E paper pdf (05 11 2016) lhr

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Saturday, 5 November, 2016 i 04 Safar-ul-Muzaffar, 1438 i rs 20.00 i vol vii No 127 i 20 Pages i lahore edition

Nawaz vows not to bow down to liars, detractors g

Says (PTI’s) tall claims ended in a whimper, referring to its Islamabad lockdown plan

g

Says liars and those disgracing others publicly can’t lead Pakistani nation

g

Says opponents can’t digest all-round development, want to halt this process

ChiNeSe iNveStorS Meet PM, PlAN to BriNg $3B iNveStMeNt to PAKiStAN

ASWJ men among five shot dead in Karachi

STORY ON PAGE 04

SC maintains restrain on PM from taking ‘unilateral’ financial actions STORY ON PAGE 02

STORIES ON PAGES 03 & 16

Bilawal insists accountability begins from prime minister

PPP chief says govt won’t complete its tenure if judicial commission on Panamagate is not formed STORY ON PAGE 03

Safdar comes to rescue of Maryam Nawaz Tells court his wife does not own any offshore company STORY ON PAGE 02

02 NEWS

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

CONSTiTuTiON dOES NOT PErMiT PM’S SOlO FlighT: SC ISLAMABAD

T

STAFF REPORT

HE Supreme Court dismissed a review appeal by the federal government on Friday over its ruling that the prime minister is not above the cabinet and he cannot take decisions on financial matters and make statutory regulatory orders (SROs) without the federal cabinet’s scrutiny and approval.

The constitution does not allow the prime minister to take a solo flight, Justice Saqib Nisar said.

He added that powers of tax exemp-

tion and tax levies belong to the federal government. “Nowhere does the constitution state that the prime minister or a single minister is the federal government.”

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on August 19, this year, struck down the impugned notifications for withdrawing exemption of sales tax to the companies, importing cellular phones and textile goods.

The court accepted the appeals filed by the petitioners, the companies importing cellular phones and textile goods, against the judgment of Islam-

abad High Court (IHC). The court clarified that in passing, it has in the past consistently held that greater latitude is allowed in relation to beneficial notifications and that principle still applies.

The counsels of cellular phones and textile goods importers’ argued that the federal government earlier had granted them certain exemptions from sales tax, but subsequently these exemptions were either withdrawn or tax rates modified vide notifications No.280(1)/2013 and 460(1)/2013, which were issued under the provisions of Sales Tax Act, 1990.

The importers had challenged the

notifications before the IHC that those were not in accordance with Section 3 of the Sales Act. The high court, however, dismissed their petitions. The importers had filed appeals against the IHC verdict in the apex court. The court on Thursday set it aside.

The judgment authored by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar ruled that the prime minister cannot take decisions by himself, or by supplanting or ignoring the cabinet because the power to take decisions is vested with the federal government i.e. the cabinet, and leader of the House and unilateral decisions taken by him would be a usurpation of power.

senate adopts resolution condemning quetta terror attack Pak-China agree to work on security, in other sectors BISHKEK INP

Pakistan and China agreed to work closer at regional level to address common challenges in security and socio-economic sector. Both sides also exchanged views on prevailing regional and global issues including Afghanistan, Kashmir and South Asia. This was agreed during a meeting between Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who met on the sidelines of 15th SCO Heads of Government Council meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The two leaders held detailed discussions on the entire range of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction on the progress so far achieved.

They also agreed to continue close coordination at the United Nations and other multilateral forums. Pakistan thanked China for its support in becoming the full member of the SCO. Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that China appreciates Pakistan’s contribution to fight terrorism, extremism and separatism and opposes any false insinuations in this regard.

Jaffar Express escapes terrorist attack

resolution was moved by leader of oPPosition aitzaz ahsan ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The senate on Friday passed a unanimous resolution strongly condemning the terrorist attack on the police training center in Quetta.

The resolution was moved by opposition leader Aitzaz Ahsan, which

expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the incident. The resolution expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and prayed for the eternal peace of the martyred and early recovery of the injured. The resolution reiterated the commitment to stand by the peace loving people of the country and the

security forces for complete elimination of terrorism from the country.

The house also passed two separate condolence resolutions expressing deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of former senators Syed Qammar-uz- Zaman Shah and Nargis Zaman Kiani. The House prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased and said that their services would be remembered for long time.

The house also offered Fateha for those martyred in Quetta incident and other accidents in the country.

Capt (r) Safdar comes to rescue of Maryam Nawaz tells the Court that his wife does not own any offshore ComPany ISLAMABAD INP

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s sonin-law Capt (retd) Safdar informed the Supreme Court that his wife, Maryam Nawaz does not own any offshore company and that Imran Khan’s allegations are ‘baseless’.

In his response submitted in the apex court, Capt (retd) Safdar claimed that he mentioned complete details of his assets in the nomination papers for 2013 general elections. He said his wife regularly pays taxes and the details of assets were shown on her tax returns.

The PML-N lawmaker further stated that no reference has been forwarded to the National Assembly Speaker regarding his disqualification.

“Raising question over ‘eligibility’ in the Supreme Court is a violation of Article 225,” he added.

Capt (retd) Safdar argued, “Article 63 (2) of the Constitutions is limited to post-election disqualification matters relating to a Member of Parliament, which are set out in Article 63 (1) thereof. Allegations pertaining to pre-election qualifications of a Member of Parliament as provided for in Article 62 (1) of the Constitu-

tion cannot be raised or made after the holding of the election and notification of the result thereof.”

He said that Imran’s ‘petition has no merit, being based on false and incorrect allegations and is liable to be dismissed.’

The data from the Panama Papers released in April this year allegedly describe Maryam as “the owner of British Virgin Islandsbased firms Nielsen Enterprises Limited and Nescoll Limited, incorporated in 1994 and 1993”.

On one of the documents released by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the address listed for Nielsen Enterprises is Saroor Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The document, dated June 2012, describes Maryam Safdar as the ‘beneficial owner’.

NFC meeting scheduled for month-end ISLAMABAD INP

The federal government has decided to convene a meeting of the National Finance Commission in the last week of November to move forward the next award, a media report said. The decision came after a meeting presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The meeting reviewed the progress achieved so far by the working groups. The decision came after provinces demanded of the Centre to transfer the control over collection of royalties on oil and gas produced in their areas. Sindh says the Centre should surrender its right to collect royalties on oil and gas and sales tax on goods. Dar stressed the need to enhance efforts at federal and provincial levels to increase revenue mobilisation in order to boost economic growth. As initial work has been completed, it’s time to move to the next steps for completion of the award, he said. He emphasised for increased focus on resource mobilisation and strengthening of relations between the federation and provinces to achieve national harmony and partnership. Earlier, Sindh’s member on NFC Senator Saleem Mandviwalla in a statement said the provinces would write a letter to Premier Nawaz Sharif to convene a meeting on new NFC award at the earliest. He demanded that the Centre should surrender the right to collect royalties on oil and gas and sales tax on goods to the provinces. Sindh’s member said that the provinces should be given the right of collecting sales tax on goods because it was their basic right which was being denied even after the passage of the 18th Amendment.

Smog spell likely to persist in Punjab: Met Office ISLAMABAD INP

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Director Mohammad Haneef on Friday asked the people to take precautionary measures as the spell of smog would last for few more days.

The PMD official said that he has never seen such level of smog in the history of Pakistan.

The health experts have also advised the people to cover their face and eyes with masks and sun glasses to prevent hazardous effects of air pollution. Mohammad Hanif said that rains during November and December would be less than normal in Pakistan. On the other hand, M2 Motorways from Lahore to Sial More and Rawalpindi to Faisalabad was shut down due to zero visibility, however, a decrease in the smog has also been witnessed in Lahore.

Separately, Manga Mandi, Pattoki, Okara and Sahiwal are also facing spell of fog. The Motorway Police have directed the people to avoid unnecessary travelling. Punjab government has formed a 20-member committee to suggest measures to reduce the effects of smog.

QUETTA APP

The law-enforcement agencies on Friday saved Quetta-bound Jaffar Express train from planned terrorist attack by timely defusing improvised explosive device which was planted on railway track near Aab-e-Gum area in Bolan district. A spokesman of Balochistan Frontier Corps said here that unknown terrorists had planted IED on railway track near Aab-eGum area between Mach and Sibi to target Jaffar Express train coming from Rawalpindi to Quetta. “After receiving intelligence information, the FC personnel and Railways Police rushed to the scene and defused the IED,” he said. He further said the remote-controlled IED exploded when bomb disposal squad personnel of FC and Railways Police were engaged in defusing it as the terrorists hiding in mountains pushed switch of the remote to send signals to IED for explosion. “However, the BDS personnel remained unhurt as they had worn bomb proof protective dress,” he said. He said the law-enforcement agencies have launched operation to trace out the suspects.

‘no prospect for resolution of kashmir issue’ ex-indian offiCial Calls Pak-india ties a ‘managed hostility’ NEW YORK INP

Ignoring hostile attitude of India and its accusations against Pakistan over any mishap or failure in the country, former Indian Foreign Secretary and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon has claimed that Pakistan’s polity does not have the capacity to sustain normal relationship with India, and characterised relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours as “managed hostility”.

“I would characterize [India—Pakistan relations] today as managed hostility, which I hope it stays managed,”

Calls seat on the seCurity CounCil a status quo

Menon said in response to a question on relations between the two nations at a panel discussion organised by the ‘South Asia Centre at New York University’ on Thursday.

On whether he sees any prospect for resolution of the Kashmir issue, Menon, who has been India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, replied in the negative. He said many of the issues relating to Kashmir have been around for a long time and, “We know the solutions” to many of them but they seem to be “politically difficult” to serve.

“Today I don’t think Pakistan’s polity has the capacity to sustain normal relationship with India. I think there is

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a very strong institutional interest there,” he said.

Menon, who has authored the book ‘Choices: Inside the Making of Indian Foreign Policy’, however added, ‘His fear is that if it becomes a party political issue in India, which it has not always been, then you have the same dynamic operating’.

He emphasized that expectations in India on any improved relations with Pakistan were “very very low” particularly after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

“There is very little public support for actually trying to fix those issues after the Mumbai attack and the series of cross-border terrorist attacks didn’t

help either. Given that, I wouldn’t expect rapid resolution of all these issues,” he said.

Menon was asked given that India’s position on various global issues like Syria, Russia and Yemen has been different from that of the US, would it vote alongside the US as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

He replied India should not spend its time worrying about a seat on the UN body.

“For me frankly a seat on the Security Council, with due apology, is a status quo. That is a beauty contest. You want to win a beauty contest, go ahead and enjoy yourself,” he said.

“That’s not the point. Our point is to create an enabling environment for India’s transformation and work with the US for that. I think that’s in the US interest too,” he said

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

Nawaz vOwS NOT TO bOw dOwN TO liarS, dETraCTOrS d KAHUTA

terrupt it at any cost. “Such elements want to halt the development process which the Pakistan Muslim League-N government is continuing in the best interest of the common man,” he added. The premier however categorically vowed not to bow down before opposition’s such attempts and negative propaganda.

Nawaz also deplored that no previous governments whether of retired army chief Pervez Musharraf or Pakistan People’s Party had taken steps for the development of the country, including construction of motorways or adding more power to the national grid to overcome electricity shortfall. He termed those responsible for energy crisis as ‘public offenders’, and said their apathy resulted in worst load shedding of even 16 to 18 hours a day.

“The PML-N is the sole political party with the credit of economic turnaround,

STAFF REPORT

AYS after Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf chief Imran Khan’s planned lockdown of Islamabad on November 2 turned into a ‘thanksgiving’ rally, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday lashed out at his detractors, saying liars and those who disgrace others publicly cannot lead the Pakistani nation.

“Pakistanis give honour and receive honour; they reject the politics of disgracing others. The one habitual of publicly disgracing and humiliating others, cannot be their leader,” the premier said while addressing a charged crowd in Narh village of Kahuta. Without naming the PTI chairman, Nawaz said the opposition was scared of the government’s journey of progress and prosperity and wanted to in-

nuclear tests, motorways and overcoming energy shortage,” he said. PM Nawaz also expressed confidence that the PMLN would sweep the next general elections of 2018 on the basis of its track record of development. He said the construction of a highway from Khunjrab having altitude of 16,000 feet at China border down to Gwadar was in progress which would connect the country’s north with south.

The premier said the ongoing journey towards progress was in fact pinching the opponents as it would earn the PML-N more opportunities to serve the masses leaving the adversaries just to wait.

He advised the opposition not to impede national development rather support the government to get deliverance from power and gas crises, build motorways to bring in prosperity, end poverty and unemployment and inflation by enriching business activities. Speaking about the

ACCOUNTABILITY BEGINS FROM PRIME MINISTER, INSISTS BILAWAL BHUTTO PPP Chief says Pakistan being says govt won’t ComPlete its tenure if judiCial run by an inComPetent Pm Commission on Panamagate is not formed DHARKI STAFF REPORT

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, addressing a public rally in Ghotki’s Dharki area on Friday, said accountability should start from the prime minister and he needs to present himself for ‘democratic accountability’.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will now have to present himself for accountability and the accountability needs to be democratic,” he said, adding that the country was being run by an incompetent prime minister for the last three years.

He also claimed that the government would not be able to complete its tenure if a judicial commission on Panamagate was not formed. Bilawal said he was not accusing the prime minister of corruption, but the evidence brought forth in the Panama Papers reveals his corruption for all to see. The PPP chairman, criticising the PML-N government, said the current policies pursued by the government of Nawaz

Sharif are some of the worst in the history of the country and the same policies have divided the people.

“We need the people to be united, but Nawaz Sharif, your flawed policies have divided the people,” said Bilawal.

The PPP chairman also reminded the prime minister that he is not a monarch, neither is Raiwind the throne of Pakistan.

“Pakistan is a democracy, not a monarchy, you are a prime minister and not a king”. Bilawal also questioned the current government on its lack of transparency and answers to questions which have been raised in the parliament and Senate. He also asked why is the enquiry report not made public after attacks on national institutions.

“You (Nawaz) will have to answer the people, you have never answered the people,” added Bilawal. The PPP chairman also said large public development schemes should be transparent and noncontroversial.

Bilawal, addressing his party workers, also questioned Nawaz’s ‘friend-

saad rafique advises bilawal not to copy imran’s politics KARACHI: Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Friday said that politics of shutting down the cities will not work and is destined to fail. Speaking during Meet the Press programme at Karachi Press Club, the minister pointed out that those who had in the past practiced the politics of laying a siege to Karachi were divided into several groups. The minister advised PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to refrain from copying Imran Khan in politics as in such a case he would attain no success. He said he acknowledged the sacrifices of PPP for the cause of democracy, but added that “Bilawal should not try to teach us a lesson about democracy”. “We remember the Federal Security Force of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,” he went on to add. Rafique pointed out that Karachi had been converted into a heap of garbage. He also said that PTI’s “dharna” was a conspiracy against democracy. Regarding Thursday’s collision of trains near Karachi, the railways minister stated that the mishap was owing to human error as according to initial investigation, the signals and other system were functioning correctly. He said that the railways traffic system had now been restored up to 80 per cent. He was of the view that train accidents also occurred in other countries as a result of human errors. STAFF REPORT

ship’ withe Indian Prime Narendra Modi.

“We do not know what benefit you get by being friends with Modi?”

