MQM Restructure , Dissolution of MQM Working Committe: Who is behind it?

11th Hour (MQM Mai Kia Horaha Hai?) - 23rd May... by zemvideos Dr. Mujtaba's PERSONAL ANALYSIS. (One has a right to disagree on the contents): THE DISSOLUTION OF MQM'S WORKING COMMITTEE IS A CLEAR INDICATION OF AN AGREEMENT between domestic & international establishments, which does NOT include the United States, says Prof. Dr. Gholam Mujtaba This means MQM is joining the Government as it has met the preconditions set forth by the Pakistani establishment. Amir Khan & Dr. Farooq Sattar's induction, and the removal of Hammad Siddiqui gives a complete clarity that Mr. Altaf Hussain has retreated a step backward, but I also believe that as usual the Pakistani establishment will pay a bigger price while falling into this trap. The bylines of this statement reflects everything unsaid. LONDON: I never taught party workers to take bribes, be corrupt or put undue pressure on people for favours, said Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said on Friday. Altaf was speaking to members of the interim Rabita Committee and other party workers. Addressing the issue of his stay away from home, Altaf told his party members that his family members went abroad to save their lives. He said his family worked hard while living in a foreign land. Delving more into his family and political affairs, the MQM chief said he never favoured his family with gains from his political movement. “I did not give party tickets to my relatives in elections,” he added.

Gulnara Karimova

TELIASONERA Telia's chairwoman, Marie Ehrling, has been asked to give testimony to a parliamentary committee after new allegations related to the company's purchase of a 3G license in Uzbekistan, daily Dagens Nyheter wrote. Swedish TV aired a programme on Wednesday alleging Telia held negotiations in 2012 with the daughter of Uzbek President Islam Karimov over about how to avoid difficulties with the authorities. Swedish prosecutors have launched a preliminary investigation into possible corruption related to the Uzbek license deal and whether the money paid ended up in the hands of the president's daughter. Telia has denied it had dealings with her and any wrongdoing. For more on the company, double click on Gulnara Karimova From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Gulnara Karimova Гульнара Каримова Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Nations Office in Geneva In office 2008–2011 Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Kingdom of Spain In office 2010–2011 Personal details Born July 8, 1972 (age 40) Fergana, Uzbekistan Alma mater Tashkent State University Harvard University Website http://gulnarakarimova.com/ Gulnora Islomovna Karimova (Russian: Гульнара Исламовна Каримова, Gulnara Islamovna Karimova) (born July 8, 1972, Fergana) is an Uzbekistan diplomat, professor and businessperson. She is the founder and chairperson of The Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Foundations Board of Trustees and a number of NGOs focused on cultural and social aspects of life in Uzbekistan.[1] She is the eldest daughter of the president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov. Contents [hide] 1 Early life and education 1.1 Marriage and divorce 1.2 Allegations of marriage to Sodiq Safoyev 2 Career and activities 2.1 Political and diplomatic activities 2.2 Business interests 2.3 Promoting Uzbekistan in politics 2.4 Charity and social initiatives 2.5 Support of youth 2.6 Sting concert 2.7 Music 2.8 Fashion and jewelry design 2.9 Cinema against AIDS 2.10 WikiLeaks allegations 3 References 4 External links Early life and education [edit] Karimova graduated from the Youth Mathematic Academy in Tashkent in 1988. During 1987 she interned at the State Committee of Uzbekistan on Statistics. From 1989 to 1994 she attended Tashkent State University, where she obtained a Bachelor degree from the International Economics department. During her second year, she worked as a translator at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In 1992 she completed a course of jewellery design in New York Fashion Institute of Technology.[2] Between 1994 and 1996 she was enrolled at Institute of Economy at the Uzbekistan Academy of Science where she pursued a Masters Degree. During 1994-1995 she was intern-teacher at political science department of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent. Afterwards, from summer 1995 until 1996 she worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan at the department for political analysis and forecast, where she was assigned to write analytical reports for the State Security Council and the Presidential Administration.[3] The next phase of her education took place after a few years of full-time work. Between 1998 and 2000 Karimova enrolled the graduate level at Harvard University, where she been being awarded a Masters Degree in regional studies.[4] At the same time, she was enrolled at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) in Tashkent, where in 2001 was awarded PhD in political science. Since 2009 she has held the chair of professor of political science at the UWED. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in telecommunications which she received in 2006 from Tashkent University of Informational Technologies.[5] Marriage and divorce [edit] In 1991, Karimova married Mansur Maqsudi, an American businessman of Afghan origin. They have two children, a son Islam, born in 1992 and a daughter Iman, born in 1998. When the marriage started to break in July 2001, Karimova took the two children and left the United States for Uzbekistan. An Uzbek judge granted her a divorce, while a New Jersey court granted one to Maqsudi.[6] When Karimova refused to accede to the New Jersey court ruling awarding custody of the two children to Maqsudi, an international arrest warrant in her name was filed with Interpol.[7] In return, Maqsudi faced arrest in Uzbekistan, and some of his relatives were arrested and thrown into prison. Others were driven to the Uzbek-Afghan border and dumped on the other side,[6] and Maqsudi had his business assets in Uzbekistan, particularly his interest in a joint-venture with Coca-Cola, stripped from him.[8] According to The Guardian, Karimova kept $4.5 million worth of jewellery and business interests worth approximately $60 million as part of her divorce settlement.[9] On July 9, 2008, custody of the two children was fully given to Karimova, by a Consent Order signed by Judge Deanne M. Wilson (Superior Court of the State of New Jersey). Allegations of marriage to Sodiq Safoyev [edit] In 2003, when Sodiq Safoyev was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, allegations about his marriage to Karimova surfaced in local and international media. Safoyev, a career diplomat and a divorcee as of 2001, was suspected to have been picked by the President Islam Karimov as his possible replacement, hence the marriage to his daughter.[10] However, the allegations were refuted and fact of marriage was denied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the BBC, which published the story, was accused by then the First Deputy Minister Vladimir Norov of intruding into the personal lives of Safoyev and Karimova.