against Benfica with a top-four finish already secured.
Anything less could mean the trip to Amsterdam on May 15 is overshadowed by continuing uncertainty about their chances of playing in next season’s Champions League.
The odds are stacked in favour of the Blues, with the 2-2 draw against Spurs ensuring they sit third, three points ahead of Andre Villas-Boas’s side in fifth, and two points clear of Arsenal in fourth.
And while Villa have shown improved form to move clear of the bottom three, Benitez’s side would expect to overcome a team that has struggled for form and confidence for much of the season.
Victory in their two remaining Premier League games – they play Everton at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season – and over Benfica will mean Chelsea finish third, guaranteeing passage to the Champions League group stage, and again collect silverware.
And England centre-back Cahill said, “There are three games left in total and they will determine our season.
“It is a huge game [today] followed by the Europa League final which is obviously massive. So we go again and we are in a good run of results at the moment and decent form.”
However, Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert insists Chelsea will face a different team to the one they thrashed 8-0 at Stamford Bridge in December.
“We’re a threat, I think everyone knows we have players who can hurt teams. I’m pretty sure Chelsea will know we have guys on top of their game. But we know it’ll be hard. The beauty of it is everybody apart from us and our fans expect Chelsea to win, because of the team they are.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk


Neighbourhood watch : Karzai’s remarks fuel Pak-Afghan tensions

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ISLAMABAD: 
Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s recent verbal onslaught has sparked anti-Pakistan sentiments in Afghanistan. People took to the streets in Kabul and other major cities and burned the Pakistani flag over the Afghan government’s claim that Pakistani forces have constructed four check posts in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Kunar provinces in the east.
The allegation has been rejected by the Pakistani military and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On Thursday, Afghanistan’s state television quoted President Karzai advising the Pakistani government and military to “reform themselves.”
“We make a distinction between their (Pakistan) nation and their government. Their government and military should reform themselves,” said Karzai, speaking at a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of Kabul University, the state television reported.
On May 4, the Afghan president lashed out at Islamabad during a press conference in Kabul, accusing Pakistan of the recent border clashes in an attempt to probably get the Durand Line recognised as the official border between the two countries. In a veiled reference to Pakistan, Karzai said the Taliban should use their guns not against Afghan forces but against “the place that is hostile to Afghanistan.”
Karzai said his government has ordered the removal of the “checkpoints set up by the Pakistani military” on the Afghan side of the Durand Line. The president’s ministers and close aides also jumped on the Pakistan-bashing bandwagon and issued threatening statements. Afghan Interior Minister Mujtaba Patang visited Afghan border police officials in Kunar province, which borders Pakistan, and also announced to send regular troops to strengthen the border force.
Quoting the interior minister’s speech to Afghan border police officials in Kunar’s Naari district, Afghan journalist Nematullah Karyab said Patang did not rule out a possible war with Pakistan over the dispute.
“I have come here to say that you will sacrifice your lives in case of a possible war and would not step back,” Karyab said, quoting Patang.
Last week, Afghan authorities paraded the body of Mohammad Qasem, an Afghan border police official, in Jalalabad. They claimed Qasem was killed in clashes with Pakistani forces, sparking more anti-Pakistan protests in the city.
Afghan news channel Tolo reported Fazel Hadi Muslimyar, speaker of the Afghan Senate, saying the Afghan nation wants the security forces to get ready to join their brethren in Nangarhar province to defend their soil.
Karzai declared his country will never recognise the Durand Line as the international border, knowing well that this stance is not new. The issue is being pressed by the president despite other key issues that need urgent attention.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry swiftly rebutted Karzai’s statement and said the Durand line issue was “settled.”
Afghan analysts expressed doubts over Karzai’s sincerity to deal with the issue. The pro-opposition daily, Mandegar, criticised the president for raising the issue and termed it an attempt to win Pukhtun support ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.
“The president knows that elections are approaching at a time when a large proportion of Pukhtuns are unhappy with him for certain reasons,” read an article published in Mandegar. It also claimed Karzai was attempting to divert public attention from the recent disclosure of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) providing ‘bags of cash’ to his administration.
Following Karzai’s remarks on the Durand Line, some analysts suggested Afghanistan should recognise it as the international border. Former Herat governor and political analyst Engineer Yunas Fakur said in a debate on Shamshad, a private TV channel, that the Afghan government should officially recognise the border to obtain access to the Indian Ocean, free transit and enjoy peace and other privileges from Pakistan in return.
The Afghan opposition is encouraging a diplomatic solution to the tensions. Dr Abdullah Abdullah, head of the National Coalition of Afghanistan (NCA), said Afghanistan’s problems are piling up without much public support.
“Actions should be taken to prevent tensions. At the same time the Afghan government, by relying on public support, can enter into negotiations with those who carried out the encroachment on our soil,” Abdullah said, according to Afghan media reports.
Mohammad Mohaqeq, a senior NCA member, accused the Afghan government of not coordinating with political circles in dealing with the alleged Pakistani military’s encroachment in Goshta district of Nangarhar.
The Pakistani media has remained silent on the issue, while the military and foreign ministry has issued two brief statements denying the Afghan allegations. Most Pakistanis are unaware of the growing tensions between the two countries, especially as Pakistanis are in the midst of a crucial election.
No substantive efforts have been taken to calm both sides, although their cooperation is imperative ahead of Nato’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
News Soruce: http://tribune.com.pk


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