E paper pdf 30 january (khi)

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Tuesday, 30 January, 2018 I Jamadi-ul-Awwal 12, 1439 I Rs 17.00 I Vol VIII No 212 I 16 Pages I Karachi Edition

Trump says no To Talks wiTh Taliban g

uS PreSident, in waKe of rePeated attaCKS, SayS he doeSn’t thinK taliban are PrePared to talK right now WASHINGTON

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AGENCIES

nited States President donald trump has ruled out quick talks with the afghan taliban following a wave of bloody largescale attacks in the afghan capital, Kabul. trump’s decision comes in the wake of Monday’s attack on a military academy in Kabul in which 11 soldiers were killed – the third major attack in a spate of violence over the past nine days. earlier in the day, the suicide attack on an afghan army battalion killed at least 11 soldiers and wounded 16, according to the defence ministry spokesperson. “i don’t think we are prepared to talk right now,” trump said, throwing into question washington’s strategy of pushing the group towards the negotiating table. “we don’t want to talk with the taliban,” trump said. “they are killing people left and right, innocent people.” however, he did not rule talks in the long run, saying, “there may be a time but it’s going to be a long time.” on Monday, Kabul suffered its third major assault in recent days, as the taliban and islamic State escalate their offensives. the militants have stepped up their attacks on beleaguered afghan troops and police in recent

months, sapping morale already hit by desertions and corruption. last Saturday, a taliban suicide attacker driving an explosivespacked ambulance blew it up in a crowded area of the capital, killing at least 103 people — mainly civilians — and wounding 235 in one of the worst bombings in the city in recent years. and on January 20, taliban fighters stormed Kabul’s landmark intercontinental hotel and killed at least 25 people, the majority of them foreigners, in an assault lasting more than 12 hours. in august, trump concluded a months-long review

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SayS “there May be a tiMe, but it’S going to be a long tiMe”; “taliban are Killing PeoPle left and right, innoCent PeoPle”

of america’s strategy to win the brutal war in afghanistan, now entering its 17th year. the strategy called for an increase in the tempo and intensity of strikes against the taliban. the aim is to persuade some taliban factions to enter talks with the government in Kabul. this month’s spate of bombings and trump’s comments indicate that end game may further away than the white house would like.

TALIBAN DELEGATIoN’S VISIT To PAKISTAN: according to a meeting of taliban’s qatar delegation and Pakistan officials in islamabad this month, the taliban had agreed to come to the table to initiate talks with the uS; however, they had refused to hold talks with the afghan government. the taliban delegation, comprising five leaders, including Shababuddin dilawar and Malawi rasool, had come from qatar to explore prospects of resuming talks, reported a foreign news agency. without disclosing much detail, the statement issued by the group said that “the group favours political settlement to end the ongoing violence in the country”. the news agency, however, reported that the taliban refused to hold talks with the afghan government; they were willing to sit on the table with the uS though.

Pakistan foreign Minister Khawaja asif had told Senate Standing Committee on foreign affairs on wednesday [Jan 23] that he was not aware of any taliban delegation visiting Pakistan. on the other hand, diplomatic sources in islamabad quoted by voa said that they were “aware” of the arrival of taliban officials.

PAK-uS RELATIoNS AND No AID: there is a rise in attacks in

afghanistan after the uS halted military aid to Pakistan and the relations between the countries turned sour following the trump’s afghan strategy announced in august 2017, also affecting the intelligence cooperation. the trump admin has constantly accused Pakistan of harbouring terrorists as it urged the country to ‘do more’ in the war on terror. while Pakistan insists that there are no facilitators of terrorist groups on its soil, and reiterates stance on the uS’s repetitive demand for the country to ‘do more’. in addition to that, the trump administration earlier this month announced the suspension of about $2 billion in security aid to Pakistan over accusations islamabad is playing a double game in afghanistan. however, Pakistan vehemently denies these accusations and alleged the uS of disrespecting its vast sacrifices in fighting terrorism. the suspension includes Coalition Support funds (CSf) for Pakistan, which is provided by the Pentagon to help pay the costs of Pakistan’s counterterror operations.

related story on page 03

Pakistan to recalibrate its foreign, security policies: Dastgir

SINDh GoVERNmENT SuSPENDS SSP RAo ANwAR Medical student gunned down after rejection of proposal STORY ON PAGE 02

Dar’s wealth surged exponentially in 16 years, NAB witness tells court STORY ON PAGE 02

ihC admits plea against nawaz, Maryam’s antijudiciary speeches STORY ON PAGE 02

ANOTHER MILESTONE ACHIEVED

Gwadar free zone opens for business g

PriMe MiniSter announCeS ‘equaliSation PaCKage’ for baloChiStan’S develoPMent

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STORY ON PAGE 02

AFGHAN MILITARY ACADEMY ATTACK

PM Shahid Khaqan abbaSi SayS Centre to equally Share in equaliSation PaCKage for gwadar to helP alleviate Poverty

China offers to open talks with india on CPeC ON PAGES 02 & 04

RELATED STORIES ON PAGES 03 & 07

NAB chief orders probe into closure of Chiniot mining scam inquiry STORY ON PAGE 03

02 NEWS

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

gwadar Free ZoNe opeNS For BuSINeSS PM SAYS CENTRE TO EQUALLY SHARE IN EQUALISATION PACKAGE FOR GWADAR TO HELP ALLEVIATE POVERTY GWADAR

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STAFF REPORT

AKISTAN accomplished yet another milestone on Monday and transformed the “dream of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into a reality” by making the Gwadar Economic Free Zone operational, so as to optimally achieve the potential of the port city.

The prime minister along with Balochistan chief minister, Azad Jammu Kashmir president and others, jointly pressed a large button to unfurl a huge red and green banner, covering the front gate of the economic free zone, amid applause of Pakistani and Chinese nationals, gathered at the inauguration ceremony.

Spread over 60 acres, Gwadar Free Zone will be operated by China Overseas Port Holding Company, which has also set up a Business Centre for the handling of operations. The Business Centre will provide a one-window operation for matters including immigration, customs, visa operations and port clearance facilities.

Inaugurating the Free Zone and Expo 2018, PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reiterated that the ongoing policies of economic development would continue, no matter which party forms the next government. The prime minister termed the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a “game changer” and said the potential of Gwadar has been fully realised, owing to the vision of President Xi Jinping and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He said due to the dedication and hard work of Pakistani and Chinese teams, both the CPEC and Gwadar were heading towards a bright future.

PM Abbasi mentioned the ongoing modernisation of the railway system from Karachi to Peshawar, Khunjerab to Gwadar, upgrading of the road network, building of necessary infrastructure, building of power projects and setting up of Special Economic Zones (SZEs) [under CPEC] to bring prosperity

IHC admits plea against Nawaz, Maryam’s antijudiciary speeches ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday has declared admissible the petition filed against ex-prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz on their anti-judiciary speeches. Justice Amir Farooq conducted hearing on the plea of Adnan Iqbal during which, the plaintiff said that Nawaz and Maryam are spreading anarchy against courts, adding that their speeches come under contempt of court, therefore, launch investigation against them, he urged.

Earlier, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Sunday said that the top court will take notice of ousted premier Nawaz Sharif’s anti-judiciary speeches at an “appropriate” time. The CJP expressed these views in response to a journalist’s query of why the SC is not taking notice over Nawaz’s speeches during the hearing of the suo motu case of eight-year-old Zainab’s rape and murder in Kasur. “There is a proper time to take action in any matter,” remarked the CJP. He also said that they are not showing restraint, but will take notice in the matter at an ‘appropriate’ time.

“When we will decide to take notice no power in the world can force us to stop,” the CJP concluded. On January 20, Mian Saqib Nisar had said that the courts have seldom tried people for contempt [of the court] despite so much criticism against the judiciary. In December last year, the CJP had asked those criticising the courts to “not malign the judiciary if the verdict is against them”, also clarifying that the judges were not taking “dictation” from anyone. In December last year, ousted premier Nawaz Sharif announced a campaign against what he called the “double standards” of the judiciary. STAFF REPORT

FBI deputy director steps down after Trump criticism WASHINGTON DC: FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who has drawn criticism from President Donald Trump, has stepped down from his current role, several weeks earlier than his expected retirement date. McCabe had been expected to leave the federal law enforcement agency as its No. 2 official in March but will be on leave until his retirement date.

Representatives for the Federal Bureau of Investigation did not immediately reply to a request for comment. AGENCIES

through generation of economic activity and increase in exports. He said that connectivity through Gwadar, the new motorway networks would not only bring prosperity to the Central Asian States, western China, Afghanistan and Pakistan, but also strengthen Chinese President Xi’s vision of Belt and Road Initiative.

He said that Gwadar was the most visible section of this vision and termed it the most important contribution of the Chinese president for the future generations.

He said the CPEC projects were based on financial viability and environmental sustainability and bringing prosperity.

He appreciated the Gwadar Port Authority, Gwadar Development Authority and the Chinese partners working on the project and said it would bring prosperity to Balochistan, Pakistan on the whole and the region as well.

Addressing the challenges faced by poverty-stricken Balochistan, the prime minister said the future of the province was in the hands of its political leadership, and only they can solve the issues of the province. He however said the federal government would equally share in the equalisation package for Gwadar so as to provide quality services in health, education, and other social sectors for the people of Balochistan.

Under the “equalisation package”, the federal government would share half the development cost in every district of the province, including the establishment of hospitals, education and other facilities. In this regard, he said, funding for

each district of Balochistan would start this year. “The package will ensure the provision of equal facilities in all districts of the province to achieve the target of sustainable development goals,” said Abbasi. In addition, PM Abbasi visited a stall of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW) at Gwadar Expo 2018— the two-day conference and exhibition aimed at providing a platform for Pakistani and Chinese businessmen.

Pakistan Navy Fleet Tanker Project Officer Commodore Salman Ilyas informed the prime minister about the progress of the on-going shipbuilding projects at KSEW. Speaking on the occasion, Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo said Gwadar Expo was a significant step towards the economic development of the port city of Gwadar and Balochistan. However, he asserted that local people must not be left out in the fast-paced journey of development.

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said completion of first phase of Gwadar Free Zone was a major milestone towards achieving inclusive and sustainable development in Balochistan in line with Pakistan Vision 2025. He said Gwadar port and the free zone projects were demonstration of the time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China.

China Overseas Port Holding Company Chairman Zhang Baozhong said Gwadar Free Zone was the demonstration of the hard work of the governments of Pakistan and China, which was a project of prosperity for the two nations.

Medical student gunned down after rejection of proposal KOHAT ABDULLAH NIAZI

A third-year MBBS student of the Abbottabad Medical College was gunned down in her hometown of Kohat on Saturday, allegedly for rejecting a marriage proposal. Aasma Rani, a third-year MBBS student at Abbottabad Medical College was killed in her hometown of Kohat on Saturday. The accused, Mujahidullah, who wanted to marry her shot her, for rejecting his proposal.

The deceased, who had been in Kohat for her vaccinations, had just stepped off a rickshaw along with her sister-in-law when the awaiting Mujahid, accompanied by his brother Sadiqullah, opened fire. The girl had been rushed to hospital on Saturday, and finally succumbed to her wounds late Sunday. The also informed the police that Mujahid was the nephew of influential local leader and President of PTI Kohat district, Aftab Alam, and feared that he would use his political influence

to get his nephew off the hook. However, Aftab Alam in a statement has said that the KP police is an independent law enforcement agency, and would continue their investigation professionally and bring the perpetrator to justice.

“This girl Asma is like my own daughter, but unfortunately I and my party are being dragged through the mud for political reasons,” he said. “Rest assured no special favours will be made and the villains behind this will be apprehended soon enough” he added.

FIA CONTACTED FOR RED WARRANT OF ACCUSED: Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police contacted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for issuing a red warrant of accused Mujahid. During the course of investigation, it was revealed that Mujahid Afridi had left Pakistan for Saudi Arabia on an Umra visa from the Benazir Bhutto Airport Islamabad by flight number SV 889 at 9:00 pm on January 27, a KP police spokesman said on Monday.

He said the accused had left for Is-

lamabad airport soon after committing the crime on January 27 and complainant Muhammad Irfan, son of Ghulam Dastagir, reported to the police the same day at 3:45 pm that his sister Asma Rani , a third year medical student, was shot at by Mujahid Afridi and Sadiqullah at Kohat Development Authority Township, Kohat, at around 3:20 pm, who later succumbed to her injuries in a hospital. A joint investigation team (JIT) has also been formed to probe the murder of the medical college student, after reports that she was killed for rejecting a marriage proposal.

SINdH goverNMeNT SuSpeNdS rao aNwar KARACHI: The Sindh government on Monday finally suspended the services of former senior superintendent of police Rao Anwar, who has been absconding in the extrajudicial killing case of Naqeebullah Mehsud. “With the approval of the chief minister of Sindh, the services of former SSP Malir district, Anwar Ahmed and former SP Investigation-II, East Zone, Muhammad Altaf Sarwar Malik are placed under suspension with immediate effect,” a notification issued by Sindh chief secretary read. During the period of their suspension, the headquarters of the said police officers shall be at Central Police Office, Karachi, the notification stated, adding: “They shall draw pay and allowances during the period of their suspension as admissible under the rules.” The notification came after much deliberation from the PPP-led Sindh government, despite clear recommendations of the Sindh Inspector General of Police, A.D. Khowaja, communicated much earlier in this regard.

SINDH POLICE CONDUCT RAIDS TO FIND ANWAR: Sindh Police have conducted raids in a hotel and Sindh House, Islamabad, on suspicion of Anwar hiding there, but absconding Anwar could not be arrested. Online news agency quoted sources as saying that SSP Zulfiqar Mehr along with police team reached Islamabad on Saturday night and his arrival was kept secret from the Islamabad police at the initial stage. AGENCIES

Justice asghar Haider joins NaB as pga ISLAMABAD: Justice Syed Asghar Haider joined the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday as Prosecutor General Accountability (PGA). According to NAB spokesman, the NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal congratulated Haider on his appointment and welcomed him to the antigraft body. Meanwhile, the chairman had not extended the deputation period of Muhammad Shakil Malik NAB HRM DG and asked him to report to the Establishment Division for further orders. The appointment of Haider as PGA marks the end of a standoff between the government and the judiciary over the issue of announcing the crucial appointment. The Supreme Court had earlier taken notice of the delay in the appointment and had sought details about the delay from the federal law secretary. It is important to mention here that the important post had been vacant since November last year after the three-year tenure of former Prosecutor General Waqas Qadeer Dar expired.

According to the rules, the federal government holds the responsibility of filling the post after consulting the anti-graft body’s chairman. Justice (r) Javed Iqbal had shared a list of five nominees to the federal government to select an ideal candidate for the post. The names provided by the chairman included, Mudhasir Khalid Abbasi, Shah Khawar, Syed Asghar Haider, Fasihul Mulk, and Nasir Saeed Sheikh. However, all the above-mentioned names were rejected by the president owing to different reasons. The president shared his own list with the NAB chairman which included the names of Ramzan Chaudhry, Najeeb Faisal and Waqar Hassan Mir. The president’s recommendations were rejected by the chairman due to his own reasons. According to sources, the deadlock between the federal government and NAB ended with the intervention of the Attorney General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali, thus paving the way for the appointment of a prosecutor general. After successful negotiations, Asghar’s name was finalised on the recommendation of the NAB chief. STAFF REPORT

Senate elections to be held on March 3 ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday announced that the Senate elections will be held on March 3. Nomination papers for the elections can be submitted from February 46 and they will be scrutinised by February 9.

A total of 52 senators are set to complete their term this year. Four senators will be elected on general seats from FATA, 11 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan each, and 12 each from Sindh and Punjab.

One general and one technocrat senator will be elected from Islamabad. Eighteen of the 26 Pakistan People’s Party senators including Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani, Opposition Leader Aitzaz Ahsan, Taj Haider and Farhatullah Babar will be retiring this year. Nine out of 27 Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz senators will be retiring, including former finance minister Ishaq Dar. The Senate: Senate constitutes a total of 104 members — 23 each from the four provinces, eight from FATA and four from Islamabad. The 23 provincial seats have 14 general, and four each for women and technocrats, one for minorities. Half of the Senate retires after every three years, while the total term for a senator is six years. STAFF REPORT

Dar’s wealth surged exponentially in 16 years, NAB witness tells court ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A National Accountability Bureau (NAB) witness on Monday— while recording his statement in the assets reference case against former finance minister Ishaq Dar— told the accountability court that Dar’s wealth grew exponentially between 1993-2008.

Five witnesses recorded their statements, as the accountability court resumed its proceedings in the assets reference case against Dar. Inland Rev-

enue Commissioner Ishtiaq Ahmed said that from Rs9.1 million declared assets in 1993, the minister’s wealth grew to Rs830m in 2009; adding that according to Dar’s tax returns, the paid taxes increased from Rs0.7m in 1993 to Rs40m in 2009.

NAB officials Shakeel Anjum Nagra, Iqbal Hasan and Umer Daraz Gondal; and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan officials Sidrah Mansoor, Salman Saeed also recorded their statements as witnesses before the court. The accountability court judge gave the NAB

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prosecutor two days to present as many witnesses in court as he was able to. The case was adjourned until January 30. At the last hearing, a total of six NAB witnesses had recorded their statements before Accountability Court-I Judge Mohammad Bashir.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Dar is accused of possessing assets disproportionate to his declared sources of income. A reference to him was filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in light of the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict in the

Panama Papers case. He departed for London in October last year for medical treatment, after which he did not attend any court proceedings.

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

NEWS

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pakISTaN To reCalIBraTe ITS ForeIgN, SeCurITy polICIeS: daSTgIr MINISTER SAYS PAKISTAN HAS TURNED TO RUSSIA AND CHINA AFTER US AID FREEZE ISLAMABAD

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AGENCIES

EFENCE Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said Monday that his government is planning a ‘regional recalibration’ of its foreign policy after the United States (US) froze $2 billion in military aid to Pakistan.

The defence minister said that Pakistan was now deepening its relations with Russia and China as the fallout of the US decision to suspend military assistance continues. During an interview with the Financial Times, the minister said that his government was engaged in a “regional recalibration of Pakistan’s foreign and security policy” that threatens to undermine the US war effort in Afghanistan. He said Pakistan would look to Russia and China — as well as Europe — for new military supplies, as the US had “chosen castigation over cooperation”. “We have already bought some Russian helicopters in the past three years,” he said. “This is what we call a regional recalibration of Pakistan’s foreign and security policy,” he added.

Earlier this month, the US authorities said that it would suspend security assis-

tance to Pakistan worth $2 billion after Washington harshly reacted to Islamabad’s refusal to do more to tackle terrorism, particularly around the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. President Donald Trump had reversed the policy of removing US troops from Afghanistan in an effort to restore peace in the country, which had otherwise suffered due to deadly attacks launched by Taliban forces, supposedly from the Pakistani side of the border.

Referring to Trump’s new year tweet that called Pakistan’s relations with the US “nothing but lies and deceit”, Defence Minister Dastgir called the US president’s comments “deeply offensive” and “counterproductive”. “It is unfortunate that we are even discussing the numbers [the amount of aid] while Afghanistan slowly spirals out of the American and Afghan forces control,” he added. The row had become one of the biggest rifts in the 70-year alliance between the US and Pakistan, with Islamabad warning Washington that it would buy weapons from other countries if US was not interested in continuing its relations with Pakistan.

Dastgir acknowledged that Pakistan and the US still shared mutual interests

Innocents arrested during Zainab murder case probe still in police custody KASUR WAQAS ASHRAF

Some innocent government employees and aged people are still in police custody even after the main accused in the rape and murder case of minor Zainab was arrested last week. According to the details, the police arrested hundreds of people to trace the accused in the Zainab murder case.