The PPP chairman said he wants to neutralise “Modi’s conspiracy against Pakistan”.

Coming down hard on Imran Khan, Bilawal said, “Uncle Imran enough is enough, public has tolerated a lot.”

“If you talk about minus one then we will demand the same,” said Bilawal referring to Imran Khan’s earlier suggestion to the PPP that Asif Ali Zardari should leave the party.

Following Bilawal’s address, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Imran Ismail heavily criticised Bilawal Bhutto and his party.

“PPP is deeply involved in corruption,” said Imran Ismail.

He said that Zardari does not come to Pakistan because he will be arrested immediately upon his arrival.

“If they could not trace the killers of Benazir in their tenure then what else they are capable of?” he said.

Panama case hearing: Pti to keep on anti-corruption movement ISLAMABAD HAMID KHAN WAZIR

Though the case of Panama Papers leaks is now in the Supreme Court (SC) to decide, Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) would keep on its anticorruption movement without any hiccup. Well-placed sources told Pakistan Today that PTI Chairman Imran Khan strictly advised the party leadership to vigorously raise the issue of corruption, especially of Panama Leaks at all forums and further speed up the public awareness campaign in this regard.

They said that Imran Khan is quite happy with the outcome of the agitation because, eventually, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif surrendered himself for accountability, which was one of the main demands of the party. However, sources said that he categorically stated that they should not let the issue of corruption dead and keep themselves well-prepared for TV talk shows. They said that PTI chairman will visit KhyberPakhtunkhwa (PK) and Punjab and address public gatherings and workers conventions there, as a part of PTI’s anti-corruption movement.

The PTI consultative meeting was held in Bani Gala with Imran Khan in the chair on Friday, which was attended by PTI Secretary General Jehangir Khan Tareen, PTI Secretary Information Naeemul Haq, Dr Shireen Mazari, Hamid Khan, Shafqat Mehmood and others. During the meeting, the Panama Papers issue was discussed in threadbare. PTI lawyers’ team briefed Imran Khan regarding the Panama Papers case as well as the replies submitted by PM Nawaz Sharif and Captain (Retd) Safdar in this regard.

They said the boycott of the National Assembly would continue.

In the meeting, Imran Khan asked to provide him with the detail of all PTI’s detained workers and those who were injured because of teargas shelling by the police when they were trying to reach Islamabad.

Sources said that PTI chairman will visit homes of the injured party workers, besides he would distribute appreciation certificates among the PTI workers, especially those belonging to KP who faced police valiantly.

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country’s economic turnaround, PM Nawaz said that the inflation was on a downward trajectory and an end to unemployment was among his top priorities.

The premier also reiterated that the government had broken the back of terrorists and highlighted his government’s welfare schemes like free laptops and scholarships worth billions of rupees to students and free health treatment schemes for the poor.

The free health treatment scheme would also be extended to Kahuta and Narh, he assured the audience chanting pro-PML-N and pro-Nawaz Sharif slogans.

He said the government was overhauling the Railways into a self-sufficient entity, while the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was offering efficient services to passengers.

Premier Sharif said the people had al-

NEWS

03

ready rejected those impeding the government’s national development agenda.

Without naming PTI’s U-turn from much-hyped ‘lockdown’ to ‘Yaum-eTashakkur’, the prime minister said, “Tall claims ended in a whimper.”

Highlighting his government’s transparent policies, the prime minister claimed that no one could blame the government for any kickback in projects’ execution during last three and half years.

He announced various development projects for Kahuta and Kalar Sayedan including widening Rawalpindi-Kahuta road to two-lane highway, electrification and gas supply to all union councils of both the twons, upgradation of Kahuta hospital and 12 high schools to higher secondary schools.

He also announced to fund the construction of roads with total stretch of 100 kilometers in Kahuta and Kalar Sayedan what he believed would bring in progress and prosperity in the area.

He said a tunnel would be constructed through the hills falling on the way from Rawalpindi to Narh to reduce travel duration from three to one hour.

The prime minister also tasked Raja Ashfaq Sarwar and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to work out a roadmap to promote tourism in picturesque Kahuta area and committed to provide as much funds as required for the purpose.

Nat Geo’s ‘Afghan girl’ Sharbat Gula to be deported from Pakistan PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

Peshawar High Court on Friday sentenced Sharbat Gula to 15 days in prison and a Rs 110,000 fine after she plead guilty to charges of possessing a fake Pakistani identity card.

After the completion of her sentence which starts from the time of her arrest, Sharbat Gula will be deported from Pakistan. Sharbat Gula was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for illegally possessing a Pakistani computerised national identity card (CNIC).

A case against her and three former National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) employees was registered on October 20.

Sharbat Gula, who fled Afghanistan during Soviet occupation shot to fame after her photograph as a young refugee was published on the cover of National Geographic magazine back in 1985 on her arrival to Peshawar. The FIA arrested her from Nauthia, Peshawar, on the charges of possessing fake Pakistani CNIC. The FIA was looking into the issuance of CNICs in her name and in the name of two Afghan men who were mentioned as her sons in the registration forms.

04 NEWS

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

FAteMi urGeS uNSC tO FulFil COMMitMeNt OF PlebiSCite iN iOK ISLAMABAD

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APP

PeCIAL Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi on Friday called upon the permanent members of the UN Security Council to fulfil their commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, through the holding of a free, fair and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices.

He said this during his briefing to the ambassadors of the permanent members of the UN Security Council comprising China, France, Russian Federation, UK and USA on the deteriorating human rights situation in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He also highlighted the escalation and ceasefire violations from the Indian side at the LoC and the Working Boundary and the Indian involvement in subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan. He condemned the Indian bru-

talities in IoK, resulting in killing of more than 115 innocent people and injuring more than 16,000.

He noted that more than 1,000 peo-

ple have been injured due to the use of pellet guns by the Indian occupation forces, while scores of hundreds of people have become partially or perma-

nently blind.

He characterized the systematic and grave human rights violations, as crimes against humanity.

Reiterating his call for holding plebiscite in accordance with the Security Council resolutions, he noted that the people of IoK were being brutalized for demanding their fundamental rights, including the right to self-determination.

He stated that unprovoked continued firing and ceasefire violations from the Indian side on the LoC and the Working Boundary have resulted in the loss of many innocent lives.

He referred to the Indian attempts to escalate tensions, as an effort to divert international attention from grim situation in the IoK. Tariq Fatemi also deplored Indian involvement in subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan.

While highlighting Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism, he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to eradicate the menace of terrorism, including Indian state-sponsored terrorism.

Pakistan ratifies COP-21 climate change agreement LAHORE SAMIULLAH RANDHAWA

Gaddani ship fire doused after four days GADDANI INP

Fire at an oil tanker at the Gaddani Shipbreaking yard was put out on the fourth day.

Rescue work inside the ship could not be started as the metal plates are scalding, the sources said. Rescue operation at the upper portion of the Gaddani oil tanker has been completed. Rescue officials claimed that 19 bodies and body parts of three people were recovered from the wreckage. Rescue operation in the lower portion will begin shortly. eighty five per cent of the wreckage has been given clearance by rescue workers. At least 22 people were killed and 58 injured when its fuel tank exploded on November 1. The MTSS ship with a Nairobi flag had reached Gaddani carrying 19 Indian crew members on October 22. The same day the crew left the ship, sources said. The ship was bought by owner of Ghafoor and Company Abdul Ghafoor, who has been missing since the incident. Police have arrested the contractor who was dealing with the workers. A case on behalf of the government has been filed at the Gaddani police station. According to police, four suspects have been named in the case. The suspects include Chaudhry Ghafoor, Muhammad Hafeez, contractor Jalal and Farooq Bangali. One of the suspects, Hafeez has been arrested by the police. The Gaddani ship-breaking industry has fallen on hard times recently and employs about 9,000 workers, fewer than in its boom years at the end of the last decade.

Pakistan has touched a new milestone as it ratifies Conference of the Parties COP-21 (Paris global climate change agreement) which was aimed on the reduction of carbon emissions from respective countries.

This move had come in the wake of Paris agreement which would be entered into force today (Friday) in Marrakech, Morocco.

Climate change ministry’s sources said that Pakistan government had forwarded a letter to the United Nation as COP-21 was under United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC).

Paris global climate change was adopted in December, 2015, and was marked a critical turning point towards a zero-carbon, and resilient world. At least 192 countries signed the agreement during the COP-21 summit held in Paris. Pakistan had become the 95th country in the world which ratified the agreement.

The agreement had to come into force after the ratification of the countries which produced 55 percent global carbon emission.

Only two countries, United States and the China were responsible for emitting 40percent carbon in the world. Both countries had announced to ratify the Paris Agreement ahead of G20 summit held on September 4 this year, which had made it possible for the agreement to come into the force.

India had ratified the COP-21 agreement last month on the eve of Gandhi’s birth anniversary in a ceremony held in New Delhi.

Spokesman of Climate Change Ministry, Saleem Sheikh while talking to Pakistan Today confirmed that a letter with suggestions in view of climate change ratification was sent to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and which was later forwarded to the UN. On a question, he said that an open announcement and any ceremony regarding this development could not be held due to tense political scenario

in Islamabad. However, he said that our delegation would represent the report on climate change today in Marrakech, Morocco.

The delegation will be headed by secretary Climate Change while federal director general of Climate Change and others will also be present on the occasion, Shiekh informed.

COP-22 Climate Change Conference would be held in Marrakesh from November 7 to 18 in which all member countries would present their reports regarding their responsibilities.

The Paris agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to climate change by keeping a global temperature rise of this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Additionally, the agreement was aimed to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change.

President orders to amend SC Judges Order 1997 ISLAMABAD APP

President Mamnoon Hussain has ordered special additional pension of Rs 12,000 per month instead of services of an orderly and Rs 10,000 per month in lieu of services of a driver for judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. According to Ministry of Law and Justice, the president promulgated the order to amend the Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) Order 1997 for providing the facility. The order may be called the Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) (Amendment) Order, 2016 and it shall come into force at once.

MQM’s NA resolution demands Khattak’s trial under Article-6 ISLAMABAD INP

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Friday submitted a resolution demanding trial of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak in National Assembly Secretariat. MQM-P MNA Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui submitted the resolution in the NA Secretariat. The resolution stated that the statement of KP CM was against the national security and integrity of the country.

It added that Khattak tried to stoke hatred and ethnic tension among different communities living in the country. The resolution said that the chief minister’s threatening statements against the sate were condemnable. The resolution demanded Khattak’s trial under Article 6 of the constitution. It urged the National Assembly to unanimously pass the resolution.

Girl burnt in Khaipur acid attack over marriage feud KHAIRPUR INP

A girl was adversely scorched after being attack by youth with acid in suburbs of Khaipur over marriage feud. According to detail, youth threw acid on a girl identified as Fahmida Bhambhan in village Tarko of taluka Tharimirwah, district Khaipur. As a result of acid attack, 80 percent of girl’s body was burnt. She was shifted to Nawab Shah Hospital from where she was referred to Karachi due to critical condition. Sources said that the acid attack was outcome of the marriage feud. A case was registered against the accused at Tharimirwah police station and investigation was underway.

Pakistan tO stay away frOm tObaCCO COnferenCe in india Pakistan will not attend a global tobacco-control conference in India next week, a government minister said on Friday, in the latest fallout of strained diplomatic ties between the South Asian neighbours.

India is hosting the biennial conference of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the only global treaty to deter tobacco consumption. Delegates from around 180 countries are expected to attend.

“It’s a very important meeting on tobacco, but our visit doesn’t appear feasible due to on-going tensions,” Saira Afzal Tarar, State Minister of Health Sciences Regulation and Coor-

dination, told Reuters.

Pakistani health ministry officials had not yet secured visas to attend the conference, Tarar said.

“One or two officials of the health ministry had applied for visa to attend the conference, but I think they are facing issues in getting it.”

India’s foreign ministry spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

Pakistan was invited to the conference but said it would not be able to attend, Guangyuan Liu, an official of the FCTC secretariat, told reporters in New Delhi on Thursday, without giving any reason for the decision.

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The conference will run from Monday to Nov 12.

Conference decisions on treaty provisions will have a direct bearing on a global tobacco industry that euromonitor International estimates is worth $784 billion this year.

Topics for discussion include alternative livelihoods for tobacco farmers, e-cigarettes and trade and investment issues.

Relations between Pakistan and India have soured in recent weeks after New Delhi said it had launched retaliatory “surgical strikes” against militants in Pakistan in the wake of a raid on an Indian army camp that left

19 soldiers dead.

The Pakistani military swiftly rubbished the claim as false, and said the episode was normal shelling by India.

Artillery duels and skirmishes on the border dividing the disputed Kashmir region have surged since.

The Indian prime minister stepped up a drive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically after the Uri army base attack.

The two countries have locked horns over the Kashmir issue since Indian forces stepped up a crackdown against protesters after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by government forces in July. AGENCIES

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

aswj men among Five shot dead ASWJ SpokeSmAN cLAImS fouR vIcTImS WeRe ASSocIATed WITh ASWJ KARACHI STAFF REPORT

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T least five men were gunned down in Karachi on Friday, officials said, adding that four of these men were associated with the proscribed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ).

As many as three men were shot in the Shafiq Mor area of North Karachi, Central SSP Muqadas Haider said. Separately, two men were shot and wounded critically near Fatima Bai Hospital in Patel Para area of Jamshed Quarters police.

“They were transported to Civil Hospital Karachi

where doctors pronounced Mohammed Amin, 30, as dead on arrival,” said Senior Medico-Legal officer Dr Qarar Ahmed.

“Both men sustained bullet wounds on the head and the injured man in his 40s is in serious condition” Qarar added. An ASWJ spokesman claimed all four victims were associated with the banned group. He added that the men were returning after attending a rally at Nagan Chowrangi. He identified one of the deceased as Maulana Usman Haidery.

A prayer leader was shot dead in Karachi’s North Nazimabad area on Friday evening, according to police

officials.

“Prayer leader identified as Shafiq Rehman, 30, was feeding pigeons in Block-H of North Nazimabad when armed pillion riders attacked him,” said Hyderi Market SHO, Zulfiqar Haider.

“The victim was a Pesh Imam (prayer leader) of a small mosque located at ground floor of multi-storey Al-Hamra apartment in North Nazimabad, however, his association with any religious party could not be ascertained immediately,” Zulfiqar added.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took serious notice of firing incidents in the city and made telephone contact with the Karachi police chief and the additional inspector general of the CTD and directed immediate action be taken.

ISLAMBAD STAFF REPORT

Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani in his ruling, with regard to a written reply, has said that no person, organisation, body, authority or government can refuse to provide information to parliament by taking refuge under any rule, regulation or law.

The government (National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Ministry of Finance) had misled parliament by merging two provisions of distinct laws to create impression which was not legally justified, he added. He asserted that this was a deliberate attempt to withhold information from parliament which amounted to a breach of privilege of the House and its members.

However, he said, keeping in view the stand taken by Law and Justice minister, NBP through Ministry of Finance must inform the House within 10 days of this ruling regarding the names and action taken against officials of the NBP and Ministry of Finance who drafted and approved the misleading answer before the parliament.

