E-Paper PDF 13th November (ISB)

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Wednesday, 13 November, 2019 I 15 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1441 I Rs 19.00 I Vol X No 133 I 16 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Nawaz gets coNditioNal approval to fly away g

JUI-F sets ‘Plan B’ in motion, to block major highways g

Govt says protesters will be dealt with iron hand in case of violation of aGreement STORY ON BACK PAGE

court rejects Zardari’s plea for treatment in karachi STORY ON PAGE 02

Court indicts Rizvi, others over violent protests STORY ON BACK PAGE

former pm will have to siGn surety bonds GuaranteeinG his return to pakistan after medical treatment

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firdous says ‘85-90 per cent’ cabinet members in favour of allowinG pml-n supremo to Go abroad

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he federal cabinet on tuesday approved the removal of former prime minister nawaz sharif’s name from the no-fly list if he agrees to sign surety bonds that he would return after treatment from abroad. last month, nawaz sharif, who is suffering from a bleeding disorder, was granted bail by the lahore high court (lhc) on medical grounds, while the islamabad high court (ihc) suspended his seven-year jail-term for treatment. his doctor said that nawaz needs to be flown abroad for treatment as his condition remains precarious. the sharif family has requested the interior ministry to remove nawaz’s name from the exit control list (ecl), so that he could be flown to the united kingdom. a federal cabinet meeting, chaired by prime minister imran khan, conditionally approved the removal of nawaz’s name from the ecl after law minister farogh naseem apprised the participants on a meeting of the cabinet’s subcommittee which he presided over earlier in the day. the sharif family has to sign a surety bond for the removal of the pml-n supremo’s name from the ecl. and after the sharif family lawyers submit the surety bond to the cabinet subcommittee, then the interior ministry would strike his name off the no-fly list. after the cabinet’s nod, there is no need of the subcommittee’s approval for the removal of nawaz’s name from the ecl. addressing a news conference after the cabinet meeting, prime minister’s special assistant on information dr firdous ashiq awan said about “85-90 per cent” participants of the meeting were of the opinion that nawaz should be allowed to go abroad for medical treatment provided he meets certain conditions. she said that several members of the cabinet had opposed striking the pml-n supremo’s name off the ecl, adding

that the prime minister gave his opinion after hearing the viewpoints of all members. “the prime minister was of the opinion that nawaz sharif should go abroad for treatment,” she said. earlier in the day, the cabinet subcommittee meeting on the same issue concluded inconclusively after officials of the national accountability bureau (nab) opposed the removal of nawaz’s name from the no-fly list. the law minister chaired the meeting in which it deliberated over the application of pml-n president shahbaz sharif seeking removal of nawaz’s name from the ecl. special assistant to the pm imran on accountability shahzad akbar, nawaz sharif’s personal doctor adnan and shehbaz sharif’s representative atta tarrar also attended the meeting. the health secretary and head of the medical board treating nawaz briefed the subcommittee over the former premier’s health condition. the subcommittee also summoned nab officials to the meeting. the punjab government maintained in the meeting that the health of the former premier was worrying and he needed immediate treatment. the subcommittee asked nawaz’s

lawyers to give a date for the return of their client to pakistan after his treatment abroad. speaking to the media after the meeting, the law minister said that the issue of removing nawaz’s name from the ecl was a bit complicated as neither nab officials nor nawaz’s lawyers had submitted the documents they were asked to bring to the meeting. a day earlier, nab had said the federal government was the “competent authority” to decide the matter of removal of former prime minister nawaz sharif’s name from the exit control list (ecl), as the pml-n claimed that the delay in this regard was “posing a threat” to the life of its supreme leader. nawaz, 69, agreed on friday to go to england for his treatment, heeding doctors’ advice and ‘accepting’ his family’s request. he was scheduled to leave for london on a pia flight on monday morning. however, his departure to the british capital was conditioned with his name’s removal from the no-fly list. on monday, pm’s special assistant on information firdous ashiq awan said that the decision to remove nawaz’s name from the no-fly list will be taken in light of recommendations of nab and the medical board.

afghanistan to swap taliban militants for american, australian captives

Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary

STORY ON PAGE 02

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STORY ON BACK PAGE

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COurT rejeCTs ZArdAri’s PleA FOr TreATMeNT iN KArAChi NAB SAYS FORMER PRESIDENT NEEDS TO APPROACH GOVT IF HE WANTS TO MOVE TO A KARACHI HOSPITAL ISLAMABAD

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N accountability court in Islamabad on Tuesday turned down an application submitted by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari requesting that he be shifted to Karachi for medical treatment.

The former president had submitted the application through his lawyer, Farooq H. Naek, during the proceedings of the fake accounts case, which pertains to a money-laundering scam that was previously being probed by the Federal Investigation Agency. The application stated that Zardari’s health is “worrisome” and he should be given permission to receive treatment of his choice, requesting the former president be sent to Karachi for treatment. Accountability judge Azam

Khan asked where the suspects were and whether Anwar Majeed, one of the suspects in the case, had been brought to court. Majeed’s counsel said that his client was unwell and will undergo a medical procedure in Karachi.

Zardari did not appear before the court either because of his medical condition. During the proceedings, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor said that the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has set two days for Zardari to meet his lawyers and three days to meet his family. “There are five days set for meetings,” he said, in response to which Zardari’s counsel Naek remarked that if there were five days permitted, they could withdraw their application. Zardari was brought to the PIMS from Adiala jail in Rawalpindi on October 22 and admitted to the cardiology department’s VIP ward. He underwent a

number of tests and was declared to be out of danger.

During the proceedings, Latif Khosa, who was also representing the former president, said that his client’s entire medical history was in Karachi. He said Zardari was in the hospital but his medical history wasn’t available in Islamabad. nab asks Zardari to approach GoVt: Meanwhile, NAB opposed the application seeking to shift the former president to Karachi and said that if Zardari wanted to submit such a request, it should be submitted to the government. He said the former president was being provided complete treatment and if he wanted to consult a private doctor, he should submit a request to the government, adding that Zardari had already been shifted from jail to a hospital.

“In order to secure our legal rights, we have submitted a request in this court,” responded Khosa, adding, “Our ancestors did not beg any government, nor will we.”

NAB’s prosecutor again argued that the court had already shifted Zardari to

the hospital, but for all other facilities, an application should be sent to the government. “The application to shift [Zardari] to Karachi is not fit for hearing in this court,” he argued, noting that the hospital had been declared a sub-jail.

Zardari’s counsel responded: “Do you think that you will break Zardari’s [spirit]? This is a misconception that you will break [his spirit].”

Khosa said that Zardari will not go

Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary KARTARPUR Agencies

It is one of the biggest birthday celebrations in the world: millions of Sikhs on Tuesday marked the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of their religion, the Guru Nanak. The annual celebration has been given extra significance this year with the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, a secure, visa-free passage between arch-rivals India and Pakistan that gives Indian Sikhs access to the place where the guru died in 1539, now one of the religion’s holiest sites.

The main ceremony to pay respect to Baba Guru Nanak was held at Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, Punjab province of Pakistan. Reportedly, several federal ministers, including Interior

Minister Ejaz Shah, also joined the Sikh devotees and followers in the ceremony.

– What is sikhism? – Sikhism is a monotheistic religion born in the 15th-century in Punjab –- meaning the land of five rivers, a region spanning parts of what is now India and Pakistan. Five and a half centuries later, Sikhs number up to 30 million worldwide, with a rich diaspora in places such as Canada, the US and Europe — although the vast majority remain in India.

Once rulers of Punjab, they were considered a martial race by the British colonisers. Men, in particular, are instantly recognisable by their colourful turbans, used to cover their hair, which they must leave uncut. That is one of the five articles of their faith they must

carry all the time, known as the Five Ks: the Kesh (uncut hair), Kara (a steel bracelet), Kanga (a wooden comb), Kaccha (cotton underwear), and Kirpan (a curved dagger). Sikhs worship God, known to them as Waheguru, or “wonderful teacher”, inside gurdwaras, or “doorways to God”. The word “Sikh” means the “seeker”, or the “learner”. Male Sikhs bear the name “Singh”, which means lion; while women go by “Kaur”, or princess.

– What happens on his birthday? – Sikhs around the world, but especially on the subcontinent, come together to sing, pray, eat and hold sprawling processions to different gurdwaras. Some of the biggest celebrations will be the site of their one of their holiest shrines, the Golden

Temple in Amritsar, India.

– Why is this year special? – Apart from it being the 550th anniversary, this year also saw the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor — a secure land link allowing Indian Sikhs to visit the gurdwara in the Pakistani town where the Guru died. The gurdwara at Kartarpur is so close to the India-Pakistan frontier that its white dome and four cupolas can be seen from across the border. But the perennial enmity between the South Asian nations, arch-enemies since Pakistan was carved out of colonial India at independence from Britain in 1947, has meant that for decades Indians could not visit — at least, not easily.

Many had likened it to Muslims being able to see Mecca or Medina, but never actually able to visit.

Fawad urges Opp to leave Suri alone ISLAMABAD stAff RepoRt

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday urged the opposition to withdraw its no-confidence motion against National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri. In a tweet, Fawad said, “It [opposition] takes such steps after every two months which increases political tension and starts bashing the institutions after failing.”

The National Assembly is expected to hold voting on a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri this week. A secret ballot is likely to be held on Thursday. It merits a mention here that the

joint opposition has the support of 155 lawmakers whereas the government and its allies are 184-member strong. On Friday, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)

submitted a no-confidence motion against Qasim Suri for “violating the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business 2007” for facilitating passage of government bills without any debate the other day. The notrust vote submitted by PML-N lawmakers Khawaja Asif, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha and Muhammad Sajjad stated that the deputy speaker had lost the trust of the House after the action.

“We moved Resolution under Article 53(7)(c) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan against Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan for violating the rules of business of the House,” read the resolution submitted by the PML-N.

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overseas, nor would they submit such a request.

“They are about to send one patient overseas today and are not ready to provide Zardari his physician,” he said, referring to former premier Nawaz Sharif.

Extending the judicial remand for Zardari and his sister, Faryal Talpur, till Nov 26 in the case, the court reserved its verdict on the former president’s request to be shifted to Karachi for treatment.

NAB files reference against Omni Group chief islamabad: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday filed a reference against Anwar Majeed for involvement in “corrupt practices and misappropriation of government subsidy worth millions of rupees”. The decision was taken in Executive Board Meeting (EBM) chaired by NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal. The board approved initiating a total of three references and three inquiries as it referred some inquiries to the relevant forum for further proceedings. “The Government of Sindh through Cane Commissioner Sindh paid an amount of Rs3.9 billion to different sugar mills for onward payment to genuine sugar cane growers as subsidy on account of supply of sugar cane for the season 2014-15,” a NAB press release stated.

The reference further claims that the investigations into the matter have revealed eight sugar mills to be direct properties of Omni Group. The mills are controlled by Anwar Majeed and his four sons, Nimr Majeed, Mustafa Zulqarnain Majeed and Ali Kamal Majeed and Abdul Ghani Majeed. NAB gave the approval to file reference against Majeed in October. He is one of the accused in the multi-billion dollar money laundering case that also involves Pakistan People’s Party top leaders. stAff RepoRt

Court allows Faryal Talpur to meet Asif Zardari islamabad: An accountability court on Tuesday allowed Faryal Talpur, the sister of former president Asif Ali Zardari, to meet her ailing brother at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. Talpur, who is on judicial remand, had submitted a request for a meeting that was subsequently approved by the court. On Monday, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari called on her father and inquired about his health in a meeting that lasted for at least three hours.

Senator Sherry Rehman had expressed her concern over the deteriorating health condition of the former president, saying it was worsening with every passing day. “The government is not allowing Zardari’s personal doctor to visit him,” Sherry Rehman had said in a statement. stAff RepoRt

Pakistan to continue supporting Kashmir cause: FM Qureshi islamabad: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday reiterated that Pakistan will continue to extend legal, moral and diplomatic support to the oppressed people of Kashmir. Qureshi said Prime Minister Modi’s BJP-led Indian government has besieged the Kashmiri people for the past hundred days. He said innocent Kashmiri children and women are being subjected to oppression by the Indian forces. The foreign minister said Kashmiris are unable to get access to food and medicines owing to the continuous curfew in the held valley and shadows of death are hovering there. He said, on one side, Pakistan is opening the corridor of love and, on the other, India is imposing restrictions over offering Juma and Eid prayers in occupied Kashmir. He said the Kashmiris were even not allowed to take out processions of Muharram-ul-Haram and Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH). Shah Mehmood Qureshi urged the international community and human rights organizations to play their due and proactive role to get the Kashmiri people rid of the Indian brutalities. inp

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COurT ACQuiTTed sAhiwAl ACCused, NOT GOvT: MAZAri ISLAMABAD

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INISTER for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari Monday informed the National Assembly (NA) that the government had filed an appeal against the verdict of a special antiterrorism court in Sahiwal encounter case.

“It was the court’s decision not that of the government and we have already filed an appeal against it,” she said, while responding to Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Shahida Rehmani, who had asked about the reportedly low conviction rate in human rights abuse cases and the measures taken by the government to improve the situation. The minister said the provinces had cited different reasons for low conviction rate in the human rights abuse cases. She said it was difficult to get solid and concrete evidence as most of the cases were related to family matters.

“Out of court settlement is also one of the reasons whereas in many cases witnesses retract from the testimony which leads to acquittal of accused,” she said. “Lack of medico legal evi-

the members of treasury bench had joined the ruling elite by switching their loyalties.Seemi Ezdi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) maintained that the opposition parties had registered corruption cases against each other during their respective tenures. She said none of corruption case was lodged by the incumbent government.

PPP’s Rehman Malik called for setting up reforms committee comprising members of three major political parties in order to introduce amendments in NAB and FIA accountability laws.PMLN’s Javed Abbasi alleged that the government since its inception had been targeting the opposition in the name of

dence and expertise in collection of forensic evidence and problems in preservation, collection and production of evidence and witness during trial, and also the benefit of doubt goes to the accused,” she added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N’s) Pervaiz Rasheed alleged that the incumbent government had held several politicians on corruption charges. He said that politicians belonging to opposition parties were being politically victimised.PMLN’s Muhammad Akram was of the view that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was being used as a tool to twist the arms of opponents and that half of

rawalpindi police arrest alleged serial rapist CCPO SAYS SUSPECT HAS CONFESSED TO RAPING 30 CHILDREN AND UPLOADING VIDEOS ON ‘DARK WEB’

accountability. He said that NAB was being utilised to suppress the opposition.

Meanwhile, PPP lawmakers seemed to be having a divided opinion on the issue of the opening of Kartarpur Corridor.Questioning the government’s policy, Abdul Qadir Patel said that Pakistan opened Kartarpur Corridor whereas India made the decision on Babri Masjid against the wishes of Muslims. He also raised his concern over the government’s stance on Kashmir.On the other hand, Raja Pervez Ashraf termed the opening of Kartarpur Corridor a good omen and said that it was the PPP’s policy to provide ease for minorities.

Commenting on the locust attack in Karachi, PPP’s Nawab Yousuf Talpur and PML-N’s Rao Ajmal declared the influx of the creature attack as dangerous and said that it could spread across the country. During the questioner break, the House was told that during the past 14 months, 4,637 Pakistani prisoners had been released from different countries. Saudi Arabia released 1,594 inmates on humanitarian grounds after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visit to Pakistan this year.

IHC reserves verdict on FIA’s plea to include terror charges in judge video scandal case ISLAMABAD

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Punjab police have arrested a man suspected of sexually assaulting and filming a minor, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Faisal Rana confirmed on Tuesday. The suspect was previously convicted for sexually assaulting minors in England and was deported after he had served his prison sentence, the CCPO said, adding that the suspected had also been tried for the same crime in Italy and was deported from there as well. The man was arrested after a first information report (FIR) was lodged on the complaint of a 13-year-old boy’s mother in the Rawat police station. The complainant alleged that the suspect forcefully took her son to a house in Bahria Town in Rawalpindi where he drugged and raped the victim for four days. The man filmed the minor as well and threatened to release the video if the victim reported the crime, the FIR said. The FIR was lodged under Articles 367(A) (kidnapping or abducting in order to subject person to grievous hurt, slavery, etc.), 377 (unnatural offences), 337(J) (causing hurt by means of a poison) and 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) of the Pakistan Penal Code. Rana said that the man has confessed to raping 30 children in Pakistan and is also suspected of uploading videos of minors on the ‘dark web’ – encrypted online content that does not appear through regular internet browsing.

The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on Federal Investigation Agency plea to include terrorism charges in former Accountability Court judge Nasir Malik’s video scandal case.

The cybercrime court had rejected the FIA’s request to include terrorism charges in the case. Justice Aamir Farooq of the Islamabad High Court heard a case filed by the FIA. Tanvir Iqbal counsel for the accused said that the FIR was registered on July 16, 2019, and the accused was discharged from the case on September 7. He said that the decision regarding the discharge of accused in judge video case was not even challenged. The investigation team was changed on September 16, he added.

He said that there was no difference in facts of July 16 and October 6 nor did anything new came out. “On October 6, the FIA learned that terrorism charges also apply,” he added. Justice Aamir Farooq asked can the same court in which the challan was submitted see the imposition of further provisions.

He asked once the challan has been submitted to the court, does the court have the power to return it?

Advocate Maher Jillani said that the trial court had no such authority. Justice Aamir Farooq said the court had to make a decision by hearing the relevant part of the case not for the whole case.

The council said that the law was silent about returning the challan after it has been submitted.

Deputy Attorney General Tayyub Shah said that prosecution and Investigation agencies should work sep-

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interior minister says Maryam can travel abroad if she gets ill Federal Minister for Interior Ijaz Shah on Tuesday said that even Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, would be allowed to travel abroad if she was unwell. Talking to a news channel, Shah said that there was no difference of opinion in the cabinet over the issue of removing Nawaz Sharif’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL). “Nawaz Sharif is being allowed to go abroad on humanitarian grounds,” Shah said, adding that according to the doctors, the former prime minister’s health was in critical condition and his treatment was not possible in Pakistan. “Nawaz is not going out of the country on a permanent basis. He will return after recovering from illness,” Shah said, dispelling the notion that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader was being given relief under a deal.