While some were released on spot, others are still in police custody. The police also conducted more than 1200 DNA tests to trace the accused. Sources told Pakistan Today that the Kasur police also arrested railway employees including Haneef, Niaz and Qaimuddin nine days before the arrest of the main accused Imran. The employees, who are more than 60 years of age with their retirement ceremonies expected within the ongoing week, have still not been set free. The police have told the media that even though the railway employees are innocent, they would not be released till higher authorities order the police to do so.

INNOCENT MAN COMMITS SUICIDE IN POLICE CUSTODY: An innocent man who was taken into custody by the police during the Zainab murder case investigation allegedly committed suicide on Monday. According to reports, Muhammad Sharif who worked as a spiritual healer in Peerowal was arrested by the police following the tragic rape and murder incident of minor Zainab in Kasur.

Although the results of the DNA test conducted on Sharif had not matched with that of the killer and the prime suspect was arrested last week, the police continued to keep him in custody. Staying in the police custody for ten days, Sharif allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself with a ceiling fan. The family of the victim has said that Sharif was mentally ill, but they were informed by the locals that the Kasur police tortured him during the investigation, which later led him to commit suicide.

ZAINAB MURDER CASE: Zainab, who was the 12th minor victim of rape and murder in Kasur since 2015, went missing on January 4 while heading towards a relative’s home. Her bruised body was found a few days later in a garbage dump in the city. The news shocked the entire country with #JusticeforZainab becoming the rallying cry while violent protests broke out in Kasur.

but said that in Washington “lately the focus has been on areas of divergence”.

When asked about reports that Islamabad could buy a batch of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, the minister answered in the negative while adding, “We have opened a dialogue with Russia because we were firmly entrenched in the western camp for far too long.” The backbone of the Pakistan Air Force currently consists of F-16 jets made by Lockheed Martin of the US, although the minister said that Islamabad had not yet received spare parts from the US for several years.

“We are using our own ingenuity and using other sources to keep the fleet up in the air,” the minister said, adding that the shift had been difficult for Pakistan. He

also said that there was “a discussion” about taking the more drastic step of cutting off the US access to land and air routes into Afghanistan — even though Pakistani officials have been hinting towards increasing the fees of transportation rather than blocking US land/air access to Afghanistan via Pakistan. Islamabad had already stopped sharing key intelligence with the US in connection with Afghanistan after relations between both the countries went sour at the beginning of the current year.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s burgeoning relationship with Beijing was also causing concern in Washington, where officials have been busy strengthening alliances with other countries in the region — including India — as a bulwark against Chinese regional ambitions.

China plans to spend $55 billion in Pakistan on infrastructure projects as part of its plan to build a network of trade routes across the world, sparking concerns in the US that it could turn Pakistan into a client state of its northern neighbour.

Officials in Islamabad have been emboldened in their row with Washington after receiving backing from Beijing.

Meanwhile, Dastgir said, “The fact that we have revisited our foreign policy to engage Russia and China, is a response to what the Americans have been doing.

And they have their own reasons. In our view, they want to use India to contain China in the region.”

NAB chief orders probe into closure of Chiniot mining scam inquiry PUNJAB GOVT SPOKESMAN WELCOMES DECISION, SAYS THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ILLEGAL CONTRACT IN 2007 SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal on Monday ordered the bureau’s Lahore office to conduct an inquiry into the closure of an investigation into an illegal award of a contract to a private company for extracting minerals in Chiniot by the Pervaiz Elahi-led provincial government in 2007.

Sources privy to the developments said that the NAB chairman gave the orders after the Punjab government published an advertisement in local papers on Jan 28, drawing public attention to the matter.

According to a press release, Justice (r) Iqbal has ordered the NAB Lahore director general to determine why and under what circumstances the inquiry was closed. The NAB chief has also given directives for inquiry against those who closed the misappropriation case and corruption in giving out contracts, despite clear orders from the Supreme Court.

In 2007, mineral deposits were discovered in Chiniot district, after which a mining contract was reportedly given to a fake company by the name of Earth Resource Private Limited (EPRL) by the Pervaiz Elahi government. As per agreement, 80 per cent of the profit from this national asset was to go to EPRL. It was also reported that minerals worth Rs 400 billion were present in the area.

When the matter was legally taken up, it was found out that an influential person with political ties was behind the corrupt activity.

Subsequently, the Lahore High Court and the Supreme Court ordered NAB to conduct an investigation.

However, NAB mysteriously closed the inquiry in 2013.

‘SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT’: Punjab government spokesman Malik Ahmed Khan told Pakistan Today that the public advertisement was aimed at “setting the record straight”.

“The court had ordered NAB to

conduct an inquiry into the matter but the bureau absolved the company of the charges on the grounds that no financial loss had occurred in the award of the contract. We only published these facts (for public consumption),” he said.

Khan said that it is the statutory right of NAB to arrest or release anyone (in a case).

“No one can influence NAB’s judgement. However, the bureau should have thoroughly probed who awarded the contract and who had benefited from it because the courts had declared it illegal,” he said, adding that the company would have made off with precious metals had the court not struck down the agreement. The spokesman said that the PML-N government had saved Rs 400 billion of public money by challenging the illegal contract in court and now it was up to the accountability watchdog to reopen the investigation and fix responsibility.

“Even if NAB believes no financial loss occurred due to this illegal contract, the matter still warrants an investigation because laws were violated in the process and those responsible should be held accountable,” he said, welcoming the NAB chairman’s decision to reopen the case on the Punjab government’s appeal.

pMl-N leader Jan achakzai quits party ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Jan Achakzai on Monday resigned from the party, saying the PMLN has Balochistan at bottom of its priorities. In a statement on Monday, Achakzai said: “Due to lack of positive attitude of the central party leadership, PML-N government in Balochistan was dislodged. Had the party intervened earlier, no-confidence move against the government of Nawab Sanaullah Zehri would have failed.” He observed that soon after the no-confidence motion, he lobbied the top leadership to intervene and address the grievances of dissenting MPA but his efforts went in vain. He said that the delayed decision making led to a loss of parliamentary party in Balochistan and eventually the government. He said that he stood with the party till the last moment when a no-confidence motion was moved and despite offers from the opposition. He regretted that after one month, the party could not decide whether rebel MPs were part of the party or not, adding that the PML-N has Balochistan at bottom of its priorities.

He also said that the “PML-N’s political narrative was gradually framed against institutions, which was painful for most party workers to defend.” As a result of the above reasons, it becomes impossible for me to continue, so with a very heavy heart I am parting ways, he said.

“I will soon announce the next line of action,” he added.

FOREIGN FUNDING CASE

IHC dismisses pTI’s plea to stop eCp from investigation ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf’s (PTI) plea to stop the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from launching a probe into the foreign funding case filed by its PTI leader Akbar Babar.

IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani announced the verdict. The PTI had filed the petition saying that it could not disclose its bank account details to an institution which had become a party ‘against it.’ A five-member bench headed

by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) retired Justice Sardar Raza Mohammad Khan will hear the foreign funding case on February 7. Babar filed a petition with the ECP seeking the disqualification of the PTI Chairman Imran Khan for allegedly obtaining funds from illegal sources. He said that the PTI chief obtained funds worth $3 million via illegal channels from the Middle East.

Pak Army supplying military equipment to LeT, Taliban: Afghan envoy TERRORIST INVOLVED IN KABUL HOTEL ATTACK WAS TRAINED IN BALOCHISTAN: AFGHAN AMBASSADOR In what appears to be a coordinated attack, Afghan officials have blamed Pakistan behind recent attacks in the war-torn country, with their Envoy to the United States (US) Majeed Qarar saying Monday that Pakistan Army has been supplying military equipment to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Kashmir alongside arming Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

He is not the only with the same sentiments as Kabul’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the

United Nations Mahmoud Saikal said, also on Monday, said that Abdul Qahar, the father of one of the terrorist involved in last week’s attack on Kabul Intercontinental Hotel, has admitted that his son was trained in Chaman area of Balochistan province in Pakistan.

The statement by Majeed Qarar comes at the heels of a deadly attack on the Afghan Military Academy in Kabul earlier on Monday by a group of suicide bombers. At least five sol-

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diers have been killed in the attack while 10 were injured.

Meanwhile, Saikal in a tweet said that the attacker received training in Pakistan under the supervision of Pakistani intelligence agency InterServices Intelligence. The tweet also mentioned that Qahar was presently in the custody of Afghan authorities.

Qarar said, “The goggles recovered from Taliban fighters who attacked Maiwand’s Afghan National Army base were military grade goggles that were procured by the Pakistan Army from a British company.

The same equipment has also been recovered from LeT fighters in Kashmir.”

Qarar’s allegations regarding Pakistan Army’s involvement in supplying military equipment to LeT have given India an opportunity to once again target Pakistan for sponsoring international terrorism, a claim that had always been denied by the Pakistani establishment.

Though US believes that Pakistan provides safe havens to terrorists, it had diverted most of its attention towards Afghanistan-based militants and not LeT. The US designated LeT chief Hafiz Saeed and the group a terrorist group after the 2008 Mumbai attack.

Nevertheless, it did not press Pakistan on the issue. MONITORING REPORT

04 NEWS

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

DrafT of ProTECTIon of journalISTS bIll fInalISED ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

After some amendments and deliberations, the Senate Standing Committee on Information has decided to forward the draft bill, pertaining to protection and security of journalists, to the Information Ministry.

The committee that met under the Chairmanship of Senator Kamil Ali Agha on Monday discussed at length the draft bill for the protection and security of journalists earlier prepared by its subcommittee. The meeting was attended by Senators Sassui Palejo, Dr Ghaus Muhammad Khan Niazi, Sardar Muhammad Yaqub Khan Nasir and Farhatullah Babar. The subcommittee was comprised of senators Nehal Hashmi, Khushbakht Shujat and Farhatullah Babar.

Explaining the salient features of the draft bill, convener Senator Farhatullah Babar said that it provided for a council with representatives of journalist bodies, media safety experts, human rights activists nominated by the National Commission on Human Rights (NHCR) and Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute crimes against journalists, besides official representatives from ministries of information, interior, law and justice, PEMRA and principal information officer.

The council will operate a Journalists Safety Fund to assist the journalists under attack, ascertain and address causes of impunity of crimes

CTD arrests 'facilitator' in Peshawar agricultural directorate attack case PESHAWAR News Desk

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Monday arrested the alleged 'facilitator' of an attack on Directorate of Agriculture Extension in Peshawar which left as many as nine people martyred and 30 injured in December last year, the officials said. The CTD officials conducted a raid near Shah Alam Bridge in Peshawar and nabbed the suspect. The suspect, who belongs to Charsadda, had facilitated terrorists in the attack, the officials added. In December last year, the security forces had managed to kill all the five terrorists after a gunfight which lasted over an hour. The terrorists had reached the compound in a rickshaw wearing suicide vests.

China offers to open talks with India on CPEC NEWS DESK China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday offered to open talks with India to resolve differences on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), opening the door for removing a major irritant in Beijing-New Delhi ties, The Hindu newspaper reported.

China had earlier invited India to become part of the CPEC, when Luo Zhaohui, China’s ambassador to India, in November had expressed readiness to accommodate India’s concerns regarding CPEC. “We can change the name of CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor). Create an alternative corridor through Jammu and Kashmir, Nathu La pass or Nepal to deal with India’s concerns,” he had said. While expressing openness for talks with India, the Chinese foreign ministry appeared markedly restrained in commenting on Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s lavish praise for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), of which CPEC is a part, during his address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos.

against journalists and formulate in consultation with All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), and Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE).

The council has also been tasked to develop policies for digital safety and protection of online spaces of journalists needed for a safe environment for journalistic work, he said.

The scope of beneficiaries has been extended to cover all permanent and contractual journalists employed by private or state media organisations possessing valid accredited identification cards.

The bill titled as the Journalists Safety, Security and Protection Act 2017, extends to entire

AASMA RAPE, MURDER CASE Supreme Court to hear case today

country until relevant provincial laws are enacted and shall come into force at once.

Farhatullah Babar said that the UN recommendation of appointing a Special Prosecutor for crimes against journalists has also been provided in the bill. The special prosecutor will oversee prosecution of the cases of crimes against journalists and also devise a mechanism for combating impunity of crimes against journalists, he said.

Senator Babar said that the subcommittee was conscious that in a number of cases the official agencies were accused of involvement in crimes against journalists. The Special Prosecutor shall also devise special systems to address allegations of involvement of state agencies, he said.

This is a ground breaking initiative and is along the line of the Right to Information Legislation to provide some mechanism for questioning agencies within a limited framework, he said.

A fund called Journalists Safety Fund to be administered be the council has also been provided. Initially, the government will make a donation of Rs 200 million but every media organisation shall also make regular contributions towards it in proportion to the number of employees employed by it.

However, the committee decided to levy a fixed percentage of the revenue of each media house towards the fund and asked the Information Ministry for its inputs. The council shall also have the authority to raise its own funds from donations.

Rana Sana says same elements behind Shahid Masood’s claims, PAT-led joint opposition protest LAHORE staff RepoRt

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on Monday said that the ‘elements’ behind Dr Shahid Masood’s claims regarding the Zainab murder case and the joint opposition protest rally led by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chief Dr Tahir-ulQadri were “the same”.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, the minister said that no shreds of evidence were presented to support the claims linking accused Imran of the Kasur incident to an international group or the suspect having 37 bank accounts.

Labelling Dr Masood a “pawn”, Sanaullah said that “everyone knows from where these people’s strings are being pulled”.

After the Punjab government had declared Imran Ali—a prime suspect in Zainab murder case— as the serial rapist and killer of Kasur, Masood had come up with claims that Imran was not acting alone, but a member of a pornography gang, which also included a Punjab minister. Ma-

sood had also told the court that the suspect had 37 foreign accounts.

He said it needs to be investigated who gave the misleading information to Dr Masood and on whose signals did these people try to mislead the masses.

When the minister was questioned if he was referring to an institution or someone in particular, he said that he was referring to “the place” involved in spreading chaos in the country which the “media knows very well about”.

“Look at how on the 17th, those who used to abuse each other were brought together. The robots that came from Karachi, can they come on their own?” questioned the minister while speaking of the Mall Road rally led by Tahir-ul-Qadir.

“And when they got together, they abused the parliament,” recalled Sanaullah.

He claimed that the Punjab government has information about sugarcane growers being paid to burn their fields and carry out protests in Lahore despite CM Shehbaz ensuring an action against those not paying a fair price to the farmers.

ISLAMABAD: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) will hear the rape and murder case of four-yearold Aasma, who was found dead in the Gujjar Garhi area, a day after she was allegedly kidnapped. The bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar will include Justice Umarata Bandiyal and Justice Ijazul Ahsan. The court also summoned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) advocate general and inspector general police. On Friday, the CJP took suo motu notice of Aasma’s murder.

According to Punjab Forensic Science Agency Director General (DG) Dr Ashraf Tahir, DNA tests confirm that Aasma was sexually assaulted by one person before her murder. Four-year-old Aasma went missing from the Gujjar Garhi area on January 13 and was found dead in a sugarcane field the next day at 3pm after search efforts by the police and family. The police joined the family’s search after being informed of the incident at 9pm on January 13.

After the body was found, an FIR was registered and Mardan RPO and DPO visited Aasma’s family on January 14 to personally record details of the incident. The IG said that an investigation team headed by the Mardan DPO was formed to probe into the case, and help from the counterterrorism department was also utilised. staff RepoRt

Gwadar Port's operationalisation to help improve national economy, says Marriyum GWADAR: Information and Broadcasting State Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb on Monday said that operationalization of Gwadar Port’s first phase was a dream come true and would improve the country’s economic conditions. While speaking to the media the state minister said that the Gwadar Port was initiated by ousted premier Nawaz Sharif three years ago. She said that the port would not only create many business opportunities for Pakistani and Chinese nationals but would also increase regional connectivity. When asked about the severe crisis of clean drinking water in Gwadar, Marriyum said that the subject came under a provincial domain, however, the federal government would extend its support to resolve the problem on a priority basis. She concluded by saying that the problems of Balochistan would be addressed and a new dawn of prosperity and development would rise for Balochi’s. app

Quetta man confesses to attempting rape, murdering teenage sister QUETTA: A 13-year-old girl, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Quetta, was murdered by her own brother, according to reports. The body of the teenager was found in her house in the Killi Ismail area of Quetta.

She was rushed to the nearby hospital where the doctors had confirmed that there was an attempt at raping her before she was strangled to death. According to reports, the victim’s brother confessed to the as soon as the investigation began. After arresting the suspect, his blood samples as well as pieces of evidence were sent to a forensic laboratory. A special team led by SSP Investigation Jawad Tariq has been deployed to further investigate the murder. Taking notice of the incident, the Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo had ordered the police to arrest the culprit within 48 hours. staff RepoRt

FIA launches crackdown against child pornography ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a crackdown against child pornography in the country due to the growing incidents of child molestation in Pakistan, according to media reports.

The FIA has formed a two-member committee from its cybercrimes department to effectively tackle this issue. A notification in this connection has also been issued and all zonal heads have been directed to compile reports of all reported cases regarding child abuse and pornography in the country.

On Sunday, the FIA on Sunday nabbed an alleged member of a group involved in sharing online child pornography after acting on a tip-off received from the Canadian Interpol office.

FIA Cybercrimes Division Deputy Director Khalid Anis said that around 60 gigabytes of pornographic data were extracted from the laptop and computer owned by the accused, identified as Taimur Maqsood. He also informed that the nabbed accused was an electrical engineer by profession. “The suspect belongs to an international ring that shares porn videos among themselves,” Anis said, adding that the police was currently

CMYK

trying to find the exact number of members involved in this criminal activity. He also said that the groups worked as a syndicate and comprised of members from Pakistan, Canada, New Zealand and Sweden.” An official from FIA said that the suspect was arrested after being traced through his PTCL number and his IP address, adding that the accused, who had joined the group two years ago, was arrested from Jhang’s Satellite Town area.

During interrogation, the accused told the police that he watched the videos for mental gratification, adding, “After joining one group on KIK messenger, I found links to many other groups that

also shared child pornography along with other videos.” The individual was identified by the Canadian authorities after conducting an operation in Ottawa. They also passed on the information to FIA. AnTI-chILD poRnoGRAphy LAWS In pAkISTAn: Punishments for child pornography was introduced in Pakistan’s law after the Kasur child sexual abuse case of 2015 surfaced to the disbelief of the entire country. Another bill in this connection was also tabled by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior in October 2017 which extended the prison sentence of offenders from 14 to 20 years.

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

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CM approves rs195M for new Buses on shahrah-e-faIsaL route KARACHI

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Staff RepoRt

INDH Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, under Intra-City Bus Project, approved on Monday Rs195 million to start 32 buses on Shahrah-eFaisal in the first phase of the project.

He took this decision while presiding over a meeting here at CM House to review the progress on intra-city and inter-city bus projects including the Orange Line. The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning & Development (P&D) Hazar Khan Bijarani, Minister for Transport & Information Nasir Shah, Chairman P&D Mohammad Waseem, Transport Secretary Saeed Awan and others. Nasir Shah briefed the chief minister and said that the provincial government has earmarked Rs2 billion to place them at Sindh Modarba Ltd to support subsidy requirements of the project over the period of next five years.

The Provincial Minister said that the transport department has received the proposal from Daewoo Express Ltd which envisages inducting 288 vehicles

KARACHI 05 pRayeR timingS FAJR

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shC seeks reply from rangers, police on missing persons case KARACHI ppi

on five routes with an average fleet of 50 vehicles per route. He added that the routes include Qayyumabad to Qasba Colony, Baldia to Quaidabad, Shah Faisal Colony to Fisheries, Landhi to Surjani and Landhi to Baldia.

Intoxicated cop kills two, injures six in Larkana car accident

Chief Minister Murad Shah directed the minister for finance to start 32 Daewoo buses on long route of Shahrah-eFaisal and later on the other routes.

