PPP should review its strategy, says Aitzaz

THATTA: Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan has said that the PPP is passing through a crucial phase and it needs to review its strategy to overcome challenges it faces.
Addressing a press conference after visiting a medical camp organised by the Pakistan Medical Association and Thatta Bar Association for flood-affected people in Makli on Wednesday, Mr Ahsan said that parliament was the outcome of the struggle waged by lawyers and followed up by other segments of society. He said that floods had devastated some 20 million people and the remaining population was bound to suffer indirectly. He said he feared there would be anarchy in the country if the government failed to cope with the flood aftermath. Answering a question, Mr Ahsan said that under Article 248 of the Constitution, head of the state could not be called by any court in any criminal case. However, under sub-section 4 of the same article the president and prime minister could be summoned by a court in a civil case, provided executives were served notices/summons two months before the date of hearing.

I have no individual conflict with Ijaz Butt: Lorgat

LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat said his organisation has good relations with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the game of cricket will not get affected by recent problems since it is bigger than any individual.
Holding a teleconference with a group of Pakistani journalists on Wednesday, Lorgat said: “I have no individual conflict with Mr Ijaz Butt (PCB chairman). The game is bigger than any individual and I would not want to hold Pakistan cricketers responsible for what you might consider a poor relationship between two individuals, and there is none. Whoever the person is in the board, I am prepared to work with him.” “I met Mr Ijaz Butt a few weeks ago and I will continue to meet him to inform him what I believe is right, what I think he should be doing. He will take responsibility for leading the PCB and for his own actions, but I will continue to work with him.” However, he advised the PCB chairman that he should be careful in giving his statement to the press. Ijaz, in a scathing outburst early this month, had said that there was loud and clear talk in the bookies’ circles that England players had earned enormous sum to deliberately lose the third ODI against Pakistan at the Oval.

That had triggered a legal war between the PCB and the ECB and the Ijaz was asked to apologise to the England cricketers for his accusations. Moreover, the PCB chairman had also waged a war against Lorgat on the matter of suspending three Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir after the spot-fixing scandal at Lord’s. “The ICC is following the matter of Ijaz’s allegations on England players and have written a letter to him because it all shows he (Ijaz) might have some solid evidence that will also help us,” he said. “However, I would have been more satisfied if Ijaz Butt had made a direct approach to ACSU (ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit) and provided whatever information and evidence he has got that could have been helpful for relations between PCB and ECB,” said Lorgat. Asked what kind of role the ICC would play to bring things back on the track after the recent conflict-like situation between the PCB and the ECB, Lorgat said the ICC has been watching the situation and if it would find any space it would like to play its due role. Lorgat, to a question, clarified that no ICC member had refused Pakistan its venues for organising their home series.

He said he did not agree with former England captain Ian Botham’s proposal to ban Pakistan cricket following the spot-fixing row.

“We can’t ban any nation from the game for the mistakes of a few individuals,” he said. “There are other provisions within the ICC that allows suspension of members but that is certainly not something we are contemplating.” “In fact, I have seen confirmation from South Africa in continuing their series against Pakistan at the neutral venues of the UAE later this year, and I know New Zealand are also confirming their FTP commitment to the PCB quite soon.” To a question, Lorgat said the ECB Chairman Giles Clarke would continue to head the ICC task force which was formed to take measures and steps for resumption of international cricket in Pakistan. He felt that the current situation between the PCB and ECB should not affect the working of the task force. “We all want to be mature and be above some of the issues that are going on,” Lorgat suggested. “I have talked to Giles and he is still the chairman of the task force and showing interest in it. I am also there to help Pakistan in any way possible to ensure they enjoy their place in international cricket,” he said. Lorgat confirmed that an appeal from Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt against the provisional suspension on him imposed by the ICC had been received but added that no such appeal was received from the two other suspended players, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir. Asked to divulge any details on the allegedly ‘fixed’ Oval one-dayer after the ICC had claimed that it had received solid proofs, Lorgat said the investigation was in progress and the ICC would follow the lead to reach any conclusion and to take further steps according to the rules. Lorgat added that the ICC was capable of curbing the match-fixing menace in the game and was determined about it. “The ICC will not tolerate any such activity in the game, wherever it will be happening.