He added that all the ministers were in favour of allowing Nawaz to go abroad for treatment. Commenting on the ongoing Azadi March, Shah said, “We are giving Maulana Fazlur Rehman so many facilities that he will forget his demand for the prime minister’s resignation.” The minister, however, conceded that the JUI-F chief was not going to leave Islamabad anytime soon.

“We have given him water, electricity and medical support,” he said, adding that Maulana Fazl had grown fond of Islamabad. news Desk

lhC issues notice to govt over Abbasi's production order issue

arately but it is not so in Islamabad. He said that Special Judge Central cannot hear the matter regarding the inclusion of terrorism charges.

Justice Aamir Farooq said that Arshad Malik is the plaintiff in this case why he was not made a party. Tayyab Shah said that there was no need to make Arshad Malik respondent in the case. The court reserved the decision after hearing the arguments of the respondents.

lahore: The LHC on Tuesday issued notices to the federal government and others for November 14 on a petition filed by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi regarding non-issuance of his production orders by the National Assembly speaker. The single bench comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi heard the petition. A counsel for Shahid Khaqan submitted that his client wrote a letter to the National Assembly speaker for ensuring participation of all detained members in the session, but no action had been taken. He argued that the NA speaker issued production orders of various members, but his client was ignored, which was a discriminatory act. He pleaded with the court to issue directions for issuance of production orders. The court, after hearing initial arguments, issued notices to the respondents and sought a reply till Thursday. App

Justice Isa case not about tax evasion, but code of conduct: SC COUNSEL SAYS PRESIDENT ALVI DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO COMMENT ON JUSTICE ISA’S TAX MATTERS ISLAMABAD App

A counsel representing Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Tuesday argued before the full bench that President Arif Alvi didn’t have enough information on tax matters of Justice Isa to file a reference against the judge.

A ten-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Maqbool Baqar, Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik,

Justice Faisal Arab, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed heard the case regarding proceedings of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against Justice Qazi Faez Isa. The reference filed against Justice Isa alleges that he acquired three properties in London on lease in the name of his wife and children between 2011 and 2015, but did not disclose them in his

wealth returns. Continuing his arguments, Advocate Babar Sattar said the president did not have any material in respect of the tax on which he made his comments [in the misconduct reference].

Justice Umar Ata Bandial said the matter before the Supreme Judicial Council was not of tax evasion, but the judge’s code of conduct, as he didn’t disclose his property. He asked the counsel that what he had said about the judge’s fundamental rights went contradictory to lead counsel Munir A Malik’s arguments.

Justice Faisal Arab said the court would rely on Munir Malik’s arguments while those of Babar Sattar would only be considered to the extent of tax. Therefore, there was no need to compare the argu-

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ments of Munir Malik with those of Babar Sattar, he added.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial asked the counsel to continue his arguments on tax matters. Babar Sattar said the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 did not authorise the advice of the Income Tax Officers.

He said except the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) internal procedures, no authority including, the SJC, could see the tax information of an individual. The wife of Justice Isa was not a public servant so her information could not be shared, he added.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial said he was saying that when all the content goes to the president, he should look at the legal method of collecting the same. He told

the counsel that he could be right on the technical grounds, but those points were very small ones.

Justice Yahya Afridi questioned where Justice Qazi Faez Isa filed his tax returns. To which, Sattar said Justice Isa was filing his tax returns in Islamabad after becoming an SC judge.

In a comment on SJC proceedings, the counsel said Article 209 was not formed to oust the judges but to protect them.

Justice Bandial asked the counsel to complete his arguments about tax laws on Wednesday. “Tomorrow the trial will take place like a 20 overs match,” he added.

The top court adjourned the hearing till Wednesday.

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LonG taILbaCks as Govt eMPLoyees staGe sIt-In PLRA OFFICIALS ALONG WITH VISUALLY-IMPAIRED PERSONS STAGE SEPARATE PROTESTS IN FRONT OF PUNJAB ASSEMBLY LAHORE

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HE Mall Road experienced severe traffic jams and remained blocked throughout Tuesday as employees of the Punjab Land Record Authority (PLRA), sub-engineers of the Communication and Works (C&W) department and visually impaired persons held separate protests at Charing Cross. PLRA employees were protesting against lack of service structure and salary increments.

A protesting PLRA staff member, employed at Arazi Record Centre (ARC) Faisalabad told Pakistan Today that there has been no increase in salary for employees who had been working at the authority for years.

“When Chief Minister Usman Buzdar formed the PLRA board, we were

hopeful that our concerns would be addressed [by the board]. But the board only approved the deputation allowance and the issue of salary increments is still pending.”

“We call on the authority to form a service structure and regularize employees so we can work properly,” he said. The eight-day of protest of the Association of Associate Engineers (AOAE) of the C&W department also coincided with PLRA employees’ sit-in yesterday. C&W employees demanded technical allowance and up-gradation of basic pay scales.

Ashraf Nabi, a protesting sub-engineer from Gujranwala said, “We as subengineers carry out a crucial job for the department; working on technical design, implementation, execution, monitoring billing etc yet we do not receive technical allowance despite working over 20 hours a day.”

“We have written to the C&W secretary and all relevant authorities but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. We have been asking for technical allowance since 2014 and will not stop until we receive notification of allowance entitlements,” he said.

Visually impaired persons also continued their ninth day of protest in front of the provincial assembly. They complained that their demands for permanent employment have not been

Punjab Ombudsman upholds Sargodha University’s decision in harassment case SARGODHA APP

The Provincial Ombudsman upheld the decision of Sargodha University’s (SU) Syndicate regarding a sacked professor after he was proven guilty of sexual harassment of a student. The alleged assistant professor was prosecuted under the Act of Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace. Rejecting the appeal of the professor, the Punjab Ombudsman concluded that forensically

verified communication record proved that alluring messages were sent by the accused to the complainant for a considerable period, said a press release issued

by SU here Tuesday.

His plea that he had not been heard by the committee was founded to be false while according to records submitted by the university his attendance in all committee proceedings was proven. The accused professor’s appeal failed to point out any illegality or material irregularity during the process of

inquiry and hence was rejected.

Dr Sajid Iqbal, ex-assistant professor of Mathematics at the university’s Bhakkar sub-campus, had filed an appeal at the Office of the Ombudsman (Mohtasib) Punjab, which alleged that he was not properly heard by the harassment committee and that copies of records were not provided to him.

He also contended in his plea that the matter of telephonic messages between the complainant and the appellant was a private matter, instigated by

addressed by the government.

Scores of people faced trouble commuting in the city as traffic on Mall Road and all connecting roads remained congested.

According to City Traffic Police Spokesman Rana Arif, “Traffic from Regal Chowk, Avari Chowk and Qadri Chowk was diverted towards Faisal Chowk by CTP personnel who were deployed along all routes leading up to Chairing Cross.”

the complainant herself.

Earlier, after the complaint of the girl student, the director of the Bhakkar sub-campus had constituted the committee. The committee after initial probe, referred the case to another committee constituted by the university for harassment cases, for a thorough inquiry under the above-mentioned law.

Sajid was called repeatedly and was communicated the proofs against him but failed to prove his innocence. After investigating the case and examining the validity of the SMS of both parties, the statement of the complainant, video on social media and forensic analysis of mobile phone data, the committee found that the professor had maliciously approached the girl student and was guilty of sexual harassment.

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CM concerned over increase in vegetable prices LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Tuesday expressed strong concerns over artificial price-hike, especially unnecessary increase in the prices of vegetables.He directed the price-control taskforce to take effective measures for stabilising the prices of food-items and said that vegetables would be available at government rates at agri fair-price shops of model bazaars.The decision has been made to expand the scope of model bazaars to tehsil level and the chief minister ordered for submitting a plan in this regard.He said that provincial price-control authority would be established on the pattern of Punjab Food Authority and the required mechanism should be given final shape at the earliest.The chief minister also ordered for constituting a comprehensive mechanism for eradicating price-hike and asked the line departments to play their role in this regard while the district administration should also ensure strict monitoring of items' rates.He said pricecontrol magistrates should proactively perform and rate lists should be conspicuously displayed at all the shops. STAFF REPORT

Registration of five private schools revoked over extortion of high fees The Punjab education department on Tuesday annulled the registration of 29 branches of five private schools in the province for failing to comply with the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) orders directing them to reduce fees. According to the details, these institutions will no longer be able to continue their operations as they failed to reduce their fees despite several notices served to them whereas the authorities will seal the schools if they attempt to continue classes. To restart their operations, these schools will have to cut their fees as per the court orders and will also have to get themselves registered again, a process which may cost millions of rupees.While speaking to the media, Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas said the department would also take action against other schools which had not cut down their fees.It is pertinent to mention here that private schools had been ordered by the court to charge the same fees they charged in January 2017, ruling that the school management could only increase their fees by 5-8 per cent per annum. NEwS DESk

IGP addresses transporters’ concerns LAHORE: Inspector General Police Punjab Captain (r) Arif Nawaz Khan directed the Punjab Highway Patrol to facilitate goods transporters and not create unnecessary hurdles for them. He called on all chief traffic officers to work in close coordination with goods transporters in their respective districts and to “sort out their issues on priority.” The IGP said this during a meeting with a nine-member delegation representing goods transporters from across the province at Central Police Office on Tuesday. The delegation was led by All Pakistan Goods Transport Association President Malik Shahzad Awan and Punjab Goods Transport President Malik Faheem. The delegation discussed issues concerning unnecessary checking and undue issuance of challans on highways with the IGP at length after which the latter issued orders for on spot addressal. The transporters’ delegation expressed gratitude to the IGP for addressing their concerns. STAFF REPORT

Wednesday, 13 November, 2019

Sindh faceS RS109bn ShoRtfall in fedeRal Revenue tRanSfeRS: cM THE PREMIER HAD VOWED TO GIVE RS162 MILLION IN A DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE ALONE kARACHI StAff REPoRt

S

INDH Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the federal government during the last four months had to release Rs278.4 billion against which the provincial government had received only Rs169.2 billion which showed a shortfall of Rs109.17 billion.

“This is the position of vertical distribution of funds; therefore, the provincial government is facing serious problems,” he said while responding to the question of CPNE delega-

tion members led by its President Arif Nizami who called on him here at CM House on Tuesday. Minister for Information Saeed Ghani and Advisor to CM Murtaza Wahab were also present on the occasion.

Responding to a question, the chief minister said that the federal government had to release Rs278.4 billion to Sindh government from July to October, but it released only Rs169.17 billion.

“This shows a shortfall of Rs109.17 billion which is quite a big amount to upset our budgetary commitments,” he said and added that there was Rs45 billion monthly salary bill of the

CM SAYS PM IGNORING HIS LETTERS, NEVER HAD ONE-TO-ONE CONVERSATION WITH HIM

provincial government.

“When you face a shortfall of Rs109 billion how would you be able to meet your expenditures,” he questioned.

The chief minister said that the federal government had to release Rs7 billion against royalty on oil and gas last year but today, it had released that amount.

“This is how the financial distribution is trickled down by crippling the financial positions of the provinces,” he deplored.

The chief minister said that it was a wrong impression that he was not going to receive the prime minister whenever he visited Sindh.

“The federal government always releases a detailed

Syed Ali Geelani sounds alarm over IOK in letter to PM Imran NEws DEsk All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani has thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan and the people of Pakistan for their continuous support on the Kashmir cause and sacrifices for the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir Media Service reported.

In a letter addressed to the prime minister, Geelani acknowledged the way PM Imran spoke at the United Nations General Assembly in favour of the Kashmiri people and against the Indian decision to illegally change the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir. He pointed out that India’s attempt to force this illegal decision on the people has seen a widespread curfew in the region. The letter comes as lockdown in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir nears 100 days.

Geelani stated that the freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people against the Indian occupation and oppression has gone through many phases since 1947 and the years, 1988, 2008, 2010 and 2016, have remained as landmarks of the struggle. He said it is the cumulative people’s resistance which has ensured that India has been unable to crush the freedom struggle. “It is possible that this is my last communication to you, ill health and issues of old age may not allow me to address you again,” he wrote in the letter. “All forms of communication, including phones and internet have been cut off. Thousands of people, including children, old men, teenagers, traders, lawyers, students and Hurriyat leadership and their relatives have been subjected to savage torture.

The mass blinding of Kashmiri youth, which

started in 2010 has also continued with hundreds more being injured by pellet guns in this phase of the struggle as well,” Geelani said. He pointed out that molestation, sexual harassment and even sodomy have also continued to be used as state policy to subjugate people.

“Indian occupation forces are still molesting women after barging into their homes.

Parents are being asked the ages of their young girls and the occupying forces are telling people that their intention is to dishonour Kashmiri Muslim women,” he added.

Geelani said, “Many people have been threatened that they will be thrown out of their homes and notices are being issued that peoples’ houses will be taken over. The APHC chairman also appealed to PM Imran to make an announcement of Pakistan’s withdrawal from all aspects of the Tashkent, Shimla and Lahore agreements as India has unilaterally brought these agreements to an end.

He requested the PM Imran to re-designate the Line of Control as the Ceasefire Line since India has taken the situation back to the status as existed in 1947-48. Geelani pointed out that the Government of Pakistan should take all measures at the United Nations and with the international community to give the people of Jammu and Kashmir their promised right to self-determination. “India has also unilaterally ended all the bilateral agreements with Pakistan, including the Tashkent, Shimla and Lahore agreements.”

“India’s action is also meant to be a death blow for Pakistan’s integrity and security,” he warned. “This will also severely affect Pakistan’s economy, its water resources and almost every other aspect of existence.”

Raiwind Diocese conducts utilitarian workshops on midwifery, mental health LAHORE PRESS RELEASE

The inauguration ceremony of an integrated workshop on midwifery, mental health and water and Sanitation was held at the St. Peter’s School of the Diocese of Raiwind the other day.

The workshop is a joint effort of the Dar Ul Musarrat (Diocese of Raiwind), Sussex Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Centre for Profound Education Trust.

The trainers of these workshops were renowned clinical psychiatrist Dr Shakeel Jehangir Malik, Prof Bar-

bara Parfitt, Rebecca Telling, Christopher Nazir Ali, Sajida Aziz, Tanveer Afzal and Gwen Ratcliff.

Bishop Michael Nazir Ali was the prime guest, Dr Mariam Malik was the chief guest and Punjab health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid was the guest of honour.

Michelle Samuel, on behalf of Bishop of Raiwind Rt Rev Dr Azad Marshall, welcomed the guests and shared his keen interest for the development of initiatives for autism and midwifery training workshops and seminars.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, she said that

Bishop Dr Azad was committed to developing the Christian nursing sector from the church’s own resources.

Dr Mariam Malik was deeply appreciative of the initiative to honour the critical role played by midwives.

Bishop Michael stressed on the need to raise the profile of both these areas of influence and service.

Dr Yasmeen Rashid encouraged those who are actively involved in the efforts of these institutions, working for healthier, safer and resilient Pakistan in coming days.

minute-to-minute schedule of the prime minister’s visit, including the names of the people like governor, chief minister etc. and place where they would receive him,” he said and added when the prime minister had under taken his visit to Karachi his name was in the programme; therefore, he received him and accompanied him to Mazar-e-Quaid and met him at Governor House.

“In the subsequent visits of the prime minister to Karachi, his name was not reflected in the programme; therefore, he did not go to receive him,” he said.

The Sindh chief minister said that he had written a

number of letters to the prime minister but he did not respond any of them.

“Yes, I talk to the federal ministers on telephone but have never spoken anything with the prime minister on his phone,” he said.

He brushed aside the impression of his differences with the Sindh governor. “No, we are on good terms and we keep meeting with each other,” he said and added he felt wrong when the federal government ignoring the chief executive of the province made the Sindh Governor in-charge of the development works proposed to be launched by the federal government in Karachi.

NEWS

05

Multiple entry visas given to Sikhs to facilitate pilgrimage, says Sarwar LAHORE: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said that Pakistan government had issued multiple entry visa to Sikh yatrees from abroad to help them in their pilgrimage. Addressing the ceremony on last day of celebrations to mark 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanka Dev Ji at the Gurdwara Janam Asthan here on Tuesday, he said Pakistan had presented the gift of Kartarpur Corridor to Sikh community on the occasion of 550th birthday of Baba Guru Nanak, and Pakistan had taken all decisions for Sikh community in full consultation with Sikh organizations/associations.

The governor said the government had opened doors to the Sikh community across the world and they will have no problem whenever they wish to come to Pakistan, adding that Pakistan stands by all minorities. He said that Indian aggression and human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and shameful measures against its minority communities were all exposed to the international community. Federal Ministers Brig (r) Ejaz Shah and Pir Noorul Haq Qadri, MPA Sardar Mahindar Paal Singh and thousands of Sikh yatrees from across the globe participated in the Baba Guru Nanak’s birth celebrations at Janam Asthan. Earlier, thousands of Sikh pilgrims from all over the world, including India, actively participated in the last day of celebrations of 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sikh Yatrees expressed their full satisfaction over the security and other arrangements made for them by Pakistan government. StAff REPoRt

Wednesday, 13 November, 2019

06 WORLD VIEW

IndIa’s soundTrack of haTe, wITh a pop sheen MIXING DANCE TRACKS WITH CALLS FOR RELIGIOUS WARFARE, HINDUTVA POP AMPLIFIES A WAVE OF HINDU NATIONALISM IN NARENDRA MODI’S INDIA New York Times

T

Kai Schultz

he Indian pop star, swaddled in gold-trimmed tulle, stepped to the front of the stage at a neighbourhood concert. Thunder effects crackled through speakers stacked near an electronics store. “every house will be saffron!” the singer, Laxmi Dubey, yelled into her microphone, referring to the colour representing hinduism. “We have to make terrorists run from our blessed land!” The crowd cheered when she added a throat-slitting hand gesture. Ms Dubey is one of the biggest stars driving the rise of hindutva pop music in India over the past few years. hindutva is a word describing a devout hindu culture and way of life, and the music that bears its name sets traditional hindu religious stories or Bollywood clips to dance beats — with added lyrics that in some cases openly call for the slaughter of nonbelievers, forced conversions, or attacks on Pakistan.

The songs are amassing huge numbers of views on YouTube — Ms Dubey’s most popular song has more than 50 million on its own — and a growing fan base among the young. It is the music of the times in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s India.

