Cricket Crisis
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The Pakistan Cricket Board has barred former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan from the national team indefinitely for behaviour they say contributed to Pakistan’s poor performance on its recent tour of Australia.
However, the board then issued a statement saying, “the recommendation of the Inquiry Committee is not a life ban on these cricketers. There is no specified term in the recommendation for these two players. As and when the PCB deems appropriate, these players will be considered for selection for the national team.”
The PCB on Wednesday also imposed one-year bans on Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved after implementing the recommendations of an inquiry committee formed to evaluate Pakistan’s dismal performance against Australia in December and January.
Earlier, the board’s legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi told the Associated Press, “Younis and Yousuf both cannot represent Pakistan in any international games, but they can play in domestic cricket and compete in county cricket.”
Both Yousuf and Younis were involved in infighting while on tour, which resulted in bringing down the whole team, the PCB said in a statement.
“Their attitude has a trickle down effect which is a bad influence for the whole team,” it said.
Malik and Naved were also fined two million rupees, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal was handed a fine of three million rupees and Umar Akmal, younger brother of Kamran, was fined two million rupees.
Shahid Afridi was fined 3 million rupees (US$35,200) for ball tampering during the one-day series against Australia.
Afridi and both Akmal brothers will be on a probation of six months during which their conduct will be strictly monitored, the PCB said in a statement.
We cannot make our image softer before world. In this case we all are culprits, players, PCB, people and government all are standing on the same side and now get ready to bear the shame.
Supporting Economy
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Energy and economic problems of Pakistan, and not extremism, top the list of Richard Holbrooke’s concerns when it comes to this country. Scarcely believable? Not quite.
The US’s first priority when it comes to Pakistan remains the war against militancy. What Mr Holbrooke seemed to be attempting, though, was to recast his role in the relations between the two states. If the US special representative wants to focus on energy and economic problems, it certainly should be welcomed by Pakistan: on both fronts the country needs a great deal of help and America’s deep pockets and technical expertise can do much good.
Take the case of the energy. Pakistan’s energy security remains perilous as domestic gas supplies are dwindling, big hydel projects are many years from completion, coal resources are yet to be meaningfully tapped and alternative energy projects are still mostly on the drawing board. In this scenario, serious American assistance could be a real game-changer. In the short term, American money and know-how can help address the problem of circular debt plaguing the electricity sector. In the medium term, the Americans can help Pakistan increase its energy imports to plug the local deficit, for example, by arranging the financing for electricity and gas imports. In the long term, the US can help Pakistan draw up and execute an energy road map that improves the energy mix in the country.
Now for the reality check. Mr Holbrooke is a greatly diminished figure in the US’s policymaking apparatus for Pakistan. Part of the blame for this lies with the special representative himself: his falling out with President Karzai undermined the ‘Afghanistan’ part of his AfPak brief, while his brusque manner put off many in the region. Part of the blame lies with the designation he was given: Pakistan not only resents being hyphenated with Afghanistan but also feels that the whole idea of a ‘regional’ policy has been undermined by India’s insistence that it be excluded from Mr Holbrooke’s bailiwick.
The net effect, though, is that Mr Holbrooke is presently in no position to steer American policy away from its security-obsessed orientation (assuming that is in fact what Mr Holbrooke wants to do). But Pakistan should not dismiss or disregard the special representative altogether. This country needs more American officials to speak publicly in the manner that Mr Holbrooke did on Wednesday. At the very least, it helps shed some much-needed light on areas of US-Pakistan cooperation other than the issues of militancy, nuclear weapons and security. If Mr Holbrooke wants to return to centre stage via the energy/economy route, Pakistan should welcome him with open arms.
Non Proliferation Treaty at 40
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The world recently observed the 40th anniversary of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Though designed to contain the spread of nuclear weapons the treaty has largely failed in this respect due to its inherently discriminatory nature, which allows some states to maintain nuclear arsenals while preventing others from acquiring the same.
Some have pointed out that the world may have become an even more dangerous place since the NPT came into effect. According to estimates the ‘big five’ NPT members — the US, UK, China, Russia and France — possess between them 5,000 to 6,000 strategic nuclear warheads. Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea — all four non-NPT states — have between them, it is estimated, some 200 warheads. One shudders to think what would happen if even a minuscule percentage of this devastating weaponry were to be used. The NPT’s 40th anniversary is a timely call for all states, members as well as non-members, to come together to plan a strategy to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons from the world.
