The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

PAKISTAN ELECTIONS
Campaign exposes Awami partymen to Taliban fire

Peshawar: The election campaign is taking a heavy toll on the Awami National Party (ANP) as militants continue attacks on its leaders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The killing of a leader of the ANP in Swat and a bomb attack on a candidate for a provincial Assembly seat on Sunday is a grim reminder that the party had long been on the hit list of the Taliban.

Masoom Shah Bacha (2L) of the Awami National Party, injured in a roadside explosion, arrives at a hospital in Peshawar on Sunday. — AFP

Taliban militants targeted an ANP election rally in Bannu on April 1 in which two people were killed and Adnan Wazir, a pro-ANP candidate for the provincial Assembly, was injured.

Eight people were injured in an attack on Arbab Ayub Jan, a former minister and National Assembly candidate, near Peshawar last week and there appears to be no end in sight to the Taliban’s ruthless campaign.

The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been warning people to stay away from the ANP’s rallies and it reiterated the threat only three days ago as the election campaign is heating up.

The party’s chief, Asfandyar Wali Khan, and former Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao have survived suicide attacks.

The TTP had killed a former member of the provincial Assembly of the MQM in Karachi and recently shot dead its election candidate in Hyderabad.

The ANP has criticised the silence of political parties and media over an endless killing spree of its leaders and said the barrage of attacks was a part of a conspiracy aimed at paving way for the success of pro-militant forces in the general election.

“It appears to be a ploy of hidden forces to keep the ANP away from the election and facilitate candidates fielded by pro-Taliban parties. The plan seems to be a replay of the 2002 elections,” the ANP’s information secretary, Senator Zahid Khan, told Dawn on Sunday.

“There will be no looking back as we want peace at any price,” he said.

The militants had stepped up attacks at a time when the government had withdrawn security provided to the party’s candidates. “All our candidates in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa risk assassination by the Taliban. Already, we have lost 750 workers and leaders to Taliban’s bullets,” he said.

Asked if they would restrict movement of the party’s candidates in the election, he said the ANP would adopt a strategy to cope with the situation and would never allow anyone to postpone the election.

Khan said the party had been alarmed by the killing of its leader in Swat and wounding of a provincial Assembly candidate in Charsadda on Sunday.

“The criminal silence of political parties and the media is surprising. We feel that conspiracies are being hatched to isolate the ANP,” he said.

“We will write to the Election Commission to demand security for our leaders. We are also planning to discuss the issue in a Senate meeting,” he added.

The ANP’s provincial chief, Senator Afrasiab Khattak, said the sacrifices of his party’s workers would not be in vain and would lead to the establishment of peace.

“We call upon the interim government to ensure safety of our candidates,” he said.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the former Information Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said the government was not serious about holding the elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.

He paid tribute to party workers for braving militants and urged them to be steadfast in the fight against militants.

(By arrangement with the Dawn)

the ringside view
Musharraf’s appeal rejected

Islamabad: Amid continuing disappointments, former military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf suffered another setback on Monday when the election tribunal Karachi rejected his appeal to review the rejection of his nomination papers in NA-250 Karachi seat. Earlier last week, a returning officer in Karachi had turned down his nomination papers for the NA-250 Karachi seat on charges of violating the Constitution and sacking of top judges. Musharraf had filed papers for four constitutions in Karachi, Kasur, Islamabad and Chitral. In the last case only, the returning officer had accepted his papers but three political parties have challenged the decision. — TNS

Poll code announced

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has warned candidates against seeking votes in the name of religion or sect. Briefing reporters on the rules of the game for May 11 poll, a senior ECP official said political parties, candidates and their supporters must not campaign against any person on the basis of religion, ethnicity, caste or gender. Candidates and their supporters shall refrain from speeches arousing parochial and sectarian emotions and controversy between gender, community and linguistic groups. He said that candidates must scrupulously avoid indulging in activities regarded as offences in the election laws such as bribing voters, indulging in intimidation and impersonation, canvassing within 400 yards of polling stations, including setting up of camps, and holding public meetings during 48 hours before the start of polling. Political parties, candidates and their supporters must refrain from deliberate dissemination of false and malicious information and must not indulge in forgery and disinformation to defame other political parties and their leaders. — TNS