Elaborating further, Raza Rabbani said that the constitution of Pakistan placed parliament on a different pedestal from that of any organisation or body and the same could be fortified by Clause (3) of Article 66 of the Constitution. The senate chairman maintained that even otherwise, if the government was of the opinion

JI to file additional ToRs in SC ISLAMABAD INP

Jamaat e Islami (JI) has decided to file additional ToRs before the Supreme Court seeking indiscriminate accountability of all those who have got bank loans written off, whose names have appeared in the Panama leaks and people involved in corrupt practices or concealment of assets.

The decision was taken at a meeting between Ameer JI Sirajul Haq, and his counsel Muhammad Asad Manzur on Friday.

They also decided to request the court to set

up a strong, autonomous and independent judicial commission vested with full powers to take any action for the eradication of corruption, and where the common citizen could file a petition against the rulers and powerful elite. They expressed the hope that apex court would deliver a decision to cleanse the country of ill practices. Sirajul Haq said on the occasion that the JI would not take sides in the case and would raise voice at every forum against all those who had plundered public money, deprived the masses of their rights and burdened every citizen under heavy debt.

Three suspected militants affiliated with AQIS, LeJ apprehended KARACHI: As many as three suspected militants allegedly affiliated with banned terror outfits were arrested during a CounterTerrorism Department (CTD) operation on Friday from Karachi, said a statement released by the Karachi Police. The three suspected militants were arrested from Korangi, Orangi and Lyari area. They were identified as Mohammad Aziz affiliated with Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), Tauseef Zaheer affiliated with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and Abdul Hafeez affiliated with Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, added the statement.

“Arrested suspects were involved in various terror activities ranging from attack on law enforcement agencies, extortion, providing explosives and financing terrorists and their activities,” the statement said. STAFF REPORT

Two girls burnt to death in Nawabshah house fire NAWABSHAH: At least two young girls were burnt to death when a house caught fire in Goth Naseer Unar of Nawabshah on Friday. Rescue sources said the fire erupted due to unknown reasons. Two girls stated to be under ten years were trapped in the house and burnt to death before the blaze could be extinguished.

Later, the scorched bodies were pulled out and shifted to a hospital. INP

CMYK

NEWS 05 No Information can be withheld from parliament: Rabbani that providing names of persons who had obtained loans would be against the public interest, the only available remedy was to make recourse to the provisions of Senate Rules, 2012, for making request to the chairman senate in this regard, which request was not made in the instant case.

Giving background of the ruling, the chairman senate said that responding on a question of Senator Ch Tanvir Khan seeking information regarding the names of persons/ companies who had obtained loans of Rs 5 million or more from the NBP during the last five years and the number of cases in which the said loans had been repaid were being repaid and those which had been waived off. The NBP took a position that no bank or financial institution would divulge any information relating to the affairs of its customers and secrecy of bonafide banking transactions shall be strictly observed.

However, aggregate loan amount of Rs 5 million and above disbursed by NBP during last five years (i.e. July 2011 to June, 2016) was amounting to Rs360 billion. Out of total amount disbursed during the period, the loan of Rs271 billion was outstanding comprising regular loan of Rs216 billion and

Non Performing Loans (NPLs) of Rs. 55 billion. The reply of the Bank was endorsed by the minister in-charge during a supplementary question. However, in a motion made

by Senator Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini which was supported by Senators Saeed ul Hassan Mandokhel, Numan Wazir Khattak, Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, Salem Mandiviwala, Taj Haider and Moulana Hafiz Hamdullah reiterated that no information could be withheld from parliament.

Leader of the opposition, Atizaz Ahsan endorsed the point of view of the senators.

However, the Minister for Law and Justice Mr Zahid Hamid contesting the point of view of the senators and Aitzaz Ahsan had stick to the stance adopted by the NBP through Ministry of Finance. After due deliberation and analysis of the legal and factual position based on the relevant rules, judgments of the Supreme Court, High Court, the above ruling had been given with the direction to the Senate Secretariat to send the copies of the same to the minister for finance, revenue, economic affairs, statistics and privatisation, Law and Justice minister and the minister for parliamentary affairs for ensuring strict compliance.

06 LAHORE

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

WEATHER UPDATES

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280C 160C

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160C

MONDAY

280C 140C

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280C 140C

CM presides over Meeting of Cabinet sub-CoMMittee on law and order LAHORE

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STAFF REPORT

UNJAB Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting of Cabinet sub-committee on law and order on Friday which reviewed in detail the steps being taken for the overall law and order situation. The chief minister lauded cabinet sub-committee, police and administration on ensuring law and order atmosphere during Muharram-ul-Haram and the processions in the last month. He said that the state institutions also performed their duties efficiently during protests in previous days and did not allow anyone to create hurdle in the daily routine of the people.

He said due to their hard work, no unpleasant incident occurred during Muharram-ul-Haram and their role is appreciable on performing their duty of protection of life and property of the people efficiently. Shehbaz Sharif said that protection of life and property of the people was basic responsibility of state and no effort should be spared in ensuring the supremacy of law and justice.

He directed indiscriminate action against those who take law in their hands and said that no one would be allowed to take law in ones hand.

He said that encouragement of employees and the institutions had resulted in improvement of the performance of the departments.

Provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah, Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Rana Mashhood, Malik Nadeem Kamran, Bilal Yasin, MNA Hamza Shehbaz, Punjab government’s spokesman Zaeem Hussain

Qadri, Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmed, IG police, secretaries of concerned departments, police officials and senior officers of law enforcement agencies attended the meeting, while divisional commissioners, RPOs, DCOs and DPOs participated in the meeting through video link from their respective districts.

LORD NAZIR MEETS SHEHBAZ SHARIF: Member of British House of Lords, Lord Nazir Ahmad met Shehbaz Sharif on Friday. Lord Nazir appreciated the performance of chief minister on speedy completion of development projects and implementation of revolutionary programme of public welfare.

He said that the Chief Minister had set new records of public service and credit of completion of public welfare projects with transparency goes to the dynamic leadership of Shehbaz Sharif.

He said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government had set up a new example by saving billions of rupees in development projects.

He said that problems of overseas Pakistanis were being resolved with the setting-up of Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that journey of service, honesty and transparency was continuing speedily under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

He said tremendous work had been carried out for resolving the problems of the people during the last three and a half years and Pakistan had been making rapid progress.

He said that Overseas Pakistanis Commission was rendering invaluable services for resolving problems of Pakistanis living abroad, and the problems of overseas Pakistanis had been resolved on priority basis.

LAHORE: CPO distributing masks to motorcyclists for protection from smog. INP

Bab-e-Pakistan construction: LHC issues notice to Punjab Govt LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The Lahore High Court on Friday issued notices to the Punjab Government regarding change in master plan of under construction Bab-e-Pakistan monument. Punjab opposition leader Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed filed petition through his counsel advocate Sheraz Zaka challenging the construction work at Bab-ePakistan historical monument.

Sheraz argued that the construction of the historical monument had been completed by sixty percent but the Punjab government

had decided to change the master plan by allowing constructing cinemas and plazas within two hundred feet of the monument in violation of the Antiquities Act 1975. He submitted government was wasting the taxpayer’s money as it had decided to demolish the Bab-e-Pakistan after changing master plan. Zaka argued that the tax-money was being wasted and fundamental rights were at stake. Court issued notices to chief secretary and asked that how the master plan could be altered when already sixty percent of the project had been completed. Court adjourned the further hearing till Nov 16.

PPDWP approved two development schemes LAHORE INP

The Punjab Provincial Development Working Party (PPDWP) approved two development schemes with an estimated cost of Rs 405.491 million. The schemes were approved in the 27th meeting of PDWP of current fiscal year 2016-17 presided over by chairman P&D Board Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan. Secretary Planning and Development (P&D) Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, all members of the P&D board, provincial secretaries and other senior representatives of the relevant provincial departments also attended the meeting. According to Spokesman for P&D, the approved development schemes included Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project (from Ali Town to Dera Gujran and Bridge Finance Facility to Civil Contractors of LDA from the Bank of Punjab) at the cost of Rs. 391.516 million. Another included hiring of transaction advisory services for construction of the Parking Plazacum-shopping mall at old Municipal Corporation, Faisalabad and construction of the Parking Plaza cum Shopping Mall at Zail Ghar Katchery Bazar, Faisalabad (PC-II) on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis at the cost of Rs 13.975 million.

Ajoke theatre festival concludes LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Ajoka theatre’s second annual “Empower Youth Theatre Festival” ended after mesmerizing audiences for four days at Bukhari Auditorium of Government College University (GCU) Lahore. GCU’s vice chancellor distributed certificates and cash prizes among participant teams.

Earlier, Ajoka theatre’s team presented last performance of the festival Lo phir Basant ayee. A colourful play based on the joyful festival of Basant and a celebration of rich and vibrant culture of Lahore that had been distorted by creeping extremism. Written by Shahid Nadeem and directed by Madeeha Gohar, the play reflected the story of Ustaad Maaju - an expert kite-maker who had been rendered jobless due to ban on kite flying and Basant festival. Humour, satire and depiction of folk songs proved highlight of the story. Four day theatre extravaganza was held by Ajoka’s collaboration with GCU and it provided an opportunity for youth to present their enriched talent and commitment to arts. All teams highlighted the message of social justice, tolerance, equality, peace and respect for all religions. Performers received praise and encouragement from young appreciative crowds throughout the festival. It also provided an opportunity for audiences to look and think beyond the taboos.

CMYK

LAHORE 07

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

4 VACCINES TO BE INTRODUCED UNDER EPI: SALMAN RAFIQUE LAHORE

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APP

HIEF Minister’s advisor on Health, Khawaja Salman Rafique on Friday directed the provincial authorities to introduce four vaccines under the Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) in next five years. Chairing a Provincial EPI Steering Committee meeting in the Primary and Secondary

Healthcare Department at Birdwood Road, he said all out efforts would be made to reduce child mortality.

Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan Khan, National Immunization Technical Advisory Group’s Chairman Tariq Iqbal Bhutta, DG Health Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed, Director EPI/EOC Coordinator Munir Ahmed, Children Hospital’s MD Professor Ahsan Waheed Rathore, Professor Akmal Laeeq from KEMU, Dr

Zahida Sarwar of Pakistan Paediatrics Association and technical officials of UNICEF, WHO and Gates Foundation also attended the meeting. The EPI Steering Committee was the apex technical body guiding the provincial EPI on technical and strategic decisions.

Salman Rafique asked the EPI program officials to complete their homework for the introduction of the following: Rubella, Hepatitis B birth dose, Diphtheria booster dose and DT

Woman’s eyes gouged out, limbs cut off by brothers in Muzaffargarh MuLtAn AgENcIES

A woman’s eyes were gouged out and her limb cut off by her brothers in Muzaffargarh after they suspected her of kidnapping one of their daughters.

The incident took place on Tuesday in Muzaffargarh, 400 km from Lahore, when the two suspects abducted their sister and gouged out her eyes with a sharp knife and also cut off her feet, police said.

One of the suspects, identified as Muhammad Afzal, had suspected that his sister – Shareefan Bibi, 40 and mother of five – was involved in the abduction of his daughter Asia. Police said one of the brothers had earlier registered an FIR against the woman, who is in her 40s, for allegedly

kidnapping his daughter.

Meanwhile, the daughter of the victim, Nusrat, told a local newspaper that her uncle along with one of his brother committed the heinous crime to take revenge on her mother for the disappearance of his daughter.

She said her uncles wanted to kill her mother.

The woman has been shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan where her condition is said to be critical.

Police said a case has been registered against the accused but no arrests have been made so far.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while taking notice of this heinous crime, ordered a swift inquiry and gave a 48 hours deadline to the authorities to apprehend the culprits.

Beaconhouse presents ‘A World of Tomorrow’ LAHORE PRESS RELEASE

The Beaconhouse Group has organised the latest in a series of A School of Tomorrow (SOT) conferences, A World of Tomorrow: Seeking Inspiration and Equilibrium in a New Age. This three-day event will bring together members of the public with leaders and experts from Pakistan and around the globe to discuss emerging issues and share their vision for a brighter future.

The event took off on November 4, 2016 at Royal Palm Golf & Country Club with the

opening ceremony. Beaconhouse Chairperson Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri gave a welcome speech in which she mentioned that Beaconhouse had adopted fifty public sector schools in Punjab to assist the Government in raising the standard of education in the province. She expressed her vision to extend this initiative to other provinces of Pakistan.

Chief Guest Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana lauded the efforts and emphasized the importance of taking a proactive role in the improvement of education. Beaconhouse Chief Executive Kasim Kasuri presented the Punjab governor with a token of appreciation.

Three victims of Landhi train crash laid to rest in Pakpattan

Four terrorists held with explosives, detonators in City

PAKPATTAN: Three victims of Karachi train accident were laid to rest on Friday amid tears and cries. A large number of people attended the funeral prayers. According to details, bodies of three people including Mudassar, Mubeen and Rasheeda Bibi who died in Karachi train mishap were transported to the ancestral village. A large number of people including the family members, relatives and dwellers of respective villages attended the funeral prayers of the deceased offered at their home towns. INP

LAHORE:The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested four terrorists besides recovering explosive material, detonators and devices from their possession on Friday evening. The CTD sources said that on an intelligence tipoff, a team of the department conducted operation at Malakand bus terminal, in which four terrorists identified as Athar, Siddique, Habibur Rehman and Aneesur-Rehman were arrested. The CTD also recovered explosives, detonators and devices used in bomb making and other terror activities from the possession of the nabbed terrorists who were shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation. INP

133 criminals arrested during last month LAHORE: The Lahore police operations wing arrested 133 members of 53 criminal gangs and recovered booty worth Rs 10million from them during October, 2016.

Police sources said the police found criminal record of 113 accused, while 105 proclaimed offenders and 679 court absconders had also been arrested in the same period.

About 290 cases were registered against 290 accused for having illicit weapons and police recovered two Kalashnikovs, eight rifles, 18 guns, 230 revolvers and pistols, and other weapons from their possession.

In an offensive against drug-dealers, 528 cases were registered and 533 culprits were arrested and 8.244 kilograms of heroin, 234.240-kilogram hashish, 1.215-kilogram opium and 3,175 bottles of liquor were recovered from them. APP

Two die after truck overturns in Vehari VEHARI INP

At least two people died when a truck carrying cotton bales overturned on Friday. Police said that cotton bales laden truck turned turtle due to over speeding at Mirtro-Karampur road in Vehari.

Two including driver of the truck and the cleaner died on the spot.

The bodies of deceased were shifted to hospital for medico-legal formalities where they were handed over to heirs after post-mortem.

vaccines. Khawaja Salman also sought technical update on introduction of Cervical Cancer and asked to prepare detailed report on it. The meeting reviewed the Diphtheria situation in Punjab and its preventive and curative measures.

EPI Director Dr Munir Ahmed presented a detailed analysis of Diphtheria situation in Punjab, pattern of cases in the country, as well as, the status of vaccination in the union councils which reported diphtheria cases in district Kasur.

Illegal slaughterhouse unearthed MULTAN: The district task force for food Friday claimed to unearth an illegal abattoir in walled city area and seized 100 maund of meat. Assistant Commissioner Khalid Gillani and Human Resources Management’s District Officer Farooq Dogar raided at Dehli Gate, Haram Gate and other areas and detected an illegal slaughterhouse. The team has got arrested a butcher. APP

08 FOREIGN NEWS

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

Eight killEd, ovEr 100 woundEd by Pkk bombing in turkEy

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AGENCIES

IYARBAKIR: Eight people were killed, including two police, and over 100 wounded in a car bombing by Kurdish militants in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Friday, updating an earlier toll. The blast, which Yildirim said was carried out by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), targeted a police headquarters hours after top Kurdish politicians were detained in an unprecedented police crackdown.