The CM also directed the transport minister to make necessary arrange-

Journalism is fourth pillar of state, says Governor Muhammad Zubair KARACHI

LARKANA

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Staff RepoRt

Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair on Monday said that journalism is the fourth pillar of the state which is playing an important role in the welfare of the people and is working for transparency and the betterment of the public.

He said this while talking to an 11-member delegation of Sindh Journalists Council (SJC) led by its President Ghazi Jhander at the Governor House, a press release said.

The Sindh governor said that the role of the media in the continuity of the democratic process cannot be forgotten. He said that the present government believes in freedom of speech and independent media.

Members of the delegation included Mushtaq Sarki, Khuda Dino Shah, Najeeb Naich, Imtiaz Mir, Hameed Soomro, Akram Baloch, Qamar Memon, Qadir Lashari,

Two individuals were killed and six injured when an intoxicated policeman ran them over near the Lahori Regulator in Larkana on late Sunday night. According to sources, the vehicle was driven by SHO Ali Murtaza Chandio who later arrested by the police.

According to details, the vehicle hit pedestrians standing on the footpath, killing two people named Jaggi Dayoo and Ghulam Haider on the spot and injuring six others. The injured, two of whom are in critical condition, were shifted to the nearby Chandka Medical Hospital. The families of the wounded resorted to protest and alleged that the hospital did not provide them with timely medical aid. The families dispersed after the hospital administration assured them of proper medical treatment. Angry protesters broke the doors and smashed the windows of the emergency ward. A heavy contingent of police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

Badin district council calls secret session, hopeful to pass budget BADIN Staff RepoRt

A secret session of the Badin District Council has been called tomorrow (Tuesday) through a letter issued under the letter-head of the council. The letter had no agenda mentioned nor were there any other substantial details written in the letter.

In this connection, member of the opposition benches including Saqlain Mirza, Allah Bachayo Bucho, Imam Bux Jat and other members from the treasury benches said that they intend to present and pass the budget in order to prove their strength against any illegal budget.

Further, the council members rejected the rumors by saying that no budget has yet been passed by the council. It was further said that the council is oblivious as to how the tenders got published, which they said was an ignorance of the prescribed rules and procedures.

They also announced to move to the NAB court against this illegal attempt made to pass the budget. Moreover, they said they will present a resolution condemning extrajudicial killings by the police and demand a judicial commission on all other extrajudicial killings.

ments for inaugurating the bus service on Shahrah-e-Faisal on February 15.

“This is the target and you have to make all the agreements and other arrangements to start the intra-City bus service in Karachi,” he said.

sindh govt to make drug tests mandatory for students KARACHI Staff RepoRt

Nawaz Dahri and Zia Qureshi.

The delegation discussed with the governor matters related to the security and protection, medical facilities, freedom of speech for journalists and the role of the media for the cause of democracy in the country.

Talking to the delegation, the Sindh governor said that the projects

of public welfare, promotion of education, provision of basic facilities to the masses are among the top priorities of the present government.

He said that the media highlights the social problems and criticism is the right of the media, but the good steps of the government should also be promoted.

PSP condemns NADRA's delay in issuing ID cards KARACHI Staff RepoRt

Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Secretary General Raza Haroon on Monday condemned National Database Regulatory Authority’s (NADRA) delaying tactics regarding the issuance of National Identity Cards (NIC) to the citizens.

He further stated that depriving the people of their NICs is a violation of the constitution, the rule of law and the fundamental rights.

He also met with the delegations from different areas, who are facing difficulties in attaining NICs from

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday sought replies from Rangers director general, police inspector general, home secretary and other officials on a petition seeking whereabouts of two men missing since November 2017. A division bench was hearing a petition filed for the recovery of Shakeel Ahmed and Nadeem, believed to have been picked by a law enforcement agency on November 20 last year. The family member of the missing persons approached the high court and submitted that both were picked up by the personnel of the Rangers but were not produced before the court. The petitioner said that family members of missing men didn’t know their whereabouts since the day of arrest, apprehending that they would be killed extra-judicially. The court was informed that the family members were going through severe mental agony in Shakeel and Nadeem’s absence, adding that they were trying their best to trace out the missing person since the day of his arrest. Citing Rangers DG, Sindh IG and home secretary as the respondents, the petitioner prayed the court to direct the respondents to produce the missing persons before the court. After the initial hearing, the court issued notices to federal and provincial law officers and the respondents, directing them to submit their respective replies by March 1.

NADRA, at Pakistan House. Raza Haroon further said that the provision of identity cards is the prime responsibility of the government but NADRA’s incompetence is making citizens face difficulties.

To obstruct public from getting ID cards and form ‘B’ is a hurdle in the education of children and is resulting in unemployment, he said.

People in Karachi are forced to visit NADRA offices for more than six months for obtaining NICs, he complained. This is the year is the election year and if such difficulties in acquisition of NICs continue, a large number of people in Karachi will be

deprived of their right to vote, he said.

The advantage of such practices would only go to Pakistan’s enemies since they will try to exploit the fault lines and will misguide the nation.

He further said that the PSP stands with the people and will keep raising its voice against malpractices and all sorts of public manipulation and exploitation.

Raza Haroon further said that PSP demands from the federal government to make swift changes in customer service area & operations area of NADRA for smooth & prompt delivery of NICs to the public before elections.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday announced that the children receiving education in government and private institutes will have to pass a mandatory drug test before their admission. The decision was taken in order to protect children from increasing drug menace. He was presiding over a meeting regarding drug abuse in educational institutions all over the province. The meeting was attended by Minister Education Jam Mehtab Dahar, Minister Health Dr Sikandar Mendhro, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Secretary Education Iqbal Durani, Secretary Health Dr Fazal Pechuho and others.

The chief minister said that some alarming reports have been received that the students are using drugs in some of the leading universities in the country. He said it becomes our collective responsibility to protect our children from the menace of drugs. The CM constituted a committee comprising minister for health, minister education, secretary education and secretary health for drafting a law to make drug testing mandatory for all students of secondary to higher secondary level. Under the law, it will be mandatory for every student to qualify the test. The CM said that he expects the cooperation of the parents in achieving this task. He also assured to release the required funds for the tests as and when required.

Two Chinese nationals convicted in ATM skimming scandal KARACHI Staff RepoRt

A district court on Monday sentenced two Chinese nationals to one-year imprisonment along with a fine of Rs50,000 each, for being involved in the automated teller machine (ATM) skimming scandal.

Earlier, a judicial magistrate remanded the two Chinese nationals, allegedly involved in ATM skimming

into the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

FIA officials informed the court that the suspects were allegedly manipulating ATM machines to extort money.

According to the FIA, the nationals were caught while they were trying to install a skimming device at an ATM in Karachi. The arrested Chinese nationals were also seen roaming around the ATM booth on Karachi’s Abdullah Haroon Road for the past three days before

the incident. A CCTV footage of an ATM booth showed the culprits installing an ATM skimming device.

WHAT IS ATM SKIMMING? ATM skimming is like identity theft for debit cards: Thieves use hidden electronics to steal the personal information stored on the card and record the PIN number to access all the cash in an individual’s account. That’s why skimming takes two separate components to work. The first part is the skimmer itself, a card reader

placed over the ATM’s real card slot.

When an individual slides his/her card into the ATM, he/she is unwittingly sliding it through the counterfeit reader, which scans and stores all the information on the magnetic strip.

Another technique employed in this crime is the use of a hidden camera, which records your PIN code and conveys it to fraudsters.

A few ATM skimmers also change the entire display of the ATM.

06 FOREIGN NEWS

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

Saudi corruption purgE windS down but ScarS will lingEr DUBAI

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AGENCIES

AUDI Arabia’s stock market celebrated the release of some of the kingdom’s top businessmen from detention on Sunday but the after-effects of a purge of the business elite may last for years, deterring private investment.

Billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, head of global investment firm Kingdom Holding 4280.SE, was among at least half a dozen tycoons freed at the weekend after over two months of confinement in Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Their release signalled a massive anti-corruption drive, in which authorities detained over 200 people and said they aimed to seize $100 billion of illicit assets, was drawing to a close. The Ritz-Carlton is to reopen to the public in mid-February.

Shares in Kingdom Holding soared to their 10 percent daily limit on Sunday, adding about $850 million to Prince Alwaleed’s fortune. A plunge of Kingdom shares in the initial days after his detention cost Prince Alwaleed about $2.2 billion on paper.

Fashion retailer Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co 4240.SE jumped 6.8 percent upon the release of some major shareholders. But troubling questions about the purge have not been answered. Although few people doubt Saudi Arabia would benefit from less corruption, the scale and ferocity of the

crackdown alarmed businessmen inside and outside the kingdom.

Details of financial settlements between authorities and detainees have not been disclosed, leaving the public to wonder what the penalties are for large-scale corruption - and what allegations the detainees actually faced.

The first major settlement was that of senior prince Miteb bin Abdullah, once seen as a leading contender to the throne, who was freed after agreeing to pay over $1 billion, according to Saudi officials. That fuelled suspicion among foreign diplomats there might be political motives behind the purge.

While the government says eliminat-

ing corruption will level the playing field for all investors, some local and foreign businessmen feel risks have risen, as they are not sure if local partners may become targets of another crackdown.

“This was completely unprecedented – not only in Saudi Arabia, but among all Arab monarchies,” said Steffen Hertog, a leading Saudi Arabia scholar at the London School of Economics.

“The appetite for big-ticket corruption among Saudi elites will certainly be a lot lower now. But many also believe, at least for the time being, that life has become less predictable for the private sector, which could make it harder to commit to long-term investment.”

He and others said Saudi authorities appeared keen to end the probe partly because they wanted to prevent it from slowing inflows of foreign investment, which are key to the government’s effort to diversify the economy beyond oil exports.

Reassuring foreign investors will become more important in the second half of 2018, when the government plans to raise as much as $100 billion by selling 5 percent of national oil giant Saudi Aramco in the world’s biggest equity offer. A Gulf banker who deals with Saudi Arabia said some private businessmen might remain wary of investing large sums of new money for years, although authorities were monitoring fund flows closely to prevent capital flight from the country.

“The impact of the corruption investigation is being discussed as a concern by potential foreign direct investors in Saudi Arabia,” said the banker. “For them, it’s a source of risk.”

In some ways, the purge has proved less harsh than feared when it began in November. At that time, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who led the campaign, said 95 percent of detainees were agreeing to financial settlements, while 1 percent were being found innocent and the rest would probably go for trial.

Early last week, the attorney general said merely that “most” detainees had agreed to settlements. Ninety were released after having charges dropped and 95 remained in custody.

Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan hope to break Nile dam talks deadlock in one month ADDIS ABABA AGENCIES

The leaders of Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan on Monday set a one-month deadline for laying out the ways to break a deadlock in talks over a mega dam Addis Ababa is building along its share of the Nile, an official said.

Egypt and Ethiopia are at loggerheads over the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam, a $4 billion-hydroelectric project that Cairo fears will reduce waters that run to its fields and reservoirs from Ethiopia’s highlands and via Sudan.

Ethiopia, which is financing the project alone and hopes to become the continent’s biggest power generator and exporter, dismisses the claims. Sudan supports the dam because it will regulate floods and provide electricity and irrigation.

Talks between the three governments have stalled

for months over disagreement on the wording of a study on the dam’s environmental impact.

On Monday, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah alSisi and his Sudanese counterpart Omar Hassan alBashir met Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on the sidelines of an African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

“They instructed their water and energy ministers to draw up in one month a report that thrashes out ways to resolve all outstanding issues regarding the dam,” an Ethiopian official who attended the talks told Reuters. The leaders have also agreed to hold heads of state meetings annually, and to set up a fund with the aim of building infrastructure such as a railway linking the three countries, he said.

At the meeting, Hailemariam said the project “was never intended to harm any country but to fulfil vital electricity needs and enhance development cooperation in the region”, according to a report by state-run

Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.

Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have agreed to finish the initial technical study within one month, the Egyptian state news agency said, citing the foreign minister.

Tensions over the use of the world’s longest river have long simmered between the Egypt and Ethiopia, raising fears the disputes could eventually boil over into conflict. A major source of disagreement over the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam is the speed at which its reservoir would be filled.

Now over 60 percent complete, the dam will produce 6,000 MW upon completion. It is centerpiece to Ethiopia’s ambitious power exporting plans.

Sudan and Ethiopia have also previously expressed concern over a proposed baseline from which a study by a French firm commissioned to assess the dam’s environmental and economic impact would measure the dam’s effects.

Egypt's elections find last-minute challenger to Sisi CAIRO AGENCIES

Politician Mousa Mostafa Mousa became just the second candidate eligible to run in Egypt’s upcoming presidential election on Monday, just before a deadline was set to make President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi the sole contender after withdrawals and a boycott call.

Several leading opposition figures called on Sunday for a boycott of the March election, citing a wave of repression that has cleared the field of challengers to Sisi and left his top opponent in jail.

Former military commander Sisi was elected in 2014, a year after leading the army to oust President Mohamed Mursi, an Islamist. He is expected to easily win the vote, the third since protests in 2011 unseated long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak.

Mousa, who leads the Ghad party, told Reuters he had registered his candidacy at the electoral commission after having collected the required number of nomination pledges, submitting his official paperwork just minutes before the final deadline.

Would-be candidates were required to register by 2 p.m. (1200 GMT) on Monday after clinching at least 20 nominations from parliament or 25,000 pledges from citizens across the country.

Mousa said he had netted 47,000 pledges and the backing of 36 lawmakers. The electoral commission said last week that Sisi had earned more than 1 million pledges. Over 500 of parliament’s 595 lawmakers had already pledged support for Sisi.

The vote, slated for March 26-28, has come under heavy criticism from the United Nations, rights groups, and opposition figures who say its environment has been compromised by intimidation of opposition supporters, arrests, and a nomination process stacked in favor of the incumbent.

The electoral commission has said that it will ensure the vote is fair and transparent.

The last-minute bid comes days after Hisham Genena, a former anti-corruption watchdog chief who had been working to elect former military chief of staff Sami Anan, was attacked and badly wounded outside his home on Saturday.

Anan’s campaign was abruptly halted after he was arrested last week and accused of running for office without military permission.

Following the attack, a group of prominent figures including members of Anan’s campaign, former presidential candidate Abdel Moneim Abol Foutoh, and Mohamed Anwar Sadat, who halted his own presidential bid out of concern for the safety of his campaigners, called for a boycott.

They said the state’s policies were paving the way for extended limits to presidential terms and were “removing any opportunity for the peaceful transfer of power”.

Challenged on all fronts, May faces pressure over Brexit law LONDON AGENCIES

Prime Minister Theresa May came under further pressure over her Brexit blueprint on Monday, with members of the upper house of parliament saying there were “fundamental flaws” in a law crucial to the departure.

The law has also deepened splits in her Conservative Party, which has for years been divided over Britain’s relations with the European Union.

It is yet another battle for a weakened prime minister whose leadership is being questioned after scandals within her party, gaffes and an ill-judged election that lost her party its majority in parliament.

Facing calls to axe her Chancellor, who favours a gentle Brexit, and criticism over a lack of big ideas to revive the fortunes of the Conservatives, May needs to drive through legislation to sever ties with the EU before March next year.

The largely pro-EU House of Lords, which will start debating the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill on Tuesday, have made no secret of their opposition to the legislation which they say amounts to little more than a power grab by the government.

It is designed to put current EU legislation into British law essentially in one move, allowing for changes later. “We acknowledge the scale, challenge and unprecedented nature of the task of converting existing EU law into UK law, but as it stands this bill is constitutionally unacceptable,” said Ann Taylor, head of the influential Constitution Committee.

“The bill grants ministers overlybroad powers to do whatever they think is ‘appropriate’ to correct ‘deficiencies’ in retained EU law,” the committee said in a report. While many peers are opposed to the legislation, the House of Lords is not expected to veto the law after it was passed in the lower house of parliament.

But more criticism over what even some government officials say was a hastily created bill to “copy and paste” EU rules and regulations into British law by the time it leaves the bloc next year underlines the size of the task facing May. In Brussels, EU ministers, whose unity in the negotiations has amplified the arguments in Britain, are due to formally endorse its guidelines for a transition period that will leave the relationship largely unchanged.

But even with both sides mostly in agreement over the transition period bar

a few questions over citizens rights and trade agreements, May faces criticism by Brexit campaigners for bowing to EU demands and accepting the status quo.

Since being appointed prime minister shortly after the “Remain” side, which she backed, lost a referendum on EU membership in June 2016, May’s style of leadership has been increasingly challenged by her party, which is losing support at a time when the opposition Labour Party is enjoying record levels of members. Her spokesman defended the prime minister’s record, saying she had not only won an agreement with the EU to move onto the second phase of negotiations on future ties, she had also boosted housebuilding, education standards and health funding.

Brexit campaigners have aired their concerns that May is delivering a Brexit in name only, while EU supporters accuse her of putting the party’s interests above those of the country in the talks to end more than 40 years of membership in the bloc. Talk of ousting her has grown louder in recent days, with local media reporting that more MPs are supporting a no-confidence motion against her.

But several MPs asked by Reuters say her removal is a risky strategy for the party, which is divided down the middle

over Brexit. The promotion of either side’s representatives to the top post could trigger mutiny.

“There were times last year for the prime minister to step aside - immediately after the June 2017 election, or after Party Conference. That didn’t happen. Maybe the Cabinet should have asked her to go, but they didn‘t,” said Nicky Morgan, ed-

ucation minister under May’s predecessor, David Cameron.

“Even more importantly, we are now into a critical nine months for the future of the country, so the cabinet need to get a grip by acting collectively to shape Brexit and agree an ideal end-state based in reality, on what parliament will approve eventually - and then stick to it.”

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

at lEaSt 11 SoldiErS killEd in attack nEar kabul Military acadEMy KABUL

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AGENCIES

UNMEN and suicide bombers launched a pre-dawn attack claimed by the Islamic State group on a military compound in Kabul Monday, killing 11 soldiers in the third major assault in the Afghan capital in recent days.

The series of assaults, including one of the deadliest bombs in Kabul in recent years, have left already war-weary citizens griefstricken and angry as the Taliban and IS escalate their offensive.

Monday's attack on an Afghan army battalion killed at least 11 soldiers and wounded 16, a defence ministry spokesman said. “Two bombers detonated themselves and two were killed by our forces and one was detained alive,” the spokesman, Dawlat Waziri, told AFP, adding that the attack was over.

Officials said the men, armed with a rocket, two Kalashnikovs and at least one suicide vest, had attempted to breach an army battalion near the Marshal Fahim military academy, where high-ranking

officers are trained.

An officer at the academy told AFP he could hear an explosion and gunfire, while other witnesses said the first blasts and gunfire came around 5:00 am (0030 GMT).

The gunmen did not enter the heavily fortified compound on the western outskirts of the city, an Afghan security source said. Security forces have swarmed into the area and blocked roads leading to it.

In October a Taliban suicide bomber killed 15 Afghan army trainees as they travelled home from the Marshal Fahim academy.

Militants including the Taliban and IS have stepped up their at-

navalny frEEd aftEr thouSandS rally againSt putin and 'pSEudo-pollS' MOSCOW: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been freed after a brief spell in police detention in Moscow as thousands rallied against a March election expected to extend Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin term. “I’m free,” Navalny said on Twitter late Sunday, adding: “Today has been an important day… Thanks to all those who were not afraid to fight for their rights.” Heeding a call by Putin’s bete noire, thousands braved freezing temperatures to stage rallies in dozens of cities to protest upcoming “pseudo-elections,” as Navalny and his supporters refer to them. In Moscow, Navalny chanted “Swindlers and thieves” at a rally in the city centre Sunday before several police officers pounced on the 41-year-old opposition politician, knocking him to the ground and dragging him on to a bus.