[11] Career and activities [edit] Political and diplomatic activities [edit] Between summer 1995 and fall 1997 she was Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan. During this time she helped on with organizing the Tashkent International Conference “Central Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone” (CANWFZ).[12] In 1998 and from 2000 to 2003 Karimova served as counselor at Uzbekistan’s Mission to the United Nations in New York.[3] From 2003 until 2005 she was minister-counselor at the Uzbek embassy in Moscow, and served as adviser to the minister of foreign affairs from 2005 to 2008. In February 2008 she was appointed deputy foreign minister for international cooperation in cultural and humanitarian affairs. In September of the same year she became Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. In January 2010, she was named Uzbek Ambassador in Spain.[13] She is a member of the Cercle Diplomatique de Genève.[4][14] In 2012 Karimova was honoured with the "Silk Road and Humanitarian Cooperation" Award of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.[15] Business interests [edit] According to US diplomats in Uzbekistan, Karimova "bullied her way into gaining a slice of virtually every lucrative business" in the country and is viewed as a "robber baron".[16] Karimova was alleged to control Uzdunrobita, Uzbekistan's national mobile telephone network, as well as the country's healthcare, and media sectors.[17] However since June 2007 Uzdunrobita has been totally owned by Mobile Telesystems OJSC (“MTS” - NYSE: MBT), the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS.[18] December 2009, the Swiss magazine "Bilanz" described Gulnora Karimova as one of the ten richest women in the country.[17] In the interview to the Swiss economic magazine Bilan, Karimova denied her involvement into mentioned cases stating: I have never considered the opportunities of doing business in Switzerland. […]These references are insinuations of my opponents. My name has been mentioned earlier several times in relations to companies such as Zeromax in Zug, Interspan, Oxus Gold, Wimm-Bill-Dann of Russia, Carlsberg and many others. [19] Promoting Uzbekistan in politics [edit] Karimova established and promoted, in 2005, the first, in Uzbekistan, independent think tank "Centre for Political Studies",[3] which focuses on scientific-applied research on present-day issues of internal and foreign policy of Uzbekistan, regional security, economic development, and international cooperation. The Centre prepares informational, analytical and prognosis materials on these subjects. Today the Centre for Political Studies cooperates with more than 25 institutions worldwide.[20] Karimova is a chef-editor of the monthly published the Information-Analytical Bulletin “Uzbekistan & Central Asia”.[21] Charity and social initiatives [edit] Under Karimova's supervision five NGOs have been established in Uzbekistan. In 2009, two of the foundations, the Social Initiatives Support Fund (SISF) and the Women's Council Public Association, organized a conference on "Medical aspects and role of Public Organizations in breast cancer problems solutions".[22] In 2006, under the SISF, Karimova took on initiative of micro-credits for women farmers in rural areas of Uzbekistan.[23][24] Karimova is founder and the chairperson of the social organisation called Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Foundation (the Fund Forum).[25] The Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Foundation (the Fund Forum), the biggest NGO in the country was established in spring 2004[26] Since then, signed a number of MOU with international organisations and in 2010 received consultative status at the ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council).[27] On December 24, 2010, the International Olympic Committee honored the Fund Forum with its annual "Sport – Inspiring Young People" Trophy for its activities in the area of sport, education and culture among youth.[28] Beyond national cultural and art promotion, the Fund also provides merit- and need-based scholarships for undergraduate and graduate levels.[29] In June 2010 the Fund Forum in cooperation with other foundations engaged in humanitarian aid to those affected by the events in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan.[30] In 2010, she initiated the organization of a charitable marathon, “In the Name of Life” under the auspices of the Fund Forum, the Women's Council and the Uzbekistan National Breast Cancer Association.[3] 100,000 people across the Uzbekistan have joined the marathon since its launch.[31][32] In 2012 Karimova is reported to have handed over 25 million soums to the National Breast Cancer Association to purchase cancer medication during the marathon.[33] In 2013 the race attracted some 7,000 runners.[34] In April 2012 Karimova announced that she had initiated the establishment of a new NGO, the “Forum of Socially Responsible Citizens of Uzbekistan”, which focuses on support of Uzbek citizens’ social initiatives.[35][36] Support of youth [edit] In 2004 on her initiative was created “YangiAvlod” Festival which supports children in arts disciplines. Also in 2009 the news have spread internationally that two of the worlds' most famous football strikers Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o and Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo agreed to support Gulnara Karimova's new initiative launching 'Young footballers support program'.[37] Both of the players evidently have signed Memorandums of cooperation with the Fund Forum.[38][39] Another project of Karimova, the Kelajak Ovozi Talented Youth Contest, has reportedly been attended by 388,000 young people in Uzbekistan since 2005, with projects and ideas ranging from IT, through architecture and design, to social innovations and poetry.[40] Sting concert [edit] Sting performed in Uzbekistan in 2009, giving his concert as part of the annual Art Week Style.Uz[41] project initiated in 2006 by Karimova.[42] Earlier, he had participated in an Yangi Avlod-arranged festival.[25] After his concert, several commentators accused him of hypocrisy for playing in that country and supporting Karimova.[43] The singer justified his action in an October 2010 interview,[44] saying that there is no cultural embargo on Uzbekistan and "... If this should happen, Uzbek community would become more paranoid, more aggressive towards us (i.e. Western people). Arts , journalism, enterprises, circulation of ideas – and I personally believe in the power of music – are all matters that do well/are helpful to totalitarian regimes. Regarding Karimova, she is much more sensitive to culture. So why not? Let’s keep the doors open."[44] In addition to this, the role of British diplomacy in general and this matter are discussed in an article by Eurasianet.org,[45] and Sting's statement was discussed in The New Yorker magazine by editor Amy Davidson.[46] Music [edit] In 2006, Karimova released her first music video singing a song called “Unutma Meni” (Don't Forget Me) under the stage name "Googoosha", apparently her father′s nickname for her. According to commentators, the video was part of a campaign to promote her popularity in Uzbekistan.[9] She also performed in a later music video, singing a duet of “Besame Mucho” with Julio Iglesias.[47] In December 2012, Googoosha released a duet with French actor Gérard Depardieu.