Karachi: ASI killed while chasing after dacoits

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KARACHI: A police ASI was killed on Wednesday when he was chasing after three dacoits at Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi, TrendPK reports.

Police said three muggers were busy in looting people traveling in their vehicles at Shahrah-e-Faisal near FTC building when the ASI, Abdul Jabbar, reached there along with his police party.
 
This prompted the dacoits to flee from the scene; however, Jabbar went after them to capture the gang. But the fleeing bandits fired shots on him, killing him on the spot. Officials said he was immediately taken to Jinnah hospital but could survive.

Police, by the help of area people, later captured the three dacoits. Two of them were badly injured when people gave them a good hiding. TrendPK

Lahore factory owner still at large; kins, workers arrested

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LAHORE: Police on Wednesday arrested three relatives of owner of the factory wherein scores were killed and trapped after it collapsed on Monday, TrendPK reports.

SSP Sadar Lahore, Shoaib Khurram said owner of the industrial unit was still atlarge as police were conducting raids for his arrest.

He said three relatives of the businessmen were arrested by the police on Wednesday, whereas few factory workers had also been taken into custody. TrendPK

Finn sees redemption for England in ODIs

DUBAI: Young paceman Steven Finn said on Wednesday he hoped a fresh and young England squad will put the 3-0 Test series rout by Pakistan behind them in the one-day series which starts next week.

The 21-year-old watched from the sidelines as Pakistan registered a first-ever whitewash against England who perisisted with James Anderson and Stuart Broad besides playing spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar.

Frustrated at not being picked in the Tests, Finn hoped the one-day series will provide him and the team with an opportunity to forget the Tests.

“I think this one-day series is going to be a great opportunity for us to put what’s gone on under the carpet. I hope, moving towards in this one-day series, I am going to get an opportunity to show what I can do,” Finn told reporters.

The last of Finn’s 12 Test appearances came against Sri Lanka in 2011.

“It is frustrating. I am getting very good at mixing drinks for the boys. I’ve sort of got used to it over the last 12 months. But it’s not the sort of thing you enjoy,” said Finn, the youngest to complete 50 Test wickets for England.

Finn said last year’s India tour where England were blanked 5-0 in the one-day series was a learning process.

“After the India series, I’ve got confidence in the way I bowled – and I hope I can bring that forward into this series. I think this one-day team is a very youthful, very exciting place to be,” said Finn.

Pakistan and England meet in the first of four one-day matches in Abu Dhabi on February 13.

Finn showed confidence his experience of bowling on the slow subcontinent pitches will help him here.

“I played a fair amount of cricket in the sub-continent with the youth teams. The skills you have to use out here, the guys obviously did very well in the Test matches, and it’s something I can do well out here as well,” said Finn.

Finn, 6ft seven inch tall, has so far taken 15 wickets in 11 one-day internationals. AGENCIES

PM Gilani appeals against summons for indictment

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s prime minister Wednesday appealed against a court summons to face a contempt indictment next week, challenging an order that could ultimately force his weak government into early elections.

Pakistan’s highest court on February 2 summoned Yousuf Raza Gilani to appear on February 13 to face indictment, impatient over the government’s refusal to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

It was a shock move from the Supreme Court that sharply escalated pressure on the embattled prime minister a year before his government would become the first in the history of Pakistan to complete an elected term in office.

Gilani’s lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan said he based the appeal on precedents set by top courts in Australia, Britain, France, India and the United States.

“My objection is that the court in its order on February 2 cited no specific reasons for initiating contempt of court proceedings against the prime minister,” he told reporters.

Gilani had appeared before the Supreme Court on January 19, refusing to back down over citing Zardari’s immunity as explanation for his refusal to obey the court’s order to ask Switzerland to re-open corruption cases.

The Swiss shelved the cases in 2008, when Zardari took office.

If convicted of contempt, the prime minister could be jailed for up to six months and disqualified from public office.

Ahsan said there were arguments against indicting the prime minister.

“The president enjoyed immunity and the Swiss authorities have also closed the case. I should not comment further on this issue,” he said.

