Pakistan Education News Network

stop BlackBerry services to foreign missions

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:50:51 +0000

KARACHI: Authorities have asked mobile telephone operators to stop BlackBerry services to foreign missions in the country amid concern about the security of the communications, industry sources said on Monday.

Two industry officials confirmed that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had asked them to stop all Blackberry services to foreign missions.

“I can confirm that PTA has asked us to stop all BlackBerry services to foreign embassies and high commissions,” a senior official at a mobile company, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.

Another industry official at another mobile company also confirmed receiving the instructions.

“There are some other issues as well, mostly relating to BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server), which we are trying to resolve in consultation with the PTA,” he said.

A PTA spokesman was not available for comment.

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) has been buffeted by demands for access to its encrypted data from several countries, including India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), worried by security and social mores.

Government officials say that they had never allowed BlackBerry services to foreign missions and inbound roamers when the services were launched in Pakistan in 2005.

The government also initially banned the more secure BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) services in Pakistan.

BES allows users to send and receive secure email and messages, which is difficult for governments to intercept and read.

However, the instructions have since been flouted by all five Pakistani mobile operators.

An industry source said that the government had asked all operators in the country to enforce the restrictions.

“The most critical issue is the provision of BlackBerry services to the foreign embassies, missions and high commissions,” said the source.

“Therefore, all the operators have agreed to close all BlackBerry connections provided to them by January 31,” he said, adding discussions would be held with the PTA to gain more time on the provision of BES to local customers as well as BlackBerry services to incoming roamers.

If fully enforced, the restrictions would mean no BlackBerry services for many of the multinational companies and aid groups, who use the BES service rather than the Blackberry Internet Service, or BIS, which is much less secure.

Last year, India demanded access to all BlackBerry services as part of efforts to fight militancy and security threats over the Internet and through telephone communications.

Last week, RIM said there was no possibility of providing India access to corporate emails on BlackBerry devices. (ref:tribune.com.pk)

Iran rejects Western pressures over its nuclear activities

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:44:11 +0000

TEHRAN: Iran rejects Western pressures over its nuclear activities and will never give up its rights, Tehran’s chief nuclear negotiator said Thursday ahead of crunch talks with world powers in Baghdad next week.

“If we participate in the negotiations… it is because of our resistance (to Western powers). Thanks to our resistance, we have defended the rights of the Iranian people,” Saeed Jalili said in a speech broadcast on local television.

“The Iranian people will never give up even an iota of their rights,”Jalili added, in reference to the Islamic republic’s nuclear drive which the West suspects is masking a weapons programme. Tehran vehemently denies the charge.

After a 15 month hiatus, Iran and the P5+1 powers — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany — held their first talks in Istanbul in mid-April, which were described as “positive.”The parties agreed to more in-depth discussions in Baghdad on May 23.

“I advise Western officials against making calculated mistakes. In Baghdad, we can negotiate for cooperation on the basis of respect for Iran’s undeniable rights,” Jalili said.

“The path chosen by our country is a path of no return. The (West) would like to block Iran’s progress in the nuclear domain, but they have failed. Iran today has become a nuclear power,” he added.

“To those who say that time is running out for dialogue, I reply: What is running out is the policy of pressuring Iran, because this strategy has not yielded the results” expected by world powers.

The United States and the European Union have tightened economic sanctions on Iran, imposing tough restrictions on its vital oil industry, to pressure it over its disputed uranium enrichment programme.

US President Barack Obama warned Iran in March that time was running out to resolve the standoff through diplomacy.

But Jalili was defiant on Thursday, insisting that sanctions and international pressure were not affecting Iran’s determination.

“Those who think they can pressure Iran with these sanctions are wrong… because the sanctions have allowed us to make progress,” he said.

He argued that the conditions imposed on Iran at talks in Geneva in 2009 for the delivery of uranium enriched to 20 percent for its Tehran research reactor had in fact forced it to produce the nuclear fuel itself.

“We told them: ‘If you do not give us the fuel, we will produce it ourselves.’ I will never forget the smiles from certain members of the P5+1.

“But in less than two years we produced the fuel, and we are using it today.” Iran currently enriches uranium to 3.5 percent and to 20 percent. The former it says is to power its Bushehr nuclear electricity plant and the latter it says is to generate medical isotopes in its Tehran research reactor.

