E paper pdf 6th february (isb)

CMYK

Tuesday, 6 February, 2018 I Jamadi-ul-Awwal 19, 1439 I Rs 19.00 I Vol VIII No 219 I 16 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Zardari’s the hand that rocked PML-n’s boat g

PPP leader SayS he FulFIlled ClaIM that he Could Send PMl-n govt PaCKIng anytIMe he wanted LAHORE

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IHSAN QADIR

aKIStan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman asif ali Zardari on Monday dropped a clear hint that he had a hand in the ouster of the Pakistan Muslim league-nawaz (PMl-n) government in Balochistan, as he accused deposed prime minister nawaz Sharif of following “the chaos theory that was once followed by hitler”. “remember whenever I have made a claim I have fulfilled it. I told you I can end their govern-

Nawaz blames judiciary for scuttling his Kashmir plans g

dePoSed PM urgeS detraCtorS to ‘reSPeCt the vote, reSPeCt PaKIStan’

Consensus reached with military on most issues: PM STORIES ON PAGE 03

MQM-P at each other’s throats over Senate tickets

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Farooq Sattar and aMIr Khan grouPS at oddS over award oF Party tICKetS to KaMran teSSorI STORY ON PAGE 02

Stop killing innocent civilians, Pakistan tells India India will never be able to suppress Kashmiris’ struggle, says army chief STORIES ON PAGE 02

ment and it has happened,” a charged Zardari said while addressing a PPP power show at lahore’s historic Mochi gate ground. the public gathering was held to express solidarity with Kashmir and the Kashmiris’ struggle against the Indian state brutality. take a swipe at his archrival, Zardari said that nawaz is “purposefully creating an environment. he is using chaos theory just like hitler did… and wants to take over everything of the public. But we won’t let them do this”. “we will not leave him because if we do this now then even allah may not forgive us. he is a na-

tional thief,” Zardari said. the former president said that nawaz stole the mandate of the Kashmiris in collusion with an influential person, whose name would be disclosed ‘at the right time’. he also accused the Pakistan Muslim league-nawaz (PMl-n) chief of ‘stealing from the people of Pakistan’, and said he prays that may the people get rid of nawaz and PMl-n.

“PPP has had a law passed in the parliament that would curb rigging unlike what turned out to be the case in the general elections of 2013,” Zardari said, adding....

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

02 NEWS

Tuesday, 6 February, 2018

Pakistan will never forsake Kashmiris, Abbasi assures PM URGES AJK LAWMAKERS TO STAY UNITED FOR KASHMIR CAUSE MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday said that it is of utmost importance that the parliamentarians of Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly stay united for the sake of the Kashmir cause. Addressing the joint session of AJK Legislative Assembly and Kashmir Council on the occasion of “Day of Solidarity with Kashmiris”, he said “we have to help our Kashmiri brethren by remaining united. With all our political differences aside, there is no second opinion in Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute. From civilian to military governments, there has been no difference in our Kashmir policy.” He added that the Kashmiri parliamentary leaders have to keep the issue alive by mobilizing the Kashmiri diaspora overseas. “The huge Kashmiri diaspora all over the world is passionate about fighting for their rights but needs leadership, which can be only provided from the parliamentarians of Azad Kashmir by remaining united” he stressed. The PM made a categorical assurance that 207 million Pakistanis are standing shoulder to shoulder with them. He said Pakistan will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people. The premier also said that the hearts of Pakistani and Kashmiri people throb together. This centuries-old unbreakable relationship will remain intact forever. Abbasi stated that Pakistan has always strived and will continue to work for peaceful resolution of the lingering dispute, adding that despite political differences, all the political parties in Pakistan are on the same page vis-a-vis Kashmir dispute. “Opposition always has reservations with government and indeed government can commit mistakes but there should always be unity on Kashmir issue. Nawaz Sharif is my leader. I have not seen him compromising on it,” he said. “All political leaders are united on Kashmir issue and there should be no suspicion on it.” STAFF REPORT

India will never be able to suppress Kashmiris’ freedom struggle: COAS RAWALPINDI: Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday praised the resilient spirit of the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK) and hoped for a successful outcome of their struggles for the right to self-determination.

In a Twitter message on the Kashmir Solidarity Day through army’s spokesperson Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, COAS stated, ”Repression of Indian occupying forces can never suppress valiant spirit of Kashmiris who rightfully await awakening of the international community for plebiscite under UN resolution.

Regardless of the ordeal, their struggle is destined to succeed IA”.

Meanwhile, Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed across the country on Monday to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people who are struggling for their right to self-determination under the United Nations resolutions. The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for progress and prosperity of Pakistan, eternal peace of martyrs of Kashmir’s struggle and liberation of all occupied territories including Kashmir and Palestine.

A holiday was announced in Pakistan, including Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). Human chains at Kohala Bridge, Mangla Bridge and other points linking Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir were also formed.

Special cultural programmes and festivals were also held to promote Kashmiri culture and tradition while photographic exhibitions were arranged to depict the atrocities committed by Indian forces against the Kashmiris. STAFF REPORT

SENATE POLLS

PML-N fAILS tO fOrM bOArd deSPIte LAPSe Of fOur MONthS ISLAMABAD

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MIAN ABRAR

ITH the Senate elections around the corner, political parties of the country have almost shortlisted their candidates for the upcoming contest; however, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz fell short of expectations as it even failed to form its parliamentary board to shortlist the candidates even after the passage of four months.

As the election for the 48 Senate slots is to be held on March 3, the election for four seats of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) is yet to be announced due to certain legal issues, particularly one being the Elections Act 2017 not extended to the region. It is, however, expected that the government will soon request for promulgation of a Presidential Ordinance to facilitate the election on the four FATA seats. The federal government had earlier gotten a presidential ordinance issued to pave way for the elections on Islamabad’s two seats in the Senate. This arrangement might facilitate holding of Senate elections on all 52 seats as per the ECP’s original schedule.

NO PARLIAMENTARY BOARD FOR PMLN SO FAR: The PML-N is planning to grab a lion’s share of the Senate seats. Party strategists believe the ruling league may win at least 13-15 seats.

Having already 26 lawmakers in the house— nine retiring on March 11— the ruling party may take its total tally to 30 or 32 in the final run. The PMLN may be able to clean sweep in Punjab if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and PML-Q could not reach a settlement between Chaudhry Sarwar and Kamil Ali Agha. It may be mentioned here that the PTI and PML-Q have entered an alliance and formed a joint committee for the Senate elections.

Chaudhry Sarwar however is eyeing victory in the Senate polls. He is in talks with the PML-Q and feels comfortable with the results despite the fact that the PML has fielded Kamil Ali Agha. If things don’t go in PML-Q and PTI’s favour, the ruling PML-N may win all 12 seats from Punjab, including reserved seats for women, technocrats and minorities, due to its majority in the provincial assembly.

The PML-N has 310 MPAs in the 371-member Punjab Assembly, followed by 30 PTI MPAs. Similarly, the PML-N is all set to win both the seats from Islamabad — one general and one technocrat seat. In Sindh, the PML-N may not be able to win even a single seat but it can win one seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Balochistan, the ruling party is in a difficult situation where its majority lawmakers had rebelled against party’s central leadership and ousted the PML-N’s chief minister Sanaullah Zehri. Hence, the party may win two or three Senate seats in the province.

Upon an investigation by Pakistan Today regarding the PML-N’s strategy to enter the elections, it was revealed that the ruling PML-N has

failed to form its parliamentary board for the polls.

Though the ruling party had decided to establish a parliamentary board in the buildup to the 2018 elections back in November 2017, the party could not do it even after four months.

Perhaps, this could be one of the reasons that the ruling party has failed to finalise its candidates for the Senate elections as compared to its rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that has made its nominations public. Source privy to the development told Pakistan Today that the decision to shortlist candidates would be a tough ask as party’s sitting senators, cabinet members and even members of the National Assembly aspire to become senators and have even applied for the role.

Despite all that, it has been said that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif might have his own finalised list which he hasn’t shared with anyone yet. In the aftermath of reported fissures within the party, though apparently shortlived, it is expected that proMaryam Nawaz group would get the major share in Senate seats. Earlier, supporters of Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz had come at loggerheads over the issue of who will run the party after Nawaz. Hamza’s absence was also conspicuous in the Lahore by-election’s campaign led by Maryam.

A report denied by the PML-N leadership.

“Keeping in view the increasing influence of Maryam Nawaz Sharif, it is expected that the loyalists of Maryam would get a lion’s share of the Senate candidates list, the source said, adding the Maryam’s supporters include Tahira Aurangzeb, mother of Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb; Shah Nawaz Ranjha, father of MNA Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha; Health Minister Saira Afzal Tarar; Minister for Information Technology Anusha Rehman Khan and others,” the source said.

Asked why the sitting ministers and MNAs were seeking tickets for the Senate, the source disclosed that as there was an uncertainty regarding the result of next general elections and party’s subsequent standing, the PML-N leaders want to choose a safer path by having a six-year term in the Senate.

Asked to elaborate further, Saira Afzal Tarrar would not be able to win election after Hafizabad lost one seat due to new delimitations, and strong chances of the PTI’s Bhattis winning in Hafizabad. Hence, Tarar would pitch her father to contest the NA elections and she is eyeing the Senate seat for herself.

Likewise, the source said that the party’s veteran Tehmina Daultana was also eyeing the Senate due to weak chances of winning from Vehari. The source said party’s veterans like Sartaj Aziz, Irfan Siddiqui, Asif Kirmani, Nuzhat Sadiq are also vying for the ticket. It may be mentioned here that according to media reports Sartaj Aziz and Mushahid Hussain Sayed will be contesting the elections on the two Islamabad seats. The source further said that Federal Power Minister Sardar Awais Leghari had also applied for a ticket for his older brother Sardar Jamal Leghari, who was feeling ‘uncomfortable’ against

his rival Khosa and PTI’s Zartaj Gul. Tickets are likely to be awarded to Kamran Michael on nonMuslim seat and Ishaq Dar for re-election on the technocrat seat from Punjab.

PPP TO FINALISE CANDIDATES’ LIST SOON: The PPP will be the biggest loser in terms of representation in the Senate as 18 out of its 26 senators are set to retire in March. The party is expected to win nine seats in the coming elections and its total membership in the upper house is likely to drop to 17. In Sindh, the PPP is expected to win eight seats out of total 12 due to the support of 94 MPAs in the 168-member Sindh Assembly.

The PPP however has to finalise its list of candidates for the Sindh Assembly. Prominent among those in the run for the Senate elections included Dr Sikandar Mendhro, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Mian Raza Rabbani, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Maula Bux Chandio, Khalid Khan Advocate, Naveed Anthony, Noman Abdullah (son of Abdullah Murad), Nida Khuhro (daughter of Nisar Khuhro) and Quratulain Marri (sister of Shazia Marri). For the non-Muslim seat, Krishna Kumari has already been selected though.

SINDH’S FOUR SEATS: The contest for the remaining four seats will be interesting in the aftermath of the division within the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which has 50 MPAs. It is believed that if the MQM remains united under Dr Farooq Sattar, then the party can easily obtain the remaining four seats. Otherwise, the PML-F, which is facing extinction from the Senate, may regain a seat.

PTI NAMES CANDIDATES FROM KP: PTI is perhaps the only party which has tried to remain focused on one provincial assembly where it has the majority as it has announced six candidates to help win four general, and one women’s and technocrat seat each. Besides KP, the PTI also hopes to secure one Senate seat from Punjab but this is only possible if it manages to woo dissident MPAs of other parties in the Punjab Assembly.

According to the formula, 123-seat KP assembly will be required a total of 17 MPAs vote to elect one senator. The parties’ strength chart shows that the PTI has 61 MPAs, Qaumi Watan Party (10), PPP (6), PML-N (16), Jammat-e-Islami (7), Awami National Party (5), and two independent candidates.

PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry says that the party had decided to award party tickets to Ayub Afridi, Faisal Javed Khan, Fida Hussain, Mehertaj Roghaani (Women), Khayal Zaman and Azam Khan Swati (Technocrat). Besides the PTI and the JI, there are chances that the PPP and the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) may also win one seat each from KP. However, the chances of the Awami National Party and the Qaumi Watan Party getting any seat from KP are minimal. The JUI-F is also expected to lose its position in the upper house of the parliament. Three of its five senators are retiring in March and given the party position in the provincial assemblies, it is expected to get only three seats from Balochistan.

Stop killing innocent civilians, Pakistan tells India ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Foreign Office (FO) on Monday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh to protest the latest “unprovoked” ceasefire violation by India across the Line of Control (LoC).

The ceasefire violations along the LoC by the Indian troops are unrelenting. Earlier in the day, a man was

killed and two children were wounded when Indian forces resorted to unprovoked firing. According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Indian border forces opened indiscriminate firing at Nezapir Sector of Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir.

The statement went to claim that Pakistani forces gave a “befitting reply” to the Indian forces and “silenced” the Indian guns. Today’s vio-

lations come on the heels of Sunday’s wherein two, a woman and a teenager, were killed and six other people suffered injuries in two districts of AJK. FO spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal summoned Singh and “condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control on February 4, 2018 in Nezapir, Nikial and Karela Sectors”, a statement is-

sued by the FO said. Indian forces have committed more than 190 ceasefire violations since the start of 2018, killing 13 civilians and injuring 65 others through the use of heavy mortars and automatic weapons. Indian border forces violated the ceasefire 1,970 times in 2017, the FO statement said, adding that the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is “deplorable and contrary to human dignity”.

MQM-P leaders at each other’s throats over Senate tickets SATTAR, AMIR AT ODDS OVER GIVING TICKET TO KAMRAN TESSORI KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The upcoming Senate elections have widened the rifts within the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) as party chief Dr Farooq Sattar walked out of a party meeting in Bahadurabad on Monday evening after the party leadership indulged in a heated argument over the names decided for the Senate elections.

The meeting, however, was resumed with Senior Deputy Convener Amir Khan in the chair after Dr Sattar left the venue.

The apparent reason behind Dr Sattar’s boycott of the proceedings of the meeting was the issue of Senate ticket to Kamran Tessori. According to initial reports, Amir Khan wanted Faisal Sabzwari to get the ticket for Senate elections, whereas Dr Sattar reportedly wanted Kamran Tessori to get the ticket despite the “Rabita Committee’s objections to it”.

Reportedly, Tessori too objected to the names pitched in the list and refused to accept the committee’s decision.

Following the walkout, Dr Sattar called an urgent meeting at his house in the PIB Colony in which “all elected rep-

resentatives (senators, MNAs, MPAs, mayor, chairman, vice chairman, councillors), including all workers of MQM-Pakistan” were asked to reach the venue.

A large number of pro-Sattar supporters reached the residence of the party chief in order to show their support.

Talking to a local media outlet following the incident, Dr Sattar accused Amir Khan of trying to take over the party [by going against him several times].

“They don’t want to leave the party, they want to take over,” he said while referring to leaders opposing his decision.

It may be mentioned here that in November Amir Khan had rejected the rumours of him having any intentions of taking over the party. He had said that he

CMYK

did not wish to replace Dr Farooq Sattar as the party’s chief since the latter was the best choice for the post. Furthermore, according to details of the meeting led by Amir Khan, the party leadership at Bahadurabad wants Dr Sattar to stay; however, they want Kamran Tessori to leave the MQM-P. In a late night press conference with the journalists, MQM-P leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui announced that Kamran Tessori has been suspended from the party’s Rabita Committee and his membership too has been suspended for six months. The MQM-P has been marred with reported divisions since its split from Altaf-led London’s MQM. Earlier, it had been reported that the two groups within the MQM-P, led by Fa-

rooq Sattar and Amir Khan, respectively, were openly confronting each other on the issue. In the last meeting, Tessori had reportedly said in the party meeting that his one-year-long performance ‘surpassed’ the work of many in the last 30 years as he worked day and night. He also touted the opening of the party offices in unchartered territories, especially the Hyderabad zonal office. Citing all these ‘achievements’, he, therefore, presented himself as a potential candidate for the Senate ticket.

The MQM-P will contest for 12 Senate seats from Sindh. Four of its senators were retiring in March and it will be interesting to see as to how many seats MQMP manages to win as seven of its MPAs have left to join Mustafa Kamal’s PSP.

Tuesday, 6 February, 2018

NEWS

03

Consensus reached with military on most issues: PM ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Monday that there was a lot of institutional friction between the civil-military leadership over the past one year, but after holding frank discussions, a consensus has been reached on most issues. “There was a lot of friction institutionally that built up over the last year or so,” Abbasi said candidly during an interview with Bloomberg, a New York-based international news agency. “We have held some frank discussions and now there is a much better understanding between the civil-military leadership of Pakistan. Though it is still an evolving relationship, a consensus has been reached on most issues.” The prime minister, while commenting on the ongoing trials against Nawaz Sharif, said that sentences were handed down on the basis of evidence and not mere assumptions. He said that he had seen the evidence and Nawaz Sharif was unlikely to be sentenced by the court.

Abbasi also said he had firm belief that the court would announce a verdict based on justice. He further said that an anti-judiciary mindset was non-existent in his party, adding, “Everyone has to remain within the ambit of the constitution.” Speaking of Tallal Chaudhry, the prime minister said if the minister had actually made wrong remarks against the constitution or the law, then it was unacceptable and he should apologise for his statement.

Abbasi, in an apparent reference to the Panama Papers case verdict, said that a decision was announced by the apex court against the will of the people, but the people did not accept the court verdict. Speaking in connection with the upcoming general elections in Pakistan, the PM said that the decision regarding the nomination of a candidate for the post of the next prime minister would be taken at the central party meeting. Commenting on the relations between Pakistan and the United States (US), he said that it was clearly conveyed to Washington that it should provide information and Pakistan would itself take action [against militants]. However, he made it clear that Pakistan would defend itself if attacked by a hostile force. Noting that the two countries were partners in the war against terror, he said, “There should be mutual trust between allies and they should not communicate through tweets with each other.” He further added, “We were partners in the war against terror and we are partners today as well.” The prime minister also voiced skepticism over US President Trump’s announcement to increase troops in Afghanistan to assist the Afghan security forces and said that Islamabad was ready to help mediate talks with the Taliban. He warned that little progress could be made in the ongoing efforts to end the longrunning conflict in Afghanistan until all sides entered into peace talks. There was no military solution to the Afghan problem, he added. “At the end of the day, the Afghans have to sit down and talk,” PM Abbasi said in the interview. Abbasi rejected charges that Pakistan had been selective in its fight against terrorism.

Following an announcement last week that 27 Taliban and Haqqani network insurgents had been handed over to Afghanistan in November in what Abbasi described as a “routine” prisoner transfer, he said there was no evidence that Pakistan was backing militants fighting across the border after a spate of violence left hundreds dead and wounded in Kabul last month. AGENCIES

NAWAz bLAMeS judICIAry fOr SCuttLINg hIS KAShMIr PLANS MARYAM NAWAZ THANKS PEOPLE FOR THE TRUST THEY SHOWED IN PML-N DURING KASHMIR’S 2016 ELECTIONS MuZAffARABAD

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STAFF REPORT

EPOSED prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said that the judiciary “ruined his plans” for the development of Kashmir, particularly the eradication of unemployment.

Referring to the Panama case verdict that disqualified him from office last year, he asserted that no decision whatsoever can break his bond of love with Kashmiri.

