LONDON: Manchester City crushed West Ham United 5-0 to give manager Pep Guardiola the perfect introduction to the FA Cup as they cruised into the fourth round with a thumping victory at the London Stadium on Friday.

After taking the lead through Yaya Toure from the penalty spot, the five-times winners swept their opponents away with devilish attacking verve.

They survived a solitary scare when the hosts' Sofiane Feghouli inexplicably shot wide from in front of an open goal, but went in at the break with a 3-0 advantage after an own goal from Havard Nordtveit and an effort from David Silva.

Sergio Aguero then flicked the ball home early in the second half to become the third highest scorer in City's history and defender John Stones netted his first for the club with a header from a corner with seven minutes remaining.

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane insists he will continue to periodically leave out four-time world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo to keep the Portuguese fresh for the business end of the season.

Ronaldo has sat out Real s last two home games -- missing the visit of Deportivo la Coruna in December and a 3-0 Copa del Rey romp over Sevilla on Wednesday.

Zidane confirmed in midweek that Ronaldo will return for lowly Granada s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

However, with Real potentially facing a marathon streak of 20 games across three competitions in the next three months, Zidane said Ronaldo will have to accept being left on the sidelines from time to time.

"Cristiano is a very intelligent player," said Zidane on Friday.

"My idea is that I want Cristiano to be in good condition throughout the season. Having 20 games in 70 days, sometimes he will have to rest.

"There is no problem. He always wants to play, but talking is how you achieve things."

Zidane admitted towards the end of last season that he wished he had taken better care of Ronaldo as the former Manchester United man missed key matches in April, including a Champions League semi-final at Manchester City, due to muscle fatigue injuries.

Despite his absence against Deportivo and Sevilla, Ronaldo was still at the Bernabeu to support his teammates.

And Zidane hailed the leadership role the now 31-year-old Ronaldo has adopted.

"He is a leader on and off the field. He is here before and after the game, he is completely involved even when he doesn t play," added Zidane.

"Possibly you (the media) have noticed it less, but he has a tremendous energy and he transmits that to the rest. He is a real leader."

SYDNEY: Pakistan great Younis Khan says he wants to carry on playing Test cricket for his country as he nears the summit of 10,000 Test runs.

Younis, at 39, in the autumn of a trail-blazing 17-year playing career, reached another milestone with his first century in Australia in the current third Sydney match, makingh a Test hundred in 11 countries.

But Younis, who is just 36 runs away from becoming the first Pakistani batsman to score 10,000 Test runs, said he wants to bat on for Pakistan if "they want me."

"It all depends on my team and what they want. That´s the main thing for me," Younis told reporters after scoring an unbeaten 175 for his 34th Test century at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"It´s not about that I´m near 10,000 runs which will be a big achievement as a Pakistani.

"If you see that list there is no Pakistani who has achieved 10,000 runs so it all depends on my team and depend on PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) and how they want me.

Younis refused to be called Pakistan´s greatest batsman, despite the weight of statistical evidence of his run scoring.

"I can´t feel that I´ll be the greatest Pakistani (player)," he said.

"On that list you see Javed Miandad is there, Zaheer Abbas is there. There are a lot of great players there. Inzamam (ul-Haq) is also there.

"I don´t feel I will be the greatest batsman ever for Pakistan.

"But I want people and my critics and followers to know that whenever I play, I play for my country and play for my team. That is more important for me."

Younis said he was a "happy man" that he was able to break through for his first century in Australia with his 334-ball batting epic with 17 fours and three sixes.

"At least I have made a hundred in Australia because the previous time I was out for 87 in the the 2004 Boxing Day Test (Melbourne).

Younis began the Australia series sluggishly with just a half-century in his first four innings before he carried Pakistan´s first innings in Sydney.

He said he had not done anything special to fight his way back into form.

"If anyone criticises me, I take that very positively and I respond through my performances," he said.

"At the same time I feel under a little bit of pressure as well but I make myself calm and cool and this has worked for me.

Younis will be a key batsman as Pakistan attempt to salvage the final Test, trailing by 409 runs with nine second innings remaining on Saturday´s final day.

طیبہ کے والدین ہونے کے نئے دعوایدار سامنے آگئے، ڈی این اے ٹیسٹ کرانے کا مطالبہ

Pakistan’s former Indus water commissioner has claimed that the World Bank (WB) – the arbitrator between Islamabad and New Delhi over their ongoing water dispute – has relented to Indian pressure.

“In my view the World Bank has bowed to Indian pressure which in turn is stalling on the process of resolution by a Court of Arbitration (CoA),” Jamaat Ali Shah said in an interview with The Third Pole, a non-profit organisation. He said Pakistan had approached the World Bank to set up the arbitration court as a last resort only after it failed to resolve the issue bilaterally with its arch rival.

India recently revealed its intentions to block waters flowing into Pakistan. However, Islamabad took exception to the Indian designs, saying any such move would be taken as open aggression.