Uranium has to be enriched to 90 per cent or above for use in an atomic bomb. Several Iranian officials have in recent weeks hinted that Tehran may under certain conditions suspend its drive of enriching uranium to the 20 per cent level.

Tehran says it wants international acceptance of its right to peaceful nuclear activities, for sanctions to be lifted and for the threat of US and Israeli military action to disappear.

(Dawn)

US ambassador to Israel said, Plans ‘ready’ to strike Iran, says US envoy

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:48:05 +0000

JERUSALEM: US plans for a possible military strike on Iran are ready and the option is “fully available”, the US ambassador to Israel said – days before Tehran resumes talks with world powers which suspect it of seeking to develop nuclear arms.

Like Israel, the United States has said it considers military force a last resort to prevent Iran using its uranium enrichment to make a bomb. Iran insists its nuclear programme is for purely civilian purposes.

“It would be preferable to resolve this diplomatically and through the use of pressure than to use military force,” Ambassador Dan Shapiro said in remarks about Iran aired by Israel’s Army Radio on Thursday.

“But that doesn’t mean that option is not fully available – not just available, but it’s ready. The necessary planning has been done to ensure that it’s ready,” said Shapiro, who the radio station said had spoken on Tuesday.

The United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany have been using sanctions and negotiations to try to persuade Iran to curb its uranium enrichment, which can produce fuel for reactors, medical isotopes, and, at higher levels of purification, fissile material for warheads.

New talks opened in Istanbul last month and resume on May 23 in Baghdad.

Israel, which is widely assumed to have the Middle East’s only atomic arsenal, feels threatened by the prospect of its arch-foe Iran going nuclear and has hinted it could launch preemptive war.

But many analysts believe the United States alone has the military clout to do lasting damage to Iran’s nuclear programme.

In January, Shapiro told an Israeli newspaper the United States was “guaranteeing that the military option is ready and available to the president at the moment he decides to use it”.

US lawmakers are considering additional legislation that would increase pressure on Iran, with further measures to punish foreign companies for dealing with Iran in any capacity.

(Dawn)

Suspected US drone kills 2 Qaeda militants in eastern Yemen

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:47:53 +0000

ADEN: A suspected US drone strike killed two al Qaeda militants on Thursday in eastern Yemen, as an army offensive against the extremist group entered its sixth day, a local official said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the two al Qaeda suspects were killed in a strike on their car in Shibam, a historic city in Yemen’s Hadramawt province.

Air strikes on al Qaeda targets in Yemen have increased since the Yemeni army, backed by US experts, launched an offensive on Saturday to retake southern cities that in the last year had fallen under al Qaeda control.

At least 144 people have been killed in the last six days of fighting which has centred around the three cities of Loder, Jaar and Zinjibar in the southern Abyan province.

A military official involved in the offensive said on Thursday that al Qaeda gunmen retreated from three locations on the outskirts of Loder.

“We have cleansed Loder (of al Qaeda) and the fighters have been forced to flee,” said the official on condition of anonymity.

Al Qaeda remains in control of Zinjibar, Abyan’s capital, though diplomats and officials said on Wednesday that the Yemeni military was advancing towards the southeastern entrance of the city.

One local official said on Thursday that the Yemeni airforce launched several late night airstrikes on the southern cities of Shaqra and Arqoub, both near Zinjibar, though no casualties were reported.

A force of around 20,000 soldiers from all regions in the south are believed to be engaged in the operation launched on Saturday.

They are backed by armed militias, mostly local residents of the towns and cities in the south that since the ouster of veteran leader Ali Abdullah Saleh and the election of a new president earlier this year have thrown their support behind the Yemeni military.

(Dawn)

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan faces police probe over cricket row

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:46:33 +0000

MUMBAI: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan faced a police probe and a lifetime ban from Mumbai’s main cricket stadium on Thursday following a furious late-night row with staff at the ground, officials said.

The actor, who co-owns the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders, took a group of youngsters including his daughter Suhana onto the pitch of the Wankhede Stadium after a match on Wednesday night.

A security guard tried to stop them from playing, leading the multi-millionaire actor to argue angrily for 10-15 minutes before finally giving up and leaving the stadium, an AFP photographer witnessed.

