Pak News Wire

King: Pilot killed defending Islam

King: Pilot killed defending Islam

King Abdullah of Jordan says pilot Moath al-Kasasbeh died "at the hands of a cowardly, terrorist and criminal organization, which has n...

12 killed in plane crash in Taipei

12 killed in plane crash in Taipei

Nine people are confirmed dead and rescuers were working Wednesday to pull survivors from the submerged wreck of a TransAsia flight in Taiwa...

Plane hits Taipei bridge, crashes into river

Plane hits Taipei bridge, crashes into river

Nine people are confirmed dead and rescuers are working to pull survivors from the submerged wreck of a TransAsia flight in Taiwan.

Veteran Gwalior Gharana singer: Ghulam Hassan Shaggan passes away

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/832573/veteran-gwalior-gharana-singer-ghulam-hassan-shaggan-passes-away/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/832573-maxresdefault-1423027153-309-160x120.jpg" width="160" /> 			</a> 			<div>KARACHI:  Pakistani classical singer of the Gwalior Gharana, Ghulam Hassan Shaggan passed away in Lahore on Tuesday. According to his son Mazhar Shaggan, the cause of death was a cardiac arrest and that he passed away in the ambulance while being taken to the hospital. </div> Shaggan, who was born in Amritsar in India, was 85 years old at the time of his death and has 5 sons and 2 daughters. Among the several titles and awards that have been bestowed upon Hassan include the Sangeet Samrat which he received at the music conference in Calcutta in 1962. He also received the Pride of Performance and Sitara-e-Imtiaz from the Pakistani government in recognition of his work in the field of music. Ustad Shaggan was not only a household name in the subcontinent but he also received recognition in Europe as his musical prowess was recognised by French musicologists Gerard Kurgijian and Martina Catella. PM Nawaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the death of the renowned musician. Lauding his services, the premier said his death has created a vacuum in music industry which would be difficult to fill. Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2015.

Veteran Gwalior Gharana singer: Ghulam Hassan Shaggan passes away

KARACHI: Pakistani classical singer of the Gwalior Gharana, Ghulam Hassan Shaggan passed away in Lahore on Tuesday. A...

UK to allow ‘3-parent babies’

UK to allow ‘3-parent babies’

The UK Parliament is due to vote Tuesday on a draft law that could make the United Kingdom the first country in the world to allow a pioneer...

Measles outbreak: Different states, different rules on vaccinations

Measles outbreak: Different states, different rules on vaccinations

The rash of measles cases across the country has affected some states more than others. And, not surprisingly, the rules for vaccinating var...

New Saudi 9/11 allegations

New Saudi 9/11 allegations

New allegations have emerged from the man described as the 20th 9/11 hijacker, alleging members of the Saudi royal family supported al Qaeda...

ISIS ‘footprint’ growing, says top U.S. official

ISIS ‘footprint’ growing, says top U.S. official

The threat of ISIS is continuing to grow in certain areas despite the setbacks from U.S. led airstrikes a top intelligence official said Tue...

Protesters at palace demand revenge

Protesters at palace demand revenge

CNN's Brian Todd reports on Jordan's possible response to their pilot being burned alive in a cage by ISIS.