[48] During his visit to Uzbekistan, the French actor agreed to star in an Uzbek film. Gulnara Karimova wrote a screenplay for "The Theft of the White Cocoon", a story about the origin of the famed Central Asian silk, and set in the 5th and 6th centuries in.[49] Googoosha’s first single “Round Run” was released in April 2012 with various remixes by DJ White Shadow,[50] Razor N Guido of USA and Max Fadeev of Russia. The remix from the album "has been on air in many radio stations and been played at more than 100 night clubs in the US",[50] and reached 5th place in the US Billboard Breakouts for Hot Dance Club Play section.[51] In June 2012 Karimova released her self-titled debut album in the US and internationally on iTunes.[52] The album was also expected to be released in Asia, Russia, and a number of other European countries.[53] Fashion and jewelry design [edit] In March 2009 Karimova presented her own special jewelry collection "GULI for Chopard", designed for renowned Swiss company Chopard.[54] Reportedly her royalty for design from sales of the collection will benefit the "Yangi Avlod" (New Generation) Children's Festival.[55][56] In September 2010, Karimova presented her fashion line "Guli", featuring Uzbek fabrics and designs based on the traditional Uzbek long coat, at New York′s Fashion Week.[57] In September 2011, Karimova′s planned spring 2012 fashion show at New York’s Fashion Week was banned[58] after Human Rights Watch and other organizations had drawn attention to her connection to her father’s government and its record on torture, and child and forced labour. According to Human Rights Watch, up to two million Uzbek children are forced to leave school each year for two months to pick cotton – a fabric woven throughout Karimova’s designs.[59] However the fashion show was eventually held in New York, with the location changed to Cipriani.[60] In Uzbekistan, Karimova also hosts Style.uz Art Week featuring catwalk shows of international labels such as Cavalli, Scervino and Chopard.[61] Art Week also includes Theatre.uz International Theatre Festival, Golden Guepard Tashkent International Film Forum, Biennale and Photobiennale exhibitions as well as master-classes, round tables, concerts and charity events.[62] Gulnara Karimova, the designer behind the Guli label, presented her first fragrances, Victorious for men and Mysterieuse for women, on October 8 as part of Style.Uz Art Week 2012.[63] The fragrances were created by French perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour.[64] Halit Ergenç the famous Turkish actor became a face of Victorious for men.[65] Cinema against AIDS [edit] In May 2010, Karimova was at the center of a scandal surrounding her attendance of the annual "Cinema against AIDS" gala fundraising event organised by amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research during the Cannes Film Festival.[66] AmfAR faced criticism from NGOs such as Reporters without Borders, with claims that it would be hypocritical for AmfAR to accept the attendance of Karimova given her country’s refusal to take AIDS treatment seriously. Just months before the Cinema Against AIDS dinner, a 27 year-old AIDS activist, Maksim Popov, had been sentenced by an Uzbek court to seven years in prison for distributing information to stop the spread of HIV-AIDS. The Uzbek court deemed the information to be against society’s moral standards.[67] WikiLeaks allegations [edit] Dispatches from the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan, released in December 2010 on the Wikileaks website, describe the ex-Soviet republic as a nightmarish world of rampant corruption, organised crime, forced labour in the cotton fields, and torture; many of the dispatches focus on the behaviour of Karimov's glamorous and highly controversial daughter Gulnara, who is bluntly described in the cables as the single most hated person in the country.[68] Karimova acquired interests in the crude oil contracts of Zeromax, a Swiss-based company believed to be under the control of the Karimov family,[69] in "a deal with [a] local mafia boss", the embassy said. It also claimed that she had obtained shares in the Coca-Cola bottling franchise after it had been subjected to a tax investigation.[70] References [edit] 1.^ "NGO’s and projects". Website Gulnara Karimova. 2.^ Trustfull, Paul. "A Woman of Substance by all Standards". The Forbes Custom. Retrieved 11 January 2013. 3.^ a b c d "Biography". Website Gulnara Karimova. 4.^ a b "GOULNARA KARIMOVA’S WORLD OF DIPLOMACY, CULTURE AND CHARITY". Diva International. Retrieved 11 January 2013. 5.^ "Gulnara Karimova Biography". Informat Fashion. Retrieved 11 January 2013. 6.^ a b Baker, Peter (13 April 2004). "Battle Royal". Washington Post. 7.^ Coman, Julian (18 April 2004). "Bitter divorce threatens unlikely alliance at the heart of war on terror". The Telegraph. 8.^ Alden, Edward; Ward, Andrew (13 June 2006). "Bottled up: why Coke stands accused of being too cosy with the Karimovs". Financial Times. Retrieved 2008-11-22. 9.^ a b Parfitt, Tom (11 August 2006). "'Princess of Uzbeks' cavorts in a cartoon wonderland". The Guardian. 10.^ "Президент готовит себе замену. Садик Сафаев женится на дочери Каримова?" [The President is preparing his replacement. Is Sadyk Safayev marrying Karimov's daughter?]. Centasia. 2003-05-23. Retrieved 2010-10-05. 11.^ "Узбекистан отрицает сообщение Би-би-си" [Uzbekistan is refuting the BBC story]. BBC. 2004-08-14. Retrieved 2010-10-05. 12.^ "Uzbekistan: President's elder daughter named Deputy Foreign Minister". Ferghana.Ru. Retrieved 14 January 2013. 13.^ Carlin, John (9 May 2010). "Laporta y la diva uzbeca. El presidente del Barcelona ha hecho negocios con la hija del presidente del régimen del país asiático y uno de los peores tiranos del mundo, donde existen la tortura y el esclavismo". El Pais (in spanish). 14.^ "Gulnara Karimova becomes honorary member of Swiss diplomatic club". UzDaily.com. February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-19. 15.^ "SCO award goes to Chairperson of Fund Forum's Board of Trustees". Retrieved 11 January 2013. Unknown parameter |news= ignored (|newspaper= suggested) (help) 16.^ Leigh, David (2010-12-12). "WikiLeaks cables: US keeps Uzbekistan president onside to protect supply line". The Guardian (London). 17.^ a b "It's Gulnara's World. We Only Live In It". rferl.org. December 2009. Retrieved 2010-02-13. 18.^ "MTS acquires remaining stake in Uzdunrobita". Mobile TeleSystems OJSC. June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-29. 19.^ "Mise en cause par divers médias en Suisse dans un dossier judiciaire, la fille du président de l'Ouzbékistan donne sa version des faits". Bilan.ch. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 20.^ "Central Asian Energy Market: Trends and Prospects". People's Daily, China. 21.^ "about us". Center for Political Studies. Retrieved 14 January 2013. 22.^ "International Forum: "Medical aspects and role of public organizations in breast cancer problems solution"". SISF.uz. 23.^ "Female Funding". World Business TV. 24.^ "Uzbekistan Provides 128 Women With Micro Loans for Business Development". CNW Telbec. Retrieved 15 January 2013. 25.^ a b "Sting awards special grant diplomas to 5 Uzbek talents". AllBusiness, a D&B Company. 26.^ Simons, Alex. "Uzbekistan: Traditions of the Past, Visions of the Future". