Staff Report

ಕರಾಚಿ: Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif made a telephonic contact with Awami Tehrik chief Ayaz Latif Palijo on Thursday assuring that his party would not let Sindh be divided at any cost.

Nawaz Sharif expressed solidarity with Palijo over Sindh issue.

Palijo’s Awami Tehrik launched a rally against the Muhajir province and peace in Lyari and other areas of Karachi few days ago. But unknown miscreants created troubles in the rally, killing some 12 people and injuring more than 30.

After that incident, Palijo and his party has received so many sympathies from the country’s politicians.

Nawaz also demanded action against the elements involved in bloodshed occurred on the rally day and also on May 12, 2007. SAMAA

Staff Report

ಕರಾಚಿ: Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh chapter’s chief, Senator Shahi Syed, has said that split of Sindh cannot be tolerated and they will work together with all nationalist parties, SAMAA reported on Thursday.

Sindh United Party (SUP) General Secretary Shah Muhammad Shah visited Mardan House this day and invited the ANP to attend all parties’ conference on May 29.

After rendering invitation, the SUP leader said on the occasion while addressing a joint press conference with Shahi Syed that the MAY 29 all parties’ conference is meant to fail the conspiracy of Sindh split as divide of Sindh can shatter the integrity of the whole country.

Senator Shahi Syed accepted the invitation of MAY 29’s all parties’ conference and said that they will work along with the other nationalist parties.

CAIRO: Egypt’s first open leadership contest looks better managed than an earlier parliamentary vote, making it harder to influence the outcome by hustling voters, stuffing ballots and other abuses, an election observer said on Thursday.

The state election body has toughened oversight of polling stations and improved voting and counting procedures since the legislative vote that ended in January, said election specialist Ossama Kamel, a consultant to several international groups.

“We have seen a lot better control of campaigning on election day than during the parliamentary vote when there were lots of violations,” he told Reuters in an interview on the second and final day of first-round voting.

“People are not there with their laptops this time, telling people where to vote and, by implication, who to vote for.”

The Muslim Brotherhood in particular was criticised for its laptop-wielding ushers during the parliamentary election.

Even as the first-round presidential vote got under way on Wednesday, many Egyptians still seemed undecided, tempting to rival campaign camps to pull out all the stops.

Some have bussed citizens to polling stations or campaigned nearby in violation of the rules. Accusations of vote-buying, in cash or kind, common in Mubarak’s day, have also resurfaced.

“Vote-buying doesn’t happen on the day in the polling station,” said Kamel. “It happens in voters’ homes or in meeting places like the mosque and you can have no control over this.”

He faulted the election committee for doing too little to explain to people where and how to vote and for long delays in issuing official badges to foreign and local election monitors.

But he said he was more confident that ballot boxes could not be tampered with this time round, and that polling station workers were better prepared to catch abuses.

“The system has been improving a lot and I think they have listened more to international advisers … who came with measures to enhance the process,” he said.

During the parliamentary vote, he said, veiled women were able to vote multiple times by concealing their identities.

“The lady now has to reveal her face and take her glove from her hand to reveal the ink stain,” he said, explaining voters had to show an inky finger to retrieve their identity cards.

Twelve candidates were competing in the first round, with two Islamists and two former Mubarak officials among the top contenders for the two places in a probable run-off in June.

The Islamists suspect their opponents of distributing favours using the deposed leader’s old patronage networks.

Critics accuse the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists of securing votes partly through handouts to the poor and bringing their activists to lobby voters right outside polling stations.

Kamel said ballot rigging was now harder than in the parliamentary election, itself a huge improvement on the routinely rigged polls of the Mubarak era.

He cited a new technique ensuring that only one genuine national identity card number is associated with each vote.

However, under new rules, representatives of accredited monitoring groups have complained that they are barred from commenting on the election before the results are announced.

Fewer international groups are monitoring the vote than during the parliamentary election, whose final stage was overshadowed by a judicial crackdown on several civil society groups accused of receiving illegal foreign funds.

The election committee has accredited 9,700 monitors from 54 foreign and local groups for the presidential election. AGENCIES

Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee conferred the award of HILAL-I-IMTIAZ (Military) to Brigadier General (Sea) Mohammad Bin Nasser Mubarak Al-Shakairi Al-Mohannadi, Commander of Qatar Emiri Naval Forces.

According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release Gen. Wynne conferred the medal to Qatari Naval Chief at Joint Staff Headquarters Chaklala Rawalpindi, on behalf of President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan for his services in bringing the two Naval Forces closer and improving the relations between Qatar and Pakistan therein.

Brigadier General (Sea) Mohammad Bin Nasser Mubarak Al-Shakairi Al-Mohannadi conveyed his thanks to the People, Armed Forces and Government of Pakistan for the recognition of his contributions towards furthering the bilateral ties and defense cooperation between Qatar and Pakistan.