Transgender allowed to contest

Karachi: For the first time in Pakistan’s history, a transgender has been allowed to contest polls, with the country’s Election Commission accepting her nomination papers from a constituency here. Initially, the Election Commission had rejected the nomination papers of Bindiya Rana when her supporters failed to show up at the ECP office at the time of filing of papers. But after filing an appeal, Bindiya has finally got the go-ahead to contest the elections. Bindiya said she wants to highlight the plight of transgenders in Pakistan. "”I have never really cared about the politics in the country. But now, I feel the time has come for us common people to also stand up and contest the elections to break this mafia of land owners, businessmen and professional politicians,” she said. Bindiya, who works for the Gender Interactive Alliance of Pakistan, said another reason for her deciding to joining politics was the tragic death of a friend. — PTI

Former PM Pervez Ashraf declared ineligible

Islamabad, April 15
A Pakistani election tribunal today declared former premier Raja Pervez Ashraf ineligible for contesting the upcoming general election. The tribunal comprising judges of the Lahore High Court upheld a Returning Officer’s decision to reject nomination papers filed by Ashraf to contest polls from a parliamentary constituency in his hometown of Gujjar Khan.

The tribunal rejected an appeal filed by Ashraf against the Returning Officer’s decision to reject his nomination papers because of his alleged involvement in corruption in clearing power projects and development schemes in Gujjar Khan.

The development is a setback for the Pakistan People’s Party, which led the outgoing government. Ashraf had planned to run for parliament from Gujjar Khan, where he had won the last two elections.

A relative of Raja Jawaid Ikhlas, Ashraf’s opponent in the constituency, had complained that Ashraf had misused discretionary funds. He alleged that this was tantamount to “pre-poll rigging”.

Ashraf's lawyer, former Law Minister Farooq Naek, said the PPP would appeal against the tribunal’s decision.

Pakistan will go to the polls on May 11 to choose new national and provincial Assemblies. — PTI

India, Tajikistan discuss ways to counter terror

Dushanbe, April 15
India and Tajikistan today discussed mutual cooperation on security issues and countering cross-border terrorism during a “very productive meeting” here between visiting Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

Vice President Hamid Ansari with Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov at a meeting in Dushanbe on Monday. — PTI

Both the “brotherly countries” also agreed to strengthen their relations in energy and medical sectors among others.

“In our talks, I emphasised India’s commitment to our strategic partnership. We have agreed to strengthen our relations further in the energy sector, information technology, health, education and in the establishment of small and micro industries in Tajikistan,” Ansari said in a statement after his meeting with the top Tajik leader.

“We discussed cooperation on security issues as well as in countering cross-border terrorism,” Ansari said.

Terming it as “very productive meeting” with the Tajik President and a very constructive delegation level talks, Ansari said: “Our talks focused on further strengthening the already close relations between our two brotherly countries”.

The two nations discussed regional security issues especially with regard to Afghanistan. “We exchanged views on how to cooperate in maintaining regional peace and security. In this, the situation in Afghanistan is of prime importance. Both the president and I agree that nations in the region, as well as the international community, should strengthen Afghanistan’s capacity to maintain peace, stability and prosperity of the Afghan peoples,” the Vice-President said.

Tajikistan has a porous 1,420-km border with Afghanistan. The country has concerns with regard to pull out of international security forces from the turbulent nation due to the activities of Taliban militants.

The two sides discussed the international political situation and agreed to strengthen cooperation in multilateral organisations. Ansari, who is on a four-day goodwill visit to Tajikistan, is the first Indian Vice-President to ever come to the central Asian country.

“I also apprised the President, of India’s drive to expand its relationship with the countries of central Asia through a ‘connect central Asia’ policy. I am happy to state that both, President Rahmon and I agree that our cooperation has greater potential and we should work to realise it,” Ansari said.