Muslims and other minorities fear that some of Mr Modi’s hindu-nationalist supporters are damaging the country’s secular foundation and making life dangerous for any who do not display extreme patriotism or hindu religious fervour. These concerns were only heightened with a court decision Saturday in favour of hindus over a contested holy site.

During hindu festivals, the processions have started blasting the music in Muslim neighbourhoods in shows of intimidation. Most of the songs prominently feature the call of “Jai Shri Ram!” Meaning “hail Lord Ram,” a major hindu god,

it has become the battle cry for hindu nationalists. Mobs have attacked Muslims who refuse to chant it along with them. “hate bundled with so-called faith has become par for the course today,” said TM Krishna, one of India’s most renowned traditional singers. “The masks are off, and what we are seeing should deeply worry us.” Ms Dubey, a gleeful provocateur, travels India with a 28-person troupe and is in such demand that families invite her to their homes to bless newborn babies. her goal, she said in an interview with The New York Times, is to recruit foot soldiers to make India a hindu nation. At least one state government dominated by Mr Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party has used public money to stage her performances. “hindus used to be too innocent and docile to understand that Muslims are the biggest threat,” Ms Dubey said. “They needed someone like Laxmi Dubey to wake them up.”

Some of the most violent expressions in hindutva pop focus on Kashmir, the Muslim-majority territory that is disputed

by Pakistan and that was stripped of its autonomy by Mr Modi’s government in August. Popular lyrics call for harsher action against Pakistan and separatist Kashmiri militants, and for forced conversions and a hindu settlement campaign in Kashmir.

For some of the millions of Indian Muslims, those hyper-patriotic expressions are seen as carrying a personal threat.

In one music video, Sanjay Faizabadi, another popular hindutva pop artist, lunges toward the camera in military fatigues. Footage of Indian troops, exploding planes and a pack of lions punctuates the song, called “Kashmir Is Our Life.”

“I will come to Pakistan and play marbles with your eyes!” he sings, boasting in a subsequent verse of waging a campaign of sexual conquest there.

In an interview, Mr Faizabadi con-

ceded that his lyrics could give the impression that he supported violence. But the singer insisted that he had nothing against Muslims, only those who spread terrorism. “I’m Modi’s devotee, but I’m not anybody’s adversary,” he said. “You can label me hindutva, but I don’t spite those who are not.” The far right has never been more emboldened in India. Some of the top figures in Mr Modi’s government have repeatedly referred to immigrants as termites, threatened the citizenship status of hundreds of thousands of Muslims and encouraged vigilante violence against those accused of slaughtering cows, a sacred animal for hindus. (Most butchers in India are Muslims or from lower castes.)

This summer, the police arrested several musicians for recording a song urging hindus to kill those who do not chant, “Jai Shri Ram!” Ms Dubey’s biggest hits feature that chant prominently, and she is outspoken about her intention to incite a revolution through hindutva pop.

In her songs, Ms Dubey exhorts hindus to “perform ceremonies with bullets,” “fight proudly against ungodly religions” and “cut off the tongues of enemies who talk against Ram.” Ms Dubey, 30, said she did not always feel as strongly about hindu supremacy. She is originally from the city of Bhopal, in central India, and grew up in a musical family regularly singing songs that urged sectarian harmony, like “hindu Muslim, Brother Brother,” she said. But she said that as a teenager, she grew increasingly irate at an Anglicised political elite — embodied in the scandal-prone Indian National Congress party of the Gandhis — who had, in her mind, allowed Muslim groups to attack India.

Ms Dubey drew closer to extremist hindu circles and began subscribing to a belief that Muslims planned to take over India by marrying and converting hindu women. To show her devotion, she vowed

to remain single and moved away from estranged relatives to the nearby city of Jabalpur, where she persuaded 11 girls living in poverty to make a home with her and become disciples. She spent a few years making music and putting it on YouTube, then found a surging popularity after Mr Modi rose to power in 2014. Ms Dubey and several people who work for her said she regularly performs for officials from his Bharatiya Janata Party. “We go wherever BJP leaders invite us to perform,” Ms Dubey said. “That’s because the BJP is helping to propagate hindutva.”

In the state of Chhattisgarh, where Ms Dubey often sings, Rahul Singh, a director in the culture department, confirmed that his office had paid for some of her concerts. But he said he did not know much about her. Two state politicians from the BJP said they knew the singer but denied support, though party leaders promoted her music ahead of national elections this year. her performances draw thousands of people. One show in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, was marketed as a jagrata, an allnight vigil dedicated to deities.

For a couple of hours, she sang about the goddess Durga. Performers dressed as hindu gods twirled a giant gold trident

and lit torches. Much of the audience came for the free, religious-oriented entertainment and did not know Ms Dubey specifically. But the singer’s tone shifted after midnight, when most of the youngest children had gone to bed.

Turning her attention to the beef industry, which employs many Muslims, Ms Dubey encouraged the crowd to take action to protect cows, echoing comments by hindu mobs that have killed dozens of minorities accused of slaughtering cattle.

“People who I give milk to have become my butcher,” she said, channelling the animal. “Become a cow protector and fulfil your promise.” Ms Dubey transitioned to one of her most popular songs, “every house Will Be Saffron,” a YouTube juggernaut that has inspired covers sung by children. During interludes, the singer promised to target those “living in Kashmir, exploding things” and to “spill blood in mother’s holy court.” The song’s tempo picked up. Clusters of men rose and danced. Ms Dubey drew her arm back and let go of an imaginary arrow.

Kai Schultz is a reporter in the South Asia bureau, based in New Delhi. He has reported from five countries in the region and previously lived in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The US-Israel military partnership should remain outside presidential politics THE AGREEMENT HAS A 10-YEAR TERM THAT RUNS FROM 2019 TO 2028 AND INCREASED OVERALL US DEFENCE SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL TO $38 BILLION, OR $3.8 BILLION PER YEAR

rCD Jacob Nagel

The risks are rising that US military assistance to Israel will become an important issue in the Democratic presidential primaries. On October 19, Senator elizabeth Warren suggested that aid should be “on the table” if Israeli actions in the West Bank, including settlement expansion, hindered a two-state solution.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg has also spoken in favour of conditioning US assistance on Israeli policy toward the Palestinians. A third leading contender, Bernie Sanders, has been on record for years advocating that aid be weaponised to compel changes in Israeli behaviour.

Once just a fringe view among Democratic leaders, Sanders’ position has been gaining wider traction. . . Speaking on October 28 to J Street (a progressive Jewish group), Sanders doubled down on his hard line: “I would use the leverage,” Sanders said. “$3.8 billion [the annual amount of US defence support to Israel] is a lot of money.

We cannot give it carte blanche to the Israeli government . . . We have the right to demand respect for human rights and democracy.”

Whether or not this constitutes smart politics, it’s almost certainly bad policy. Linking US

military support for Israel to the decades-old Palestinian conflict would reverse the well-considered approach of the last Democratic president, Barack Obama, who made a conscious decision to separate the strategic benefits of the US-Israel alliance from the intractable peace process. More importantly, it would ignore the pressing realities that currently confront American national security – in particular, the US need to devote greater resources to countering China and Russia at the same time threats to its interests in the Middle east remain extremely challenging. In that environment, Israel’s value as one of America’s closest allies and the region’s preeminent military and intelligence power is only likely to grow.

The current agreement governing US military assistance to Israel is a Memorandum of Understanding or MOU that the two countries signed in September 2016 – just months before President Obama left office. The MOU resulted from a long negotiation that lasted more than three years. The agreement has a 10-year term that runs from 2019 to 2028 and increased overall US defence support for Israel to $38 billion, or $3.8 billion per year. Of that total, $33 billion will be in the form of Foreign Military Financing – an increase from approximately $30 billion under the previous MOU. Another $5 billion, or $500 million annually, will be dedicated to supporting Israel’s ballistic missile defence efforts, or BMD – an increase from an average of about $400 million per year in the previous decade, which was not in the form of a multi-year commitment.

The negotiations on the current MOU commenced in March 2013 during Obama’s first visit to Israel as president. Despite the wellknown tensions and disagreements that marred relations between Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both leaders stressed the importance of a new agreement that would serve their countries’ vital interests and further consolidate the special bond and strategic partnership between them.

The talks weren’t always smooth. They went through a particularly difficult period as the US effort to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran accelerated in 2015 – even stopping completely after Netanyahu delivered his speech to Congress opposing the deal in March of that year. But once the nuclear accord was finalised four months later, Obama quickly resumed the MOU negotiations. To his credit, he understood that legitimate policy difference over how best to deal with Iran or with the Palestinians should not be allowed to undermine the larger bilateral relationship. For his part, PM Netanyahu felt the same way, wanting to preserve bipartisan American support for Israel’s security while ensuring that the Israel Defence Forces received the necessary resources to implement its long-range plans.

Importantly, contrary to some rumours and leaks, at no point during the talks did the US team ever attempt to use military assistance as leverage to reduce Israel’s objections to the nuclear deal or to change its approach to the Palestinian conflict. The issues were simply not on the table. Both sides appreciated the significant benefits that

they gained from deepening their strategic ties and didn’t want to hold them hostage to their disagreements over any specific policy issue. Indeed, in private, the US and Israeli lead negotiators actually agreed to “rules of the game” for their talks – with the main rule being that neither the Iran issue nor the Palestinian question would be part of their discussions, or put forward as a condition for completing the MOU. Before the agreement was signed, the two sides identified the different ways that the MOU served each country’s broader national interests. The agreed-upon list set out the following important benefits: For the US, it demonstrates a long-term commitment to Israel’s security; implements US legislation to maintain Israel’s qualitative military edge, or QMe; ensures Israel can provide for its own security without the need for US intervention; strengthens Israel as a bulwark against radical Islamism; strengthens Israel as an effective

guarantor of Jordanian security; enables the US to sell advanced arms to key Arab states, while upholding QMe; and promotes joint research and development cooperation benefiting the US military.

For Israel, it ensures Israel can defend itself, by itself; ensures Israel’s qualitative edge over all potential enemies; strengthens Israel’s deterrent power by enhancing its defensive and offensive capabilities; improves Israel’s defence planning by providing budget predictability; deepens the US-Israel strategic alliance; and provides Israel a greater security margin to take risks for peace with Arab neighbours. The significant technological benefits that the US military has secured from its cooperation with Israel are especially worth highlighting. Israeli breakthroughs are rapidly finding their way into the US national security arsenal and helping to protect American lives, including in areas as diverse as ballistic missile defence, cybersecurity,

tunnel detection, drones, space and counter-terrorism technologies.

The importance of Israel’s military and intelligence prowess will likely only grow in the coming years as US defence priorities shift toward resurgent great-power competition against both China and Russia. The United States will increasingly have to look to its local partners to take on a greater burden in combatting rising threats from the Middle east. Whether combatting Iran’s precision missile project in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq or Islamist terrorism, no country has a greater capability (or will) to help protect US interests than Israel.

The signing of the agreement was a major achievement that allowed Israel to preserve its strategic alliance and cooperation with the United States, emphasised America’s long-term commitment to Israel’s security, and provided the IDF and Israel’s Ballistic Missile Defence Agency the necessary resources required for long-term planning and the early purchase of vital military platforms. It should be clear that avoiding the politicisation of the US-Israel strategic alliance and military partnership has served the national security interests of both countries extremely well. President Obama understood that, as did his Democratic and Republican predecessors. It has been a truly bipartisan achievement, and every effort should be made to keep it that way.

Professor Jacob Nagel is a former head of Israel’s National Security Council and National Security Advisor (Acting) to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, headed the Israeli team that negotiated the 2016 US-Israel MOU. He is a visiting professor at the Technion, and a visiting fellow at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies.

Wednesday, 13 November, 2019

FOREIGN NEWS 07

US TrOOpS aT SyrIa BaSe Say They’ll keep preSSUre On IS eASTerN SYrIA

a

Agencies

T a base in eastern Syria, a senior US coalition commander said Monday that American troops who remain in Syria are redeploying to bases, including in some new locations, and working with the Kurdish-led forces to keep up the pressure on the Islamic State militants and prevent the extremists from resurging or breaking out of prisons.

The commander, Air Force Maj Gen Eric T Hill, said even though Bradley armoured vehicles have arrived in eastern Syria, the mission’s focus has not changed. He said the “force mix,” including the mechanised armoured vehicles deployed in Syria for the first time since the war against IS, has an array of capabilities to deny IS the chance to regroup.

“The mission still continues. And Daesh is trying to resurge wherever they

can,” he said, using the Arabic acronym for the group. He said the forces have captured 700 IS fighters since its last territorial holding fell in March. “We’ve destroyed many and war remnants and we continue to do so as we find them.”

Speaking at a remote base in Syria where the Bradleys arrived last week, he said “the primary way that we do that” is through working with the US partners, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The deployment of the mechanised force comes after US troops pulled out from northeastern Syria, making way for a Turkish offensive against Kurdish fighters that began last month. Only several miles away from the base, fighting between Turkish-allied fighters and the SDF was ongoing, despite a cease-fire that has so far curbed the Turkish invasion but didn’t end the violence.

Smoke billowed in the distance, visible from across a major highway that has become a de-facto frontier between Turkishheld areas and areas where US troops are

going to operate. An SDF official on the scene said Turkish shelling was continuing.

Further north, three car bombs went off Monday in the town of Qamishli, killing at least six people while a priest was shot dead. IS claimed responsibility for the attack that killed the Armenian Catholic priest and his father as they drove from Qamishli to the city of Hassakeh, in a sign that the extremists still have reached.

The US withdrawal from northern Syria was widely criticised, even by allies of President Donald Trump. The Kurdishled force, deserted by Washington in the face of the threat of a military operation

by NATO ally, leaned on the Syrian government and Russia for help. The ceasefire reached in late October left Turkey in control of a stretch of land along the border that is roughly 120 kilometres (70 miles) wide and 30 kilometres (20 miles) deep. But fighting south of that zone continued. Kurdish officials say Turkey is seeking to expand its area of control.

Hill’s stress on the continued partnership with the Kurdish-led forces comes as US troops sent reinforcements to bases in the oil-rich region of eastern Syria. Trump approved an expanded military mission which he said was to secure an expanse of oil fields across eastern Syria. The directive raised questions about how the troops will operate, particularly in an area where there are Russian-backed Syrian troops, who may try to take back oil facilities.

The decision was a partial win for those who were against the withdrawal from Syria. Pentagon officials said as many as 800 may stay in Syria, down

from about 1,200 and including about 200 in a southern garrison. Hill said while some troops are going home or withdrawing to Iraq, others are redeploying to Qamishli area, Deir el-Zour and Derik, an area where no US bases were before. In a day visit to some of the bases where reinforcements were sent, Associated Press journalists spoke to some of the troops, many of them newly arrived. The military required that the names and exact locations of the bases not be identified.

In the crowded terrain, US officials say de-conflicting with Russia and Turkey is essential to avoid any friction.

Indian stabs wife to death over her liking for Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan New York Agencies

Germany detains three Islamic State suspects over attack plan BERLIN: German police detained three people in the western city of Offenbach on Tuesday on suspicion of planning a bomb attack on behalf of the Islamic State militant group, prosecutors said. The three suspects wanted to kill as many “infidels” as possible in the planned attack in the Rhine-Main region, Frankfurt prosecutor Nadja Niesen said in a statement. The main suspect is a 24-year-old German of Macedonian origin who wanted to manufacture explosives and had tried to buy a weapon online. His two accomplices are Turkish nationals aged 22 and 21. The three suspects are believed to have told people in the past that they identified themselves as IS supporters, Niesen said. Substances that could be used to make explosives and equipment were found at the main suspect’s home, she said. The authorities also secured written documents and electronic data. The main suspect is due to be brought before the investigating judge at a court in Frankfurt later on Tuesday. The judge will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant and ordered pre-trial detention. Agencies

A 33-year-old Indian-origin man in the US allegedly stabbed his wife to death and then hanged himself because he was jealous of her liking for Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan, Hindustan Times reported.

Dineshwar Budhidat of Queens fatally stabbed his wife Donne Dojoy, 27, who worked as a bartender and then hanged himself from a tree on Friday, a report in The New York Post said. Budhidat was “extremely jealous” because his wife was a huge fan of Hrithik, Dojoy’s friends told The Post, adding that her liking for the actor sent him into fits of rage. “She told me when she was at home watching a movie or listening to a song (with Hrithik in it), he would ask her to take it off because he would get so jealous,” Mala Ramdhani, 52, a karaoke singer at Gemini’s Ultra Lounge in Ozone Park, where Dojoy tended bar, said.

“Any movie Hrithik acted in, she wanted to see it,” Ramdhani said. The report said Dojoy had

moved out of her apartment where she lived in with her husband but had agreed to stop by the place to watch a movie and be with Budhidat. But later in the evening, Budhidat texted his wife’s sister, saying he had killed her, and instructing that the key to the apartment could be found under a flower pot, police sources said later Friday. He then left behind his wife’s stabbed body and hanged himself from a tree in a field nearby, the report said.

The New York Daily News reported that Budhidat had assaulted her weeks after they got married in July. Dojoy even had an order of protection against Budhidat that came in a court case that stemmed from his arrest in August for slapping and strangling Dojoy a week earlier inside their Queens apartment. “I think he loved her but at the same time, he was obsessed with her, because of the type of job she did,” Rodney, a friend of Dojoy’s, said in the report. “She looked good, she always made her money, so he was probably jealous of her.” Dojoy had told her friends that he was controlling and even violent with her at times. “She talked about him abusing her, controlling her, beating her, scaring her, threatening to kill her,” Rodney added.

“She never took it seriously because she loved him.” Dojoy’s aunt, Silvin Dojoy, called her niece “a lovely young lady. A beautiful girl.

She was intelligent, and she worked hard.” Of the husband, she said, “He was a coward. Who acts like that? Lift your hands against a woman?

That’s a cowardly act. There is no reason for him to have done what he did. It’s unbelievable.

He had no right to do what he did.”

After hiatus, Rajapaksa brothers set to dominate Sri Lanka again CoLoMBo Agencies

One brother is considered a shoo-in for the job of Sri Lanka’s president in elections this weekend and another is eyeing the prime minister’s post when that election becomes due early next year.