Staff Report

ಇಸ್ಲಾಮಾಬಾದ್: An employee of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was arrested at the Benazir Bhutto International airport on Thursday after one kilogram of heroin was found hidden in his shoes and cap during a flight to Birmingham.

The arrested man was identified as flight steward M. Javed.

He was caught red handed while checking process. The heroin was found when his cap dropped down suddenly.

He was handed over to the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) for further investigation and action. SAMAA

ಇಸ್ಲಾಮಾಬಾದ್: The speaker of Pakistan’s national assembly on Thursday quashed efforts to disqualify Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani over a court conviction.

Gilani was found guilty of contempt by the Supreme Court last month over his refusal to ask Swiss authorities to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Under Pakistan’s constitution, anyone convicted of defaming or ridiculing the judiciary is barred from being an MP. The speaker has to refer any disqualification process to the election commission.

“I am of the view that the charges… are not relatable to the grounds mentioned (in the constitution),” said Fehmida Mirza, who is a member of Zardari and Gilani’s Pakistan People’s Party.

“No question of disqualification of Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani from being a member arises,” she added.

The Gilani case has been highly politically charged, with members of the government accusing judges of over-stepping their reach and of trying to bring down the prime minister and president before the government becomes the first in Pakistan to ever complete an term in office.

The allegations against Zardari date back to the 1990s, when he and his late wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto, are suspected of using Swiss bank accounts to launder about $12 million allegedly paid in bribes by companies seeking customs inspection contracts.

The Swiss shelved the cases in 2008 when Zardari became president.

Gilani insists the president has full immunity, but in 2009 the Supreme Court overturned an amnesty that had frozen investigations into the president and other politicians. AGENCIES

Staff Report

ಇಸ್ಲಾಮಾಬಾದ್: Pakistan Foreign Office has said that there are many options including going to the UN Security Council and moving International Court of Justice against missile strikes in the country, SAMAA reported on Thursday.

Foreign Office Spokesman Moazzam Khan said during weekly briefing in Islamabad this day that Pakistan did not expect any big breakthrough in Chicago Summit but still attended that on NATO invitation.

Pakistan intends to help the world for maintaining law and order in Afghanistan and just for the sake of Afghanistan we went to attended NATO Summit in Chicago, he added.

While talking on missile attacks, the FO spokesman said that these missile strikes are illegal and against the sovereignty and autonomy of Pakistan.

Moazzam Khan said regarding Dr. Shakil Afridi that the verdict has been given in accordance with Pakistani law and the world should pay respect to the courts of Pakistan.

The US senators have talked of extortion money over NATO supply issue, not the US government, so we do not want to comment over those, he added.

Moazzam said while replying to a question over missile strikes that the location and usage of neighboring country’s soil for launch of missile strikes in Pakistan is not known.

“Talks are underway between Indo-Pak foreign secretaries over terrorism, visa policy, imprisoned fishermen and other issues,” the FO spokesman added. SAMAA

Staff Report

ಕರಾಚಿ: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri said on Thursday that the people talking about the Muhajir province and those who writes slogan for the province on walls are cowards.

While talking in an event here at a local hotel, the minister said that the refugees live everywhere in the world but nowhere have they ever demanded a separate province. SAMAA

Staff Report

ಇಸ್ಲಾಮಾಬಾದ್: National Assembly Speaker Dr. Fehmida Mirza said on Thursday that there is no question of Prime Minister Gilani’s disqualification.

The speaker decided not the send the disqualification reference against the premier to the Election Commission (EC).

On the other hand, the EC speaker has summoned the copy of decision.

In Dr. Mirza’s five page ruling, she observed that charges against the Prime Minister were not relatable to the grounds mentioned in paragraph (g) or (h) of clause (1) of Article 63, therefore, no question of disqualification of Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani from being a member arises under clause (2) of Article 63 of the Constitution.

Charges against the PM were also discussed during the ruling. SAMAA

Staff Report

GUJRANWALA: A 10 year old housemaid girl was tortured and thrown away on a road here on Thursday.

Sobia, the girl was found critically injured, unconscious from roadside in Ghakhar area.

She was taken to civil hospital where doctors were also surprised after seeing her critical condition.

There were fractures and burn signs on her body, sources told SAMAA.

The volunteers of Edhi Foundation found an unconscious 11-year old housemaid lying by roadside in Ghakhar area of Gujranwala.

The injured girl was rushed to District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Gujranwala. DMS Dr Sohail said that bones of limbs and hands of the girl were smashed due to brutal torture.

After the injured returned to senses, she told that she used to work as housemaid at a bungalow for last one and a half years and she was tortured by the house owners.

However, other details regarding parents and location could not be ascertained as she again went unconscious due to pain and fear.

Child Protection Bureau Gujranwala took the girl into custody and has approached the court for action against the responsible. SAMAA

Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) visited the Headquarters of the Security Division of Strategic Plans Division (SPD) at Rawalpindi, for a review of security plans for Pakistan’s Strategic Assets.