Addressing a public gathering organised by his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) regarding Kashmir Solidarity Day here at the Khursheed National Stadium, Nawaz said, “[Even though] I have been disqualified from Pakistan, [I am] qualified for

Azad Jammu Kashmir” as he announced to dedicate his services to the Kashmir’s development.

The PML-N president took a jibe at the superior judiciary as he evoked his popularity, saying “They ruined my plans for the development of Kashmir, had I not been disqualified I would have eliminated poverty from the region.” He went on to add that his bond of love with the people of Kashmir cannot be quashed and his heart beats equally for Pakistanis and Kashmiris.

“Respect the vote. Respect Pakistan,” Nawaz went on to roar amid chants of vote ko izzat do and Kashmir bane ga Pakistan (Kashmir will become Pakistan) as he further bashed the judiciary over the Panama Papers’ verdict that ousted him. He began his speech by thanking the hosts and the people present at the venue and predicted that the freedom struggle in Indian-held Kashmir will achieve victory soon.

The three-time premier said he has never seen a bigger rally than this in the history of Kashmir, adding that the rally today (Monday) is three times bigger than the one he addressed at the same venue after winning the last

general elections in 2013.

Nawaz also promised to turn Muzaffarabad into Lahore, vowing a continuous increase in AJK’s development budget. “We will make a four-lane motorway from Muzaffarabad to Mirpur, Dina,” adding that a similar project would be constructed from the city to Mansehra.”

The PML-N chief said that he had several plans for the AJK’s development that would have eliminated unemployment from the region, but they were all ruined due to his disqualification in July last year.

Nawaz was disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28, 2017, in the Panama Papers case.

Following the disqualification, Nawaz and his daughter Maryam Nawaz have launched an anti-judiciary campaign, with accusing the judiciary of acting in bias.

While evoking the importance of the Kashmir Solidarity Day, he paid tribute to the resistance in India-held Kashmir and lauded their “bravery”. He vowed to stand by the people of Kashmir that were struggling for their right to self-determination.

“The brave people of Kashmir are being blinded by the pellet

guns used to fire at them,” Nawaz said, referring to incidents of injuries resulting from Indian forces’ use of pellet guns against the separatists and citizens in Kashmir.

“Don’t lose heart! God is with you,” Nawaz consoled the people.

Touting the political importance of heir-apparent Maryam Nawaz, Nawaz told the loyalists that he had asked Maryam to address the participants.” Addressing the participants, PML-N leader daughter Maryam Nawaz also spoke on the occasion, saying her heart bleeds for the people of Kashmir, but remains positive that there will come a day when held Kashmir [Indian-occupied Kashmir] will gain independence from “Srinagar’s slavery”.

Recalling the victory in the state’s general elections in 2016, she thanked the crowd for showing their support for her party, saying that the people of AJK “did not vote for any party but PML-N” in the elections. The party had bagged 31 seats out of the total 41 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.

On his arrival in Kashmir’s capital earlier in the day, Nawaz held meetings with the members of the AJK Council, party leaders, Raja Farooq Haider and others.

Zardari’s the hand that rocked PML-N’s boat Broken, but not ContInueD fRoM pAge 01 that his party would stand victorious from all across Pakistan in the next general elections. “We will win from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab. Next elections will be free and fair,” he said while adding that, “Mian Sahab, you no longer rule Balochistan.”

Zardari took credit for the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and said it was the PPP that initiated the billion dollar project. He said that the PML-N leaders do not even understand the idea of the CPEC. “They think it is a scheme for taking loans,” Zardari held. “The PPP leaders faced jails for the sake of democracy,” he said while adding that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asefa Bhutto Zardari will soon be in the parliament. “The time has come when no dictator can set his sights on the power,” he said.

‘PML-N LET MUSHARRAF FLEE PAKISTAN’: Zardari blamed the incumbent federal government for letting Musharraf leave, saying: “They say ‘we will bring Musharraf back.’ I request journalists to go through the proceedings of Musharraf’s case. This [PML-N] government had told the court that they don’t object to Musharraf going abroad.

Hence, when the government did not object, the court also let him leave.”

Zardari reminded his audience of the sacrifices he and his party have made for the sake of democracy, claiming that they even declined Musharraf’s power-sharing offer. “It was for democracy that we remained in jail for 15 years,” he said. “It was for democracy that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto kissed the noose. Benazir

Bhutto gave her life. When she came here there was an attack on her life but she still took the risk, which was for democracy, not for power.

“Musharraf was ready to share power from day one and forever. But we wanted to kick Musharraf out.

When we gave you Punjab we wanted Musharraf out because he was a dictator.” Zardari backed his party to right all the wrongs that the incumbent federal government has done, saying: “Even today PPP is so powerful that whatever loans they (PML-N) have taken and whatever problems they have created, PPP can resolve them.”

KASHMIR CARD: While saying that he is standing at the place where in the past renowned leaders such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto once stood, he added that it is time to fight for Kashmir.

While referring to Nawaz’s public gathering in Kashmir to mark the solidarity day, Zardari lashed out at the former premier for not mentioning Kashmir during his visit to Muzaffarabad.

“Why did Nawaz go to Kashmir when he could not remember mentioning the Kashmir issue over there?

We will not leave the Kashmiris alone. We will fight for them. Kashmir is our jugular vein and we have to make our younger generations understand that,” he said while adding that Allah will not forgive Nawaz for forgetting Kashmir in his address.

“Many people have ditched the Kashmiris, but I assure you that the PPP will not do so. The PPP will continue its struggle for the Kashmiris,” he concluded. PPP leaders Aitzaz Ahsan, former premiers Yousaf Raza

Gillani and Raja Pervez Ashraf, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Shaukat Basra, Samina Khalid Ghurki, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah, Faisal Saleh Hayat, Pir of Taunsa Sharif Attaullah Taunsvi and others also spoke on the occasion.

PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan said that the Sharif family did not present a single evidence in the Panama case.

“Zardari has informed you about the reason for your ouster,” said Ahsan while directing his comment at former prime minister Nawaz. The PPP leader said that Nawaz failed to effectively raise his voice for the plight of the Kashmiris.

Leader of the Opposition Khurshid Shah also addressed the rally and said that the Mochi Ground is the place where PPP raised its voice for not just the oppressed Kashmiris, but also for the rights of the underprivileged.

FIvE INjURED AS PPP FLAgSTAND FALLS: At least five party workers suffered minor injuries when a stand for hoisting the party flag fell on them. PPP leaders briefly paused the event and call ambulances, however, the programme was resumed after knowing that no one was seriously injured.

The accident occurred after the party workers tried climbing over the stand. PPP accuses ruling PML-N of creating hurdles in way of its caravans: The PPP accused the PML-Nled Punjab government of creating hurdles in way of its caravans coming from other cities. The PPP leaders alleged that the PML-N created hurdles so that the party workers from other cities could not reach the venue of the public gathering.

CMYK

beaten, the LoC girl ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR

It was a usual pleasant morning on October 1, 2017, in Battal Chowki, a town in Battal Sector of Azad Jammu Kashmir. Everything was in routine as people were busy in usual chores. Women were doing domestic work and children were playing out on the streets. Their everyday routine was suddenly abruptly disrupted by the gunshots, and soon the screams took over the streets.

Children ran for cover, except for Yasira Riyasat. The 11-year-old girl was bleeding as shrapnel had hit her leg. Her father Mohammad Riyasat recalled that he was in the nearby fields when he heard the blast and later the cries of his daughter.

By the time he arrived at the scene of the blast, Yasira had been taken to her home for safety concerns. In the next few moments, more shells by Indian forces from across the Line of Control (LoC) landed in the otherwise scenic locality of Battal.

The breath-taking town of AJK, Battal is around 185 kilometres from Islamabad.

And the site of the attack, Riyasat’s house, is located within a mile from the LoC where ceasefire violations have witnessed an unprecedented hike in the past 14 years. Before the poor family could have shifted Yasira to any hospital, a special emergency team from nearby 647 Mujahid Battalion arrived and removed the injured girl to a military facility.

Mohammad Riyasat told Pakistan Today that soon after the emergency aid at Battal, Yasira was transferred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawlakot in a critical condition, where her left leg was amputated below the knee due to the

deteriorating wounds. “This tragedy has broken me from all sides. Watching my youngest kid with an amputated leg, I am shattered and so is the mother of Yasira and the entire family,” he said.

However, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, during his visit to Chirikot sector on November 10, 2017, had interacted with injured civilian personnel at the LoC and had taken cognisance of Yasira’s injury. He had also directed for an immediate evacuation of Yasira to the AFIRM Rawalpindi for artificial limb implant.

The ill-fated girl was immediately transferred to forward treatment centre in Kahuta in malnourished condition and was re-operated on November 12, 2017, for debridement and preparation for artificial limb grafting. Post-operatively, Yasira was provided high protein diet and round-theclock intensive care that made her infection free. Two days later on November 14, 2017, she was transferred to Military Hospital (MH) Rawalpindi and grafted with an artificial limb on December 27, 2017, at AFIRM, restoring her normal gait and other life activities.

On Jan 20, 2018, she returned home after almost two months of rehabilitation with a smile on her face and happiness in her heart. One nursing assistant has been permanently detailed with her to look after her medical and logistic needs. Her rehabilitation, treatment and recovery were closely monitored. Four months later, Yasira is a completely changed girl today.

At the age of 12, Yasira says she feels always insecure due to the unannounced and sudden shelling by Indian military from across the LoC.

04 NEWS

Tuesday, 6 February, 2018

PASHTUN SIT-IN

PRoteSteRS PoStPoNe maRch towaRdS PaRlIameNt; wIll meet Pm today PROTESTERS HURL SHOES, BOTTLES AT PPP'S FIDA PARACHA ISLAMABAD

a

STAFF REPORT

dvisor to Prime Minister (PM) Ameer Muqam met the participants of Pashtun sit-in and said that their demands were rightful and informed that a meeting between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and protesters to discuss the matter will take place today.

In a late-night development, the leaders of the protest decided to postpone their march towards the Parliament House and develop their strategy accordingly after the meeting with the prime minister. Muqam, accompanied by Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, visited the peaceful sit-in in front of National Press Club (NPC) in Islamabad as it entered the fifth day on Monday to protest the extra-judicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud at the hands of Sindh police in Karachi.

Sana’s neck off the hook as Sialvi accepts ‘explanation’ LAHORE: Sargodha-based spiritual leader and Sial Sharif shrine custodian Pir Hameeduddin Sialvi has finally accepted Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah’s ‘explanation’ regarding his televised comments pertaining to a minority community of the country. The remarks had landed the law minister in trouble as after the comment he faced criticism from the religious quarters of the country, particularly as a result of the campaign headed by Sialvi. Sialvi on Monday said that he was satisfied by the explanation provided by the law minister. He further said that MPA Nizam Sialvi, his nephew, with his permission went to Lahore, where the law minister gave the justification to him, clearing reservations of the spiritual leader.

The issue of the law minister’s ‘controversial’ remarks and his appearance before a sixmember body to clarify his position got further complicated on Saturday after a meeting between the two sides in Model Town. Sialvi had said the meeting was held “deceitfully” without taking him on board. STAFF REPORT

The participants of the sit-in have refused to budge from their stated position until the government accepts their “five-point charter of demand” and arrest wanted Malir SSP Rao Anwar, besides ensuring the rule of law in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Anwar is wanted to the authorities for the extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah, a 27-year-old native of Waziristan who was killed along with three others in a fake encounter in Karachi’s Shah Latif town on January 13.

On Monday, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao also addressed a press conference outside NPC and said that he will not be at rest until absconding cop Rao Anwar is arrested. “I won’t be at peace until Rao Anwar is arrested,” Sherpao said, adding that Anwar remains at large after injustice was done to Naqeeb. He added that he fails to understand the present government’s performance in Naqeebullah’s case. “The story of a handsome young man surfaced before us.

Thousands of youth, men and women fall prey to extrajudicial killings,” said the QWP chairman. On the other hand, the participants of the sit-in showered Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Amir Fida Parachi with shoes and empty bottles and barred him from talking on the stage.

According to details, when the PPP leader Fida Paracha reached the sit-in, he faced an embarrassing situation as the participants took him with a shower of shoes and bottles and did not allow him to speak to the protesters. The PPP leader told the protesters that he came there carrying a message of party leader, however, people did not hear his words and started chanting slogans of ‘shame, shame’. Protesters lashing PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari said that they do not need his sympathy, on which Fida Paracha returned without addressing protesters.

The protest sit-in began on Thursday in the form of a rally from Dera Ismail Khan and culminated in a sit-in outside National Press Club, Islamabad. The protesters include residents of DI Khan, FATA and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as Islamabad.

The five-point charter of the protesters demands Rao Anwar and his network involved in the extra-judicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud to be “apprehended and hanged”. They demand that a judicial commission under the supervision of the chief justice of Pakistan should be set up to investigate the extra-judicial killings of Pashtuns in Karachi, FATA and other parts of the country.

AGENCIES

British-French journalist and author Ben Judah, in an interview published in The Sunday Times magazine, compared Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan with US President Donald Trump on a number of issues.

Imran loathes Trump but it is ‘hard not to compare the two’, the journalist wrote, adding: “Khan, like Trump, emerged from the moneyed elite, riding high on a personality cult, purporting to be the voice of every forgotten man, railing against effete liberals and the corruption and

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Monday criticised former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) president Nawaz Sharif on his “notions of democracy” a day after the ruling party at centre held a show of power in Peshawar. Taking to his social media account on Twitter, the PTI chief stated, ”Yesterday Nawaz Sharif made clear his idea of democracy and of a PM heading a democratic government was where the PM is above the law of the land after being elected. He can money launder, evade taxes, conceal assets, lie before parl – all corruption is permissible coz PM is elected”. He further added, ”Moreover according to [Nawaz Sharif’s] notion of democracy, the elected PM can abuse all state institutions, storm [Supreme Court] with his party hoodlums, give judges briefcases full of money – with no questions asked and no law applied because an elected PM is above the law of the land”. Imran also touted Nawaz’s claims made in Sunday’s rally as lies and stated, “Nawaz as usual also held forth with a litany of lies abt KP govt. Fact is there are 350 micro hydel stations completed in KP – all [Nawaz Sharif] had to do was to send his paid hacks to chk this out! As for police, health and education reforms – all NS had to do was to talk to KP people”. On Sunday, Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz took a swing at PTI for ‘duping’ the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for the past four years. Addressing a largely-attended public rally, he said that PTI chief Imran Khan was expert in telling lies and hurling accusations, who had badly failed to initiate any development work in KP. STAFF REPORT

Reham Khan exits Pakistan citing threats

Reopening of Memogate case a political stunt: Haqqani WASHINGTON INP

Former ambassador to Washington Husain Haqqani has termed the reopening of the Memogate case a political stunt. In a statement on Monday, he said that there were four chief justices after chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry but none touched the case, adding that six years ago a nine-member bench had heard the case and wondered why just a three-member bench is taking it up now.

“It has been six years since I submitted a review petition to correct legal mistakes in the case.

Will the court hear this case too?” he wondered.

Moreover, in a likely reference to Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Haqqani claimed he will not come to Pakistan on “Baba Rehamtay’s” direction, as his orders do not extend beyond Pakistan.

The Memogate scandal erupted in 2011 when Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz claimed to have received an ‘anti-

army’ memo from Haqqani, the then-envoy to US, for the then-US joint chiefs chairman Admiral Mike Mullen. The scandal, taken to the Supreme Court by then opposition leader Nawaz Sharif and several others, had led to Haqqani’s resignation.

During the Jan 29 hearing, the chief justice remarked that the purpose of the proceedings was to give the right of vote to overseas Pakistanis. He added that there are some Pakistanis who promised the court to show up but did not return. Inquiring into the whereabouts of Haqqani, the chief justice asked if he will also be given a right to cast a vote. “Why don’t we issue him a notice and summon him to face the Memogate case,” the chief justice remarked. He then directed the registrar office to take out the Memogate case file and submit it in court. Later, the apex court set February 8 as the date when a three-member bench headed by the chief justice and comprising Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Umar Ata Bandial will hear the case.

British-French journalist compares Imran to ‘hairobsessed’ Trump ISLAMABAD

Imran says Nawaz’s claims about KP govt ‘litany of lies’

nepotism of the political class. And just like Trump, this ageing, hair-obsessed star is accused of sexual harassment.”

During the interview, Imran in response to a question regarding Gulalai, a National Assembly (NA) member who quit the PTI in early August after levelling allegations of harassment against the party chief, said that she was paid to accuse him of harassment and sending her ‘inappropriate messages’ which were never found.

“She has been paid for that,” Imran told Ben. “You see what I have to put up with?” said Khan, lamenting that his enemies were smearing him with ‘fake news’ – one of the similari-

ties the journalist used to compare the PTI chairman to the US president.

Despite the journalist drawing similarities between the PTI chairman and US president, Imran during the interview raised questions over Pakistan’s support in the US-led ‘war on terror’ and criticised drone strikes on Pakistani soil that Trump has continued after taking over the US presidency. “American drone strikes in Pakistan must stop. It’s butchery, and the true horror of it is hidden from the West,” he said. The article also labelled Imran the kind of politician the Taliban ‘would like to see installed as the country’s next leader’.

CMYK

ISLAMABAD: Reham Khan, the former wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, left the country on Sunday night after allegedly receiving threats from unknown individuals. Talking during a programme aired on a private TV channel, she confirmed that she flew out of Pakistan after her staff received threatening phone calls from unknown individuals. During the programme, Reham shared an audio recording in which the coordinator of the Reham Khan Foundation was informing her about receiving calls from suspicious numbers where the callers were threatening the staff member to stop helping Reham in her interviews and other activities. She also said that the entire incident was not only mentally taxing for her but had also affected the schooling of her daughter, which left the latter extremely distressed. She showed concern over the fact that no political party was standing in her support in this regard. Reham did not elaborate on the nature of the threats and had yet to explain if the threats were related to a specific issue. It was also not clear whether she had filed a complaint with the police before leaving the country. Nevertheless, she did say that she could not fight this battle by staying in Pakistan and would handle the issue effectively from abroad. She also said that her staff was receiving threatening calls since Sept 2017, adding that the threats have increased ever since, which led to her decision to leave the country. Recently, Reham had said that she was contemplating to break her silence over certain matters in her knowledge. “I have knowledge of different private matters but I remained silent about them. Now that everything has been made public, I am thinking about breaking my silence as well,” she had told a correspondent of a foreign newspaper. She also said that a few former cricketers had advised her to forget Imran Khan and avoid confrontation with him. Talking about her marriage to Imran, she said that the nikkah was performed on October 31, 2014, and she got divorced on the same date the next year. “My opinion was not taken while deciding the marriage and divorce dates. I think someone else’s opinion mattered more in this regard,” she said. She said that she had advised Imran against lying about their marriage as it would make a mockery of their relationship. Though it was a lie, he [Imran] was adamant to share a tweet denying that he got married. Reham also said that her sources had confirmed Imran’s remarriage with his spiritual guide. AGENCIES

WEATHER UPDATES TUESDAY

Tuesday, 6 February, 2018

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road to South asia’s peace passes through Kashmir: speakers PESHAWAR: Speakers at a national seminar here on Monday said that Kashmir was an unfinished part of the partition of subcontinent and durable peace in South Asia could only be established by resolving this lingering issue according to the wishes of Kashmiris. These views were expressed by the speakers during a seminar organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Council (JKC) in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day. The seminar was attended by politico-religious leadership of all parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information Secretary Nasir Khan Musazai, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) KP Information Secretary Haji Jalil Jan, veteran politician Salim Saifullah Khan, JUI-F leader Haji Ghulam Ali, Peshawar District Council Convener Syed Qasim Ali Shah, Advocate Hashim Raza and Rah-e-Haq Party Central President Muhammad Ibrahim Qasmi besides others.