“Security officials told him to leave, but Shah Rukh Khan started the brawl,” Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) secretary Nitin Dalal told NDTV news.

“He entered the ground half an hour after the game. The officers told him that this was not the right time. He misbehaved and he used foul language,” he added.

Dalal said the MCA had filed a police complaint and would ban the cricket-crazy star from future attendance at the Wankhede Stadium.

“He’ll not be allowed for any match—Test match, one-day international or any T20 or IPL matches hereafter. That is what we have decided,” said MCA treasurer Ravi Savant.

The sweaty and dishevelled appearance of Khan, one of the most popular stars of the nation’s prolific Bollywood film industry, was a far cry from the carefully managed image presented through his advertising and acting roles.

The 46-year-old was embroiled in another ugly row in January after a female director accused him of assaulting her husband at a late-night party.

Khan has also been summoned to appear before a court in Jaipur later this month after he was seen smoking at the city’s main cricket stadium, in violation of anti-smoking laws.

(Dawn)

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Supreme Court should immediately take note of conspiracies against Thar Coal project

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:45:34 +0000

LAHORE - The Punjab Forum said on Wednesday that vested interests have targeted the Thar Coal project after burying the Kala Bagh dam (KBD) project to bleed the country dry. Pakistan can never become a stable and energy-secure country in the absence of critical projects which are being made controversial for specific purpose, it said.
The Supreme Court should immediately take notice of the situation and initiate action against the lobbies working to fulfill the agenda of foreign powers and multinational oil companies, said Punjab Forum President Baig Raj.
Speaking at a meeting regarding the energy crisis, he said the Planning Commission (PC) has sent very wrong signals by opposing the Thar Coal project. The PC should not raise objections on public sector enterprises which are wasting more resources than the nation spends on defence, he added. Raj said Dr Samar Mubarik Mand should not be punished for trying to generate electricity without the involvement of multinationals and that the nation remembers his services as member of a team that made Pakistan’s defence impregnable.
The meeting observed that some elements successfully transformed a purely technical issue of the construction of the KBD into a burning political issue which is keeping the country insecure.
Influential owners of IPPs and rental power projects have also started a campaign against efforts to produce cheap energy. The meeting welcomed MQM-Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed’s statement in which he vowed to unveil the names of politicians from Sindh who received bribes from India to oppose the KBD. The names of politicians from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who want Pakistan to plunge into darkness should also be brought to limelight, it was demanded.
The meeting was attended by Hydro power expert engineer Shahabuddin, scientist Dr Riaz Ahmad, Punjab Forum General Secretary Malik Zaieem and others. They said India is making the most dams, outside the USA and China, but it will block any move to build feasible dams in Pakistan. They lamented that Pakistani companies are providing cement for the construction of dozens of the dams in India for profit despite knowing that New Delhi wants Pakistan to become a desert.

(Pakistan Today)

Lahore School of Economics hosted

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:26:36 +0000

LAHORE - Amidst distinguished economists, academicians and policymakers from both the national and international platform, the Lahore School of Economics hosted its eighth annual conference on ‘Management of the Pakistan Economy’ at its main Burki campus. The theme of this conference was ‘Towards Accelerated Economic Growth: Its Need and Feasibility’, with the first day of the conference being devoted to discussions on the challenges and constraints faced in accelerating economic growth in Pakistan.
LSE Rector Dr Shahid Amjad Chaudhry inaugurated the conference and remarked that this year’s conference addressed issues relevant to the Pakistani economy.
The opening session of the conference focused on ‘A Heterodox Strategy for Stabilisation and Economic Growth’. The first speaker, Financing for Development Special Advisor
Dr Irfan-ul-Haq remarked that a strategy for accelerated growth for Pakistan is both necessary and feasible as Pakistan’s macroeconomic conditions are broadly similar to some of its neighbours.
He stressed that for accelerated growth to materialise, determined steps are needed to overcome the energy crisis, sharply raise the investment rate and strengthen Pakistan’s competitiveness in the world market.
Columbia University School of International Public Affairs Visiting Professor Dr Akbar Zaidi presented a critical analysis of the Planning Commission’s Framework for Economic Growth . According to him, the framework avoids tackling core issues of taxation, distribution and equity, and privileges the market and free enterprise over the role of the state and was a ‘technicist script with little value’.
Former World Bank Principal Economist Sikander Rahim pointed out that there has been a fair amount of industrial development in Pakistan but it has given rise to disappointingly little increase of income.
Analysing factors that hinder export competitiveness of manufacturers in Pakistan, PIDE Faculty of Economics Dean and Research Chief Dr Ejaz Ghani said at the macro level, GDP growth, level of industrialisation, real effective exchange rate and physical infrastructure are the key drivers of export performance. Dr Azam Chaudhry looked at local and international factors that affect firm entry and survival in Pakistan. Oxford University Wolfson College Lecturer Dr Matthew McCartney stated that competitiveness has become a mantra and organising a framework for government policymaking in Pakistan and beyond.