According to the ex-commissioner, the WB’s request to restart bilateral negotiations at the level of the Indus Commission is going to be an exercise in futility. “To my mind, this dilly-dallying on the part of the Bank only reinforces the latter’s intention to give impetus to Indian PM Narendra Modi’s threat of scrapping the treaty,” he said.

Shah went on to suggest that it was very alarming for Islamabad and there had been suspicion that India was pushing Pakistan for a Treaty II only on the western rivers, the waters of which were allocated to the latter in 1960. “That is why the Bank and the US are seen debating it and dictating Pakistan for an amicable resolution (revision in the treaty). Or at least India wants to get out of the restriction laid down on them in the IWT [Indus Waters Treaty] regarding western rivers, as India cannot liberally utilise these waters as per its will and demand,” he said.

In response to a question about the kind of strategy Pakistan should adopt in face of the growing hostility from its eastern neighbour, the former commissioner said the disinterest in matters of the ministry of water and power had added to the damage.

“Pakistan first notified India for resolution of the questions (on Kishenganga and Ratle projects) by a NE (neutral expert) and then withdrew it, then approached the Bank for a CoA,” he said, adding that it was an issue to be resolved by the NE being technical/design in nature.

According to Shah, processing the issue through CoA was not required. “But the question that comes to mind is to look deeper in the vested interest in the deadlock,” he said.

Claiming that many people aim to benefit from the case being taken from one authority to another, Shah said the expenses incurred were Rs300 million of which Rs190 million have already been paid.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2017.

ISLAMABAD: (News92world) After weeks of speculation, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday confirmed that former army chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif has been appointed the commander of the Saudi-led 39-nation military coalition to combat terrorism. The defence minister told a private news channel that Gen Raheel’s appointment was made a few days back and that the government was taken into confidence about the former army chief’s new role.  He, however, would not provide further details.

Gen Raheel Sharif: A life in pictures

Well before Gen Raheel’s retirement, there were rumours that he might be made the head of coalition of likeminded Muslim countries Saudi Arabia had cobbled together last year in the wake of the conflict in Yemen and other Middle Eastern countries.

Speculations about Gen Raheel’s appointment were rife after he was recently spotted in Saudi Arabia. A video showing Gen Raheel escorted by security officials while performing Umrah went viral on social media in the last few days.

However, there was no official confirmation about his visit to Saudi Arabia.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, would not offer any comment when approached about his appointment, saying that the military’s media wing was not authorised to say anything on his activities since he is retired.

Since the defence minister has confirmed Gen Raheel’s appointment, the move is seen as significant given the fact that Pakistan was initially reluctant to join the Saudi-led initiative. In fact, Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia saw an unusual strain after Islamabad refused to send troops to Yemen to fight Houthi rebels last year.  Saudi Arabia was so upset with the parliament’s resolution urging the government to stay away from the conflict in Yemen that a senior Saudi envoy at the time said the Kingdom felt betrayed.

Raheel Sharif named chief of Islamic military coalition, says Khawaja Asif

In order to pacify Saudi Arabia, Gen Raheel travelled to the Kingdom a few times and eventually Pakistan agreed to join the Saudi-led military coalition.  The government, however, clarified that the Saudi coalition was not meant to interfere in Syria or Yemen. It also insisted that Pakistan would not send ground troops to any other country.

Officials here said the primary objective of the Saudi coalition was to coordinate efforts to fight groups such as Da’ish in the most effective manner.

Pakistan has maintained a somewhat neutral policy on some of the hotspots in Middle East particularly in Syria and Yemen. The policy was aimed at ensuring a delicate balance with both Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are at odds with each other on the Middle Eastern politics. Gen Raheel even attempted to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran but could not achieve much success.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2017.

KARACHI: (News92world) In the wake of strident protests by various groups, Sindh Governor Justice (retd) Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui has refused to ratify the Sindh Assembly’s forced conversion bill, officially known as Criminal Law (Protection of Minorities) Bill. “Please reconsider the legislation,” said Siddiqui in his message to the Sindh Assembly Secretariat.

In his observations, the governor referred to the letters written by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), MQM parliamentary leader Sardar Ahmed, as well as the protest by religious parties, which either called for the bill’s withdrawal or proposed amendments to it.

PPP may revisit bill against forced conversions

“Today, we have received the bill with the governor’s message. The governor’s plea for reconsideration means he has asked for the bill’s withdrawal and for the introduction of a new law,” said Sindh Assembly Secretary GM Umer Farooq while talking to The Express Tribune. With the governor’s message appended to it, he said, the bill will be presented at the upcoming session of the Sindh Assembly. “However, it is the house’s prerogative to accept it or not,” he said.

The private bill – jointly moved by the ruling PPP and the PML-F lawmakers and unanimously passed by the assembly on November 24 –recommended that change of religion not be recognised until a person becomes 18 years old.

It also prescribed severe penalties for forced conversion of religion and said, “Any person who forcibly converts another person shall be liable to imprisonment for a minimum of five years and maximum of life imprisonment and a fine to be paid to the victim.”