Two other brothers are political strategists for their Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party and one of them is considering a shot at becoming the speaker in parliament. Three men of the family’s next generation are also in politics. The Rajapaksas, best known for the brutal defeat of separatist Tamil rebels and then drawing Sri Lanka into China’s orbit when the West and India shunned the Indian Ocean island, are back at the centre of the nation’s deeply divisive politics and it is stoking fear.

While there are no formal opinion polls, former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the hot favourite to win the presidential election this Saturday. His chief opponent Sajith Premadasa, a government minister, is seen to be trailing.

Gotabaya led the operations against the Tamil Tigers when his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa was president. Gotabaya has faced lawsuits in Sri Lanka and in the United States over allegations of staged killings of Tamil separatists, critics and journalists during the war.

Both brothers deny the allegations as part of a Western conspiracy to interfere in the island nation of 22 million that sits astride vital shipping lanes and has long been a tinder-box of tensions between the dominant Sinhalese Buddhists and

minority ethnic Tamils. In recent months, Sinhalese hardliners have also targeted the tiny Muslim community. Mahinda lost the 2015 presidential election to a cabinet colleague who turned against him – Maithripala Sirisena. After his ouster, the family’s fortunes fell into decline.

But Easter Sunday bombings on hotels and churches, in which more than 250 people were killed, derailed Sirisena’s presidency, and he has announced he will not contest this year. The attacks, claimed by Islamic State, have rekindled support for the Rajapaksas and their brand of Sinhalese nationalism. Mahinda is barred from running for president again, and is on the stump for Gotabaya, bringing an affable touch to the campaign against the rather gruff manner of his brother, more known for his military machismo.

Another brother, Basil, handles the party finances and striking deals with rival groups while

a fourth brother and former speaker, Chamal, campaigns in the family borough in the south of the island. Mahinda, who is currently the leader of the opposition in parliament, is the obvious choice for prime minister when parliamentary elections are held early next year, said Keheliya Rambukwella, spokesman for the Gotabaya campaign.

Chamal Rajapaksa would be the choice for parliament speaker, a position he has previously held, political experts, say. In all, seven members of the family are involved in politics, and some of the others could also end up in parliament. “We are going to see family rule again, and all the excesses that came up with it the last time,” said Health Minister Rajitha Senarathne, who is opposed to the Rajapaksas. “They will suppress all dissent.”

In a front-page editorial, the state-run Sunday Observer said it was “afraid” of a Gotabaya presidency and appealed to voters to make the “right choice.” “A wrong choice will send the country hurtling toward authoritarianism and iron-fisted rule,” it said. Gotabaya’s spokesman dismissed warnings of family rule, saying the candidate was quite clear merit will be only considered for top political jobs. “When Gotabaya comes to power he will appoint people with qualification to the positions, irrespective of their ties to him,” Rambukwella said. At a campaign rally in Wellawaye in central Sri Lanka Gotabaya said during his time as defence secretary, he had raised special military and intelligence units to tackle extremism, drug trafficking networks and the underworld. These cells had since been weakened, he said.

Trains collide in Bangladesh, killing at least 16 DHAKA: Two trains collided in eastern Bangladesh on Tuesday, killing at least 16 people and injuring scores, officials said. Local police chief Shayamal Kanti Das said the collision took place when the Udayan Express and Turna Nishita trains approached each other on the same track from opposite directions in Brahmanbaria district. The area is 82 kilometres (51 miles) east of the capital, Dhaka. Local government administrator Hayat Ud Dowlah Khan said 16 people died and at least 40 others were being treated at hospitals for injuries. The United News of Bangladesh news agency said more than 100 were injured. The TV footage showed fire service rescuers pulling bodies from the twisted coaches and using body bags to send the bodies to hospital morgues. Authorities were investigating the accident, but officials said they found the driver of the Turna Nishita train responsible because he ignored a signal. That driver and two others have been suspended. Train accidents are common in Bangladesh, blamed mainly on unsupervised railway crossings, poor signalling and bad track conditions. Agencies

6 Indian labourers die in heavy rains at Oman construction site MUSCAT: Six South Asian labourers died in Oman during heavy rains when they were buried at an excavation site for a water pipeline project, emergency services said Tuesday. The construction workers were believed to be Indian nationals, New Delhi’s embassy said in a statement on Twitter. “Rescue teams recovered the bodies of six Asian workers that were buried in a water project” in the coastal city of Seeb, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) northwest of the capital Muscat, the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) said. “The workers were trapped in rainwater and mud while laying down pipes […] underground in a site that was 295 metres (968 feet) long and 14 metres (46 feet) deep.” It took rescue workers about 12 hours to recover the bodies after pumping the water out, the authority said. The Indian embassy wrote: “We are deeply saddened to learn about the incident involving the deaths of six workers, who are believed to be Indian nationals”. PACDA urged companies in charge of construction projects to abide by safety regulations to protect workers. The General Federation of Oman Trade Unions called for an investigation to “clarify the circumstances behind the incident and for the necessary legal procedures” to follow. Agencies

Wednesday, 13 November, 2019

08 COMMENT

Wisdom and folly

Delay can be harmful Former PM needs urgent treatment abroad

The march is against accountability

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AST month, acknowledging the medical condition of former PM Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Imran Khan said his sincere prayers were with the ailing politician. Later statements by Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and PM’s Special Assistant Naeemul Haq also indicated that Mr Khan had decided to allow Mr Sharif to proceed abroad for medical treatment. Two days back Punjab Governor Muhammad Sarwar said his name was going to be excluded from the eCL within hours. It appears now that Mr Khan had been double-minded all along about letting Mr Sharif leave the country. When comments appeared linking the release of Mr Sharif with a deal between the government and the former premier, Mr Khan made another U-turn.

Here is a man suffering from multiple life threatening ailments. even the dyed-in-the-wool PTI activist and Punjab Health Minister, Dr Yasmin Rashid, acknowledges the fact. The medical board appointed by the PTI administration has recommended sending the patient abroad for some of his medical tests, including genetic tests which are not available in Pakistan to ascertain the real cause of the drop in gis platelets count time and again.

What is required to save his life is urgency.

All types of hindrances are instead being created to stop his departure. The government must follow rules and regulations, says the PM’s Information Adviser. Despite Mr Sharif’s precarious condition his name is not being removed from the eCL. While she claims that the government has not tried to influence the medical board, Dr Yasmeen Rashid has called the medical board’s report insufficient and has sent for a new detailed report. The detailed report would be sent to the NAB, then to a review committee in the Law Ministry, then to the Interior Ministry and finally to the cabinet committee for taking a decision.

Delay in sending Mr Sharif abroad for treatment can have serious implications for the patient. Precedents exist where people put on eCL by NAB were allowed to proceed abroad on the directives of the Interior Ministry within no time. To some the delaying tacti Delay in sending Mr Sharif abroad for treatment can have serious implications for the patient. Precedents exist where people put on eCL by NAB were allowed to proceed abroad on the directives of the Interior Ministry within no time. To some the delaying tactics indicate an unconcern for humanitarian considerations; to others these reek of political vindictiveness. What needs to be realised is that anything untoward happening to the PML-N leader as a consequence of delay would have grave political implications.

Vegetables too are now a luxury

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f the many problems facing Pakistan at the moment, ranging from political instability to national security and foreign policy concerns, the state of the economy and the corrective measures being undertaken to fix it are what concern the common man the most, for that has the most direct and detrimental effects on them. The PTI government, depreciating the rupee in an abrupt and aggressive fashion within a matter of months by close to 27 percent since it took over, resulted in input costs to skyrocket, leading to record inflation.

Households can cut down their expenses, tightening their belts, but when it comes to the basics, staple food items for example, there is not much that can be done.

Wholesale vegetable markets have hiked prices of onions and tomatoes up to Rs 90 per Kg and Rs 250 per Kg respectively in Karachi leading to smaller vendors in the city to sell at higher rates. Vegetables, like chicken and other meat, therefore too have become a luxury for the lower income groups. Some of the hike is also seasonal while others can also be attributed to a supply side problem. Nonetheless, a serious food affordability problem has now set in. Additionally, trying to keep the IMf satisfied, tariff hikes continue, with the latest summary sent to OGRA by SNGPL and SSGC seeking a 31 percent rise in gas prices with a combined revenue shortfall of Rs 93.67 billion staring the gas companies in the face. If approved, which it most likely will be perhaps with a slight revision; inflationary pressure will intensify.

The government has attempted to provide some relief in the form of placing price controls at markets but that practice can only achieve so much.

Vendors who are genuinely applying fair cost-plus pricing might be unfairly penalized by the government.

That is not to say that the government should not crackdown against hoarders looking to make a quick profit. But it needs to do more to provide relief, as most of this is the result of the government’s economic policies that have brought a financial crunch upon the common man. The PM, simply directing his Cabinet to enforce government prices is not enough.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

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AskAri rAzA MAlik

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AzRAT ALI (RA) said, “The richest person is he who has knowledge and wisdom, and the poorest is the ignorant who does not even know that people laugh at him”. Knowledge and wisdom are two different things. A knowledgeable person is not necessarily also wise. Wisdom is a blessing of God. It is a reward for God consciousness or Taqwa as known to the Muslims who care to know.

Wisdom enables people to differentiate between myth and reality, right and wrong, truth and falsehood, selfishness and sacrifice, integrity and corruption, just and unjust and rights and limitations. Wisdom creates good sense and sense of proportion in the wise. Above all it makes one conscious of human limitations and one’s role in the making of destiny vis à vis Divine power, justice and intervention. The wise know that matter is indestructible and what goes around comes around.

Two categories of people in Pakistan are adept at turning all the logic on its head; the Mullahs and the politicians, especially those who came after Ayub.

One of the knowledgeable politicians, while censuring the government in the strongest possible words, demanded, ‘A stress-free political system’. That is innocence personified. That is asking for paradise on earth. Life is a stressful business. The government is incapable of removing stresses. He perhaps meant NAB-free political environment. He must know that peace comes with sacrifice, not loot. It results from self-denial, not self-worship. It is essential to kill

the ego before wishing for a stress-free life.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is a blessing in disguise. With NAB, the Divine accountability might be delayed. When it comes from above, there is nowhere to run. It has happened before. Our recent history should serve as an eye opener. Some political families have become history. Where are Bhutto’s real heirs? Bilawal is a pseudo-Bhutto. fatima is a genuine Bhutto though she remains rather reclusive. Bilawal is in vain trying to cash on Bhutto’s legacy.

They have lost sons, suffered humiliation and ignominy on various accounts, earned ugly reputations and contacted untimely ailments, but their conscience is in deep slumber and they do not learn their lessons.

One more political stalwart asserts that if anything happened to his leader, Imran Khan would be held responsible. Did IK tell that leader to commit theft that he is famous for? Remember, what goes around, comes around. It is time to wake up to the ground realities. Look the way the wind is blowing. The atmosphere is charged with the word accountability. If NAB fails to nab the culprits, Divine accountability would ensue.

Who knows it might have already commenced.

Who can tell the abrupt sinking count of platelets, the ever-rising sugar level, galloping BP, the angina and even the stone in the kidney and hernia are not the harbinger of the ominous.

Then there are royalists more loyal than the king. They turn and twist logic to defend their respective godfathers and cannot wait to shift the blame elsewhere, be it the government, NAB, the courts or the military. They insult the common man’s intelligence and his ability to tell simple right from wrong. In this they also commit a sin against God. He says, ‘And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know (it)’, 2:42. And, ‘We know what they conceal and what they declare’. (36:76) Benazir Bhutto’s own party man, President farooq Leghari had sacked her government for corruption. The President was convinced that she was patronizing her notorious husband. In addition, he should have asked for investigation and taken her to court.

President Ghulam Ishaq Khan should have done the same with Nawaz Sharif when he sacked

Is the CSS exam getting difficult?

Coaching academies have a negative role AnwAr Ali

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He fault is in my stars, a trite excuse to obscure one’s underperformance. Another vindication could be that the marking system employed by the federal Public Service Commission (fPSC) is inconsistent and inconsiderate. Of course, in the examination of the Central Superior Services (CSS), which the fPSC conducted in february 2019 across the country, 372 candidates passed the written portion whereas 14,521 candidates failed to do so. Is the CSS examination getting difficult to pass?

There is a school of thought focusing on the number of failed candidates, apportioning the blame of failure to the marking system of the fPSC. Reliance is placed on the Detailed Marks Sheets blaming the fPSC (or its examiners) for targeting certain subjects for “using questionable stimuli and highly controversial methods of discouraging candidates from opting for certain optional subjects in the CSS exam.” The school also thinks that the fPSC applies an astringent marking scheme. If things were so simple!

Any conclusion contingent on the study of the detailed marks sheets is dubious in two ways. first, there is available no credible method applying which any school of thought can get access to the marks sheets of all or most across-the-country CSS candidates who passed or failed the examination. Practically, a few, which may amount to a dozen, a hundred, or even a thousand, can be studied to derive a conclusion. Nevertheless, such a conclusion remains non-representative and nonexploratory given the total number of candidates exceeding 14,000. Second, the marks sheet is also handicapped in revealing the kind of questions a candidate selected for answering and the way the candidate answered the questions in the CSS examination. Both factors– the selection of questions and the mode of answering them– hinge on the kind of preparation a candidate did before taking the examination.

Looking at faults in the preparation of op-

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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tional subjects, one can identify four main problem areas. first, with the change of syllabus and the optional subject-selection scheme in 2016, the choice of combination for optional subjects shrank. Consequently, more candidates opt for International Relations, International Law, Political Science, US History, Criminology and Gender Studies, overlooking their own aptitude for an optional subject. More candidates means more competition to produce a high quality answer sheet to secure high marks in a given subject. Candidates with the background of science find it difficult to comprehend subjects entailing history such as International Relations, International Law, US History and even Political Science. Similarly, candidates with the background of arts and literature face problems in understanding scientific subjects such as Geography and Public Administration. A nefarious role is also played by CSS coaching academies, which push prospective CSS candidates to select a subject taught therein.

These academies deceitfully claim that they have a faculty of high quality to coach (or teach) candidates a short route to sure success. To prospective candidates, a faculty member is introduced as a high scorer last year in, for instance, International Relations. Prospective candidates do not ask that they want to be taught by the teacher of the high scorer and not by the high scorer himself.

Their silence militates against them eventually when the fPSC declares the result.

Second, many CSS candidates presume that if an optional subject scored highly last year, it would also score likewise next year, whether or not the candidate is prepared in the subject. Advertently, prospective candidates rely on the highscore probability of an optional subject, and not on their own effort to score high. Candidates read low quality books thanks to the (mis)guidance offered by CSS coaching academies sprawling across the country. In the market, Urdu Bazar, there are available low-priced published books consisting of material downloaded from certain websites. either a writer offers plagiarized material or a writer is just a compiler and falsely claims himself as a writer. An Urdu-Bazar pub-

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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him for corruption. And when it came to Gen Pervez Musharraf, he in his impetuosity forgot that Nawaz Sharif was also guilty of crimes against the nation. He had sufficient grounds to indict him for corruption and get rid of him once for all. All of them had failed to nip the evil in the bud. The tumor grew into cancer and it fell to Imran Khan’s destiny to treat national political cancer also.

The Maulana’s march has turned into a sitin. Politicians, who fear NAB more than they fear God, have joined him. The Maulana is not far back in the queue. The mullahs-cum- politicians are a deadly combination. They have unlimited ability to turn wisdom into folly and folly into wisdom and get away with murder. Still it looks as if all their usual mantras failed to bear fruit.

A wee bit too early in the day the Maulana had started seeing red. He thought 1977 was in the offing. The others also know that anarchy is the only hope to save them from the onslaught of accountability. Yet they are not prepared to stick their necks out all the way. It is doubtful if the Maulana would dare to do it alone. But if he indeed unleashed his goons to “arrest the PM” as he claims the government is not unlikely to act purposefully to quell the rebellion. All the undemocratic tactics and practices that Pakistan has so painfully endured in the past must be finished for good. The salvation of this government, nay that of Pakistan, is at stake.

DG ISPR’s statement was excellently timed.

The Maulana was obviously jolted. This time his boasts were aptly answered.

He has limited options now. His dream to create large scale law and order situation all over the country will result in dilution of his limited resources and degradation in detail.

His agitation has won him wide exposure in Indian media and pleased the Afghan Taliban whose banners he has shamelessly displayed. If that were his aim, he has achieved it. In that case Indian resources have been well spent. Beyond that the Maulana would turn out to be a big loser.

Askari Raza Malik has served Pakistan Army as Major General. He is author of book “Pakistan in Search of a Messiah”. He can be reached at ask7121@gmail.com

lishing wizard would publish it giving a glistening coloured title page to attract the eyes of a reader. Garbage in; garbage out. These are cheap books by both price and quality. Here, the fPSC can also be blamed for recommending too many books against each subject in its 2016 syllabus to make a CSS candidate indecisive about which book to read preferably for what area of a subject.

Moreover, through its 2016 syllabus, the fPSC deliberately promoted certain local publishers who advertise their books through the fPSC recommended locally published magazines. Sometimes, the publisher of a book and a magazine is the same. An account is that certain officials of the fPSC (dealing with syllabus recommendation) were bribed to do so. An improved version is that certain fPSC officials are partners in the business which flourished in this way, for a monthly or regular monetary compensation.

Third, most CSS candidates hope for a replication of questions asked previously from optional subjects, though the same is their attitude towards compulsory papers. Past papers are prepared not as sample or preparatory papers but as final or conclusive papers. An insult to injury is added by guess papers issued by the CSS coaching academies, a few of them claim to have access to the fPSC insiders foretelling broad areas of question setting. fourth, most CSS candidates delude themselves by gauging their performance through mock written tests held by CSS coaching academies. The environment of mock written tests might help CSS candidates to get an exam-simulated ambiance beneficial for those who did not experience it at a standard university. Other than the exam atmosphere, mock tests are quite deceptive because not only the questions asked are selected mostly from the past papers, but also non-professionals posing as examiners mark the answer sheets. On top of these, coaching academies instruct their examiners to be lenient to the candidates lest they get discouraged. In this way, the marks scored resultantly are not a true representative of the level of preparation of prospective CSS candidates before they undergo the fPSC held examination.

In short, passing the CSS examination is not getting difficult. Prospective CSS candidates make it difficult for themselves.

Anwar Ali may be anwarali_60@yahoo.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

contacted

at:

Wednesday, 13 November, 2019

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Who let the dogs out?