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 15 January 2013. 27.^ "Culture and Art". Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the UN. Retrieved 15 January 2013. 28.^ Finalists of Kelajak ovozi 2010 saluted (12). Fund Forum. 2010. Nation jeune par excellence (40% de la population a moins de 18 ans) (82). Tribune de Genev. 2011. 29.^ "Grants to talented Uzbek Youth". ImmediaPress. 30.^ Uzbek-Kyrgyz Refugee Crisis Mobilises International Aid Response 31.^ "“In the Name of Life” Marathon". Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Foundation. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. 32.^ "Charitable marathons kick off across Uzbekistan". The Forbes Custom. Retrieved 15 January 2013. 33.^ "Forum-marathon "In the Name of Life" raises 216 million soums". Embassy of Uzbekistan to the United States. 16 May 2012. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. 34.^ "7 000 марафонцев в Алмалыке (7000 runners in Almalyk)". Новый Век (in Russian). 5 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. 35.^ Azizov, D. "Uzbekistan Fund Forum completes more than 600 projects in 2012". Retrieved 15 January 2013. Unknown parameter |news= ignored (|newspaper= suggested) (help) 36.^ "The Forum of Socially Responsible Citizens of Uzbekistan". Gulnara Karimova. 37.^ "Samuel Eto'o launches new project for children of Uzbekistan". 38.^ "Cristiano Ronaldo and Fund Forum sign cooperation agreement". 39.^ "Cristiano Ronaldo's Visit to Uzbekistan: My Experience with the Famous Football Player". Retrieved 14 January 2013. Unknown parameter |news= ignored (|newspaper= suggested) (help) 40.^ "Республиканской конкурс одаренной молодежи «Келажак овози» (The Republican contest of talented youth "Kelajak Ovozi")" (in Russian). Официальный сайт Центра молодежных инициатив «Келажак овози» (Official website of the Center of Youth Initiatives "Kelajak Ovozi"). Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. 41.^ [1] 42.^ [2] Eurasian Transition website 43.^ Hyde, Marina (2010-02-22). "Sting in the pay of tyrannical Uzbekistan regime". The Guardian (London). 44.^ a b [3] Repubblica website 45.^ [4] Eurasianet website 46.^ Davidson, Amy (1 March 2010). "Sting in Uzbekistan". 47.^ Orange, Richard (15 April 2011). "Gulnara Karimova profile". The Telegraph. 48.^ "Uzbek president's daughter releases duet with Depardieu". 5 December 2012. Unknown parameter |newsagency= ignored (help) 49.^ "Gerard Depardieu to star in Uzbek film by Karimov's daughter". The Telegraph. 29 November 2012. 50.^ a b [5] 51.^ "ROUND RUN # 5 BREAKOUT – US CLUBS!". Real Googoosha. Retrieved 11 January 2013. 52.^ [6] 53.^ [7] 54.^ "Guli for Chopard". Website Guli.uz. 55.^ "Gulnara Karimova to design for Chopard". France 24. 56.^ "Gulnara Karimova to launch new jewelry line". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 57.^ Orange, Richard (12 September 2010). "Daughter of Uzbek president unveils her fashion collection". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 March 2013. 58.^ "Guli Show relocated during Fashion Week". 59.^ "Fashion Week Cancels Show of Uzbek Dictator’s Daughter". Human Rights Watch. 15 September 2011. 60.^ [8], Fashion TV's Guli Spring 2012 Backstage & Show at New York Fashion Week. 61.^ [9] 62.^ [10] 63.^ "Новые ароматы знаменитости: Guli Mysterieuse для нее и Guli Victorious для него от дизайнера Гульнары Каримовой". Embaurma News. Retrieved 16 January 2013. 64.^ "Парфюмерные новинки от Guli". Krasotka fashion website. Retrieved 16 January 2013. 65.^ ""Mysterieuse" & "Victorious" от GULIl=http://styled.asia/category/news/2012/10/11/Mysterieuse_amp;Victorious_ot_GULI/". Styled.asia website. 66.^ "Reporters Without Borders are shocked at presence of Gulnara Karimova at "Cinema against AIDS" event in Cannes". FergaNews. 21 May 2010. 67.^ Paul Canning (2010-05-12). "Uzbekistan's Aids shame". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-09-17. 68.^ source: USA Embassy, Tashkent "Gulnora Karimova looks to improve her image". The Guardian (Manchester, England). 13 September 2005. 69.^ Wikileaks: Succession or protection plans for Gulnara Karimova, Eurasia.net 70.^ Gulnora Inc. strikes again USAs ambassade Tasjkent, 2005-01-28

China's Li offers to help end Pakistan energy crisis

China's Li offers to help end Pakistan energy crisis Wed, May 22 04:43 AM EDT By Nick Macfie ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - China and Pakistan should make cooperation on power generation a priority, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said, as Islamabad seeks to end an energy crisis that triggers power cuts of up to 20 hours a day, bringing the economy to a near standstill. Li arrived in the Pakistan capital under extra-tight security on Wednesday on the second leg of his first official trip since taking office in March after a visit to Pakistan's and China's arch rival, India. Li's plane was escorted by six air force fighter jets as it entered Pakistan air space. Security measures also included shutting down mobile phone networks across the city. Pakistan was one of the first countries to switch diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China, in 1950, and Li told a lunch attended by Prime Minister-elect Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari that China and Pakistan should remain "trustworthy partners" and good neighbors. In an interview with Pakistan media, Li said there was still "great potential" for the relationship. Bilateral trade last year rose above $12 billion for the first time and both sides are aiming to reach $15 billion in the next two or three years. "Our two sides should focus on carrying out priority projects in connectivity, energy development and power generation and promoting the building of a China-Pakistan economic corridor," Li said. The power shortages have sparked violent protests and crippled key industries, costing hundreds of thousands of jobs in a country already beset by high unemployment, a failing economy, widespread poverty, sectarian bloodshed and a Taliban insurgency. There are several joint energy and infrastructure projects under way in Pakistan and China has taken over operation of the strategically important Gwadar port. When complete, the port, which is close to the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping lane, is seen opening up an energy and trade corridor from the Gulf, across Pakistan to western China, and could be used by the Chinese Navy, upsetting India. Li this week offered India a "handshake across the Himalayas" and said the world's two most populous nations could become a new engine for the global economy - if they could avoid friction. China and India disagree about large areas of their 4,000 km (2,500 mile) border and their troops faced off for three weeks last month on a windswept Himalayan plateau where they fought a brief but bloody war in 1962. Pakistan and India have fought three wars, two of them over disputed Kashmir. "PRAGMATIC" MILITARY COOPERATION India has responded cautiously to Li's overtures, partly because of China's friendship with Pakistan. For its part, Beijing is concerned about India's growing relations with the United States. "I wish to reiterate solemnly China's continued firm support to Pakistan in its efforts to uphold independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," Li