Birth control access key means of reaching climate goals: experts

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/832387/birth-control-access-key-means-of-reaching-climate-goals-experts/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/832387-birthcontrolREUTERS-1422985368-867-160x120.jpg" width="160" /> 			</a> 			LONDON: In Pakistan, where just a third of married women use contraception, half of all pregnancies – 4.2 million each year – are unintended, according to the Washington-based Population Reference Bureau. At the same time, the rising population in Pakistan – and elsewhere around the world – is creating more climate-changing emissions and putting more people in the path of extreme weather, food and water shortages, and other climate change pressures. That suggests that giving more women who want access to birth control to limit their family size – in both rich and poor countries – could be a hugely effective way to curb climate change and to build greater resilience to its impacts, according to population and climate change researchers and policy experts. “We’re not talking about population control. We’re talking about giving people the choice to limit their family size and all the good things that go on from that” such as better health and education, said Baroness Jennny Tonge, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health, during an event at the UK Parliament Monday on linking population and climate issues. Bringing together two politically contentious concerns – climate change and managing population growth – in an effort to build effective policy has been far from easy. “They’re both sensitive and it’s difficult to make headway on either, much less both together,” admitted Jason Bremner, a demographer and associate vice president of the Population Reference Bureau. Still, an international coalition of experts on climate change, family planning and development aid are now pushing for universal access to family planning to be recognized as a part of “climate-compatible development” and included in new UN-backed Sustainable Development Goals set to be agreed in September. Some countries, such as Ethiopia, already have included family planning among the activities they want to undertake on climate change, using international climate finance, according to an analysis by the London-based Population and Sustainability Network. “They themselves identified population as a factor making it more difficult for them to adapt. We in the north are worried about, ‘Is it fair to make this connection?’ when people in the south are already making it,” said Karen Newman, coordinator of the network. Population growth has an impact on climate-related pressures as diverse as land availability, access to water, deforestation and migration, which often occurs “to coastal areas where vulnerability to climate change is very high”, said Newman, a sexual and reproductive health and rights expert. Family planning could potentially find a funding source in the Green Climate Fund, which was established as part of UN-led climate talks and which will later this year and early next begin its first distributions of about $ 10 billion in funds donated to help poor countries adapt to climate change impacts or adopt a lower-emission development path. Money is key because “we can make all the policies in the world but if there isn’t financing for both (climate change and birth control), neither are going to get any better”, Bremner said. But he admitted he had “not a lot” of confidence family planning projects would be supported by the climate fund, which faces a huge range of demands on its resources.

Birth control access key means of reaching climate goals: experts

LONDON: In Pakistan, where just a third of married women use contraception, half of all pregnancies – 4.2 million eac...

Day care closes due to measles in baby too young to be vaccinated

Day care closes due to measles in baby too young to be vaccinated

A Southern California day care has shut down because an infant there -- who's too young to get vaccinated -- contracted measles, another...

Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Vaccines are a matter of fact

Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Vaccines are a matter of fact

Rival genocide claims rejected

Rival genocide claims rejected

Serbian forces committed egregious violent acts against ethnic Croatians in the early 1990s, but they don't equate to genocide, a U.N. c...

Shelling increasingly killing civilians in Ukraine

Shelling increasingly killing civilians in Ukraine

Civilians are increasingly falling victim to fighting between government forces and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, with at least 224...

Why Taiwan is right to ban iPads for kids

Why Taiwan is right to ban iPads for kids

Being a parent has suddenly become a lot more stressful. At least it has if you live in Taiwan.

3 soldiers attacked with a knife in France

3 soldiers attacked with a knife in France

Three soldiers were attacked by a man with a knife Tuesday in the city of Nice in southern France, the city's mayor, Christian Estrosi, ...

ISIS brutality central to goals (Opinion)

ISIS brutality central to goals (Opinion)