JUI-F leader Ghulam Ali said that father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had a special attachment with Kashmir and declared it as a jugular vein of Pakistan.

He said that Kashmir was an unfinished part of the partition of the subcontinent and if it was not addressed soon, it could pose a serious threat to peace and stability of South Asia. He further said, “Road to South Asia’s peace passes through Kashmir and time has come that this long-standing issue should be addressed as per the wishes and aspiration of people of Kashmir through peaceful means.”

He added that the independence movement in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) had entered into a decisive stage and time was not far away when people of IoK would get freedom from Indian yoke. The JUI-F leader said that if international community wanted durable peace in the world, then it should address the core issues of Kashmir and Palestine first.

Senior constitutional lawyer and experts on Kashmir Affairs Advocate Hashim Raza said that the Kashmiris’ struggle had forced India to approach the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on January 1, 1948, seeking its help to settle the issue. The UNSC had passed several successive resolutions including asking for a free and impartial plebiscite to be conducted by the UN, but New Delhi backtracked on its promises and Kashmiris were still struggling for their right to self-determination, he said. He regretted that UNSC had failed to implement its resolutions on Kashmir and this major failure was a big question mark on the performance of the world body. He said that it was the responsibility of international community and UNSC to implement its resolutions on Kashmir in letter and spirit besides taking notices of grave human rights violations and extrajudicial killing of the innocent Kashmiris at IoK. He added that time has come that issue of Kashmir should be addressed in accordance with wishes of Kashmiri people.

Senior politician Salim Saifullah Khan also expressed unwavering support for people of IoK and reiterated the moral, political and diplomatic support to them. The speakers strongly supported observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day, which aimed at seeking a peaceful solution of this longstanding issue, and to pass on a pragmatic message to the international community and UN through peaceful means to implement its resolutions on Kashmir. STAFF REPORT

WEDNESDAY

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ISLAMABAD 05

UNESCO UtiliSES ONly $3.5mN Of malala EdUCatiON fUNd iN 2 yEarS ISLAMABAD

t

HAMID KHAN WAZIR

HE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has only utilised a meagre amount of around $3.5 million, out of the total $7 million, earmarked to UNESCO’s Islamabad office under the much-trumpeted ‘Malala Fund for Girls Right to Education’ during the last two years.

Under the programme, so far 6,154 out of primary school girls (OPSG) have been enrolled in the schools, with a target to enroll 10,000 OPSG in the targeted areas. Besides that, the programme focused on retaining the existing 22,000 girls in government primary schools in the target areas and work for improving their quality of learning. UNESCO Islamabad’s National Programme Officer (Ed) Zafar Hayat Malik told Pakistan Today that the Malala fund started in June 2015 and the programme will complete its life in June 2019, during which almost 50 per cent of the allocated funds have been spent so far. He said that the programme objectives are to increase enrolment of girls in the primary schools through mobilisation of locals in marginalised communities. Besides that, improving retention and quality of primary education through improvement in school learning environment is also in focus, he added. He explained that the purpose of the programme is to improve the capacity of relevant provincial and district education officials to create an enabling school environment for education of girls.

“The programme has three integrated components: (a) improving girls’ access through social mobilisation and advocacy, (b) improving retention through improvement in school physical and learning environments – activation of parent-teacher committees (PTCs)/ school management committees (SMCs) and teachers training in multi-grade teaching and activitybased learning and, (c) capacity building of education

officials at district, provincial and national level together with a small research component,” Zafar added.

The Malala Fund for Girls Right to Education was established in December 2013 with an initial contribution of $10 million by Pakistan government, out of which $7 million were earmarked to UNESCO Islamabad office for programme implementation. A funds-in-trust framework agreement was signed on February 6, 2014, in Paris between Pakistan government and the UNESCO director-general through which the programme was officially launched.

To a question whether UNESCO is merely utilising $10 million fund given by Pakistan or is there any contribution from other countries, the official replied that no substantive amount of funding is received in the trust fund from other donors. Zafar further said that the programme is being implemented in 13 districts across the country by local implementation partners (CSOs), and in close consultation with national and provincial/area education departments. To a question whether the enrolled girls are being paid, the officer said that payment of educational funds to the girls enrolled is not part of the programme. The programme in Pakistan, established under the Malala Funds in Trust (FIT), completed its two years of implementation in June 2017. The programme aims at enhancing enrolment, retention and quality of girls primary education through targeted in-

terventions both at institutional and community levels.

The programme is being implemented through eight province/area specific projects and one national level project on capacity building of education officials.

According to the detail obtained from Ministry of Professional and Technical Training, the programme has succeeded to enroll 6,154 OPSG, thus enhancing enrollment from 16,267 to 22,421 in 304 girl primary schools in the targeted areas. However, there are still over 10,000 OPSG in the GREP target areas who will be enrolled by the end of the programme, which is a major challenge besides retaining the existing 22,421 girls in schools and ensuring that they learn better.

The detail showed that two years of implementation has produced a variety of intermediate results, success figures, case studies and data from the target areas, which offer an opportunity to review the progress, list the challenges faced and propose any mid-course correction, both in terms of geographic and operational focus of the programme.

A midterm review of the programme was carried out in November 2017 and in December 2017. Besides various geography specific recommendations, the strategic recommendation proposed in the MTR includes expansion of the geographical area, focused approach on retention, strengthening learning environment and programme extension beyond June 2018.

On December 10, 2012, UNESCO and Pakistan launched the Malala Fund for Girls’ Education at a high-level event held as part of the celebrations for Human Rights Day. At the event, the then president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari announced that his country would donate the first $10 million. Opened by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and president Zardari, the occasion was dedicated to 15-year-old Pakistani school girl Malala Yousafzai, who was the target of an assassination attempt by the Taliban because of her defence of the right of girls to go to school. The aim was to give a new momentum to the quest to provide access to school for all girls by 2015.

CJP takes suo motu notice of playground’s encroachment

raC organises programmes to highlight indian atrocities in Kashmir

tice took notice of the encroachment after it was reported by print media and directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Sheikh Ansar Aziz to submit a report over the matter in three days. The Capital Development Authority had refused to intervene in the matter, saying the superior judiciary should take notice of the matter instead.

“We cannot fight with lawyers.

Why aren’t the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court, which regularly pass directives to remove encroachments from state land, taking action against the lawyers?” a CDA official had asked.

RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) Monday organised various programmes to highlight the Indian atrocities and human rights abuses in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day. Member Punjab Assembly and Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and Archeology Chaudhry Sarfraz Afzal was the chief guest on the occasion flanked by Naheed Manzoor and RAC Resident Director Waqar Ahmed. Speaking on the occasion, Chaudhry Sarfraz Afzal said that Pakistan wanted the resolution of Kashmir issue through composite dialogue due to which South Asia had become a flashpoint. He added that peace in South Asia was not possible without the solution of Kashmir issue.

RAC Director Waqar Ahmed said that Pakistan respected all the resolutions passed by the United Nations, adding that Pakistan would continue its political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris for their right to self-determination. STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday took suo motu notice of the alleged encroachment of Islamabad’s F-8 playground by lawyers who are constructing their chambers on the plot.

According to reports, a community of lawyers has encroached upon the Multipurpose Sports Ground which is adjacent to Sector F-8 Kutcheri to build chambers. It is now being used for illegal parking and construction of chambers by the lawyers.

Bricks have also been placed on

the ground for demarcation of construction. Half the ground was allegedly appropriated by lawyers who had built their chambers there a few years ago.

Construction, which resumed in December 2017 on the remaining half of the land, was halted after the matter was highlighted on various forums, but has now started again.

Bar association president Riasat Ali Azad said that the construction was initiated by the previous cabinet of the bar, and he could not undo their decision.

According to a notification issued by the Supreme Court’s Public Relations Officer, the chief jus-

ICCI stresses establishment of SEZ under CPEC ISLAMABAD AGENCIES

Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Sheikh Amir Waheed has called upon the government to take measures for ensuring timely es-

tablishment of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) under CPEC in the federal capital, that would give a boost to industrial activities in the region and contribute to improving country’s exports. He said this while exchanging views with SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice

President Iftikhar Ali Malik during a meeting with him along with a delegation.

ICCI Senior Vice President Muhammad Naveed, Founder Group Chairman Zubair Ahmed Malik and FPCCI Chief Coordinator Malik Sohail Hussain were also in the delegation. Sheikh Amir Waheed said

that CPEC has now entered into the second phase of the long-term plan (LTP) after the completion of the early harvest programme (EHP) and stressed that more focus should be given on industrial cooperation in the second phase to promote industrialisation in the country.

Four police officials suspended in youngster’s death TRAFFIC POLICEMEN BOOKED FOR ‘UNINTENTIONAL’ DEATH OF YOUNGSTER IN ISLAMABAD RAWALPINDI STAFF REPORT

A protest over the death of a youngster allegedly in police custody ended after four police personnel were suspended on Monday.

Earlier, the youngster named Rehan was tortured to death in police custody, relatives of the deceased alleged. The relatives of the deceased, who was arrested on Sunday night, gathered at the police station in Ganj Mandi, claiming

that the police tortured him to death.

Neighbours and family members of the man chanted slogans protesting and mourning his death. The deceased’s brother said Rehan was a drug addict but not a drug seller. “My brother died due to police torture,” he said.

The deceased’s brother said that the police, without a search warrant, had forcefully entered their house and taken his brother into custody. He alleged that the police had asked Rehan to pay them a certain sum of money.

When he refused, the police tortured him and he died, the brother claimed, adding that his brother had no criminal record. The four police personnel, including three police constables and Assistant Sub-Inspector Atiq, who had forcefully entered Rehan’s house, were suspended from duty.

DSP Islam and DSP Cantt Raja Tefor arrived at the scene shortly afterwards to control the situation. However, the residents demanded the suspension of DSP Islam and Station House Officer Raja Tahir, calling for a case be filed against them. In another incident in Islamabad, a youth was killed and two others injured as capital police tried to stop them for violating traffic rules.

Reports said that as the motorcycle rider youths did not stop, a police constable got hold of the arm of one youth, who fell from the bike and died after his head hit the road. The motorcycle also got out of control and the remaining two riders were also injured. The incident took place in Blue Area in the vicinity of Kohsar police station.

Islamabad police on Monday nominated two traffic police officials in a first information report (FIR) of the 20year-old man’s death. The family members of the victim were also nominated in the case. Following the incident, people in the area surrounded the police officials, protesting their alleged involvement in the death and demand-

ing their arrest.

They were arrested after senior police officials arrived at the scene. According to the FIR that was lodged 18 hours after the incident took place, the man died from a head injury from his fall. The FIR was registered under Section 320 of the Pakistan Penal Code under charges of unintentional murder.

However, residents of the 66 Quarter Christian Colony in a protest outside Kohsar police station demanded that the officers be booked under Section 302 for intentional murder. A threemember investigation committee headed by Superintendent of Police (SP) City Ahmed Iqbal was formed to probe the incident.

06 FOREIGN NEWS

Tuesday, 6 Feb ruary, 2018

JordAniAn king SeeS no MideASt peAce Without uS roLe WASHINGTON

k

summit in Davos, Switzerland.

He said this was true even after President Donald Trump decided to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv – where nearly every other country has its embassy. In December, Jordan called Trump’s move “a violation of decisions of international law and the United Nations charter,” and Abdullah reiterated his concerns to Vice President Mike Pence who visited the Middle East last month.

Abdullah noted on Sunday that Trump’s decision had “created a backlash” by leaving Palestinians feeling “that there isn’t an honest broker.” But, he added, “I’d like to reserve judgment, be-

AGENCIES

ING Abdullah II of Jordan said in an interview aired on Sunday that the United States remains essential to any hope of a peaceful solution between Israel and the Palestinians, despite widespread criticism of the new US stance on Jerusalem.

“We cannot have a peace process or a peace solution without the role of the United States,” the monarch said on the CNN programme Fareed Zakaria GPS, in an interview taped at the recent economic

Applications for Lebanon's parliamentary elections open

cause we’re still waiting for the Americans to come out with their (peace) plan.”

Trump’s decision was warmly embraced by Israel but widely decried around the world, sparking outrage and protests from Arabs and Muslims. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of an eventual Palestinian state and had hoped that peace talks might someday bring international recognition of that status.

“I think we have to give the Americans the benefit of the doubt and all work together” once the White House issues a peace plan, Abdullah said, while adding that “if it is not a good plan… I don’t think we’ve got a Plan B at this stage.”

The king emphasized that the stakes around the Jerusalem question are high.

“This is a city that could either create tremendous problems for us in the future, or it is an umbrella that gives us hope,” he said. “It could be a tremendous city that brings us together or it could create aggression and violence that we’ve never seen before.”

Samsung scion Lee walks free after jail term suspended, faces leadership challenges

BEIRUT AGENCIES

The Lebanese prospective candidates planning to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections shall start submitting their applications Monday signaling the opening for the May 6, 2018 polls, the interior ministry said in a statement. The closing date for submitting the applications is March 2018, the statement added. Meanwhile, everyone is waiting for political parties and major blocs to submit their nominations on the first day, but the process will reportedly be limited to individual candidates, who are still seeking alliances, or perhaps some independent MPs, al-Joumhouriya daily said. The daily quoted interior ministry sources that "the ministry has completed logistical preparations and is anxiously waiting for the first day of nominations." Lebanon's first parliamentary elections in nine years are scheduled for May 6. For the first time, Lebanese nationals living overseas will be able to cast ballots in early voting. The current parliament has postponed elections several times over security reasons. It was elected to a four-year term in 2009, but its tenure has been extended twice over security concerns and the civil war in neighboring Syria that spilled into Lebanon on several occasions.

SEOUL AGENCIES

Samsung Group heir Jay Y. Lee left a South Korean jail a free man on Monday after a panel of judges suspended his sentence, a surprise decision that sent shockwaves through the country’s political and business establishments.

Coming just days before South Koreans gather to host the Winter Olympics, the ruling reignited an intense public debate over widespread corruption in a case that ousted President Park Geun-hye from office last year and has ensnared leading members of the family-run “chaebol” conglomerates.

Seoul High Court sentenced Lee to two and a half years in jail on charges including bribery and embezzlement - reducing the original term by half - but suspended the sentence for four years, meaning that he is unlikely to serve any more time in jail.

Lee, 49, heir to one of the

world’s biggest corporate empires, had been detained since last February. Emerging from a Seoul detention center where he had briefly returned for his belongings after the ruling, Lee stood in the frigid February air and apologized for “not showing my best side”.

“The past year has been a really valuable time of looking back on myself,” Lee told reporters in a

sometimes shaky voice.

He added he needed to visit his ailing father, Samsung Group patriarch Lee Kun-hee, who suffered a heart attack in 2014.

The elder Lee escaped a conviction for embezzlement and tax evasion when he was pardoned by former President Lee Myung-bak, viewed by some as a move to allow the elder Lee to lead the campaign to secure the 2018 Winter Olympics for South Korea.

Coming days ahead of the Olympics in Pyeongchang, the decision to free Jay Y. Lee presents a new headache for President Moon Jae-in, who was elected last year on an anti-corruption platform in the wake of Park’s impeachment.

“This may be a brave decision by the court to look at solid evidence rather than public opinion. But this doesn’t quite fit public opinion calling for Lee’s punishment,” Kim Kyung-soo, a former prosecutor and a criminal lawyer, told Reuters.

Russia steps up air raids on Syria's Idlib after jet shot down AMMAN AGENCIES

Russian jets intensified their raids on rebel-held towns and cities in Syria’s northern Idlib province on Monday, a day after rebels shot down a Russian warplane and killed its pilot.

Civil defense sources said air raids struck the towns of Kafr Nubl and Maasran, as well as the cities of Saraqeb, Maarat al Numan and Idlib, and that several deaths and dozens of injuries were reported as rescuers dug through the rubble.

A hospital was hit in Maarat al Numan, witnesses and residents said, and at least five people were feared killed in another attack that damaged a residential building in Kafr Nubl.

Video recorded by rescuers showed babies on stretchers being rushed by civil defense workers out of the damaged hospital while other rescuers fought to extinguish a fire.

In Idlib city, the provincial capital, one witness said a five-storey building was leveled and that at least fifteen people were feared dead.

In December, the Syrian army alongside Iranian-backed militias and heavy Russian airpower launched a major offensive to take territory in Idlib province, the last and most-densely

populated province still mainly under opposition control.

Russia’s defense ministry and Syrian rebels said the Russian SU-25 jet was downed on Saturday in an area that has seen fierce fighting on the ground and heavy air strikes targeting rebel groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrians who oppose Assad view Russia as an invading force and blame it for the deaths of thousands of civilians since Moscow joined the war on the Syrian government’s side in 2015.

Russia’s Defence Ministry denies aiming at civilians and says it targets only hardline Islamist militants in Syria.

Air strikes on Saturday after the downing of the jet killed at least 10 people, including children, in Khan al Subl near where the plane crashed, rescuers said. The bodies of a family of seven were pulled from rubble following another attack in the town of Maasran, a local civil defense body said.

“We are pulling bodies from under collapsed walls. The Russians are taking their revenge on civilians, many of whom were already displaced and had fled their homes from earlier bombardment,” said Ahmad Hilal, a civil defense rescuer.

The Syrian army and its Iranian Shia militias allies made a string of

gains in the last week after capturing a major air base that brought them just 12 kilometres from Saraqeb, the first heavily populated city in Idlib within their reach.

They were pushing towards the main Damascus-Aleppo highway, the capture of which would cut rebel supply lines and open the door to an army advance into the heart of the province.

On Sunday, rebels led by the militant Turkestan group waged a counter attack against the Syrian army and Iranian backed militias near the Abu Duhur air base in southern Idlib.

The bombardment from the sky and fears of revenge by advancing Syrian troops and Iranian-backed militias have led to an exodus of tens of thousands of civilians further north to the safety of makeshift camps on the Syrian side of the Turkish border.

Syrians have poured into Idlib at an accelerating rate over the last two years, forced to abandon their homes in other parts of Syria that the government and its foreign military allies have recaptured from rebels.

The United Nations and aid workers have warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if the fighting nears the province’s most heavily populated areas, where some two to three million people live.

East Jerusalem was under Jordanian administration until Israel took control in the 1967 Six-Day War, annexed it, and later declared Jerusalem the indivisible capital of Israel, a status never recognized by the international community.

The United States has long seen Jordan as a source of moderation and stability in the region.

Western nations call on South Sudan neighbours to impose arms embargo

ADDIS ABABA AGENCIES

A coalition of three western nations (Troika) called on Monday for South Sudan's neighbors to impose arms embargo to put pressure on warring sides to cease fighting. Troika, which comprises Norway, United States and UK, said cutting arms flow to South Sudan would help end the suffering of South Sudanese people.