said in a possible reference to India and to the United States, which angers many with drone strikes targeting militants in Pakistan. Pakistan is going through a turbulent chapter in its ties with the United States, which plans to withdraw most of its troops from neighboring Afghanistan in 2014. Many U.S. officials have questioned Pakistan's commitment to fighting Islamic militancy since U.S. forces tracked down and killed Osama bin Laden in a garrison town near Islamabad two years ago. China's Xinhua state news agency said Beijing was looking for "pragmatic" military cooperation with Pakistan, "which is in the front line of the fight against international terrorism". "The military exchanges are not directed against any third party and contribute to peace and stability in both the region and the whole world," it said in a commentary. Pakistan's Nation newspaper said Islamabad wished China well in its attempts to address its border and security concerns. "It is also good that Premier Li is not oblivious to the kind of ill-will resulting from the core issue of Kashmir," it said. In a brief security scare in southern Karachi on Tuesday, a roadside bomb exploded near the seafront which police said was likely aimed at a passing van full of Chinese port workers. No one was hurt. (Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) = Enter the dragon: China offers help to end Pakistan’s energy woes By Sumera Khan / Kamran Yousaf Published: May 23, 2013 Share this article Print this page Email . Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President Zardari chat as they leave after a joint press conference. PHOTO: AFP ISLAMABAD: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has offered his country’s help in resolving Pakistan’s worsening energy crisis, as he kicked off a two-day official visit to Islamabad on Wednesday. Deviating from standard protocol, Pakistan’s entire civil and military leadership were present at Nur Khan Airbase, Chaklala, to receive Premier Li when he arrived in Pakistan on the second leg of the visit that also took him to India. Amid tight security, the Chinese premier received a warm welcome as his plane entered Pakistani airspace, escorted by six Pakistan Air Force JF-17s. Li held formal talks with the Pakistani side, led by President Asif Ali Zardari and Interim Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, reviewing “the entire gamut of Pakistan-China relations”, according to a statement issued by the foreign office. At a joint news conference with President Zardari, he stressed the need for increased cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector. “Our two sides should focus on carrying out priority projects in connectivity, energy development and power generation,” Li told reporters at the President House. His offer to address Pakistan’s energy woes comes at a time when the country is facing extensive power outages, which have sparked violent protests. China is already assisting Pakistan in several energy projects that include nuclear reactors. It has already provided two reactors, each with a capacity of 300MW, at Chashma in Punjab. The two countries are also planning to build two more reactors with the same capacity. Plan to develop ‘economic corridor’ Li also said the two countries were working to develop an ‘economic corridor’ that will not only spur economic activities but also restore peace in the region. “Both sides are of the view that by connecting China and Pakistan we can create a joint economic corridor linking the central and western parts of China and Pakistan,” he said. “This vision, once realised, will have great strategic significance for development, peace and stability in China, South Asia and the rest of the continent, and improve the lives of people in our region.” The Chinese premier, who was also awarded Pakistan’s highest civil award, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, pointed out that there is great potential for the two countries to enhance their bilateral trade to $15 billion from the current $12 billion over the next two years. Speaking at a luncheon hosted in his honour, attended by incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif among other political leaders, the Chinese premier said he selected Pakistan for his official visit to give a clear and loud message to the international community that “whatsoever happens at the international scene, our relations with Pakistan will continue to flourish and strengthen further.” He reaffirmed China’s unflinching support to Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. President Zardari responded by saying, “Today is one of the happiest days of my life. Gwadar port and our agreements on satellite connectivity among others are a testament to the fact that the dreams of citizens from both the countries are being realised.” MoUs to promote bilateral cooperation According to a foreign office statement, a total of 11 agreements have been signed between China and Pakistan as part of efforts to further deepen ties. The agreements include memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on maritime cooperation, boundary management, border ports, economic and technical cooperation and cooperation in the field of satellite navigation. Separately, the visiting Chinese high-powered business delegation signed procurement agreements worth $450 million to help Pakistani businesses utilise the tremendous potential of China. Meanwhile, Premier Li will have a busy schedule today (Thursday). His engagements include an address to the Senate, a meeting with Nawaz Sharif and a joint call by the services chiefs. Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2013. ======================

Bids on four plots: CDA fetches Rs2.3b By Our Correspondent Published: May 23, 2013 Share this article Print this page Email . On the second day of the auction, the civic agency offered four commercial plots, all of them situated in the Blue Area. PHOTO: FILE. ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) auctioned 14 commercial plots during its two day auction which concluded on Wednesday, fetching a total of Rs4.9 billion in successful bids, according to a press release. On the second day of the auction, the civic agency offered four commercial plots, all of them situated in the Blue Area. Plot A-2 parallel to sectors F-9 and G-9 in Blue Area fetched the highest per square yard (sq yd) bid. The 1,333.33 square yard plot went for Rs453,000 per sq yd — or a total of around Rs604 million. The lowest bid received was Rs319,000 per sq yd for the 1,333.33 sq yd Plot A4, in the same area, while Plot A-1, measuring 1,333.33 sq yd, also in the same patch, received a bid of Rs330,000 per sq yd. Plot 59, located in Blue Area between sectors F-6 and G-6 fetched the overall highest bid total bid. The plot, which measures 2,488.88 sq yd, received a bid of Rs343,000 per sq yd or Rs853 million in all. On Tuesday, The CDA had auctioned 10 plots for a total of Rs2.6 billion. The CDA auction committee headed by Finance Member Azhar Ali Chaudhary and includes Planning Member Mustafain Kazmi and Estate Member Shaista Sohail, will now submit its recommendations to the CDA board, which is the final authority for approving the bids. Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2013.