(Pakistan Today)

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Minister for providing modern educational facilities

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:25:32 +0000

LAHORE - Punjab Education Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said the government was implementing a comprehensive programme for providing modern educational facilities to students.
Addressing a meeting on Wednesday, he said the government was working hard to achieve an 88 percent literacy rate before 2015 in order to fulfill the international commitment made under the millennium development goals. He said 262,500 students under the age of 4 to 15 years were receiving education under non-formal basic education schools. He stated that private educational institutions are performing a valuable service in the field of education and that the government is providing cooperation and assistance to the private sector. The minister added that the government schools were given the status of English medium schools last year, while the Punjab government has also launched a vigorous campaign to increase primary enrolment.

(Pakistan Today)

HEC, British Council sign agreement for internationalising higher education

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:24:15 +0000

ISLAMABAD - An agreement on internationalising higher education partnership between the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) and the British Council Pakistan was inked here at HEC, Islamabad.
Prof Dr Nasser Ali Khan, HEC Acting Executive Director and Dr Nils Tomes, Director Education, Wider South Asia British Council, British High Commission, Islamabad-Pakistan signed the agreement on the behalf of their respective organisations, says a press release issued here.
Through this agreement, both the organisations have agreed to undertake and strengthen the existing cooperation in the field of higher education and research covering the major areas including knowledge exchange programme, leadership programme, policy dialogue and transforming English language skills.
The agreement further stated that an Institute of Leadership called National Institute of Leadership in Education (NILE) will also be established in Pakistan.
This unique and comprehensive institute will conduct graduate programs, professional development courses/workshops and will also strengthen inter-institutional research.
According to the agreement, British Council will provide technical support from UK leadership sector in this programme and the HEC will support in the establishment of the institute, which would be looked after by a consortium of three universities from Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi.
It was agreed that through initiation of global policy dialogues, the British Council and HEC will connect people together to debate the challenges and opportunities being faced in international higher education.
These national policy dialogues will be organised in the Pakistan focusing issues around research performance, assessment framework and exploring further opportunities for mutual cooperation between the two countries.
These dialogues will be attended by policy makers, university leaders and heads of research organizations in Pakistan and the UK.

(Pakistan Today)