The Anti-Corruption and Security Unit is dealing with every such incident very carefully with the resolve to uproot the menace of match-fixing by using all resources,” Lorgat said. He said former and current players would be welcomed to help the ICC in its task to get rid of the match-fixing menace.

Many join Dawa proxy in Kashmir cause

ISLAMABAD: After a long time, a pro-Jihad rally was held in the federal capital which was participated by the top leadership of rightist parties along with a representation from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday.
Tehrik Azadi-i-Kashmir (TAK), an organisation launched by Jamaatud Dawa Pakistan, organised the gathering titled: ‘National Kashmir Conference’ at Aabpara after culmination of a three-day Azadi-i-Kashmir Karvan’ that started from Mirpur in Azad Kashmir and after passing through Kotli, Bagh and Muzafarabad culminated here.
Speaking on the occasion, Tehrik chairman Hafiz Saifullah Mansoor drew the attention of the world towards the situation in Kashmir and said there had to be a reason why the general public had taken to the streets in Kashmir.
“How can we turn a blind eye to such a situation where innocent people are bleeding at the hands of
strong and well-equipped forces?”
The rally was held to mobilise the masses and create awareness about the atrocities being faced by the Kashmiris.
Apart from PML-N spokesman Siddiqul Farooque, most of the occupants of the stage belonged to religious rightist groups including Jamaat-i-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hasan, Maulana Samiul Haq, the chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, and representatives of All Parties Huryyiet Conference (APHC).
Amid high pitched pro-Jehad slogans, leader of Tehrik-i-Azadi, J&K chapter, Abdur Rehman Makki warned India to respect the rights of Kashmiris.
“If they did not resolve the Kashmir issue peacefully, we are left with no other option but to take the course of Jehad,” he said.
The speakers also took oath from the participants of the gathering to rise for the solidarity with the people of Kashmir.
While Maulana Samiul Haq called for Jehad saying it was the only way to resolve the Kashmir issue, saner speeches were delivered by the Jamaat-i-Islami and PML-N leaders.
Talking to Dawn, Siddiqul Farooq said his participation was not to strengthen the idea of Jehad for resolution of Kashmir issue.
“PML-N believes in peaceful struggle for the resolution of Kashmir issue and we were here to express solidarity with the rightful struggle of Kashmiris.”
The JI leader, however, criticised the government and accused the country’s leadership of speaking in the tone of Indian government.
The conference adopted resolutions demanding the government of Pakistan to call an all parties conference for devising a national policy that could play a role in ending atrocities in Kashmir.

MQM takes out rally against Aafia sentence

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was taking out a rally in Karachi on Tuesday calling for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.

There were strict security arrangements for the rally and the police had blocked all roads and streets between Capri cinema and Tibet centre with tankers.

Israeli navy intercepts Jewish boat to Gaza

GAZA CITY: Israeli warships on Tuesday intercepted a Jewish activist boat trying to run the naval blockade on Gaza and forced it to change course for a port in southern Israel, organisers told AFP.

“Ten Israeli warships forced the boat to head for Ashdod by force, but without raiding the ship,” said Amjad al-Shawa, a Gaza-based organiser.

“They surrendered because they were surrounded. They had no choice,” he added.

Shortly before the takeover, the warships had surrounded the vessel, the Irene, and warned they would stop it by force if it stayed on course for the Hamas-run enclave.

The Israeli military confirmed the navy had boarded the tiny, British-flagged boat, saying there had been no violence on the part of the troops or the passengers.

“A short while ago, navy forces took over the yacht Irene and it is now being towed with its passengers to Ashdod port. During the takeover there was no violence of any sort, either on the part of the troops or the passengers,” a statement said.

Describing the boat's attempt to reach Gaza as a “provocation”, the statement said the captain had ignored repeated warnings by the navy and had entered a closed naval zone, prompting the interception.

Earlier, Yonatan Shapira, one of the Israeli activists on board, told AFP the navy had ordered the Irene to change course.

“They said we were approaching an area under naval blockade and told us to change course,” Shapira told AFP by satellite telephone, saying the boat was on the edge of Gaza's territorial waters, some 20 nautical miles from the coast.

The navy also warned that the passengers and crew would be held legally liable if they insisted on heading to Gaza, especially those with Israeli nationality. Five of those on board are Israelis.

The sound of a voice over a megaphone urging the Irene to “change course”could be heard in the background.