Who's who in Syria's battlefield

========== Who's who in Syria's battlefield May 17th 2013, 14:03 by Economist.com .. A guide to the key rebel forces in Syria AS THE civil war in Syria has dragged on, the rebels have become more Islamist and extreme. For Western governments pondering whether to arm them, Jabhat al-Nusra (Victory Front) is the biggest worry. Its global jihadist ideology justifies violence to bring about a nation where all Muslims unite. It enjoys murky sources of private funding, including regular payments from al-Qaeda in Iraq. Ahrar al-Sham has more local aims, but its comrades are also vehemently Islamist. Other umbrella groups, such as Liwa al-Tawhid in Aleppo, Syria’s embattled second city, are harder to classify, in part because they serve as franchises or bring together smaller groups with a range of ideas. The Farouq Battalions, whose territorial reach goes from Homs to Hasaka in the north-east, is another mixed bag, ranging from Islamists to people with no particular ideology. The Supreme Military Command, led by General Salim Idriss, a Sunni defector from President Assad’s army, includes some able commanders but still lacks the cash and arms to match either the regime’s forces or Jabhat al-Nusra, which ignores the military command. Ominously, rebels from more secular-minded or more moderately Islamist groups speak openly of a second war to come—against Jabhat al-Nusra. See full article. This table is from the May 18th print edition of The Economist. All the graphics from this week's newspaper are available to download as a contact sheet. =========== The hard men on both sides prevail The more decent rebel groups are being squeezed between the regime’s forces and extremists on their own side May 18th 2013 | RAQQA |From the print edition .. A BLACK flag flies over the governor’s headquarters in Raqqa, a city of 250,000 people in Syria’s north-east which is the biggest so far that the rebels have captured wholesale from President Bashar Assad’s regime. It is also a base for Jabhat al-Nusra (Victory Front), an extreme armed opposition group in Syria with which al-Qaeda in Iraq recently claimed to have merged. But the group does not dominate Raqqa. At least four other rebel outfits, mainly Salafist ones whose members say they want to emulate the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, vie with a bunch of civilian councils for power over this tribal Sunni city, plastering its walls with rival graffiti. Yet in the eastern provinces as a whole, Jabhat al-Nusra has emerged as a hugely powerful presence. Among rebel fighters across the country it is probably the most effective single group. By contrast, down the road in the gold-curtained living room of a small house near the city centre, members of a more moderate Islamist lot, al-Farouq, admit that they have grown weaker. They used to control the border crossing into Turkey at Tel Abyad, a prime piece of territory for arms and money, along with another crossing farther west. But that has since been grabbed away from them. In this section The hard men on both sides prevail The other red line A candidacy conundrum Bring them together Who’s a Jew? Sata pack Bigger guns Reprints Related topics Islamism Government and politics Syria Bashar Assad Sometimes Jabhat al-Nusra imposes itself on other rebels by force. Two months ago it tried to assassinate Abu Azzam, the local Farouq unit’s bear of a leader. In the event he had to flee to Turkey, while his men were left directionless and disorganised. Funds and weapons, which one Farouq member says only ever came in “injections just often enough to keep us alive”, dried up. Raqqa offers a snapshot of what is going on among the rebels elsewhere in Syria. The more moderate ones are now a minority. On one side they have been squeezed by Salafist factions, especially in the rebel-controlled east. On the other, they have been pushed back territorially by the regime as it regains ground in the more populated west of the country. That is partly because Mr Assad’s allies, Iran and Hizbullah, the Lebanese Shia movement, have backed the regime with more dedication than the Gulf Arab and Western states have helped the opposition. As the civil war has dragged on, the rebels, hardened by war and seeing where their bread is buttered, have become more Islamist and extreme. For Western governments pondering whether to arm the rebels rather than merely advise them and provide non-lethal support, Jabhat al-Nusra is the biggest worry. By some estimates, it now has 6,000 carefully vetted men, mainly Syrians but under foreign leadership. Its global jihadist ideology justifies violence to bring about a nation where all Muslims unite. “Most groups are a reaction to the regime, whereas we are fighting for a vision,” explains one of its fighters. Though Jabhat al-Nusra says it gets most of its weapons from the spoils of battle, it also enjoys murky sources of private funding, including regular payments from al-Qaeda in Iraq. Since it captured oil wells and grain silos, it has been able—more effectively than other outfits—to set up basic services and a rudimentary administration in the areas it controls, as well as sell off goods and oil for cash. It is probably the most disciplined of all its rivals. But it may not be as strong as its reputation suggests. The al-Qaeda announcement, which emanated originally from its ally in Iraq, may have harmed it. Ructions within the ranks broke out between those who favour the link and those who are against it, says a sheikh who deals with the organisation. Civilians in some areas who had started to welcome the group because of its military prowess and provision of services have protested against the al-Qaeda tie. Even Ahrar al-Sham, another large nationwide network of Salafist jihadists, criticised the affiliation. Yet it is not only Jabhat al-Nusra which expresses extreme Islamist views. Though Ahrar al-Sham has more local aims, its comrades are also vehemently Islamist. So are many of the other forces that have gained ground among the rebels, thanks in part to Gulf backing. Rebel groups that echo more moderate and secular attitudes, for which Syria used to be praised, are smaller and less powerful. Other umbrella groups, such as Liwa al-Tawhid in Aleppo, Syria’s embattled second city, are harder to classify, in part because they serve as franchises or bring together smaller groups with a range of ideas. The Farouq Battalions, whose territorial reach