The ‘big five’ must take the lead as they possess the bulk of the world’s nuclear arms. President Obama mentioned his desire for a nuclear-free world in Prague last year. It is time the US and the other four nuclear powers took practical steps to significantly reduce and phase out their arsenals. Perhaps South Africa’s example can be followed as that country unilaterally dismantled its nuclear weapons programme in the dying days of Apartheid. Pakistan and India should also reduce their nuclear stockpiles and work towards bringing down temperatures in the region. The large amounts spent on maintaining nukes can surely be better spent on the welfare of the subcontinent’s poor, hungry and illiterate.
And while North Korea and Iran remain areas of concern, the international community should concentrate on making Israel respect international obligations. While Israel neither confirms nor denies it, it is an open secret that it possesses nuclear arms. Hounding some states while overlooking the nuclear transgressions of others does not help the cause of universal non-proliferation and, in fact, gives the impression that some countries are more equal than others in this respect.
Government urged to ban export of diesel
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The government is likely to ban export of diesel to Afghanistan on the request of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) in an effort to avoid loss of more than Rs1.5 billion due to misuse of export facility and to reduce foreign exchange pressure on import of the product.
“The government should ban export of diesel to Afghanistan immediately. This is causing the government about Rs138 million in revenue loss per month,” Irfan K. Qureshi, the managing director of the state-run PSO.
He said around 10,000 metric tons of diesel was being ‘officially’ exported to Afghanistan per month. The export price of the product was about Rs20 per litre lower than its sale price in the domestic market because of taxation factor, he said.
“Diesel is a deficit product in Pakistan and is imported at the cost of foreign exchange. It does not make economic sense to import it and then loose out on revenue in export,” he said.
A finance ministry official said the PSO’s recommendation was justified technically but its ramifications would have to be examined thoroughly. “An option could be to impose tax on diesel export to eliminate the gap between export and domestic sale prices. At least this will enhance government’s revenue collection.”
Informed sources said that some companies and individuals were earning a ‘windfall profit’ of about Rs20 per litre by showing diesel export to Afghanistan on paper but in fact selling the product in the domestic market. They said that taking advantage of the price difference some companies were openly advertising sale of the product at discount rates through their outlets. As a result, the country’s largest oil supplier was losing its market to private companies.
Under the rules, PSO is required to sell diesel for export on confirmed work orders from Nato forces in Afghanistan but there is no such restriction on private companies, according to the sources. Because of circular debt that holds up big amounts of money payable to oil companies and refineries, some private companies find it more attractive to raise cash through dubious exports.
Minister nominates himself for lucrative foreign assignment
Federal Law Minister Babar Awan has nominated himself for an international assignment worth millions of dollars. A former Supreme Court judge and a former attorney general, who had backed the proclamation of emergency of Nov 3, 2007, have also been nominated for the assignment, according to sources.
The law ministry had put the minister’s name at the top of the four-member list of legal experts recommended to the International Arbitration Forum for future assignments at the International Arbitration Court (IAC), the sources said. The lawyers recommended by various countries are put on a panel from which parties to a dispute choose experts from.
“Lawyers who are finally selected from the panel by the disputing international parties get paid up to millions of dollars in fee,” said Malik Saeed Khan, a former judge of Lahore High Court, who has been nominated by Pakistan in an international arbitration involving France and Pakistan over the nuclear reprocessing plant dispute.
When contacted, Mr Awan first denied any knowledge of such a panel, saying he had not been consulted on the matter. He sought some time to find out more on the issue.
After about 15 minutes, he told that somebody in his ministry had put his name on the list without his consent. “I have ordered an inquiry into the incident and have also ordered for withdrawal of my name,” said the minister.
He added that he knew nothing of the other nominees. The sources said the names had already been sent to the Foreign Office.
Malik Saeed, who had resigned an important position during the martial law of Gen Ziaul Haq, said that it was the law ministry that sent the names for the panel and the law minister usually knew of the lawyers nominated.