According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, a comprehensive briefing was given by Director General Security Major General Muhammad Tahir covering details of the operational preparedness of the Security Division.

Expressing complete satisfaction in the security arrangements, the CJCSC commended all concerned for their professional approach in enhancing nuclear security.

CJCSC witnessed an operational display of state of the art Security equipment.

Earlier, on arrival at Headquarters Security Division, CJCSC was received by Director General SPD Lieutenant General Khalid Ahmed Kidwai (Retired) and Director General Security Major General Muhammad Tahir. SAMAA

LONDON: Mazhar Majeed, a sports agent jailed over a cricket match-fixing scam is appealing against his conviction, SAMAA learnt from sources on Thursday.

Mazhar Majeed, 36, from Croydon, south London, was sentenced to two years and eight months.

Three Pakistan cricketers also received custodial sentences at London’s Southwark Crown Court in November over a scandal that rocked world sport.

Ex-Test captain Salman Butt was jailed for two and a half years for his role as the “orchestrator” of a plot to bowl deliberate no-balls in the 2010 Lord’s Test against England.

Mohammad Asif, the former world number two Test bowler, was sentenced to 12 months.

Mohammad Amir, who had been tipped to become one of the all-time great fast bowlers, was sentenced to six months.

All three players are serving five-year bans from cricket imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Amir and Butt failed in an attempt to have their sentences reduced at the Court of Appeal in November.

Majeed’s appeal will be heard by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, Mr Justice Openshaw and Mr Justice Irwin. SAMAA/ AGENCIES

MONACO: Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso showed his mastery of Monaco on Thursday with the fastest lap in a first free practice session cut short in a cloud of smoke.

The Spaniard, twice a winner in the Mediterranean principality with Renault and McLaren, skimmed the barriers and roared past the moored yachts with a best time of one minute 16.265 seconds.

With the sun shining brightly on the sparkling harbour, Romain Grosjean burnished his hopes of becoming a first French Formula One winner in Monaco since Olivier Panis’s unlikely victory in 1996.

Grosjean’s time for Lotus was the second best, 0.365 seconds off Alonso’s.

“I like Monaco, it’s good fun. The car is going well at the moment so let’s see what we can do later on. It’s important to have a car that you are confident with and work every single details because it makes such a big difference,” said Grosjean.

Mexican Sergio Perez, returning to the scene of his big accident in qualifying last year, clocked the third best time of the morning for Sauber with race favourite Lewis Hamilton fourth for McLaren.

The largely incident-free session was red flagged with just over nine minutes to go when Heikki Kovalainen’s Caterham blew its engine and filled the tunnel – the fastest point of the circuit – with smoke.

Kovalainen parked up at the tunnel exit as drivers threaded their way through the smoke.

With oil also deposited on the track, organisers decided not to re-start the session.

That left Grosjean’s team mate and 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen at the bottom of the timing screens after the Finn completed an installation lap but failed to set a time.

He then sat out the rest of the session as mechanics worked on his car.

Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, surprise winner for Williams at the last race in Spain but now among the favourites at a track he loves, was again among the frontrunners with the fifth fastest time.

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, under intense pressure to deliver after scoring just two points in five races, was sixth and 0.578 slower than Alonso.

Red Bull’s double world champion and last year’s winner Sebastian Vettel, joint championship leader with Alonso, clocked the ninth best time.

Five times Monaco winner and seven times world champion Michael Schumacher damaged his Mercedes’s front wing when he rode the kerbs at the swimming pool complex and was 11th fastest. AGENCIES

MUMBAI: Director Arnab Chaudhuri is quick to point out that his new animation project on a Mahabharat hero is not a children’s film.

“Arjun – The Warrior Prince” puts the spotlight on the third of the Pandava brothers in Indian mythology and is the coming-of-age story of the legendary archer.

“It’s a hero’s journey. It’s a martial arts movie,” Chaudhuri said in a telephone interview from Mumbai. “This film is the journey in which he goes from being a talented kid to becoming a great warrior.”

“Most people equate animation with comedy for kids,” he adds. “This is not comedy for children.”

It’s been two decades since Arjun and his Pandava siblings first mesmerised Indian audiences in B.R. Chopra’s television serial “Mahabharat”.

Three years in the making, “Arjun – The Warrior Prince” is a joint production of Walt Disney Pictures and UTV Motion Pictures.

Chaudhuri used traditional 2G animation for the project and says he wasn’t tempted to jump on to the 3D bandwagon.

“We wanted a very classical look (of) traditional animation.”

“Arjun – The Warrior Prince” opens in Indian cinemas on Friday. AGENCIES

Staff Report

ಇಸ್ಲಾಮಾಬಾದ್ – The Supreme Court (SC) has summoned a report from the defense ministry after two accused involved in the Musharraf Attack Case appealed here on Thursday.

A three member bench, chaired by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the case hearing.

During the hearing, the court directed to present the record of military courts’ decisions. SAMAA