India also welcomed Tajikistan’s entry as 159th member of the WTO, a premier trade body, and said it will work the central Asian nation within the organisation for mutual benefits. “The deeper integration of Tajikistan with the global economy will not only benefit your country but would also enhance our bilateral trade and economic cooperation,” he said.

Ansari said India and Tajikistan share common secular and democratic credentials and have “much to discuss between our Parliaments”.

“We have agreed to focus on our common approaches and work towards the welfare of both our peoples,” he said, adding that the bilateral ties between the two nations will be further strengthened in times to come. Both the countries share “close and cordial” relations for over 21 years since Tajikistan’s independence following dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited Tajikistan in 2003. Former President Pratibha Patil had paid a visit to the central Asian nation in September 2009.

Tajikistan President Rahmon has been a frequent visitor to India. He has visited India five times -- 1995, 1999, 2001, 2006 and in September 2012.

During the last visit by Rahmon, both sides had inked six pacts in several areas including business and trade, health, culture, sports and education. During this visit, both the countries had elevated their bilateral relationship to the level of strategic partnership.

The Vice-President also had a meeting with Shukurjon Zuhurov, Chairman, Majlis-e-Namandyagon (Lower House of Tajikistan’s bicameral Parliament). — PTI

brotherly countries

India and Tajikistan on Monday discussed mutual cooperation on security issues and countering cross-border terrorism during a “very productive meeting” in Dushanbe between visiting Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon

The “brotherly countries” also agreed to strengthen their relations in energy and medical sectors among others

The two nations discussed regional security issues especially with regard to Afghanistan. Tajikistan has a porous 1,420-km border with Afghanistan

The country has concerns with regard to pull out of international security forces from the turbulent nation due to the activities of Taliban militants

The two sides discussed the international political situation and agreed to strengthen cooperation in multilateral organisations

Indian restaurants a big hit in Tajikistan

Dushanbe, April 15
A number of Indian eateries here, with clever names like the ‘Delhi Darbar’ and ‘Salaam-Namaste’, serving a variety of food items including the good-old ‘Chicken Tikka Masala’ are a hit among Tajiks.

Typical Punjabi dishes like the ‘butter chicken’ and ‘dal makhni’ attract a large number of foodies, mostly the Tajiks, to these restaurants who come here to taste food prepared with ingredients brought especially from India.

“We opened a restaurant 10 years back when my father came here for the first time and saw the problem of getting good Indian food here. We initially opened a restaurant called ‘Ashoka’.

“When I came here the last time, I decided to open an Indian restaurant at the centre of this city naming it Salaam Namaste,” said Apoorva Bhushan Mitra, an Indian who runs the eatery that serves almost all Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. — PTI

Scotland Yard probes Indian triple deaths

London, April 15
Scotland Yard, which is probing the circumstances around the "unexplained" death of an Indian-origin lab technician and her two daughters here, fear the use of a "poisonous gas concoction" that could have been made by the mother herself.

"Officers remain at the scene of the house and inquiries continue to establish the full circumstances. We are awaiting a post-mortem, which will take place in due course," a Metropolitan police spokesperson said.

Heena Solanki, 34, and daughters Jasmine, 9, and sister Prisha, 4, were found dead by a London Ambulance Service team at their semi-detached home in Ruislip on Friday night.

Scotland Yard's Homicide and Serious Crime Command team probing the "unexplained" deaths fear Heena, who worked at a local secondary school laboratory, may have used her expertise to create a poisonous chemical concoction and confirmed that at this stage they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, tributes were pouring in for the "beautiful" mother and daughters as the local church devoted its weekly Sunday prayers to the "close-knit" family. — PTI

Chavez heir wins Venezuela vote

Caracas, April 15
Venezuela’s acting President Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of the election to succeed his late mentor Hugo Chavez by a razor-thin margin, but his rival refused to concede defeat.

The contested result plunged the deeply divided oil-rich South American country into uncertainty, with the handpicked heir of Chavez’s socialist revolution declaring victory and Opposition leader Henrique Capriles demanding a recount.

Fireworks erupted after the National Electoral Council announced that the “irreversible” results showed Maduro had won with just 50.66 per cent of the vote compared to 49.1 per cent for Capriles — a difference of less than 3,00,000 votes.