Authorities said earlier Navalny would be charged with organising an unpermitted protest, adding he had been taken to a police station. The opposition leader urged Muscovites not to give up.

“You are not rallying for me, but for yourselves and your future,” he tweeted.

About 4,000 people turned up for the unsanctioned rally in Moscow, with many chanting “Down with the czar” and brandishing placards saying “Voters’ strike.” Authorities beefed up security, dispatching police vans and passenger buses to the city centre, but police largely refrained from arresting protesters. A crowd of protesters was later allowed to walk down to Red Square. One group of protesters walked several kilometres and reached the government headquarters as police watched on. Authorities estimated the Moscow turnout at around 1,000 people. Ahead of the Moscow rally police broke into Navalny’s headquarters using a power saw. Police also detained several members of Navalny’s team. More than 250 people were detained across the country, according to OVD-Info, an independent monitor. Sunday’s turnout paled in comparison to last year’s protests when tens of thousands demonstrated against corruption among Russia’s elite in March and June, 2017. AGENCIES

tacks on beleaguered Afghan troops and police in recent months, sapping morale already hit by desertions and corruption. Afghan troops have taken what the UN describes as “shocking” casualties since international forces ended their combat role at the end of 2014, though troop casualty figures are no longer released.

Last Saturday a Taliban suicide attacker driving an explosivespacked ambulance blew it up in a crowded area of the capital, killing at least 103 people — mainly civilians — and wounding 235 in one of the worst bombings in the city in recent years.

The blast was a chilling demonstration of the militants' ability to penetrate the heart of Kabul despite stepped-up security since a massive truck bomb killed some 150 people and wounded hundreds last May. The government has blamed Saturday's attack, which was followed by a national day of mourning, on the Talibanaffiliated Haqqani Network.

Afghans flooded social media with grief and anger. “May God destroy their houses,” Kabul resident Aftab Ali wrote on Facebook, adding: “(T)hey are killing innocent humans.” On January 20 Taliban fighters stormed Kabul's landmark Intercontinental hotel and killed at least 25 people, the majority of them foreigners, in an assault lasting more than 12 hours.

But there is still confusion over the true toll from that attack, with conflicting figures given by officials and Afghan media reporting higher numbers.

Kabul remains on high alert as the city braces for further violence. On Sunday, usually a working day, the capital was unusually quiet, while Monday was a national holiday.

China says 'terror' risks in Xinjiang remains serious despite security push BEIJING AGENCIES

Unrelenting risks of “terror” and separatist activity in China’s far western region of Xinjiang require a prolonged security crackdown, state media said late on Sunday, after a year-long campaign that saw increased police deployment and heightened surveillance.

China says Xinjiang faces a serious threat from Muslim extremists and separatists who plot violent attacks and stir up tensions between the mostly Muslim Uighur minority who call the region home and the ethnic Han Chinese majority. In response, the government has organised mass police rallies and rolled out new surveillance and anti-terror measures throughout the region, including thousands of newly installed street-corner police stations in cities and towns. A report first read at a government meeting on Jan. 22 by governor Shohrat Zakir and published on the official Xinjiang Daily newspaper said that 2017’s campaign had made it

clear that stabilizing society in Xinjiang would require more measures.

“There has been no fundamental change to the situation of Xinjiang being in a time of regular violent terror activities, an intense struggle against separatists and the painful throes of an intervention treatment,” Zakir said.

He added that the long-term peace and stability of Xinjiang and its society must be the overall goal of the regional government for the “critical period” of the next five years.

To meet this goal, the government will continue to deepen severe specialist operations, such as guaranteeing absolute security of key areas and the “normalization” of preventative measures in society, Zakir said.

China blames the violence in Xinjiang on extremists and separatists, some of whom it says have links to groups outside the country.

Rights groups and Uighur exiles say it is more a product of Uighur frustration at Chinese controls on their culture and religion. China denies any repression.

FOREIGN NEWS 07 palestinian fM says palestine to seek un membership at Security council

RAMALLAH: Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Monday that his ministry will apply to the UN Security Council (UNSC) next February to get full UN membership for the state of Palestine and demand international protection for the people of Palestine under the Israeli occupation. In statements to official Palestinian radio station (Voice of Palestine), Malki said that Palestine will urge the international community to honor their commitment to the UNSC resolution 2334 of December 2016, which pertains to Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Palestinians have been seeking full UN membership since 2011 and have been recognized with observer status since 2012. Several meetings are already scheduled at the UN, including a closed UNSC session on Feb 20, tackling the situation in the Middle East, followed by an open session the next day. Malki said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will attend a third UNSC session on Feb. 23 and is scheduled to discuss Middle East issues with high level officials. Palestinians have been preparing for a donors meeting at Brussels, which is expected later this week, and a meeting of the Arab foreign ministers that is scheduled early February to discuss international action in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital last December and in preparation of the Arab Leaguesummit next March. AGENCIES

hope triple talaq bill will be law soon, says india president

NEW DELHI: India’s President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday exuded confidence that the law to ban instant triple talaq will soon become a law and the Muslim women can live a life free of fear and indignity. Delivering his maiden address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Mr. Kovind also made it clear that the Narendra Modi government will do everything to empower the minorities but not appease them.

The President also pitched for simultaneous elections to Parliament and State Assemblies, saying there was a need to discuss and build a consensus among all parties on the possibility of holding simultaneous polls. “There is need to discuss and build consensus among parties on the possibility of holding simultaneous elections for Parliament and the State Assemblies,” he said. On instant talaq, he said, “Muslim women’s honour was a victim of political upmanship. Now the country has the opportunity to free them from this situation.

“My government tabled a bill on Triple Talaq in Parliament and I hope it will become a law soon. After the law comes into force, the Muslim daughter and sister can live a life free of fear and indignity,” he said. Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Union Ministers, BJP president Amit Shah, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi were among others present in the Central Hall when Mr. Kovind delivered his first speech. Referring to various welfare schemes initiated by the Modi government, the President said with a sensitive approach towards providing housing with availability of water, electricity and toilet facilities to all, the government is targeting to provide a house to every poor and homeless household by the year 2022. AGENCIES

UN says 100,000 Rohingya in grave danger from monsoon rains GENEVA AGENCIES

More than 100,000 Rohingya refugees huddled in squalid, muddy camps in Bangladesh will be in grave danger from landslides when the mid-year monsoon season begins, a UN humanitarian report said.

There are now more than 900,000 Rohingyas in the Cox’s Bazar area of Bangladesh, after 688,000 fled violence in Myanmar that flared up in late August. Aid workers say the camps sheltering the new arrivals are completely inadequate.

“Landslide and flood risk hazard mapping reveal that at least 100,000 people are in grave danger from these risks and require relocation to new areas or within the neighbourhoods that they live in,” the UN report said.

“The lack of space remains the main challenge for the sector as sites are highly congested leading to extremely hard living conditions with no space for service provisions and facilities. In addition, congestion brings in-

creased protections risks and favours disease outbreak such as the diphtheria outbreak currently escalating in most of the sites.”

Although a rapid vaccination program appears to have staved off the risk of cholera, 4,865 have confirmed, probable or suspected diphtheria, and 35 have died.

The World Health Organization has vaccinated over 500,000 Rohingyas against diphtheria and on Saturday

CMYK

health workers began giving 350,000 children a second dose. The WHO also has 2,500 doses of anti-toxin, which is in short supply globally, to treat the deadly effects of the disease.

But a new health concern has arisen - mumps. The UN report said there had been an increase in cases in the past few weeks, and Rohingya refugees and host communities had never been vaccinated against the highly contagious disease, which is rarely fatal but can cause com-

plications such as meningitis.

Most of the Rohingya refugees - almost 585,000 - are in an overcrowded area called Kutupalong-Balukhali.

“A high percentage of the land is unsuitable for human settlement as risks of flooding and landslides are high and are further aggravated by the congestion and extensive terracing of the hills,” the UN report said.

“The anticipated flooding and landslides in the upcoming monsoon season will make a bad situation much worse.”

A recent engineering assessment said all roads in the camp would be inaccessible for trucks, and the World Food Programme is considering using porters to distribute food, minutes of a Jan. 24 meeting of aid agencies involved in logistics said.

The Bangladeshi government allocated 2,000 acres (809 hectares) for a new camp in Ukhia, prompting an influx of people before anything was ready. “Humanitarian partners are now building necessary infrastructure in challenging conditions, with extremely limited space,” the UN report said.

08 COMMENT

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

The era of post-truth media Packaged as ‘citizens’ journalism’

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R Shahid masood calls it ‘citizens’ journalism.’

Journalism, he says, has entered a higher stage where guidelines of a bygone era have become unnecessary encumbrances. One gets reports and stories through social media and e-mails which would become stale if not made public at the earliest. It is no more the function of a reporter or an anchorperson to seek their confirmation. It is for the agencies to do the job. at a time when media in general and the more powerful electronic media in particular can make or mar the reputation of an institution, a political party or a public figure, there is a greater need on the part of reporters and anchorpersons to be extra careful.

Journalists may have personal likes but they are supposed to be responsible and non-partisan when it comes to the dissemination of news. notwithstanding the natural hunch for scoops, journalistic ethics and professionalism require that in no case there is compromise on facts. any news, particularly the ones that can affect the reputation of an institution or individual, need to be carefully checked and crosschecked before being aired.

Isn’t this a violation of the concept of the freedom of expression? as in the case of other citizens, a journalist’s freedom ends where someone else’s nose begins. One cannot allow an anchorperson to accuse others of having committed heinous crimes unless he has evidence that can be proved in a court. unless this is ensured nobody in society will be safe. The Sc provided Shahid masood enough time to present his case. Taking note of his reservations over the JIT appointed by Punjab government, the apex court formed a special JIT to probe the anchorperson’s claims. It is for him now to present proof regarding the suspected rapist’s 37 bank accounts and his being a member of a pornography gang which also allegedly includes a Punjab minister. as the court rightly put it if Shahid masood proves the charges he would be hailed as a major investigative journalist but in case he doesn’t he is liable to be duly punished.

Varsity violence Seat of learning, but victim of intolerance

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ITcHED fights between groups of ‘miscreants’, use of firearms, injuries, physical and judicial remand of over 200 brawlers under antiTerrorism act, torching of vehicles, blockade of roads, disruption of routine activities, vandalism, arson and a police flag march, are not indicative of the coming revolution or the Red Dawn. They were sad sights witnessed at the country’s oldest seat of learning, the Punjab university, last monday, and signify an unfortunate failure on multiple fronts. The first and foremost (almost for a generation) is the politicising of campus by the student arm of a religious political party and its self-righteous tendency to stifle all other counternarratives by force, the second, weak and tainted administrations, secure in the knowledge of powerful political backing, and third, the general decline in quality of teaching staff and their lack of 100 per cent commitment, signified by absence of personal interest in their wards’ scholarship and healthy development, and by the growth of private academies which are nowadays their natural habitat, rather than their own teaching institutions.

The clash on January 20 had another ominous aspect to it, as it involved students belonging to two ethnic groups from the neglected Balochistan, sent here by doting parents anxious for their dependents’ career prospects, some under quota scholarships awarded by various universities in the Punjab. By the divisive clash that occurred at the welcoming camp for new students, yet another opportunity to build bridges and intermingle peacefully in an open environment was squandered, and enmities forged instead of friendships at that emotional, impressionable age. The Punjab chief minister initially stood for strict action, but no doubt as a future Pm aspirant, did a somersault after the Balochistan home minister demanded withdrawal of terrorism cases that created a dangerous ethnic bias, he even admonished those responsible, so that all cases were quashed and the remaining detained students freed yesterday, with only disciplinary action awaiting them. In education, the mindset must be that of ‘let a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend’ (peacefully), and not bigoted suffocation of thought, or banning of concerts and cultural events.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36375963, 042-36375965

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Our canaries in a coalmine Why lives of our children are stifled, bruised and precarious

shah Nawaz Mohal

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OmE were three years old, some were four, others seven or twelve or older.

They all had one thing in common, a similar fate. They were physically and sexually abused before being cruelly murdered. This, dearest sirs and ma’ams, is the pall of fear that has wrapped itself around our children. From mardan to Kasur and beyond, we’ve been burying our innocent canaries. and the only thing that gets our attention is exceptional amount of noise. It is noise, unceasing noise, deafening noise that wakes us up.

Once awake, we feel depressed and nauseated. The despair settles in. Some shed tears, others show solidarity. all of us air grievances. We condemn politicians, we abuse police, we forcefully demand that the culprit be publicly hanged.

The frenzy, slowly and steadily, fizzles out. The Zainabs and asmas get busy playing in the Elysian fields. We get back to living our lives as the ‘most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.’ We are the beings that the king from Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels thought of us. It may or may not drain all the empty optimism from our existences but it sure does ring true right now. The misanthrope is justified to condemn mankind in entirety for the bad ones among us commit horrendous deeds while the good ones remain indifferent.

Our piety doesn’t allow us to teach our kids

when to reach out for help. We shy away from telling them when they are being touched inappropriately. We shield them, feed them, provide them with toys, educate them, and bury our heads in the sand and pray that they be safe from the predators.

There is no place for certain forbidden words, damned and banished, in our scheme of things because they clash with every belief we hold in reverence.

‘Sex education’ falls in that category. In our unabashed and wholesome hatred of all things west (except cars, films, iPhones, F-16s, massive loans, no-strings attached aid and citizenship).

The very topic of sex education has been relegated to the cupboard of taboos and placed right next to things it aims to deter i.e., harassment, sexual assault and physical abuse.

The deeper malice of backwardness coupled with a society in perpetual state of transition, fluctuating between confusion and resentment, gripes for anything that offers even an iota of hope or retribution.

Take for example the case of Zainab. Reactive as it may, the Punjab government and police immediately jolted into action. The Dna tests of more than thousand individuals, the speedy investigation, the media frenzy ultimately led to the capture of the suspect. While asma murder case, an incident of equal hideousness that reared its head in mardan, ‘naya KPK’ remains unresolved. at the time of writing this column, the chief Justice of Pakistan mian Saqib nisar took suo motu notice of the incident and in a rare show of solidarity, the KPK police sought expertise of Punjab Forensic Lab. However, the most harrowing response was by none other than the chairman PTI Imran Khan. When asked about the response and progress made by KPK government about the asma case, Khan Sahab, showing an excellent example of ad hominem, attacked the organisation the reporter hailed from and reiterated his conviction to put his employee behind bars. canaries are small, colourful cousins of sparrows who sing melodiously. In the tough old days the miners used to carry them in tunnels as their death served as a warning sign of presence

of lethal gases in mines. The death of these little birds ensured life of many.

In the aftermath of recent events, I trust you to figure out that who amongst us is the deadly coal mine, who are the clever miners and is there anything we can do to save the many canaries in the future. and please, dearest sirs and ma’ams, don’t use the words like ‘darinda-sift’ or equate these murderous rapists with beasts and animals. Let us never forget what Dostoevsky, the Russian novelist and foremost knower of human psychology, had to say about savage side of human nature.

‘People talk sometimes of a bestial cruelty, but that’s a great injustice and insult to the beasts; a beast can never be so cruel as a man, so artistically cruel. The tiger only tears and gnaws, that’s all he can do. He would never think of nailing people by the ears, even if he were able to do it’.

PS: The misadventures of ‘Doctor Doom’ continue amidst all the chaos, entered Dr Shahid masood with a blast. Our beloved doomsday sayercum-knower of things hidden dazzled the masses with revelations of sinister proportions. according to Doctor sahib Imran ali, the prime suspect in Zainab and multiple other cases, was neither a psychopath nor a deranged individual rather he is just a small cog in an international racket of extreme child pornography and has dozens of foreign currency accounts. Our chief Lordship of Big marble Palace took interest and Dr Shahid had also handed over a parchi that had name of some sitting minister involved in the racket.

The conspiracy-toting Doctor sahab was, however, rubbished by State Bank of Pakistan and is refusing from appearing before the JIT. Those who know Doctor sahab since his ‘End of Times’ documentary are aware of his antics and omnipresent ‘sources’.

The million dollar question right now is: Will Doctor Sahib get out of the swamp he landed himself in?

Shah Nawaz Mohal is a law graduate and member of staff, Islamabad Bureau.

In search of a counter terror narrative State must be the ultimate decider of everything through an effective medium. another important factor in narrative dissemination is its continuity and persistence. It has three important implications namely creating a false reality image in the minds of the audience, motivating immature souls to accept external control and engineering impractical hopes in the thinking processes of the poor section of society. unless a narrative is persistent in its transmission it cannot bear positive results for the narrator. The end product of a narrative is perhaps raising a deceptive mental infrastructure for achieving the desired results.

Though it has rarely been observed that an ordinary persons’ recount becomes a social or national narrative, nonetheless, in todays’ technologically advanced environment, the electronic and print media can become an impressive carrier of an ordinary anecdotal narration and becomes a tool for social change. In December 2010, the narrative of a local hawker in Tunisia, mohamed Bouazizi, who sets himself on fire due to state repression, receives such acceptability among the masses that a movement started which resulted into intense rioting thus forcing Ben ali, then president of Tunisia, to leave his office unceremoniously. abu Bakr naji, in his book, management of Savagery, has produced religious texts to legitimise brutal actions of insurgents in Iraq. He has also propounded the narrative of caliphate to give authenticity to mode of recruitment of al Qaeda and other extremists in the middle East. These ideas, when heard and read by a common person, ignite such extremist notions which lead towards brutality and savagery.

Hence narratives can provide legal sanction to commit crime as well. In Pakistan, the terror narrative has been established on multidimensional fora.

These include promises of speedy jus-

Faisal ali Raja

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uman society is based on human narratives. It is said that If there is no narrative, there is no history. narratives, therefore, form an essential part of our social cultural milieu. narratives are also associated with the religious phrases which are an elementary constituent of human memory, behaviour, rules and ethics.

Due to importance of narratives in society, every intellectual and philosopher has given it due priority and importance. aristotle, in his epic work Poetics, indicates three essential features of narratives namely the narrator, characters in the narratives and primary audience of these ideas.

In fact, a narrative is an interrelated and coherently organised system of stories, structured or unstructured, having a single focal point for resolving or deflecting a conflict through creating smokescreens, augmenting specific actions and relying on available audience. They also tinker with their expectations and manipulate their emotional attachments on different communication channels.

Stronger the communication medium, greater is its impact and outreach. Sometimes an effective message becomes weaker when relayed through a soft medium. Likewise, a weak message registers impressive results when transmitted

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Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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tice, propagation of social equality, claims of purging society of social ills and imposing Sharia principles in day to day dealings. The terror organisations have used these narratives to legitimise their actions against state institutions including military, para military, Law Enforcement agencies (LEas) and population at large. These groups operate at global, regional, national, sub national and local levels.

They employ different means for propagation of their narratives which include written material and pamphlets, audio and video messages, interviews in electronic, print and social media. They also use books to radicalise their followers along with exploiting latest telecommunication services including Short messaging Service (SmS). moreover, anti-western and takfiri ideology is also being promoted through these narratives. a counter narrative is therefore required to develop a strong response to the prevailing terror narratives.

The first and foremost factor in counter terror narrative development is therefore strengthening of institutions so that they project the counter narrative line of action in an impressive and effective manner. The existing rules dealing with terror related incidents need to be aligned with our counter terror narrative. For example, we emphasise that hate literature and speech should be completely banned.

However, while processing such cases the inability of the institution to collect proper material evidence and present them in the court of law gives unnecessary leverage to the culprits resulting into acceptance of their bail applications which further promotes their narratives. Recently the culprits involved in Benazir Bhutto murder case were acquitted by anti-terror court on the basis of lack of evidence.

The misuse of counter terror narratives should not be allowed at any

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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cost. The recent fake encounter in Karachi has already dented the sincere efforts of the state to project and promote counter terror narrative among different population sections living in and around the metropolitan city area.