The local governor’s office said in a statement that the cause of the blast “seems to be a car bomb used by members of the separatist terrorist organisation”, a reference to the outlawed PKK.

Two local residents told AFP they had seen a minibus explode outside the police building in the Baglar district.

The explosion occurred just hours after police detained the two co-leaders of the country’s main pro-Kurdish party and several other MPs in a major escalation of a broader crackdown against leading Kurds.

An AFP reporter said that several ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the blast, which heavily damaged several residential buildings.

The explosion could be heard several kilometres (miles) away and a thick column of white smoke was seen rising from the site of the explosion.

Gunshots were heard after the blast.

Earlier Friday, police detained Selahattin Demirtas of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) at his home in Diyarbakir while his co-chairperson Figen Yuksekdag

was held in Ankara as part of a terror investigation, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. Their detention appeared part of a large-scale operation against the HDP, which is the third largest party in the Turkish parliament with 59 seats and the main political representative of the Kurdish minority. NTV television said the pair were accused of spreading propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) while Anadolu said Demirtas was accused of provoking violence in deadly protests in October 2014. The raids come as Turkey remains under a state of emergency imposed in the wake of the July 15 failed coup, which critics say has gone well beyond targeting the actual coup plotters.

Thirteen staff from the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper, including the editor-in-chief, were detained on Monday, further heightening strains in Turkish society.

Tensions have surged in the Kurdish-dominated southeast since a fragile ceasefire declared by the PKK collapsed in 2015.

It has since stepped up its insurgency against the Turkish security forces, staging regular attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives among the military and the police.

The HDP seeks to promote the cause of Turkey’s Kurdish minority and defend the rights of Kurds as well as those of women, gays and workers.

But the authorities accuse the party of being a front for the PKK and failing to distance itself from terror, claims it has always vehemently denied.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched repeated personal attacks on Demirtas, who analysts have seen as the sole politician in Turkey who comes anywhere near to rivalling his charisma.

Women in Afghan army overcome opposition, threats KABUL AGENCIES

Kabul’s military training academy is churning out classes of enthusiastic women to serve in Afghanistan’s army, but the realities of rising violence and a conservative society make the future for the young recruits far from certain.

Some of the nearly 150 women training to be officers in the latest class say they feel proud to be part of the effort to secure the country, still racked by an insurgency by the Taliban and other militants to topple the Western-backed government. “I decided to join the army to save the lives of my people and to defend ourselves,” said Sakina Jafari, 21, adding that she believed her service set an example.

“This encourages other girls to join the army’s ranks.” Afghanistan is one of the hardest places in the world to be a woman, according to the United Nations, despite years of pressure by women’s groups and international donors.

Women and men train separately at the base on the outskirts of the capital, but officers say the training is similar, and includes physical education, firearms, tactics and medical care.

Unlike many Afghans, all the women who graduate from the academy are literate and will go into one of several non-combat roles, including management, human resources, logistics, radio operations, or intelligence, said Lieutenant Colonel Cobra Tanha, a 28year military veteran.

Some, however, may go on to assist Afghan special forces with missions like night raids, which often require women to help with culturally sensitive searches

China's 'monkey king' picks Trump as next US president SHANGHAI: A Chinese monkey described as the “king of prophets” has tipped Donald Trump for the US presidency, a tourism park said, after the creature successfully predicted the winner of football’s European Championship final earlier this year. Known as Geda — which means knots or goose bumps — the prophetic primate is the latest in a series of purportedly psychic animals that have popped up around the world since Paul the Octopus correctly predicted multiple 2010 World Cup matches. The simian seer, wearing a yellow shirt emblazoned with his title, was given a chance to pick between bananas placed beside life-sized cut-outs of Republican Trump and his Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton. After “deliberate thought” the mystic monkey chose Trump, Shiyanhu Ecological Tourism Park said Thursday in a statement on its website. Without even waiting, he congratulated the cardboard candidate with a kiss on the lips. The five-year-old simian correctly predicted Portugal would win the 2016 European football championship in July, two days before Cristiano Ronaldo’s side prevailed 1-0, online news portal ifeng.com reported at the time. Then, the monkey was presented with the national flags of Portugal and France with bananas on both. It finally walked towards the national flag of Portugal and ate a banana there, the report said. Geda’s antics seem to have been inspired by the oracular octopus Paul. In 2010, Paul the Octopus became the world’s most famous mollusc when he foretold the results of every match played by Germany at the World Cup in South Africa, as well as Spain’s victory against the Netherlands in the final. AGENCIES

Blast kills 11 on way to Afghan wedding A roadside bomb killed 11 people on their way to a wedding in the northern Afghan province of Faryab, government officials said on Friday, as civilian casualties rise in the war-torn country. “Eleven civilians were killed and 12 others wounded when they struck a roadside bomb in Kosa Qala village in Faryab province,” provincial spokesman Ahmad Jawed Bedar told AFP, adding that the victims were heading to a wedding. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the Faryab blast, which also killed women and children, but officials blamed Taliban militants. The blast occurred on Thursday just as 30 Afghan civilians were killed in Nato air strikes in the neighbouring province of Kunduz, a hotbed of Taliban insurgency. Roadside bombs are the favourite weapon of the militant groups fighting to oust the Western-backed Kabul government. Insurgents frequently target Afghan police and military, but the surge in attacks has also taken a heavy toll on civilians. The UN recently cited a 42 per cent rise in casualties caused by progovernment forces this year compared to 2015. AGENCIES

TUNISIAN MINISTER SACKED AFTER SAUDI REMARKS of homes, she said. The United States, which has about 7,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of a NATO-led mission to help advise and train Afghan forces, has budgeted at least $93.5 million in 2016 to try to increase the number of women in the military.

Despite years of investment, the Afghan army fields less than 900 women soldiers, far fewer than the goal of 5,000, according to the U.S. government’s Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).

Hasina Hakimi, 19, said she could not return to her home province because of Taliban threats, and many women report facing challenges within the army itself.

Women working in public positions are controversial in Afghanistan. Last

year, nearly 60 percent of Afghans surveyed by the Asia Foundation said they did not consider it acceptable for women to work in the army or police.

Even after joining, women may find obstacles to jobs and being promoted in the military, SIGAR reported.

NATO trainers found that common reasons women cited for leaving the security forces were “opposition from male relatives, problems with male colleagues, low pay, family obligations, lack of promotion or meaningful assignment opportunities, and a lack of training and security”, according to SIGAR. Those difficulties were confirmed

by Benafsha Sarwari, a 20-year-old teacher at the Kabul academy, who nevertheless expressed determination to keep serving.

TUNIS AGEN C IE S

Tunisia’s religious affairs minister was fired on Friday for “attacking the foundations of diplomacy” after he publicly suggested the conservative form of Islam practised in Saudi Arabia had links to extremism.

A government statement said Prime Minister Youssef Chahed had relieved Abdeljalil Ben Salem of his duties due to his “attack” on Tunisia’s diplomatic principles.

On Thursday Ben Salem confirmed during a parliament session that he had “dared” to question Riyadh’s ambassador to Tunis, as well as the secretary general of Arab interior ministers — a Saudi national — about Saudi Wahhabism

being a “vehicle for terrorism”.

“I say to Saudis… reform your school because terrorism has historically come from it. I say this to you with love and modesty,” the minister said, according to the private Mosaique FM radio station.

Wahhabism, the fundamentalist school of Islam practised in Saudi Arabia, has been accused of inspiring extremist ideologies in the region.

Ben Salem tried to row back from his comments, issuing a statement saying that Tunisia’s relations with the kingdom were “completely harmonious”.

Tunisia has witnessed a series of extremist attacks since the popular uprising of 2011, including deadly attacks on foreign tourists in 2015.

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

russia-announcEd cEasEfirE to start in syria’s alEPPo BEIRUT

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AGENCIES

Russia-declared unilateral ceasefire is to take hold in Syria’s Aleppo Friday even as rebels stepped up a week-old assault to break a government siege of the city’s eastern districts.

Regime ally Russia, which announced the 10-hour “humanitarian pause” on Wednesday, said it would start at 0700 GMT. The pause is the second declared by Moscow in less than a month after a three-day ceasefire in late October failed to encourage civilians and rebels to leave rebel-held east Aleppo.

The October 20 pause followed a month-long Russia-backed army offensive to recapture the whole city that killed hundreds of civilians and hit health facilities, sparking international condemnation.

Once Syria’s economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been divided since mid-2012 between regime control in the west and rebels in the east. The chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov said Friday’s pause was meant to “prevent

Pro-Trump ad attacks Clinton aide Huma Abedin’s ‘Pakistani origin’ NEWS DESK An ad released on Monday from a proTrump group and produced by the Republican Hindu Coalition attacked Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin for her Pakistani heritage.

The video, aimed at convincing Indians to vote for Trump, begins with a narrator attacking Hillary Clinton for being “sympathetic towards Pakistan,” giving “billions of dollars in aid and military equipment against India”.

The ad also warns, “Her current aide Huma Abedin is of Pakistani origin and will become chief of staff if she wins.” Abedin’s mother is Pakistani. There has been no word beyond speculation that Abedin would be chief of staff in a Clinton administration. According to the New York Post, the ad will air on more than a dozen TV stations in the US, including several catered to Indian viewers.

The TV spot was the second pro-Trump advertisement targeting Indian-Americans. The first, also created by Republican Hindu Coalition founder Shalabh Kumar, showed Trump speaking Hindi and expressing solidarity with India. The group was also sending 60,000 advertisements by mail to voters in three key swing states — Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina, the Post reported. The ads reportedly stated: “Chief of Staff in Clinton White House will be Huma Abedin, of Pakistani and Saudi background,” an apparent reference to Abedin who was born in Michigan but has spent much of her childhood in Saudi Arabia. New emails the FBI is examining related to Clinton’s use of a private computer server were discovered after the agency seized electronic devices belonging to Clinton aide Huma Abedin and her husband, Anthony Weiner, the New York Times reported.

senseless casualties” by allowing civilians and combatants out of east Aleppo. But the United Nations has warned that “humanitarian operations cannot be contingent on political or military initiatives”.

Only a handful of people left

east Aleppo during the October ceasefire, with Russia accusing rebels of preventing people from leaving and a UN plan to evacuate wounded people shelved over security concerns. Rebels have been battling for nearly a week in a desperate bid to break the threemonth siege but have so far been unable to push through government lines in western Aleppo.

The opposition forces on Thursday announced a new phase in their assault on government forces in the city’s western outskirts.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said the “most intense fighting” was on the edges of the Halab al-Jadida neighbourhood.

State media said at least 12 people were killed in rebel rocket and gunfire on Aleppo’s western neighbourhoods.

Two US trainers shot dead at Jordan airbase AMMAN AGENCIES

Two US trainers were killed and a third American wounded in an exchange of fire on Friday at a Jordanian air force base, the Jordanian army said.

The shooting took place at the gate of the al Jafr base when the car carrying the US trainers failed to stop, the army said, adding that a Jordanian officer was also wounded.

“An exchange of fire occurred Friday morning at the gate of the Prince Feisal Air Base in al Jafr when a car

carrying trainers attempted to enter the gate without heeding the guards’ orders to stop,” a statement said quoting a military source.

The army said the wounded were evacuated to hospital and that an investigation was under way to determine the causes of the shooting.

Jordan, a key US ally in the Middle East, is a member of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.

US forces have trained a small group of vetted Syrian

rebels in Jordan, and American instructors have trained Iraqi and Palestinian security forces in Jordan as well over the past few years. Friday’s incident comes almost a year after a Jordanian policeman shot dead two US instructors, a South African and two Jordanians at a police training centre east of Amman, before being gunned down.

Washington said at the time that the two Americans killed in the November 9, 2015 shooting were employees of the private firm DynCorp contracted by the State Department to train Palestinian forces.

Clinton plots final push as race tightens Hillary Clinton saturated the airwaves and deployed star surrogates to battleground states Thursday, looking to snuff-out an eleventh-hour insurgency that has put Donald Trump at the gates of the White House. As a slew of polls showed the race tightening, President Barack Obama shuttled into Florida for multiple rallies aimed at firing up the Democratic base and turning out the vote for Clinton in a must-win state. A CBS/New York Times nationwide survey showed Clinton's lead at 45 percent against Trump's 42 percent, a sign the bombastic mogul is winning over oncewary Republican voters. After months of vitriolic and turbulent campaigning, political tribalism appears to be returning to the fore in the deeply divided nation ahead of Election Day on November 8. AGENCIES

FOREIGN NEWS 09

US authorities warn of al Qaeda threat to election Federal officials have warned authorities in New York City, Texas and Virginia about an unspecific threat of attacks by the al Qaeda militant group around Election Day, putting local law enforcement on alert the weekend before Tuesday's vote, officials said on Friday. A U.S. government source in Washington said some federal agencies sent bulletins to local and state officials flagging the information but that the threat was relatively low-level. A U.S. official familiar with the threat information said that it was "uncorroborated," but that federal agencies believed that they needed nonetheless to remain vigilant. The New York City Police Department and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey were alerted to the information, the local agencies said. The Port Authority, which operates airports, tunnels and bridges around New York City, is continuing high levels of patrol it has had in place, said spokesman Steve Coleman. He declined to offer details on the warning, but the police department said the threat report lacked specifics and was still being assessed. "We are aware of the information," the department said in a statement, adding that it was working with intelligence agencies and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Although some of the attention of U.S. authorities has shifted to Islamic State-inspired attacks, the al Qaeda network has shown resilience more than 15 years after it was responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon. Last month, the United States carried out strikes in Afghanistan targeting two of al Qaeda's senior leaders in the country, and al Qaeda's Yemen branch has posed a risk to merchant ships in waterways nearby.

"We still view al-Qa'ida and the various al-Qa'ida affiliates and nodes as a principal counterterrorism priority," Nicholas Rasmussen, director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, told the Senate's homeland security committee in September, using an alternative spelling for the group. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said his office was monitoring the situation. "Texans should go about their daily lives as usual, but remain vigilant over the next several days and report any suspicious activity," Abbott, a Republican, said in a statement. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, is constantly monitoring state's security, spokesman Brian Coy said. "We are doing everything we can to keep Virginians safe, and we're confident they are going to be able to vote safely on Election Day," Coy said in a phone interview. The task force issued a notice identifying the three states as possible targets of an al Qaeda plot, a New York law enforcement official said on condition of anonymity. The official said the type of threat was common but authorities were giving it more attention because of Election Day. Authorities were assessing whether there was a plot and whether the states named were real targets or misdirection. "Another possibility is that this is just an attempt to inspire someone here to mount an attack," the official said. AGENCIES

Turkey PoliCe deTAin Co-leAders of mAin Pro-kurdisH PArTy ISTANBUL AGENCIES

Turkish police on Friday detained the two co-leaders of the country’s main pro-Kurdish party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), as part of a major crackdown against the group.

Selahattin Demirtas was detained at his home in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir while the co-chairperson Figen Yuksekdag was detained in Ankara within the framework of a terror investigation, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.

Their detention appeared part of a large-scale operation against the HDP, which is the third largest party in the Turkish parliament.

