ISLAMABAD: British High Commission Islamabad is not issuing visa to Pakistan’s World Champion Pakistan Blind Cricket team, scheduled to start tour England from 9th to 18th August 2009 for a cricket series of 3 One-day Internationals and 1 T/20, the Blind association has said. Blind Cricket England & Wales (BCEW), has invited the World Champion Pakistan.

Pakistan Blind Cricket team applied for the U.K visas through Gerry’s Visa Application Center Islamabad on 8th July 2009. “We requested British High Commission Islamabad and British Embassy Abu Dhabi several times to issue visas to Pakistan Blind Cricket Team, PBCC also provided them the Funds approval from Pakistan Cricket Board and N.O.C from the Government of Pakistan for the said tour but visas are still held in abeyance,” the association said.

As per the original schedule the Pakistan Blind Cricket team has to depart on Sunday but still the players are waiting for the visas.“If British High Commission may not issue visas until Monday then the tour will be called off,” a statement said.

The cancellation of the tour on one hand will cause huge financial loss to both PBCC and Blind Cricket England & Wales and on the other hand will create disappointment in the Blind Cricket players. We “are forced to think that, we, the visually challenged are the underprivileged part of the society whose fundamental rights of even playing cricket are being denied”. PBCC requested the Government of Pakistan to play their part and help us in getting our due right. NNI

ISLAMABAD: Cinema houses are an important source of entertainment for the masses worldwide, but in Pakistan Cinema Industry is on the verge of collapse, particularly in Twin cities cinemas are gradually turning into plazas, and shopping malls. Once cinemas were the only source of entertainment at low cost for the masses in the cities, but due to multiple reasons at present it is about to become a tale of the past.

Dying Cinema industry had tried its best to save it, and in this regard many steps have been taken including to show the Indian movies, but all it went in vain. The spectators and cinema owner narrating the golden days of the cinema industry said that in the bygone days, there used to be hustle and bustle in these cinema houses; but at now mostly of the houses are turned to shopping centers.

In Rawalpindi Novelty Cinema is closed since long Naz Cinema has been demolished and owner the Naz cinema has planned to build a shopping plaza at the place of the cinema and Nadir cinema has been changed into a wedding hall.

Now there are a few functional cinema halls in Rawalpindi and many of them are in deteriorating conditions such as Moti Mehal Cinema, and the Seroze cinema of Rawalpindi is fighting for its survival. The cinema houses of Islamabad such as Melody, Kohsar and Neftic are closed for a long time and currently there is no operational cinema house in Islamabad and thus the Capital city of Pakistan is the only capital in the world without a cinema house.

Indian movies were also introduced for the sake of restoration of the past glory to these cinema houses, but this struggle was failed due to cable system. The owners of these cinema houses are trying to find out some other alternative employments due to high price of electricity and less interest of the spectators to come to cinema houses, said the owners.

The worsening situation of furniture in cinema and the growing fears of terrorist activities have also played an important role destroy the business of cinema houses, said the viewers. The owners of these cinema houses demanded of the government to provide them with incentives so that they can invest to restore the dying cinema industry.

The cinema owners lamenting over the situation said that the cultural ministry had never tried to compensate the dying cinema industry. They said that it was a high time for the government to take solid steps so that the glorious past of cinema industry can be brought back. The spectators are of the view that it is better for them to watch a movie at Rs 10 rupee at home rather than to spend Rs 150 for it at cinema house. NNI

LONDON: Terming Pakistan as high risk state the United Kingdom (UK) strict the visa policy for Pakistan. The UK Interior Secretary Jack Smith said on Tuesday that 12 persons were arrested under terrorism act 2000; adding one of them was released and other 11 who belonged to Pakistan did not release yet.

Thanking British police and other security institutions over the arresting the Pakistani students he said that the UK was facing the threat of terrorism. On the occasion, he also said that the UK’s government revised its policies in last month and it was the need of the day to strengthen the cooperation with international partners to counter the threat of terrorism.