The Paigam-e-Pakistan decree issued by 1,829 religious scholars and ulema has focused on three important areas. First, it has emphasised on national unity to fight against the menace of terrorism. according to the document, the constitution of Pakistan provides the basis of national integration and cohesion. Second, the leaders and state institutions should play their role in providing an environment of mutual harmony and trust. The responsibilities of different institutions and their failure in discharging their duties faithfully is one of the main reasons of lack of consensus among the citizens. Third, Islamic teachings should be properly interpreted and explained in the light of Quran. Wrong interpretation breeds sectarianism which ultimately leads towards intolerance. The state must be the ultimate decider of everything. It should be the sole authority who can declare jihad against an enemy, foreign or native. The real challenge will be the implementation of the counter terrorism narrative.

The counter terror narrative should be accompanied by a powerful action so that the present state equilibrium is disturbed and a new balance is created in accordance with the wishes of the narrator. a comprehensive strategy should therefore be chalked out in disseminating the counter terror narrative among the citizens of the state through an effective and productive medium in a simplified manner. The moment a poor person starts understanding its contours and themes, terror narratives will face a tough response on psychological and practical levels in Pakistan.

Faisal Ali Raja is a Senior Superintendent of Police.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail

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

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Well done Team Pakistan

The darker side of Zainab’s case And some important, yet unanswered, questions alleged that this was a gang of which Zainab’s Juan Barros that claim he was complicit in rapist and killer was a member that included covering up the alleged sex crimes committed pornography. He also stated that a Punjab min- by Rev Fernando Karadima. coming back to Pakistan; if in Zainab’s ister was member of this gang. He claimed that case, if the police had the arrested Imran has 37 addressed the issue bank accounts most of when first case emerged which are in foreign curin 2012, she may be rency. He has challenged alive today. There is a the theory of the arrested deeply crippling side to being mentally chalThe important question the case: failure of the lenged instead he is investigative system claims him to be member here must be to identify and the state machinery of an international ring. the killer and the ring to act without social Singling him out to demedia and mainstream ride him on social media around him if one exists. media pressure reacting and other forums cannot harshly to the case. be condoned. Whether Was Imran a handler for a sad aspect has this evidence stands the the culprits who may be been tweets by at least test of court scrutiny is YasMeeN aFtab ali two known individuals for the court to decide. suppliers to end users? that can only be deemed any comment on the Or was he the main as unkind to Zainab and F the news of a Zainab’s abduction, rape quality of evidence proher family and this is an and murder was not shocking enough, vided is mere speculation culprit himself? understatement. althere emerges greater dark side of the till it is known via court though one can undercase that daily shocks the nation with decision. stand media’s role to Looking at the bignew revelations. cover the inhuman action The accused is a carpenter and lived in the ger picture, if one renut an obsession to the the Kasur neighbourhood. He has been living in the calls, extent of repeated talks same house for three years. It is strange that pornography child scanno one recognised him from the ccTV dal case is still pending with four accused with Zainab’s father at every step as the case footage, bad tape and beard shaved post- granted bail on grounds of benefit of doubt. progresses may not be a great idea. The court This known case came to light in 2015, span- decision to put a stop to is a welcome step.

Zainab murder notwithstanding.

Those who were shot and killed and those The Dna result of Imran has been ning a period from 2006 to 2014 in Hussain claimed to be a perfect match with eight cases Khanwala village in the District of Kasur. who died at the hospital having protested of raped and murdered girl-childs’ done pre- “Villagers told Reuters that a prominent family Zainab’s murder at the DPO office have faded viously. certain points need to be viewed there has for years forced children to perform into the sub-text. What is the development on here. One, understanding what Dna means. sex acts on video. The footage was sold or this aspect of the case?

The important question here must be to a Dna is a certain number defining polymor- used to blackmail their impoverished famiphism of an individual. no two individuals lies.” (The Dawn; Updated January 10, 2018) identify the killer and the ring around him if Paedophilia and resulting sex scandals are one exists. Was Imran a handler for the culcarry the exact same Dna in the world to one unfortunately not a new prits who may be suppliers to end users? Or exception only: identiphenomenon — this ap- was he the main culprit himself? a very harsh cal twins. Two, if the plies to the world not punishment needs to be meted out as per law Dna of eight girls just Pakistan. Rod nord- in either case. In cases where police claimed raped had the same land, writing for New some to be child rapist and murder that has Dna of Imran on them, York Times (January 24, now been proved wrong, what steps are to be how come at least in Looking at the bigger 2018) quoted a report by taken against those in police doing this and two of these quoted among the what were the causes that they did this? The eight cases, two differpicture, if one recalls, the SIGaR. findings was “an inves- issues need to be identified and addressed. ent people were killed Law must deliver. Punishment deters tigation into child sexual in ‘police encounters’ Kasur pornography child abuse by the afghan se- those who think of doing same crimes. a sowith ‘exact match scandal case is still curity forces and the ciety without law is a lawless society.

Dna’? (Reference reports shown in pending with four accused supposed indifference of Zainab’s case has been a mirror to the society the uS military to the in more ways than one!

Mubasher Lucman granted bail on grounds of problem.” The article End Note: “Pick a leader who will make show Kharra Such on goes on to state, their citizens proud. One who will stir the hearts SAMAA TV last week). benefit of doubt. This “SIGaR said it had of the people, so that the sons and daughters of This was substantiated

by Dawn in in the news known case came to light opened an investigation a given nation strive to emulate their leader’s bacha bazi at the re- greatness. Only then will a nation be truly great, report that stated earlier in 2015, spanning a period into quest of congress and in when a leader inspires and produces citizens the culprit having asresponse to a 2015 New worthy of becoming future leaders, honourable saulted Zainab had also from 2006 to 2014 in York Times article that decision makers and peacemakers. And in these done the same to Iman.

Hussain Khanwala village described the practice as times, a great leader must be extremely brave.

Whereas one mudassir Their leadership must be steered only by their “rampant.” was killed by police alin the District of Kasur.

“Bacha Baazi” conscience, not a bribe.” legedly in an encounter (Suzy Kassem: Rise Up and Salute the refers to boy play or rape upon being taken in cusof under-age boys by Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem) tody for raping and afghan army personnel. murdering Iman. (JanuYasmeen Aftab Ali is a lawyer, academic Recently Pope ary 25, 2018) Dna in Francis’s comment in and political analyst. She has authored a book any case is corroborachile claiming the sex victims were indulging titled ‘A Comparative Analysis of Media & tive evidence, not primary.

The startling news by Dr Shahid masood in slander drew a lot of negative feelings from Media Laws in Pakistan.’ She can be created a hue and cry among people, some be- chileans. according to Fox News the Pope contacted at: yasmeenali62@gmail.com and lieved while some vehemently opposed him. He was addressing the accusations against Bishop tweets at @yasmeen_9

I

IT is quite appreciable that after somehow not clicking together and losing tests and ODI series, Team Pakistan has finally come in its real spirit and ended tour of new Zealand by not only winning T20 series 2-1 but also in the process claiming no 1 spot on the T20 rankings notified by the International cricket council (Icc). cricket enthusiasts at home who were earlier quite disappointed with the poor performance of our batsmen as well as bowlers are now quite happy that the team has clicked together by doing pretty well in the T20 series outplaying the home side. according to the reports in the media, Prime minister Shahid Khaqan abbasi has also done well in not wasting time, telephoned skipper Sarfraz ahmed and felicitating Pakistan team over its T20 victory and through him all his teammates as well and told him that the whole nation is proud of its national team and the top position in the Icc ranking and win in T20 series quite commendable demonstrates the hard work and determination of the national team and its management.

Quite obviously when cricket team loses in the international matches against foreign teams at home or abroad, it disappoints the enthusiasts and when it secures thumping victories against opponents like it has done in new Zealand ending the tour on a positive note, the people at home are happy, jubilant and celebrate, keep the winning spirit going and continuing making us happy and jubilant, please. Thanks.

MURTAZA ZEESHAN Lahore

Expressway fully operational IT is indeed a good news that Lyari Expressway has become fully operational after 15 long years delay and cost escalation of over Rs23 billion following inauguration of its northbound carriageway by Prime minister Shahid Khaqan abbasi the other day.

The total length of the project including the ramps is 38 kilometres .It also includes four interchanges at Sohrab Goth, manghopir, Sir Shah Suleman and maripur besides around 20 major bridges which also form part of the project which will greatly help in reducing the ever-growing vehicular problem inside the port city, the traffic coming from the port and Super Highway (now m9) will now be using the expressway without entering the city and it will also considerably reduce the flood damage in the areas lying adjacent to the river. now that Lyari Expressway has become fully operational around six million people are expected to benefit from it which has reduced their daily commuting time to just 16 minutes on average and around 35000 vehicles are expected to use this route on daily basis which is a good and much awaited development for the people of Karachi. according to the reports in the media, Pm abbasi on the occasion has said that the government will ensure continuation of all development projects, the issues confronting Karachi will ultimately be resolved with the support of all stakeholders, with devolution and hard work such objectives can easily be achieved, a vast network of 1,700 kilometres six-lane motorway is also nearing completing.

Besides Sindh Governor muhammad Zubair, minister of State for Information and Broadcasting marriyum aurangzeb and Pm advisor on Finance miftah Ismail, it is also commendable to mention Sindh chief minister Syed murad ali Shah was also present on the occasion which is quite commendable, please. Thanks.

ASIM MUNIR Rawalpindi

Electric woes aTTEnTIOn is invited to the issue of excessive billing in city Shikarpur, which being major problem, is faced by both the citizens and underprivileged since years, though, much of the population in city, is contending with poverty and many of them having rental shops to earn their livelihood from hand to mouth.

Every meter Reader of the WaPDa Department, is assigned separate jurisdiction to conduct and calculate the reading of units of the meter from their respective jurisdictions and to distribute the bills accordingly, nevertheless, the bills are being delivered to the consumer, perhaps knowingly, in excess of the actual meter reading, from thousands to lacs of rupees, which constrain them to operate the electricity directly through connecting wires. authorities concerned must take note of the issue to resolve the inconveniences being faced by both the Department and consumers.

ZAMIR AHMED MEMON Shikarpur

Kabul attack OncE again, a painful attack happened in afghanistan’s capital, in Kabul. no doubt, according to the news reporter a suicide bombing has killed at least 95 people and injured more than 158 others in the centre of afghanistan’s capital, Kabul. attackers drove an ambulance laden with explosives past a police checkpoint in a secure zone, and also the Taliban have said they carried out the attack. moreover, this suicide attack was a great intensity which caused panic and wide spread destruction in Kabul.

Hence, the government of Pakistan is requested to form a well thought out plan to eradicate and eliminate terrorism from the country.

NOOR BAKHSH Turbat, Kech

10 BUSINESS

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

NAB SENDS NoTiCES To DEfAuLTiNg BuyERS iN PRivATiSATioN of 14 ComPANiES NAB TO INVESTIGATE CLOSURE OF PSM AND DISCUSS PIA PRIVATISATION IN THE NEXT MEETING ISLAMABAD

P

GHULAM ABBAS

RIvATISATION Commission (PC) has informed that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has issued final notices to defaulting buyers of various organisations under the privatisation process. During a meeting of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Privatisation, which was held under the chairmanship of Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, Privatization Minister Daniyal Aziz said that the ministry is ready to provide all required information regarding Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) as the case regarding the closure of mill has been sent to NAB. If someone is responsible for the closure of the mill he/she should face investigation and punishment, Aziz said.

Privatisation Secretary Irfan Ali, during the meeting, informed that at

least 14 institutions privatised by the government were defaulting dues to the government. Notices have been sent to the defaulting buyers of the companies, he said.

Irfan Ali informed the committee that out of $ 2.80 billion the Dubaibased Etisalat has only paid $ 1.8 billion to the government while remaining $ 800 million outstanding dues pending on account of privatisation of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) is yet to be paid. Two final notices have been sent to Etisalat so far for recovery of the dues.

SECP amends Securities Brokers Regulations to reduce regulatory burden, promote EoDB ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has introduced amendments to the Securities Broker (Licensing and Operations) Regulations, 2016 notified vide SRO No 77(I)/2018.

The said notification and amended regulations are available on the SECP website, i.e. www.secp.gov.pk.

The regulations have been amended to reduce regulatory burden and to promote ease of doing business for the brokerage industry, without compromising regulatory objectives, said in a statement issued by SECP here on Monday. To promote ease of doing business (EoDB), instead of multiple mandatory licensing regimes, now a securities broker has to obtain a single license to undertake brokerage activity in the capital market. Moreover, in order to facilitate the brokerage industry as well as a front-line regulator, Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), a concept of the single expiry date for licenses of the entire brokerage industry has been implemented.

Consequently, the validity date for the existing brokerage licenses have been extended to December 31, 2018, and the securities brokers may apply for renewal of licenses for the next calendar year by November 30, 2018. To reduce the regulatory burden on the securities brokers, license renewal process has also been simplified and the annual renewal would be processed upon submission of PSX’s recommendation along with an undertaking by the securities broker that he is compliant with all the regulatory requirements and deposit of regulatory fee. Since noncustodial model to carry out securities broker business does not exist, the concept of categorisation of securities brokers for licensing purposes has been eliminated. In order to facilitate the brokerage industry participants, the timeline to comply with the existing financial resource requirements has been extended from June 30, 2018, to June 30, 2019. Considering the dynamics of local capital markets, the SECP has decided to grant a license to corporate entities only to undertake any regulated activity in the capital markets and not to any individual.

As the brokerage activity can only be undertaken in a corporate structure, the existing concept of agents for securities brokers has become redundant and is no more desirable.

He further informed the committee that at least 34 properties have not been transferred to PTCL so far.

During the meeting, Privatisation minister briefed the Committee regarding the implementation status of previous recommendations of the meetings held on November 29 and December 27, 2017. The Committee unanimously confirmed the minutes of its 3rd meeting.

Daniel Aziz also briefed that the ministry has reviewed all privatisation transactions wherein recovery of outstanding amount from the defaulter buyers, is pending, on a case to case basis. As per

law, the Final Notice to the defaulter has to be served before the matter is referred to NAB. The Committee recommended that the Ministry shall update the Committee regarding the status, replies, litigation, recovery and references to NAB regarding the outstanding amount and buyers who have defaulted. He also briefed that a reference through National Assembly Standing Committee on Industry and Production Chairman has already been sent to NAB on December 18, 2017, regarding the Pakistan Steel Mills.

The Committee showed satisfaction in this regard and decided that no further references are required to be referred to NAB. Federal minister also briefed regarding privatisation of PTCL and addressed questions of the Committee. The Committee appreciated the overall performance of the Ministry about the recovery of amount and efforts in this regard. It was further decided that the ministry shall brief the Committee regarding the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in its next meeting.

MNA Syed Imran Ahmad Shah, MNA Shaheen Shafiq, MNA Maiza Hameed, MNA Munaza Hassan, MNA Dr Imran Khattak and Abdul Waseem along with senior officers from the Ministry of Privatisation were also present at the meeting.

MARKET DAILY

KSE 100 in red, sheds 93.83 pts

Pakistan, Turkey to enhance bilateral relations: Leghari

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkey have mutually agreed on extending their bilateral relations and to work collectively on different sectors with a particular focus on the power sector. Matters related to mutual cooperation in different areas were discussed in a meeting between Power Division Federal Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Turkey Ambassador to Pakistan Mustafa Yardakul here in Islamabad on Monday. Power division joint secretary and other high officials were also present on the occasion. The Turkish ambassador not only appreciated the endeavours of the incumbent government towards enhancing and accelerating the bilateral relations with Turkey but also admired the significant contribution made by power division and said that power sector is a fast-growing sector in Pakistan and its progress has been considered as praiseworthy. Federal Minister Awais Leghari thanked the Turkish ambassador and said that Pakistan and Turkey are friends and this friendship will last forever. We are eager to collaborate on different projects with Turkey to nourish this relation and to collaborate in energy sector particularly, he added. While appreciating the contribution of the Turkish investors in the Power Sector, the federal minister further invited the Turkish investors to participate in the consumer services as the country has bridged the demand and supply gap. STAFF REPORT

STAFF REPORT

NA body suggests global connectivity for increasing exports

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened the week on a positive note but the optimism was short-lived as State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) decision to raise its policy interest rate by 25 basis points to 6 on Friday, citing the depreciation of the rupee, soon took over investors’ sentiments. This is the first change since May 2016.

Following the announcement, the market started its first trading session positive. The KSE 100 index marked intraday high of 44,855.77 with an appreciation of 304.64 points but soon shed gains. The index marked intraday low of 44,337.72 with loss of 213.41 points. The KMI 30 index dropped 810.95 points to 74,858.58 while the KSE All Share Index was lower by 117.60 points. The advancers to decliners ratio stood at 148 to 197.

The market volumes declined to 192.33 million compared to the previous session where 270.76 million shares were exchanged. Dewan Cement Limited (DCL +4.99 per cent) topped the volume chart after PSX

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Sub Standing Committee on Commerce and Textile, on Monday, proposed to increase global trade links and connectivity in order to increase country’s exports. The meeting of the committee was convened by Member National Assembly (MNA) Sajida Begum in the parliament house which discussed and gave suggestions for the proper implementation of “Trade Organisation Act, 2013”. Committee convener expressed her reservation on the working of chambers of commerce and stressed the need for regulating them to increase the country’s trade link with the international market. She also proposed three terms for Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman and an amendment in the “Trade Organisation Act, 2013. In the meeting, Sajida Begum received a report from authorities on the performance of 58 officers posted in foreign countries for promoting Pakistan’s trade. She urged for the regulation of 14 women’s chambers and proper execution of “Trade Organisation Act, 2013“ to streamline the affairs of chambers all over the country. APP

LAHORE

notification of shifting the script from defaulters segment to normal segment. The Bank of Punjab (BOP +3.72 per cent) was next with a volume of 23.34 million shares. The commercial bank sector supported the indices and added 2.59 per cent to its cumulative market capitalisation.

Crescent Steel and Allied Products Limited (CSAP -1.94 per cent) posted 15.60 per cent depreciation in its sales compared to the last quarter.

Sales of Rs 2.79 billion were also lower than Rs 3.06 billion recorded

in the same period last year. Earnings per share clocked at Rs 5.35 down from Rs 6.64 in the 2QFY17. The management also declared a final cash dividend of Rs 1.00 per share.

Technically speaking, the 100 Index extended declines from the previous week along with decline in market participation in a bid to cool off following a vigorous run-up since mid-December. Immediate support is 44,122 (previous week low) while immediate resistance is 45,495 (previous week high).

Hascol Petroleum to pay $9.5m to Mena Energy for out of court settlement $2.75 MILLION WILL BE PAID IN FOUR INSTALMENTS BY HASCOL TO MENA ENERGY TILL JUNE 2019 HASCOL HAS MADE A PROVISION OF RS600 MILLION AND DOESN'T EXPECT ANY CASH FLOW PROBLEMS IN FORESEEABLE FUTURE AS A RESULT OF THIS SETTLEMENT LAHORE MOHAMMAD FAROOQ

A bourse notification filed Monday by Hascol Petroleum Limited (HPL) announced it reached an out of court settlement with Mena Energy DMCC and will pay four $ 2.375 million instalments each over a course of 18 months.

In a board meeting held on January 29, approved an out of court settlement based on advice of HPL’s solicitors and senior counsel standing for it in the litigation in the English Commercial Court

with Mena Energy DMCC. The notification read “The settlement involves the Company agreeing, subject to State Bank of Pakistan’s approval, to pay the settlement amount over a period of 18 (eighteen months in installments of $ 2,375,000 each on May 19, 2018, July 19, 2018, January 19, 2019 and July 19, 2019.”

For the year 2017, HPL has made a general provision of around Rs 600 million which will substantially minimize any adverse impact of the settlement arrangement and doesn’t expect any

cash-flow issues for its ongoing business requirements, read the notification.

