Tag Archives: More

Indian police say more players involved in fixing

Leave a reply

NEW DELHI: Indian police said Sunday they had widened their probe into cricket spot-fixing after the arrest of three players and 11 bookmakers, warning that more teams were under the microscope.

Test discard Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was among a trio of players from the Rajasthan Royals arrested on Thursday over allegations they agreed to bowl badly during the Indian Premier League in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars.

But speaking to AFP, Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said players for some of the other eight teams involved in the ongoing domestic Twenty20 competition were now under suspicion.

“It is still early but some other teams are also involved” in the rigging, Kumar said by phone.

“It is not established yet but we are looking into that,” the police chief said.

Spot-fixing is an illegal activity where a specific part of a game, but not the outcome, is fixed.

Sreesanth, who has played 27 Tests for India, is alleged to have been paid four million rupees (about $ 75,000) to give away 14 runs in an over while playing for the Rajasthan Royals against the Kings XI Punjab on May 9.

His teammate Ankeet Chavan had also allegedly agreed to give away the same number of runs in a match Wednesday against the Mumbai Indians in exchange for $ 110,000.

The third player, Ajit Chandila, was believed to have been paid $ 36,000 for giving away a set number of runs in a match between the Rajasthan Royals and the Pune Warriors.

Kumar did not disclose the identity of teams now under the widened police investigation but said he was “hopeful” of a breakthrough.

The Mail Today newspaper also quoted Kumar as saying “there could be much more grime and dirt than we anticipated.”

“Many more players and teams have now come under our microscope; the conspiracy is much, much larger,” Kumar told the daily.

The three players have already been suspended and authorities were expected to impose lifetime bans at a meeting later Sunday.


Preventable diseases: Six more measles cases reported in Rawalpindi

Leave a reply

RAWALPINDI: 

The menace of measles continues, as six more children from Rawalpindi district were admitted in Benazir Bhutto Hospital on Saturday, taking the total number of cases to 281.

However, Medical Superintendent Dr Asif Qadir Mir, told The Express Tribune that the situation is not very bad, as four or five cases were being reported daily, compared to more than eight-a-day just a few months back.

“The situation is under our control and the hospital administration is prepared to deal with any outbreak,” he said.

He said all arrangements have been finalised in line with provincial government directives.

The measles patients were identified as Hina, 10, Faryal, 9, Daaim, 8, Iqra, 8, Aiman, 6, and Faisal, 1.

The MS said the hospital has also launched an awareness drive to control the disease.

“The awareness drive has been proving fruitful as the number of new measles patients is reducing with each passing day,” he said.

Holy Family Hospital Spokesperson Dr Javed Hayat agreed that the situation is improving and cited timely action on the part of hospitals and doctors.

He also wanted parents to accept some responsibility for the disease outbreak, saying, “Parents are also responsible for the disease as they don’t complete the immunisation course, and then blame us if their children get sick.”

He further said that children should be given the first MMR vaccine dose at 12 to 15 months of age, while the second dose should be given four weeks later.

He said 281 cases of measles have been reported in the district since January. “Cases are being reported even in developed countries like England and Pakistan is no exception. However, a remarkable reduction is being witnessed in number of patients,” he said.

The health authorities have been unable to stem the disease as children in some areas have not been vaccinated against the disease yet, especially in the Rawat area.

Parents of patients from the area complained that several cases have been reported, but the district health department sent no team to vaccinate children in their areas.

“It’s the third case reported from here, but a vaccination team has yet to show up,” said Ashfaq, the father of six-year-old Aiman and a resident of Rawat.

When contacted, District Health Officer Dr Khalid Randawa said he is on leave and cannot comment on the situation.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) had also issued a notice to Punjab government seeking its reply over measures being taken to curb measles outbreaks, which have claimed over 50 lives in Punjab since January.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2013.


Fuel shortages: Petroleum ministry warns of more power cuts in summer months

Leave a reply

ISLAMABAD: 

As Pakistan perseveres through one of the worst energy crises in its history, the Ministry of Petroleum has warned that power shortages may worsen in the summer season, troubling those who wish for some respite in the near future. The ministry cites a severe shortage of fuel oil for the impending shortfall, as suppliers move to cut off provisions due to the nonpayment of past dues.

Due to failures in effectively managing energy supply and demand, Pakistanis currently face 12-18 hours of load-shedding on a daily basis in most parts of the country.

Pakistan State Oil (PSO) – the nation’s largest oil marketing company – has reportedly been striving to make sure that the supply chain for ‘white oil’ is not be affected by the liquidity crisis. However, nonpayment of dues by the power sector has started affecting the supply chain despite its efforts.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the Ministry of Petroleum secretary, in a letter sent to the Ministry of Water and Power on May 10, categorically stated that PSO’s ability to maintain uninterrupted supply of fuel to the power sector has been seriously compromised due to the nonpayment of its dues.

“This is likely to result in a severe shortage of fuel oil in the summer months, as PSO will not be able to import an adequate quantity due to its default [on commitments] with international and local banks,” the petroleum secretary had said. He explained the situation was quite critical and needed immediate and personal attention from the Ministry of Water and Power. He had urgently requested immediate release of funds to save PSO from any further delinquencies.