Public Flogging
Well everyone must be aware of the latest buzz on the media. The bizarre images of police public flogging young boys. As a society we need to see are we ready to take this kind of inhumane acts? Well media campaign has been successful in suspension of those who were involved in this incident but another achievement is our National Hero CJP Iftikhar Ch. has taken sou moto which was likely the ultimate goal of media.
In my view whatever has happened was ruthless and cruel acts by police. However, the time calls for reforms in the system. Rather focusing this incident on anti police onslaught we should find the consequences which led these things happened.
We need to understand and endorse that our police system is not very efficient but we also need to know that this police has been gone under some difficult times. They have been giving their lives for us in the war against terrorism. However, this is not the excuse what we can do it we need to get our police hiring, working and punishing according to laws.
There are some people emphasizing on setting an example well this can be a solution too but we need to be careful when we demand something like that. The time is for change but this time we cannot afford any mistake we have to make a change which should remain unchanged for next generation. We need to be visionary in setting examples, making laws. Justice should be done.
Key to successful Marriage
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Want your marriage to last longer? Then choose a wife who is five years younger to you and from the same cultural background, suggest experts from the Geneva School of Business. They claim this formula increases the chances of having a long and happy marriage by a fifth.
One couple that seems to fit the criteria is the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. At 83, the Queen is four years and 10 months younger than the Duke and they share the same Royal background as Philip was a member of both the Greek and Danish royal families.
Of the 1,074 couples looked at aged between 19 and 75, the report concluded that the wife should be 27 percent more intelligent than her husband, hold a degree while he should not.
However, marrying a divorcee reduced the chance of marital bliss.
“If people follow these guidelines in choosing their partners they can increase their chances of a happy, long marriage by up to 20 per cent,” the dailymail.co.uk quoted lead researcher Nguyen Vi Cao as saying.
Another study has revealed that married couples are their happiest two years, 11 months and eight days after tying the knot. The research team asked 4,000 spouses to pinpoint their happiness during married life and calculated the time period when wedded bliss began.
The study showed that just under three years was the time when couples feel completely comfortable with each other’s bad habits and have a clear plan for their future. The couples enjoy a full and active sex life and have carried out enough DIY for their house to feel homely and still find time for romantic meals together.
“Three years after walking down the aisle and everything seems to come together – making each other laugh the most and cuddle up in front of the TV,” said Carol Richardson of wedding website www.confetti.co.uk that carried out the research.
“They’ll also spend the longest amount of quality time together each evening and make small gestures like offering to cook dinner and help with the washing up.
“But there’s no reason why you can’t have a long and happy marriage if you stick to the guidelines our study also revealed. We’re found the secret to the happiest time together isn’t about big, expensive and lavish gifts but being there for each other to share special moments.”
The study also found they enjoy their best sex, romantic meals and nights out with mates partying after two years and four months.
Wives are likely to receive a respectable number of flowers, chocolates and compliments two-and-a-half years into their marriage. Men helping with household chores like hoovering and cooking peaks just before the their third anniversary, while big arguments will be a distant memory three months later.
Researchers also found couples who stay faithful spend 24 minutes a day having a heart-to-heart each evening and never go to bed after a falling out.
Choti Machlian
Talwar se Pehle
Loss of 400 million dollars
Over $400 million in reimbursement claims by Pakistan under Coalition Support Fund (CSF) for 2008 have been rejected by the United States because of new guidelines requiring ‘enhanced oversight and accountability’.
Total claims for 2008 were $1.4 billion, but Pakistan got $997 million in reimbursement, whereas the remaining claims were disallowed on grounds of “inadequate substantiation, over-billing” and other objections, sources told Dawn.
About $548 million were initially paid and the rest was deferred. It took the Pentagon another 18 months to settle the deferred claims. While paying $349 million last week in settlement of all claims from 2008, US officials reportedly tendered a callous excuse for the long delay: accounting problems.
Claims worth over $2 billion under CSF for 2009 are still pending because of intense scrutiny of Pakistan’s claims. After the cuts in payments for 2008, there are renewed fears in Islamabad that demands for last year would meet a similar fate.
The claims pertained to expenditures incurred by Pakistan on food and clothing of troops; fuel; transportation; communication; medical charges; helicopter operations; destroyed paraphernalia; and repair and maintenance of equipment. Under a bilateral agreement between ministries of defence, US repays ‘legitimate expenditures’ incurred in support of its military operations.