Prayers of Sikhs answered The opening of the Kartarpur corridor sends a powerful message worldwide government in the absence of any reciprocal regional peace and security. Prime Minister gesture by India and in spite of the Indian Imran Khan was right on money while adatrocities in Kashmir and the unpalatable deci- dressing the Kartarpur ceremony to urge Insion of the Indian Supreme Court to award the dian PM Narendra Modi to do justice to the Babri Mosque land to Hindus has reinforced people of Kashmir to create conditions for the credentials of the country as a religiously peaceful co-existence and peace in the region which is so essential to tolerant entity wedded to fight poverty and changits humanitarian ethos. ing the economic profile The move has also of the teeming millions been widely appreciated India by acting as on both sides of the borby the international comder. This could happen munity. Pakistani nation a war-like state in only when the Modi govcan rightly feel proud of ernment understands and it. In that context it also pursuance of the RSS recognizes the ground rerepresented a diplomatic philosophy of Hindutva is alities. India by acting as triumph for Pakistan. The a war-like state in puropening of the corridor actually not only suance of the RSS philoscould well become a milestone for peace and jeopardizing the regional ophy of Hindutva is MAlik MuhAMMAd AshrAf actually not only jeopardmay even set new trends peace and security, but izing the regional peace for granting people of and security, but also unfaith a free access to their also undermining dermining communal He inauguration of the Kartarpur sacred spaces, which inciCorridor by Prime Minister Imran dentally is denied to the communal harmony within harmony within its own borders which ultimately Khan on the eve of the 550th birthday people of Kashmir right will harm her own interits own borders which of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of now who are under siege ests. the Sikh religion, was indeed a his- for more than 100 days. ultimately will harm her This region badly Providing visa-free toric event for the 140 million Sikh community needs peace and amity bein India and the Sikh diaspora in other coun- access to millions of own interests tween the two nuclear tries around the world, who for the last 72 years Sikhs to their holiest sites neighbours. Continued had persistently prayed and hoped for their free also augurs well for Pakhostility between them is access to one of their holiest places in Pak- istan. The Sikh commufraught with dangerous istan– Kartarpur where the Guru spent the last nity is connected to this 18 years of his life. Their prayers were finally land through an unbreakable cord of spiritual- consequences. Kashmiris are fighting for their answered. It is said that there are two most stu- ity, as most of their sacred places are situated right of self-determination as enshrined in the pendous forces in this world, faith and fear, and on our side of the border, equally valuable to UN resolutions. Their movement for independfaith is stronger than fear. Religion takes care us as our precious heritage. It was also befitting ence cannot be suppressed through decrees endof the worldly and spiritual aspect of human that Pakistan issued commemorative coins and ing special status of the state and by the barrel lives. People seek solace and comfort to create stamps on the occasions and took steps to es- of the gun. They have been fighting for their intablish the Guru Nanak dependence and right to self-determination since balance in their lives from University at Nankana 1989 and the Indian forces have not been able their respective scripSahib. Guru Nanak was a to kill their spirit despite assassinating more than tures, saints and their saint who was equally 100,000 Kashmiris since then. That is a reality spiritual guides like Guru The elation and gratitude revered by Sikhs and staring the Modi government in the face.

Nanak, which explains India for sure has not been able to sell its Muslims as is evident the intensity of their deof the Sikh community from his last rites, per- contention of situation in Kashmir being its invotion to them. The Sikhs by both Muslims ternal matter, as is evident from the reaction of hold Guru Nanak in the over this unprecedented formed and Sikhs. Iqbal called the global community and the UNSC which rehighest esteem and visithim ‘mard-e-kamil’ (a iterated that the Kashmir issue needed to be reinitiative by Prime ing the holy places assoperfect man) who raised solved in conformity with the UN resolutions ciated with him is an Minister Imran Khan and India out of slumber. and bilateral agreements in that regard. It was integral part of their faith.

India also needs to emu- time for the world community and the UN to The elation and gratithe COAS Gen Qamar late the example set by move beyond merely showing concern on the tude of the Sikh commuPakistan by allowing easy developing situation in Indian-Occupied Kashnity over this Javed Bajwa was access to the Muslims mit and to fulfill their obligation towards the unprecedented initiative immensely evident from from Pakistan and other people of Kashmir by pressurizing India to

by Prime Minister Imran communities to visit their grant the right of self-determination to them.

Khan and the COAS Gen the remarks made by sacred sites in India by Indian intransigence not to recognize the Qamar Javed Bajwa was immensely evident from Navjot Sidhu on behalf of simplifying the rigorous ground realities and continued denial of the procedure in force to deal right of self-determination to the people of the remarks made by the Sikh Community and with such requests.

Kashmir could have very disastrous conseNavjot Sidhu on behalf of The inauguration of quences for the region and beyond. Two nuthe Sikh Community and their other leaders the Kartarpur corridor in clear states standing face to face with each their other leaders. The a way is also a gesture to- other in regards to Kashmir also presents a implementation of the wards India for burying dreadful spectacle and underlines the urgency project by Pakistan govthe past and making a for the world body and the international comernment in spite of the initial reluctance by the Indian government in new beginning for peaceful co-existence by re- munity to act before it is too late. regards to its implementation is in the best Is- solving the mutual disputes, including the core Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic. lamic traditions of religious tolerance and in- issue of Kashmir which have bedeviled relaterfaith harmony. The step taken by Pakistan tions between the two countries at the cost of He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com.

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ON friday, Imran Khan gave a historical yet thought-provoking speech in 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Millions of people are appreciating his words as they create an impact on the audience. His speech comprised of several social and international relation issues that need immediate attention from various countries across the world.

Mr. Khan started his speech with the immediate threat of climate change which affects the entire world. However, a critical aspect that he pointed out was how the rich countries need to be more active in terms of minimizing their carbon emissions. As per Mr. Khan, the poor countries suffer the most, including Pakistan being an agricultural country that relies on glaciers which are melting too fast. I believe Mr. Khan’s attempt to focus on this issue was indeed important given the recent Climate March. It reflects on the fact that Pakistan and its people are aware of how climate change is affecting everyone.

The second point in consideration of the speech by Mr. Khan was global corruption and money laundering being critical issues that make a poor country poorer. As per the speech, rich countries in Western part of the world are acting as a tax haven for most of the corrupt corruption. Mr. Khan highlighted that Pakistan has significant debt to pay due to money laundering and lack of access to the plundered money.

In my opinion, this part of the speech was an indirect attack to other political parties in Pakistan which have formerly ruled the country. While it was vital to let the people know about the graveness of money laundering, it just added to the extra time Mr. Khan took for his speech.

The third part of the speech revolved around Islamophobia, an issue being faced by Muslims, especially in the Western countries. Time and time again we hear how people in other countries treat Muslims with hatred. Mr. Khan was vocal about the fact that there is no such thing as radical Islam. He also highlighted how Islam teaches everyone to treat minorities and women with respect. Nonetheless, I feel this is a controversial aspect since minorities in Pakistan are treated poorly. from stopping minorities to enter the shops to burning down their religious places, Pakistan has failed to protect them. And let us not forget, Pakistan is one of the few countries who voted no against UN’s willingness to investigate the situation in Yemen.

The last point of Mr. Khan’s speech focused on India’s treatment towards Kashmir and Pakistan. He talked about how he, as the Prime Minister showed his intent to work things out with Mr. Modi, India’s Prime Minister but was only met with hostility. Mr. Khan encouraged the UN to let Kashmir decide about what it wants rather than letting India set a curfew there.

This was not a threat but a warning.

SyEdA ALinA ZAidi Karachi

PM’s speech PM imran Khan delivered a passionate long speech while addressing Annual UN General Assembly. He poured his heart out and touched upon benign role of Muslim majority countries, who instead of standing up to expose tyranny and conspiracy behind proponents of Islamophobia, chose to go along, trying to adopt a convoluted version of enlightened Moderation, with likes of Musharraf aping to tunes of zionist lobby.

Imran Khan exposed tortuous treatment meted to Kashmiri population, who have faced collective punishment, being confined to their homes for almost 55 long days. He also spoke against extensive money laundering being indulged by corrupt civil, uniformed and political elite who have been involved in institutionalized corruption plundering their countries and transferring black money to foreign safe havens. However he must understand that Western economic system encourages such money transfers, because instead of physical colonial occupation, like over 200 year British Raj, the new mode is economic colonization.

IK should focus on taking concrete steps, through legislation and implementation of laws, to stop flight of capital by corrupt elite from Pakistan. PM Khan should ensure that likes of Admiral Mansoor ul Haq, Musharraf, Kayani clan, Iqbal Saeed, Nawaz Sharif, Asif zardari, Shujaat, Altaf Hussain etc and super bureaucrats like Shahid Rafi, Capt Naseer, Qamar Chaudhry, Lashari, Salman Siddiqui etc who were involved in daylight robberies, are prevented from robbing this country and face sever prosecution and punishments.

GuL ZAMAn Peshawar

Manufacture of solar panels We missed a golden opportunity of setting up manufacturing plants for solar panels in the country for harnessing abundant solar energy potential in the country about two decades ago when a Pakistan born US scientist and owner of solar panels manufacturing plants in the United States , Dr. Lubna , offered the government of Pakistan to set up solar panels manufacturing plants across Pakistan. Looking into the future , she made the offer for exploiting the solar energy for its maximum utilization in order to provide clean reliable and affordable power to its citizens and for the national power grid. Dr. Lubna ( an old Ravian ) holding many prestigious awards , including einstein award , wanted to do some service to her motherland without any financial gains in her mind , as she was quite rich already by the grace of God , having a happy family living very comfortably in the US. Alas, her passionate and appropriate offer was not entertained by our greedy , incompetent and corrupt people who mattered! Instead of accepting her meaningful offer , they were interested in US visas & personal benefits for their children and families !

EnGR RiAZ BHuTTA Lahore

Wednesday, 13 November, 2019

10 FOREIGN NEWS

IsraeLI aIrstrIKe KILLs IsLamIC JIhad Commander In Gaza home GAZA CITY

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Agencies

SRAEL killed a senior Islamic Jihad commander in Gaza early Tuesday in a rare targeted killing that threatened to unleash a fierce round of cross-border violence with Palestinian militants.

The militant group said the commander’s wife was also killed in the airstrike and that their children were wounded. Air raid sirens wailed throughout southern and central Israel as militants responded with heavy rocket fire.

The airstrike that killed Bahaa Abu el-Atta came days after the

appointment of hard-line politician Naftali Bennett as Israel’s new defence minister. Bennett has long advocated tougher action against Palestinian militants.

But speaking to reporters, Lt Col Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said the operation had been planned long ago.

Conricus called Abu el-Atta a “ticking time bomb,” saying he had been responsible for a number of recent rocket attacks on southern Israel and claimed that he was actively planning new attacks.

“We essentially over the last week have been waiting for the opportune moment to conduct this surgical strike,” the spokesman said.

Conricus added that the airstrike had been carried out with a warplane that destroyed only the floor of the building where Abu el-Atta was hiding in order to minimise “collateral damage.”

The airstrike damaged the half of the second and most of the third floor of a house in the Shejaeya neighbourhood, in the eastern part of Gaza City. The house was known to be Abu el-Atta’s home.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said a man and a woman were killed in an airstrike at a house and two other people were wounded. Relatives and the Islamic Jihad said the woman was Abu el-Atta’s wife and the wounded were their

children. The militant group said Abu el-Atta, 42, was undergoing “a heroic act” when he was assassinated. It did not elaborate, but vowed revenge. Minutes after the Iran-backed group confirmed the death, barrages of rockets could be heard fired toward Israel. Air raid sirens continued to go off throughout the morning as far away as Holon and Rishon LeZion, two suburbs of Tel Aviv.

Israel on Tuesday also shut down crossing points into Gaza and reduced the permissible fishing area off the territory’s coast to 6 nautical miles in anticipation of a looming confrontation. In Israel, schools were cancelled in com-

munities and towns along the Gaza Strip’s boundary and all the way to Tel Aviv, about 90 kilometres (56 miles) north of Gaza.

Islamic Jihad is an Iranianbacked group that often carries out attacks independent of Hamas, the larger militant group that controls Gaza. But Conricus de-

scribed Abu el-Atta as a powerful figure in Gaza who often acts alone without instruction from Tehran or Hamas. He said Israel had no further plans to resume its assassinations of militant leaders — a practice that in the past has triggered heavy fighting. “There was no other choice,” he said.

‘YOU? Really?’: Iran’s Zarif scorns EU warning over nuclear deal DUBAI Agencies

Europeans have failed to fulfil their own commitments to Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted on Tuesday, in response to a warning by the EU that urged Tehran to stick to the pact or face consequences.

European countries have been trying to persuade Tehran to stick to the deal, under which it agreed to curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions, despite a decision last year by US President Donald Trump to abandon it.

Iran has long blamed the Europeans for failing to provide the economic benefits it was meant to receive under the deal, known as the JCPOA, and has begun steps to reduce commitments, including producing more enriched uranium than allowed. Last week Iran resumed enrichment at its underground Fordow nuclear facility, banned under the

deal. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and European parties to the deal – Britain, France and Germany – issued a statement on Monday urging Tehran to comply with the accord or face action which could include sanctions.

“To my EU/E3 Colleagues: 1.

‘Fully upheld commitments under JCPOA’ YOU? Really? Just show ONE that you’ve upheld in the last 18 months. 2. Iran triggered-& exhausted-dispute resolution mechanism while you were procrastinating.

We’re now using para36 remedies,” Zarif tweeted. Iran says paragraph 36

of the deal allows it to reduce its commitments because other signatories are not complying. The Europeans dispute this.

Some Iranian officials have warned that re-imposition of EU and UN sanctions would be a red line that would cause the deal to collapse.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on Monday that Iran is enriching uranium at the Fordow site and rapidly accelerating enrichment more broadly. Iran says it will further overstep the deal’s limits in January if Britain, France and Germany fail to shield its economy from US penalties that have reduced its oil exports by more than 80% since a year ago. Washington says it wants to negotiate a more sweeping deal aimed at further curbing Iran’s nuclear work, halting its ballistic missile programme and limiting its meddling in other countries in the Middle East. Iran has rejected any negotiations as long as the United States is not complying with the deal.

Behind Trump-Erdogan ‘bromance,’ a White House meeting to repair US-Turkey ties WASHINGTON DC/ISTANBUL Agencies

At the 2012 opening of Trump Towers in Istanbul, real estate mogul Donald Trump sang the praises of Tayyip Erdogan, telling a mostly Turkish audience that their leader, prime minister at the time, was “highly respected” around the world.

“He’s a good man. He’s just representing you very well,” Trump said at the ceremony.

Since becoming the United States president, Trump has openly complimented Erdogan and his combative ruling style, calling him “a friend” and “hell of a leader”. Such fondness from Trump for the Turkish president, who is due to meet with him at the White House on Wednesday, is seen by many as the only reason why relations between Turkey and the US have not completely collapsed, having soured severely over their disagreements on a host of issues. “The two leaders have an affinity for each other as strongman presidents,” said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Programme at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, while warning of the deep animosity within the bureaucracies of the two NATO allies.

“The Erdogan-Trump part of the US-Turkey relationship is really the only component of it that is currently working right now,” Cagaptay said.

“Confidence between government agencies of both countries has eroded and there is considerable anger towards the US in Turkey and vice versa.” Washington and Ankara hit a new crisis point last month over Syria after Erdogan began a cross-border incursion against America’s Kurdish allies and upended the US presence there. Months earlier, the US was livid over Turkey’s purchase of Russian missile defence systems.

UK Labour Party hit by cyber attack ahead of election LONDON: Britain’s opposition Labour Party said on Tuesday it was subject to a large-scale cyberattack on its digital platforms just weeks before a national election but it was confident no data breach occurred. British security services have warned that Russia and other countries could use cyberattacks or divisive political messages on social media to attempt to disrupt the Dec 12 election.

“We took swift action and these attempts failed due to our robust security systems. The integrity of all our platforms was maintained and we are confident that no data breach occurred.” A security official with knowledge of the matter told Reuters the attack was a short-lived and relatively unsophisticated attempt to take down some of the party’s websites by flooding them with malicious traffic. “It was really very every day, nothing more than what you would expect to see on a regular basis,” the official said. “It looked like someone bored in their bedroom with a botnet.” The Labour spokesman said the party had reported the incident to the National Cyber Security Centre and that while the attack had “slowed down some of our campaign activities”, they had been restored earlier on Tuesday.

Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre, part of the GCHQ signals intelligence agency, was not immediately available for comment. Britain goes to the polls on Dec 12 in an election called by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to try to break the Brexit deadlock in parliament more than three years since the country voted to leave the European Union. A report by parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee has investigated Russian activity in British politics and reportedly includes charges of spying and interference in polls, including the 2016 Brexit referendum and the 2017 national election. The government, however, has declined to publish it before the upcoming election. Agencies

Former President Jimmy Carter enters hospital for surgery Turkey shrugged off threats of US sanctions and began receiving its first S-400 deliveries in July. In response, Washington removed Turkey from the F35 fighter jet programme, in which Ankara was a manufacturer and buyer. But so far, it has not imposed any sanctions. The move infuriated the US Congress, whose anger toward Turkey deepened following Ankara’s offensive into Syria to drive out the Kurdish militia, Washington’s main partner in the fight against the militant Islamic State group.

The US House of Representatives last month passed a sanctions package to punish Turkey over its Syria operation while key members of the Senate, including Trump ally Lindsey Graham, have vowed to advance it if Ankara endangers Kurds.

The House has also voted in favour of a non-

binding resolution recognising as genocide the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians 100 years ago, for the first time, angering Ankara. Some lawmakers on Monday asked Trump in a letter to rescind the invitation to Erdogan. Erdogan has managed to avoid sanctions so far, but on Sunday, White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien said the threat was real. “If Turkey doesn’t get rid of the S-400, I mean, there will likely be sanctions. […] Turkey will feel the impact of those sanctions,” he told CBS News. The issues straining the NATO allies stretch well beyond Syria and Russia.

While Washington has largely stayed quiet in the face of an increasingly authoritarian Erdogan, it wants Ankara to drop charges against US consular workers prosecuted in Turkey.