In order to hear the appeal, the Supreme Court will need to constitute a larger bench of nine judges — not the seven who ordered him to appear.

The court will hear the appeal on Thursday, apparently the only available gap in a tight schedule before the February 13 summons.

Although Supreme Court Judge Nasir-ul-Mulk said there were grounds to proceed against Gilani, members of the government accuse judges of plotting with the army to wage a witch-hunt against the prime minister and president.

Legal experts say that Gilani can only avoid being charged by appealing, apologising or promising to write to the Swiss.

The allegations against Zardari were frozen by a Pakistani political amnesty imposed in 2007, which the courts overturned in late 2009.

Tainted by corruption allegations, Zardari is nicknamed “Mr 10 Percent” and spent 11 years in jail on charges ranging from corruption to murder, although his supporters point out that he was never convicted.

Zardari and his late wife, prime minister Benazir Bhutto, were suspected of using Swiss bank accounts to launder about $12 million in alleged bribes paid by companies seeking customs inspection contracts in Pakistan in the 1990s.

A Swiss prosecutor has since said it would be “impossible” to reopen the case against Zardari since he benefits from immunity as a head of state.

Former Supreme Court judges said they were not convinced of the grounds for appeal, but said the matter would have to be decided quickly.

“They can simply prolong the case for two or three weeks but apparently they have no solid ground in their defence. They have not come up with a satisfactory plea so far,” said Rashid Rizvi, a former Supreme Court judge.

One former chief justice called on the government to resign.

“It will be good for the country if the government quits and holds elections. The current situation is crippling the economy and people are dying because of poverty and lawlessness,” Fakhruddin Ebrahim told AFP. AGENCIES

Patient dies in Lahore as protesters block road

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LAHORE: An old woman, heart patient died in an ambulance as the road was blocked because of the protest by paramedical staff, TrendPK reported Wednesday.

The patient was being taken to PIC for treatment.

The road was blocked for two hours due to the protest for increase in salaries. TrendPK

Microsoft certified Pakistani wonder kid makes world record by creating 7 computer operating systems

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ABBOTABAD: After Arfa Karim now another Pakistani wonder boy has made world record after creating Microsoft and Google certified seven computer operating systems in the suburb of Abbotabad.

This teen computer genius of Pakistan, 14-year old student Sikandar Mehmood Baloch, lives in Bilal Town situated in the suburb of Abbotabad.

Sikandar not only become certified expert of 107 computer engineering languages in this young age, he also received all important certificates of his achievements from the Microsoft and performed work for the Gooogle.

He received further 25 certificates as acknowledgement of his unique work performed for Google the biggest search engine in the world.

Sikandar Mehmood is studying in 9th grade in a local school and he has made many Linux Systems (From VVS1 to VVS7) and developed an indigenous anti-virus system as well.

Sikandar made world record at the age of nine after making his first operating system. He works with many web sites and earns over 70 US dollars daily. TrendPK

SU teachers protest intensifies

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HYDERABAD: Sindh University (SU) teachers and employees’ protest has been intensified here on Wednesday.

The protest was staged against Vice Chancellor Nazir Mughal, murder of a professor and termination of teachers.

The protesters hold a rally from Jamshoro to Hyderabad press club.

They also staged a sit-in at the press club.

They chanted slogans against the VC of the university and demanded his sacking and resignation. TrendPK

Greek party leaders prepare for crucial debt talks

ATHENS: Greek coalition leaders are studying a draft deal on harsh cutbacks needed to secure a €130 billion ($170 billion) bailout that will help the country avoid a looming bankruptcy next month.

The office of Prime Minister Lucas Papademos said Wednesday that the heads of the three parties backing his interim coalition government received the draft 50-page austerity document, drawn up with the country’s debt inspectors, earlier in the day.

A meeting of Papademos with the party leaders, originally scheduled for 1100 GMT, was delayed until 1300 GMT to give parties more time to study the draft.