goes from Homs, the pivotal third city between Damascus and Aleppo, to Hasaka in the north-east, is another mixed bag, ranging from Islamists to people with no particular ideology. “What does Islamist mean?” asks Omar al-Dada, a doctor who heads a small, independent fighting group in Raqqa province. “For me, and most Syrians, it just means I am a Muslim. I want a democracy and Islamic law to rule over family matters only.” A big problem for Western governments is how to decide which groups to back and how to funnel help to them. The rebels have built informal networks but still have no effective command structure. Since it was set up in December, their Supreme Military Command, led by General Salim Idriss, a Sunni defector from Mr Assad’s army, includes some able commanders but still lacks the cash and arms to match either the regime’s forces or Jabhat al-Nusra, which ignores the military command. Moreover, arms sent to one group could easily fall into the hands of another. Rebels often switch allegiance from one lot to another, often depending on its success. Meanwhile Mr Assad is strengthening a territorial axis running from Damascus through the pivotal town of Homs and on to the coastal and mountainous belt in the provinces of Tartous and Latakia where his Alawites are numerous. Hizbullah and the Iranian al-Quds force are helping to train a new “national defence force” of 50,000 drawn from the mainly Alawite militias. Recent sectarian killings in and near the port of Banias suggest a plan to cleanse some of those areas of Sunnis. Hundreds of them have been killed in what seem to have been premeditated massacres. But the rebels are no angels either. Atrocities and kidnappings have been carried out by them, too. A leader of a group that broke away from Farouq recently horrified potential sponsors by being shown on a video biting a body-part of a member of Mr Assad’s armed forces who had been captured and killed. Corruption is rife among the rebels, sighs one of their commanders, berating his peers for shunning battles but wanting to “get a new car and a second wife”. And jealousy between rebel groups over the supply of cash and arms is fomenting strife between them. Earlier this month, two rebel commanders were assassinated in Raqqa alone. Rebels from more secular-minded or more moderately Islamist groups speak openly of a second war to come—against Jabhat al-Nusra -====================

عمران خان ایک بدزبان شخص ہے، ثبوت کے ساتھ ملاحظہ فرمائی

عمران خان ایک بدزبان شخص ہے، ثبوت کے ساتھ ملاحظہ فرمائی تم پر وہی حکمران مسلط کئے جاتے ہیں جن کے تم مستحق ہو مولائے متقیان امام علی علیہ السلام PTI pe sirf ye ilzaam tha ke wo zurur PMLN se miljaaega aur jin Ji ne unhe Punjab University me pitaai ki thi, unse gale lagaae ga, Dekhlo sabit huwa, KPK me JI ke saath milaap karliya, aur Karachi me Dr.Arif Alvi ex JI. Ata ul Haq Qasmi (Urdu: عطا الحق قاسمی‎) is a Pakistani Urdu language columnist and poet. He has written many articles on different subjects for the leading newspapers of Pakistan. The most distinguished character of Qasmi's column is his satire on social inequalities of the society and his anti dictatorship stance which he boldly takes in his columns. He has a unique style of writing incomparable to any other columnist because of his humorous way which holds the reader till the last line of his column which is his punch line. Qasmi was also elevated to the position of Ambassador of Pakistan in Norway and Thailand during Nawaz Sharif's reign from 1997 to 1999. His books of columns include "Column Tamam", "Shar Goshiyan", "Hansna Rona Mana Hay", "Mazeed Ganjey Farishtey and many more while his TV Drama Serials include the most popular "Khwaja and Son", "Shab Daig" and "Sheeda Talli". His travelogues include "Shoq-e-Awargi". His writing is more toward Nawaz Sharif, and he has some closed relation with him. He supported PML-N in the 2013 election, and there are news that soon he will be appointed Ambassador to some country. May. 20, 2013 9:10 PM ET 10 Things to Know for Tuesday By The Associated Press A woman is pulled out from under tornado debris at the Plaza Towers School in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado as much as a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school.(AP Photo Sue Ogrocki) State medical examiner's office: death toll of 51 in Okla. tornado is again expected to rise May. 20, 20139:03 PM ET State medical examiner's office: 51 killed in Oklahoma tornado, with children among the dead May. 20, 20139:00 PM ET 'Star Trek' beams up $70.1M at box office May. 20, 20136:01 PM ET NYPD to up presence after bias killing of gay man May. 20, 20134:43 PM ET Guantanamo hack threat prompts WiFi shutdown May. 20, 20132:10 PM ET Buy AP Photo Reprints Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Tuesday: 1. TORNADO ROARS THROUGH OKLAHOMA CITY SUBURBS The twister, with winds up to 200 mph, reduces block after residential block to ruins and leaves dozens dead. 2. A RARE AND DEADLY COINCIDENCE Monday's powerful storm followed roughly the same route as a killer twister that slammed the region in 1999. 3. THE PATH THAT LED TO A $1.1 BILLION PAYDAY David Karp dropped out of high school, then created Tumblr, which has been acquired by Yahoo in a blockbuster deal. 4. WHO WAS OUT OF THE LOOP ON THE IRS AUDIT Top advisers say they did not immediately inform Obama, reflecting an apparent desire to distance him from troubles threatening his administration. 5. JODI ARIAS TRIAL IN TURMOIL Her lawyers try to quit in the middle of the death-penalty phase, then say they'll call just one witness: Arias herself. 6. THE SCOPE OF NYPD SPYING A detective describes surveillance of Muslims as narrowly targeted on a few individuals. But text messages obtained by the AP show a wide-ranging effort. 7. WHY BLOODSHED IN IRAQ IS ESPECIALLY TROUBLING A wave of deadly attacks is raising fears that the country could be turning down the path toward civil war. 8. MANDELA'S DECLINE ACCOMPANIED BY DISILLUSIONMENT The sense of possibility that the aging leader embodied is fading in South Africa as the gulf between rich and poor widens. 9. WHERE LAND IS AT A PREMIUM Across the Midwest, farmers are planting crops on almost any scrap of available acreage to take advantage of high corn and soybean prices. 10. FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE DOORS DIES AT 74 Keyboardist Ray Manzarek helped form the seminal '60s band after meeting then-poet Jim Morrison in California.