Speaking at a press conference in Ethiopia, Paul Sutphin, US State Department senior adviser on Sudan and South Sudan, said coordinated incremental pressure is needed to bring warring sides to the negotiating table in South Sudan. "Its critical to take arms from those who see political benefit through guns, we believe if we continue to put pressure results will be achieved to end the civil war," he said. "We urge all nations including South Sudan neighbors to cut all arms flow to South Sudan and end support to those who undermine peace including people who engage in illicit financial activity and to stay united in fully backing IGAD's efforts to end the suffering of South Sudanese people," he said. Sutphin's comments came days after the US imposed arms embargo on South Sudan and the European Union imposed travel ban and asset freezes on three current and former South Sudanese officials. Speaking exclusively to Xinhua, South Sudan ambassador to Ethiopia, James Morgan dismissed the US decision to impose arms embargo on his nation. "We're a sovereign state that have the right to buy guns to ensure territorial integrity, impose law and order in our state and protect the rights of our citizens," he said. Morgan also said South Sudan currently doesn't import arms from the US and as such won't feel the effects of an arms embargo he said US has imposed out of its "own self-interest and ego". South Sudan has been embroiled in more than four years of conflict that has taken a devastating toll on the people, creating one of the most severe refugee crises in the world. The world's newest nation descended into violence after a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy turned rebel chief Riek Machar led to split in the army, leaving soldiers to fight alongside ethnic lines. A 2015 peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict was weakened after the outbreak of renewed fighting in July 2016 forced the opposition rebel leader Riek Machar to flee South Sudan.

Tuesday, 6 Feb ruary, 2018

indiAn Sc WArnS pAnchnAyAtS AgAinSt ‘honour kiLLingS’ NEW DELHI

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AGENCIES

HE Indian Supreme Court told “khap panchayats” that they do not have the right to interfere in marriages between two consenting adults, reports Hindustan Times.

Khaps are community groups existing in rural areas of north India. They hold their own ‘courts’. They have a history of annulling marriages, specifying dress code mainly for women, ruling against cell phone usage and even forcing rape victims to marry their rapists.

They are known to oppose marriages based on caste and religion which has often resulted in honour killings.

“We can’t say which marriage is null or void, which marriage is good or bad… just stay out of it,” Chief Justice of India (CJI) India Dipak Misra reprimanded. “Two persons marry…they are

adults…you are no one to interfere in it.” The court made these remarks while

indonesia to hold reconciliation meetings between terror convicts and survivors JAKARTA AGENCIES

A landmark reconciliation meeting between survivors of terror attacks and the perpetrators will be held in Indonesia this month, Jakarta said on Monday. The meeting, announced by Chief Security Minister Wiranto, is being touted as a first for Muslim-majority Indonesia, which has long struggled with terrorist attacks. “This meeting is quite unique; it has not ever happened before,” Wiranto, who like many Indonesians goes only by one name, told reporters in the capital Jakarta. People currently incarcerated for terror-related offences and ex-convicts will get the chance to apologise to survivors at the meeting, he said. The government did not release the names of the militants or the survivors, and it was not clear for how long or where the two groups would meet. It also did not say if any family members of those killed in such attacks would participate.

Indonesia, which has the world's biggest Muslim population, has suffered a string of extremist attacks in the past 16 years, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.

Maldives president writes to top court over court ruling MALE AGENCIES

Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has written to the Supreme Court explaining the challenges being faced in implementing the recent court order in releasing detained opposition leaders, a statement from the President's Office said here Monday. The statement said that Yameen had written three letters to the top court over the issue.

Minister of Legal Affairs at the President's Office Aishath Azima Shakoor said that despite the Attorney General and the Prosecutor General having shared their concerns with the Chief Justice earlier, regarding the challenges faced in implementing the Supreme Court ruling, the issue remains unresolved. She said the president's letters highlight that the Supreme Court order issued Thursday, has resulted in an encroachment on the regulatory powers of the State, the disruption of the functions mandated to State institutions under the Constitution, and the infringement of national security and public interest, and if implemented, would potentially lead to an undermining of the supremacy of the Constitution. Maldives has been plunged into a crisis since the Supreme Court ruling, with clashes having erupted across the capital.

hearing a plea seeking a ban on khap panchayats, voicing guidelines to stop

FOREIGN NEWS 07

honour killings. “They do not oppose inter-caste or inter-religious alliances but are only against same gotra marriages as they are the conscience keepers,” defended khap panchayats’ lawyer.

“Don’t be the conscience-keepers of society,” remarked the CJI. In a previous court hearing, an Indian court clearly warned khaps against threats and attacks made on people opting for inter-caste marriage- declaring them “absolutely illegal”.

“If an adult man and woman marry, no khap, panchayat or society can question them,’’ the court bench said. The Public Interest Litigation stated several people have been killed in the name of honour as the Khaps were against intercaste and intra-caste marriages.

A senior counsel Raju Ramachandrans, involved in the case, reiterated that khap panchayats influence needs to be controlled. The case will now be heard on February 16.

Japan's PM vows to proceed with US base relocation in Okinawa after poll TOKYO AGENCIES

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed on Monday the victory of a ruling party-backed candidate in a mayoral election on Okinawa, vowing to press ahead with a controversial plan to move a US Marines air base on the southern island.

The candidate, Taketoyo Toguchi, backed by Abe’s ruling coalition, defeated incumbent Susumu Inamine, who opposed moving the US Marines’ Futenma air base to his city of Nago in Okinawa’s north from a more populous part of the island.

The victory by Toguchi – who stressed boosting Okinawa’s economy in his campaign – is expected to give impetus to the long-stalled plan to relocate the base.

The election came just days before US Vice President Mike Pence was scheduled to visit Japan this week on a trip expected to focus on security ties in face of North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat.

“I would like to proceed [with the relocation] based on a ruling by the Supreme Court of Japan, while seeking understanding of the public,” Abe told reporters.

trump accuses house intel panel's top democrat of leaking information WASHINGTON AGENCIES

US President Donald Trump on Monday accused US Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, of leaking “confidential” information. The panel is conducting one of several federal investigations into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election. Trump has repeatedly maintained there was no collusion between him and his campaign and Russia. “Adam (Schiff) leaves closed committee hearings to illegally leak confidential information. Must be stopped!” Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. On Friday, the House intelligence panel released a memo that alleged that the FBI and the Justice Department were biased against Trump in part of their investigation.

Trump said the memo vindicated him, but critics say it leaves out crucial context.

Democrats have pushed to publish a rebuttal. Some Republican lawmakers have played down the significance of the memo and say the investigation by the special counsel, Robert Mueller, must continue.

Representatives for Schiff could not be immediately reached for comment.

Man shot trying to enter iran presidency: reports TEHRAN AGENCIES

He said he wanted to support Okinawa’s development.

Japan’s Supreme Court ruled in 2016 in favor of a government plan to relocate the US military base, dealing a blow to islanders’ efforts to get rid of the base altogether.

Japan’s central government and authorities on Okinawa – reluctant host to the bulk of US military forces in the country – have bickered for years over the plan, first agreed between Tokyo and Washington in

1996. Many Okinawa residents have long associated the US military presence with crime, pollution and accidents, and resentment was rekindled by a spate of incidents involving US military aircraft. In December, a window fell from a US helicopter onto a school sports field, fanning safety concerns.

The Nago result could bode ill for Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga, another base opponent who is up for re-election later this year.

Iranian security forces shot and wounded a man who tried to enter the president's office in central Tehran by force on Monday, local media reported. "An individual wearing a shroud tried to push through the doors of the president's office and was warned by security guards," Tehran's deputy governor for security Mohsen Nasj-Hamedani told the Fars and Tasnim news agencies. "The person was prevented from going further and was wounded by police gunshots," Nasj-Hamedani said, adding that authorities were trying to determine the individual´s identity and motive. Tasnim reported it had received phone calls from witnesses saying the man was carrying a machete. Some ultra-conservative activists in Iran wear shrouds during protests against the West, as a symbol of their determination to defend a cause to the death.

Hopes for talks grow with North Korea's ceremonial leader to visit South Korea for Olympics

SEOUL AGENCIES

North Korea’s ceremonial leader will make an unprecedented visit to South Korea this week, officials said on Monday, as hopes grow for high-level interKorean talks during the Winter

Olympics that begin in four days.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) news agency confirmed on Monday that Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, would attend the Olympics’ opening ceremony on Friday in South Korea’s

CMYK

alpine resort town of Pyeongchang.

Seoul’s Unification Ministry said on Sunday Kim would lead a 22-strong delegation that was expected to arrive in South Korea on Friday for a threeday trip. Kim’s visit comes as Seoul pins its hopes on high-level talks during the February 9-25 Games between not only the two Koreas but also the North and the United States. The South’s presidential Blue House in Seoul said the visit by Kim, the most senior North Korean official to cross the border into the South since the Korean War ended with a truce in 1953, would create “various opportunities” for high-level talks. “(Kim’s visit) shows North Korea’s resolve for improved inter-Korean relations and the success of the Olympics, as well as its sincere, earnest attitude,” Blue House spokesperson Kim Euikyeom told a news briefing on Monday.

The Games opening ceremony will also be attended by US Vice President Mike Pence, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other world leaders.

South Korean President Moon Jae-

in told his US counterpart Donald Trump in a phone call on Friday that the momentum of improved North-South relations would continue and that Pence’s visit would be an “important prelude for that”, according to the Blue House.

Trump said during a meeting with North Korean defectors on Friday that, despite a “very tricky situation”, North Korea’s participation in the Olympics could result in “something good”.

However, a White House official has said Pence planned to use his attendance to counter what he sees as Pyongyang’s efforts to “hijack” the Olympics with a propaganda campaign.

A lawmaker in Seoul said some 36,000 foreigners had been banned from entering South Korea, including people connected with extremist groups such as Islamic State, to ensure security during the Games.

Lawmaker Yi Wan-young told reporters of the ban after being briefed by the nation’s spy agency on Monday. Yi said around 60,000 security personnel would guard Olympics venues.

08 COMMENT

Tuesday, 6 February, 2018

The anti-judiciary rhetoric Moderation is the way out

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HE PML-N leadership continues to ratchet up its rhetoric against the judiciary. At his Jaranwala rally Nawaz Sharif questioned the legitimacy of disqualifying a leader who had been elected by the people. Maryam denigrated the judicial system, maintaining that after God the public’s court holds the most power. Going a step further she called upon thepublic to rise and punish the ‘conspiring pawns’. ustify their illegal acts like lynchings, pogroms and kristạllnachts. The so called ‘mob justice’ is however looked at with abhorrence in civilised societies.

In democracies judgments passed by a court can only be annulled by a higher court and not through public gatherings, whatever the numbers.

The jubilation over the PML-N becoming the largest single party in Senate after 18 years combined with elation over unexpectedly large audience gathered to listen to Sharif in Peshawar seems to have acted as a shot of adrenaline for the former prime minister. He made a desperate appeal to the audience to elect his party with an overwhelming majority in the general election, adding that this would allow the party to make “laws to stop disqualification of an elected prime minister in future”.

It was unfortunate on the part of Nawaz Sharif to declare his intention to overturn the SC judgment that disqualified him through parliament on the basis of a supposed big mandate. Only months back the PML-N steamrollered the opposition to change the electoral rules to allow Sharif to assume the post of PML-N chief.

This was strongly resented by the entire opposition which considered it an act alien to democracy. Any attempt to use PML-N majority to make a fundamental change in the basic structure of the constitution to once again provide relief to an individual is likely to meet with stronger opposition both inside and outside parliament. There is also a likelihood of the judiciary taking a tough stand on the matter. A further polarisation of society can be detrimental for economic development as well as for social peace. Hopefully the courts too would take a wider view of the law of contempt.

Highway of death Libya to Italy sea route coffin for migrants

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HE ninety hopefuls seeking a prosperous new life in Europe only ended up at the bottom of the central Mediterranean on January 31 off the Libyan coast, raising the death toll from drowning for January 2018 alone to 246, by International Organisation for Migration reckoning. Among the illfated packed like sardines on the dilapidated ferry were 33 Pakistanis, only one of whom survived, and a fourmember family, including two children. The IOM credits Pakistan with another dubious distinction, of an ‘improvement’ to ninth place in the list of largest illegal immigrant nationalities making the hazardous crossing and reaching Italy in January 2018 (240), as compared to thirteenth place for the whole of 2017 (3,138 migrants). Reportedly, the central character and three accomplices directly responsible for conveying their unfortunate compatriots to a watery grave have been arrested by our always wise-after-the-event FIA, but as regards apt deterrent punishment, nothing can be predicted considering the power, reach and widelyspread tentacles of these human- smuggling mafias.

Most of the thirteen deceased identified so far hailed from the Pakistani migrants ‘triangle of death’, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin and Gujranwala, to which 15 Europebound illegals gunned down by militants in Balochistan in November 2015, also belonged. Nothing came of that investigation as the big fish fled abroad, and only small fry were arrested. Considering these coincidences of origin, and countless others, FIA and the interior ministry need to concentrate and clamp down on the ruthless human traffickers operating from these cities to avert future disasters off the Libyan coast and elsewhere.

Mere hand-wringing will not suffice for grieving families. Our embassies abroad too need to be proactive and helpful in such tragic cases, in identifying and swift repatriation of corpses.

Why do destitute citizens pay through their noses (by taking loans) and defy death for this dangerous odyssey? The answer is simple and stark: unemployment and poverty. Reportedly, there are 500,000 jobless graduates in Pakistan, of whom roughly 310,000 are from the Punjab, while the poverty statistics make for even grimmer reading, due to indifference of successive governments. They are all culpable for the January 31 tragedy.

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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Wrath of the watchmen Our Lordships must tread the path of ‘contempt of court’ with extreme caution

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Shah Nawaz Mohal

UIS custodiet ipsos custodes? (Who watches the watchmen) asked the Roman satirist Juvenal rhetorically two millennia back. The answer, dearest sirs and ma’ams, alludes us still.

Luckily, the federation of Islamic Republic of Pakistan has constitutionally appointed watchmen. Their Lordships of Big Marble Palace are the highest forum to interpret the law of the land and parcel out justice according to the dictates of the law. Of late, our esteemed watchmen have made it loud and clear that they will take to task those who dared to censure them. Nehal Hashmi is not their first prey. However, he is the first one to be thrown behind bars for irating them. Who is next, only they know.

It is pertinent to mention here that conventionally, at least up till now, the apex court has shown extreme leniency in contempt cases. In majority of the cases the one held in contempt walked free after tendering an ‘unconditional apology’ before their Lordships.

Two cases of contempt of court, however, stand out. One is of famous advocate and former law minister, Doctor Babar Awan, whose mem-

bership of Supreme Court was suspended for good two years in 2012 by then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Although he tendered an ‘unconditional apology’ still he had to face the music. Awan, later on, got his license back in 2014.

In what Pakistan Peoples Party termed as a judicial coup, the then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani was sent packing back in 2012, when their Lordships sentenced him till the rising of the court for his contempt of court — Gillani refused to write letter to Swiss authorities seeking details of bank accounts of then president and co-chairperson, Asif Ali Zardari.

The judicial history of Pakistan is patchy when it comes to contempt of court cases, the above two examples cover the length and breadth to which it has been practiced. The contempt of court law is enshrined in our constitution as well as Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 deals with it at length. Article 204 of constitution of Pakistan sheds light on what act qualifies as contempt of court and power of Supreme Court and High Courts to punish those who abuse, interfere with or obstruct the process of the court in any way or disobeys any order of the court. Also, if a person scandalises the court or puts a judge of the court into hatred, ridicule or contempt or does anything which tends to prejudice the determination of a matter pending before the court is perceived guilty of contempt.

The wrath that Senator Nehal Hashmi of PML-N has faced is of new breed. Mr Hashmi spoke his heart out at a workers convention and warned the JIT members and judges of dire consequences in May, 2017. The very next day all hell broke loose. The SC took notice, amidst that chaos, a charge sheet was issued and the hearings continued and Mr Hashmi, who recently underwent angioplasty, was told to submit his reply by mid of August, 2017.

Other happenings, some big, some small took the limelight away. And like a bolt from the

blue, Mr Hashmi found his way back in the news last week.

The watchmen have decided to come out of their dormancy. The next potential preys include State Minister of Interior Talal Chaudhry, Privatisation Minister Daniyal Aziz, Mir Shakeel Ur Rehman and Ahmed Noorani of Geo. What fate holds for them is still a mystery for us many.

However, one thing is certain, the activism of Chaudhary Court is back.

The leniency previously shown by apex court in most contempt cases was unmistakable and consistent. The Panama case verdict has changed everything. The latest foray of apex court in the murky realm of politics can be termed as the re-entry of Chaudhary-style judicial activism. By making an example of Nehal Hashmi, the watchmen gave an unequivocal message; don’t take our name in vain ever again.

Their Lordships have, however, forgotten that every person and institution is hostage of its past. Even the most cursory student of Pakistan’s history knows the role judiciary played whenever there was a coup. The judicialisation of politics today when juxtaposed alongside the legalisation of past takeovers makes one queasy about intent behind the recent acts.

Politics is a dirty, messy game where intrigue and abuse are weapons of choice. There are enemies to be annihilated, friends to appease, and elections to win. When judiciary, the most revered institution, barges in this realm and starts to parcel out punishments for purely political utterances, things are bound to go awry.

Our watchmen are neither without sin nor without a past. And as to the question who watches the watchmen. Well, everybody has their eyes set on every single remark they utter, every act they commit and every judgment they hand down.

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

India’s Republic Day awards When the constitution has banned awards why should they be there?

Border Crossing Kuldip Nayar

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do not find the enthusiasm which marked the first Republic Day. I recall how we would get up early in the morning to be ready to line up the Rajpath leading to India Gate where different battalions of army, navy and the air force personnel and armed police displayed their martial prowess. Unlike in the past when the salute was taken by the prime minister, now the president takes the salute. The whole thing is ceremonial.

The president comes down in a buggy, drawn by horses from Rashtrapati Bhawan to the saluting dais. The prime minister receives him.

He takes the salute. There is transparency in what is being done. Normally, India invites one guest of honour from a foreign nation and he or she is hosted with all pomp and how.

Republic Day is also the day when awards are given to the people who have excelled themselves in various fields, especially to the services personnel who have shown gallant in times of troubles on the border and those who had sacrificed their lives defending India. These are deserving people But over the years, the other awards have come to be given to the workers of the ruling party, at present, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

This is, however, contrary to the thinking of framers of the constitution. They banned awards. That is the reason that when the Janata Party came in the wake of the popular movement, led by Gandhian Jayaprakash Narayan,

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208

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stopped that practice. The person who initiated the awards was India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. He wanted the recognition of people, who had excelled themselves in the fields of literary, economic or scientific. No money is given because the award was too valuable to be weighed on the scales of monetary benefit.

Nehru also did not want the award to be linked with politics. He did not envisage that one day the entire exercise of selection would get politicised. The government would pick up its chamchas (sycophants) to reward his or her services to the ruling party.

I recall that initially the Republic Day awards, started some 50 years ago, were under the ministry of external affairs which Nehru headed. Subsequently, the job was entrusted to the home ministry which gave the responsibility to one deputy secretary. He had too many things on his plate. He passed on the task to the information officer attached to the ministry. That is how I came to handle the job because I was then the home ministry’s information officer.

The mode of selection was arbitrary. The prime minister and other ministers would suggest one or more names which I, as information officer, went on stacking in a file. Almost a month before the Republic Day I had to shortlist the names. I must admit I followed no rules while preparing the list which went to the deputy secretary in charge, then to the home secretary and finally to the home minister. I found very few changes in the list I sent.

But the toughest job was preparing the citations. I would have the dictionary and Roget’s Thesaurus before me. In some cases, I had the bio-data to guide myself. Mostly they contained a mere cryptic description of the person whether he was a scientist, an academician or economist.