He further stated “we are working with Pakistani government to control the extremism and to establish balance society in Pakistan. He said that the UK was spending 10 million pounds every year for the said purpose, adding the UK’s government had doubled the aid package to alleviate the poverty from Pakistan.

He further stated that the above said package had been increased to 480 million pounds by the end of 2011. The UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also agreed on ongoing joint struggle for curbing the menace of terrorism. It is pertinent to mention that the denial of student visa for Pakistanis was increased.-SANA

NEW DELHI: In the backdrop of the heightened tension between India and Pakistan, the number of Indians travelling on the Samjhauta Express to visit Pakistan has declined to nearly half than usual at this time of the year. Against a total capacity of 777, the last train which left Old Delhi railway station of Pakistan had only 275 passengers on board.

“Among the total passengers, 209 were Pakistani nationals who had come to India, while only 66 Indians set off for the neighbouring country,” talking to Indian TV channel S N Malik, Old Delhi Railway Station Superintendent Delhi, said on Monday.

The lesser number of Indians travelling to Pakistan is attributed to the Indian government’s advisory warning Indians “not to travel or be in Pakistan”. According to the Indian railway officials, Samjhauta Express, the ten-coach train, was running almost full before the Mumbai terror strikes.

The Samjhauta Express, plying twice in a week on Tuesdays and Fridays from Attari and on Sundays and Wednesdays from Delhi, was started on July 22, 1976 following the Shimla Agreement and was the only rail connection between the two countries until the reopening of the Thar Express.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: Urdu poet Shahzad Sharjeel’s “Kiyun” a Ghazal collection was launched here on Saturday. Addressing the book launching ceremony at Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) here, eminent poet Amjad Islam Amjad said that His diction and style may draw from the rich tradition of the masters of Ghazal, but his selection and treatment of subjects breaks new ground and resonates with contemporary themes.

He said that each new literary effort leaves him even more convinced that Urdu literature in general and poetry in particular was not only maintaining its position but actually gaining stature and following. He said that poetry to him is a balance between one’s innate ability to feel, observe and create verse, and the technical craft that can be learnt, honed and polished. “A good verse has to strike a perfect balance between beauty of thought and a technically sound craftsmanship in its expression,” he added.

He urged all new writers to continue to work hard on the craftsmanship of writing. Shabnam Shakil, a renowned poetess while commenting on ‘Kiyun’ termed Sharjeel’s verse as “immensely mature both in thought and style of expression”, especially for someone whose very first collection of poetry has come out.

She also appreciated the author’s command over the Urdu language, especially the strong Persian and Arabic flavor in it. Meanwhile, the author, Sharjeel, regaled the audience with lighthearted tales of the hardships faced by first-time authors in getting their works published.

He hoped that poetry fans across the border and second generation of Pakistani Diaspora allover the world who can understand but cannot read Urdu will find the website a useful platform for remaining in touch with their roots back home. The event was attended by poetry lovers of the twin-cities.-SANA

Alexandria, Virginia, USA, 14 November 2008 (InformPress.com) – Muhammad Saleem, a naturalized United States citizen from Pakistan, residing in Montgomery County, Maryland, was sentenced today to five months in prison, followed by five months of home confinement as a condition of his two year supervised release. On September 5, 2008, Saleem pled guilty to conspiracy to commit visa fraud and agreed to forfeit $250,000 of his illegal proceeds to the United States. Dana J. Boente, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Edgar Moreno, Assistant Director, Domestic Operations with the Diplomatic Security Service at the Department of State; Mark X. McGraw, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Washington Field Office; and Gordon S. Heddell, Inspector General of the Department of Labor, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.