The military had no immediate comment on the situation and refused to confirm that contact had been made with the boat, which is carrying seven Jewish activists from Israel, Britain, Germany and the United States, and two journalists, one of whom is an Israeli.

Israel had warned it would halt the vessel and divert it to Ashdod if it entered Gaza waters.

The activists have insisted they are not looking for a confrontation with Israeli forces.

“We have a policy of non-violence and non-confrontation,” Shapira, a former Israeli pilot, told AFP on Sunday. “But if the Israeli army stops the boat, we will not help them to take it to Ashdod.”In the past, Israel has said it would deliver any humanitarian cargo to Gaza overland after towing such boats to Ashdod.

In May, Israeli forces intercepted a six-ship flotilla heading for Gaza but the raid went badly wrong and nine Turkish activists including one with US citizenship were killed, prompting a wave of international condemnation.

Israel said its troops resorted to force only after they were attacked while rappelling onto the deck of the lead ship. Pro-Palestinian activists on board say the soldiers opened fire as soon as they landed.

The voyage of the Irene is organised by the London-based Jews for Justice for Palestinians.

Prominent British supporters listed on its website include humourist and actor Stephen Fry and Marion Kozak, the mother of newly-elected Labour Party leader Ed Miliband and of former foreign minister David Miliband.

On board the Irene are 82-year-old Holocaust survivor Reuven Moskovitz and Rami Elhanan, an Israeli whose daughter Smadar was killed in a 1997 Palestinian suicide bombing in Jerusalem.

With them are a German nurse, British and US peace activists, Shapira's brother and a reporter for Israel's Channel 10 television.

Israel and Egypt sealed Gaza's borders after Palestinian militants captured an Israeli soldier in June 2006 and tightened the blockade a year later when the Islamist Hamas movement seized power, allowing in only humanitarian aid.

Israel eased the closures to allow in all purely civilian goods in the aftermath of the deadly flotilla raid, but still restricts dual-use items such as construction materials that could be used to build militant fortifications. – AFP

Sindh Assembly passes bill postponing LB polls

KARACHI: A bill for the postponement of local bodies’ elections for an indefinite period was approved in the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday.

The adjournment bill, presented in the assembly by Sindh’s Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, was unanimously approved.

Somroo said “new dates for local bodies’ elections will be announced after the rehabilitation of the flood victims”.

The assembly’s session was being chaired by Speaker Nisar Khurho.

MQM MPAs were not present in the session due to an MQM rally being taken out against Aafia Siddiqui’s sentence.

Provincial minister Pir Mazharul Haq said MQM MPAs had been taken into confidence regarding the adjournment bill.

Zeehsan fit to lead Pakistan hockey team at CWG

LAHORE: Fullback Zeeshan Ashraf was Tuesday declared fit to lead Pakistan’s hockey team at the Commonwealth Games, with chief selector Hanif Khan confident the demons of New Delhi will not haunt the squad.

The Pakistan team recorded its worst finish in the World Cup in March this year, after playing at the same venue where they will compete in the Games’ 10-team field hockey competition.

“The nightmare of Delhi will not haunt Pakistan and I am confident that this team will reach the victory stands in the Commonwealth Games,” Khan told AFP.

Ashraf, who also led Pakistan in the World Cup and had to come out of retirement, was declared fit after suffering a hamstring injury during the team’s preparatory tour of the Netherlands earlier this month.

Since the World Cup flop, Pakistan has hired Dutch coach Michel van den Heuvel, who has been looking after the preparations for the past four months.

Pakistan’s first task — reaching the semi-finals — looks tough as they are pitted alongside title holders and world champions Australia with hosts India, Malaysia and Scotland the other teams involved.

“It will be a very tough tournament, but I am confident that the boys will do well,” said Khan, a member of the team which won a gold medal for Pakistan at the 1984 Olympic Games.

Pakistan finished runners-up to Australia at the last Commonwealth Games, held inMelbourne in 2006.

Squad: Zeeshan Ashraf (captain), Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Irfan, Waseem Ahmed, Mohammad Rasheed, Fareed Ahmed, Shafqat Rasool, Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi, Haseem Khan, Waqas Sharif, Mohammad Rizwan, Omer Bhutta, Imran Shah, Mohammad Tauseeq, Kashif Javed.