The dispute related to transactions for the sale of fuel oil and gasoil (diesel) by MENA to Hascol in Pakistan, for shipment in November and December 2014, when there was a sharp decline in oil prices. Hascol defaulted on its performance obligations under the contracts.

But in a press release dated May 30, 2017, MENA Energy DMCC said on February 16, 2017, the England and Wales High Court ruled that MENA Energy was entitled for damages from Hascol Petroleum concerning two shipments of fuel oil and one shipment of gas oil to Karachi in November 2014.

Counterclaims bought forward by Hascol Petroleum had been dismissed.

They also mentioned that despite the ruling of the England and Wales High Court of Justice, reports that there was no case underway between MENA Energy and Hascol Petroleum or that Hascol Petroleum was entitled for damages

had been considered false.

Hascol Petroleum Limited engages in the procurement, storage, and marketing of petroleum and related products in Pakistan. Its petroleum products include fuel oils, diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, and liquefied petroleum gas products and is the country’s second largest oil marketing company after Pakistan State Oil (PSO) with a 11 per cent market share.

HPL shares were trading at Rs 281.10, down Rs 0.99 and KSE 100 index closed at 44,457.30 points, down 93.83 points at close on Monday.

BUSINESS 11

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

Corporate Corner NBP, uBL ink agreement for digital financial services

PAkiSTAN SigNS SiX AgREEmENTS wiTH CHiNA foR DEvELoPmENT of gAwADAR PoRT GWADAR

KARACHI: National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and United Bank Limited (UBL) inked a Strategic Partnership Agreement for providing NBP customers Digital Financial services, at the signing ceremony that took place at the NBP Head Office. This agreement brings together the largest government bank with the pioneers of digital financial services in the country, UBL Omni. The state-ofthe-art solution will provide NBP customers with the ability to utilise 40,000+ UBL Omni authorised agents across the country.

The agreement was signed by NBP CEO and President Saeed Ahmed and UBL President and CEO Sima Kamil in the presence of senior officials including NBP SEVP/Group Chief Payment Services and Digital Financial Group Mudassir H Khan and UBL Group Head Digital Banking Sharjeel Shahid and other delegates. This initiative of NBP and UBL will empower millions of customers to make instant digital payments all over the country. PRESS RELEASE

Bankislami becomes first islamic bank to launch Shariah Compliant CP issue LAHORE: BankIslami became the first Islamic Bank to successfully launch Pakistan's first Shariah Compliant Commercial Paper (CP) Issue worth Rs 1.5 billion including Rs 500 million greenshoe options for Hascol Petroleum Limited to cater to its working capital requirement. The CP Issue programme shall run for a tenure of one year, covering two CP issues, each 6 months long, and has a short-term rating of A-1 based on Hascol’s entity rating of AA- by JCR–VIS. Hascol is Pakistan’s second largest Oil Marketing Company (OMC) in terms of volume managed through its state of the art more than 140,000 MT of oil storages and 498 retail outlets spread all across Pakistan including AJK. The company is listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of more than Rs 39 billion. BankIslami acted as Mandated Lead Arranger and Advisor, Issuing and Paying Agent and Investment Agent for this first-of-its-kind Shariah Compliant CP Issue which was innovatively structured based on “Bai Salam cum Wakala” model. The CP issue received an overwhelming response from the investors and was oversubscribed by more than 80 per cent of the issue size excluding greenshoe option. PRESS RELEASE

Efu Life wins CSR Award KARACHI: EFU Life Assurance Limited, the leading private life insurance provider in the country, has been conferred with ‘CSR Award 2017’ in the category of ‘Social Impact’ at the 7th International Corporate Social Responsibility Summit and Awards, organised

by The Professionals Network and Ethical Business Update (EBU). EFU Life Assurance Ltd Head of Marketing Aman Hussain received the award on behalf of the Company. The award recognises EFU’s efforts towards social development and sustainability initiatives in the country. EFU Life has been at the forefront of promoting and contributing to the causes of healthcare, education and environment and believes in playing a role in building a positive relationship with the society in which it operates. EFU Life has joined hands with numerous renowned non-governmental organisations for a better and prosperous Pakistan. PRESS RELEASE

KARACHI: UK Deputy High Commissioner was warmly received

by Azeem Qureshi, on her arrival at Beach Luxury Hotel. Photo shows Avari Tower International PRM Madiha Owais presenting her flower bouquet. pr

P

APP

AKISTAN and China, on Monday, inked five agreements and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for strengthening collaboration between Gwadar and the Chinese port cities as Pakistan inaugurated an economic free zone in Gawadar as part of the multi-billion dollars China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi witnessed the ceremony, as representatives of Pakistan and China inked the documents, following the inauguration of Gwadar Free Zone. Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, Interior Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Maritime Affairs Federal Minister Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Information Minister of State Marriyum Auranzeb, China Overseas Port Holding Company Chairman Zhang Baozhong and Gwadar Port Authority’s Dostain Khan Jamaldini were also present on the occasion.

Two agreements declared Pakistan’s Gwadar and China’s Tianjin as sister ports, and Gwadar and Piung as sister cities. Another agreement was signed for cooperation between Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Gwadar International Terminals Limited (GITL) and Gwadar port. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and China's Free Trade Zone Company signed an agreement for cooperation in their respective field while another agreement was also signed between Gwadar and HATA Trade City.

An MoU on Gwadar Poverty Alleviation Initiative was also inked between Gwadar district government and China Overseas Ports Holding Company.

The prime minister described CPEC as

Pm wiTNESSES SigNiNg CEREmoNy of mou BETwEEN PSX AND CoPHS KARACHI: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi along with other high ranking Chinese and Pakistani government officials witnessed signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and China Overseas Ports Holding Company Pakistan (COPHS). The PSX is the national securities exchange of Pakistan, whereas, the COPHS is an emerging and fast developing Chinese based multinational organisation which provides expert marine services, container terminal management and maintenance of port facility services. COPHS works in Pakistan with an aim to develop the strategically located port of Gwadar into an economic hub of Pakistan that will cater to all types of international commercial activities generated from one business to another irrespective of quantity, quantum and magnitude. The primary purpose of the MoU is to ensure that PSX will make its best endeavours to help and facilitate the investors, businesses and companies in the Gwadar Free Trade Zone so that they can raise funds from the exchange. The COPHC will extend help to PSX in conducting due diligence on the investors and businesses in the Gwadar Free Zone applying to PSX for listing of equity and debt securities. Through the MoU, both the companies have mutually agreed to cooperate for listing of equity and debt securities at PSX in response to strategic national priorities of People’s Republic of China and Islamic Republic of Pakistan with respect to “One Belt – One Road” initiative in general and “China – Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)” initiative in particular. STAFF REPORT

a “game changer” and said that the potential of Gwadar has been fully realised because of the vision of President Xi Jinping and former premier Nawaz Sharif. “CPEC is turning into a reality today which will change the fate of the region,” he commented.

“Connectivity through Gwadar will bring prosperity not only to Pakistan but also to the Central Asian states, western China and Afghanistan. Projects that are part of CPEC are based on financial viability and environmental sustainability,” he added.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi further said that the modernisation of the railway line from Karachi to Peshawar and Khunjerab to Gwadar, upgrading of the road network, building of infrastructure and power projects

WB delegation meets BoI chairman, discuss reforms ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A delegation of the World Bank (WB) met with Board of Investment (BoI) Chairman Naeem Zamindar here on January 25, 2018, at BoI office in Islamabad. The Pakistani side was led by Naeem Zamindar meanwhile the World Bank Team was led

by World Bank Regional vice President South Asia Annette Dixon.

The meeting was attended by seniorlevel members of the WB and BoI. Members of WB team included International Finance Corporation (IFC) Regional vice President Nena Stoiljkovic, WB Country Director for Pakistan Patchamuthu Illangovan, IFC Senior Manager Nadeem Siddiqui, IFC Principal Country Officer Shabana Khawar, Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions Programme Leader Gabi George Afram, Senior Economist Amjad Bashir and Senior Private Sector Specialist Kiran Afzal.

Besides BoI chairman, Pakistani side was represented by Sindh Board of Investment Chairperson Naheed Memon, BoI Secretary Samaira Nazir, BoI Additional Secretary and Lead on DB Reforms Fareena Mazhar, BoI Additional Secretary Saleem Ranja, Punjab Planning and Development Department Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo and other concerned officers of BoI and provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh provinces. While welcoming the visiting team, Naeem Zamindar appreciated WB’s efforts for improving the business climate in the country and emphasised for further simplification of procedures in every area of the business cycle was important to attract investment in the country.

Fareena Mazhar gave a detailed presentation highlighting the initiatives of federal and provincial governments to automate and reform the processes involved in each business indicator. She apprised the participants that 41 reforms actions had been introduced in Pakistan for the last two years but World Bank has recognised only four reforms in the last

year. She stressed on updating and expansion of contributors list, reviewing the flaws in the methodology and need for data corrections.

Naheed Memon also appreciated the efforts being made by World Bank Group, BoI and other stakeholders to improve ease of doing business (EoDB) in Pakistan.

While referring to the efforts of the government of Sindh, she informed the house that a notification is being issued by Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) regarding the reduction of connection time from 61 to 21 days. She informed that Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) will eliminate 04 procedures for reducing the time from 60 to 32 days for getting a construction permit. She also added that the government of Sindh will launch their Business Portal shortly.

Iftikhar Ali Sahoo also shared with the visiting team reforms actions initiated by government of Punjab, which inter-alia include automated land registration process in Lahore reducing the time taken from 56 days to 18 days and procedures from 7 to 4, reduction of time for getting construction permits from 60 to 21 days only and automation and linkages of sub-registrar offices with PLRA system. He also highlighted that three mediation centres made functional at District Court Lahore and around 6,812 references resolved out of 10,637 references.

Meanwhile, Annette Dixon expressed the views that 100 days sprint is a good and fantastic idea to have remarkable results but for the sustainability of this national reforms agenda, long-term efforts would also be required. She also emphasised that parallel efforts are also required to improve the situations in other supporting areas like energy, infrastructure, security and particularly human development etc. She also proposed a strong feedback mechanism for enhancing ease of doing business. Nena Stoiljkovic also cherished the idea of 100 days sprint and expressed the hope that it will not reduce the focus on long-term sustainability of the whole reforms effort.

and setting up of special economic zones will bring prosperity to the people.

“Ongoing policies for economic development will continue, no matter which party forms the government when elections are held in July after the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government completes its term,” he said and stressed the need to urgently transform Gwadar into an international city.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing while speaking on the occasion assured that his country will continue to support Pakistan in the future and added that Chinese firms are being encouraged to invest in Pakistan and projects in Gwadar will contribute to the prosperity of the region.

SHC bars PSX from placing Dewan Cement in defaulter’s segment LAHORE MOHAMMAD FAROOQ

A bourse notification filed Monday by Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) revealed the Sindh High Court on 27th January ordered it not to place Dewan Cement in the defaulter’s segment.

The date of the next hearing is scheduled for 7th February, read the notification.

Also, a copy of the court order halting PSX from moving DCL into defaulters segment was filed separately by the company on Monday. On Friday, PSX issued a warning on suspending trading of shares in Dewan Cement Limited (DCL) stocks, if the entity was unable to clarify stated objections within the next weeks.

Due to this, trading in DCL’s shares was halted at lower limit of 5 percent and fell Rs1.22 to Rs23.25 at end of Friday’s session. During Friday’s session, DCL shares were among the top four traded ones with over 19.25 million shares exchanged.

The notification read “DCL is hereby advised to rectify the default within Fourteen (14) trading days i.e. by Monday, February 19, 2018, failing which trading in the shares of the Company shall be suspended from Tuesday, February 20th, 2018.

It must be noted that upon failure of the Company to rectify its default within Seven (07) trading days from the date of this notice i.e. by Thursday, February 8, 2018, the trading in the shares of the Company shall be converted to SPOT settlement for the next Seven (07) trading days i.e. till Monday, February 19, 2018.”

Dewan Cement Limited (DCL) is engaged in manufacturing and selling of cement.

The Company offers its products under the labels of Dewan, Pakland, Pakland Black Diamond, Pakland Lion and Pakland Premium. The Company has a production capacity of 2,880,000 tons per annum from two separate manufacturing units, which includes Pakland Cement Ltd. and Saadi Cement Ltd. DCL’s shares were trading at Rs23.51, up Rs0.26 and KSE-100 index was trading at 44,537.60 points, down 13.53 points from close on Friday.

12 WORLD VIEW

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

TECH GIANTS OF THE EAST, NOT THE US, ARE NOW THE WORLD RULERS-IN-WAITING

Sunday TimeS

t

niAll Ferguson

HE most interesting man at Davos was not He Who Must Not Be Named. (In the style of the Harry Potter books, I’m going to omit the name of the Dark Lord, otherwise known as the president of the United States. To be frank, I’m bored with him.) No, the most interesting man at this year’s World Economic Forum was a rather scrawny 53-year-old former English teacher from Hangzhou in eastern China whose business is poised to take over the world economy.

Jack Ma is the founder and chairman of Alibaba, the ecommerce company that you probably think of as the Chinese equivalent of Amazon. You’re wrong. I’ll get to why you’re wrong in a minute.

But first: Jack.

Silicon Valley has its fair share of egotists, but none can match Ma. If you didn’t catch it, watch his immensely self-indulgent yet captivating martial arts movie, which was one of the pop-cultural highlights of last year. Titled Gong

Shou Dao (The Art of Attack and Defence), the 22-minute film features t’ai chi enthusiast Ma battling a succession of martial arts masters including former wushu champions Jet Li and Donnie Yen and retired sumo champion Asashoryu.

This is what being worth $43bn (£30bn) makes possible: you can hire the best cinema choreographers in the business — such as Yuen Woo-ping, who co-ordinated the fight scenes in The Matrix and Kill Bill films — and get them to make your home movie. It’s wildly over the top, of course, but can you imagine even Elon Musk having the chutzpah to do that?

Two weeks ago I visited Hangzhou and took a trip to the sprawling campus that is Alibaba’s headquarters. In the heart of it, surrounded by brand-new office blocks, is an incongruous black-roofed compound built in the ancient Chinese style. “That’s Jack’s office,” I was told.

As a boy growing up in the impoverished, chaotic China of the Cultural Revolution, Ma Yun (to give him his Chinese name) studied English, cycling miles from his home to meet the few English-speakers at the international hotel in Hangzhou, offering them free guided tours to build up his language skills. Yet that did not make him especially employable in the China of the 1980s. He was rejected by the police. He was even rejected by KFC. He applied to Harvard — 10 times. More re-

Jack of all online trade trumps davos donald

jections. He was reduced to lecturing in English at a local college.

In early 1995, Ma took a trip to America and had his first encounter with the internet. Unlike Jeff Bezos, who started Amazon to sell books online, Ma from the outset envisioned an online marketplace for everything. He ran the name Alibaba past a San Francisco waitress. “What do you know about Alibaba?” he asked her, to which she replied: “Open sesame.” (Presumably if she’d said “Forty thieves” it would have been back to the drawing board.)

So what else makes Alibaba different from Amazon? Two things. First, Ma moved faster than his American counterpart, Bezos, to diversify his business. In particular, Alibaba pioneered electronic payments, establishing Alipay to allow online purchases with no transaction fees.

Today few things impress the western visitor to China more than the ubiquity of electronic payments.

Everyone pays for everything with smartphones. Although Tencent’s WeChat messaging app now offers a rival service, it was Alipay that blazed the trail, not only with online payments but also with moneymarket funds (Yu’e Bao) and a growing range of online financial services, now spun off as Ant Financial. One day I’ll fully under-

stand why America fell behind in financial technology. Maybe it was regulation. But whatever made Alipay ubiquitous in China in a way that PayPal isn’t in America, Ma was surely a part of it.

As an investment, Alibaba has been a dream. If you bought stock in its 2014 New York initial public offering, you’ve tripled your money. True, the past year was a great one to own Amazon.com: the stock rose 67%. But Alibaba’s share price doubled.

The second thing that sets Alibaba apart from Amazon is the sheer scale and speed of growth of the Chinese ecommerce market.

Notice, too, that Bezos — especially since he acquired The Washington Post — is at daggers drawn with Him Who Must Not Be Named.

Ma, on the other hand, couldn’t be on better terms with Xi Jinping.

“The political and legal system of the future is inseparable from the internet, inseparable from big data,” he told a Communist Party commission last year. Technology, he went on, would soon make it possible to pre-empt criminal acts. “Bad guys won’t even be able to walk into the square.” Put differently: if the Chinese government wants data from Alibaba, Jack’s not about to say no.

All this matters a great deal because one of the implications of

You Know Who’s “America first” policy is that the rest of the world is up for grabs. In his (by his own standards) bland speech at Davos, the Dark Lord repeated his sales pitch to global businesses to invest in the United States. His administration’s slashing of the US corporate tax rate and sweeping deregulation mean that many probably will. However, if multinationals such as Apple are going to move production back to America, what does that imply for the rest of the world?

Ma has an answer to that question. “Ecommerce is not for big companies or developed countries,” he said. “It’s for developing countries, young people and small businesses. We should not let world global trade be controlled by 60,000 big companies. We should make technologies and policies to encourage 6m, 16m or 60m businesses . . . Alibaba will make it happen.”

That’s smart. Every emerging market in the world lags behind China when it comes to ecommerce, from the nuts and bolts logistics of delivering packages to the high-end application of artificial intelligence to consumer credit. Ma’s new mission is to roll out the Chinese model not in America or Europe but everywhere else.

“Five years ago,” he said at Davos, “Alibaba sent 80,000 packages to Russia and Russia’s postal system crashed. Today 1m packages go from China to Russia per day.” A similar process of expansion has taken Alibaba to India and southeast Asia.

Until recently, I was among those who assumed that the world would be divided up in the following way: the titans of Silicon Valley — Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google — would take everywhere except China, which would be dominated by Chinese rivals Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent (BAT). But what if it is BAT that takes everywhere except America?

The chatter at Davos was that He Who Must Not Be Named had been put in his place by some harsh words from the billionaire investor George Soros. But for me it was Ma who offered the better riposte to “America first”. In Verdi’s opera Attila, the Roman general Ezio says to Attila: “You can have the universe, but leave Italy for me!” Perhaps unwittingly, You Know Who just made a similar offer to Ma. “You make America great again,” replies Jack, “but leave the universe to me.”

Niall Ferguson is Milbank Family senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford.

Is Kabul falling?

RT Andre Vltchek

Afghanistan is now facing mortal danger.

It has to survive, but it is not clear how it can manage. Hotel Intercontinental in Kabul, which was attacked by gunmen last Saturday, used to fit like a glove, like a grandmother’s couch. Outside, the war has been raging. Millions of Afghan lives were aimlessly broken, hundreds of thousands lost. The price of more than 16 years of NATO occupation has exceeded $1 trillion, but instead of bringing peace and prosperity, it has reduced Afghanistan to rubble.

All that is still functioning in the country are structures and infrastructure built before and during the Soviet era, like irrigation ducts, canals and bread factories. Other tangible assistance came recently from China and India, but almost nothing was provided by the NATO occupation countries, except countless fences, wires and military installations.

Even before the siege at the Intercontinental Hotel, which left more than 20 people dead, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani confessed to ‘60 Minutes’ correspondent Lara Logan that he is unable to protect his own capital.

But it is not only the capital, of course. The entire country is spiraling into chaos. It is clear that it will soon be impossible to control it anymore, at least as one entity, from Kabul.

It can be heard more and more often on the streets of Kabul, Jalalabad and Herat that reducing this country to perpetual conflict and chaos may be the exact plan of the occupation forces.