That helped me somewhat but preparing the citation on that basis was challenging.

The entire process was so haphazard that the Supreme Court had to intervene to ask the government to constitute a selection committee, including the opposition leader as its member.

However, some order came to prevail once the committee was in position. Yet, preparing the citation was my task.

The draft gazette notification of names was issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. I recollect that once the name of Ms Lazaraus was suggested by

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the president. We, in the home ministry, that the honour had been conferred on the then famous educationist Ms Lazarous. Accordingly, the gazette notification was made public.

But when President Rajendra Prasad saw the notification, he said the name he had suggested was that of a nurse. She had attended to him while he got a bout of asthma when he was travelling to Hyderabad from Karnool in Andhra Pradesh. We were all embarrassed that the honour had been bestowed on a wrong person. But we could do nothing because the name was already in the public domain. That year two Lazarous were given the awards.

In the past, when the Congress was in power it conferred the Padma Bushan award to the US hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal despite some criminal cases pending against him. There was a furore in the country but home ministry justified his selection on the plea that he was a known Indian who had served the cause of the country abroad. But there are several cases of eminent people refusing to accept the award on the ground that the panel of selectors was not capable enough to judge their work.

The lesson to be learnt is whether there should be any award at all. The experience is that the ruling party tends to give “recognition” to the people who are either members of the party are connected with it. The real purpose is lost because the recognition is extended to those who are close to the party.

This only emphasises the argument that the awards are not according to merits. This charge will remain because the selection is done by people who are nominated by the government. Government should have included the opposition leader in the selection panel but he or she would be in the minority. There should be a debate in the country to on the importance of awards. They have outlived their utility which was not there even when we they were introduced.

When the constitution has banned awards why should they be there? They violate the spirit of the constitution and the general understanding. Even their introduction was wrong. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should initiate the debate in the country to know whether the awards should continue or not.

Kuldip Nayar is a veteran Indian journalist, human rights activist and a noted author.

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Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Tuesday, 6 February, 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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The blind truth

Does Pakistan have an Afghanistan strategy?

Will pressurising Pakistan work? lead to more bloodshed and more terrorism. One The High Peace Council is, in reality, not doing positive step Pakistan has taken to ensure much in terms of promoting dialogue with the Talspillover of terrorist outfit members on either iban. The Taliban, on their side, were removed side is wiring the porous border between Pak- from power by the US, and basically want a reasistan and Afghanistan that is to be manned and surance from the US that this will not happen mined. If supported by both sides it will be a again. So, what the Taliban really want is to talk with the US, as well as regreater success than if ceive guarantees about the done by Pakistan alone. It removal of foreign troops. is steps like these that will This incidentally raises lead to a solution to terPakistan is fighting another issue that can be rorism on both soils. summarised as follows: The excuse Taliban and other terror the Taliban were removed Afghanistan takes to opoutfits inside its territory. from power 16 years ago pose this is on grounds it and want to come back, will create an issue for However it becomes an even if in a power-sharing families on both sides.

Afghanistan needs to unsustainable position to mode. But is it logical to expect that 20-year-old correct her priorities. yaSMeeN aftaB ali open every front with militants who are fighting Curtailing terrorism must on the ground want to be Priority Number One. every outfit CCORDING to a local newspaper Is the ground taken by bring back to power peosimultaneously report “A senior US general has as- Afghanistan the actual ple who were removed 16 sured Islamabad that the United reason or now; as years ago? If this is the States is not planning to conduct mil- Afghanistan is used as case, then ideological-poitary operations inside Pakistan.” strategic depth by India, litical-religious cohesive(Feb3, 2018) This followed soon after Trump the new ally of US; ness must play a special gave authority to his commanders allowing Afghanistan is opposing the step? role, one that would somehow overshadow the them to take action against terrorists both in One cannot but be reminded here of the ar- aforementioned economic benefits. The whole Pakistan and Afghanistan. (Feb1, 2018) ticle by Praveen Swami in Frontline magazine issue certainly needs to be further understood.”

US has developed a policy that it wants Pak- titled India’s Secret war in which the writer It is also a fact that there are divisions and difistan to follow at the expense of Pakistan’s states, “Early in January, Jadhav appeared on ferences between groups within Taliban and other peril. Laurel Miller writes in a brilliant piece ti- Pakistani television, insisting he was still “a militant outfits. These make meaningful progress tled The US and Pakistan: Best Frenemies For- commissioned officer of the Indian navy” — a towards peace difficult. The stronger hold of Talever? “The United States is once again ratcheting statement that contradicts the government of iban in Afghanistan places them in a stronger poup the pressure on Pakistan to fall in line with India’s statements and directly implicates it in sition to negotiate with Kabul. Kabul US policy in Afghanistan by ending the Afghan his activities. Precisely who Jadhav was and unfortunately, being economically dependent on Taliban’s enjoyment of safe haven. Unsurpris- why he ended up where he did remain pro- US, is not independent to make her own decisions. ingly, Pakistan is once again pushing back. Amid foundly opaque. Basic questions remain unanFocusing less on an inclusive dialogue with the mistrust, mutual recrimination, and stale nar- swered; official documents are sealed. But stakeholders to resolve the conflict and totally ratives that have increasingly characterised the interviews with over 10 diplomats and intelli- on Pakistan bashing to the exclusion of everyUS-Pakistan relationship in recent years, there is gence and naval officials from three countries thing else is a no-win situation for everyone. Inone Pakistani talking point I have heard routinely make it clear that the governments of both India telligence sharing by both Afghanistan and from officials that should and Pakistan have been Pakistan, making the wired boundary a success be taken at face value: economical with the thereby restricting movement across border, is Pakistan does not intend truth. The implications of mandatory for starters. to fight the Afghan war Laurel Miller is spot on when the writer these questions go far beFocusing less on an on Pakistani soil. Alyond Jadhav’s fate, for states, “The United States insists that Pakistani though the reality of the behind the case lies a se- cooperation is essential; if that’s true, then the inclusive dialogue with situation is dissatisfying, cret war that may claim policy imperative must be to elicit more, not the United States needs a hundreds, even thou- less, cooperation. But the more punitive the stakeholders to resolve strategy in Afghanistan sands, of lives.” (Feb 2, American approach to Pakistan, and the more the conflict and totally on 2018) The article since it humiliating (from a Pakistani perspective) the and policy toward Pakistan based on the best came out has gone viral rhetoric of demands, the less cooperation is Pakistan bashing to the Pakistani behaviour it can being discussed by every likely. Pakistan would undoubtedly prefer to exclusion of everything have, not the Pakistani maintain already dwindling US civilian and sepolitical analyst. behaviour it wants to The objectives of US, curity assistance, but it isn’t dependent upon it, else is a no-win situation have.” (January 15, 2018) Afghanistan and various and Pakistan’s so-called “all-weather friendTruer words were stakeholders in ship” with China could help it ride out a storm for everyone never spoken. PressurisAfghanistan are different blowing from Washington.” ing Pakistan to fight US The question is: does Pakistan have a clear and often in conflict. Bullwar on her soil, leading dosing by US will not de- cut strategy for Afghanistan? to a weakened Taliban liver. In an interesting and strengthening US and NATO forces is a piece by Paolo Cotta ramusino (contents of yasmeen aftab ali is a lawyer, academic hope that will not be materialised. which were presented at Herat Security Dialogue- and political analyst. She has authored a book Pakistan is fighting Taliban and other terror VI (13-14 October 2017). He writes, “While the titled ‘a Comparative analysis of Media & outfits inside its territory. However it becomes government of Afghanistan wants, in principle, to Media Laws in Pakistan.’ She can be an unsustainable position to open every front talk with the Taliban, still the message transmitted contacted at: yasmeenali62@gmail.com and with every outfit simultaneously. This will only has been basically an invitation to “surrender”. tweets at @yasmeen_9

A

AKBAR the Great Mughal emperor, had in his a court a wise minister named, Birbal, on an ordinary evening the emperor inquired him, “Birbal! Tell me, is the world is filled with people who can see or people who cannot see?”

Akbar was sure that the world is full of those who can see, although Birbal defied the idea and told him that the world is filled with blind people. Akbar gave little time to prove his argument on which he took a piece of cloth and went in the street, he then tied it upon his head. The onlookers asked him, “What is it?” Birbal would say, it is a Turban.

Then he took it off and hung it loosely around his neck, he people asked him again, that what it was. This time he told them it was a muffler. The next time he fastened the cloth around his waist and waited for the people to ask again, now he told them it was a Dhoti.

Taking this as an example he told the king, “As you can see my lord, they all have eyes, yet they do not see what it is in reality, what I have is merely a piece of cloth, which I fashioned in various ways.

Everyone one of them will recall this call differently now, some may call it turban while others while think it is a muffler.” The world is full of people who are blind to the reality who Birbal called blind men. Actually the world is not only erupting with blind men, but with illiterate as well. The fact is that our parliament is home to such people, and their actions keep proving their intellect. Recently a bill was sanctioned related to child abuse and safety, after the incident of Kasur. The bill focuses to provide children education on “good touch and bad touch”. Further the Speaker Sindh assembly, said that onwards with the new academic year, education on self-awareness will be made mandatory in all schools of Sindh.

The female members, debated that the laws have been there for years, but they have never been purposefully implemented that has led to heinous incidents in our country.

Shazia Murree, member PPP has said, “Despite all the opposition, we will implement these topics as compulsory from 3rd , 4th and 5th grade in Sindh.”

The incident created a wave of change in the country, and political figures as well as celebrities made the most of it by tweeting, or showing remorse on media. While no one has yet seen the real cause, to which they are still blind. Things will not shift gears, after passing bills or educating children on “good touch or bad touch”. Even after they have included sex and gender education in the curriculum so that the teachers can further elaborate the topic, and spread awareness. But what about the other means of education, the biggest of all that is lying in our homes, Television, the most widely used mobile phones and unfiltered internet connections.

Since the last two decades our media has gained popularity in the name of “freedom of speech”. A storm of entertainment has entangled all our minds, the young and the adult.

Uncensored Bollywood songs, movies and award shows that have been reaching new heights of vulgarity each year, which later on is copy pasted in Lollywood.

SyEd Farhad aNwEr rIzvI Karachi

‘Put Kashmir on back burner’ THERE is a national consensus in Pakistan for seeking normal and peaceful relationship with India, but this could not be achieved by putting the issue of Kashmir on the back burner.

There should not be any doubt that Pakistan wants to have a cordial and peaceful relationship with India one the basis of sovereign equality and mutual interest.

There is national consensus on this in Pakistan. However, no shortcut to achieving a lasting peace.

Nor does cherry picking work we need to engage uninterruptedly, comprehensively and meaningfully. Let’s be realistic, it is the Jammu and Kashmir dispute that is root causes of mutual distrust and other bilateral issues. Appealing for taking the Kashmir issue head on. It is high time to break the carapace of complacency and dispense with sold-serving approaches. We need to move on all first simultaneously if we have benefit from the opportunities.

JaLaL aGha BaLUCh Turbat

Another Kashmir Day FEBRUARY 5 passed once again with the usual fanfare that surrounds it. News channels played tributes to the Kashmiri people and their freedom struggle all day. There were special radio transmissions and newspapers carried special Kashmir Day supplements.

The importance of observing Kashmir Day lies in the act of reaffirming solidarity with the Kashmiri people and the stakes the state of Pakistan and its people have in the matter.

And while we may not have our lack of issues, Kashmir has definitely been the one constant which has existed to torment Pakistan from the start. One can only imagine how the Kashmirirs must feel about it. But for all the rallies and noise that is made, the Kashmir issue is constantly surrounded by a sense of non-closure for obvious reasons.

Diplomatic solutions and a referendum are naturally to be desired, but one cannot help but remember the days of old, of pre-statehood when problems were much easier to solve. And with 70 years in between and numerous wars to count for vouch for all the years, one wonders at times if the solution may lay outside convention. After all, Pakistan is supposed to be an alliance of Muslims, and the atrocities in Kashmir can only breed a zeal which can be dangerous in the wrong hands and circumstances. raBIa ahMEd Islamabad

10 business abraaj group denies misuse of health funds, says all media reports baseless THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM, AMONGST THE LEADING ONES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAD BEEN ACCUSED BY INVESTORS FOR MISUSE OF FUNDS LAHORE NEWSDESK

Abraaj Group in a statement has denied any wrongdoing that money from its $ 1 billion healthcare fund was used for other purposes. In a clarification offered to Financial Times, Abraaj stated all reports circulating in the media were inaccurate and false. It added some of the capital from the fund had not been used as fast as expected due to regulatory and political developments in markets where Abraaj operates. Abraaj has also hired the services of KPMG to investigate the matter and authenticate all receipts and payments made by the fund. Also, Abraaj told FT delays in usage of funds had also been conveyed to the investors. On Friday, a report in New York Times alleged investors in a $ 1 billion health-care fund managed by Abraaj Group including Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) unit, and government-backed development finance organisation’s CDC Group PLC and Prop Arco Group reportedly hired a forensic accountant to examine and trace exactly what happened to $ 200 million given to Abraaj for investments in the healthcare sector in developing economies such as Pakistan, India, and Nigeria. Founded in 2002, Abraaj Group is a private equity, venture capital, and real estate investment firm specialising in early venture, seed, growth capital, emerging growth, mid venture, late venture, expansion capital, industry consolidation, mezzanine, sub-debt, PIPES, buyouts, bridge, recapitalisation, infrastructure, and buy and build in mature companies in fintech sector.

Abraaj Capital divested majority stake in K-Electric to a Chinese power entity in October 2016. It has been present in Pakistan since 2004 boasting a diversified portfolio of investments in several sectors including healthcare, power distribution, renewable energy and industrials. The group has been very active in the healthcare sector, recently investing in the Islamabad Diagnostic Centre, aiming to profit from the market gap in the highly shattered diagnostic market within the health sector. Most recent investments by the group include Cinepax, country’s leading cinema operator with 29 screens in 12 locations across 8 cities. Abraaj aims to triple the size with 80 new screens in the next four years with this partnership.

Tuesday, 6 February 2018

Independent economIsts oppose ImF proposals on nFc award KARACHI

I

KAZIM ALAM

NDEPENDENT economists have criticised the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for allegedly trying to “wrest the function of resource distribution” from elected representatives.

The Washington-based lender has reportedly asked the federal government to set up a technocratic fiscal council as well as a permanent national tax commission to make resource distribution under the next National Finance Commission (NFC) favourable to the federal government, according to media reports.

“It is none of the IMF’s business to tell us how to govern our country,” said NFC technical member for Balochistan Dr Kaiser Bengali, while speaking to Pakistan Today on Monday.

“Resource distribution is a political process. It cannot be handed over to technocrats who – as opposed to elected representatives – take orders from either Washington or GHQ,” he added.

The NFC is a constitutional body that decides the formula for the distribution of tax revenues among the federal and provincial governments every five years. The 7th award, which became effective in 2010 and expired in 2015, increased the share of provinces in the ‘divisible pool’ from 47.5 per cent to 57.5 per cent while reducing the share of the federal government by 10 per cent to 42.5 per cent. The divisible pool consists of income and corporate

tax, sales tax on goods, and excise, export and import duties.

According to the IMF, the last award brought the federal government’s finances under pressure and increased macroeconomic imbalances, such as the budget deficit. The reported proposals by the IMF include setting up the technocratic fiscal council, creating a contingency fund under the joint supervision of federal and provincial governments, and the establishment of a permanent national tax commission.

The resource distribution process can be improved by strengthening the NFC Secretariat which, Bengali said, currently has only one joint secretary.

“NFC members need professionals like

economists and tax experts to help them with data and analysis. But the structure of the NFC should remain as is. There is no need for a separate technocratic council or tax commission,” he added.

He blamed the federal government for the delay in the NFC award.

“Provinces completed the whole exercise in 5 months when they sat together in 2010. The next award is in deadlock because of the federal government’s lack of interest in the issue,” he said.

The federal government is demanding that it should receive additional 7 per cent from the divisible pool for Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. But the provinces are opposing this proposal

because it will reduce their share of national resources.

The population was the single criterion for the distribution of funds among provinces before the seventh NFC award. But the 2010 exercise changed this principle and introduced a multiplecriteria formula based on population, revenue generation, backwardness and population density. In addition, the award also devolved the general sales tax on services to the provinces, which boosted their revenues.

“Instead of taking resources away from the provinces, the federal government should abolish ministries and institutions in line with the 18th amendment to the constitution to curtail its expenses,” Bengali said.

According to University of Karachi’s Applied Economic Research Centre member of the economics faculty Zia Abbas, the IMF usually takes the one-size-fits-all approach, which rarely works in Pakistan. “We need political solutions to political problems,” he said while cautioning against towing the IMF’s line blindly.

Institute of Business Management Head of Economics Department Shahida Wizarat believes many technocrats that are endorsed and promoted by the IMF have little knowledge about economic realities of Pakistan. “They operate in the garb of technocrats and only disturb the national harmony and are a source of discord among the provinces and the federal government,” she said.

Asian markets under pressure after Wall St sell-off, tech companies down globally HONG KONG AFP/APP

Asian markets tumbled on Monday after US stocks were pummelled at the end of last week, with traders fretting that a surging US economy will lead to sharp interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

The selling was also fuelled by profit-taking after a blistering January that saw several indexes strike record or multi-year highs, while tech firms took a hit from disappointing reports by Apple and Google parent Alphabet.

Fresh turmoil in Washington after Donald Trump approved the declassification of a controversial memo linked to the FBI's Russia probe also caused a stir.

In New York, on Friday the Dow plunged more than 2 per cent after the release of a healthy January jobs report that showed the biggest increase in wages in 9 years.

The news sent bench market 10-year Treasury yields – a key guide to interest rates globally – to fresh four-year highs and ratcheted up concerns that monetary policy will tighten more than thought before.

Equity markets were already in negative territory last week owing to rising bond yields and profit-taking.

Moreover, the losses have seeped through to Asia this week. Tokyo ended the morning session 2.4 per

cent lower, while Hong Kong sank 1.9 per cent and Sydney shed 1.6 per cent.

Seoul lost 1.6 per cent, Singapore dropped 1.4 per cent and Taipei dived more than 2 per cent, with Manila, Jakarta and Wellington also suffering in the heaviest blood-letting in the region this year. Meanwhile, Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) was closed on Monday due to Kashmir day.

"It is going to be a nervous start to the week for traders across all markets as they wonder if last week's reversal in US stocks and the ugly close on Friday ... is likely the start of something bigger," said AxiTrader Greg Mckenna Chief Market Strategist.

Correction ahead?

The surge in bond yields, fuelled by a surging US economy and corporate earnings, has spooked traders worried that the Federal Reserve will lift borrowing costs more than the three times initially expected this year. "When interest rates rise, it makes equities look less attractive to fixed income investors, but also it chokes off economic growth," American Century Investments Chief Investment Officer and Senior Portfolio Manager of multi-asset strategies Rich Weiss said.

"When longer-term interest rates rise, that tends to stem inflation and economic growth, and that feeds back into corporate profits," he told Bloomberg News.

Other analysts warned markets could see a 10 per

cent correction over the coming weeks as traders readjust their outlooks for interest rates.

Among the biggest losers were tech firms after Apple announced disappointing sales of its flagship iPhone X and Alphabet reported a fourth-quarter loss.

Both companies fell more than 4 per cent Friday.

Hong Kong-listed Tencent plunged almost 3 per cent on Monday and AAC technologies was 0.9 per cent down, while Sharp dived 4 per cent in Tokyo and in Seoul Samsung was 3 per cent off.