White House proposes cuts to vaccine program

White House proposes cuts to vaccine program

All problems are local

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/832265/all-problems-are-local/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/832265-RasulBakhshRaisNewagain-1422981320-277-160x120.JPG" width="160" /> 			</a> 			These are the problems: stinking garbage in neighbourhoods, sewage flowing out into the streets, teachers and <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/831287/in-protest-doctors-to-abstain-from-clinics-opds-today/">doctors absent from duties</a>, police framing people for crimes they never committed or taking bribes and acquitting those who are genuinely guilty. Then we have the problem of unkempt public parks, and the fact that development funds and jobs are available only to those who matter in the patronage system. We must also not forget the open, 15-foot deep manholes in the middle of footpaths, even in Islamabad, the Beautiful. The range and order of problems might vary from area to area. On the top of it all, there is an ugly nexus of power between the bureaucracy and the local political actors. <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/The-pre-requisite-of.jpg" /> How people view the state, its authority, its writ (or lack of it), implementation of laws and above all, what the state is doing for them, is only by observing the facts of governance in the areas close to where they live. It is, therefore, not without reason, historical evidence, and close observation that many insightful statesmen have termed all politics local. Politics, every aspect of it, from conflict resolution to a system of justice to laws for bringing order in society, don’t just operate in a vacuum. It all happens right here where we live our lives. The celebrity political class and its cohorts — who get what they want, when they want and where they want it — have no interest in <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/831753/defining-democracy/">lowering their necks and looking below</a> what is happening at the local level. The government functionaries in towns, rural areas and the districts are at their beck and call and serve them as truly obedient servants, for they can carry a good word or make a complaint to the big boss, who may be the chief executive of the province or any high-level bureaucrat who might matter in their career. From the local to the national level, Pakistani politics, the understanding of local problems and their solutions is the privilege, the right and domain of the bureaucracy that has become increasingly drafted into a dependent role by its political bosses. Gone are the days when the <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/819784/the-power-of-no/">bureaucracy</a> had the moral and professional autonomy to look at issues purely through the lenses of public interest. Sadly, for its own gains —professional or material — it respond only to power constituencies holding some incentive or threats, or to individuals connected with the most powerful. The rest of us are shown the door, very politely if you are well known, and very rudely if you are a common man. The democracy that many of us have been struggling for — and some have indeed greatly suffered for, ideologically committing themselves to the right of the people to choose their government — see the ‘democratic’ governments at all levels practically functioning in the interests of the privileged. The idea is not to reject democracy, but to strengthen it by forcing the power, at all levels, to be responsive to the needs of the citizens. This is possible if we can learn from the history of successful democracies and what they have done in this respect. First, the pre-requisite of a good society is the good citizen who is willing to take responsibility for getting the local problems resolved. We must spare some time, energy and attention from our daily routines and engage with local issues until they are resolved. Second, we must organise public action by creating support groups within neighbourhoods, among friends or by associating with civil society groups. Our silence and capitulation to corruption and bad governance is our own worst enemy. Finally, we must strive for local governments, which the nexus of power is not allowing. No democracy is democracy without its foundation: local governance. Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th,  2015. Like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/EToped">Opinion & Editorial on Facebook</a>, follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ETOpEd">@ETOpEd</a> on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

All problems are local

These are the problems: stinking garbage in neighbourhoods, sewage flowing out into the streets, teachers and doctors ...

PTI: lost or in transition?