Anadolu did not give further details on the investigation but NTV television

CMYK

said the pair were accused of spreading propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

According to the Hurriyet daily, several other HDP MPs were also being detained including the prominent lawmaker Sirri Surreya Onder.

It listed the names of half a dozen other HDP lawmakers who had been detained so far in the operation.

Their detention followed a previous resolution by parliament allowing the immunity of MPs to be lifted.

The detentions come as Turkey remains under a state of emergency imposed in the wake of the July 15 failed coup, which critics say has gone well beyond targeting the actual coup plotters.

Tensions have surged in the Kurdish-dominated southeast of Turkey

since a fragile ceasefire declared by the PKK collapsed in 2015.

It has since stepped up its insurgency against the Turkish security forces, staging regular attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives among the military and the police.

The HDP seeks to promote the cause of Turkey’s Kurdish minority and defend the rights of Kurds as well as those of women, gays and workers.

The charisma in particular of Demirtas — dubbed the “Kurdish Obama” by some admirers after the US president — earned it success at the ballot box.

It also divides all its top jobs between a man and a woman, as with the party chairmanship, which is shared between Demirtas and Yuksekdag.

10 COMMENT

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

Side effects may include: growing pains An uphill task for Bilawal

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NCE a countrywide force with a liberal orientation, the PPP has now been reduced to a party of the rural Sindh. Among the factors that have contributed to its downward slide is the party’s misgovernance during 2008-13 in Pakistan, and in Sindh from 2008 till the appointment of the present Chief Minister. The mission undertaken by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of putting life into the party and turning it into a serious contender for power is thus an uphill task.

As it holds power in Sindh and retains public support in its rural part, the PPP can organise a big rally anywhere in the province. The fairly large public gathering in Kamoon Shaheed town addressed by Bilawal is a good beginning but would be of little help in neighbouring Punjab where it must gather support if it wants to to form a government at the center. In the last general elections PPP could only win two NA seats from the province. what is more during the last three years there have been large scale defections from the PPP to PTI with the party leadership witnessing the decline apathetically.

Bilawal dissolved the PPP structures at the provincial and district level all over the country early this year. As new office bearers are yet to be appointed the PPP remains lifeless in Punjab. The party leadership has done little other than holding a public meeting in Jamaldin wali addressed by Bilawal.

Bilawal has problems about personal security which put limits on his movements. Unlike his mother who rarely talked about personal losses Bilwal constantly refers to the heritage of martyrs which indicates personal inadequacies. BB possessed high intellectual caliber and soon got rid of the party’s meddlesome old timers.

Bilawal has to depend on their counsel all the time. He might have developed some understanding about Sindh but is apparently unaware of the complications in Punjab, KP and Balochistan. with these serious handicaps it remains to be seen how PPP chairperson manages to expand the PPP outside Sindh.

Army Matters

Legal Perspective Gadani Incident and role of Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency

MuhaMMad Majid Bashir

T

HE tragic Gadani Ship yard was converted into a graveyard when around eight explosions occurred in the oil tankers due to gas welding work in ship breaking yard at Gadani town .This blast ignited various questions regarding the the fatalities that occurred on Tuesday morning. At least 20 workers lost their lives with 60 suffering from serious injuries, authorities fear the death of more. Rescue workers struggled to put out the fire with only one fire engine present with not enough foam to douse it. Some of the bodies of workers were recovered from the water, when they jumped from the ship to save their lives and some quite far from the vessel near the village.

The dead bodies of ship workers were said to be in poor conditions without any protective gear.

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wo important matters related to the army are currently on the PM’s table. one, the investigation into the source of a story published in a local English daily about a civ-mil spat during a high level security meeting last month. Second, the selection of the next chief of army staff (CoAS) after Raheel Sharif’s three year term ends on the 28th of this month.

As far as the investigation is concerned, the army is not satisfied with the government’s offering of a sacrificial goat in the form of information minister Pervaiz Rashid who has been suspended until the investigation is complete on the grounds that he did not do enough to stop the story from being published.

Chaudhry Nisar after having vowed to unveil the culprits very soon has so far been unable to produce any such person(s) in the 29 days since the story first appeared. That he has submitted an application for medical leave to the PM means that the investigation will be further delayed and the army further annoyed.

Apart from few news items that list names of the next possible CoAS – something that can be found with a simple wikipedia search – there is no concrete suggestion as to who the next top general will be. After having announced rather prematurely earlier this year that he will not take any extension, Raheel Sharif should have known whom he would be handing over the mantle two months ago. Nawaz Sharif has made this decision four times before this so it is not rocket science to him.

The probe has to be concluded in a timely fashion, as it was a breach of security. The next chief has some big shoes to fill and he will literally have no time to catch up as we are in an active state of war. with pressures from the opposition, protests on the street regarding corruption allegations, which the judiciary has now taken up, economic woes and the massive undertaking of CPEC, it does not suit the government to drag its feet on issues related to the army.

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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thority to deal with it.

Moreover, the conditions of the shipyard were not reported to the Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency so that it could have taken appropriate steps to improve the quality standards required by law. BEPA who is responsible to measure and monitor industrial areas and implement environmental laws, regulations and National Environmental Quality Standards also failed to notice the hazardous working environment by conducting surveys, inspection, and examinations prescribed by the Balochistan Environmental Protection Act 2012. Government of Balochistan has to immediately put a ban on this ship breaking industry at Gadani and specify safeguards for the prevention of similar accidents and disasters in the future. The horrid incident we just witnessed portrays a failure of collaboration with the shipyard owners to prepare contingency plans necessary control such catastrophes.

The government should constitute a commission for implementation and enforcement of BEPA and review the existing legislations of Province of Baluchistan in the light of ILo guide lines, Basel Convention, Hong Kong convention, EU Directives and allied related International Conventions for workers safety, health, Environment and dismantling of ships.

Muhammad Majid Bashir is an Advocate Supreme Court, Senior Associate ABS & CO, former Additional District and Session Judge and Founding President of Centre for Rule of Law Islamabad-CROLI and can be contacted at: judgemajid@hotmail.com

Currency devaluation Is it Pakistan’s turn?

Unnecessary delays

The prevailing situation shows a picture worth condemnation.

Despite various accidents in the past no measures for provision of health and safety related arrangements had been made by the government of Balochistan. Many NGo’s had filed complaints with Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency (BEPA) against ship breaking industries but BEPA did not take any action against the owners of these ship breaking yards.

The situation and its aftermath raise a mere question of accountability of Director GeneralBEPA, Senior officials of Labour Directorate.

As evident, there is clearly no compliance with the Standards of the International Labour organisation-ILo, EU directives on ship breaking industries, Domestic health, Safety and Labour laws and Balochistan Environment Protection Act 2012. Currently there is no water, electricity, bath rooms and no place to live for the laborers in Gadanil. These poor working conditions at Gadani shipyard are not only dangerous for the workers but have also placed Pakistan in the list of non-complying countries violating international conventions and treaties relating to safety of and health of workers. These scales are are the modern day standards that judge the standing and credibility of a country.

As per the Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents Convention, 1993 (No. 174) measures should have been taken to prevent major accidents; minimize the risks of major accidents; and minimise the effects of major accidents. The employers at the ship breaking yard should have identified the hazards the workers claimed were present and should have notified a competent au-

aBdullah huMayun

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AKISTAN’S economy has been losing out to nimbler rivals in the export game. Citing a loss of competitiveness caused by increased costs of doing business in the country, manufacturers have seen their export market share hacked away by regional competitors. The Textile industry in particular has been badly hit. The industry is in a state of near constant panic, undergoing a slow, painful decline in exports, watching their business gradually trickling away.

Policy making in Pakistan is akin to handling wafer thin glass with a pair of tongs. It requires great skill and luck to get the job done.

Few variables are within the Government’s control, those that are need to be tweaked with utmost care. Anything too drastic is liable to bring down the house.

The global economic slowdown has added a dimension of increased market competitiveness, especially among relatively low-tech, mass market products such as textiles. Europe’s economic malaise, now bordering on chronic, sub-par economic growth, has not helped either. As an important export destination for developing countries, the loss of a growing European market has only intensified competition amongst developing countries in the low-tech sectors. Pakistan’s inability to compete, whether through years of underinvestment in infrastructure, machinery or due to the rising cost of doing business coupled with energy shortages, has resulted in the country being elbowed out by the competition.

In such a situation, two options present themselves. option number one is a long-term, meandering shuffle towards increasing produc-

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tivity through less arbitrary regulation by the government, ensured energy supplies and efforts by the private sector to increase its focus on research and development. The idea is to produce more with each unit of input, thereby lowering per unit cost.

The other route is a short term, steroidal boost to the economy through devaluing the Rupee to bolster competitiveness. This entails devaluing the Rupee to make Pakistani exports cheaper for foreign buyers, thereby re-establishing the country’s price competitiveness in the international market. The use of devaluation is a popular measure among developing countries looking to boost exports in the near term. China has been devaluing the Yuan to get rid of production overcapacity and to avoid a deflationary spiral. After reaching the limits of a debt-fuelled spate of economic growth, the Chinese are looking to maintain their growth trajectory through an increase in exports. The Egyptians have also recently devalued the Egyptian Pound recently to improve flagging growth and ease an impending balance of payments crisis.

The mechanism behind a devaluation led export growth is fairly simple. Exporters are allowed that extra breathing space in negotiations since their prices are likely to be fixed in local currency terms, a devaluation has the effect of lowering prices of local goods in the foreign currency, making export prices more favourable for the foreign buyer.

A devaluation is not without consequences through. Export rivals such as Bangladesh might be tempted to trigger their own round of currency devaluations. Through to be fair, a devaluation of the Rupee is not exactly headline material and hence unlikely to trigger reprisals from regional competitors. The advantages of a devaluation would only hold in cases where regional rivals keep their own currencies’ values constant, allowing the Rupee to get away with a relative price advantage in the international market.

A currency that has been allowed to devalue is likely to transfer inflationary pressures on to the host economy, as the local currency price of imported goods goes up. The stability of prices in Pakistan is a relatively recent phenomenon.

During the 2008 democracy-dictatorship transition inflation topped 20% per year. For a country with large sections of society vulnerable to changes in the price of goods, significant fluctuations in the price level need to be afforded great importance. Plus, given Pakistan’s dependence on imports for a majority of its energy needs means any devaluation is likely to result in in-

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creased energy prices being passed on to consumers, as has been the case historically.

There seems to be a general fatigue amongst Pakistanis regarding the inflationary squeeze over the past years. Competitiveness or not, the public is unlikely to take kindly to any inflationary surprises.

Considerations are also due to Pakistan’s alleged game changer project, CPEC. For local partners importing equipment, a devaluation would eat away at profits, unless the company has arrangements whereby it is protected against currency movements. For Chinese companies operating in Pakistan, being paid in Chinese Yuan, a devaluation will not impact profits but for those being paid in Rupees, profitability will suffer.

Followers of the Chicago school would be dead against any government intervention in the market, instead allowing currencies to establish their own place and price according to what the market sees fit. The main thrust being that the market knows best. The Finance Minister disagrees, of course, given how he made it his mission to maintain the Rupee’s exchange rate. which worked out in Pakistan’s favour; stability was provided when stability was greatly needed.

The process of devaluation can be a tricky, messy business. There is always a chance that the process will take on a momentum of its own, turning neat spreadsheet analysis into a currency rout. A fragile economy leads to uncertainty amongst agents and uncertainty leads to panic.

Unlike China where the state has hundreds of billions of foreign exchange in reserves and where operators are sure as to the outcome of a devaluation; Pakistan’s economy is riven with uncertainty, finely attuned to negative signals and hence to prone to bouts of panic. There is a real chance of a controlled devaluation turning into a Rupee freefall, something on the lines of the Asian financial crisis where, at the IMF’s insistence, a number of Asian economies started the process of currency devaluation, only to find the process taking on an overwhelming force of its own; sending the currencies into an uncontrolled downward spiral.

The risks are great and the benefits fleeting, especially for an economy that is dependent on external energy sources for its needs. A devaluation, while good for a short term boost to exporting sectors, is likely to throw up a host of other challenges that could prove to be detrimental to the country’s economy and general stability.

Abdullah Humayun can be contacted at abdullah.humayun@gmail.com. Twitter: @Ahshafi I

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

COMMENT 11

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

Editor’s mail

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Our cultural and religious heritage

To Lieberman Demonstrate your credibility

dr alon Ben-Meir

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am sceptical of what Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman says as I have judged him only by his actions. For the Palestinians, however, to immediately dismiss what he said in an interview with the Palestinian daily al-Quds—that he supports a two-state solution and would lift Israel’s blockade of Gaza if Hamas relinquishes its military stance—is shortsighted and self-destructive at best. And by rejecting Lieberman’s offer, Hamas is doing nothing but further worsening the plight of the Palestinians living under its rule, forfeiting yet another opportunity to end a conflict that they cannot ever win on their terms. The Palestinian leadership in the west Bank, who perhaps for good reason do not trust Lieberman, should at a minimum call his bluff, if he is indeed bluffing.

Instead of putting Lieberman to the test, the Palestinian Authority chose to denounce what he is offering as if it were a forgone conclusion that Lieberman and his government are simply engaged in public posturing. But even if this was the case, why reject off-hand any offer which only plays into the hands of the extreme right-of-center political parties in Israel? As they see it, the Palestinians are simply unwilling to accept Israel’s right to exist, and anything else they publicly state to the contrary is only for international consumption.

Given that both sides have been engaged for decades in public acrimony against one another, they have created an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and distrust. As a result, they have systematically alienated successive Israeli and Palestinian governments and the general public from one another, thus dooming any overture by either side, however well-intentioned and sincere it may be.

In response to Lieberman’s statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry accused him of spreading lies, stating “Lieberman declares himself to be in favor of a two-state solution, while taking pride in being a settler and legitimising the continued building of settlements and the Judaisation of the west Bank and East Jerusalem.”

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry further blames Lieberman for trying to create a schism between the Palestinian people (i.e.

Hamas vs. PA), when in fact no outsider can rival the Palestinians’ propensity to create and perpetuate their own internal schisms. whereas I take what Lieberman stated with a large grain of salt, I believe that the Palestinian Authority should challenge him to offer some

practical steps to demonstrate his true intentions.

Instead, they opted to attack the newspaper alQuds for publishing the interview, determined to stifle any public discussion on such critical issues, even when there is a desperate need to change the acrimonious public narrative.

Lieberman, like most Israelis, has long since concluded that the status quo is not sustainable. when he talks about a two-state solution, he is not promoting that for the sake of the Palestinians, but for the preservation of Israel as a secure Jewish state.

Yes, the Palestinians have every right to disagree with his vision about the final contours of a future Palestinian state and its demographic composition, as he (like Prime Minister Netanyahu) envisions that any future Palestinian state will end up with a significant Jewish minority.

But whether or not the Palestinians accept such an eventuality, any peace proposal put on the table should be entertained if for no other reason than to prevent the appearance of being rejectionist and uncompromising.

Thus, any effort made by either side to change the public narrative and promote a process of reconciliation between the two sides that could foster trust and mitigate the prevailing sense of insecurity must not be rejected— especially since both sides claim to seek a peace agreement based on a two-state solution.

In connection with Gaza, Lieberman’s offer must be taken at face value. Anyone who understands Israel’s position regarding Gaza knows that it has no interest in engaging in another futile war against Hamas, or reoccupying the territory and assuming the burden of caring for nearly two million Palestinians.