Hezbollah in big Syria battle, Obama 'concerned'

It was Hilary Clinton, agreeing with Israeli analysis, who said that Assad has lost legitimacy and that he must go. The Israelis went further and gave Assad until the end of 2012. The British and the French followed suit. Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Tunisiaia have already been involved in recruiting, arming and financing Jihadists from all over the world and facilitating their entry into Syria. On the otherhand, the Iranians and Hizbullah insisted that they will never allow Syria to be ruled by the USraelis and continued sending men, weapons and oil to the besieged Assad regime. After threats and counter threats and thousands of victims and industrial-sclae destruction of Syrian infrastructure, Assad army started to push back the rebels and to regain control of some strategic positions. But two major events may have changed the course of events: 1.The announcement of the Nusrat Front that it is a branch of Al-Qaeda which has finally opened the eyes of the Usraeli-led West. And, 2.The Israeli massive bomardment of Syrian army positions and facilities which brought sympathy for Assad inside and outside the country. Afraid of being seen as supporters for Al-Qaeda, the Usraeli-led West have finally accepted the Russian plan for a political solution to the Syrian problem. They will also have to accept a role for Iran in any furture negotiations or fonferences. No matter what will happen, the USraelis have stopped calling on Assad to go and decided on working to limit the effects of Al-Qaeda influence in Syria. If a winner must be nominated in the battle of Assad, it must be Iran. Adnan Darwash, Iraq Occupation Times 13-05-13 ==== Hezbollah in big Syria battle, Obama 'concerned' Mon, May 20 17:26 PM EDT 1 of 3 By Khaled Yacoub Oweis and Dominic Evans AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas have fought their biggest battle yet for Syria's beleaguered president, prompting international alarm that the civil war may spread and an urgent call for restraint from the United States. About 30 Hezbollah fighters were killed on Sunday, Syrian activists said, along with 20 Syrian troops and militiamen loyal to President Bashar al-Assad during the fiercest fighting this year in the rebel stronghold of Qusair, near the Lebanon border. That would be the highest daily loss for the Iranian-backed movement in Syria, highlighting how it is increasing its efforts to bolster Assad; it prompted U.S. President Barack Obama to voice his concern to his Lebanese counterpart, Michel Suleiman. If confirmed, the Hezbollah losses reflect how Syria is becoming a proxy conflict between Shi'ite Iran and Arab states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which back Assad's mostly Sunni enemies. Dozens of dead in sectarian bombings in Iraq on Monday and killings in the Lebanese city of Tripoli compounded a sense of spreading regional confrontation. Western powers and Russia back opposing sides in the cross-border Syrian free-for-all, which is also sucking in Israel - though Washington and its allies have fought shy of intervening militarily behind fractured and partly Islamist rebel forces. The White House said Obama spoke to Lebanese President Suleiman and "stressed his concern about Hezbollah's active and growing role in Syria, fighting on behalf of the Assad regime, which is counter to the Lebanese government's policies". The Beirut government, however, has limited means to influence the politically and militarily powerful Shi'ite group. The two leaders agreed "all parties should respect Lebanon's policy of disassociation from the conflict in Syria and avoid actions that will involve the Lebanese people in the conflict". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was "preparing for every scenario" in Syria and held out the prospect of more Israeli strikes on Syria to stop Hezbollah and other opponents of Israel obtaining advanced weapons. Israel has not confirmed or denied reports by Western and Israeli intelligence sources that three raids this year targeted Iranian missiles near Damascus that it believed were awaiting delivery to Hezbollah, which fought a war with Israel in 2006. FOG OF WAR Syrian opposition sources and state media gave differing accounts of Sunday's clashes in Qusair, long used by rebels as a supply route from Lebanon to the provincial capital Homs. Hezbollah has not commented but in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Monday several funeral processions could be seen. Pictures of dead fighters were plastered on to cars and mourners waved yellow Hezbollah flags. Several ambulances were seen on the main Bekaa Valley highway and residents said hospitals had appealed for blood to treat the wounded brought back to Lebanon. The air and tank assault on the strategic town of 30,000 people appeared to be part of a campaign by Assad's forces to consolidate their grip on Damascus and secure links between the capital and government strongholds in the Alawite coastal heartland via the contested central city of Homs. The government campaign has coincided with efforts by the United States and Russia, despite their differences on Syria, to organize peace talks to end a conflict now in its third year in which more than 80,000 people have been killed. A total of 100 combatants from both sides were killed in Sunday's offensive, according to opposition sources, including the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Such a death toll would indicate at least hundreds had taken part. Troops have already retaken several villages around Qusair and have attacked increasingly isolated rebel units in Homs. "If Qusair falls, God forbid, the opposition in Homs city will be in grave danger," said an activist who called himself Abu Jaafar al-Mugharbil. State news agency SANA said the army had "restored security and stability to most Qusair neighborhoods" and was "chasing the remnants of the terrorists in the northern district". Syrian television also showed footage of what it said was an Israeli military Jeep which it said the rebels had been using and which showed the extent of their foreign backing. An Israeli military spokeswoman said the vehicle was decommissioned a decade ago and dismissed the footage as "poor propaganda". Opposition activists said rebels in Qusair, about 10 km (six miles) from the Lebanese border, had pushed back most of the attacking forces to their original positions in the east of the town and to the south on Sunday, destroying at least four Syrian army tanks and five light Hezbollah vehicles. The Western-backed leadership of the Free Syrian Army, the loose umbrella group trying to oversee hundreds of disparate rebel brigades, said the Qusair fighters had thwarted Hezbollah with military operations it dubbed "Walls of Death". Syrian government restrictions on access for independent media make it hard to verify such videos and accounts. "NO DIALOGUE WITH TERRORISTS" The fighting raged as Western nations are seeking to step up pressure on Assad - Britain and France want the European Union to allow arms deliveries to rebels - while preparing for the peace talks brokered by Russia and the United States next month. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said "no option is off the table" over the possible arming of rebels if the Syrian government does not negotiate seriously at the proposed talks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose country has shielded Syria from U.N. Security Council action, said Syrian opposition representatives must take part without precondition, apparently referring to their demands for Assad's exit before they come to the table. Assad has scorned the idea that the conference expected to convene in Geneva could end a war that is fuelling instability and deepening Sunni-Shi'ite rifts across the Middle East. "They think a political conference will halt terrorists in the country. That is unrealistic," he told the Argentine newspaper Clarin, in a reference to Syria's mainly Sunni rebels. Assad ruled out "dialogue with terrorists", but it was not clear from his remarks whether he would agree to send delegates to a conference that may in any case falter before it starts due to disagreements between its two main sponsors and their allies. The fractured Syrian opposition is to discuss the proposed peace conference at a meeting due to start in Istanbul on Thursday, during which it will also appoint a new leadership. Among divisive factors in the rebel camp is fundamentalist Islam, practiced by some fighters and opposed by others. In the latest Internet video from Syria to cause discomfort for rebels seeking Western backing, anti-Assad Islamists flogged two men they said had infringed a ban on marrying newly divorced women. Attacks by troops and militias loyal to Assad, who inherited power in Syria from his father in 2000, have put rebel groups under pressure in several of their strongholds in recent weeks. Assad, from Syria's minority Alawite sect, has been battling an uprising which began with peaceful protests in March 2011. His violent response eventually prompted rebels to take up arms. Hezbollah has supported Assad throughout the crisis but for months denied reports it was fighting alongside Assad's troops. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the Hezbollah casualties on Sunday at 28 dead and more than 70 wounded, while 48 rebel fighters and four civilians were also killed. Tareq Murei, an activist in Qusair, said six more people were killed on Monday as Syrian army artillery and Hezbollah rocket launchers bombarded rebel-held parts of the town. Video footage purportedly showed a Syrian tank on fire at a street corner in the town. In another video a warplane was shown flying over the town amid the sound of explosions. Lebanese security sources said at least 12 Hezbollah fighters were killed in Qusair on Sunday. Seven were to be buried in the Lebanese town of Baalbek and nearby villages on Monday, they said. (Additional reporting by Erika Solomon in Hermel and Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by Samia Nakhoul, Alistair Lyon, Giles Elgood and Alastair Macdonald) ========================