According to court documents, Muhammad Saleem operated the Lahore Foundation in Burtonsville, Maryland. Through the Lahore Foundation, Saleem recruited aliens overseas and fraudulently obtained visas for these aliens to enter the United States. Upon their arrival, Saleem housed the aliens in residences he owned and then employed the aliens through other companies he operated, namely Scientech Personnel, SVP Staffers, and Profourcing. Through these companies and in exchange for
an hourly fee, Saleem illegally contracted the aliens to construction companies to work as electricians in violation of their visa status. Saleem passed only a portion of the hourly fee to the aliens who
performed the labor. Saleem also assisted the aliens in obtaining an extension of their status to remain as a visitor, when in fact the aliens continued working through the defendant.

The case was investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service of the Department of State, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Labor. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Beth N. Gibson.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan intends to play its due role to prevent the climate change that has become a real critical challenge for the world. In his message on the occasion of World Tourism Day being observed on September 27 (today), the prime minister said: “In the present age, environmental changes have affected our lives adversely.

Our very existence on this earth will be in danger if we did not counter serious issues like dry seasons lasting for years, drought-like conditions in vast swathes of territory, continuous rains for months, flash-floods, thunder storms, rising temperature of the world and melting glaciers. This is the reason why climate change was made the topic of World Tourism Day.”

“To stop this change, is the need of the hour and Pakistan intends to play its due role in this regard,” the prime minister said. He said when tourist industry grows the economy of the country grows consequently. The day is being celebrated since September 27, 1980 by the World Tourism Organization. It was established at the Third Session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Torremolinos, Spain, in the September of 1979. The purpose of this day is to display the awareness that tourism is vital to the international community and to show how it affects the social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.-SANA

PESHAWAR: NWFP Government on Thursday finalized arrangements for a bus service to be run exclusively for women in Peshawar. Talking to private TV channel, Peshawar District Nazim Haji Ghulam Ali said that separate bus for women was the need of time, adding women and female students would benefit from the service.

He said these buses would be exempted from all kind of taxes. He announced separate bus stands would also be built for women. The transporters will be provided special packages and services, Ali said, adding all other arrangements including purchase of new buses have been finalized.-SANA

Tokyo Twins A serialized online story

Introduction

Tokyo Twins looks at two issues -

what the roots of terrorism are, and what the end of terrorism might be.
One new chapter, in both text and audio, will be posted each week to Pakistan Times.

Tokyo Twins-Chapter 3-mp3 audio
Chapter 3 – Unseeing a gathering storm.

Katie and Susan O’Brien negotiated their bodies and school backpacks and Shintaiso gear through the maze of commuters on the train at Chofu Station and stepped onto the station platform and into a lesser maze and put their footsteps on autopilot for the twenty-minute walk home.

“Mom and Dad will be …” said Susan, half wondering…

“…back tomorrow night,” Katie said.

“Been a long three weeks without them.” said Susan.

“Yeah… hope they weren’t kidding when they promised this would be their last long trip together.” said Katie.

“Better be.” Susan said.

“What is it in Kashmir anyway?”

“Sweaters.” Susan chuckled.

“Yeah, it’s like: ‘my Mom and Dad spent three weeks in Kashmir and all I got was this cashmere t-shirt’,” Katie joked and gave a twin’s nudge with her shoulder into the shoulder of her sister.

“Hey, don’t start.” said Susan.

“I thought we were doing the local train tonight,” said Katie, “ya know, get off at Fuda Station so we wouldn’t have to walk past Hebiyama…”

“I know. I forgot.” said Susan.

“Me too… ‘til now.” Katie said.

“Well, we’ll walk fast, and hey, the full moon’s out tonight. I love seeing how the moon reflects off the water in the rice paddies.” said Susan.

“Me too. Not something we get to see very often…” Katie said.

“Yep, only now… late spring…” said Susan.

“Just when the bull frogs are mating.” Katie said.

“Guess they like this time of year as much as we do.” said Susan.

“I’m hearing them already.” Katie said.

“Yeah me too – half mile away.” Susan said. “Noisy little things.”

“Just one singing bullfrog close to your bedroom window…” Katie said.

“They have us outnumbered a million to one, Katie chan.” Susan interrupted. “Don’t encourage ‘em.”