Following the passage of this proposed law, the PPP leadership, civil society members and minorities had celebrated the development and called it a ‘landmark’ achievement in the history of the assembly, which became the first legislative forum to adopt such a law in the country.

However, religious parties rallied against the proposed legislation, calling it against the spirit of Islam and threatening street agitation over it.

According to a source, the PPP government has apparently succumbed to the pressure and has agreed to make amendments to it.

“After Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq’s phoned PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, the latter asked the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to withdraw the law and introduce a fresh bill,” an official source said.

Some sources even claimed that the governor objected to the bill on the advice of the Sindh CM.

However, Nand Kumar, the bill’s architect, insisted it was a genuine issue because forced conversions continue to pose a threat to the Hindu community. “Minor girls are compelled to change their religion and get married to Muslim men in Sindh,” he said, terming the government decision to withdraw the law a ‘cowardly act’

“No one objects to changing their faith out of their free-will. But it is a criminal practice to forcibly convert anybody,” he added. “I don’t know where the PPP stands after this decision. The party claims to have taken the mantle for the rights of minorities, yet it has surrendered that role,” he said.

More forced conversions going on than reported, says MP

PPP’s parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, justified his party and government policy. “We still own this bill, but since some parties have expressed reservations, so we have to redress the same,” he said. “The government will not withdraw the bill, but will make amendments to it,” he added.

However, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that the bill will again be sent to a standing committee for the point of view of religious parties to be incorporated in it.  “I don’t know what will be the fate of this law, but it may hang in the balance,” a senior bureaucrat in Sindh Assembly said.

The PML-N’s MNA Ramesh Kumar Vakwani, who also heads the Pakistan Hindu Council, said: “It will be a big tragedy for non-Muslims, if the bill is withdrawn.  After this 

decision the extremist elements will become confident and minorities will feel insecure.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2017.

ISLAMABAD (News92world News) – Clouds, rain, snowfall, cold weather, that is what different cities of Pakistan have witnessed in last 24 hours and the intensity of cold increased due to rain in parts of country. Clouds in Lahore started to drizzle in the evening which made the smoky atmosphere clear and weather more cold.

In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, it rained a bit in some areas, and more in others. It also hailed in Sialkot, drizzled in Darya Khan, Quaidabad and Kasur.

Meanwhile, snowfall has also blanketed Murree after which tourists came in large number to enjoy the weather. Many cars were stuck as well due to blockage of roads.

Mountains and trees in Galyat, Malam Jabba and Thandiani also remained under the veil of snow.

Neelam Valley was covered with six to eight feet of snow and Leepa was enveloped with five. The ground connection of some areas of Azad Kashmir was also cut-off due to land sliding.

The clouds and cold wind in Karachi made the weather as well as the moods of people pleasant, and brought winter with them.

The met office has predicted drizzle in Karachi in next 24 hours, rain in Islamabad and upper Punjab, and fog in plain areas.

(Published by: Dunyanews)

BAHAWALPUR (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday visited Victoria Hospital and met the victims of Lodhran train crash that killed 9 people including eight children. The minister pledged to ensure justice to the bereaved families and announced Rs15 lac for the families of the deceased and Rs3 lac for the injured.

He said that three suspects have been arrested from whom investigation is underway however, the signal was functional and the incident took place due to negligence of railway crossing worker.

He also revealed that proposal regarding the mental and psychological tests of drivers and assistant drivers with provision of mobile phones to them is under consideration.

The incident took place when a school rickshaw was trying to pass through Jalalpur’s open railway crossing and struck by train due to negligence of railway employee.

The eye witnesses said that train collided with the vehicle in the presence of railway worker who didn’t close the gates.

Sources told that the mishap had occurred due to no communication system at the crossing. 

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Police officers have geared up the search of minor maid Tayyab, who was subjected to torture at additional session judge’s house, and arrested her parental aunt. According to details, Special Investigation Team (SIT) has detained victim’s aunt Pathani Bibi for further interrogation. On the other hand, four parties have surfaced claiming to be Tayyaba’s family after which two of them have given their blood samples at PIMS Hospital for DNA test.

The child was reportedly employed by an additional session judge in Islamabad and initially told police she’d fallen down the stairs and burnt her hands by accident, Pakistani media reported.

But in a later statement she said that she was beaten and that her hands were burned on the stove by the judge’s wife, reports have said, citing police.

Authorities then placed the girl into a women’s shelter.

But on Tuesday the child’s father told authorities he forgave the judge and his wife, and that his daughter’s story was untrue, so no charges were brought.

The girl’s parents were then reported to have taken her from the women’s shelter and disappeared with her.

The widely-publicised images of her injuries caught the attention of the Supreme Court, which issued a motion initiating a legal case.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar demanded the child be found and a full investigation held by next Wednesday.

Earlier, Supreme Court (SC) had sought complete investigation report over Tayyaba torture case in three days.

Granting time to additional session judge’s wife Maheen Zafar, the court had ordered to submit reply till Wednesday.

DIG Police Islamabad had been directed to constitute a high level investigating committee and to present the minor maidservant and her real parents in next hearing.