This is precisely why late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon decided to unilaterally withdraw Israelis forces from the Strip, as well as evacuate the settlers. As the newly-appointed Defense Minister, Lieberman studied carefully the pitfalls of another war against Hamas and decided to take a different approach from a position of strength.

The lessons that Lieberman has learned from the last three wars between Hamas and Israel were instructive enough to tell him that even if he decapitates Hamas’ leadership, there will be no end to Palestinian resistance emanating from Gaza, and that the blockade is not and will never provide the answer. what Lieberman is offering Hamas is practical from the Israeli perspective and even more practical from Hamas’ standpoint. while Hamas wants Israel to lift the blockade, it still wants to be in a position to threaten Israel’s very existence.

The illusion that still possesses Hamas’ leadership is that someday, somehow, they will manage to destroy Israel, even though they know only too well that they cannot now or at any time in the future hope to pose an existential threat to Israel and live to see the day.

The vast majority of the two million Palestinians in Gaza live in poverty, the young have no future, the old are despondent and despairing, and all are being held hostage by Hamas to serve its delusional design.

Meanwhile, Hamas is squandering hundreds of millions of dollars to buy more rockets, build tunnels, and prepare for the next war that promises to invite devastation, the likes of which Hamas has not yet seen. Hamas would be wise to take Lieberman’s warning seri-

What Lieberman is offering Hamas is practical from the Israeli perspective and even more practical from Hamas’ standpoint. While Hamas wants Israel to lift the blockade, it still wants to be in a position to threaten Israel’s very existence.

ously—that “If they [Hamas] impose the next war on Israel, it will be their last.”

“If Hamas,” as Lieberman stated, “stops digging tunnels, rearming and firing rockets, we will lift the blockade and build the airport by ourselves.” This is not a rhetorical gesture on Lieberman’s part. He is focusing on a process of reconciliation—government-togovernment—which is sine qua non to reaching a durable peace agreement at a later date.

I fully subscribe to the notion that the conditions on the ground today are not conducive to solving all conflicting issues between the two sides. A process of reconciliation should first take place, and Lieberman’s offer must be viewed in that context, which is the only way the Palestinians could potentially realise their aspiration to establish a state in the west Bank and Gaza.

Given Lieberman’s past record and public statements against the Palestinians, they have good reason to be extremely suspicious of whatever he says or does. The onus now falls on Lieberman to demonstrate that he is sincere about his offer.

For Lieberman to lend credibility to his plans and the concessions he is preparing to make, he should share it with Turkey and Qatar and urge them to use their influence on Hamas to persuade it not to be dismissive of Lieberman’s opening.

The same can be said about the involvement of a few European countries, especially France and Britain, in playing a constructive role between the two sides. This approach will put Israel in a better standing, as it is regularly criticised by the EU as being the intransigent party in the conflict.

Moreover, should Hamas accept Lieberman’s offer, it would open the door to removing Hamas from the list of terrorist organisations that would encourage many countries, specifically in the European Union, to invest in Gaza, which could over a few years turn the Strip from an impoverished land into a thriving entity.

It takes a strong and determined leader to go against the current, and only by engaging Lieberman will the Palestinians be able not only to test his credibility, but change the discourse of a seven decades-old all-consuming conflict.

Dr Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Centre for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies. alon@alonben-meir.com

A country’s cultural and religious monuments and relics are an indicator of its collective conscience. Although Pakistan has several sites which not only carry great importance in terms of our diverse culture but also has immense religious significance.

Having been to one recently in Lahore along with guests from Karachi, I feel there is a dire need to restore our traditional sites.

Here are a few observations after the trip to Badshahi Mosque and Shahi Qila. To begin with, the road leading to the Mosque was in a deplorable condition, which dampened our spirits of patriotism and religious affiliations. After witnessing the poor traffic management and crossing the whole dilapidated passage we reached the grand mosque. Inside the premises I was sad to see the place overflowing with wrappers and dirt. The general public that thronged the place were pushing others and breaking queues.

Furthermore, I felt excited, at first, to know that the place possessed some belongings of our beloved Prophet PBUH. However, soon the excitement transformed into a feeling of sadness, when I saw the way the belongings of the Holy Prophet PBUH and other esteemed personalities were kept in a shabby place. on one side a lot is spent on the renovation and construction of places like Punjab assembly, Governor’s house etc but on the other side there is so much negligence towards the restoration and maintenance of our historical and religious monuments. Unfortunately even though our national leaders frequently go on foreign tours, they do not bring anything constructive back home. Although some parts of the Mosque were very disappointing but I was glad the way our guide enlivened that place for us through his vivid commentary. His passionate details and depiction took us momentarily in that era. I would like to request the concerned authorities to take effective measures to develop the civic sense in our nation, to maintain and clean this cultural site and to highlight the religious relics in glittering cases. There are many workable options like imposing fines or entrance tickets etc. but it depends on the will for improvement and our priorities in life. If there is no immediate hope than instead of irreverence it should be gifted to Turkey as they have the expertise to preserve and respect these relics.

ABIDA NADEEM Lahore

Govt jobs versus the private sector PEoPLE are prone to want government jobs as compared to private sector in Pakistan. Most of the young generation wants to join government jobs and give least priority to the private jobs.

But why do people give much preference to government sector despite of having 3 times more salary in private jobs?

Although private sector is more advanced and give handsome salary packages but on the other hand it is less secure and very hectic for the employee. There are fixed holidays in the government jobs while private sector employer can call you even on holidays due to work load. There are no pay scales in private jobs. Employee can have problems in getting his salary due to poor economic condition of the company. while in government sector, the salaries are given according to the employee pay scale. There are very much limited facilities in the private jobs. They take more work and give less compensation. while government sector takes less work and give much allowance. Government jobs are pensionable while there is no rule of pension in the private sector. It’s really very difficult to get a government job in a country like Pakistan where corruption prevails everywhere. The employees are being hired on references in every sector rather than chosen on merit. Still, people want to start their carrier in the government sector due to the stability and security of the government jobs. The government sector in Pakistan needs much improvement for the better carrier growth of Pakistan’s youth.

SABEEN SOHAIL Rawalpindi

Avoid politics of provocation FINALLY, Supreme Court intervened and diffused the uprising serious crisis at eleventh hour which was leading the country towards chaos and anarchy. It is also commendable that the court’s decision has been welcomed by both parties. Undoubtedly, PTI deserves to claim the credit as unexpectedly sanity seems to have prevailed in the rows of their leaders and they took right and congruous decision by expressing trust and reliance on Supreme Court and calling off the lock down of the capital.

It was all about accountability and this uncertainty, panic and consternation in the country had been avoided if government would have agreed on joint opposition’s ToRs. Now PTI and PML-N have to submit their ToRs on the formation of commission to probe the Panama scandal. It is quite lamentable situation that our elected government always waits for worst situation and believes on delaying tactics. Supreme Court of Pakistan is a dignified and esteemed institution of the country and now everyone is desperately waiting for substantive and concrete result. So it is the need of the hour that announced judicial investigation must be fast paced and impartial and if any kind of wrongdoing has been committed then it must be brought in the light and corrupt rulers must be convicted without any discrimination. There should be no escape citadel for any one if he is involved in any kind of corruption case.

In every enlightened country, elected government proudly takes responsibility to strengthen the integrity of national institutions and work sincerely and selflessly to make them transparent, impartial and efficient but regrettably in our country it has never been our priority.

In spite of this, our politicians always tried to make hostage our institutions and gradually people lost their trust and found these institutions equivocal. There is a dire need to reinforce and fortify our institutions and politicians should refrain to influence on them.

Hopefully in future our political leaders will settle down the matters on discussion table instead of believing on street and dharna politics.

Imran alI Phull Karachi

12 WORLD VIEW

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

United StateS and itS WeStern allieS are to blame for failUre of lateSt ceaSefire IN AN INTERVIEW TO THE SERBIAN NEWSPAPER POLITIKA, PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD SAID THAT RUSSIA WAS VERY SERIOUS AND VERY DETERMINED TO CONTINUE FIGHTING THE TERRORISTS, WHILE THE AMERICANS USED THE TERRORISTS AS A CARD TO PLAY THE POLITICAL GAME TO SERVE THEIR OWN INTERESTS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE INTERESTS OF OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD Question: Mr. President, why has the latest Syria ceasefire failed? Who is to blame for that?

President Assad: Actually, the West, mainly the United States, has made that pressure regarding the ceasefire, and they always ask for ceasefire only when the terrorists are in a bad situation, not for the civilians. And they try to use those ceasefires in order to support the terrorists, bring them logistic support, armament, money, everything, in order to re-attack and to become stronger again. When it didn’t work, they ask the terrorists to make it fail or to start attacking again. So, who’s to blame?

It’s the United States and its allies, the Western countries, because for them, terrorists and terrorism are a card they want to play on the Syrian arena, it’s not a value, they’re not against terrorists. For them, supporting the terrorists is a war of attrition against Syria, against Iran, against Russia, that’s how they look at it.

Question: But which country is supporting terrorism? Saudi Arabia? Qatar?

President Assad: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey…

Question: Turkey?

President Assad: Because they came through Turkey with the support of the government, direct support from the government.

Question: Directly?

President Assad: Direct support from the government, of course.

Question: With money or with armament?

President Assad: Let’s say, the endorsement, the greenlight, first. Second, the American coalition, which is called “international coalition,” which is American.

They could see ISIS using our oil fields and carrying the oil through the barrel trucks to Turkey under their drones…

Question: This is the Syrian oil?

President Assad: In Syria, from Syria to Turkey, under the supervision of their satellites and drones, without doing anything, till the Russians intervened and started attacking ISIS convoys and ISIS positions and strongholds. This is where ISIS started to shrink. So, the West gave the greenlight to those countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, and actually those countries, those governments are puppets; puppets of the West, puppets of the United States, and the terrorists in Syria are their proxy, the proxy of those countries and proxy of the West and the United States.

Question: But money for marketing this oil, who has the money? Turkey?

President Assad: In partnership between ISIS and Turkey. Part of the money goes to ISIS because this is how they can make recruitment and pay salaries to their fighters. That’s why ISIS was growing before the Russian intervention, it was expanding in Syria and in Iraq. And part of the money is going to the Turkish government officials, mainly Erdogan himself and his family.

Question: Erdogan himself?

President Assad: Of course. They were directly involved in this trade with ISIS. Question: Mr. President, do you believe the Russians and Americans can ever agree over Syria? Can Russia and the USA be partners in the war against terrorists in Syria?

President Assad: We hope, but in reality, no, for a simple reason: because the Russians based their politics on values, beside their interest. The values are that they adopt the international law, they fight terrorism, and the interest that if you have terrorists prevailing in our region, that will affect not only our region but Europe, Russia, and the rest of the world. So, the Russians are very serious and very determined to continue fighting the terrorists, while the Americans based their politics on a different value, completely different value, their value is that “we can use the

terrorists.” I mean the Americans wanted to use the terrorists as a card to play the political game to serve their own interests at the expense of the interests of other countries in the world.

Question: The situation about bombing the Syrian Army near the airport in Deir Ezzor… How did the American air attack on the Syrian Army happen? Was it a coincidence or not?

President Assad: It was premeditated attack by the American forces, because ISIS was shrinking because of the Syrian and Russian and Iranian cooperation against ISIS, and because al-Nusra which is Al Qaeda-affiliated group had been defeated in many areas in Syria, so the Americans wanted to undermine the position of the Syrian Army; they attacked our army in Deir Ezzor. It wasn’t by coincidence because the raid continued more than one hour, and they came many times.

Question: One hour?

President Assad: More than one hour.

There were many raids by the Americans and their allies against the Syrian position.

At the same time, they attacked a very big area; they didn’t attack a building to say “we made a mistake.” They attacked three big hills, not other groups neighboring these hills, and only ISIS existed in Deir Ezzor. There is no… what they called it “moderate opposition.” So, it was a premeditated attack in order to allow ISIS to take that position, and ISIS attacked those hills, and took those hills right away in less than one hour after the attack.

Question: ISIS attacking Syrian position after American…?

President Assad: In less than one hour, ISIS attacked those hills. It means that ISIS gathered their forces to attack those hills. How did ISIS know that the Americans would attack that Syrian position?

It means they were ready, they were prepared. This is an explicit and stark proof that the Americans are supporting ISIS and using it as a card to change the balance according to their political agenda.

Question: And after that, America said sorry, huh?

President Assad: They said they regret, they didn’t say sorry. [laughs] Question: Mr. President, who is responsible for the attack on the Red Cross convoy near Aleppo, and what weapons were used for the destruction of the Red Cross convoy?

President Assad: Definitely the terrorist groups in Aleppo, because those are the ones who had an interest. When we announced the truce in Aleppo, they refused it. They said “no, we don’t want a truce.”

They refused to have any convoys coming to eastern Aleppo, and that was public, it’s not our propaganda, it’s not our announcement, they announced it. And there was a demonstration by those militants to refuse that convoy. So, they have interest in attacking that convoy, we don’t have. It wasn’t in an area where you have Syrian troops, and at the same time there were no Syrian or Russian airplanes flying in that area anyway. But it was used as part of the propaganda, as part of the narrative against Syria in the West; that we attacked this humanitarian convoy, because the whole war now in Syria, according to the Western propaganda, is taking the shape of humanitarian war. This is the Western mask now; they wanted to use the humanitarian mask in order to have an excuse to intervene more in Syria, and when I say intervene it means militarily or by supporting the terrorists.

Question: This is like the situation in former Yugoslavia, in the war in Yugoslavia, also in the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the war in Kosovo, humanitarian problems.

President Assad: It’s a different era, maybe, a different shape, but the same core, what happened in your country, and what’s happening now in our country.

Question: And the Western propaganda spoke about the problem of using the chemical weapons and the barrel bombs.

President Assad: The same, to show that you have a black-and-white picture; very very bad guy against very very good guy.

It’s like the narrative of George W. Bush during the war on Iraq and on Afghanistan. So, they wanted to use those headlines or those terms in their narrative in order to provoke the emotions of the public opinion in their countries. This is where the public opinion would support them if they wanted to interfere, either directly through military attacks, or through supporting their proxies that are the terrorists in our region.

Question: I see the news in the last days, the Amnesty International condemned a terrorist group for using the chlorine, the chemical weapons in Aleppo.

President Assad: In Aleppo, exactly, that happened a few days ago, and actually, regardless of these chemical attacks, we announced that the terrorists killed during the last three days more than 80 innocent civilians in Aleppo, and wounded more than 300. You don’t read anything about them in the Western mainstream media.

You don’t see it, you don’t hear about it, there’s nothing about them. They only single out some pictures and some incidents in the area under the control of the terrorists just to use them for their political agenda in order to condemn and to blame the Syrian government, not because they are worried about the Syrians; they don’t care about our children, or about innocents, and about civilization, about infrastructure. They don’t care about it; they are destroying it. But actually, they only care about using everything that would serve their vested interests.

Question: And now, your army… you are the supreme commander of Syrian military forces. Your army now has not any chemical weapons?

President Assad: No, we don’t. Since 2013, we gave up our arsenals. Now, no we don’t have. But before that, we have never used it. I mean, when you talk about chemical weapons used by the government, it means you are talking about thousands of casualties in one place in a very short time. We never had this kind of incidents; just allegations in the Western media.

Question: Mr. President, when do you think the Syrian war will end?