The coalition talks have been postponed over the last three days to make time for exhaustive negotiations with representatives of the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, on whose approval the continued flow of Greece’s vital rescue loans depends. Without the bailout, Greece would not have enough money to pay off a big bond redemption payment next month, triggering a default that risks sending shockwaves throughout financial markets and the global economy.

The three organizations, known collectively as the “troika”, have demanded further measures to improve Greece’s competitiveness and economic stability — including new private sector wage and pension cuts, public sector layoffs and cuts in health, pension and defense spending — before they approve the new €130 billion ($170 billion) bailout.

The troika’s proposals have horrified unions, who held a general strike Tuesday. Greeks have already been hit with a spate of salary cuts and drastically increased taxation over the past two years, amid record-high unemployment and a five-year recession.

Labor Minister Giorgos Koutroumanis told Parliament last week that a demanded reduction in the €751 ($985) monthly minimum wage would quicken the Greek economy’s contraction and hit the revenues of struggling pension funds that have already lost €20 billion ($26 billion) since 2009.

But Athens has minimal ground for maneuver. Without the rescue loans, the country will default on its massive debts in March, when it faces a €14.5 billion ($19 billion) bond redemption.

Stocks advanced Wednesday, while the euro was trading near two-month highs, as global markets were hopeful a deal would be struck in Athens. Greek shares were 3 percent up in midday trading.

“We are finally approaching the endgame of the Greek talks,” said Gary Jenkins, managing director at Swordfish Research. “Ultimately it is difficult to see how they can do anything other than agree a deal. After all, the alternative is a disorderly default which could lead to a much deeper economic depression and potential civil unrest.”

Late Tuesday, Greece’s private creditors signaled progress on a separate, linked agreement that would cut the country’s privately held debt load by 50 percent, or some €100 billion ($131 billion). The intention behind the writedown is to ensure that Greece’s long-term debts are sustainable. Banks, pension and hedge funds and other private holders of devalued Greek bonds are expected to swap their current bonds for new ones worth 50 percent less than the original face value, with longer repayment terms and a lower interest rate. They are also expected to get a €30 billion payment as part of the bond swap deal.

Representatives of the Institute of International Finance, which has been leading the talks for private bondholders, had a “constructive meeting” with Papademos, IIF spokesman Frank Vogl said.

Papademos and Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos will soon brief the rest of the 17-nation eurozone on the proposed deal, Vogl said — a sign the bond-swap deal could be close.

The meeting of eurozone finance ministers could happen as soon as Thursday in Brussels, according to officials, although that will depend on an agreement in Athens on the terms of the second bailout.

If political leaders accept the demanded austerity, Greek officials say a cabinet meeting will approve the deal, likely later Wednesday. Parliament will then have to vote on the deal over the weekend.

Ratification should prove quite simple provided all three coalition partners back the deal, as they control a combined 252 of Parliament’s 300 seats — well enough to carry the vote even if there is a limited backbencher rebellion.

Greece has been kept solvent since May 2010 by payments from a €110 billion ($145 billion) international rescue loan package. When it became clear the money would not be enough, a second bailout was decided last October.

The Greek government has already accepted that it must cut 15,000 state jobs in 2012 to get the new bailout, and reduce 2012 spending by a further €3.3 billion ($4.3 billion) as well as wage costs in the private sector and recapitalize banks without nationalizing them.

But disagreement remains on the extent of those cuts between party officials, who are set to face national elections in late April — after the debt deals have been sealed and implemented.

The majority Socialists, main rival conservatives and the small right-wing LAOS party are also at odds over when the elections should be held.

The Socialists, who handed over power to Papademos in November and are trailing badly in opinion polls, want him to stay through parliament’s four-year term that ends in late 2013. But conservatives, buoyed by their lead in opinion polls, are demanding an April vote according to plan.

LAOS leader George Karatazferis criticized eurozone heavyweights France and Germany on Tuesday, saying they were carrying out an “aggressive humiliation of Greece” with their demands for new austerity measures.

A disorderly bankruptcy by Greece would likely lead to its exit from the eurozone, a situation that European officials have insisted is impossible because it would hurt other weak countries like Portugal, Ireland and Italy.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also argued strongly against the prospect.