Energy firms across Asia were also sharply down as crude tanked on the back of news that US drillers brought more rigs back online to take advantage of a recent lift in prices.

CNOOC, PetroChina and Sinopec all sank more than 3 per cent in Hong Kong, while Inpex bombed 4.5 per cent in Tokyo and Woodside Petroleum was off 2.5 per cent in Sydney.

US team inspects quality of fishing boats to reopen shrimp imports from Pakistan CHINA EXPORTING PAKISTANI SEAFOOD TO EU MARKET FETCHING 3 TIMES MORE THAN DIRECT EXPORTS FROM PAKISTAN KARACHI ARSHAD HUSSAIN

A delegation of United States (US) thoroughly inspected the Pakistani fishing boats at Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authorities (KFHA) to reopen its shrimp import from Pakistan, which had been suspended by the US government in May 2017.

Pakistani traders annually export $ 25 million to $ 30 million worth of shrimps to US buyers, but it shrimp imports was suspended by the US government on the complaints regarding the condition of the fishing boats as per US standards.

“The member of the team visited the KFHA last Friday and inspected the conditions of the fishing boats and the tags etc marked on the boats, said a spokesman of the KFHA. He further added that initially the members of the delegation expressed their satisfaction over the fishing boats but he remained cautious about the final report that is to be submitted to the US authorities for final approval.

The KFHA informed the delegation that the government is working on hygienic seafood and the authority is trying

to maintain international standards in line with those of the US and European Union. Pakistan is already exporting fish to the European Union (EU) and other countries since 2013.

Pakistani food exports are growing rapidly in the current fiscal year, but the quality of exports is not such that it can make enough and immediate impact on the stubbornly high food trade deficit.

According to the Federal Bureau of Statistic (FBS), the food trade deficit is still $ 1.31 billion in the first half of this fiscal year compared to $ 1.21 billion a year ago, as food imports jumped to $ 3.24 billion from $ 2.86 billion but exports rose somewhat slower to $ 1.93 billion from $ 1.65 billion.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of the Pakistani seafood is China, which is im-

ports 30-35 per cent of the total fish exports from Pakistan. Pakistan’s seafood exports stood at $ 394 million last year.

China has emerged to become the single biggest market for Pakistani shrimp, oyster, lobster and crab, and the second largest market for fish, with a combined market of six GCC countries on the top.

The sources in the fishing industry said that the EU is not satisfied with the Pakistani seafood export due to Karachi fish harbour's unhygienic conditions, adding that the condition of the processing plants is better but the Karachi fish harbour's condition is not according to the EU standards.

However, it is worth mentioning that Chinese seafood importers buy raw material like fish and shrimp from Pakistani seafood exporters and then re-export it to

EU after processing the raw material. This allows the Chinese exporters to benefit from better rates offered in the EU market.

Sources further said that EU is a good market for Pakistani fish and shrimps and fetch 3 times the original rate but now the Chinese seafood importers are taking benefit of the Pakistani seafood. The EU markets prefer processed seafood items and pay more for it meanwhile Chinese buyers do not pay well to Pakistani exporters for raw material.

Exporters say Pakistan can easily boost seafood exports to $ 1 billion in 35 years if production is constantly augmented by implementing an effective ban on hauling of juvenile fish from designated breeding areas, promoting modern inland fishing methods, and incentivising fish farming across the country.

business 11

Tuesday, 6 February 2018

Govt to announce another textIle packaGe In a BId to Boost exports ISLAMABAD

F

SHAHZAD PARACHA

EDERAL government all set to announce another package to textile sector soon, Pakistan Today learnt reliably. Ministry of Commerce and Textile has twice briefed Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on this issue in recently, subsequently, some seven proposals have been finalised.

The upcoming package would be related to cost of doing business as the textile sector was vigorously pursuing to get the relief in electricity and gas rates.

It has been proposed that electricity rate for the textile sector should be decreased to Rs 1.45 per unit. Presently the rate is approximately Rs 11 per unit.

Meanwhile, the prices of regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) for textile sector must be decreased to Rs 300 MMBTU,

currently, the gas tariff is Rs 1001 per MMBTU.

It has also been proposed that gas rates should also be decreased to some

extent, presently the rate is Rs 600 per MMBTU. Commerce Ministry has also proposed that government immediately pay Rs 35 billion sales tax refunds and approximately Rs 17 billion customs duty drawbacks to the textile sector.

The ongoing textile policy liabilities have reached to Rs 15 billion, it has been suggested that the government should also address this issue. In addition, it has also been proposed that the government should implement a zero rating on packaging material.

Furthermore, it has been purposed that turn over limit income tax for power looms should be decreased from 1 million to 0.5 million as well as the turnover on electricity is 0.8 million, it should further be mitigated, the proposals indicates.

One officer told that the government has taken the decision in a bid to increase the exports of the country as the decision

to decrease the industrial tariff will help reduce the cost of doing business.

The government had announced Rs 180 billion trade enhancement package in January last year, out of which Rs 160 billion was set aside for the textile industry. However, Ministry of Finance has so far released Rs 16 billion under the prime minister textile package. Officials at the Ministry of Commerce claim that exports of the country have shown an upward trend in the first six month due to this package.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan's exports have plunged down to $ 20 billion in last fiscal year which stood at $ 25 billion under Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) government.

Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) Chairman Javed Bilwani while talking to Pakistan Today said that we had demanded from government to equal the electricity and gas rate with neighbouring country Bangladesh. Pakistani exports are getting 2 per cent profit margin on products whereas the Bangladesh and Vietnam’ business community get 15 to 20 per cent margin.

He further added that our exports have increased by a whopping 10 per cent in the current fiscal year and it has the capacity to increase more.

isGsL MD’s 3rd consecutive appointment raises eyebrows ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

Bitcoin falls to fresh low as more banks ban purchase of cryptocurrencies LONDON AGENCIES

Bitcoin, the world’s best-known cryptocurrency, fell 7 per cent on Monday to a fresh two and a half month low of $ 7338 on back of growing worries about a regulatory clampdown and bans on the purchase of the digital coins. The price of Bitcoin on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange has now fallen by more than half from a peak of almost $ 20,000 hit in December. Last week it suffered its worst weekly performance since 2013. Last week’s slump brought the total market value of cryptocurrencies down to around $ 400 billion, half the high it reached in January, according to industry tracker Coinmarketcap.com. When compared with the value of January 28, 2018, when it was around $ 578 billion, the plunge was over $ 150 billion. Predominantly the market value of cryptocurrencies is calculated by multiplying the number of digital coins in existence by their price, although many questions surround the credibility of the method. British bank Lloyds Banking Group on Sunday said it was banning customers from buying Bitcoin using credit cards. It joined US banking giants JP Morgan Chase & Co and Citigroup who announced similar bans on concerns the lenders could be held liable when the volatile currencies plunge in value.

Nepotism is allegedly ruling the roost in Petroleum Division of the Energy Ministry, as Mobin Saulat is appointed as Inter State Gas System Company Limited (ISGSL) MD and CEO for the 3rd time has raised many eyebrows.

Interestingly, Mobin Saulat has been working in ISGSL as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for the last seven years and has so far remained successful in maintaining his position despite the expiry of the 3-year job contract. The changing governments do not seem to matter as he remained in the position during Pakistan Peoples’ Party’s (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz’s (PML-N) government. Lately, he has been working as acting MD even after the expiry of his job contract in November 2016.

According to a notification of the Establishment Division, “Federal Government is pleased to appoint Mobin Saulat as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Inter State Gas System Company Limited (ISGSL) under the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) on contract basis for a period of three (03) years with immediate effect and until further orders.”

Official sources at petroleum division on condition of anonymity reportedly claimed that Mobin Saulat is a blue-eyed of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and is involved in LNG business. In recent past, premier despite making a permanent appointment on the top slot (MD) of Government Holding

Private Limited (GHPL) and Pakistan LNG Company has set aside the principle of merit and transparency and has appointed Saulat as acting MD. They said the premier while holding the portfolio of Petroleum Minister had earlier made him acting MD of ISGSL despite the expiry of his job contract.

Sources also claimed that PPP’s government former petroleum minister Dr Asim, had earlier appointed Mobin Saulat as the top man of the ISGSL. Sources further added that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had ordered an inquiry over the delay in shareholding agreement of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, however, contrary to the reports of the inquiry which recommended severe action against Mobin Saulat, have since been dismissed with the alleged help of PM Abbasi.

“Since, Mobin Saulat is actively involved in $ 2 billion worth ENGRO LNG Terminal scandal and NAB has speeded up its inquiry into the matter, the PM does not want to lose Saulat during such critical situation,” said sources.

It is relevant to mention here that NAB Karachi has once again initiated an inquiry against PM Abbasi, former petroleum secretary Abid Saeed ISGSL Managing Director Mobin Saulat, Sui Southern Gas Company Limited former Managing Director Zuhair Ahmed Siddiqui, and Engro Pvt Ltd CEO Emranul Haq in $ 2 billion worth ENGRO LNG Terminal scandal.

Misuse of authority in awarding LNG terminal by violating the Pakistan Procurement

Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Rules, and billions rupees payment to the ETPL for LNG gasification is estimated to have caused a loss of $ 2 billion (approximately) over 15 years, said the NAB report.

The NAB report revealed that Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi has played a significant role in the award of the tender to the ETPL and also in the execution of tender through the ISGSL, instead of state-owned gas utilities.

“Active role of the minister in the execution of tender through ISGSL, instead of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) or Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) has been identified,” the report reads.

Similarly, Mobin Saulat also played a vital role in changing the integrated tender into tolling tender; issued tender without the approval of ISGSL Board or SSGCL Board and announced the ETPL as a qualifier on draft and unsigned “Technical Evaluation Report” of the QED. It is worth mentioning that tender for LNG terminal was awarded without getting approval from the board of directors of ISGSL and SSGCL, while changes were made after the issuance of tenders and without the approval of SSGCL board. Similarly, the ISGSL while setting aside the rules and procedures has done the entire job on mere verbal orders though billion rupees worth projects require transparency and special measure.

When contacted ISGSL MD Mobin Saulat to get his version over his 3rd-time appointment, he refused to entertain questions.

south Africa eyeing to fulfil Pakistan’s rising demand for coal CAPE TOWN AGENCIES

A decade ago South Africa sent the bulk of its coal exports to Europe, a market now disappearing right before its eyes.

But far from being worried, South Africa’s coal exporters are confident that they can increase shipments in coming years by becoming the supplier of choice to new markets in Asia, particularly Pakistan and India.

The common theme among speakers at last week’s South African Coal Export Conference, hosted by IHS Markit, was that South Africa is in pole position to take advantage of growth in South Asia.

While India is currently the world’s second-largest coal importer behind China, the outlook for imports is far from certain, with the government officially targeting a goal of zero foreign purchases, a position in conflict with the views of several utilities that rely on imports to

fuel coastal power plants.

But even leaving aside India, South Africa looks better positioned than top exporters Australia and Indonesia to meet Pakistan’s rising demand, which may turn out to be quite significant.

Pakistan imported 11.2 million tonnes of coal in 2017, Pakistani trading company Agro Trading Executive Sajid Hussain, told the conference.

This is up sharply from the 3.42 million tonnes the South Asian nation imported in 2013, but Hussain said Pakistan’s coal imports are expected to soar to around 40 million tonnes by 2025.

This is because of a huge programme of building coal-fired power plants being undertaken in conjunction with China as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.

This will see coal go from just under 10 per cent of Pakistan’s current energy supply to around 30 per cent by 2025, with Hussain stating that some 6.6 gigawatts of coal-fired power is currently

under construction.

As always with forecasts of spectacular growth, it is worth looking at whether these plans will be delivered on time, and so far Pakistan seems to be meeting targets, with two large coal-fired power plants, Sahiwal and Port Qasim, coming online in recent months.

These two facilities will alone boost Pakistan coal imports by a total 8.8 million tonnes, according to Hussain.

Pakistan already gets about 60 per cent of its imported coal from South Africa, with Indonesia supplying about 33 per cent and Afghanistan the rest.

Pakistan prefers to buy higher-quality South African coal in order to maximise the energy value of each tonne imported, Hussain said.

This means that lower-quality Indonesian coal is mainly used as blending with higher grades.

South African coal has a significant freight advantage over similar grades of

coal from Australia, and from more distant suppliers such as the United States and Colombia.

For this reason, South African coal exporters are confident they can command the lion’s share of growth in Pakistan, and also challenge for markets elsewhere in Asia, such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

They are also well-placed to take advantage of any increase in demand from the Middle East, which will mainly come from industrial operations such as cement makers. South Africa’s main export harbour at Richards Bay shipped out a record 76.47 million tonnes in 2017, and the operator is aiming to boost that to at least 77 million this year.

Of last year’s shipments, 81.6 per cent went to Asia with India being the largest buyer, followed by Pakistan, and just 10.1 per cent went to Europe, Jabu Mdaki, the general manager of operations at Richards Bay Coal Terminal, told the conference.

The terminal was initially developed for coal exports to Europe, but this trade has slumped in recent years as countries such as Britain, the Netherlands and those in Scandinavia have increasingly shut coal-fired plants in favour of cleanerburning natural gas and renewables such as wind and solar.

The terminal has a capacity of 91 million tonnes, meaning there is spare capacity to boost exports, with the current constraint being rail capacity linking the port to inland coal fields several hundred kilometres away.

South Africa’s state-owned rail operator Transnet has plans to increase the capacity on its coal lines, although these won’t be realised for several years.

The main risk for South Africa is that it will be physically unable to meet rising demand, making the rail investment the key determinant of whether coal exports can increase in time to satisfy Pakistan’s demand.

12 WORLD VIEW

Tuesday, 6 February, 2018

War and peace strategies leave afghanistan in a deadly muddle THE WAR WAS NOT YET OVER WHEN PEACE WAS GIVEN A CHANCE IN AFGHANISTAN. BUT AFTER A BRUTAL START TO THE YEAR, IT’S TIME FOR A STRATEGIC RETHINK

m.france24.com

O

LeeLa jacinto

VeR the past 16 years, Afghanistan has been a laboratory for a dizzying number of policy experiments to help secure the country. US troop levels have surged and ebbed, Taliban militants have been bombed and wooed to the negotiating table, Pakistan has been admonished and coddled to behave in its neighbouring state, and the international community has cooperated and competed in the desperate bid to find a lasting solution to the Afghan problem.

None of them have worked and the situation on the ground for ordinary Afghans only gets worse.

The policy muddle and its brutal consequences have been particularly stark this year, raising questions over whether US President Donald Trump’s new Afghanistan strategy can solve or worsen the problem – or not make any difference at all.

On Wednesday, January 24, just days after Taliban fighters killed more than 40 people in Kabul’s landmark Hotel Intercontinental, the militant group issued a statement confirming a recent peace meeting between a Taliban delegation and Pakistani officials.

The statement, issued in the local Pashto language, said a five-member Taliban team had travelled to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad to explain their position on a “political solution” to the crisis.

“The Islamic emirate [the Taliban] wants to emphasise that it desires a durable solution to the Afghan problem so all causes of the fighting are ended and the people live in peace and stability.”

But peace was not in their sights three days later, when the Islamist militant group disguised a minivan as an ambulance, packed it with explosives, and detonated the vehicle at a busy thoroughfare in the Afghan capital, killing more than 100 people and wounding over 200 others.

The Taliban “peace and stability” announcement, issued as Afghans were reeling from the recent attacks, incensed a populace growing weary of the cycle of hypocrisy and violence in their country. On Twitter and other social media sites, Afghans slammed politicians and analysts who have, in the past, advocated negotiations with the Taliban.

HigH Peace council kicks off witH an assassination: The “talking to the Taliban” solution surfaced shortly after Barack Obama took office, when the US president inherited two unfinished conflicts – in Afghanistan and Iraq – from his predecessor. As the Obama policy on Afghanistan lurched from troop drawbacks to surges, the message to the Taliban was unequivocal: Washington and its

allies were losing the will to fight.

Peace initiatives meanwhile were picking up pace, backed by international funding. But shortly after former Afghan President Hamid Karzai set up a High Peace Council (HPC), the Taliban killed the council’s chief, former Afghan PM Burhanuddin Rabbani, in September 2011. Last week’s brutal ambulance attack in Kabul was conducted barely 200 yards away from the HPC offices.

Despite Rabbani’s assassination and the lack of progress on the peace track, the Taliban were nevertheless granted a political office — which they unsuccessfully tried to call “the embassy of the Islamic emirate” – in the Qatari capital of Doha. From their luxury base in the Gulf, Taliban representatives have traveled to Norway and Pakistan for talks that have yielded no results, prompting the Afghan government to contemplate closing down the Qatar office last year. But the closure was held off amid concerns that it would undermine peace efforts. wHere guns, not flowers, bloom: In their message claiming the ambulance attack, the Taliban blamed Trump’s decision to increase US troop levels and targeted strikes against militant commanders in Afghanistan. “The Islamic emirate has a clear message for Trump and his hand kissers that if you go ahead with a policy of aggression and speak from the barrel of a gun, don’t expect Afghans to grow flowers in response,” said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement.

The Taliban are not the only ones speaking from the barrel of a gun. The Islamic State (IS) group has also set up operations in Afghanistan, attracting disgruntled Taliban fighters and conducting increasingly audacious attacks such as the January 24 assault on the Save the Children offices in the southeastern city of Jalalabad.

The new entrant is increasing the competition between jihadist groups and changing their modus operandi, according to some experts. “The Taliban and the Islamic State are shifting the battle from the rural areas to the cities, so we’re seeing an urbanisation of the conflict,” explained Bilal Sarwary, reporting for FRANCe 24 from Kabul. “We’re also seeing the American military and the Afghan government go after mid and high level commanders and so, in some ways, this latest uptick in violence is a revenge for those attacks.” taliban and trumP stage twitter war: On August 21, when Trump announced his “new” policy to boost the US troop presence in Afghanistan, it was widely viewed as a bid to convince the Taliban that they cannot win on the battlefield.

While the new US troop figures have not been released, an estimated 8,400 American troops are currently stationed in Afghanistan, most assigned to an approximately 13,000-strong international force that is training and advising the Afghan military.

The Taliban however has maintained that as long as there are international troops in Afghanistan, the group will not engage in peace negotiations, leading some experts, such as a Karim Pakzad from the Parisbased IRIS (Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques), to conclude that, “As long as this country [Afghanistan] remains the staple of US foreign policy, I think Afghans will know no peace.”

Others however believe that the prospect of a total US withdrawal will not spell peace either – especially for a populace living in fear of a Taliban return. “Without the engagement of the US, the conflict will continue,” said Haroun Mir from the Kabul-based Afghanistan Center for Research and Policy Studies.

“Only the international community has the capacity, the financial, and the military means necessary to put pressure on all actors to bring an end to the conflict.”

Trump however has shown no interest in getting the different parties in the Afghan conflict to the negotiating table. “When you see what they [the Taliban] are doing and the atrocities that they’re committing...it is horrible,” Trump told a UN Security Council briefing in the White House on Monday. “We don’t want to talk to the Taliban. We’re going to finish what we have to finish, what nobody else has been able to finish, we’re going to be able to do it,” he said. ‘tHe taliban is afraid of democracy’ Beyond the Twitter one-upmanship though, there has been little clarity on Trump’s new strategy. A day after the US president said there would be no talks, US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan was telling reporters in Kabul that there was no change in Washington’s policy of forcing the Taliban through military pressure into talks.