President Assad: When? I always say less than one year is enough for you to solve your internal problem, because it is not very complicated internally. It’s becoming more complex only when you have more interference by foreign powers. When those foreign powers leave Syria alone, we can solve it as Syrians in a few months, in less than one year.

That’s very simple, we can, but providing that there’s no outside interference. Of course, that looks not realistic, because everybody knows that the United States wanted to undermine the position of Russia as a great power in the world, including in Syria. Saudi Arabia has been looking how to destroy Iran for years now, and Syria could be one of the places where they can achieve that, according to their way of thinking.

How? First of all, by stopping the support of the terrorists by external countries like the regional ones like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, and by the West, of course, mainly the United States.

When you stop supporting terrorists in Syria, it won’t be difficult at all to solve our problem.

Question: Mr. President, is it true that Syria is the last socialist country in the Arab world?

President Assad: Today, yes. I don’t know about the future, how is it going to be. We are socialist, but of course not the closed type.

Question: Humane socialism, because your government is supporting the education with the subvention, like the Swedish-type socialism.

President Assad: I don’t know a lot about the Swedish-type, but let’s say that in Syria, we have an open economy, but at the same time we have a strong public sector, and that public sector played a very important role in the resilience of the Syrian society and the government during the war. Without that public sector, the situation would have been much more difficult. So, we’re still socialist, and I think the war proved that the socialistic system is very important for any country, taking into consideration that I’m talking about the open socialism, that could allow the freedom of the public sector to play a vital role in building the country.

Question: And your big companies… this is the state companies or private companies?

President Assad: We have both. But usually in such a situation, the public sector always plays the most important part. As you know, the private sector could feel the danger more and could suffer more and in some areas could quit the whole arena, the economic arena, because of the insecurity.

So, that’s why you have to depend in such a situation more on the public sector, but still the private sector in Syria plays a very important part beside the public.

Question 13: And you have a very tolerant atmosphere towards churches, Christians, Muslims, and…

President Assad: It’s not tolerance, actually; they are part of this society. Without all different colors of the society – Christians, Muslims, and the different sects and ethnicities – you won’t have Syria. So, every Syrian citizen should feel fully free in practicing his rituals, his traditions, his beliefs. He should be free in order to have a stable country. Otherwise you won’t have Syria as a stable country. But I wouldn’t call it tolerance. Tolerance means like we accept something against our will; no, Muslims and Christians lived together for centuries in Syria, and they integrate in their life on daily basis, they don’t live in ghettos.

Question : No separate schools for Muslims, for Christians, young people, no?

President Assad: No, no. You have some schools that belong to the church, but they are full of Muslims and vice versa. We don’t allow any segregation of religions and ethnicities in Syria, that would be very dangerous, but naturally, without the interference of the government, people would like to live with each other in every school, in every place, in every NGO, in the government, that is the natural…

That’s why Syria is secular by nature, not by the government. The Syrian society has been secular throughout history.

Question: And, Mr. President, it’s been one year since Russian air forces took part in the Syrian war, how much has Russia helped you?

President Assad: Let’s talk about the reality. Before the Russian interference, ISIS was expanding, as I said. When they started interfering, ISIS and al-Nusra and the other Al Qaeda affiliated groups started shrinking. So, this is the reality. Why? Of course, because it’s a great power and they have great army and they have great firepower that could support the Syrian Army in its war. The other side of the same story is that when a great country, a great power, like Russia, intervene against the terrorists, in coordination with the troops on the ground, and in our case, it’s the Syrian Army, of course you’re going to achieve concrete results, while if you talk about the American alliance, which is not serious anyway, but at the same time they don’t have allies on the ground, they cannot achieve anything. So, the Russian power was very important beside their political weight on the international arena, in both ways they could change the situation, and they were very important for Syria in defeating the terrorists in different areas on the Syrian arena or battlefield.

Question: Is the Syrian society divided by the war today?

President Assad: Actually, it’s more homogenous than before the war.

Question: And a question about the American presidential elections; who would you like to win in USA presidential elections, Trump or Hillary?

President Assad: I think in most of the world, the debate about this election is who’s better, Clinton is better or Trump.

In Syria, the discussion is who’s worse, not who’s better. So, no one of them, I think, would be good for us, let’s say. Second, from our experience with the American officials and politicians in general, don’t take them at their word, they’re not honest. Whatever they say, don’t believe in. If they say good word or bad word, if they were very aggressive or very peaceful, don’t believe them. It depends on the lobbies, on the influence of different political movements in their country, after the election that’s what is going to define their policy at that time. So, we don’t have to waste our time listening to their rhetoric now. It’s just rubbish. Wait for their policies and see, but we don’t see any good signs that the United States is going to change dramatically its policy toward what’s happening in the world, let’s say, to be fair, or to obey the international law, or to care about the United Nation’s Charter. There’s no sign that we are going to see that in the near future. So, it’s not about who’s going to be President; the difference will be very minimal, each one of them is going to be allowed to leave his own fingerprint, just personal fingerprint, but doesn’t mean change of policies.

That’s why we don’t pin our hopes, we don’t waste our time with it.

Question Mr. President, thank you for your time.

President Assad: Not at all. Thank you for coming to Damascus.

LEISURE 13

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

You're not in the mood to play by anyone else's rules today, but your rebellious attitude can create problems if you just do the opposite of whatever you are told. Striking out on your own may seem like.

At times you seem stubborn for no obvious reason, yet you may have an excellent justification for maintaining the status quo today. Unfortunately, you might find it challenging to explain your motives.

Your plans to network with others could run into unexpected glitches today because everyone seems to have his or her own agenda. Fortunately, you can have a positive impact on the flow of events by concentrating.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Coworkers might be so passionate about their ideas that you feel like retreating to insulate yourself from the intensity. You don't want to be coerced into making a choice before you're ready, so you're.

You may enthusiastically respond to someone's social invitation without even checking your calendar now that the reactive Moon is back in your sign. Unfortunately, you might discover that you said yes.

Burying your head in the sand is not the wisest approach to handling an intense emotional encounter today. You are more transparent than you realize, and others probably won't trust you if they think that.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Your need to please others leads to fun today as long as you don't have selfish motives. But your expectations can get in the way of a wonderful experience if you're only considering what's advantageous.

You might believe that you have to stand strong today, but your worries about being judged harshly could prompt you to overstate your opinion. You may even be so rigid in your presentation that others.

Your optimism reaches new heights now, and you might not have the patience to listen to anyone's negativity. If someone expresses dissatisfaction with your agenda today, you could be tempted to just run.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

It seems as if someone is exerting unnecessary influence over you today and you don't like it one bit. Instead of burying yourself in your work to avoid a confrontation, you could be sufficiently annoyed.

You prefer others to be transparent about their needs, but you're not too happy with friends or coworkers who act selfishly today. You may try to maintain your positive attitude, but you might respond..

You may feel the need to put on a show at work today because you want to be appreciated for your contributions. But instead of making an unnecessary scene, just quietly go about your business since completing.

cRosswoRD

ACROSS 1 Stabilising appendage on a fish's back (6,3) 8 Baby (slang) (5) 9 Aerosol (7) 10 Over the moon (8) 11 Leg bender (4) 13 Loads and loads (6) 14 dirty domicile (6) 16 Profound (4) 17 Malign (8) 19 (Of a bedroom) having a private bathroom attached (2,5) 20 discharge from the eyes and nose (5) 21 hairy arachnid (9)

woRD sEARcH

DOwn 1 Worn and shabby (3-5) 2 Country where Omsk is situated (6) 3 Cockeyed (4) 4 UfO (6,6) 5 Jack and Jill, for example (7,5) 6 Region of interplanetary space — battered soil (anag) (8,4) 7 Man in a woman's outfit (or vice-versa) (5-7) 12 Coffee-flavoured rum drink (3,5) 15 Rich cake (6) 18 Someone from Turku (4)

HAGAR tHE HoRRIbLE

GARFIELD

cHEss ANNOy BANdAGE BASkET BOBBLES BRANCh CINNAMON CONCRETE CONSIdERATE CORNER COUPLE dEfLATE dISPLAy dRIfT ELUdE fLIRT fLOAT fOIST

fOREST fREE fUNNy MARITIME MOUSE ORANGE PARTy PLAyfUL PORT PROCESSION RITE ROAST SPIT TAPS TRAIN TRICk VICTIM

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

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Today’s soluTions

bRIDGE DEcEptIvE pRActIcE

sUDokU crossword solution sudoku solution

1.Qxc6+ Bxc6 2.Nxe6# * chess solution

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

14

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

ARTS

Hack attacks cut internet access in Liberia Liberia has been repeatedly cut off from the internet by hackers targeting its only link to the global network.

Recurrent attacks up to 3 November flooded the cable link with data, making net access intermittent.

Researchers said the attacks showed hackers trying different ways to use massive networks of hijacked machines to overwhelm high-value targets.

Experts said Liberia was attacked by the same group that caused web-wide disruption on 21 October.

Those attacks were among the biggest ever seen and made it hard to reach big web firms such as Twitter, Spotify and Reddit.

The attacks were the first to send overwhelming amounts of data from weakly protected devices, such as webcams and digital video recorders, that had been enrolled into what is known as a botnet.

A botnet variant called Mirai was identified by security firms as being the tool used to find and compromise the insecure devices.

The source code for Mirai has been widely shared and many malicious hacker groups have used it to seek out vulnerable devices they can take over and use to mount what are known as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

“There’re multiple different botnets, each with a different owner,” security researcher Kevin Beaumont told the agencies. “Many are very low-skilled. Some are much better.”

For more than two weeks, my internet has not been working properly. At first I thought it was a problem with my internet provider, which often suffers from slow speeds. But this feels more serious.

Even when you do get online, the connection repeatedly cuts out. I’ve spent the past week trying to upload some photos and audio to send to London, without success.

A woman who runs a computer club for young people in the capital, Monrovia, tells me that they have been having trouble getting on to Facebook and that their connection has slowed in recent weeks.

The hotel I am staying at in the north-eastern town of Ganta is right next to the network tower of a company that provides my internet service, but the connection is still coming in and out.

The hackers behind the “huge” network that attacked Liberia, dubbed botnet#14, were “much more skilled”, Beaumont said.

“The attacks are extremely worrying because they suggest a Mirai operator who has enough capacity to seriously impact systems in a nation state,” he wrote in a blogpost.

The attacks varied in length with some lasting only 30 seconds and the longest being sustained for a few minutes. At times the amount of data being funnelled towards Liberia exceeded 600 gigabits per second.

Net access in Liberia comes via an undersea cable whose capacity is shared with many other nations in West Africa. AGENCIES

Pakistan ranked as most affordable country for telecom, ict services: rePort

P

News Desk

AKISTAN has been ranked as most the affordable country for ICT services, according to a report published by the World Economic Forum.

The WEF on Thursday published its annual “Global Information Technology Report 2016” which showed Pakistan’s technology and telecom market had the world’s lowest price points as compared to other markets from around the globe.

The report analysed relevant indexes from 139 global markets and rated them against each other. The countries were rated for their financial conditions as well as other factors such as usage, general environment, and impact.

“Pakistan is the market with the lowest price points,” the report said.

However, the report stated that while these affordability indicators are

mate “Networked Readiness Index”.

Although Pakistan made it to the top in terms of affordability, in other sub-indexes it ranked poorly and wasn’t able to make it to the top 100 for any.

Pakistan ranked 110 of 139 on the “Network Readiness Index”, as compared to 112 last year.

Here Are SoMe of tHe cAtegorIeS LISteD:

measured in terms of prices associated with the usage of ICT service and the prices that pose as the entry barrier for the masses, they are not associated with quality adjusted prices.

Further, the report measured vari-

ous indicators in “Network Readiness Index”. The countries were rated at the fundamental rating level of ‘pillars’.

Different ‘pillars’ then added up to the concerned ‘sub-indexes’ and the ‘subindexes’ were aggregated to the ulti-

November supermoon will be biggest in nearly 70 years ISLAMABAD: A record-breaking supermoon, biggest since 1948, will brighten the night sky later this month, it has been learnt.

According to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), the November full moon is not only the closest full moon of 2016 but also the closest full moon since 1948 (which is still the last time the Cleveland Indians won the World Series).

According to EarthSky, the moon will look plenty full and bright all night on November 13 and 14 as it rises in the east around sunset, climbs highest around midnight and then sets in the west at or near sunrise.

This is one you might want to watch out for because the full moon won’t come this close to Earth again until Nov. 25, 2034.

Interestingly, supermoon would be visible to stargazers in Pakistan and India as well. For Pakistani citizens, the supermoon would unveil its beauty around 6:52 pm while Indians can catch a glimpse of supermoon at 7:22 pm.

A supermoon occurs when the moon is slightly closer to Earth than it typically is, and the effect is most noticeable when it occurs around the same time as a full moon. It can appear 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual, according to NASA. AGENCIES

Turkey blocks access to Twitter, WhatsApp: Internet monitoring group Access to social media sites Twitter and Whatsapp was blocked in Turkey on Friday, an internet monitoring group said, following the detentions of 11 pro-Kurdish lawmakers in the mainly Kurdish southeast overnight.

Access was being blocked by throttling, an expert from the monitoring group Turkey Blocks said, a method of slowing certain websites to the point where they are unusable. This move is made after Turkey remains under a state of emergency imposed in

the wake of the July 15 failed coup, which critics say has gone well beyond targeting the actual coup plotters. Thirteen staff from the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper, including the editorin-chief, were detained on Monday, further heightening strains in Turkish society.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have been repeatedly criticised over curbs on social media.

This isn’t the first time the

Turkish government has curbed internet access in the country.

Turkey’s parliament in April 2015, approved legislation to tighten control over the Internet by allowing the government to block websites without prior judicial authorisation.

The government blocked Twitter and YouTube in March 2014 after they were used to spread a torrent of audio recordings implicating Erdogan — then premier — and his inner circle in an alleged corruption scandal. AGENCIES

PAKISTAN RANKS 154 OUT OF 183 COUNTRIES ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX News Desk Of 183 countries, Pakistan has recorded the largest decline in its overall youth development score by 18 per cent between 2010 and 2015, according to the Global Youth Development Index and Report 2016.

Ranking a dismal 154 among 183 countries, Pakistan performed even worse than war-torn and terrorismplagued Syria which stood at 137.

Compared to its neighbours, Pakistan lagged behind India (133) and Bangladesh (147) but performed better than Afghanistan at 167.

The decline has been brought about by a dramatic fall in the country’s scores in the domains of civic

Over All Network Readiness Index: 110 Political and Regulatory Environment: 128 Business and Innovation Environment: 98 Infrastructure: 126 Affordability: 1 Skills: 127 Individual Usage: 123 Business Usage: 101 Government Usage: 103 Economic Impacts: 105 Social Impacts: 106

participation (58 per cent) and political participation (69 per cent). In particular, Pakistan’s lack of a youth policy – which is the primary indicator for the domain of political participation – has driven the fall in its score.

The Commonwealth Youth Development Index uncovered a fascinating picture of the prospects of youth in the said countries. It measured opportunities for the youth in terms of civic participation, education, employment, health and wellbeing and political participation.