I used to joke about Hotel Intercontinental – ‘This place feels like a Soviet three-star hotel in some provincial Siberian town. Bent shower bars, stained but otherwise clean carpets, indifferent but somehow friendly staff – you could wave as much as you wanted, but the waitress in the hotel’s cafe would only move after you’d come to her personally, smiled broadly, and pointed your finger at some particular item from the limited assortment of sweets.’

Despite everything, Hotel Intercontinental Kabul was always there, standing.

It was crumbling, but still somehow majestic, full of history and old-fashioned charm. Its lobby was decorated with traditional Afghan landscapes and portraits.

The vistas from the hotel rooms and balconies were breathtaking: the old Bagh-e Bala Palace with its vast public park, then the entire capital city down below as though sitting in a crater, and the great mountain range rising towards the sky right behind that urban sprawl. During breakfast hours, a few tables near the window in the hotel restaurant were almost always occupied by Russian-speaking pilots and crew members from an Afghan passenger airline, Kam Air. I don’t know whether these people were Russian or Ukrainian, but they spoke Russian among themselves, and also to me. They were tall and muscular, as pilots operating in a war zone are expected to be.

We always exchanged greetings, as well as one or two jokes. No deep discussions, just that – a few jokes and a few very warm smiles.

Some time ago, I had to fly to the ancient city of Herat, and was traveling early in the morning with Kam Air on the same flight as the crew. My driver was late and I approached the airline minivan, which was just about to depart for the airport.

“Would you please take me with you to the airport, boys?” I asked.

“Yes, of course, of course – just jump in!” they grinned.

We were all part of a big family. Foreigners staying at Intercontinental – not rich and not poor, not part of any ‘government initiative’ or wealthy NGO. This hotel was for ‘working people’ – journalists, filmmakers, pilots. Those who required ‘special protection’ were staying behind the enormous concrete walls of their embassies, or in the only truly luxury hotel in the country – Serena.

Two hours later, we were flying over tremendous Afghan mountains and tiny ancient villages made of mud, miles below the wing. I was taking photographs, while imagining that insane US “mother of all bombs” that was dropped just a few days earlier on an identical hamlet, killing who knows how many innocent people.

The two powerful engines of an old but reliable MD-82 were purring reassuringly at the rear of the plane. Then, at some point, I closed my eyes and fell asleep. The next thing I experienced was

a gentle pat on my shoulder, followed by friendly whisper: “Kofeiku ne khotite?

Rebyata tut tol’ko cto svezii svarili” (“Would you like some coffee? The guys here just brewed a fresh one…”)

I drank the aromatic brew, looking down at those stunning, enormous mountains covered by snow. Russian-speaking pilots were in the cockpit, steering the plane with great experience and confidence.

I thought: “If there is one crew in the world that is qualified to fly over this beautiful but complex and dangerous terrain, then it is this one.”

It was one of those moments when I felt totally happy and alive, drunk with passion for what I had been doing: working in Afghanistan, exposing crimes committed there by the Western countries, falling head over heels in love with this ancient and proud nation, flying over its peaks into one of the most interesting cities of Central Asia – Herat.

On January 20, 2018, in the intensive care unit of Tokyo’s St. Luke’s Hospital, I was fighting for my life, months after my year-old foot wound reopened in Afghanistan, and had since refused to heal.

Through the fog of fever and IV, I observed coverage from Kabul on a television screen that was hanging above my bed. ‘My’ Intercontinental Hotel had been attacked. In fact, it was overrun by what was allegedly one of the most vicious branches of the Taliban, known as the Haqqani Network. At least that is what was tweeted by Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the Afghan government’s chief executive.

At least 21 people lost their lives during the 14-hour standoff. Almost immediately, several pilots and crew members from Kam Air were murdered in cold blood. So were two Venezuelan pilots.

None of these people were ‘supporters of the government,’ nor were they collaborators with the invading NATO force.

They were simply a group of romantics, a group of rugged, brave but also very kind and gentle men who adored flying and who, like myself, fell in love with Afghanistan. I know this because they told me, and because it was just so obvious!

In case anyone is wondering, ‘my hotel in Kabul’ has nothing to do with the luxury US chain of the same name. It used to be part of the ‘real’ Intercontinental, but only from 1969, when its doors first opened, until 1980 (shortly after the Soviet Union intervention in Afghanistan). Now, it is a state-owned

property, described as ‘luxury’ only by outsiders who are covering Afghanistan from afar.

You can get a room there for a mere $50 if you negotiate very hard, and for $60 if your bargaining skills are somewhat limited.

The hotel had already been damaged on several occasions, particularly during the civil war of the 1990s, when it is said that at one point only 85 out its 200 rooms were inhabitable. As recently as 2011, 21 people died here during an attack for which the Taliban claimed responsibility.

Despite its macabre history, however, Intercontinental is still the favorite property of many locals and some foreigners in Kabul. This is where many conferences are held, and – during the fasting month of Ramadan – fast is broken here by members of local elites, close to the swimming pool overlooking the city. And there is music here almost every night: true Afghan traditional music, with local instruments and singers trained by renowned masters.

Security is, of course, everywhere. To return to this property from the city, I always have to go through three full security posts with my car. After all, Afghanistan is now considered one to be one of the most dangerous countries on Earth for foreigners.

In just one week, three deadly attacks shook Afghanistan: one in Kabul, another outside Herat, and a third inside the city of Jalalabad, in which ISIS targeted the NGO, Save the Children.

Last year, I traveled to many corners of this scarred, ancient land. I spoke to people, including those in the villages that were at least partially taken over by Taliban. People are increasingly realizing that they are living in perpetual conflict.

Refugees (or internally displaced persons) from the east are talking about the carnage that comes with the arrival of ISIS. Hard drugs and poppy seeds are everywhere in the center of Kabul, right under the nose of the US occupiers – poppy fields literally surround Bagram

Airforce Base.

Soviets and Russians are now remembered with love and great nostalgia; something that I already described in my previous essays from the country.

Very soon, no foreigners will be left in Afghanistan. That may be the main goal of the latest attacks. No witnesses, no alternatives, no solutions.

Who will benefit? Definitely not the devastated Afghan people. Perhaps the warlords, the extremist mullahs, and the occupiers.

Kam Air crew, flying passenger jets all over the country, and the dilapidated Intercontinental were some of the last symbols of normality – a weak promise that one can still come and see what is really happening in this country.

From now on, there will be hardly any foreigners in the country. It will be only us – war correspondents, as well as foreign soldiers and mercenaries.

Afghanistan is now facing mortal danger. It has to survive, but it is not clear how it could manage. Those who love it should return, no matter what risk we’d be facing.

A news blockade should be prevented. Alternative (non-Western) information has to flow. By all means, at any price.

Andre Vltchek is a philosopher, novelist, filmmaker and investigative journalist.

He has covered wars and conflicts in dozens of countries.

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

ARTS

13

Bruno Mars and KendricK LaMar sweep the GraMMys

trump criticises rapper Jay-Z WASHINGTON: Jay-Z, who was leading nominations for the Grammys, was feted on Saturday by music industry heavyweights, and, in between, was taken to task by the president of the United States. President Donald Trump criticised Jay-Z on his Twitter feed, likely in response to the rap mogul’s denunciations of the US leader in an interview.

“Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, black unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!” Trump tweeted.

Trump was accurately pointing to record-low unemployment for US minorities, although critics note that the US economic expansion began well before under his predecessor Barack Obama. Jay-Z, who along with his wife Beyonce became friends and political allies of Obama, in the interview broadcast Saturday on CNN said that Trump’s belittling remarks toward people of colour overshadowed any employment data. “Money doesn’t equate to happiness. It doesn’t. That’s missing the whole point,” said Jay-Z, no stranger to his material wealth. “You treat people like human beings, then that’s the main point,” he told host Van Jones, a former aide to Obama. Jay-Z said that Trump’s election laid bare the persistence of racism in the United States and voiced dismay at the president’s reported quip that he did not want immigrants coming from “shithole” countries in Africa or predominantly black Haiti. “It’s really hurtful. Because it’s looking down at a whole population of people and it’s so misinformed because these places have beautiful people and beautiful everything,” Jay-Z said. Jay-Z is in the running for eight Grammys on Sunday amid acclaim for his latest album 4:44, a strikingly introspective work in which he addresses institutional racism, apologises to Beyonce for infidelity and supports his mother as she comes out as a lesbian. Jay-Z on Saturday night received an award as an ‘industry icon’ at a preGrammy gala, where the rapper voiced contrition for boycotting the music industry’s prize night two decades earlier. AGENCIES

r

ETRO R&B star Bruno Mars was the surprise big winner Sunday at the Grammy Awards, with a clean sweep of the top awards including Album, Record and Song of the Year, and six overall. Rapper Kendrick Lamar took home five Grammys on a night that featured powerful #MeToo moments, especially from Kesha, who delivered a searing performance of her song Praying, about her struggles with former producer Dr Luke. Mars won all of the awards for which he was nominated.

ED SHEERAN’S WIN SPARKS CONTROVERSY: English pop songwriter Ed Sheeran, one of the most successful artists of the past year also won his third and fourth Grammys, both outside the major categories.

Sheeran won Best Pop Vocal Album for Divide and Best Pop Solo Performance for the album’s single Shape of You, a minimalist dance number about finding love in a bar. He beat out fellow chart-toppers including pop superstar Lady Gaga, who was in the running for both awards.

Sheeran, 26, had been a favourite leading up to the nominations for the Grammys in light of his past recognition at the awards and his commercial success, including his status as last year’s most streamed artist on Spotify. Sheeran was not present to pick up the awards.

However, the internet was done with the Grammys after Ed Sheeran’s win and the singer received a lot of flak for getting the award. One Twitter user wrote, “That trophy was Kesha Rose’s for so many reasons — it’s a vocal performance award and she sang her damn heart out and dog

whistled for the Gods and you give it to that LOWKEY ELEVATOR MUSIC NONSENSE?!”

Another wrote, “So Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You just won against Kesha’s Praying, a song about her victory over sexual assault if that doesn’t sum up the #Grammys what does?”

“Love when four women are nominated in a category and the only man takes it home esp when that man is Ed Sheeran #Grammys.”

More than 13,000 music professionals in the Recording Academy voted to determine the winners of the Grammys, which were handed out in New York at Madison Square Garden for the first time in 15 years. The attendants of the awards show wore white roses as a sign of solidarity with the Time’s Up movement, spreading from Hollywood to the music industry. Lady Gaga, nominated for best pop vocal album for Joanne showed up in a Goth-inspired Armani gown in midnight black with a high Victorian collar, sparkling lace and a voluminous train. Perched high on her shoulder was a demure nosegay of white rosebuds.

Kelly Clarkson held a long-stemmed rose in her hand as she chatted on the carpet, it’s white contrasting with her black gown which included elaborate gold embroidered sleeves. The rose, Clarkson said, “represents hope and peace and sympathy and peace, and I thought those are very lovely things for any human being to encompass.”

The roses were not just for the women.

Nominee Khalid wore a white rose on a cool white jacket worn over a turtleneck in chartreuse, while Sam Smith’s flower contrasted with his emerald green suit. Performances from Bruno Mars and Cardi B, Kesha, and Kendrick

Lamar were just some of the evening’s highlights, along with an appearance by U2 on a floating stage on the Hudson River. Jay Z led this year’s nominations with a grand total of eight including album, song and record of the year but failed to pick up any of the major prizes. However, he was given the Founder’s Award at Clive Davis’ bash the night before. AGENCIES

HERE IS A lIST Of WINNERS IN KEY CATEGORIES: Album of the Year: Bruno Mars – 24K Magic Record of the Year (for overall performance of a song): Bruno Mars, 24K Magic Song of the Year (for songwriting): Bruno Mars along with songwriters Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy and Philip Lawrence and production team The Stereotypes, That’s What I Like Best New Artist: Alessia Cara Best Pop Vocal Album: Ed Sheeran, Divide Best Pop Solo Performance: Ed Sheeran, Shape of You Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar, DAMN Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar, HUMBLE Best Rap Performance: Kendrick Lamar, HUMBLE Best Rap/Sung Performance: Kendrick Lamar featuring Rihanna, LOYALTY Best R&B Album: Bruno Mars – 24K Magic Best R&B Song: Bruno Mars – That’s What I Like Best R&B Performance: Bruno Mars – That’s What I Like Best Rock Album: The War on Drugs, A Deeper Understanding Best Rock Performance: Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker Best Alternative Music Album: The National – Sleep Well Beast Best World Music Album: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration Best Dance/Electronic Album: Kraftwer – 3-D The Catalogue Best Music Video: Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE Best Country Album: Chris Stapleton – From a Room, Vol 1

I hope my hard work has brightened the name of Pakistan: Saba Qamar

Hillary Clinton takes a light-hearted jab at Trump in Grammys video NEW YORK: In light-hearted political commentary during the music industry’s biggest award night Sunday, host James Corden introduced a video of famous names reciting from the controversial book, Fire and Fury: Inside The Trump White House. Published early this month and written by Michael Wolff, the instant bestseller paints Trump as disengaged, ill-informed and unstable. “I definitely wasn’t there,” Snoop Dogg said after reading a passage about Trump’s inauguration.

Cardi B quoted a line referring to Trump in bed with a cheeseburger. “I can’t believe this,” she said. Trump has called it a “Fake Book, written by a totally discredited author.” The Grammy video ends with Hillary Clinton, the Democratic challenger who lost to Trump in the bitter 2016 election, quoting the book as saying Trump liked to eat at McDonald’s.

However, the skit sparked a backlash on Twitter from Trump’s eldest son and the ambassador to the United Nations. Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr to respond on Twitter: “Getting to read a #fakenews book excerpt at the Grammys seems like a great consolation prize for losing the presidency.” Trump’s UN ambassador, Nikki Haley, left Clinton alone but said the musicians had struck a sour note. “I have always loved the Grammys but to have artists read the Fire and Fury book killed it,” she said on Twitter. “Don’t ruin great music with trash. Some of us love music without the politics thrown in it.” AGENCIES

LAHORE APP

Saba Qamar is flying high. 2017 saw her become one of Pakistan’s most sought-after actress as well as her Bollywood debut with the super hit film Hindi Medium which won hearts and accolades in both the neighbouring countries. Hindi Medium recently won the Filmfare Award for the Best Film while the film’s lead actor Irrfan Khan bagged the award for the Best Actor (Male) in a Leading Role. Qamar had received the nomination for the Best Actor (Female) in a Leading Role. However, the award was ultimately awarded to Vidya Balan for her performance in Tumhari Sullu. Talking to APP, Saba said,”I hope my hard work has brightened the name of Pakistan and our film industry globally.” “With the grace of God, I received a positive response for my first venture in our neighbouring country,” she added. “After the massive success of Hindi Medium, the producers are all set for a schedule. I hope Irrfan and I get to work in the second installment of the blockbuster.” However, according to numerous Indian publications, it is highly unlikely that the starlet will be coming back for the sequel. Considering the success of the film which revolved around the feat of a couple from Chandni Chowk, who wanted their daughter to study in an English medium school, the filmmakers of the film planned a sequel. Confirming the development, producer Bhushan Kumar said, “The script is ready and we are starting pre-production of the film. Hindi Medium was my first award as a producer. People loved the film and Irrfan is ready as well.

We will be going on the floors once the preparatory work is complete.”

Padmaavat breaks records; crosses INR 100 on opening weekend NEWS DESK Despite all controversies and hurdles, Padmaavat has managed to break records and crossed the 100-crore mark on Sunday. Had the film released all over India, the earnings would have been higher. According to trade, the film would have easily crossed Rs 150 crore earning in the first weekend if it was a normal release.

The film opened to full-house on Thursday and Friday but due to mixed reviews, the viewership fell on Saturday.

However, the response on Sunday made up for it and the film crossed the 100crore mark. Bollywood leading trade analyst Taran Adarsh in a tweet wrote, “Protests, disturbances, no screening in few states. Yet Padmaavat does EXCELLENT business in its extended weekend.

The film lost out on substantial business [approx INR 35 cr/37 cr], but the superb

trending in other circuits helped put up a MAJESTIC total.” He added, “Looking at the overall scenario, #Padmaavat has put up FANTASTIC numbers in its extended weekend. Crosses INR 100 crore mark. Wednesday [limited previews] 5 cr, Thu 19 cr, Fri 32 cr, Sat 27 cr, Sun 31 cr.

Total: 114 crore India business.”

Made at an estimated budget of Rs 180 crore, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus was expected to be one of the biggest releases of 2017. However, the almost year-long protest often turned violent, and a delay at the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) postponed the film to January. Even when it hit theatres on January 25, most theatres in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh did not screen the film fearing further violent incidents. The lead actors of the period drama including Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor have been

expressing their happiness and their film journey on various occasions.

Speaking on the box-office performance and outstanding figures Deepika said, “At this point, I am not thinking about the last three months. The last three days have been so overwhelming that nothing else matters. I am in a mood to celebrate. I am grateful for all the love and support.” Deepika who is also being lauded for her brilliant performance said that this role was the most difficult in her decade-long career.

“This role of a queen had no crutches like she doesn’t have a sword, she doesn’t get on a horse or go on the battlefield, but there is sheer inner strength and resilience which I had to show through my eyes.”

Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh also said that this role was a challenging one since he has never essayed the role of an antihero before.

CMYK

However, he was extremely happy that his gamble paid off and “such validation also gives me the confidence to take bigger risks, challenge stereotypes

and push the envelope further.” Shahid Kapoor said that he took up the role after placing blind trust in Bhansali and the film left him “deeply satisfied.”

14 LEISURE

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

aRIES

TaURUS

GEMINI

You might think you know exactly what you want only to change your mind several times today. Alternating overconfidence and self-doubt can lead you in circles unless you consciously step back from your involvement.

Maintaining an open mind about what's essential can help you make the most of this confusing day. Several planets are moving through versatile Gemini now, distracting you from your normal routine.

You may believe that you can avoid making a commitment today as long as you stay in motion. Although you want everyone to see how busy you are, this tactic only keeps you from the important tasks you must attend to now.

CaNCER

lEo

vIRGo

Expressing your feelings temporarily exacerbates matters even more, but it may be required if you want to eventually untangle your desires from what's actually possible. You won't know until you take a risk and share what's in your heart.

You Lions are known for creating a plan and boldly putting it into action. Your positivity is legendary, but overconfidence is your greatest nemesis. If you come on too strongly today, others might endorse your idea even if it's not a very good one.

People often rely on you for the unvarnished truth, whether or not they ultimately like what you have to say. Even if you don't support their ideas, you can be counted on to give some real down-toearth advice when asked.

lIBRa

SCoRPIo

SaGITTaRIUS

You're resistant to people's advice today because everyone seems to assume they know more about your future prospects than you do. However, you're not interested in hearing their solutions while you're still trying to find your own bearings.

You desperately want to believe that there is one course of action that makes the most sense for you to follow now. However, the Moon's current visit to your sign prevents you from locking in on a specific goal.

It's tempting to retreat from your responsibilities and spend time lost in your dreams. Thankfully, you might be able to schedule a revitalizing escape today, but family and friends might not let you disappear for too long.

CaPRICoRN

aQUaRIUS

PISCES

You stand to gain even more ground if you can widen your perspective and dream about your life without letting reality hold you back. Discussing your thoughts with close friends is productive as long as you aren't too specific with the details of your plans.

You are a font of fantastic ideas now, but they may not be ready for a prime time audience just yet. Your brain is buzzing with contradictions, but confusion is only problematic if you believe that you must make a final decision today.