AIOU will promote research of issue-based

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:23:07 +0000

ISLAMABAD - Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will promote research work at higher educational level that helps to solve the community-based problems and the national issues, like energy crisis, illiteracy and unemployment. It will extensively work enhancing capacity-building of its researchers and the students, so that they could produce high-profile research papers for benefit of the society.
This was stated by vice-chancellor of AIOU Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi while addressing the 25th session of the Board of Advanced Studies and Research (BASR). He said the students of the universities while doing research work must concentrate on the socio-economic problems, faced by the country. They should be a helping hand to the government and other relevant institutions to solve the issues of the national importance.
There is also need of bringing about necessary amendments in the on-going research methods that could meet contemporary needs. “We must promote productive and creative research works at the universities’ level so that it could be beneficial for formulating policies of public importance “, he asserted.
He said the students should work hard to raise the standard of their research journals to enhance their utility and application at the community-level.
Prof Nazir Sangi further said that AIOU will facilitate its students undertaking the research work extensively. Information Desk will be set up at its campuses to provide the additional infrastructural support to the students. This will also be done through by e-learning support to the students. The Information Desk will provide easy access to required data in different disciplines. The research-relating matters will improve the comprehension and know-how of the students to show excellence in their exams and practical life.
He also underlined the need of developing linkages among various universities and research organizations for enhancing standard of the research work.
The vice chancellor also announced that AIOU will host Asian Association Open Universities’ conference next year. Necessary preparation for this purpose has already been started, he added.
More than 60 research papers/proposals of M Phil and PhD level offered by AIOU’s faculties were presented at Board’s meeting for consideration. Majority of them were approved after necessary changes. A list of supervisors/experts was also presented by different departments for approval of the board.
The Board’s meeting was attended, among others by deans for the four faculties- Education, Social Sciences, Basic Sciences, and Arabic and Islamic studies, besides AIOU Registrar Agha Hafizullah and Director BASR Directorate Dr Hamid Khan Niazi.
AIOU’ Muzaffarabad campus starts functioning: The regional campus of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in Muzaffarabad, which will facilitate more than 25,000 students of the area, formally started functioning in its new building on Wednesday.
The building costing about Rs 50 million is equipped with the latest facilities and was inaugurated by AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi.
Inaugurating the new campus building, the Vice-Chancellor said that it has been set up to ensure equal quality education for all in all parts of the country.
The new campuses and study centers were set up at the provincial and district levels to provide educational facilities to the students at their door-steps, he added. Access of quality education for the students has been the top priority of the university. Efforts have been made for the availability of the basic infrastructural support as well as e-learning system in every nook and corner of the country, specially in the backward and neglected regions, he said. The AIOU has made a remarkable progress in the last two years in enhancing its educational network with maximum students’ supporting facilities.
The students’ enrolment has now reached to 1.3 millions and these numbers are getting increased in each semester of various AIOU’ programmes.

(Pakistan Today)

AIOU final exams to start from May 21

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:22:17 +0000

ISLAMABAD - Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will hold final examinations for Matric and Postgraduate programmes for the semester autumn 2011 from May 21 across the country.
Controller of Exams, AIOU, Muhammad Bashir Chaudhry said that the Roll No slips of Matric and Postgraduate programmes have already been dispatched to all the eligible/enrolled students at their given addresses by Postal Mail Service.
The students who have not received their Roll No slips so far are advised to contact the nearest Regional Office of the University or Deputy Controller of Exams (Result Section), Examinations Department for issuance of Duplicate Roll No Slip. Students are required to bring two passport size photographs duly attested by the gazetted officer. Roll No slip along with Date Sheet has also been placed on AIOU website www.aiou.edu.pk for the convenience of students. All students are also advised in their own interest to read the instructions mentioned on Roll No. Slip carefully before entering into the examination center.

(Pakistan Today)

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Focus Humanitarian Assistance Pakistan organises seminar to celebrate School Safety Day

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:21:03 +0000

Islamabad - Focus Humanitarian Assistance Pakistan, an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), organised a seminar to commemorate 16th May as School Safety Day in line with a unanimous declaration passed at the International School Safety Conference organised by AKDN in March 2008. The seminar on School Safety was held in Islamabad and it was attended by experts and practitioners of school safety initiatives across Pakistan. Dr Zafar Iqbal Qadir, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the Chief Guest of the event appreciated AKDN’s role in developing resilient communities. He said joint working groups will finalize Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) enriched curriculum for Pakistan by the year end. “At the government level, our efforts will continue to notify official commemoration of National School Safety Day annually on May 16th”, he said. Earlier, FOCUS Chairperson, Ms Khadija Jamal Shaban, welcomed participants of the seminar and highlighted the efforts of the Aga Khan Development Network in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction. She emphasised the importance of preparedness of the next generation, and highlighted the need for collaborative efforts in this regard. Dr Tariq Mahmood, Deputy Educational Adviser in Curriculum and Textbook Development and Production Unit of the Capital Administration and Development Division (CA&DD), Islamabad, made a presentation about the national curriculum and how efforts have been made to incorporate DRR as a theme. He hoped that by 2013 – 14, a DRR enriched national curriculum will be available, which can be used across the country.