“The euro is not just an economic project, it is also a political project — and I am not going to participate in pushing Greece out of the euro,” she said late Tuesday. “It would have incalculable consequences.” AGENCIES

Rahul Gandhi takes on Mayawati in UP polls

AYODHYA: Millions of voters went to the polls on Wednesday in Uttar Pradesh, the first stage of an election that tests support for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s troubled government ahead of a nationwide vote in two years.

The election in Uttar Pradesh, a state that would be the world’s fifth most populous nation if independent, could have a bearing on who next governs India. It is a closely fought four-way race pitting Rahul Gandhi, the scion of the elite Gandhi dynasty, against Dalit leader Mayawati and two other parties.

Gandhi has staked his political reputation on reviving the Congress party in a state it has not ruled for 22 years.

A good result could breathe new life into Prime Minister Singh’s second term, which has been plagued by corruption and splits in the ruling coalition.

The son, grandson and great-grandson of former prime ministers, Rahul Gandhi is considered likely to take over as prime minister from Singh, but the timing is not clear. He said this week that becoming prime minister did not interest him for now.

A poor showing in Uttar Pradesh would leave the Congress party weaker than ever as the country gears up for a 2014 general election. Congress now holds 22 of 403 seats in the local legislature and the most optimistic forecasts would give it about 80.

‘OTHERS DID NOTHING’

Known as the queen of the lower castes for her power and lavish lifestyle, Chief Minister Mayawati has been criticised for building statues of herself and spending millions of rupees on diamond jewellery.

But supporters say she drove out violent mafias and made the state safe for former untouchable castes and other downtrodden groups after decades of abuse.

Uttar Pradesh, with 200 million people, is an unruly state that stretches southeast from New Delhi, divided along its length by the Ganga. To avoid violence, voting is staggered over seven days. Results from a total of five state elections are to be announced on March 6.

Elections in Uttar Pradesh have traditionally been decided by voters’ affiliation to the caste or religion they were born into. This year is no exception, with parties promising government jobs for the mostly poor Muslim and lower caste populations.

“Mayawati helped the poor with education, and distributed bicycles to students,” said 65-year-old wooden shoemaker Khairun Nisa, wearing a black traditional Muslim head-to-toe cloak. “She didn’t do as much as we hoped, but she did something, other governments did nothing.”

“We should give her one more chance,” she said after casting her vote on a rainy day at a primary school in Ayodhya. Turnout was thin in the chilly morning but was expected to pick up later.

The destruction of the Babri mosque by hardline Hindus at Ayodhya in 1992 sparked religious riots that killed some 2,000 people and brought the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, to national prominence.

This time, religious tensions have cooled and parties are trying to woo voters with promises of welfare programmes, food subsidies and affirmative action for government jobs.

Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party — which currently enjoys a majority in the state assembly — is expected to take a battering as she loses the support of higher castes who voted for her last time but feel she failed to deliver economic development.

Both BJP and Congress are expected to pick up some of the votes she loses.

A scandal over funds for a health programme and linked to the murder of four senior doctors has hurt Mayawati, and a purge of corrupt officials this year was seen as coming too late.

Results are notoriously hard to predict in Uttar Pradesh — where millions live in distant villages without electricity or clean water — but several opinion polls suggest the Congress party could win enough to form a government with the leftist Samajwadi Party, which could emerge as the largest party.

The Samajwadi Party has a strong presence in the national parliament, and a tie-up could allow the Congress party to reduce the influence of another volatile ally — the Trinamool — that has prevented Singh’s government from passing major economic reforms. AGENCIES

MQM membership campaign starts tomorrow

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KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has announced to start membership campaign throughout the country from tomorrow (Thursday), TrendPK reported on Wednesday.

MQM Leader Anis Ahmed Qaimkhani urged the people of the country to join Altaf Hussain for real change.

During a news conference at Nine Zero, Qaimkhani said that the MQM has decided membership campaign as the party is getting popularity throughout the country. TrendPK

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