“Mission accomplished Comandante Chavez. The people fulfilled its pledge,” Maduro said in front of cheering supporters at the Miraflores presidential palace.

The 50-year-old former Foreign Minister declared that he secured a “fair, legal, constitutional” victory. But he said he was open to an audit of the close vote tally. He is scheduled to be sworn-in to complete Chavez’s six-year term on Friday.

Maduro said he spoke with Capriles by telephone and that he told his rival he must recognise the outcome of the election. Both candidates had pledged during the campaign to accept the results.

But Capriles — who had accepted defeat when Chavez beat him by 11 points in October polls — held up a list of some 3,200 “incidents” that took place during the vote.

“Today’s loser is you,” he told a news conference, referring to Maduro, adding: “We won’t recognise a result until every vote has been counted.” The 40-year-old state Governor wants a recount of the backup paper ballots that are printed out by the electronic voting machines.

Hours earlier, Capriles charged that there were attempts to let people vote after polling stations closed. He also accused the government of pressuring civil servants to vote for Maduro. — AFP

Scientists develop ‘lab-grown’ kidney

Washington, April 15
In good news for kidney patients, scientists have implanted a bio-artificial kidney in rats, which may pave way for a synthetic organ made from a person’s own cells for human transplant.

The functional lab-made kidney. — Reuters

Bio-engineered rat kidneys developed by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators successfully produced urine both in a laboratory apparatus and after being transplanted into living animals.

In the study published in Nature Medicine, the researchers described building functional replacement kidneys on the structure of donor organs from which living cells had been stripped, an approach previously used to create bio-artificial hearts, lungs and livers.

“What is unique about this approach is that the native organ’s architecture is preserved, so that the resulting graft can be transplanted just like a donor kidney and connected to the recipient’s vascular and urinary systems,” said Harald Ott of the MGH Center for Regenerative Medicine, senior author of the study.

“If this technology can be scaled to human-sized grafts, patients suffering from renal failure who are currently waiting for donor kidneys or who are not transplant candidates could theoretically receive new organs derived from their own cells,” Ott said.

The approach used in this study to engineer donor organs, based on a technology that Ott discovered as a research fellow at the University of Minnesota, involves stripping the living cells from a donor organ with a detergent solution and then repopulating the collagen scaffold that remains with the appropriate cell type — in this instance human endothelial cells to replace the lining of the vascular system and kidney cells from newborn rats.

The research team first decellularised rat kidneys to confirm that the organ’s complex structures would be preserved. They also showed the technique worked on a larger scale by stripping cells from pig and human kidneys.

The researchers first tested the repopulated organs in a device that passed blood through its vascular system and drained off any urine, which revealed evidence of limited filtering of blood, molecular activity and urine production. Bio-engineered kidneys transplanted into living rats from which one kidney had been removed began producing urine as soon as the blood supply was restored, with no evidence of bleeding or clot formation.

The overall function of the regenerated organs was significantly reduced compared with that of normal, healthy kidneys, something the researchers believe may be attributed to the immaturity of the neonatal cells used to repopulate the scaffolding. — PTI

55 killed in string of attacks across Iraq

Baghdad, April 15
Insurgents in Iraq deployed a series of car bombs as part of highly coordinated attacks that cut across a wide swath of the country today, killing at least 55 on the deadliest day in nearly a month.

The assault bore the hallmarks of a resurgent Al-Qaida in Iraq and appeared aimed at sowing fear days before the first elections since US troops withdrew. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Iraqi officials believe the insurgent group is growing stronger and increasingly coordinating with allies fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad across the border. — AP

Mubarak stays in detention despite release order

Cairo, April 15
Ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak will stay in detention despite a judge ordering his release on bail pending a retrial over charges in complicity in the murder of protesters because he still faces other charges, court officials said on Monday.

Mubarak has spent the maximum legal time of two years in detention since being charged with former interior minister Habib al-Adli for their involvement in the killing of protesters in the 2011 uprising that unseated him. The case is facing an indefinite delay after a retrial was aborted when the presiding judge withdrew from the case. — Reuters