(Pakistan Today)

DMC arranges one-day ‘school health’ programme

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:20:16 +0000

RAWALPINDI - The Disaster Management Cell (DMC) of the Islamic International Medical College organised a one-day ‘school health’ programme here for medical check-up of students and their family members.
Under the programme, doctors examined the students suffering from ENT, dental and skin related ailments besides conducing different tests to diagnose other disease free of cost. Around 90 students and 25 their family members visited the camp and got themselves examined. Doctors also referred some patients to attached hospitals of the Islamic International College.
A team comprising specialist doctors, physiotherapists and dentists remained engaged throughout the day in providing treatment to patients.
Members of the team were Dr Sidra (Pediatrics), Uzma and Dr Mukhtar (ENT), Dr Adeel (Dermatology), Dentists Dr Humza Bin Saeed, Dr Shakeel Kazmi, Dr Anum Zehra Khan, Dr Hina Khalid, medical students Sana Sultan, Rabia Jamil, Zoya Shirazee, Tahira Sharif, Laraib Sharif Khan besides physiotherapists Farah Javed, Kiran Khushnood, Amna Yaseen, Madiha Younas, Sara Ijaz, Lajeela Akram, Hira Zafar, Enfal Shoukat, Kiran Akhtar and Tamjeed Ghaffar.

(Pakistan Today)

Kalash spring festival ends

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:58:57 +0000

CHITRAL, May 16: Chilim Jusht, the four-day spring festival of Kalash people, ended here on Wednesday in the Bumburate valley while the festival was celebrated in the other two valleys Rumbur and Birir on the first and second day of the festival respectively.

Hundreds of Kalash people including men, women, girls, boys and children thronged the venue of the closing ceremony of the festival which included procession, collective dancing and praying for the safety and security of the people of the valley.

Unlike the past couple of years, a good number of foreigners had come to watch the festival. Tough security measures were adopted by the security forces to avoid any untoward incident.

As per tradition, more than ten couples announced their marriage on the occasion, a local Kalash leader Guruk said.

(Dawn)

A befitting tribute to Shahid Sajjad at Photospace Gallery

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:57:04 +0000

KARACHI, May 16: It is always a delight to see one artist paying tribute to another. This works wonders in two ways: (1) it elevates the artistic expression of the tribute-paying person to a level where sincerity of content surpasses the command over technique (2) it creates bonhomie between extraordinary individuals which rubs off on their admirers. An exhibition of photographs of distinguished sculptor Shahid Sajjad’s works (along with a book launch on the same subject) by noted photographer Arif Mahmood which commenced at the Photospace Gallery on Wednesday spoke volumes for the talent of both artists.

The black-and-white pictures on display take the viewer on a journey of the eminent sculptor’s creative pursuits. They try and analyse his creations with such insight that it almost gives a firsthand experience of witnessing Sajjad’s artworks.

The most distinct feature of the show is the single lines taken from known Urdu couplets assigned to each exhibit. The lines, picked by none other than poet Zehra Nigah, serve as the caption for the artist’s works as well as illustrate, albeit subtly, the thought behind the whole endeavour.

While lines from the great Urdu poets such as Meer Taqi Meer, Sauda, Yagana and Faiz are no less engaging, it is Ghalib’s poetry that dominates the scene, for understandable reasons. Shahid Sajjad is a Ghalib buff (he may not concede that, though).

And Arif Mahmood knows very well the co-relation between the artist he has photographed and Urdu poetry. One of Arif Mahmood’s remarkable achievements in the exhibition is a piece captioned Haath ki jitni lakeerein theen rag-i-jaan ho gaeen.

The photographer has intelligently been able to capture Shahid Sajjad’s interpretation of the line and has at the same time construed that in his (Arif’s) own style.

The texture of Sajjad’s work can be readily felt in the grab.Apart from that, an image in which one of this writer’s favourite lines Wamandagi-i-shauq tarashey hai panahein — again by Ghalib — has been used is very astutely shot by the photographer. The inherent frenzy in Shahid Sajjad’s work becomes artistically oblique but not beyond grasp.

A large piece in which the sculptor’s profile is seen with his creations captioned Lazim hai ke hum bhi dekheinge sums up the display rather well.

The exhibition will remain open till May 29.

(Dawn)

International Museum Day exhibition

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:56:47 +0000

KARACHI, May 16: A special exhibition of rare collections will be held at the National Museum to mark the International Museum Day — being observed on Thursday.

The Sindh culture department has organised a seminar on the occasion, and other special events to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the National Museum, on the museum premises. Sindh culture minister Sassui Palijo will be the chief guest.

The exhibition will be open to public from May 18 to 30.