ATLANTA: Former US President Jimmy Carter was admitted to a hospital on Monday evening for a surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, caused by bleeding due to his recent falls, his spokeswoman said. The procedure is scheduled for Tuesday morning at Emory University Hospital, Deanna Congileo said in a statement. Agencies

Wednesday, 13 November, 2019

BUSINESS 11 AEDB signs agreement for 11 wind power projects BUSINESS DESK Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) has signed an agreement for the construction of 11 wind power projects which would generate 550 megawatts electricity.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday, AEDB Chief Executive Officer Rana Abdul Jabbar signed the agreement with concerned companies to build 11 windmills in Sindh which would inject electricity up to 550MW to the national grid. The contracts have been handed over to the 10 private companies which would construct the aerogenerators on separate localities in Sindh’s Jhimpir village to produce electricity for the energy-starved country. According to details, the companies would construct 50MW windmills each and one 60MW aerogenerator to produce electricity in the mid of 2021. The latest agreement would also make a shift towards renewable energy generation by the federal government that had set a target to produce electricity through alternative sources of power production up to 20pc instead of using furnace oil. Power Division Minister Omer Ayub Khan had already announced the government’s plan to generate 8,000MW of electricity through renewable energy by 2025. The minister said that around 85pc electricity would be produced through domestic resources to provide the commodity on affordable rates to the consumers in the country.

Pakistan’s energy sector potential highlighted at int’l moot BUSINESS DESK Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar attended the 4th Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference as keynote speaker, according to statement issued on Tuesday. The SAPM also met a delegation of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and State Minister of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Yohei Matsumoto on the sidelines of conference in Abu Dhabi. Earlier, he participated in the ministerial panel discussion on energy and policy titled, “The 4th Industrial Revolution is upon us and of its key challenges will be access to clean energy” along with Eng Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, UAE’s Minister of Energy & Industry. Babar outlined the steps taken by Pakistan for the promotion of ease of doing business, expansion of the energy market and opening up avenue for foreign investors to invest in energy sector of Pakistan. The SAPM also briefed the participants on oil and gas exploration and production activities in Pakistan.

During the meeting with SOCAR, both sides made deliberations on exchange of knowledge on underground gas storages. The SOCAR delegation also extended invitation to Pakistani delegation to visit underground gas storage facilities in Azerbaijan. Babar accepted the invitation extended by SOCAR to visit Azerbaijan and hoped he would be able to visit soon. In a separate meeting with Yohei Matsumoto, SAPM stated that the incumbent government was committed to improving the business climate in the country. The SAPM also shared with the delegation the government’s plan to offer onshore and offshore blocks through auction. Both sides discussed the Japanese offer of training programme on technology and advancements in the energy sector. Nadeem Babar noted with gratification the momentum in relations between both the countries particularly in the energy sector.

CORPORATE CORNER

KARACHI: JazzCash has entered into a strategic alliance with TCS. Under the first phase of this alliance, 184 TCS centres across Punjab will provide cash-in, cash-out, domestic remittance and interbank funds transfer services through JazzCash. PR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) in collaboration with Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and Luiss Business School, commenced a series of training sessions on youth, education, health and nutrition. PR

TrADErS DEMAnD iMMEDiATE iMPorT of ToMAToES froM irAn 'TomaTo croPS in Sindh and BalochiSTan are delayed By over a monTh, while The SuPPly from PunjaB iS noT SufficienT To caTer To The ToTal demand' ISLAMABAD

A

GHULAM ABBAS

S the shortage of tomatoes in the country has a caused sharp rise in their prices, traders are of the view that the only remedy for the crisis is to immediately import tomato from Iran or Dubai.

"While tomato is already being imported from Afghanistan – catering to the northern part of the country, Pakistan needs to import the main food ingredient from Iran, as the vegetable could reach the local market within four days from there," said Waheed Ahmed, former chairman and founder of Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchant Association

(PFVA). He said the local crop may arrive in the market in the next 30 to 40 days while price stabilisation may take a few more days.

"If the government wants to intervene in the current hike in the prices of tomato, it needs to issue import permits for at least 30 days," he suggested, adding that the price of tomato may rise by more than Rs350 per kilogramme in case the short supply continues in the coming days. According to him, apart from Iran, Pakistan could also import the vegetable from Dubai. However, he added, the import via sea route may take more than a week time.

"We don't recommend tomato import from India as the crop from Delhi will damage our crop. The government, which has banned all kinds

of trade with India, may also not support the import from Delhi," he said.The main reason behind the current crisis, he believed, was the impact of global warming, which has disturbed the crop seasons. "The crops in Sindh and Balochistan are already delayed by over a month while the supply from Punjab is not sufficient to cater to the total demand."

According to the commerce ministry spokesperson, since the import of food items came under the domain of the Ministry of National Food and Security (MNFSR), the commerce division has not discussed the option of allowing the import of tomato to meet domestic demand. On the other hand, sources at MNFSR said the ministry was yet to decide about the import of tomato. According to ministry officials, the recent wave of cold weather and issues related to transport were the main reasons behind the short supply of tomato.

They said the national highways

and motorways were choked after heavy traffic for several days due to the annual Tableegh-e-Ijtima in Raiwand (Lahore). Tomato supply from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, therefore, took additional time to reach the market, especially in Karachi, and consequently, a demand-supply gap was created, which resulted in the price increase, they added.

As per the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics' Weekly Sensitive Price Indicator, the official price of 1kg tomatoes on average in major cities are Rs163.78 (Islamabad), Rs157.11 (Rawalpindi), 155.16 (Lahore), 149.66 (Karachi) and 153.03 (Hyderabad). However, the figures are in stark contrast to the situation on ground as markets in the twin cities revealed that tomatoes were being sold in the range of Rs200250 per kg, while they were being sold at Rs300 per kg in Karachi and some other parts of the country, recording an increase of up to Rs150 in a single day.

SBP governor predicts further improvement in forex reserves KARACHI APP

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Dr Reza Baqir on Tuesday said the foreign exchange reserves of the country have improved and will increase further as the market sentiments and economic indicators are now very much positive.

"The increase in forex is not because of loans but after improved market sentiments. The central bank is in a position to build the reserves," he stated during a press conference at SBP's head office.The governor said that he had come before media to speak on the recent economic development in the country; especially to announce two initiatives the central bank had taken for ease of doing business and for the facilitation of exporters.

The banks had also issued circulars in this re-

gard. He said in July 2018, SBP had restricted the advanced payments against imports due to pressure on reserves and current account deficit. "With the passage of time, things improved and SBP felt comfortable to allow all advance payment up to $10,000 for each invoice," he said. "SBP had started with small amounts so that small exporters could take more benefit from this step." The second circular was regarding the acquisition of services from abroad and such services could be acquired from abroad without prior permission from SBP's Foreign Exchange Operations Department if the value of the specific service does not exceed dollars 10,000.

"After having positive results of such initiatives, the central bank could go for more initiatives," the SBP governor said. "With the improvement in the external regime, SBP has moved for ease of doing business." For economic prosperity, he said, the

PIA’s operational losses reduced to Rs1.5bn per month: CEO KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer Air Marshal Arshad Mahmood Malik has said that the airline's monthly operational losses have been reduced to Rs1.5 billion from Rs3 billion (when he assumed the charge).

"The reduction in operational losses became possible only because of the untiring efforts of the PIA team, comprising of those officers who have been working at PIA for the past many years. However, a lot more still needs to be done to deal with PIA's liabilities as whatever is being earned by the airline is mostly spent on debt servicing," he stated during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) on Tuesday. Businessmen Group (BMG) Chairman and former KCCI president Siraj Kassam Teli, BMG General Secretary AQ Khalil, KCCI President Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan, Senior Vice President Arshad Islam, Vice President Shahid Ismail, and former presidents Haroon Agar, Shamim Ahmed Firpo and Junaid Makda were also present on the occasion.

The PIA chief informed the meeting that the airline has a fleet of 31 aircraft, of which 23 aircraft were able to fly. "But now, due to the dedicated efforts of PIA's engineering team, 29 aircraft are in the air while only two aircraft are on the ground."

In order to expand the existing fleet, he informed that PIA has leased an aircraft (A-320) from its own resources, which would land on November 14. Another aircraft would arrive in December this year while three to five wide-body aircraft would also be added by next year to facilitate the business community, he added.

He believed that the national flag carrier has the potential to grow but unfortunately, due to poor policies and management style of the past, the issues being faced by the airline were largely ignored, resulting in overstaffing and excessive liabilities. "All the policies and decisions were

'dictated' in the past but not anymore. The decisions are now purely taken by the management keeping in view the business and commercial viability," he affirmed. "Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured that whatever is recommended

by PIA will be prioritised in the larger interest of the country.

He further informed that during a cabinet meeting, the prime minister had categorically stated that any individual found in interfering in PIA's affairs would face strict action.

Referring to PIA's cargo operation, he said that only 20pc of the available capacity was being airlifted which has now been improved to 80pc owing to the business community's cooperation. "The airline needs support and we will drop our cargo rates as compared to market rates if people choose to avail PIA's cargo facility," he added. Highlighting PIA's Hajj operations 2019, he said that it was for the very first time that the entire Hajj operation was solely carried out by PIA in which a total of 83,000 pilgrims were facilitated without leasing any aircraft as practiced in the past. He directed the concerned PIA official to make arrangements for signing a memorandum of understanding with KCCI by next Monday for setting up a PIA Office at KCCI premises.

country would have to rely on exports and short and long-term measures were needed in this regard.

"SBP is going to introduce a short-term export finance scheme and long-term finance scheme (LTFS). Under LTFS, the loan would be offered at 5pc to textile exports and at 6pc to other sectors."

He said the two schemes were very important to help boost exports, adding that financial limits for exports were also being increased. "Over time, new sectors would also be included in the list." He said the exporters, however, would have to enhance their capacity. The SBP governor said the reforms introduced by the present government have started giving better results. "The economic indicators, including the Pakistan Stock Exchange, are performing much better. Now, we need to shift our orientation from inwards to outwards," he remarked.

Minister lauds Shell's expansion plans in Pakistan Royal Dutch Shell Vice President (Government Relations and Global Advisory) James Hall and Shell Pakistan MD/CEO Haroon Rashid called on Energy Minister Omar Ayub Khan at the Petroleum Division, according to a statement issued on Tuesday. Hall apprised the minister about Royal Dutch Shell's area of operations in the South Asian region with a focus on current and future plans in Pakistan.

He stressed upon Shell International's unequivocal commitment to meet not just Pakistan's but the world's growing energy demand in economically, environmentally and socially responsible ways.

Shell Pakistan MD/CEO Haroon Rashid shared some of the core areas of operations in the country including in the retail, lubricants, trading, supply, business and aviation sectors.

He also informed the minister about Shell Pakistan's retail network of strategically located 780 plus sites leading to direct, indirect employment opportunities and being a market leader in the country's lubricant market.

The minister welcomed James Hall and appreciated Royal Dutch Shell's sustained cooperation with its domestic partners. He also commended Shell's commitment to Pakistan and its intent to expand in the Pakistani market. He outlined the government's resolve to introduce reforms in the economy and energy sectors. He particularly stressed upon the government's focus to improve the ease of doing business in the country and the good progress that has been made on that front recently.

The minister shared a brief overview of Pakistan's energy mix and how the present government plans to diversify and increase the share of renewables in the overall energy mix. BUSINESS DESK

Wednesday, 13 November, 2019

12 BUSINESS

ConCErnS rAiSED ovEr SECP’S ProPoSED BroKEr rEGiME ISLAMABAD

T

MEIRYUM ALI

HE broker regime proposed recently by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has caused some degree of anxiety among brokers.

Since the announcement last week, some brokers are reportedly concerned about the change in the minimum net worth requirements to hold a broker licence.

The current minimum net worth requirement for a brokerage house is Rs35 million, as per the Securities Brokers (Licensing and Operations) Regulations, 2016. But under the proposed new broker regime, brokers are instead divided into three categories — Trading & Clearing Broker (TC), Trading & Self Clearing Broker (TSC) and Trading Only Broker (TO).The net worth of a TO broker licence i.e. to be a licensed brokerage house, has been lowered to Rs15 million. But the net worth requirements to be able to hold client shares has been raised to Rs150 million for TSC brokers, and Rs500

million for TC brokers. In messages exchanged internally among Pakistan Stock Exchange members, it was stated that this much higher net worth requirement will result in the closure of hundreds of brokerage houses. One message seen by this scribe read, “Some of the brokerage houses have established business relationship with clients for three generations and this regulation with a stroke of pen will destroy the entire business relationship.”

According to the SECP, a lower number of brokers with larger capital size will create pressure to improve the return on equity. It might also en-

courage banks into venturing into the brokerage business. An informal meeting was held on Tuesday in the Pakistan Stock Exchange auditorium, to allay brokers’ concerns and discuss the new broker regime.

The new regime is based on a sixpage white paper released by the SECP, in an effort to “to strengthen the clearing members and custody participants in line with international best practices.” Under the current broker regime, every brokerage house in Pakistan is allowed to provide custodial and clearing services.

According to the SECP, this system

led to broker defaults, and was affecting “investor confidence” and “hampering the growth of capital markets.”

To prop up its case, the concept paper provides details of brokers’ functions in six different places: India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Australia. While the six areas differ in granular details, all of them have segregated trading and clearing & settlement functions.

Notably, the concept paper stated that there is a need to reform the compliance system of brokerage houses, given that Pakistan is on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). According to the SECP, small brokerage houses lack the resources and capacity to meet the compliance burden. Under the proposed new regime, the requirement for at least Rs150 million net worth for the custody of client assets will be based on financial statements of December 30, 2019, and shall be implemented from March 31, 2020.

According to the SECP, the concept paper is still subject to a consultative process, and has to be finalised in the coming weeks.

Car sales drop 56pc in October Car sales continued its downslide; recording a decline of 56pc in Oct 2019 when compared to the same month last year. Cumulatively, car sales dropped 46pc during the first four months of the fiscal year 2019-20 (4MFY20) when compared

with 4MFY19.The fall is primarily attributable to the government's recent drive to document the economy; higher auto prices post rupee devaluation; higher interest rates for auto financing and overall economic slowdown.

Indus Motors (INDU) has surprisingly reported an increase in volumetric sales; up by 18pc when compared with Sept 2019 mainly due to 10pc and 86pc increase in the sale of its Corolla and Hilux variants. Experts believe this was due to different waiver schemes offered by the company in collaboration with commercial banks.

However, INDU continued to report a decline in Corolla sales on a yearly basis; down by 65pc when compared with Sept 2018.

Honda Cars (HCAR) sales fell by 72pc YoY during Oct 19, highest monthly decline in the last 7.5 years. Sales of City and Civic fell by 77pc amid a surge in their prices. BR-V also reported a decline

of 33pc. However, it reported a significant gain on a monthly basis.

Pak Suzuki (PSMC) recorded a 48pc YoY decline in Oct, highest in the last 7.3 years. The decline was led by Wagon-R and Cultus, sales of which were down 84pc and 51pc mainly due to the recent shift in customer interest towards Alto and newly-launched Picanto by Kia Lucky Motors.

The sale of Alto variant was recorded at 4,048 units for the month under review, contributing 58pc in the total volume of PSMC. Bolan & Ravi variants were down by 76pc and 81pc, respectively.

Swift sales were down by 72pc in Oct 2019 compared with the same period last year.

Atlas Honda (ATLH) sales witnessed a decline of 7pc on a yearly basis, as sales clocked in at 100,018 units. However, it recorded a significant gain of 33pc MoM in Oct 2019 when compared to Sept 2019. BUSINESS DESK

MARKET DAILY KARACHI The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) failed to carry forward its positive momentum and ended a rangebound session on Tuesday flat.Foreign investors closed the first session of the trading week (Monday) as net buyers with a net inflow of $1.41 million.The KSE-100 Index benchmark marked its intraday high at 37,171.04 during the initial hours of the trading. The index remained volatile thereon, stumbling to its day's low at 36,672.22. It closed flat (-37.54 points) at 36,765.56. The KMI-30 Index fell by 439.40 points to close at 59,977.46, whereas the KSE All Share Index gained 50.34 points, ending at 26,177.27. Out of the total traded shares, 177 advanced while 156 declined.

The overall market volumes were recorded at 292.06 million (up 3.2pc on a daily basis). Unity Foods Limited (UNITY +1.54pc), Pak Elektron

Limited (PAEL +0.97pc) and TRG Pakistan Limited (TRG +5.42pc) led the volume chart. The scripts had exchanged 16.15 million, 16.08 million and 14.63 million shares, respectively.Sectors that helped elevate the KSE-100 Index included power generation and distribution (+80.08 points), automobile assembling (+16.64 points) and food and personal care products (+15.93 points). On the other hand, sectors that contributed negatively to the index included fertiliser (-69.08 points), banking (-48.67 points) and oil and gas exploration (-34.14 points).

The automobile parts and accessories sector turned out as top gainer of the session, adding +3.31pc in its cumulative market capitalisation.

Thal Limited (THALL +5.00pc), The General Tyre and Rubber Company of Pakistan Limited (GTYR +4.79pc) and Exide Pakistan Limited (EXIDE +1.62pc) closed with decent gains despite a downward trend in the market.Meanwhile, in an interview to a foreign media outlet, Habib Bank Limited

(HBL -0.25pc) CEO Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that the bank plans to expand in China to tap more business under President Xi Jinping's flagship infrastructure programme.

HBL to expand business in China ‘The BanK’S aPPlicaTion for full-fledged commercial oPeraTionS haS Been accePTed By china'S BanKing regulaTor’ HBL’s application for full-fledged commercial operations has been accepted by China’s banking regulator Habib Bank Limited plans to expand its services in China so as to tap more business under President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

"The bank's application for full-

fledged commercial operations has been accepted by China's banking regulator, and Pakistan's biggest lender expects to get a branch licence within three months," said Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Aurangzeb. The experience in working with Chinese companies building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, coal

mines and power plants in the South Asian nation encouraged the lender to expand in the world's second-largest economy. Habib Bank, controlled by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development SA, is among the few Pakistani lenders to fund the Belt and Road projects that are otherwise dominated by Chinese banks.

KARACHI: The construction of K-Electric’s $650 million 900MW RLNG-based Bin Qasim Power Station (BQPS)-III will commence in December. The project has received all required approvals and is part of KE’s planned initiatives; investments of around $3 billion across the power value chain over the next few years.