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/832270/pti-lost-or-in-transition/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/832270-NafisaRizviNew-1422981307-476-160x120.JPG" width="160" /> 			</a> 			The PTI’s lower cadres are perhaps the only well-defined faction of the party. The <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/819497/wedding-bliss-punjab-pti-continues-to-party/">workers, steadfast and unflinching</a> in their determination and love for their Kaptaan, have always risen to the occasion and offered him their lives when necessary. It is the middle and top tiers that seem to be nebulous at best, wafting in and out of view as and when they desire, maintaining little consistency in their resolve to get the job done, whether on the ground or at the policymaking table. Except for Dr Arif Alvi and Asad Umar, all the top brass seem to have taken a vacation from politics. The PTI pole star should have been not only to become the precise antithesis of the PML-N and the PPP in all respects of morality and governance, but also to chart out a new direction for a truly Naya Pakistan. None of that seems plausible now as time wanes. And at this time, Khan admits to having become tired, proving his naysayers right that the Peshawar incident offered him a convenient exit strategy. The PTI looks quite lost for the first time since the 2013 elections. Doubts are cast on the many MNAs still <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/825564/four-pti-mpas-sindh-assembly-speaker-accepts-resignations/">enjoying the perks of a position</a> they claim to have relinquished. After Khan cited the example of the South Korean president, who resigned following the boat catastrophe about a million times over from the pulpit of the container, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief minister continues to retain his position even after children were massacred under his watch. The lack of organisation in the party is appalling. No one wants to do the spadework. Hierarchies have to be established and adhered to even if it means skipping the glory of the moment and having a story to tell about how ‘I was standing inches away from the Kaptaan’. Also, there’s the strange simultaneous PTI dilemma of overdoing and understating. Many innovative developments in K-P have gone unnoticed and unannounced when in this day of media hype the smallest achievements require broadcast and proclamation or the opposition will bury the news conveniently and quickly. From all accounts, we hear Khan is a rational man who listens to reason. But it seems he has no one to listen to. He is a spontaneous man with no wiles and shoots from the hip. It is one of the most alluring aspects of his personality and draws millions to his side because he is immediately believable. His honesty, scrupulousness and sense of fair play are evident in every word and deed. When he goes to condole with families or with the injured, the <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/821671/imran-khan-faces-wrath-of-protesting-parents-as-he-arrives-at-aps/">events are not photo ops</a> for him. He comes away genuinely moved, with tears in his eyes and an aching heart. But the downside to his frank openness is that he ends up saying too much too often with too little thought. He must remember that every word he says publicly goes on record and may come back to haunt him. All the wild helium balloons of hope that Khan let fly into the air during the 126 days of the dharna are now clogging the gutters of Islamabad. Dashed hopes, unrealised dreams and not a plan in sight for tomorrow. Is it all over? To make matters worse, the timing for his wedding couldn’t have been worse and has spread a pall of gloom over many followers. The journalist Rauf Klasra stated that in smaller villages when someone dies no one marries for the next six months and if there was a predetermined wedding, special permission is required from the family of the deceased. This is not an Islamic requirement but a tradition in some parts of the country. To rub salt on the wounds of insensitivity, Khan declared at the Workers Convention on January 18 with a flourish that tabdeeli had come to his house, a crass unnecessary allusion to his marriage. It would be sad to consider that amongst all the millions who adore this man, he doesn’t have a single well-wisher who has his ear; who would have the gall to tell him to keep quiet when necessary. Who, if any, is the voice of caution? Don’t over-promise, Khan. Let’s wait before you over-commit. State the facts only; they’re enough to indict the perpetrators. It’s time to back off. It’s time to oust the bad eggs in the party no matter how loyal they’ve been to you. And no, as much as you may disbelieve this, <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/819074/second-innings-imran-weds-reham-in-low-key-affair/">marrying Ms Khan</a> was not the happiest moment in the lives of PTI workers. In fact, the less they hear about it, the better for now. A low profile is the best way forward and hopefully people will come around. It is said you are a lucky person if you have a sensible but incisive critic close to you who has your best interests at heart and doesn’t mince their words. Khan sahib, find one. Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th,  2015. Like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/EToped">Opinion & Editorial on Facebook</a>, follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ETOpEd">@ETOpEd</a> on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

PTI: lost or in transition?

The PTI’s lower cadres are perhaps the only well-defined faction of the party. The workers, steadfast and unflinching ...