Sullivan’s message echoed that of top US commander for the Middle east (CeNTCOM) Gen. Jospeh Votel earlier this year, leaving journalists scrambling to decipher the implications of Washington’s latest policy update. “WTF? We just spent two nights in Afghanistan w @CeNTCOM’s Gen Votel this weekend where US commander after commander said they were GLAD they had a new S. Asia strategy SPeCIFICALLY w the mission goal to pressure the Taliban to reconciliation talks,” tweeted Kevin Baron, a Pentagon reporter and executive editor of Defense One. While the US has been providing mixed signals on its Afghanistan strategy, in many Afghan circles, particularly in Kabul, patience is running out for the

Prolonged intimidation of Muslims will shred the social and political fabric of India Times of india Manoj joshi

Listing the books on Xi Jinping’s desk during his annual New Year telecast has become an internet meme. This year, among other books, netizens noticed The Gray Rhino, a bestseller by Michele Wucker, whose theme is the need to recognise and act against dangers – fiscal, social or political – that are in plain sight in front of us, but often ignored.

A major danger confronting this country these days is the fraught communal situation. The violence in Kasganj should alert us to the consequences of using political polarisation for winning elections. In this case, a rally by a group of young men triggered the violence which, the senior BJP leader and governor of Uttar Pradesh Ram Naik has termed as “shameful” and a “blot” on the state. In a Facebook note (since removed) Raghavendra Vikram Singh, the district magistrate of Bareilly, observed a “strange trend” where people entered areas dominated by Muslims and raised slogans against Pakistan. The intention, he implied, was clearly to provoke.

Provocation has taken many forms. On Monday, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on their alleged failure to comply with an ear-

lier court order to check instances of vigilante violence over cow protection.

It does not take a genius to figure out that these actions are linked to the politics of our times, call them majoritarian or communal or whatever. People are, of course, free to choose their politics, but they and their leaders urgently need to consider the dangers that are now increasingly manifest.

The partition of the country in 1947 was a Black Swan event. Many of its actors, including some say Jinnah himself, did not believe that it would actually happen. Populist politicians think they are in control of the narrative and one day we discover that they have taken us over the brink.

Today, despite the obvious train wreck we confront, there is a strange silence at the apex of the government. Though senior leaders like Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu obliquely, and Ram Naik directly, have raised the alarm.

In 1947, millions were displaced and hundreds of thousands killed. India has not yet recovered from that trauma.

A communal breakdown today would result in an entirely different kind of a disaster. Across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and into Bengal and Assam, Muslims constitute 10-30% of the population with some districts in western UP, east Bihar and Bengal going even higher.

These 80 million or so are simply too

many to be “sent to Pakistan”. Prolonged violence, intimidation and vigilantism against them would eventually lead to counter-violence. Given their numbers they would not prevail, but the ensuing conflict would surely shred the social and political fabric of the nation.

What is unfortunate here is that India has had one of the most peaceable Muslim populations anywhere. In the past decades, as the high tide of Islamist radicalism lashed the world, Indian Muslims stood out for their moderation born, no doubt, from the environment in which they lived.

There were none found in the multi-national Guantanamo prison; the figure of those with IS are less than 10. Taking into account those involved in the Bombay blasts of 1993 and Indian Mujahideen strikes, the number of those killed or convicted for acts of terrorism in the past three decades does not probably exceed 200, an astonishing figure considering our Muslim population is around 176 million.

India cannot say it has not been warned. As recently as December 2017, former President Barack Obama called on India to cherish and nurture its well-integrated Muslim population.

The Gray Rhino is standing in the middle of the road to our future. It’s up to us to avoid him, or bear the consequences of the crash.

militant negotiations track.

“The strategy was to prove to the Taliban that they will not win militarily and that they should join the democratic process. But the Taliban is afraid of democracy. Right now, we have free speech, women’s rights, civil society institutions and Afghans are not willing to give it all up. If the Taliban joins the political process, they don’t have a message for the people. They know they will lose elections,” explained Mir. war, not Peace, is tHe answer: War then is the Taliban’s best bet. But with every attempt to display their strength via brazen attacks in urban areas, the militant group is losing support among Afghans who are witnessing a flight of capital and international investments as the post-war recovery mission in their country slows to a crawl.

For the US-led international coalition to defeat the Taliban though, policy framers have to take on an old bugbear: Pakistan’s support for the Islamist group.

Afghan and US authorities have long blamed parts of the Pakistani military intelligence establishment of aiding jihadist groups. Trump’s recent decision to suspend security aid to Pakistan reflects Washington’s frustration over Islamabad’s “lies & deceit,” but most analysts believe it will do little to change Pakistan’s behaviour.

Given Islamabad’s intransigence, some experts such as Mir says China – a key Pakistani ally which shares a 90-kilometer border with Afghanistan – “could play a major role in building a regional consensus”.

But international and regional talks on Afghanistan have often been working at cross-purposes amid rivalries between key players. A Quadrilateral Coordinating Group (QCG) comprising Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US has failed to attract Taliban participation.

Russia meanwhile has been opening a dialogue with the Taliban. But the US has skipped out on Russia-backed six party talks amid mounting suspicions between Moscow and Washington.

With the peace track making no progress, some US policy makers are circling back to the old war plan – without Pakistan on board. Many experts note that the US staged a unilateral military assault against al Qaeda inside Pakistan with some success, including the 2011 US killing of Osama bin Laden.

If Pakistan is unable or unwilling to crack down on jihadist groups, the US should undertake a unilateral military operation against the Taliban on Pakistani soil. If that’s the case, the US strategy for Afghanistan would spin back to square one – 16 years later and after a loss of thousands of Afghan and American lives.

israel’s hidden assassinatiOns ISRAEL HAS CARRIED OUT NEARLY 2,700 ‘SECRET’ ASSASSINATION OPERATIONS in serbia KoushiK Das

Poisoning toothpaste….triggering explosion through cell phones…… bombs dropped from flying drones! Since its creation in 1948, Israel has carried out nearly 2,700 ‘secret’ assassination operations in the last 70 years. Although many of these attempts have not been successful, the success rate of Israel is far better than the Western countries.

After a long interaction with the Israeli spies, journalist Ronen Bergman has penned a book – ‘Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations’. In his publication based on 1,000 interviews and thousands of documents, Bergman narrates various ‘strange’ methods – adopted by the Israeli spies over the years – to eliminate personalities who in some way or the other proved to be threat to them. Before writing the book, the 45-year-old Israeli journalist met a number of agents of Mossad and Shin Bet – the two intelligence organisations of his country.

Bergman also interviewed some senior Army officers who were allegedly involved in such ‘expeditions’. The 600-page book has enough information to ‘surprise’ the readers.

The essence of those secret missions of Israel was: “If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first” (an ancient Jewish Talmud admonition). The Army officers argue that such missions help avoid ‘costly’ warfare. They claim that a person will die within a month, if someone mixes poison in his/her toothpaste. Bergman – the intelligence correspondent for ‘Yediot Aharonot’ daily – mentions in his book that Mossad killed an Iranian nuclear scientist by using this method. An Israeli Army officer has admitted that they killed at least 12 Iranian scientists through various methods after receiving the information that Tehran was secretly implementing nuclear programmes. He further revealed that Mossad assassinated an Iranian scientist through explosives kept in the spare tyre of his car. The Israeli intelligence agency killed another Iranian scientist by dropping a bomb on his car from a home-made drone. Israel also killed a number of Islamist leaders who backed the Palestinian movement. Interestingly, Bergman’s publication hints that the Israeli spies secretly killed former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on November 11, 2004. However, it has not been possible for the author to narrate the death of Arafat in his book. Bergman said that Israeli military censorship prevented him from revealing the facts.

Koushik Das, based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, is a senior news editor with more than 15 years of experience. He also runs a blog - Boundless Ocean of Politics.

Tuesday, 6 February, 2018

ARTS

13

Kareena Kapoor hopes for a long run in Bollywood mUmBAI AGENCIES

K

AREENA Kapoor Khan, who is looking her best self nowadays after shedding all the extra weight after the birth of her son Taimur, says her journey in the film industry

with Refugee, has many successful films like Jab We Met, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Talaash: The Hunt Begins…, Yuva, Omkara and Udta Punjab, to her credit. And she is also considered one of the most flawless beauties in Bollywood.

After embracing motherhood with the birth of Taimur with husband Saif Ali Khan in December 2016, Kareena is now geared up for Shashanka Ghosh’s Veere Di Wedding, a romantic comedy costarring Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania.

The actor says she is excited about the film.

“It comes on June 1 and it is a summer watch. It is an exciting story about four friends. Also, there are two female producers onboard and that is also exciting. It’s a different time in the industry as people are watching more women-centric films. This is a lot more fun and nothing serious. Hopefully, people will enjoy it,” said Kareena.

has been enriching and she would like to work another two decades in Bollywood, according to The Indian Express.

“It’s been honourable and I would say enriching.

It has been 18 years and still counting. I hope to work for another two decades,” Kareena said.

Kareena, who made her acting debut in 2000

Aamir Khan's Secret Superstar is the top earning film in China right now

diplo delivers a night to remember in islamabad

AGENCIES

to the $100 million mark in China and is likely to cross it in this week.

Having made $6.4 million on its very first day, Secret Superstar broke Dangal's first-day

record in China's box office. In contrast, Dangal, which became a sensation in China and raked in nearly $200 million, earned $2.18 million on its opening day last year.

Seven showstoppers at Lakme Fashion Week we're obsessing over

Speculations regarding Junoon’s reunion have been rife for ages now. Guitarist Salman Ahmad has, at several incidences in the past, hinted at a possible reunion of the original band which included Ali Azmat and Brian O’Connell. The musician earlier revealed that he will be paying tribute to the greatest Pakistani bands of all time such as Junoon and Vital Signs. He said, “In 2018, I am producing a unique Broadway-style show which will pay tribute to three legends, Nazia and Zoheb Hassan, Junoon and Vital Signs.

I’ve already been in talks with Zoheb, JJ’s sons, Momina Mustehsan, Asim Azhar, Irtaash and a few others.” Adding further, the ace guitarist said that he has been speaking to Azmat, O’Connel, Rohail Hyaat and Shahi Hasan to come together.

padmaavat box office collection: Bhansali's magnum opus crosses rs 200 cr mark over two weekends NEWS DESK

KARACHI AGENCIES

You enter Lake View Park and turn right. Pull the brakes and prepare to wait forever in the neverending queue of cars and people walking all around. It’s late Saturday afternoon and the Islamabad’s skyline is either breathing out music or I’m just hallucinating. Nonetheless, the energy is undeniable. Thousands of people are headed in the direction of music. Diplo’s Mad Decent Block Party is making its debut in Pakistan and all those who fill their lungs with delayed beats and ambient synth cannot wait to witness the live spectacle. It takes a while for us to find a parking spot and make our way in. As we enter the gate, finally, the electric current flows in its thick wavy form in our direction. Music loops and loud, crowd cheers fade in. Funky lights illuminate the stage but that’s all we can see, as people have gathered around on the stairs in a circle surrounding the fighting gladiators. Instead, tonight, Valentino Khan pumps up the audience with thumping beats and wakes their inner party animals up. The American DJ brought the energy to an all-night high and set Islamabad ablaze. If you weren’t dancing hard, you were a sinner.

While party may have been straight fire, Diplo didn’t forget to thank the Pakistani people for their support and energy. After all, the point was to foster good relations between Pakistan and the US. On the other hand, part of the proceedings are to go to Sahil, an Islamabad-based NGO which works for child rights and protection. What was nearly a perfect night ended and thousands marched out in clusters, perhaps still wobbling their heads to the tunes. The night may have ended but the music didn’t.

salman ahmad confirms classic Junoon comeback KARACHI

ENtERtAINmENt DESK We asked not too long ago, "Will Aamir Khan's Secret Superstar top China's box office?".

We have our answer now: the film is having a strong run in the Chinese box office, having earned $10.5 million between last Friday and Sunday, reports Variety. The film even overtook Maze Runner: The Death Cureas the top earning film this weekend Secret Superstar is the story of a teenage girl who dreams of becoming a singer and fulfils her dreams without the knowledge of her disapproving father.

According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the film is close

With so many female faces in one film, was there any catfight?

“That is just a myth. We all are friends. Rhea (Kapoor) is a very good friend of mine. The whole idea of the film was to show the story of four friends.

It was so much fun and inspiring and even the film was shot with a lot of fun,” said Kareena.

The actress walked the runway as grand finale showstopper for designer Anamika Khanna at Lakme Fashion Week on Sunday.Kareena said she is a fan of the designer’s clothes.

“Even in this range, she has outdone herself,” said the actress, who is considered a fashion diva, who makes style statements on and off the screen.

“For me, it was never about what I am wearing or what I am going to wear. I never thought about it.

I wear what I am comfortable in and I think if a person is comfortable in what they wear, he or she looks super stylish.”

NEWS DESK While we await the onslaught of fashion weeks in Pakistan, the sartorial season has already kicked off across the border.

And we're so glad it has! The just concluded Lakme Fashion Week gave us lots of style-savvy looks to feast our eyes on. Here are our favourite Bollywood showstoppers: KAreenA KApoor: This black Anamika Khanna number does total justice to Kareena Kapoor Khan; the dress accentuates her curvy frame and the black belt complements her tiny waistline.

The statement earrings don’t overpower her face, and the hair, that jawline... what can we say.

Everything just works so well together and she pulls it off like a stunner.

SuShmitA Sen: Sushmita Sen breathes new life into the traditional bride look by Kotwara By Meera & Muzaffar — guess a bride's best accessory really is her smile! Look at her glow.

SonAKShi SinhA: A bralete on the runway?

Trust Sonakshi Sinha to work it. This woman’s got the curves to carry anything off with utmost ease and Falguni Shane Peacock couldn’t have picked a better showstopper.

SAniA mirzA: After Anushka Sharma, it's Sania Mirza in Anushree Reddy who's had us convinced that pink is the new it colour this wedding season! mAlAiKA ArorA Malaika Arora wins major points for exuding confidence in this very complicated De Belle outfit. Is it a deconstructed sari pant? A cape suit? A cape suit with a jacket?

Doesn't matter, because Malaika's owning it!

KAlKi Koechlin: Kalki's look for Amoh

by Jade is effortless and elegant and we love that wispy blouse on her!

ShAhid KApoor And mirA rAjput: There’s a reason Mira and Shahid won the Most Stylish couple Award at the HT Style Awards ‘17.

The couple owned Lakme Fashion Week this year in Anita Dongre ensembles. Mind you, their good looks and cutesy act made these two our favourite showstoppers from the lot.

CMYK

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus Padmaavat is going stronger at the box-office, both in India and abroad, as the time passes. The film has been breaking records ever since it hit the screens on 25 January this year, after a slew of violent protests, agitation and threats from fringe groups across various corners in India. The film has now crossed Rs 200 crore within ten days of its release. Film-trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to Twiter and revealed the box0ffice collections of the controversial period drama. According to reports, the film has been able to rake in a whopping Rs 212.50 crore at the box office. Padmaavat was released across India barring four states namely Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. But over the time, the bans on the film in these states are being called off and that is also adding to the film's business. Not just in India, the Padmaavat wave has swept the ticket counters abroad as well.

According to a report by Financial Express, the film has surpassed the collections of blockbuster films like Baahubali 2 and Tiger Zinda Hai in parts of Australia. Padmaavat's collection in Australia itself has been estimated at Rs 13.58 crore. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Padmaavat chronicles the life and times of the 13th-century Rajput queen Padmavati (essayed

by Deepika Padukone) of Chittorgarh in Rajasthan. It narrates the life of the queen after getting married to Maharawal Ratan Singh (essayed by Shahid Kapoor) and how she chooses self-immolation over falling prey to the evil hands of the invader and ruler of Delhi Sultanate Alauddin Khilji (essayed by Ranveer Singh). The film is based on the 16th-century epic ballad Padmavat written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi.

14 LEISURE

Tuesday, 6 February, 2018

aries

taurus

gemini

However, if you get caught up in the heat of the moment and choose to express your feelings, at least minimize the potential damage by accepting responsibility for your role in the current disagreement. It takes two to tangle but only one to walk away.

Instead of allowing your exasperation to explode in an unpleasant interaction, take the high road and acknowledge that your differences don't have to impact your collaboration in a negative way.

A sudden imbalance of power could rear its ugly head today. You might believe others are working against your personal interests, yet no one is honest enough to come out and say anything directly.

cancer

leo

virgo

Expressing negativity isn't always appropriate or appreciated, but letting your anger loose today could be a sign of strength. Often, your reaction is to withdraw emotionally when stressed, leading to passive-aggressive behavior.

Even if others seem to be the source of the problem, continue to bring your focus back to your feelings. Ironically enough, once you take responsibility for your part, the erratic energy should begin to settle down. Lead by example and hopefully others will follow.

However, applying force isn't helpful nor does assuming an authoritative posture resolve the issue because the truth will come to the surface when you least expect it. But if you choose to nudge the process along, get right to the point.

libra

scorpio

sagittarius

People seem impossible to read today. You might go out of your way to accommodate others, but your amicable behavior currently increases your frustration and your uncertainty. Paradoxically, the friendlier you are now, the worse you feel on the inside.

Keep your nose clean now or you might get pulled into an unnecessary conflict before you know it. However, don't be afraid to shake up the status quo if your intentions are honorable and your goal is worthwhile.

Everything would be perfect today, but someone may not be playing according to your rules. It might even feel as if a rain cloud is threatening your parade, even though it's still sunny on your side of the street.

capricorn

aQuarius

pisces

The self-determined Aries Moon raises concerns about how your personal story is unfolding and who ultimately controls your destiny. It's counterproductive to slip into denial now, so play the role of the rebel and bring differences out into the open while you have the chance.

Life seems so hectic today that you're actually worried something could fall apart unless you watch your immediate environment like a hawk. You prefer playing your cards only once you determine you are ready.

If you find yourself spending all your free time with people who think like you, go ahead and ride the surge while it lasts.

However, this moment of heightened activity might be a temporary passion for you, even if it's a lifelong commitment for others.

crossword

word search

ACROSS

DOWN

1 unmoved by feelings (11)

2 see 24 3 social medium (7) 4 fruit — colour (6) 5 be situated over (3,2) 6 author of kidnapped (9) 7 cocktail (vodka and 4 down juice) (11) 8,21 auricular deformation seen in boxers and rugby forwards? (11,3) 12 mixture (of flower petals and spices?) (9) 16 made up of top performers (3-4) 17 boer president of transvaal — south african gold coin (6) 19 remove errors from a computer program (5) 23 pastureland (3)

9 job applicant (9) 10 distinctive period (3) 11 person living abroad (2-3) 13 belonging to polite society (7) 14 discourages (6) 15 mountain formation (6) 18 properly arranged (2,5) 20 jargon (5) 21 see 8 22 pinball game — something of little value (9) 24,2 spiced biscuit shaped like a chap (11,3)

hagar the horriBle

dilBert

garField

Baldo

chess answer bland brazen case chase cheap conception desire difficulty easy fraud grade grant handle hare held hire hussy island latex

lumber market meter navel neon object pizza prison raft round sculpt stare thank tread voice waste world write

Black TO PlaY aND MaTE IN fOur MOVEs 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Today’s soluTions

Bridge BeiNg aN optimist

sUdokU crossword solution sudoku solution

1...Ne3 2.re1 Nc4+ 3.Bxc4 rxe1 4.Bxa6 rg1 *

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, 6 February, 2018

DefenDing ChamP franCe reaCheS DaviS CuP quarterfinalS ALBERTVILLE

a

Agencies

DRIAN Mannarino sent defending champion France through to the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup, rallying from a set and 5-3 down Sunday to beat Robin Haase of the Netherlands 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5, 6-7 (2), 7-5 in a topsy-turvy World Group encounter.