(Dawn)

Two Turkish companies to operate 130 buses of international standard

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:55:25 +0000

LAHORE, May 16: Two Turkish companies will be operating 130 new buses of international standard on different routes while the number of buses on all other routes of Lahore will also be increased.

Turkish company Albayrak will operate 100 new air-conditioned buses on four routes while another Turkish company, OuzPak, will operate 30 new buses from railway station to Sabzazar, said Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khwaja Ahmad Hassan during a meeting of LTC Board of Directors held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here on Wednesday.

A strategy has been adopted for making all non-functional routes operational in order to provide efficient and affordable transport facilities to Lahorites. A state-of-the-art transport related infrastructure was being provided in the city and the LTC was making
hectic efforts in planning regulation and facilitation in strengthening the urban transport sector.

Mr Khwaja said the provision of free transport facilities to senior citizens and disabled people was being ensured in all air-conditioned buses. The LTC was providing all possible assistance to private transport companies, he said.

LTC Chief Executive Officer Khwaja Haider Latif said all wings of the company had been made active to achieve the desired targets.

(Dawn)

Manhandling by IJT, PU teachers to boycott classes

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:15:37 +0000

LAHORE, May 16: The Punjab University Academic Staff Association executive body announced boycotting classes and creating law and order “to jolt the government” over the thrashing of two university teachers by a group of students.

“The government does not realise the gravity of an issue until it is responded with a drastic action,” said PU Syndicate member Prof Dr Shaukat Ali, who says he was ridiculed and abused by the group. “Now, either the Islami Jamiat Tulaba (IJT) or we will live here,” he said.

The university remained closed on Monday and Tuesday due to the Islami Jamiat Tulaba’s mourning over the murder of its activist. The activists did not allow the university bus to pick and drop the students. Prof Shaukat claimed that classes were held on Tuesday.

At a press conference, PUASA President Amer Sarwar said the executive body had demanded that the university administration cancel admissions of IJT nazims to hostels and academic departments. The executive body also demanded that all boys’ hostels be vacated immediately. The ASA also demanded the removal of the top police officer of the province for his failure to check the unruly students.

Two chemistry department teachers Dr Ehsan Sharif and Dr Ejaz Butt said they had also become a victim of the group’s
highhandedness. According to them, the group manhandled them when they were coming out of Prof Shaukat’s office.

Dr Sharif said that the mob kept on slapping him and brought him to Main University Road. “The boys taunted me, saying ‘now call the vice-chancellor’ and ‘go to PUCIT’,” he said.

Dr Butt said some students also pushed him but he ran and took cover in Prof Shaukat’s office. Prof Shaukat said that he too was misbehaved by the students. “Though some boys called some one to shoot me, I held my ground. The boys then dispersed,” he
said.

When asked why teachers were boycotting classes at the cost of thousands of students’ time, the ASA president said, “We cannot take classes until the government and police provide us complete security.” To a question that how the thrashing of two teachers justify the closure of the university, he said, “Do you (reporters) want that more teachers are thrashed and
misbehaved?”

Prof Shaukat also criticised security guards who failed to take any action against the mob. He said guards had given a free-hand
to IJT activists to – thrash teachers and ransack flower-pots and windowpanes of the vice-chancellor office.

(Dawn)

IJT activists vandalises VC office PU

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:08:29 +0000

LAHORE, May 16: Islami Jamiat Tulaba (IJT) activists threw flowerpots at Punjab University vice-chancellor office and vandalised its windowpanes on Wednesday in protest at the killing of Awais Aqeel on varsity campus.

No university security guard challenged the rioters.

Protesters led by IJT PU Nazim Rai Haq Nawaz and IJT Punjab Nazim Rusal Khan chanted slogans against the VC.

Speaking to them, Mr Nawaz said VC Dr Mujahid Kamran had created an environment of suppression making the campus a safe
heaven for killers. He said PU security guard Imran was killed in police custody in March but no one was arrested.

He said Ibrar Wattoo, the alleged killer of Awais Aqeel, had been involved in firing incidents, but the university never took any action against him. He claimed Wattoo was seen in Teachers’ Colony shortly before the killing of Aqeel.

Mr Nawaz also said that Prof Dr Mansoor Sarwar, who was the cousin of the VC had abducted two IJT activists and subjected them to torture. He said the IJT had got registered a case against Prof Sarwar and in return, the professor had threatened Aqeel of consequences.