Wanted: Trained war correspondents

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/832271/wanted-trained-war-correspondents/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/832271-MZiauddinnew-1422981345-800-160x120.JPG" width="160" /> 			</a> 			Pakistan has been at war now for almost 35 years at a stretch. It all began with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan around 1979-80. A call went around the so-called Islamic world for recruits for jihad against the infidel Soviets. Our religio-political parties, led by the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, not only answered this call with religious fervour but they and their ilk also became the most vociferous champions of the American cause. The CIA flooded the jihadis with dollars and the most sophisticated weapon systems, and assisted by our intelligence apparatus, trained them in camps that mushroomed all over Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. This jihad lasted for almost 10 years, enriching in the process, in dollar terms as well as in terms of political clout, our religio-political parties and those who toed their line, including those in the media, who promoted the jihad with extra passion. However, our <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/821367/our-flawed-narrative-on-afghanistan/">mainstream media kept itself physically at a safe distance</a> from the jihad. No major newspaper sent its correspondent into Afghanistan to cover the war. A handful of Pakistani journalists, who did go in, were sent in mostly by the Western and US media. The Tuesday briefings at the USIS in Islamabad about the progress of the war, mostly confined to the number of Soviet troops killed in the preceding week, used to be the only remote window to the war for our mainstream media and that, too, confined only to their ‘cleared’ Foreign Office beat reporters. Next, we willingly entered into two low-intensity clandestine wars by early 1990, one in Afghanistan on the side of the Taliban against the Northern Alliance, seeking strategic depth, and the other on the side of the freedom fighters inside occupied Kashmir against the Indian troops. Both these wars were being fought in the name of jihad by so-called non-state actors with the full backing of the state. This war had lasted for almost 12 years, having tapered off by the middle of 1999 after the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://tribune.com.pk/story/580380/how-india-achieves-peace-in-kashmir/&sa=U&ei=DijRVOoM4tiaBfbLgQg&ved=0CBQQFjAHOAo&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHvy8rJPk1HTYGUsjrYwEL9tAbvZg">Kargil fiasco</a>. During this war as well, our mainstream media had kept itself largely aloof. There was no coverage from the war theatres by correspondents of our mainstream media. Whatever coverage appeared in our major newspapers was courtesy of foreign news agencies. However, on occasions, one or two Urdu newspapers would carry interviews of the Kashmiri jihad leadership, which used to be specially arranged by you-know-who to send some specific signals to friends or to mislead the enemy. These wars virtually came to an end by 2002 as in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, Afghanistan was invaded by the US and at the same time, the world had redefined armed freedom struggles like the one going on in Indian-occupied Kashmir, as terrorism. The second Afghan war, which lasted for 13 years, was also covered by our mainstream media from a safe distance. Except for a few who already had the experience of covering the first Afghan war and the one that ‘we’ fought on the side of the Taliban, did cover this war but mostly for foreign media organisations. And most of the coverage of this war by our mainstream media was again courtesy foreign news agencies. So, despite having lived in a war theatre for over 35 years, our mainstream media did not produce even a handful of experienced and well-trained war correspondents. That is why when war finally knocked on our own doors sometime in 2005, we were caught unawares. And that is perhaps why we have lost so many journalists in this war in the last 10 years or so. Pakistan, today, is known as one of <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/828500/dangerous-line-of-work-last-year-worst-ever-for-journalists-in-pakistan-report/">most dangerous places for media practitioners</a>. We have also lost a number of journalists covering the armed insurgencies indulged in by the militant wings of political parties in Sindh, as well as in the ones waged by nationalists in Balochistan. In fact, today the entire country has become a war zone and every journalist operating in this zone, no matter what his beat, has become a war correspondent but without being trained for the job. So, what is needed urgently is for media organisations to set up crash courses for journalists on the principles of working in a war zone. Are there any takers? Guess not. Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th,  2015. Like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/EToped">Opinion & Editorial on Facebook</a>, follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ETOpEd">@ETOpEd</a> on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