The petroleum secretary revealed that the Finance Division had released Rs10 billion for PSO, but two power plants – Hubco and Kapco – had deducted Rs1.4 billion from the amount released.

“Timely release of funds is absolutely essential for the retirement of letters of credit and maintaining steady supplies of fuel,” he reiterated. The Ministry of Petroleum had been persistently requesting the Ministry of Water and Power and the Ministry of Finance to release Rs8.5 billion for the payment of a letter of credit due on May 10, and another Rs5.6 billion for the payment of a letter of credit due on May 13. “So far, PSO has been financing its fuel oil letter of credits from white oil receipts, which is resultantly affecting the white oil supply chain,” he said.

Election arrangements

For the three days from May 10 to May 12, PSO supplied 19,000 tons of oil daily to overcome the power crisis, in line with directives issued by the interim prime minister in preparation for election day.

The petroleum secretary also revealed that Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) had provided 152 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) gas to four independent power producers – Orient, Saif, Sapphire and Halmore – in the light of decisions taken in a meeting held at the Ministry of Finance on May 4. In addition to that, SNGPL also provided 42mmcfd gas to Rousch Power after the receipt of Rs1 billion.

“Four independent power producers who are cash customers – AES Lalpir, Pakgen, Atlas and KEL – were supplied oil on credit following the decisions taken in the meeting held in the Ministry of Finance,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2013.

Like Business on Facebook to stay informed and join in the conversation.


Judges’ detention: Musharraf’s remand extended for 14 more days

Leave a reply

ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad extended former president Pervez Musharraf’s remand for 14 more days in the judges’ detention case on Saturday, reported Express News.

An application on Musharraf’s behalf was also presented in the court, which stated that the former president cannot appear before the bench due to security concerns. The court exempted Musharraf from appearing in one hearing.

The court adjourned the hearing till June 1, and also put off hearing a bail application by Musharraf until May 22.

On Friday, the main complainant in the case disassociated himself from the case, saying it was in the better interest of the country.

The retired general also faces legal cases over the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and the 2006 death of Akbar Bugti.

Musharraf returned from exile in March to stand in the May 11 general election, vowing to “save” the country from militancy and economic collapse but he was barred from running over charges dating back to his 1999-2008 rule.

Musharraf is currently in police custody at his farm house in Chak Shehzad following his arrest on April 19, in an unprecedented move against a former army chief of staff ahead of key elections.

He was arrested for making a decision to sack judges when he imposed emergency rule in November  2007 — a move that hastened his downfall.


Birth anniversary celebrations: ‘Manto was much more than a controversial writer’

Leave a reply

LAHORE: 

“In early ‘50s Manto predicted a close alliance between America and the Pakistani mullahs to defeat the Soviets,” said Shahid Nadeem, the writer of the play Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh, staged by the Ajoka Theatre Group at the Alhamra Arts Council here on Friday.

He said the play shows Saadat Hassan Manto as a visionary. “I have always believed that Manto was much more than a controversial writer who wrote about sex and prostitutes,” he said.

The play was directed by Madeeha Gauhar and marks the end of Ajoka Theatre’s celebrations of Saadat Hasan Manto’s 101st birth anniversary. The title refers to a poem by Majeed Amjad.

“Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh was needed because of the attempts by the Pakistani state and conservative elements to ‘sanitise’ Manto,” Gauhar told The Express Tribune.

She said, “It is a tribute to the gustakh [impertinent] writer who would have declined the Nishaan-i-Pakistan awarded to him by the hypocritical establishment after his death.”

The play depicts the hostile reception Manto got from a conservative establishment and a rigid left following his migration to Pakistan. It uses some of Manto’s short stories including Khuda ki kasam, Khol Do, Licence, Letters to Uncle Sam, Thanda Gosht and Toba Tek Singh, to depict the writer’s emotional and creative process.Naseem Abbas, who played Manto, said he was honoured. “It is one of the most difficult characters I have performed,” he said.

Uzma Hassan, the female lead who performed three roles in the play including that of Manto’s alternate ego, said she had joined Ajoka Theatre in November last year.

She said, “The play helped me better understand Manto.”

“Manto beautifully depicted the problems faced by our society in his letters,” said Kamran Mujahid, a senior TV and stage artist, who played Shayam.

“We have staged this play in India and in Peshawar as well. We will continue to play our part in helping the younger generation know Manto better,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2013.


Bayern eye more records in league finale

Leave a reply

BERLIN: Bayern Munich wrap up their record-breaking Bundesliga season today at Borussia Moenchengladbach with 20 records in their sights and with coach Jupp Heynckes to end his German league career at the club where he began in 1963.

While Bayern’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on May 25 looms ever larger, Heynckes’ side finish their league campaign having already lifted the Bundesliga shield with a massive party in Munich last Saturday.

Bayern can finish with 23 Bundesliga records, having already achieved the key landmarks for most league points in a season (88) and most wins (28). They are set to break the record of 21 goals conceded in a season with the current tally on 15.

Their 22-point lead over second-placed Dortmund in the league table is also a record, but while their fans finalise their Wembley plans, Heynckes is focused on claiming their 29th win from 34 league games at ‘Gladbach.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2013.