PUASA executive body members rejected allegations.

The IJT Punjab nazim announced province-wide protest demonstrations against VC’s anti-student policies and arrest of Aqeel’s killers.

The IJT also rejected PUASA’s call for boycotting of classes. “At least, teachers should not give calls of boycotting classes,” an IJT spokesperson said.

Also, countering PU administration’s claim that Aqeel was not a university student, the IJT emailed the scanned copy of Aqeel’s library card to reporters. The IJT says Aqeel was the PU Law College, part-II, student with roll number 353. His library card
number is 35227.

A PU spokesman said Aqeel had appeared for his LLB Part-I annual examination, 2011, with roll number 1927 and failed. The spokesman said Aqeel had submitted his admission form for supplementary examinations and thus lost the right to be a regular
part-II student of the PU Law College.

VC: Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran condemned the manhandling of two chemistry department teachers and vandalizing of his office by students.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the VC said the chief minister had taken notice of the issue and directed top police and Home Department officials to take steps to control the situation. He said he had held a meeting with the home secretary and the
capital city police officer.

He said a student organisation was doing politics on bodies, which was a deplorable act. He said only 30 to 40 goons were fanning violence on campus. “It is unbelievable that a few boys are doing violence on their own,” he added.

Prof Kamran said the teachers who had been tortured were on tenure track and enjoyed excellent academic profile. He said the administration had a stance that there should be no role of political student organisations in the university. “One student
organization is involved in all incidents of violence on campus,” he said.

(Dawn)

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Pakistani, Chinese artistes perform at Alhamra Lahore

ali — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:07:07 +0000

LAHORE, May 16: An awesome music and dance night punctuated with some out-of-the-world performances by Chinese and Pakistani artistes stole many a heart at Alhamra Art Centre’s Hall No 1 on The Mall that was packed to its maximum capacity of 1,000 seats.

The stage was an emblem of a dreamy ambiance. The lavender of tulips, roses and marigolds bedecked on and around the stage had some heady fragrance. The flags of centuries old friends on each side of the stage were explicit of the pride of two nations and the trust they have in each other. The audience was a delighted mix of Chinese and Pakistani folks. The organisers, as a token of love, distributed tulips to the audience.

The gala was organised by Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab under a youth exchange programme between the two countries.

The opening performance of the night was by Rahe-e-Danish School, Cantonment. The young performers presented a boogie to greet their Chinese friends. The catchy performance was followed by four dance sequences by National Performing Arts Group of the Pakistan National Council of Arts.

The first of four dances was peacock dance. Though it’s a traditional dance, it has not lost its charm when it shows the peacock preening in its glory till it weeps upon seeing its unadorned feet.

The next performance was based on the tragic story of ‘Anarkali’. The dance left many a heart burning for the performance had a considerable emotional push. The immortal Sufi classic of Amir Khusro ‘Aaj Rang Hai’, was the third performance by the Pakistani regiment of dancers. Carrying the mystic flavour the performance won a thunderous clap from the audience.

Kathak, the art of story telling through dance, was performed by Zakria Iqbal to the tunes of Raag Bageshri. Naila Riaz, the esteemed Kathak exponent and teacher at Alhamra Art Academy of Performing Arts, did the paranth, which is reciting the dance syllables as per tradition.

The last performance from the Pakistani side was a dance titled ‘Dawn to Dusk’, a dance depicting the hardworking life of peasants and expression of joy on a good harvest. It was a catchy upbeat presentation.

The artistes from China Youth Delegation, a striking contrast of finest music and dance left many in awe with some captivating and exhilarating performances. China opened its show on a high note, presenting a dance based on a unique idea. The
presentation was based on a story of a calligrapher who holding a painting brush in hand reveals his story of creation through canvass. The performance was a nice amalgamation of visual and performing arts. It was followed by a melodious instrumental
rendition by a female Chinese artiste. Clad in a ravishing red dress, the lady played on three traditional Chinese music instruments and it was a treat for music fanciers. The music frenzy followed a lovely dance by another Chinese lady that was
traditional in spirit and embedded in Chinese culture.

The evening concluded on a fine note, as a Chinese and a Pakistani singer together sung Dil Dil Pakistan.

(Dawn)

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al hamra chinese show 16th may 2012 (1)