Wanted: Trained war correspondents

Pakistan has been at war now for almost 35 years at a stretch. It all began with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan ar...

8 fant(e)astic uses of tea bags

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/832225/8-fanteastic-uses-of-tea-bags/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/832225-teabagscopy-1422977969-480-160x120.jpg" width="160" /> 			</a> 			The tea-obsessed nation that we are, Pakistanis are well aware of the health benefits related to its consumption. But before you discard used green or black tea bags, think again. Turns out, the magic that lies in each pouch goes beyond tea’s worth as a beverage. Being chock-full of anti-oxidants, which repair cellular damage, tea bags can work wonders curing health ailments and fighting infection. As compiled from naturallivingideas.com, mindbodygreen.com, and Fox News, here’s how you can up your health regimen and home with the help of a brewed tea bag or two. Heal canker sores <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/012.jpg" /> Canker sores appear in the mouth and are extremely painful. Both canker sores and cold sores are common and take a while to repair. Speed up the healing process by soaking a black tea bag in warm water, cooling it and then putting it on the affected area in your mouth for 10 minutes. Tenderise meat <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/022.jpg" /> We normally use kacha papita or packaged tenderisers to soften meat but the secret to tender, juicy steaks or mutton chops lies in tea bags. Steep four or five black tea bags in a cup of water for 10 minutes. Next, combine with an equal amount of marinade or masala you’re using. Marinate the meat in the mixture for 20 minutes. The tea tannins will break down fibres, which make the beef tough, all the while ensuring that the marinade seeps into the meat, contributing to better taste. Heal insect bites <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/033.jpg" /> Used tea bag helps in soothing inflammation and pain caused by insect bites. You can use black or green tea bags and soak them in warm water. Apply the water on the bites or tape the tea bag directly on to the affected area for instant relief. The tannins in tea help reduce swelling and decrease redness by fighting skin infections. Tea also has anti-microbial effects on the skin. Deter household pests <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/041.jpg" /> Mice are repelled by the smell of tea. Place used tea bags in cupboards, pantries and other pest-infested areas. For added protection, try saturating the bags with peppermint essential oil. Not only will this further deter pesky rodents, but also deter a variety of other household pests, such as spiders and ants, while making your home smell mint-tea fresh. Heal bruises <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/051.jpg" /> Tannins in tea help to constrict blood vessels and speed up the healing process. Ruptured capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in the body, create bruises. Since tannins constrict blood vessels, they impede the leaking that causes discolouration. Press a warm, wet black tea bag to the bruise a few times per day to help shrink swollen tissue. Rust-proof cast-iron cookware <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/061.jpg" /> Guarantee your trusty skillet stays rust- and gunk-free by wiping it with a damp, used black tea bag after every cooking session. The tea’s oxidants will coat the pan with an invisible protective layer that prevents rust-causing corrosion and will diminish the pungent smell of previous cooked meals from the utensil you’re using the tea bag on. Treat sore or bleeding gums <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/07.jpg" /> Alleviate sore or bleeding gums by placing a cool, used tea bag over the problem spot. Tannins will stop the bleeding and reduce the swelling, which causes difficulty in chewing. Anti-oxidants in tea also reduce the sensitivity of teeth. Who knew tea would make it easy to eat ice-cream! Reduce foot odour <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/08.jpg" /> Make your feet smell sweet and fresh by soaking them in a steeped tea-bath for 20 minutes every day. Use black tea to get rid of particularly bad odours. The astringency in tea closes up the sweat-emitting pores that create the smell in the first place, and the tannins kill stinky bacteria. To take stench away from foul-smelling shoes, place damp black or green tea bags in the shoes overnight. Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th,  2015. Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ETLifeandStyle">Life & Style on Facebook, </a>follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ETLifeandStyle">@ETLifeandStyle</a> on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