After 4 hours, 20 minutes of an arduous contest featuring 34 break-point chances, Haase’s miscued volley at net went out and gave Mannarino match point.

He took it following a brief rally when Haase failed to return a whipped forehand into his feet.

Mannarino punched the air as the French team celebrated wildly

and poured water over Mannarino’s head. The exhausted Haase walked straight off court having played 10 + hours over three days.

France has an insurmountable 3-1 lead ahead of the final reverse singles later Sunday and plays Italy in the last eight in April.

The 25th-ranked Mannarino had more winners than Haase — 61 to 47 — but was wasteful in converting only four of his 26 break-point chances, while Haase took three of his eight. Mannarino had 21 aces to Haase’s 19. Mannarino, a late replacement for the injured Lucas Pouille, made up for his upset defeat on Friday to Thiemo de Bakker, ranked 369th.

Richard Gasquet made it 1-1 by beating Haase, before Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert beat Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer

on Saturday for a 2-1 lead for France. Early on, Haase looked sharp against a cautious Mannarino. The 42nd-ranked Dutchman broke for a 2-1 lead when Man-

narino patted a woeful forehand wide, and then served two aces for 3-1. He could have secured a double break but Mannarino saved the fifth game with an ace at 30-

40. Haase was more aggressive than Mannarino in the first set and covered the court well. A volley at the net gave him set point and he sealed it with an ace.

He broke the Frenchman in the seventh game of the second set and held for 5-3. But Mannarino broke back for 5-5 after Haase cracked first in a 35-shot rally. Mannarino edged a tense tiebreaker and appeared to have the momentum.

Haase saved break points in his first three service games of the third set.

Finally, Mannarino’s pressure paid off when he broke to love for 6-5 and clinched the set on serve.

But then it was Mannarino’s turn to waver as he was broken when serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set. Haas then dominated the tiebreaker to send the match into a deciding set.

Alexander Zverev beat Australia’s Nick Kyrgios 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-2 in the first reverse singles Sunday to advance Germany into the World Group quarterfinals.

Germany went into Sunday’s play leading 2-1 after a doubles win Saturday. The final singles match between Australia’s Alex de Minaur and Jan-Lennard Struff was not played, giving Germany a 3-1 win. The fifth-ranked Zverev says: “It’s an amazing feeling, hopefully this is just the beginning for us.’’ Germany will play Spain in the quarterfinals from April 68. Australia will contest September’s World Group playoffs.

Also, Fabio Fognini powered Italy through to the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup World Group, beating Japan’s Yuichi Sugita 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(6), 7-5 in the first reverse singles on Sunday.

Italy went into Sunday’s play leading 2-1 after a doubles win on Saturday and Fognini’s five-set victory in his opening singles match on Friday. Italy advanced to its fifth quarterfinals in the past six years while Japan will have to win in the playoffs in September in order to return to the World Group next season.

Neymar effect helps French league agree ‘major’ African TV deal Bradford City sack manager after six straight defeats Bradford: Bradford City have sacked manager Stuart McCall after a run of six successive defeats in all competitions. The 53-year-old’s departure brings to an end his second spell in charge of the Bantams, with whom he also started his career as a player. McCall took over at the Coral Windows Stadium in June 2016 and led Bradford to the League One play-off final last season, a game they lost to Millwall. Bradford are sixth in the table despite a run of five straight league defeats. However, that run of form has seen them slip 13 points behind the automatic promotion places, while they also lost 2-0 at League Two side Yeovil in the FA Cup. McCall’s last game in charge was Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at relegation-threatened Oldham, while the Bantams’ previous home game saw them thrashed 4-0 by struggling AFC Wimbledon. In a statement, the club said the decision to terminate McCall’s contract had “not been taken lightly”. “Unfortunately, we have now suffered six straight defeats and the last two fixtures in particular have not brought about the positive change in performances or results that we all hoped for,” the statement said. “We believe that our current squad is capable of performing to a much higher standard than we have seen recently. We must all accept responsibility for the recent poor run of form, including our players who now have the opportunity to put it right. “As such, we believe that a change is in the best interests of the club at this time in order to give us the best chance of finishing the season strongly.” McCall spent 10 years with Bradford as a player over two separate spells before becoming manager for the first time in May 2007. Agencies

The French league (LFP) has reached a “major agreement” with two networks to broadcast Ligue 1 games in Sub-Saharan Africa, it announced Monday, a clear sign of the impact made by the arrival of Neymar. The deal means French-language network Canal+ and Kwese, in English and Portuguese, will show games in Ligue 1, Ligue 2 and the French League Cup for six seasons from 2018-19 to 2023-24.

No financial details were revealed by the LFP or beIN Sports, the network which owns the exclusive international distribution rights for the French league.

However, French sports daily L’Equipe said the deal should be worth 33 million euros ($41.1m) per year, compared to 13 million euros annually under the existing terms. “This first result encourages us to pursue our defined sales strategy and confirms the growing attractiveness of Ligue 1 thanks to the investment of the clubs to recruit new stars,

develop new talent and equip themselves with modern infrastructure,” said LFP director general Didier Quillot.

The French league’s income from international rights pales in comparison to the money generated by other leading European nations. The English Premier League brings in 1.3 billion euros a year, while Italy’s Serie A rakes in 371 million euros annually. However, the LFP and beIN Sports are now set to target improved deals in other areas, notably Brazil, as they look to cash in on the presence of Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain.

At the moment, the LFP stands to make a modest 80 million euros annually up to 2024 from international rights. Neymar’s world-record 222 million-euro move to PSG from Barcelona last August, and the Qatar-owned capital club’s big-money move for Kylian Mbappe from Monaco, helped drive up interest in the French game at the start of this campaign. Agencies

Philadelphia fans set fire, damage property after Super Bowl win PHILadELPHIa: The Philadelphia Eagles’ first Super Bowl victory set off rowdy celebrations in Philadelphia as people who poured into the streets set at least one fire and damaged property early on Monday, images on social media showed. Joyous football fans burst into jubilation in gatherings at bars and took their party into the streets, jumping up and down, setting off pyrotechnics and singing the fight song “Fly Eagles Fly.” Some went further and ignited a fire in the middle of a street that firefighters soon extinguished. Other images showed a light pole tipping over and the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News website Philly.com reported smashed windows and toppled awnings.

Police in riot gear and on bicycles formed lines to control crowds and push people back, social media images showed.

Some people broke a display window at a department store near City Hall, and looters broke into a convenience store, grabbing merchandise and screaming, “Everything is free,” the media reported. Nearly all the light poles on one side of City Hall were toppled, and a car outside a hotel was tipped on its side, Philly.com said. Philadelphia police and fire officials did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for information. Over in Amherst, Ma., State and University of Massachusetts police had more trouble as about 2,000 people flooded the streets near UMass Amherst and began throwing objects, setting off smoke bombs, fireworks and starting fistfights. The Boston Globe reported a number of injuries and that at least six people were arrested as police used pepper spray to disperse the angry fans. Agencies

Barcelona continue unbeaten run after Pique’s late equaliser MADRID Agencies

Gerard Pique salvaged a 1-1 draw for La Liga leaders Barcelona at city rivals Espanyol on Sunday, keeping their bid for an unbeaten campaign on track, while Atletico Madrid edged out Valencia to cut the gap at the top to nine points.

Ernesto Valverde’s men were in danger of falling to their first league defeat of the season when Gerard Moreno nodded the hosts ahead midway through the second half, but centre-back Pique met a Lionel Messi corner in the 82nd minute to snatch a point. Barcelona are now nine points clear at the top of the table from Atletico Madrid, who beat third-placed Valencia 1-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano.

The Catalan derby was played in pouring rain and Valverde slammed the “dangerous” pitch. “Even though it was raining, we thought that the pitch would hold, but then we saw that the grass was not going to hold up and that the pitch was becoming

dangerous,” said the Barcelona coach. “On our passes from defence, the ball could get stuck in a puddle and that’s why things got difficult. We give a lot of value to this draw, because it was hard to get because of this scenario and because it’s a derby and we didn’t want to lose.” The five-time European champions also set a new club record of 22 matches unbeaten to start a league season on Sunday, and are still in the hunt for a La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble. “We are still up there [top of the table]. The conditions for them and for us were not the best, but it was an entertaining game,” Barca captain Andres Iniesta told BeIn Sports.

Meanwhile, Atletico took advantage of Barcelona’s draw to revive their slim title hopes, as Angel Correa produced a moment of magic to win the game. Neither side managed to create many chances in a sloppy first half, with Saul Niguez seeing a long-range effort palmed away by Valencia goalkeeper Neto, while Simone Zaza dragged a shot wide for the visitors.

But Correa stunned Neto with a magnificent long-range strike when nothing appeared on in the 59th minute, with the ball flying into the top corner from 25 yards out to give the 22-year-old Argentinian his sixth league goal of the season.

Valencia plugged away but never truly threatened an equaliser, with Diego Simeone’s hosts doing enough to keep Barca looking over their shoulders. But star forward Antoine Griezmann was whistled by the home fans late on, when he opted to run down the clock instead of pushing for a second goal. The Frenchman has had an upand-down relationship with the Atletico supporters since saying last year he wanted to leave the club in the future. “Griezmann did what he had to do… That’s normal, people want to win,” said coach Simeone. “The players are the ones who best interpret what they have to do on the pitch. Griezmann made only good choices tonight, even though he didn’t score and couldn’t finish.

Everyone is happy, all the fans are celebrating at home and everyone is happy.”

CMYK

SPORTS Tuesday, 6 February, 2018

Salman SignS with mohammedan Sporting Club of bangladeSh

S

ALMAN Butt has been given a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the PCB to play in the Dhaka Premier League, Bangladesh’s domestic List-A tournament, after the board cleared him of the controversy surrounding the privately organised Ajman All Stars tournament.

Following the PCB’s go ahead, Butt signed up with Mohammedan Sporting Club for the entire season, the first phase of which runs from February 5 to March 20.

“It’s good to be here after a long time,” Butt told ESPNCricinfo. “Bangladesh over the years has become a high-quality cricket-playing country. They have lifted their game and proven that again and again, and this all comes with a competitive domestic structure.

“Mohammedan is a club with a lot of history behind it, with a lot of Pakistani greats having played for them in past, and I hope be able to contribute well for them.

Shakib [Al Hasan] will be leading

the team and I believe it would make a difference in the season.”

Mohammedan club official Wasim Khan felt an in-form batsman coming in to the team would help their side. “He is in good form, so we are hoping he will be useful for us,” Wasim said.

“Salman is available for the whole tournament. We are looking forward to seeing him start.”

Following the emergence of questions around the unsanctioned T20 league in the UAE, the ICC had asked the PCB whether

any of its players had breached its code of conduct by participating in that tournament.

The private tournament was not approved by either the ICC or Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

Initial investigations did not show any evidence of wrongdoing from Butt or any other international player, following which he was cleared. Butt then sought the NOC to play in Bangladesh, following his non-selection for Lahore in the ongoing National One-Day Cup in Pakistan. Agencies

Five Pakistan players the IPL could do with MuMbai Agencies

Pakistan players have not played the IPL since the first season in 2008. However, with the emergence of the Pakistan Super League and blessed with unique talent, a number of Pakistani players have been popular and successful in other T20 leagues. With political ties as, they are between India and Pakistan, it is unlikely that Pakistan players will feature in the IPL anytime soon. But, what if they could?

Who would be the most wanted? And how much would they be worth? ESPNcricinfo put these questions to a number of IPL franchises:

english clubs paid 51% of transfer fees across europe’s big five, says CieS study The spending of Premier League clubs in January accounted for 51% of transfer fees paid out by Europe’s top five leagues, according to a CIES study. CIES said “the total estimated spending was over one billion euros” in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Premier League sides had an outlay of £483m (545m euros) with a net loss of £100m (113m euros). There was a deficit despite Philippe Coutinho moving to Barcelona from Liverpool for £142m. Striker Diego Costa also left Chelsea to join Atletico Madrid for a fee CIES (International Centre for Sports Studies) put down as £58.5m (66m euros). Those two moves contributed to La Liga having a record deficit of £166.5m (188m euros). The two biggest signings in England involved Liverpool bringing in defender Virgil van Dijk from Southampton for £75m and Arsenal’s purchase of striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for £56m. The “estimated balance sheets” of the other leagues saw Italy’s Serie A (£42.5m), Germany’s Bundesliga (£29.2m) and France’s Ligue 1 (£12.4m) in credit. Premier League clubs spent £430m in January, according to analysis

by Deloitte’s Sports Business Group. Agencies

shAdAb KhAn - Legspinner T20 teams: Brisbane Heat, islamabad United, Trinbago Knight riders strengths: A wristspinner who can win matches on his own. The quick pace at which he delivers combined with the ability to turn the ball both ways makes shadab a difficult bowler to handle. His googly, in particular, is a treat and few have picked it with any confidence. shadab’s skills match that of Afghanistan legspinner rashid Khan, who is equally hard to get away. Both bowl between 90-100kph and so batsmen hesitate in going down the pitch to attack, invariably allowing the likes of shadab to bowl economical overs. He is also an outstanding fielder - probably pakistan’s best and easily saves the side 5-10 runs consistently. He is also a smart - and swiftly improving - lower-order batsman.

Role: An attacking option that can bowl in any phase of an innings T20 numbers: 43 matches, 58 wickets, average 17.08, economy rate of 6.31, and strike rate of 16.2 Worth: inr 5-6 crore ($781,250 - $937,500 approx) hAsAn Ali - FAsT BowLer T20 teams: Comilla Victorians, peshawar Zalmi, st Kitts and nevis patriots strengths: Arguably the most exciting limited-overs bowler in the world in 2017, Hasan is a fighter of indefatigable spirit on the field.

He regularly clocks 140-plus with the new ball, but his magic is especially potent in the middle overs (of oDis) and then at the death where a broad set of variations - the slower ball, the slower bouncer, the knuckleball and finally a killer yorker - come into play. Additionally, he is solid in the field and, more often than not, good for a few big hits with the bat.

Role: Can open with the new ball and then return at the death to showcase his variations.

T20 numbers: 54 matches, 70 wickets at an average of 20.41, economy rate of 7.32, and strike rate of 16.7 Worth: inr 3-5 crore ($468,750 - $781,250 approx) shoAib MAliK - BATTing ALLroUnDer T20 teams: Barbados Tridents, Hobart Hurricanes, Karachi Kings, Comilla Victorians, Delhi Daredevils strengths: The most experienced T20 player currently playing for pakistan, Malik is a calming presence in the middle order. Franchises are impressed by his intelligence on the field and his fitness. He rotates the strike constantly and can accelerate without too much difficulty, which helps maintain a handsome strike rate. He’s also an athletic fielder, especially good as a boundary-rider, and his ability to bowl part-time offspin - very handy on slower surfaces - makes him an all-round package.

Role: Bowl a couple of overs, and anchor the innings in the middle with over a decade of experience T20 numbers: 293 matches, 7450 runs at 37.06, 127 wickets at an average of 25.92 with an economy rate of 6.99 Worth: inr 2-4 crore ($312,500 - $625,000 approx) MohAMMAd AMiR - LeFT-ArM FAsT BowLer T20 teams: Chittagong Vikings, Dhaka Dynamites, Karachi Kings strengths: Amir 2.0 might not be the young, dreamy prospect you remember but his street-smarts, his ability to read a batsman, and his experience, make him dangerous. Being a left-arm quick is always an advantage for a franchise, and if you have the pace - as Amir does - then you are hot property. in swinging conditions, Amir can make the ball talk and create angles that are not easy to counter. His biggest strength, however, is that he can swing the ball both ways at pace, and can be useful at the death.

Role: swing bowler in the powerplay and death-over specialist.

T20 numbers: 95 matches, 111 wickets at an average of 21.21, economy rate of 6.68 and strike rate of 19.

Worth: inr 3-6 crore ($468,750 - $937,500 approx) FAheeM AshRAF - BowLing ALLroUnDer T20 teams: pakistan. Yet to play franchise-based cricket strengths: An emerging talent, Ashraf has not played in any T20 leagues yet, but scouts like that Ashraf can bowl consistently at 135 kph, as well as hit a big ball. Quality allrounders are still in short supply in the ipL and franchises are always on the lookout for players who can fill two roles. Ashraf’s fledgling skills means he’ll be viewed as an investment for the future.

Role: Allrounder T20 numbers: 135 runs from 23 matches at a strike rate of 128.57, bowling average of 29 after 20 matches with an economy rate of 8.24 Worth: inr 1-2 crore ($156,250 - $312,500 approx)

Agencies

South Africa’s worrisome injury-list has been lengthened after wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock was ruled out for up to four weeks with a wrist injury, officials said on Monday.

De Kock joins stalwarts Faf du Plessis, Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers on the sidelines, though the latter is expected to resume training in the next few days. De

DHAKA: Bangladesh have included batsman Sabbir Rahman for the second Test against Sri Lanka to strengthen their batting in the absence of injured all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, a team official said Monday. Shakib will miss the second Test starting Thursday in Dhaka after he failed to recover from a finger injury that kept him out of the opening match.

Sabbir, who played 10 Tests to score 480 runs at an average of 26.66, was ignored for the first game after he failed to live up to expectations in the one-day tri-series last month. The two-Test series remained locked at 0-0 after the first match ended in a draw in Chittagong on Sunday. “The wicket of Dhaka is much different than Chittagong. So we thought an extra batsman might be useful.

This is why we included Sabbir,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin. The home side dropped left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam and pace bowler Rubel Hossain but retained Abdur Razzak and uncapped off-break bowler Naeem Hasan in the 15-man squad.

Sunzamul claimed just one wicket in the justconcluded Test, giving away 153 runs in his 45 overs in Sri Lanka’s only innings. Rubel did not play the first Test. Mahmudullah Riyad will continue as captain in the absence of regular skipper Shakib. Agencies bangladesh squad: Mahmudullah riyad (c), Tamim iqbal, Liton Das, Mushfiqur rahim, Mominul Haque, imrul Kayes, Mosaddek Hossain, Taijul islam, Mustafizur rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Kamrul islam, sabbir rahman, Abdur razzak, naeem Hasan, and Tanbir Hayder.

Quinton de Kock adds to South Africa’s injury woes CaPE TOWN

bangladesh call batting reinforcements for second Sri lanka test

Kock was injured during South Africa’s heavy nine-wicket loss to India in the second match of their six-game series in Pretoria on Sunday which the hosts lost to go down 2-0 ahead of the third fixture in Cape Town on Wednesday. “Quinton suffered an extreme blow to the left wrist while batting in the second ODI on Sunday and felt severe pain and discomfort,” team manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a media release from Cricket South Africa.

“Further investigation revealed se-

vere bony bruising to the area, with associated swelling around the tendon in the wrist. “This type of injury will require between 2-4 weeks to heal, which subsequently rules him out of the remainder of the ODI and T20 series against India.

“South Africa already have uncapped wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen in their squad. Du Plessis (finger), Steyn (heel) and De Kock will now face a race against time to be fit for the first of four home tests against Australia that start on March 1.

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad.

CMYK