The project was conceived in 2016 and after the completion of feasibility studies; it was approved and publicly announced in 2017. Although the project timeline has been affected due to delay in the finalization of KE’s multi-year tariff, the power utility is determined to execute it on a fast-track basis and according to the project contracts signed last month. The plant is expected to start producing electricity by the summer of 2021. According to KE CEO Moonis Alvi, "The project is a major private sector investment in the country's power sector and is in line with K-Electric’s vision of diversifying its fuel mix besides enhancing generation fleet efficiency. We have also re-negotiated the terms of the contract and the first unit of 450MW will be commissioned in only 19 months instead of 24 months, thus greatly reducing the time in which Karachi will start reaping the benefits. "The 900MW RLNG project will be a highly efficient combined-cycle plant with an efficiency of around 60pc. In addition to bridging the demand for electricity, this plant will also enable us to gradually phase out some units of the ageing and less efficient BQPS I plant which have been in service for more than 25 years. After completion, BQPS-III will result in lower import costs for the government, affordable power for consumers and a much smaller carbon footprint as compared to furnace oil power plants." STAFF REPORT

SC seeks PiA’s response over nAB report ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) to submit its response on the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) report. The court also directed the PIA administration to submit details of the airline's current deficit. A two-member SC bench comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the case regarding the sale of national assets, including those of PIA, at lower rates. During the course of proceedings, the bench directed the national flag carrier to submit a comprehensive plan for improvements in PIA. NAB Additional Prosecutor General Nayyar Rizvi said that the bureau had raised objections to 33 issues in its report. He also highlighted the issue of underqualified staff in the top management of PIA. Justice Ijazul Ahsan observed that PIA faced losses worth billions of rupees due to the award of free tickets. "Apart from the employees, unauthorized people were also given free tickets," he added. Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that the court needed a solution to the problem as it was trying to get national institutions in the right direction. The purpose of the prosecution was not to harm anyone, he added. APP

SBP unveils commemorative coin to mark Guru nanak’s birth anniversary

KSe-100 closes flat in range-bound trading STAFF REPORT

Construction of KE’s $650m power project to commence next month

HYDERABAD: State Bank of Pakistan Governor Dr Reza Baqir on Tuesday unveiled the commemorative coin of Rs550 to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. A delegation of the Sikh community, led by Pakistan Sikh Council Patron-in-Chief & Prime Minister’s Taskforce for Evacuee Trust Property Board Member Sardar Ramesh Singh Khalsa, was also present on the occasion.In his welcome address, the SBP governor informed the audience that this was the first time in the history of Pakistan that a coin in the memory of a religious personality was issued. Citing three reasons behind the issuance of the commemorative coin, he said through this gesture, SBP has contributed in the national efforts to support inter-religious harmony.

Second, he added, the coin would underscore the message of peace taught by Baba Guru Nanak. PPI

China's state-run companies "increasingly want to work with us in all those locations which are part of the Belt and Road but Chinese banks are not present," Aurangzeb, 55, said in an interview in his Karachi office. "In the next 3-5 years, if we get this one right, this puts us in a supra-regional play."

The bank is looking to leverage its relationship with Chinese companies in Pakistan. It has expanded business with one such company in the United Arab Emirates and is discussing a project in Oman as well, said Aurangzeb.

The bank's shares have gained almost 20pc this year, while the benchmark KSE-100 Index has dropped about 1pc.

Habib Bank advanced credit and also acquired stake in the nation’s first-ever coal mining venture, one of the main Belt and Road projects, with Chinese companies in Pakistan’s Thar desert. It has also participated in a few coal-fired power plants and an electricity transmission line project in different roles, Aurangzeb said.

In its attempt to follow Chinese investment it became the first Pakistani lender to open a branch in Gwadar, a small fishing town where China is developing a port. It also became the first foreign bank to have a branch in Urumqi in western China last year, and acquired a licence last week that allows them to open yuan-based accounts for customers. BUSINESS DESK

Art CoverAge

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group show of paintings, titled ‘Stories’ curated by Mahaa Ashraf, featuring works of 15 painters opened at Shakir Ali Museum, on Friday 8th November, Lahore.

The outstanding feature of the exhibition is the artworks by Mahwish Shaukat, Maham Ali Malik and Nameen Azeem. While, many of the artists in the show, inaugurated by Ajaz Anwar (Pride of Performance) and Ijaz Ul Hassan, Chairperson of Artist Association, Pakistan Furthermore, Mr. Anwar said that the artworks have determined inspiration from their imagination, and according to their own perception and thinking. Personal experiences and ups and downs of life have also been portrayed

through the artworks. The subjects have a great deal of assortment about them, ranging from figurative art to digital artwork, calligraphy to lovely fields.

While, Mr. Hassan praised Mahwish’s and Maham Ali’s work and praised her capability to bind her subject’s expressions on canvas. He also said that every painting told a different story and depicted the artist’s exceptional imagination.

The featuring artists include Sadaf farasat, Maham Ali Malik, Sundas Jahangir, Nameen Azeem, Kiran Khalid, Reena Khalid, Syed Irfan, Fareeha Shahid, Zuha Naeem, Rabia Tariq, Rubab Bashir, Komal Shafiq, Mahwish Shaukat and Maria Azmat.

The exhibition will remain open till 15 Nov 2019

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fPl MulTi deSiGnerS exHibiTion Taimur Ajmal & Hajira of Fashion Pakistan Lounge organised a two day Multi designer Exhibition to welcome the festive season which was well attended by the fashion lovers of the city.

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buSHra Haider

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

MaHnur Malik

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Hira Sikander

kanwal Malik

Meerub, TaiMur ajMal, Hajira and eraj

Star Wars Movies On A Hiatus For Years Jason Momoa Supports Release The Snyder Confirms Disney CEO Bob Iger Cut With Aquaman vs Steppenwolf Image

Dabangg 3 song Yu Karke: Salman Khan sings about adab, saree and pallu

Confirming what I have been stating about Star Wars for the past couple of years or so, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirms the movies are going on a big hiatus.

With the release of their Q4 financial report, which again confirms that the Star Wars Galaxy's Edge parks have low attendance and high costs, and during their recent investors' conference call, Disney CEO Bob Iger says they aren't developing new Star Wars movies, but instead are focusing on additional Disney Plus Star Wars series.

Among the problems the franchise has been facing as of late is that the Game of Thrones creators recently exited from Star Wars citing creative issues with Kathleen Kennedy as well as blaming "toxic fandom."

Presently, Disney's Star Wars plans include the release of The Mandalorian on Disney Plus Nov. 12, The Rise of Skywalker gets released in theaters Dec. 20, and plans are underway for more Disney Plus series including a Rogue One spinoff and an Obi-Wan Kenobi series starring Ewan McGregor.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan has gone behind the microphone to sing a song again, this time for his upcoming film Dabangg 3.

Salman first sung for his 1999 film Hello Brother, and has since then recorded songs for films such as Kick and Hero. The actor tweeted the new song’s link on Saturday and wrote: “‘Dabangg 3’ ka naya gaana, ‘Yu Karke’, suno humaari yaani ki Chulbul Pandey ki aawaaz mein #YuKarkeSong.” Payal Dev has also sung the song.

“This is a really special song for me and the first time that I have sung with Salman Khan. It is a fun, peppy dance number which I hope the audience will definitely enjoy. I couldn’t have asked for anything bigger than this,” Payal said.

The music has been composed by Sajid-Wajid, who have scored music for the other various Salman-starrers including Dabangg 2 and Partner. “I’m thankful to Sajid-Wajid and Salman Khan for this opportunity and everlasting support. I’ve done two songs with Sajid-Wajid before for Welcome to New York and Freaky Ali.

"Release The Snyder Cut" continues to trend on Twitter, now with near 45K tweets, which sees Jason Momoa respond by posting an image of Aquaman vs Steppenwolf. "#releasetheysnydercut Aloja," Momoa posted on Instagram, with the image showing Aquaman gutting Steppenwolf with the trident. Reportedly, Aquaman then throws Steppenwolf to Superman who punches Steppenwolf to Wonder Woman where she beheads him seconds before he enters a Boom Tube.

Steppenwolf's head then rolls to the feet of Darkseid on Apokolopis.

Zack Snyder did tease the final battle in the form of Justice League storyboards for his version of the film (see below).

Earlier also saw Zack Snyder post a new image from the Snyder Cut featuring Ezra Miller as Barry Allen with Kiersey Clemons as Iris West.

The "Release the Snyder Cut" campaign has seen renewed interest following recent comments made by Jason Momoa where he said he has seen the cut and implied Zack Snyder finished it.

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Wednesday, 13 November, 2019

14 SPORTS

premier league sHarpsHooters in aFrica as can qualiFying begins

Paris

e

Agencies

NGLISH Premier League sharpshooters Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah flew to Africa this week, seeking goals as 2021 Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifying kicks off.

New Arsenal captain Aubameyang has claimed eight league goals this season and Liverpool duo Mane and Salah seven and six respectively, putting the trio among the top 10 scorers. The form of Gabonese Aubameyang, Senegalese Mane and Egyptian Salah will encourage their nations as they face two matches each between this Wednesday and next Tuesday.

Mane, who is looking good to suc-

ceed two-time winner Salah as African Footballer of the Year, will be first into action with Senegal hosting Congo Brazzaville in Thies Wednesday.

Having scored for Liverpool in a 31 triumph over reigning champions Manchester City Sunday and travelled to Dakar Monday, Mane will have little time to prepare for the Group I clash.

Fortunately for 2019 Cup of Nations silver medallists Senegal, whose defence is marshalled by Napoli centreback Kalidou Koulibaly, Congo have not impressed recently.

Any outcome other than a comfortable win for Senegal would be surprising as the nation currently ranked first in Africa launch another attempt to win a maiden Cup of Nations title.

Aubameyang and Salah play Thursday with Gabon away to central African

neighbours the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group D and Egypt at home to Kenya in Group G. Salah will work with recently appointed Egypt coach Hossam el Badry for the first time, having missed a warm-up win over Botswana last month because of an injury. El Badry succeeded Mexican Javier Aguirre, who was sacked after the Pharaohs flopped as 2019 Cup of Nations hosts, losing to South Africa at the last-16 stage. Another Premier League star available to the new coach is Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan, who scored for Aston Villa in a weekend defeat at Wolves.

UnHAPPY MeMOrIeS: Kenya appeared at a Cup of Nations this year for the first time since 2004 and edged Tanzania between group losses to eventual champions Algeria and runners-up Sene-

gal. Aubameyang, the son of a former international, and Gabon have unhappy memories of recent Cup of Nations.

They could not win any of three 2017 group matches despite being hosts and made a humiliating first round exit before faring even worse in the following edition by failing to qualify.

Aubameyang struggled for form in Africa and refused to travel from Gabon to South Sudan for a 2019 qualifier because he believed the chartered aircraft was unsafe.

Only a handful of countries leave DR Congo capital Kinshasa with maximum points and a realistic target for new Gabon coach Patrick Neveu would be a draw. Algeria star Riyad Mahrez has managed only two Premier League goals for Manchester City this season and was an unused substitute at Liverpool.

The 'Desert Foxes' hope this will not affect his performance when the trophyholders host shock 2012 African champions Zambia, who failed to qualify for the last two Cup of Nations, in Group H. Nigeria, third at the 2019 Cup of Nations, have called up Premier League midfielders Alex Iwobi of Everton and Wilfred Ndidi from second-place Leicester City to face Benin in Uyo. Saudi Arabia-based captain Ahmed Musa returns for the Group L match after missing a friendly draw with Brazil in Singapore due to injury.

Although Ghana are the third most successful country in the Cup of Nations with four titles, the last came 37 years ago when Abedi 'Pele' Ayew was a teenager. Now retired after an illustrious career, he will watch Englandbased sons Andre and Jordan tackle unpredictable South Africa in Group C in Cape Coast.

captain of Lahore School of Economics Cricket Team. Currently, studying at

Durham University England, he is selected in Durham 1 team.

Syed Hamza Qasim selected in Dreams2play Top 50 List Lahore Press releAse

Syed Hamza Qasim, an emerging Pakistani Cricketer and former captain of Lahore School of Economics cricket team is included in the TOP 50 list of emerging cricket talents in the dreams2 play talent hunt programme. Abu Dhabi T10 League has tied up with Dreams2Play to find the best talent across the globe in the shortest period of time creating the first ever “Digital

to Physical” platform.

Dreams2play invited budding cricketers for digital submissions of their talents. The TOP 50 talents were selected from a pool of thousands of submissions globally. Syed Hamza Qasim found a place in top 50 list. Further shortlisted candidates would be provided with the opportunity of being a part of one of the franchises in the upcoming T10 League in Abu Dhabi.

Syed Hamza Qasim started his cricket career in Aitchison and then was

Formula one Follow Hamilton's eco-Friendly policy Bern: Formula One appear to have taken on board six-time champion Lewis Hamilton's concerns over the environment and have announced plan to become carbon neutral by 2030. The goal to eliminate the sport carbon footprint includes not only race cars on the track but the entire F1 circus that accompanies the sport, extending to road and air transport of team employees as well as the transportation of equipment to the tracks all over the world. F1 says it will "move to ultra-efficient logistics and travel and 100% renewably powered offices, facilities and factories" and offset emissions that cannot be cut, according to the BBC. F1 are taking immediate steps in their drive to be environment-friendly by beginning carbon-reduction projects with the target of making all events "sustainable" by 2025, including eliminating single-use plastics and ensuring all waste is reused, recycled or composted. F1 cars are already engineered to be vastly eco-friendlier that street cars. Engines have a thermal efficiency rating of 50%, whereas streetcar petrol engines are rated in the region of 30%, Beginning in 2021, rules will demand the petrol used in F1 has a biofuel content of at least 10%. The teams' present engines are due to be used till 2025 but F1 are hoping they will ultimately create "the world's first netzero carbon hybrid internal combustion engine". F1 says it has come up with its plan to have a net-zero carbon footprint "after 12 months of intense work with motorsport's governing body the FIA, sustainability experts, F1 teams, promoters and partners".

CArBOn neUTrAL: Hamilton, who has just claimed his sixth world championship, raised eyebrows with recent social media outpourings worrying about the "extinction of our race" if humans kept eating animals. The Briton switched to a plant-based diet in 2017.Hamilton said ahead of the Mexico Grand Prix last month he intended to make himself carbonneutral by the end of this year, explaining that he is swapping his fuel-reliant road cars for electric cars."I don't allow anyone in my office, but also within my household, to buy any plastics," he said."I want everything recycle-able down to deodorant, down to toothbrush, all these kind of things. Agencies

Emotions got the better of me, says dropped Sterling Manchester Agencies

Raheem Sterling said he allowed his "emotions" to get the better of him leading to a brief altercation with Liverpool's Joe Gomez that resulted in Manchester City player being dropped for Thursday's Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro.

Sterling admitted on Instagram on Tuesday he and Gomez "had words" when they met up at the England camp the day after Liverpool's 3-1 win over defending champions Manchester City which left the latter nine points adrift of Jurgen Klopp's side. "Both Joe and I have had words and figured things out and moved on," Sterling said.

"We are in a sport where emotions run high and I am man enough to admit when emotions got the better of me.

"This is why we play this sport because of our love for it -- me and Joe Gomez are good, we both understand it was a five to 10-second thing... it's done, we move forward and not make this bigger than it is.

"Let's get focus on our game on Thursday," Sterling added. The Daily Mail reported that Gomez and Sterling had to be separated by teammates on Monday after a "physical confrontation."

The pair had also clashed on the field towards the end of Sunday's match.

THe BeST STATeSMAn: England manager Gareth Southgate moved quickly to deal with the issue -- arguably one of his achievements during his time in the post has been to erase the rivalries between members from different clubs which plagued previous England squads.

The likes of former star defender Rio Ferdinand have spoken about how when they used to join the England camp he and Manchester United players would stick together and find it hard to mix with Chelsea or Liverpool stars. In a statement prior to Sterling's Instagram post issued by the Football Association, Southgate alluded to that. "We have taken the decision to not consider Raheem for the match against Montenegro on Thursday.

"One of the great challenges and strengths for us is that we’ve been able to

separate club rivalries from the national team. Unfortunately the emotions of yesterday’s game were still raw.

“My feeling is that the right thing for the team is the action we have taken. Now that the decision has been made with the agreement of the entire squad, it’s important that we support the players and focus on Thursday night."

Sterling has been one of the stars of England's qualification campaign, scoring eight goals in six games.

A draw against Montenegro at Wembley will be enough to guarantee England's place at Euro 2020.

Sterling has enjoyed a makeover in his image in the past year with less biting observations of his bling-bling image in the press and more positive headlines regarding his public stance against racism.

Six Chelsea fans were banned -- one for life -- after racially abusing him during a league game last season and along with England team-mates he also suffered abuse in their Euro qualifiers against Bulgaria and Montenegro.

The 24-year-old silenced the critics

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over having a rifle tattooed on his leg by revealing it was his pledge never to touch a gun following his father being shot dead in Jamaica in front of his own father when the star was just two.

He has been hailed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan for his campaigning against racism. "I'd go as far to say he's the best statesman we have (for fighting racism)," Khan said in September this year.

Wednesday, 13 November, 2019

SPORTS 15

australia's test HopeFuls undone by imran KHan Perth

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Agencies

penny (or cent) for the thoughts of Trevor Hohns and Justin Langer. The Australia A side, picked with such focus on filling the couple of batting vacancies in the Test side, slumped to 9 for 73 on the second day at Perth Stadium as Imran Khan, an unexpected selection for the tour, bagged 5 for 21.

The top score at dinner was from Cameron Bancroft, batting at No. 6, who wasn't part of this side until Nic Maddinson withdrew a few days ago. There were three ducks, including a first-baller for

Joe Burns, while Usman Khawaja and Travis Head, who are both hoping for Test recalls, fell to the part-time offspin of Iftikhar Ahmed.

Pakistan were a bowler down in tragic circumstances following the death of 16-year-old Naseem Shah's mother with him given leave for the day. Pakistan were offered the opportunity to bring Mohammad Abbas into the team, but the game would have lost first-class status so they declined and continued with ten players. Players from both sides wore black armbands.