This is a day made for dreaming and, fortunately, you are up for the challenge. The Sun's dynamic square to mystical Neptune in your sign amplifies your penchant for indulging fantasies.

crossword

ACROSS 5 US choo-choo destination? (11) 7 Something cheap or easy to do (4) 8 Rinse arm (anag) (8) 9 Cup Final stadium (7) 11 Military rank (5) 13 Portly — type of dark beer (5) 14 Wrong but prevalent notion (7) 16 Curved sword (8) 17 Steal — castle (4) 18 New York, New York (3,3,5)

word search

DOwn 1 Emblem of Ireland (4) 2 Baffled (7) 3 In a paddy (5) 4 English county (8) 5 The Nutmeg State (11) 6 Presidential plane (3,5,3) 10 People from Birmingham (8) 12 Golf course area between tee and green (7) 15 Divest — team's garb (5) 17 Ecstatic — engrossed (4)

hagar the horriBle

dilBert

Baldo

chess alWaYS aRRaNGE BloaT BooTS BRook CaNvaSS CRoWN DElIGhTFUl DoNE GRaSS GREaSE hISToRY hookS INSTaNT lESS lIST loSE NERvoUS PEElS

PhoNE RISE RoaR SEll SEvERE SITUaTIoN SNEak SPaRkS STaRk STRUGGlE SUBSTaNCE TENNIS ToxIN USUallY WEIRD WIRE WoRTh WRING YoDEl

white tO PLAY AND MAte iN three MOVes 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

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Today’s soluTions

Bridge devil of a play

sUdokU crossword solution sudoku solution

1.Nd6 re7 2.Nxc8 rxc8 3.Bxe7 * chess solution

how to play Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the squares contains all the digits. The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once.

SPORTS 15

Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

FranchiSeS pick pLayerS during pSL3 repLacement draFt W SPORTS DESK

EST Indian Jofra Archer and Lendl Simmons, along with New Zealander Anton Devcich, have joined the galaxy of stars for the third edition of Pakistan Super League after the players’ replacement draft for the event.

Australian John Hastings, England’s Liam Dawson and Sri Lankan Thisara Perera have also been picked by various teams as cover for players who will be partially available for the franchise. The replacement draft was held in Lahore on Monday where different teams picked players who withdrew from the PSL3 due to different reasons or were available for a limited period. English bowler Tymal

Mills was picked by Karachi Kings in place of Australian Mitchell Johnson.

Johnson had earlier pulled out of PSL due to personal commitments. Karachi Kings have also picked Lendl Simmons and Joe Denly. Simmons have replaced New Zealander Colin Munro while Denly replaced injured Luke Wright.

Two times finalists Quetta Gladiators have roped in Jofra Archer in place of Carlos Brathwaite who withdrew from PSL after being named in West Indian national team for World Cup qualifier.

Lahore Qalandars have picked New Zealand’s Anton Devicich in place of Sri Lanka’s Angelo Matthews. Matthews was

unavailable for PSL due to an injury.

Meanwhile, replacements were also drafted for players who are partially available for Pakistan’s premier T20 tournament. Replacement players will become active as and when the players they are covering for become unavailable for selection.West Indian star Dwayne Smith joins Peshawar Zalmi as cover for DJ Bravo, who will be making his way back from rehab, and Tamim Iqbal, who will leave for national duty on March 4.

Afghan spinner Zahir Khan joins Multan Sultans to provide cover for West Indian batsman Nicholas Pooran for the first three games of the tournament. Pooran will join the Sultans after finishing with the domestic 50-over competition back home.

Australian Ben Laughlin has been picked as cover for Jofra Archer by Gladiators as

Russia suspended from Paralympics, some athletes exempt: IPC MOSCOW Agencies

Russia’s team will be suspended from the Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, but individual athletes will be allowed to compete under a neutral flag, the International Paralympics Committee said Monday. The agreement is similar to that put in place to allow able-bodied Russian competitors to take part in next month’s Winter Olympics that precede the Paralympics.

Russia was suspended by the IPC in August 2016 following revelations of widespread state-sponsored doping uncovered in a report

by Richard McLaren on behalf of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). After a review, the IPC said in a statement Monday that “it is maintaining the suspension of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC)”. “However, in recognition of the progress made by the RPC in im-

proving its anti-doping activities, it will allow eligible Russian Para athletes who meet strict conditions to compete in five sports under the name Neutral Paralympic Athlete (NPA),” it said.

Eligible Para athletes from Russia will be allowed to compete in alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, snowboard and wheelchair curling at the Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang on March 9-18, the IPC said at a meeting in the western German city of Bonn. It said that two key criteria to end the wider suspension were still outstanding — the full reinstatement of the Russian AntiDoping Agency (RUSADA) by WADA, and an official response adequately addressing the McLaren findings. IPC president Andrew Parsons said that in 2016 “the anti-doping system in Russia was found to be totally compromised, corrupted and open to abuse”.

“This made it impossible to de-

termine which Russian Para athletes were clean and which were not; it was clear that Russia’s participation in Para sport events would severely question the integrity and credibility of sporting competition.” Parsons said the measures taken then by the IPC were “necessary and proportionate” and “essential to ensure clean sport”. “Seventeen months on, we face a different picture in Russia and it is important that once again our decision is necessary and proportionate to what is in front of us,” he said.

“Although the RPC remains sus-

pended they have made significant progress and we have to recognise this.” Russian Para athletes were now regularly tested and “amongst the most scrutinised Para athletes in the world,” he said. “Under the supervision of WADA, we now have greater confidence that the anti-doping system in Russia is no longer compromised or corrupted. “We have also witnessed behavioural and cultural changes by the RPC, which we hope will one day positively influence officials within the wider Russian Federation.”

Champion Wozniacki top of rankings MELBOURNE Agencies

Caroline Wozniacki moved to the top of the WTA rankings released on Monday on the back of her maiden Grand Slam triumph at the Australian Open. The 27year-old Dane usurped Romanian Simona Halep whom she beat in an epic Melbourne final, reclaiming the number one ranking six years to the day since she last relinquished it.

Halep dropped to number two while former number one, German Angelique Kerber, who lost in the semi-finals to the Romanian, climbed seven places to ninth. The other beaten semi-finalist,

Belgium’s Elise Mertens, climbed 17 spots to 20th.

American Venus Williams dropped three places to eighth following her firstround loss.

Rankings as of JanuaRy 29: 1. caroline Wozniacki (Den) 7,965pts (+1) 2. simona Halep (ROM) 7,715 (-1) 3. elina svitolina (UKR) 6,085 (+1) 4. garbine Muguruza (esP) 5,690 (-1) 5. Karolina Pliskova (cZe) 5,445 (+1) 6. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 4,901 (+1) 7. caroline garcia (FRA) 4,495 (+1) 8. Venus Williams (UsA) 4,278 (-3) 9. Angelique Kerber (geR) 3,031 (+7) 10. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 2,935 (+1) 11. Johanna Konta (gBR) 2,825 (-1) 12. Julia goerges (geR) 2,825 13. sloane stephens (UsA) 2,813 14. Madison Keys (UsA) 2,644 (+6) 15. Anastasija sevastova (LAT) 2,540 16. Ashleigh Barty (AUs) 2,486 (+1) 17. svetlana Kuznetsova (RUs) 2,462 (-3) 18. coco Vandeweghe (UsA) 2,434 (-9) 19. Magdalena Rybarikova (RUs) 2,363 (+2) 20. elise Mertens (BeL) 2,215 (+17)

Secretary SportS punjab greetS pakiStan cricket team LaHoRE: Punjab Sports Secretary Muhammad Aamir Jan on Monday congratulated the Pakistan cricket team on taking the top ICC T20 World Ranking and winning the T20 series against hosts New Zealand by 2-1. In his greeting message Aamir Jan said that Pakistani cricketers particularly Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Amir, skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf and Ahmed Shahzad exhibited top performances against the strong New Zealand outfit. He said that the entire national cricket squad and team management deserve appreciation for their performance and success. “Our team lived up to the country’s expectations and winning the T20 series was encouraging especially after losing the ODI series by a massive margin”, he added. APP

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the West Indian will not be available for the full season due to his club commitments.Gladiators have also roped in Chris Green, Albie Morkel and John Hastings for partially available players Rashid Khan, Jason Roy and Mahmudullah Riyad. Qalandars have picked West Indian Dinesh Ramdin as cover for Bangladeshi Mustafiz ur Rehman who will not be available for the full season due to national duty. Sri Lankan Thisara Perera will cover for Imran Tahir in Multan Sultans’ squad.

Islamabad United have also picked Asela Gunaratne, Steve Finn and Chadwick Walton as cover players for JP Duminy, David Willey and Sam Billings, respectively.

The third edition of PSL will commence on February 22 with defending champions Peshawar Zalmi taking on new entrants Multan Sultans.

ipL auction shocks SPORTS DESK WEEkEnd’s most suRpRising dEaLs: From the unheralded 16-year-old making 700 grand to the one-Test wonder with a two-million-dollar deal, the weekend’s Indian Premier League auction threw up plenty of surprises.We take a look at some of the more shocking deals made over the weekend. muJEEB ZadRan – $a776,000 – kings Xi punJaB: How much were you making as a teenager? Sixteen-year-old Mujeeb Zadran will pick up a cool $776,000 playing for Kings XI Punjab in this year’s Indian Premier League, having found himself in the middle of a bidding war on Sunday. Mujeeb only started playing the sport a few years ago but is already being tipped to become the next big cricket star out of Afghanistan. The off-spinner – though it’s tough to pigeonhole someone who can bowl off-breaks, leggies, carrom balls and googlies – was a key part of Afghanistan’s march to the Under 19 Asia Cup last year. He topped the wicket-taking charts (12 at 5.41) in that tournament and it was there that he was first spotted by IPL scouts. Last week he took 4-14 against New Zealand to win Afghanistan a spot in the U19 World Cup semi-finals.

JaydEV unadkat – $a2.23m – RaJastHan RoyaLs: Jaydev Unadkat has only played one Test for India and a handful of limited overs internationals but he will be the highest paid bowler in the entirety of the IPL. Paying over $2m a season for someone as low profile as Unadkat may seem overs but the left-armer is an IPL gun. Last season he finished with the second most wickets for the tournament (24 at 13.41, econ.

7.02) and was a huge part of why Rising Pune Supergiant made it all the way to the final. He was paid roughly $58,000 for that season, so he’s been given an astronomic pay rise. He’ll be one of three $2m men at Rajasthan, alongside captain Steve Smith ($2.4m) and Ben Stokes ($2.4m). andREW tyE – $1.40m – kings Xi punJaB: Tye collected a tidy $97,000 for his work in the IPL last season. This year he’ll make 14 times that with Kings XI Punjab. The quick’s name went under the hammer shortly after he took his maiden ODI five-for – talk about a dream Sunday. Tye’s huge payday comes off the back of three hat-tricks in 2017, – one in the IPL and two in the Big Bash League – 16 wickets at 12.00 in this summer’s BBL, and a strong outing in last year’s IPL (12 wickets at 11.75, econ. 6.71). sandEEp LamiCHHanE – $38,800 – dELHi daREdEViLs: Lamichhane’s name may ring a bell to Australian fans. Last summer Michael Clarke flew him down to play grade cricket and train at his cricket academy. On Sunday, the 17-year-old legspinner made history by becoming the first Nepalese player to ever pick up an IPL contract. Lamichhane was bought by Ricky Ponting’s Delhi Daredevils after impressing the organisation’s scouts and will be playing alongside the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Kagiso Rabada. suRpRisE snuBs: Once upon a time, Shaun Marsh was among the IPL’s finest imports but this year he failed to attract a single bid. But he’s far from alone, with Hashim Amla, who was the sixth highest runscorer in last year’s IPL (420 at 60.00, SR 145.88), also going unsold. Both men are now 34 years old so their age may have counted against them, with franchises looking to build a strong roster for the next few years rather than simply chasing short-term glory.

Travis Head and Joe Root also went unsold despite their big reputations in white ball cricket. Root can consider himself particularly unlucky, having shown that his game is tailor made for T20 cricket in India during the 2016 World Twenty20 (249 runs at 49.80, SR 146.47). While both Tye and Unadkat were handed bumper pay rises for their efforts in the last IPL, Tymal Mills’ pocket has taken a hit. The England quick was paid $2.33m by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2017 but went unsold over the weekend.

SPORTS Tuesday, 30 January, 2018

Pakistan u-19 treating semi-final against india as ‘normal match’ Pakistan will face arch-rivals India in the semifinal of the U-19 Cricket World Cup on tuesday morning. With all eyes on the boys in green, skipper hassan Khan and star batsman, ali Zaryab are not feeling any pressure. “It’s a huge game for both teams, but we are taking it as a normal match. We are focusing on our strengths and will do our best in the game,” ali Zaryab said in a short video feature posted on the Cricket World Cup twitter account. Zaryab added the Pakistani players are confident heading into the semi-final. “hopefully the result will be in our favour.” Skipper hassan Khan stressed that despite the hype, the team will do its best and try to win this match for the people of Pakistan. “I have never played India before, but for me its just another game. I am looking forward to it,” hassan said. the team’s coach, Mansoor Rana emphasised that Pakistan has always performed well at the U-19 level. “I am sure these boys will be geared up for this special game. We are trying to get them relaxed and consider this as another cricket game.”

Pakistan are the third-most successful team in ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup history, behind only India and australia, having taken home the title twice, in 2004 and 2006. SPORTS DESK

babar Azam tops iCC t20i batting rankings

UNDER-19 CRICKET WORLD CUP

AustrAliA books berth in finAl by beAting AfghAnistAn AUSTRALIA 182 FOR 4 (EDWARDS 72, UPPAL 33*) BEAT AFGHANISTAN 181 (IKRAM 80, MERLO 4-24) BY 6 WICKETS NEWS ZEALAND

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AGENCIES

hat was to be a spicy contest against spin turned into a no-contest with australia steamrolling afghanistan by six wickets at hagley Oval to a secure a berth in Saturday’s final in Mount Manganui. they will play the winner of tuesday’s second semi-final between India and Pakistan. afghanistan’s decision to bat first backfired, as they were bowled out for 181 with medium pacer Jonathan Merlo picking four wickets. With their only hope of causing a stir in the australian camp hinging on their mystery spinners, they unleashed Mujeeb Zadran, who on Sunday bagged an IPL

contract worth USD 625,000, with the new ball. this move was met with a spectacular counter-attack from opener Jack Edwards, who smashed him for 14 in the eighth over on his way to a 40-ball half-century. australia lost Jason Sangha, the captain, and Merlo to Qais ahmed’s legspin, but Edwards’ charge meant australia were far too ahead to panic.

Param Uppal and Nathan McSweeney batted with admirable maturity and composure in the face of afghanistan’s choke-by-spin tactic to share an unbroken 53-run stand. Uppal, who was the more dominant of the two, showcased his command of the pull shot in his unbeaten 32. the target was run down comfortably in 37.3 overs.

While the batsmen delivered boxoffice stuff, it was their new-ball pair

of Zak Evans and Ryan hadeley who caused early trouble for afghanistan.

Evans, who hit the deck hard, profited from the bounce on offer as he had Ibrahim Zadran top-edge a swirler to hadley at fine leg to breakthrough early. Rahmatullah Gurbaz, who was reprieved on 6 when Evans put down a chance off his own bowling, built slowly in Ikram ali Khil’s company.

Legspinner Lloyd Pope, who became a star after his heroics against England, was welcomed into the attack in the 16th over by Ikram with a fierce sweep to deep square leg. that was afghanistan’s first attempt at raising the tempo, but the surge did not last long as Gurbaz became the first of three afghanistan batsmen to be snuffed out down the leg side. Gurbaz was the most unfortunate, playing a neat tickle down leg to Baxter holt.

Bahir Shah was tangled, looking to pull a short ball that stopped on him and brushed his glove to holt, while Qais ahmed got some bat - after completing

an attempted pull off a short ball - to the wicketkeeper. In between these dismissals, however, Ikram showed excellent footwork, particularly against Pope to bring up a fighting half-century.

Confident and composed at the crease, Ikram was adept at picking Will Sutherland’s slower variations and seemed set to bat through before an attempt to launch with 10 overs remaining led to his eventual downfall.

From 146 for 7, the last three batsmen swung their bats, till Evans brought an end to the innings by dismissing Zahir Khan, who was caught by substitute austin Waugh at mid-off. afghanistan started poorly with the ball as Darwish Rasooli put down a sitter at cover point to reprieve Edwards in the fourth over. that was the trigger for Edwards to lay into the bowlers, particularly Zadran. Edwards’ fire blended well with captain Sangha’s ice as the two went about milking the runs during the course of a 79-run stand for the second wicket.

Dizzying highs and crushing lows LAHORE ABDULLAH NIAZI

Babar azam is the top t20I batsman in the world according to the latest ICC rankings. azam is ahead of aaron Finch from australia and Indian skipper Virat Kohli. Babar saw a rise in his ranking following a stellar performance against New Zealand in the three-match t20I series. In the first match, azam scored 41 from 41 delivers. he played even better in the second match scoring a 50 not out of 29 deliveries. his performance slipped in the third t20I as he only scored 18 from 17 deliveries. Imad Wasim who did not play in the series remains Pakistan’s highest-ranked t20I bowler in the seventh spot. Leg-spinner Shahdab Khan who played well throughout the series is ranked 14th. Pakistan lost the first match but dominated New Zealand in the next two to win the t20I series after being whitewashed in ODIs. after the t20I series win, Pakistan made it to the top of the rankings, becoming the best twenty20 team in the world. SPORTS DESK

that Pakistan ended their tour of New Zealand by topping the ICC t20 ranking is testament to the pattern of cricket that they have been playing for the past couple of years. the momentous 5-0 drubbing that New Zealand handed Pakistan forced Sarfaraz and his men-ingreen to eat humble pie as they jumped backed again into the ups-and-downs world of tour cricket. the tour of New Zealand, however, did not prove to be a complete disaster and with the t20 World No 1 ranking under their belt, the ICC awards and some historic cricketing milestone have put Pakistan in a position where they can say they have gotten off on the right end of 2018. the whitewash was the first time Pakistan have faced such a situation in nearly a decade, the last time being against australia in 2010 and before that the West Indies in 1998. that the team has tried out 27 opening pairs in the past five years, more than any other team, only shows the instability that they face in this particular format.

With such harrowing milestones to show for, it the Champions trophy glory of 2017 that gave the cricketers and their fans something to smile about, after hassan ali won the ICC emerging player award, a change from the umpiring and administrative awards that Pakistan normally gets during a good awards season. What made the win all the sweeter was that the last time a Pakistani was nominated for the same award was Mohammad amir in 2010, who was later booted from contention because of the spot fixing scandal in October that year. and while azhar ali with his average of 62.30, his three-hundred in Dubai, his two-hundred in Melbourne and his two centuries in the West Indies must have been gutted to miss out on the ICC test team of the year, the inclusion of Babar azam and hassan ali in the accompanying ODI list did much to lift spirits.

But it seemed that even these boons would turn bitter once Pakistan lost their sixth game on the trot, with a pathetic performance in the first twenty twenty at the West Pac stadium. there was an eerie sense of Deja Vu given that exactly two years ago, January 22 2016, Pakistan had been swept away for 101 at the same venue with nine batsmen out caught

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot No 79, Sector 24, Korangi Industrial Area Karachi.

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and a highest score of 41 - a carbon copy of the stats from the first game of this series. history did not repeat itself completely, however, after Pakistan came back with a sudden resolve, hitting New Zealand late and by surprise after scoring a domineering 201 in their first innings and blowing the Black Caps away within 19 overs.

In the final game too, fans would have been relieved that the Fakhar Zaman, constantly feared to be on the brink of turning into another afridi, continued his run of form, giving the team a brisk beginning, supported by the sluggish but steady presence of the newly returned ahmed Shehzad. that the match went down to the last ball despite Pakistan’s tally of 183 does not show just how dominant the team was throughout the match. the only reason things went so far was a later burst by veteran Ross taylor, but that too was a threat made null after Mohammad amir won the game in a brilliant spell of bowling in the 16th over. With a face saving coincidence of ranking points to back their late surge, Pakistan will return home glad to say the least. But with the same erratic principle in mind, the coming year is going to be one, messy, confusing roller coaster ride.