“We should ‘a got off at Fuda Station.” Katie said.

“Let’s not think about it.” Said Susan.

“Think about what?” Katie said pushing her shoulder into her sister’s again.

“I can’t remember.” said Susan.

“Then why are you walking so fast.” Katie said. “Hey, whatever the rumors are about Hebiyama… who cares?”

Susan was silent for a bit. “Me. I care.”

Katie released a quick sigh. “Yeah me too. Well, there it is… coming up… a hundred meters ahead… our wonderful and mysterious bamboo forest, Hebiyama.”

“Oh stop it. You’re scaring both of us.” Susan said.

The girls became quiet now, vigilant, absorbing the blackness of the bamboo forest of Hebiyama now spreading out beside them for hundreds of meters to the left and to the very edge of the road they walked.

Whatever or whoever was in there would only have to reach a single length of an arm to snatch them into the dark.

The more they tried to see and to listen at the total blackness, the more blinded and deafened they felt.

The rice paddies were carved flat into the earth ten meters below on the other side of the road and the racket coming up out of there from the bullfrogs didn’t help.

“This was a bad thing to forget about.” Susan said measuring out the words in monotone.

Katie countered to hold back her own accelerating pulse. “Not if you’re admiring the reflection of moonlight off the water to our right!”

“Maybe I’ll just keep walking.” said Susan.

“Wait.” Katie said.

“I’m walking; you wait.” Susan said.

“No wait. shhh.” Katie grabbed Susan’s forearm and lifted her index finger to her lips.

Now Katie was talking with her eyes wide open, darting glances between her sister and into the forest.

Seconds ticked by, then more seconds, and froze the young sisters into fear.

Katie’s index finger was still at her lips.

“Daijoubu?” suddenly came a man’s voice from the blackness. “Are you all right?”

“No!” the girls screamed and took off at a sprint.

“Run!” said Susan.

“I’m running!” Katie said.

They were two hundred meters from home, school backpacks and Shintaiso gear nearly flying off their shoulders. Katie and Susan spotted two men in suits getting into a car in front of their house. And the car drove away in the other direction.

“Who’s that?” Susan gasped.

“Keep running!” yelled Katie.

The girls threw up their arms to slow themselves down, landing out of breath and making loud thuds against their front door.

Katie groped for her house key and the two stood panting and the front door itself slowly opened.

The lights were off inside the house and they couldn’t see their grandmother’s face.

“Obá-chan? Obá-chan!” the girls chanted and stumbled into the house.

No response.

The girls stood at the entrance, their mouths still open, and stared at their grandmother who walked soundlessly down the hall toward a bedroom and clicked on a light and turned around.

Katie and Susan O’Brien were seeing a blank and distant look on their grandmother’s face.

“Obá-chan! There’s a man…” Susan started.

And Katie grabbed Susan’s arm again sensing trouble with their grandmother.

“Obá-chan, are you all right?” Katie said, and lay a hand on her shoulder.

“Are you sick?” Susan asked.

“Huh?” said their grandmother. “Oh. I’m fine.” Her eyes floating back toward the present now. Her voice still in another place.

“You don’t look so fine,” said Susan.

“Who was that? Those men who just drove off?”

“Oh, that was nothing… that was… um… they were lost… stopped for directions.”

“Why are all the lights off?” Katie asked.

Katie and Susan O’Brien stood looking at their grandmother. They had never seen anxiety in her normally calm eyes, never seen worry – or was it fear – tighten the muscles in her face.

“You’re out of breath.” said grandmother.

The girls grabbed each other’s hand.

“We were racing.” said Susan.

Katie nodded her head rapidly.

“Go and start your bath. Dinner’ll be ready soon.”

Tokyo Twins A serialized online story

Introduction

Tokyo Twins looks at two issues -

what the roots of terrorism are, and what the end of terrorism might be.
Two new chapters, in both text and audio, will be posted each week to Pakistan Times. Continue Reading