Pakistan's overnight century-makers, Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam, retired to allow others a hit and the total was lifted

to 428 by the first interval with Yasir Shah making a halfcentury.

Jhye DINNER Richardson finished with 3 AUSTRALIA A 9 for 79 but in FOR 73 (KHAN 5-21) TRAIL 118 overs Australia A PAKISTAN 428 (AZAM 157, managed just SHAFIQ 119, SHAH 53) seven wickets.

It was a bit BY 355 RUNS Shaheen Afridi. Being dismissed by different when high-quality pace bowling with the pink Pakistan got the ball.

Khan struck with his first delivery when ball is one thing, but falling to Ahmed he beat Burns' flat-footed drive and five won't have been in the script. Head gave overs later the incumbent, Marcus Har- him a sizeable helping hand when he cut ris, was cleaned up by a beauty from a short ball to point before Khawaja

Mominul slips quietly into the hot seat for Test cricket's toughest gig

Dhaka Agencies

It was all rather sombre at the BCB's packed reception area on the evening of October 29.

Shakib Al Hasan read out his statement. And minutes after he was done, BCB cricket operations chairman Akram Khan announced that Bangladesh would have a new Test captain - such was the atmosphere that there was no space for appreciation or celebration when Mominul Haque's name was read out.

"It was unexpected," Mominul, now Bangladesh's 11th Test captain, told ESPNcricinfo. "I never thought about it. I never even dreamt that I'd one day become Bangladesh's captain. But it was a great feeling after the announcement."

Mominul's reaction was understandable.

The Shakib bombshell had hit all the players, and the cricket community in the country, hard. Mominul's elevation came after that, effectively replacing Bangladesh's greatest cricketer in the longest format and chosen ahead of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, both senior cricketers and former captains. The BCB hadn't even thought of anyone else in a position of leadership while Shakib was around - they hadn't even named a vice-captain.

From a cricketing point of view, it is a fair decision, and well timed. Mominul is an established Test cricketer. Since making his Test debut in 2013, he has scored eight centuries in the format - only behind Tamim Iqbal's tally for Bangladesh - and he's the only batsman from his country to have a 40-

plus average after scoring 2500 runs.

As a result, he has earned the respect of his peers. People often describe Mominul as one who has a clean image, and a quiet but strong presence. He has only played 36 Tests, but that number is also a reflection of how few Tests Bangladesh play. He was dropped as a limited-overs option four years ago, and while there were concerns that not being in the thick of international cricket regularly would hurt his quality, he has continued to score runs.

Mominul's plan now is to lead aggressively in India, with the first Test in Indore first and the second, under lights, in Kolkata.

"I like to play aggressively. I want to be an aggressive captain, which I feel brings more success. I think, according to the situation, I will be defensive within my aggressive mindset," he said. "It is not an extra pressure as a captain. It is a good feeling, an opportunity. I haven't brought anything into my thinking. I like to be optimistic. "I am just thinking of representing the country, and doing something good for the team." Having played under five captains in his international career so far, he hopes to take the best from each of Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib, Tamim, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah.

"We have had different types of captains, and I will try to take different things from each of them," he said. "I have seen how each of them react to different situations, and I have certainly learned from it. How they handled those situations, whether they were aggressive or defensive. I can take a lot of good things from them."

coLoMbo Agencies

Sri Lanka has become the first South Asian nation to criminalise several offences related to match-fixing, after its parliament passed all three readings of a bill entitled "Prevention of Offences Related to Sports" on Monday. Offences related to corruption in sports will carry a prison term of up to 10 years, as well as various fines.

Aside from Sports Minister Harin Fernando, who presented the bill to parliament, former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who is a cabinet minister, was a strong supporter of the new legislation during Monday's parliamentary debates. The sports ministry in particular is understood to have worked closely with the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit during the process of drafting the bill. In fact, although the bill covers all sports, it is the recent ACU investigation into Sri Lankan cricket that is believed to have prompted this legislation.

The bill's ambit is broad. It seeks not only to punish "any person related to a sport" who is directly involved in fixing, but also those who "provide‌ inside information", curators who prepare playing surfaces to suit betting operators, and match officials who "deliberately misapply the rules" for money. In addition, it is now also illegal for former players (and others in-

edged to the keeper from round the wicket in a style of dismissal that has been a feature of his career. At least for Head he scored a century in the previous round of Sheffield Shield matches; for Khawaja it has been a difficult time in first-class cricket.

The last batsman in the line-up, seemingly, with an eye on the Gabba - the uncapped Will Pucovski - survived one huge appeal for caught behind off Khan before edging a delivery into the slips that climbed from short of a length.

Captain Alex Carey dragged on as he attempted to leave the ball, Michael Neser edged to slip while Richardson and Sean Abbott were pinned lbw to complete Khan's five-wicket haul in the blink of an eye.

At that point it appeared Australia A would be skittled inside a session but, even though the extra half hour was taken with them being nine down, they limped to the interval with Bancroft showing the technique to combat the challenge while No. 11 Riley Meredith had faced the third-most deliveries of the innings.

Sri Lanka passes bill criminalising match-fixing

volved in sports) to provide corrupt figures access to current players.

Just as significantly, the bill also criminalises "acts of omission", which includes failure to report corrupt approaches. This means that Sri Lankan cricketers who are approached by potential corruptors may now have to report these approaches not only to the ICC's ACU under the ICC code, but also to a Special Investigation Unit appointed by Sri Lanka's government.

Although parliament passed this legislation during Monday's special sitting, it is not law until the Act is

gazetted, probably in the course of the next 10 days. A parliament spokesperson said the gazetting is expected to be a mere formality.

While Ranatunga was a leading figure during the debate, urging parliament to push an unamended bill through as soon as possible, former SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala proposed amendments to the bill that were ultimately defeated on the floor.

Sumathipala was at pains to mention, however, that he was not against the passing of the bill as a whole, only the contents of certain clauses.

Watson appointed Australian Cricketers' Association president Perth Agencies

Shane Watson has been appointed president of the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) at the body's annual general meeting, and will now head the extended ten-member board, which includes three other new appointments: current players Pat Cummins and Kristen Beams and former player Lisa Sthalekar.

"Through a period of immense change, the players have been, and will continue to be, a strong voice in protecting what's made our game of cricket great, while embracing opportunities that change inevitably brings," Watson said. The new structure also splits the role of president and chairman, with the latter continuing to be held by former Australia wicketkeeper Greg Dyer. A

number of prominent cricketers are elected directors: apart from Beams and Cummins, they are Aaron Finch, Alyssa Healy and Moises Henriques. The appointed directors are Sthalekar, Neil Maxwell and Janet Torney, whose work has primarily been in the fields of economics, investment and corporate governance. One of the recent Cricket Australia initiatives Watson brought up for special praise was the parental policy for women cricketers. "This policy, amid a host of other changes, assures Australian women that cricket is a sport which can now support you and your family," he said. "And for girls coming through who love sport, like my daughter, it says that cricket is a sport where you will be able to have a career."

Watson, an allrounder who battled a fragile body for the best part of her career and became more of a specialist batsman by the end of his run, played 59 Tests, 190 ODIs and 58 T20Is for Australia between 2002 and 2016.

AB de Villiers to skip PSL for 'managing workload' Lahore Agencies

AB de Villiers will be released from the Lahore Qalandars roster ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Draft, with ESPNcricinfo learning that "managing workload" is the reason for the South African superstar reconsidering his plans.

De Villiers hasn't played representative cricket since turning out for Middlesex in England's Vitality Blast T20 tournament in September, and is expected to play in the Big Bash League for Brisbane Heat and then in the IPL, where he is on

Royal Challengers Bangalore's rolls. For the Heat, de Villiers will be available for the second half of the tournament, after Christmas.

When asked about opting out of the PSL - the PCB is pushing for the entire season to be played in Pakistan this time - de Villiers said, "Just managing workload. On-off as much as possible."

The PSL Draft will be held on December 6, with the six franchises given until December 1 to finalise their retentions (up to eight players) and trade picks.

De Villiers was picked up by the Qalandars last season for seven games in the UAE and two

CMYK

in Pakistan, but he didn't turn up for the Pakistan leg because of a back injury.

His presence at the PSL last season, at a time when the PCB has been trying its best to attract big players and top teams to their neck of the woods, was hugely celebrated, and he responded well, scoring 218 runs at an average of 54.50 and strike rate of 128.99 from seven games. Qalandars, however, finished bottom of the table; they have been among the bottom two on each of the four seasons so far.

Curiously, Qalandars have a history of picking big names,

sometimes the biggest on offer, but it hasn't quiet reflected in their results. They have been unfortunate too. If Chris Gayle had a poor run with them in the first season, in 2016, Yasir Shah was banned for testing positive for a banned substance the same year.

At various points, players of the calibre of Mustafizur Rahman, Chris Lynn, Shaun Tait, Dwayne Bravo and Anton Devcich have opted out because of injuries, and last season, their captain Mohammad Hafeez injured his hand in the second game, leaving them in a crisis they couldn't get out of, despite de Villiers' efforts.

Wednesday, 13 November, 2019

NEWS

Jui-F SetS ‘PlAn B’ in motion, to BloCK mAJor highwAyS PROTESTERS TO BLOCK MAIN ROADS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AFTER APPROVAL

BY JOINT OPPOSITION ISLaMaBaD

J

MiAn AbRAR

AMIAT Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday set ‘Plan B’ in motion, hoping to bring the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) on its knees over his demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The decision, which will be finalised after consultations with the joint opposition, was taken at a meeting of the executive committee of the party that was held at Fazl’s residence to chalk out a future strategy against the government.

GOVT SAYS PROTESTERS WILL BE DEALT WITH IRON HAND IN CASE OF VIOLATION OF AGREEMENT

It may be noted that the opposition has refused to become part of any violent move by the JUI-F and has only lent its token support to the marchers that have been gathered at the H-9 venue for more than a week now.

According to the ‘Plan B’, the protesters will block all the main roads throughout Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was also learned that all main roads of Islamabad and Rawalpindi will be closed in addition to the sit-in at the H-9 ground.

In the meeting, the JUI-F chief was briefed about the plan by all four provincial chiefs of the party. Fazl expressed his satisfaction over the

Performers wounded in knife attack on stage in Saudi Arabia RIYADH: Two men and a woman were wounded in a knife attack as they performed on stage in a park in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, marking the first such incident since the kingdom began loosening restrictions on entertainment. Saudi broadcaster al-Ekhbariya reported that police detained the suspect, who was identified only as a 33-year-old Yemeni male resident of Saudi Arabia. The stateowned news channel aired footage of security as they ran on stage to capture the suspect. Other state-linked media outlets shared footage online that appeared to show the attack. In the video, a man is seen running on stage and apparently attacking the performers from behind as the troupe, dressed in gold ensembles, performs a dance. Al-Ekhbariya reported the three performers wounded in the attack are in stable condition. The broadcaster did not identify their nationalities. The motive for the attack remains unclear. Saudi Arabia has been at war in Yemen since early 2015. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and created a devastating humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, the kingdom has been rapidly transforming under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose reform agenda clipped the powers of Saudi Arabia’s vice and virtue police after years of ultraconservative restrictions on entertainment, music and movies in Saudi Arabia. The 34-year-old prince, with the support of his father King Salman, has pushed to open Saudi Arabia to tourism and backed widespread social reforms aimed in part at boosting domestic spending and the economy. The reforms, while controversial among many in the Muslim country, have not led to a widespread public backlash by conservatives for whom loyalty to the country’s rulers is also seen as a religious duty. Agencies

arrangements in place for the plan.

On the other hand, the federal government has also pulled its socks to counter the ‘Plan B’. An official, on condition of anonymity, told Pakistan Today that the interior minister had given standing orders to the Islamabad administration to ensure that “there is no violation of the accord signed between the admin and the JUI-F leadership”.

When asked to comment on the strategy if the JUI-F protesters would resort to blocking the Faizabad interchange, the official said that Faizabad interchange doesn’t fall under Red Zone. However, the administration would not allow the protesters to move ahead from Peshawar Mor.

The official said that the Punjab government would take action if the protesters converged at Faizabad as it falls under the remits of Punjab.

AZADI MARCH: Thousands of protesters have converged on Pakistan’s federal capital, under the banner of ‘Azadi March’, seeking to de-seat Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The caravan, which set off from Sindh on October 27, reached Islamabad on October 31.

During the sit-in, opposition leaders delivered fiery speeches against the ruling PTI government. On November 1, Fazl gave the prime minister a 48-hour ultimatum to resign. However, the socalled deadline was later extended. It has been extended multiple times now. Till now, despite several meetings, negotiations between the protesters and the government have failed to reach any result.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA) has suffered a loss of Rs 42 million on account of the 12day closure of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus.

The metro has been closed since the Azadi March that has entered its second week. It has not only been causing a heavy loss to the national exchequer but also creating trouble for the commuters who travel daily from Rawalpindi to Islamabad and vice versa.

Afghanistan to swap Taliban militants for American, Australian captives

KaBUL Agencies

Afghanistan will release two senior Taliban commanders and a leader of the Haqqani militant group in exchange for an American and an Australian professor who were kidnapped in 2016, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Tuesday.

The government’s decision to free Anas Haqqani and two other Taliban commanders in a prisoner swap was taken in the hope of securing direct talks with the Taliban, which has hitherto refused to engage with what it calls an illegitimate “puppet” regime in Kabul.

“In order to pave the way for face-to-face negotiations with the Taliban, the government has decided to free Taliban prisoners in exchange for two university professors,” Ghani said in a televised speech.

Ghani said Anas Haqqani and Taliban commanders Haji Mali

Khan and Hafiz Rashid were being released. All three were captured in 2014. The prisoner exchange comes at a time when efforts were being made to revamp peace talks between the United States and the Taliban.

The Haqqani network has in recent years carried a large-scale militant attack on civilians. It is believed to be based in Pakistan and is part of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Anas Haqqani is the younger brother of Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is second-in-command in the Afghan Taliban hierarchy and leads the Haqqani network, considered to the deadliest faction of the Afghan Taliban.

A Taliban spokesman earlier this year said that the movement was determined to obtain Anas Haqqani’s release and named him as a member of a negotiating team that would hold talks with U.S. officials.

The Taliban had kidnapped U.S. citizen Kevin King and an Australian

Timothy Weeks, both professors, in August 2016 from the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul.

Ghani said authorities had been unable to discover where the Taliban were holding the two captives.

“Information suggests that their health while being held by the terrorists has deteriorated,” he said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan during a three-day visit to Washington in July that he would do his best to help release the American University professors.

A Pakistani delegation, including the chief of the powerful InterServices Intelligence (ISI) spy agency, was in Kabul to meet Afghan authorities on Monday. A senior Pakistani official in Islamabad said the exchange of prisoners was discussed by the delegation.

According to Afghan officials, the next round of talks between the Taliban and Afghan representatives is slated for this month in Beijing.

Court indiCtS KhAdim rizvi, otherS over violent ProteStS Lahore stAff RepoRt

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday indicted Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi and others in a case regarding violent protests instigated by the hardline religious party following a Supreme Court verdict acquitting blasphemy accused Aasia Bibi last year.

ATC-I Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta announced the charges brought against TLP leaders. A total of 26 suspects — including Rizvi and TLP patron-in-chief Pir Afzal Qadri — were issued copies of the challan.

Some of the suspects appeared in court along with their counsels Tahir Minhas and Nasir Minhas.

Additionally, the ATC issued summons for the witnesses for the next hearing, which will be held on Wednesday. The court has decided to take up the case on a daily basis.

Violent protests had erupted in different parts of the country soon after the Supreme Court’s verdict acquitting Aasia Bibi was announced, as activists of TLP and other religious parties took to the streets and blocked major roads and intersections through sit-ins and by putting up barricades. The case against the accused had been registered at the Civil Lines police station in Lahore on charges of sedition and terrorism for delivering anti-state speeches and inciting violence during the three-day protests against Aasia Bibi’s acquittal.

The FIR against the accused referenced Sections 290, 291, 353, 427, 186 and 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), Section 6 of the Sound System Punjab Ordinance, 2015 and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 The initial protest was disbanded after the government provided assurances. Rizvi was taken into protective custody by police on Nov 23, 2018, amidst a massive crackdown against TLP workers. The crackdown had come two days before the TLP said it would resume its protest against Aasia Bibi’s acquittal.

Bolivia seeks new leader as Morales heads for Mexico refuge La PaZ Agencies

Bolivia’s former leader Evo Morales was flying to Mexico for asylum on Tuesday as security forces sought to quell violence over the long-serving leftist’s resignation and lawmakers searched for an interim replacement.

Morales, who quit after weeks of protests over a disputed October election, flew in a Mexican Air Force plane from the town of Chimore, a stronghold where Bolivia’s first indigenous president retreated as his 14-year rule imploded. The plane stopped in Paraguay to refuel, before flying on to Mexico where it was due around 9 a.m. local time (1500 GMT).

“His life and integrity are safe,” tweeted Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, whose leftist govern-

ment has supported Morales’ accusations of a coup against him by political rivals.

Ebrard tweeted a photo of Morales seated alone in the jet with a downcast, unsmiling expression, displaying Mexico’s red, white and green flag across his lap. In Bolivia’s highland capital La Paz, roadblocks were still in place after soldiers and police patrolled late into the night to deter fighting between rival political groups and looting that erupted after Morales’ resignation.

The charismatic, 60-year-old, former coca leaf farmer was beloved by the poor when he won power in 2006, but alienated Bolivians by insisting on seeking a fourth term. Lawmakers were expected to meet on Tuesday to formally accept Morales’ resignation and begin deciding an interim leadership prior to a new election.

The government collapsed on Sunday

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

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after the Organization of American States (OAS) delivered a damning report on irregularities during the October vote, prompting ruling party allies to quit and the army to urge Morales’ departure.

With Morales’ deputy and many allies in government and parliament also gone, opposition politician and Senate second vice-president Jeanine Anez may take the top job temporarily.

Bolivia and Latin America are starkly divided by Morales’ fall, with detractors exulting in the fall of a “dictator” and supporters denouncing a coup by rightwing foes determined to put Bolivia’s capitalist elite back in charge.

Morales’ Defense Minister Javier Zavaleta also resigned on Tuesday and called on election runner-up Carlos Mesa and protest leader Luis Fernando Camacho to avoid violence.