8 fant(e)astic uses of tea bags

The tea-obsessed nation that we are, Pakistanis are well aware of the health benefits related to its consumption. But ...

Good governance makes for good politics

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/832269/good-governance-makes-for-good-politics/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/832269-TalatMasoodNew-1422981334-920-160x120.JPG" width="160" /> 			</a> 			When the PML-N won a convincing electoral mandate and Nawaz Sharif assumed the office of prime minister for the third time, people justifiably had high expectations. Armed with the experience of two tenures, albeit truncated, was considered sufficient for a mature politician to deliver a high standard of governance and display great zeal in turning the country around. On the contrary, during last 18 months, the government has been <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/830791/the-indigestible-glory-of-strategic-inadequacy/">lurching from one crisis to another</a>. In several key areas, performance has proved to be a disappointment and even the fundamentals of basic governance seem to be missing. Nawaz’s mode of governance is far too personalised and completely out of sync with the way modern states are administered. There were genuine expectations that the energy situation would get relatively better and the overall law and order situation would stabilise. Above all, there would be a firm commitment to lift the country from the current phase of decline by addressing the deep structural problems that require major reforms and restructuring. Instead, these weaknesses are being <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/830251/made-in-pakistan-2/">dealt with in an ad hoc manner</a> in which only the symptoms are addressed to provide temporary relief that results in their recurrence in a more serious form. This is what we experienced in the form of the energy crisis and fuel shortages. There are several other areas in which reforms are long overdue. High priority should be accorded to tax reforms and efforts should be made to improve the electoral system. Politicisation and patronage has weakened the bureaucracy and the government needs to focus on building a strong cadre of competent and honest bureaucracy. The government, instead of undertaking the restructuring of PIA, the Pakistan Steel Mills and other public-sector enterprises, has adopted the same <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/826092/govt-slow-in-implementing-economic-agenda/">short-term approach of addressing symptoms</a> that plague these institutions. The privatisation programme has failed to make any progress. Unless the government acts boldly and undertakes reforms, these organisations will continue to bleed the exchequer and keep struggling to survive. Solving the energy crisis was supposed to be Nawaz’s main agenda. As it is a long gestation project, we have to wait until 2018 to see if the government is able to meet its declared milestones. In the interim, it should focus on improving the management of existing power, distribution and transmission sectors. In the realm of foreign, defence and security policies, Nawaz is now resigned to the idea of conceding responsibility to the military leadership. General Raheel Sharif’s recent visits to Afghanistan, the US, the UK and China bear testimony to the military’s unabashed acceptance of this role. Nawaz’s earlier initiative to improve relations with India was sound policy. In that, he had the support of all political parties but the government’s poor performance and the crisis generated by Imran Khan’s protest movement reduced his political space in foreign and defence issues. Narendra Modi’s attitude was also a major impediment in the way of promoting dialogue with India. To make matters worse, the civil-military divide and the handling of defence, foreign and security policies by the military creates its own dynamics that generate policies that are linear and do not have the benefit of a decision that is holistic as the civilian input is undervalued. The military is still <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/826718/ban-flouted-jamaatud-dawa-holds-mass-rally-in-defiance-of-govt-ban/">ambivalent on the Jamaatud Dawa</a> and Haqqani network. What are the implications of this policy on the internal security situation and on external relations with India, the US and the Western world in general? These groups are supposed to keep pressure on India and act as a support base for the Kashmir resistance movement. If we were to draw a checklist of the gains and losses in pursuit of these aims, it would soon be evident that the balance sheet is heavily in the negative. With regard to the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), it was initially encouraged to target the Baloch nationalists and what we have instead is a highly organised militant group that has taken on the role of targeted killing and mass murder of Shias, and minorities as a religious ritual. Besides, it is waiting in the wings to play second fiddle to the <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/828707/spreading-roots-is-names-ex-ttp-man-as-regional-chief/">Islamic State</a> (IS) as and when this group makes an entry into Pakistan. The LeJ operates brazenly in Balochistan, Karachi and several other cities, and the government seems helpless and its response is pathetic. Similarly, what efforts has the government made in rehabilitating the displaced people of North Waziristan and other agencies? Is there any attempt on its part to improve the lot of the tribal people? Even the development and rehabilitation work has been left entirely for the military to undertake. Nawaz’s focus essentially centres round Punjab and that, too, mostly around Lahore and its vicinity. At best, the horizon would occasionally extend to Islamabad. The institutions of governance — cabinet, the cabinet committees and the national committee on security and foreign relations — remain dormant. Nacta, even after five years, has still to become fully functional despite its critical role in the fight against terror. Parliament has become a toothless organisation with little interest on the part of the ruling party or the opposition to make it more effective. The PTI’s parting kick to parliament has further diminished its role. What is the genesis of this style of governance that is so highly personalised and coterie-centric? Several explanations could be offered for this behaviour. Primarily, it is the lack of confidence that keeps our leaders away from institutional decision-making. They feel the military hierarchy would dominate the meetings and they would have little say in it. As the military already has a monopoly over security and foreign relations, institutional decision-making would leverage rather than undermine their position. But not all is lost. The civil society is energised and the people, despite heavy odds, are showing extraordinary resilience and the private sector is booming. The consumer market is growing against all odds and multinationals and local companies are making record profits. The key to overall recovery is to strengthen state institutions so that militancy can be countered, the economy is able to realise its potential and democratic consolidation can occur. Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th,  2015. Like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/EToped">Opinion & Editorial on Facebook</a>, follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ETOpEd">@ETOpEd</a> on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

Good governance makes for good politics

When the PML-N won a convincing electoral mandate and Nawaz Sharif assumed the office of prime minister for the third ...

Recouping ‘American Sniper’ glory

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/832223/recouping-american-sniper-glory/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/832223-downloadcopy-1422978008-711-160x120.jpg" width="160" /> 			</a> 			<div>BEVERLY HILLS / SAN FRANCISCO:  Bradley Cooper, who earned a best actor Oscar nomination for his performance as a deadly marksman in Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper, said  he did not foresee how the Iraq war biopic could become a charged political conversation. </div> “You never know when you make a movie if anybody’s going to see it, so to have the audacity to think that it would cause any sort of effect at all would be pretty presumptuous,” Cooper told reporters at the Academy Awards nominees luncheon. <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Bradley-Cooper.jpg" /> American Sniper has topped the US box office and has, so far, grossed nearly $ 250 million. The film tells the real-life story of late United States Navy SEAL sharpshooter Chris Kyle, whose 160 kills in Iraq are considered the highest-ever in US military history. It has been nominated for six Oscars including ‘Best Picture’. The movie stars Cooper as Kyle, who was killed by a disgruntled US veteran on a Texas gun range on February 2, 2013. It has become a flashpoint in US public debate with some liberals and conservatives sparring over the film’s portrayal of war and soldiers, and Eastwood’s interpretation of the history leading up to the 2003 Iraq invasion. Critics contend that the film glorifies war and sanitises Kyle, who called Muslims ‘savages’ in his memoir. Jury selection in Kyle’s murder trial is set to begin on Thursday. <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/The-US-state.jpg" /> The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee has said that its members have been targets of “violent threats” caused by the film’s language directed at Muslims. Oscar-winning Eastwood, who is a staunch supporter of veterans, has said American Sniper has nothing to do with party politics. <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Kyle3-copy.jpg" /> Cooper, who is also a producer of the film, said he wants the spotlight to be on soldiers. “Any discussion that sheds light on the plight of the soldiers and the men and women in the armed services… for that discussion to occur, is fantastic,” he said. Cooper has previously been nominated for acting Oscars in 2013 for Silver Linings Playbook and 2014 for American Hustle. <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/AmericanSniper_Intl_RGB_2764x4096-copy.jpg" /> The US state of Texas has declared February 2 as ‘Chris Kyle Day’, honouring the late Navy SEAL marksman portrayed in American Sniper, two years after his death. “Today, we commemorate [Kyle’s] passing, and we honour his service and the service of his comrades in arms who have joined him to defend our great nation,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, said in his proclamation.  Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th,  2015. Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ETLifeandStyle">Life & Style on Facebook, </a>follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ETLifeandStyle">@ETLifeandStyle</a> on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Recouping ‘American Sniper’ glory

BEVERLY HILLS / SAN FRANCISCO: Bradley Cooper, who earned a best actor Oscar nomination for his performance as a dead...

Ex-Power Ranger goes rogue

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/832221/ex-power-ranger-goes-rogue/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/832221-POwerRangerscopy-1422978003-929-160x120.JPG" width="160" /> 			</a> 			Actor Ricardo Medina, who co-starred in the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0287871/" target="_blank">Power Rangers Wild Force</a> television series, has been arrested on suspicion of stabbing a roommate to death with a sword in Southern California, reported Reuters. The slaying on Saturday afternoon, in Palmdale, California, stemmed from an argument between the suspect and the victim that turned violent, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. According to an account provided by the sheriff’s deputies, Medina, 36, retreated to his bedroom with his girlfriend during the altercation, but his roommate, Joshua Sutter, followed them and forced open the door. Medina was then accused of stabbing the 36-year-old Sutter in the stomach with a sword kept next to his bedroom door. Police say Medina then called emergency 911 and remained at the scene until the sheriff’s deputies arrived. <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Gar-Lester.jpg" /> Although immediately rushed to the hospital, Sutter was unable to survive, reported The Independent. Medina was later jailed on suspicion of murder, in lieu of $ 1 million, after being interviewed by homicide detectives. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s department confirmed that Medina is the actor who played the Red Lion Wild Force Ranger on the Power Rangers Wild Force TV series in 2002. According to IMDb, Medina also depicted the role of Deker on a later series, Power Rangers Samurai, and has previously appeared on primetime shows, such as CSI: Miami and ER. His agent Gar Lester said he found the allegations against Medina hard to believe, reported Los Angeles Times. “He has been my friend and client for 12 years and he’s a great guy,” he stated. “He’s great to his dog, he’s great to his people. He’s really a super person.” Medina’s neighbour, Justin Adamson, said the actor had moved into the neighbourhood nearly two months ago. “We brought him some bread and just tried to interact a little bit with him, but he was more the type of guy that didn’t really want to communicate,” said Adamson. Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th,  2015. Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ETLifeandStyle">Life & Style on Facebook, </a>follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ETLifeandStyle">@ETLifeandStyle</a> on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Ex-Power Ranger goes rogue

Actor Ricardo Medina, who co-starred in the Power Rangers Wild Force television series, has been arrested on suspicio...