Pakistan’s low score was explained by its performance in the areas of education, financial inclusion and political participation. The country scored below the South Asian av-

erage in all domains of the YDI except health and well-being. eDucAtIon: Except Afghanistan, all other South Asian countries have better scores than Pakistan in the domain of education. The report pointed out that only 42 per cent of children in Pakistan are enrolled in secondary schools. Similarly, the youth literacy rate in Pakistan is approximately 76 per cent. fInAncIAL IncLuSIon: The report suggested that only six per cent of youth in Pakistan have an account at a formal financial institution. The South Asia and global figures for the same indicator are 31 per cent and 42 per cent respectively.

Germany topped the list with a

score of 0.894, followed by Denmark and Australia. While the United Kingdom secured the fourth spot, United States performed way below at 24, lagging behind countries such as Costa Rica, Malta, Slovenia and Luxembourg. On August 19, a report by the Population Council said the prevalent scenario of standalone policies for youth with minimal integration and poor linkages across sectors does not provide a framework for coordinated efforts. As a result, stakeholders need to work in synergy to secure pathways for the betterment of the youth. It also suggested forming a task force to develop intersectional thinking to launch scaledup initiatives and initiate discourse between the public and private sectors.

Starbucks accused of ‘promoting Islam’ with new cups News Desk The revelation that the latest Starbucks cup will be green has led some people to suggest the global coffee chain is promoting Islam, the Washington Post reported. Starbucks claims that the only message behind the cup is that of unity. “Friends, baristas, and customers drawn in one continuous line —reminding us we’re all connected,” a tweet from the official account of Starbucks reads.

Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz said, “The green cup and the design represent the connections Starbucks has as a community with its partners (employees) and customers. During a divisive time in our country, Starbucks wanted to create a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other.” He added, “The imagery was created by artist Shogo Ota in a design intended to communicate “shared humanity and connection.”

But many took to Twitter to criticise the new cups, suggesting that there is a hidden political message behind the new design. William Hicks wrote on Heat Street, “The giant coffee chain is calling this year’s monstrosity the “unity” cup… Hmm, what else is unified…. ISIS!!?! The unified caliphate of the Islamic State!” This is not the first time Starbucks has found itself at the centre of a political storm over the colour of its cups. Last year, Christian evangelicals in America claimed the Seattle-based chain had declared “war on Christmas” by using a simple shade of red on its festive packaging. Joshua Feuerstein’s widely shared Facebook post about the issue has been viewed 16 million times since it was posted last November. “Starbucks isn’t allowed to say Merry Christmas to customers,” Feuerstein wrote. “Do you realise that Starbucks wanted to take Christ and Christmas off of their brand new cups? That’s why they’re just plain red.”

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

ARTS

15

RanveeR Singh choSen aS indian ambaSSadoR foR SwitzeRland touRiSm MUMBAI AGENCIES

b

OLLyWOOD’S livewire actor Ranveer Singh has been named the Indian ambassador for Switzerland Tourism. “I had such a great time on my trip to Switzerland this summer!

I did some crazy things like sky diving and paragliding. Now that I am the official Brand Ambassador of Switzerland Tourism, I am just raring to go back in the winter and see what it looks like in the snow. I can’t wait to try the slopes of St. Moritz and Titlis Engelberg. It will be so much fun,” said Ranveer.

The 31-year-old actor will now be in charge

of promoting Switzerland Tourism’s campaign for 2017 — Nature wants you back!

Known for his effervescence and adventurous nature, Ranveer tried an array of activities in Switzerland to get his adrenaline pumping. From wakeboarding on Lake Zurich to ski jumps at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne, tobogganing on Mt. Pilatus, paragliding and skydiving in Interlaken, he tried them all. But the adventure was just one of his holiday thrills. “Being a versatile energetic and adventurous personality, Ranveer explored and enjoyed all that Switzerland has to offer. His passion and excitement for the country are what compelled us to request him if he would take on the mantle of Brand Ambassador to which he enthusiastically agreed,” Clau-

Asma Abbass already on her way to recovery LAHORE ANNAM LODHI

Pakistani actress Asma Abbas, who is currently starring in ‘Laaj’ has been diagnosed with first stage colon cancer.

Ahmad Abbas, her son, confirmed the news while talking to Pakistan Today, stating that the hype isn’t needed and all they need are prayers.

“We found out about cancer almost 20 days ago and the treatment started nine days ago,” Ahmad said.

Asma Abbas is also Bushra Ansari’s sister “She is responding well to treatments. Doctors say she would be in remission soon,” Ahmad added.

Asma’s roles in dramas have usually been supporting in nature and about the typical urban middle age woman.

She has also acted in a number of tele-

vision serials, both serious dramas and comedies, such as Saltanat e Dil, Mamta, Laadon Mein Pali, Mann Ke

CHARLES LISTER #Assad says there are 200,000 people in besieged eastern #Aleppo. [Assad’s online supporters say 60,000 - 70% less] [UN says 275,000]

MURTAZA HUSSAIN Notice that Russia or Iran, two countries loudly claiming to be "helping" Syria, have not taken a single refugee from that country.

GLENN GREENWALD Entrapping kids in terror plots.

Surveilling Muslims. Infiltrating activists. It took opposing Hillary for Dems to realize FBI can be bad.

Moti, Janam Jali, Lanhi, to name a fee.

We wish her a speedy recovery and good health.

News breaks at 3 am in Turkey and each journalism tool is blocked one by one: Twitter, Facebook. Youtube and now Whats App.

FAIZAN LAKHANI Hearing news that Renault has decided to make cars in Pakistan, to partner with Gandhara motors, this involve about 100m dollars investment.

Meryl Streep to get Golden Globes lifetime award Meryl Streep, regarded as the finest actor of her generation, will get the Golden Globes lifetime achievement award at the annual ceremony in January, organisers announced on Thursday. Streep, a three-time Oscar winner, will be presented with the Cecil B. DeMille award in recognition of her 40 years in the industry. “She has always taken roles with strong female leads, creating art by showing vulnerability and portraying truth on the big screen. Simply put, she is a trailblazer, having paved the way for women in television, film and stage,” Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) President Lorenzo Sofia said in a statement. “For shattering gender and age barriers, all with finesse and grace, the HFPA is humbled to bestow this honour upon her,” Sofia added. The HFPA organises the Golden Globes awards for film and television, one of the biggest ceremonies in Hollywood’s long awards season. The 2017 ceremony will take place in Beverly Hills on January 8. Streep’s most recent film was the 2016 comedy Florence Foster Jenkins, in which she plays a rich, elderly American with no talent for singing but big ambitions. The 67-year-old actor won Oscars for her performances in The Iron Lady, Sophie’s Choice and Kramer vs. Kramer. She has received a record-setting 19 Oscar nominations during her career. Streep joins Denzel Washington, George Clooney, Woody Allen and Jodie Foster as recipients of the Cecil B. DeMille award. AGENCIES

There are grey shades to SRK’s character: Rahul Dholakia

La La Land trailer shows great chemistry between Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling

Shah Rukh Khan and Mahira Khan’s Raees has fans all pumped up for the release ever since the first announcement. Not only that, if we needed any more reasons to be excited about the release, director Rahul Dholakia has provided it. Dholakia revealed the audience will be surprised to see SRK in a role with grey shades, Hindustan Times reported. “There are a lot of grey shades to his [SRK’s] character. He is playing an interesting character. He has done a great job. He is brilliant in the film… people will be amazed to see him like this,” Dholakia said. “It’s a big film for me. One needs to do his best and I have given my best,” he added. This is the first time Dholakia who has teamed up with SRK and the director is all praise for the actor, “He is very nice, sweet, humble and a loving person. There is a reason why he is up there, it’s not because of the actor that he is but it is also to do with the person he is.” Apart from SRK, Mahira Khan will also be seen in the upcoming film. Raees is set in 1980s Gujarat and tells the story of bootlegger Raees Khan (Shah Rukh) whose business is challenged and eventually thwarted by a police officer played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The film is slated to release on January 27 next year. ENTERTAINMENT DESK

The first full trailer for offbeat musical La La Land brings with it an opportunity to sample the film that has had the festival circuit buzzing.

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling star as an actress struggling to get into the movies and a jazz pianist with employment troubles.

Watch the trailer beloW: The pair meet thanks to a succession of chance encounters and their romance and career trajectories both appear set to take off.

JK Simmons returns from director Damien Chazelle’s previous film, the award-winning Whiplash, and is joined by the supporting cast

by Sonoya Mizuno, Finn Wittrock, Rosemarie DeWitt and musician John Legend.

Debuting at the Venice film festival in August 2016, La La Land is an early favourite for awards season success, having scored a host of pos-

itive reviews from its festival circuit tour and won accolades from Venice, Toronto, the Hamptons, and the Hollywood Film Awards.

A North American general release is set for December 16 with select territories receiving it before then — Singapore, the Philippines and Belgium among them — and a gradual international rollout following throughout January. A teaser trailer had been released in August. AGENCIES

I WAS IN SCHOOL WHEN PRIYANKA WON MISS WORLD: DEEPIKA NEW DELHI

CEYLAN YEGINSU

dio Zemp, Director - India, Switzerland Tourism added.

The Bajirao Mastani star is now looking forward to visiting Switzerland in winter early next year. During his next trip to the country, Ranveer will be visiting St. Moritz, the village of Titlis Engelberg and will enjoy an array of activities and the country’s local culture.

“Switzerland is a perfect place for a complete holiday experience that will leave you spellbound for days. Tourists look for a blend of sightseeing, relaxation and adventure together with easily available accommodation and good food and welcoming hosts,” Ritu Sharma, Deputy Director, Switzerland Tourism India, said.

COURTESY HINDUSTAN TIMES

The rivalry is not a new word for Bollywood. Actors are known to walk out of films because of their equations with each other. However, there are some who consider it a healthy competition.

In an interview with Vogue, Deepika Padukone said that she doesn’t have any problem with Priyanka Chopra. Both, Deepika and Priyanka, are working hard to earn a name in Hollywood. While Priyanka is already a major TV star

after Quantico, Deepika is soon going to be seen with Vin Diesel in xXx: Return Of Xander Cage.

Deepika said, “We have had very different beginnings. I still remember I was in school when she won Miss World! I’ve known her for many years and nothing has changed.”

She further said, “What she wants from her career will be very different from what I want and that needs to be understood and respected.”

Priyanka Chopra is currently shooting for Baywatch with Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock.

CMYK

16 BUSINESS

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

ChIneSe InveStOrS Plan tO BrInG $3B InveStment FunD tO PakIStan PM Nawaz SayS CouNtry'S ECoNoMiC outlook altogEthEr ChaNgEd iN thrEE yEarS ISLAMABAD

a

STAFF REPORT

consortium of Chinese investment companies met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday and announced to bring $3 billion in investment funds to Pakistan.

Representatives of a consortium of Chinese investment companies comprising China Huarong International Holdings Limited, China Innovative Finance Group Limited, Hong Kong Tian Group, Chandong Hi-Speed Group and China Road & Bridge Group called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM’s House.

Warmly welcoming the delegation, the prime minister appreciated the Chinese delegation’s fruitful interaction with ministries of Finance, Petroleum & Natural Resources, Water & Power and Capital Development Authority.

The PM expressed hope that members of the Chinese delegation would have a productive visit in the backdrop of briefing by various ministries about immense potential for investment in Pakistan’s infrastructure development, energy and communication sectors.

The prime minister expressed his gratitude to the leadership and brotherly people of the People’s Republic of China for their all-weather support that was getting stronger with each passing day. The CPEC was a game changer that was going to transform the lives of the billions of people of the region, the PM added.

He said that the economic outlook of Pakistan has altogether changed in the last three years, which was being acknowledged globally. Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has also upgraded Pakistan’s ranking to B from B-; Pakistan is among this year’s global top 10 improvers in Doing Business 2017. Inflation was continuously on downward trend; reduction in petroleum prices also helped in decreasing inflation, further added the PM. The Foreign Exchange

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to set up bank The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a pact of six nations led by China and Russia, is looking to establish a new development bank in a bid to boost investment in the region, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday. At a meeting of the group in the Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek on Thursday, prime ministers of the six nations also agreed to boost overall economic cooperation and work to facilitate trade, the report said. According to the China Daily newspaper, Chinese premier Li Keqiang told the meeting that China was open to the establishment of a free trade zone among the group, which also includes Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The group also approved a 38point plan to boost cooperation in finance, transportation and agriculture over the 2017-2021 period, the paper said. AGENCIES

Major Gainers COMPANY Nestle PakistanXd Bata (Pak) Sapphire tex.Xd Sapphire FiberXd Siemens Pak.

OPEN 8490.00 4200.00 1570.00 1023.00 1025.00

HIGH 8490.00 4200.00 1575.00 1023.00 1100.40

LOW 8325.00 4200.00 1500.00 1023.00 1025.00

CLOSE CHANGE TURNOVER 8369.67 119.67 120 4200.00 100.00 20 1575.00 75.00 350 1023.00 47.91 250 1094.66 46.66 2,750

5850.00 1550.00 840.75 1677.00 1000.02

5700.00 1550.00 840.75 1571.10 982.00

5700.00 1550.00 840.75 1597.50 984.00

Major Losers unilever FoodsXd Colgate Palmolive Bhanero tex.Xd Sanofi-aventis Murree BreweryXd

5790.00 1550.00 840.75 1640.00 990.12

-170.00 -50.00 -44.25 -19.18 -15.45

80 640 200 1,300 7,350

Volume Leaders B.o.Punjab Sui South gas dewan Cement Pace (Pak) ltd.

Summit Bank

18.40 44.90 30.75 11.17 3.61

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A delegation of Chinese private equity investors led by Chairman HaoTian Group Holdings Limited Yau Wai Ming held a meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Friday. The finance minister appreciated the interest of Chinese investors in Pakistan. The minister said that the ongoing projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor are stimulating further investment in infrastructure development in Pakistan.

The minister emphasized that Pakistan and China have a strong collaboration in developing connectivity in the region. The Finance Minister briefly discussed with the delegation the financial stability achieved by Pakistan during the last three years and steps taken to enhance ease of doing business. He especially mentioned the high performance shown by recently established Pakistan Stock Exchange which is attracting international investment interest. The minister appreciated the interest shown by the delegation in various fields and offered all possible assistance of his team to assist the delegation in identifying best possible opportunities to invest in Pakistan. China Huarong International Holdings Limited Vice-President Ms. Cheng Yan appreciated recent economic progress made by Pakistan. She briefed the minister that the delegation was interested in identifying investment opportunities in Pakistan in the fields of infrastructure, finance, petroleum and retail business.

Govt’s auto policy bearing fruit: PBIF president ISLAMABAD

SECP introduces accounts for individual investors of mutual funds ISLAMABAD INP

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has introduced Sahulat Sarmayakari Accounts for opening of mutual funds accounts by individual low-risk customers and branchless banking accountholders with asset management companies (AMCs).

This initiative by the SECP is aimed at achieving the objectives of financial inclusion as set out in the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) recently adopted by the government of Pakistan. Moreover, recent expansion in online and branchless banking warrant innovative products to facilitate the investors. Now AMCs can open account of individual investors by obtaining certain minimum information on a simplified one-page form. This information can be ob-

tained either directly from the investor or in case of branchless banking account can be transferred from mobile service provider. The information will be subsequently verified through NADRA, and then the account shall be made operational. The maximum investment limit for low-risk investors at any point of time is Rs 800,000 whereas the limit is Rs 400, 000 for branchless banking customers.

The AMCs can open only one account against a single computerized national identification card (CNIC). Initially, this facility is available for investment in money market funds and income funds, which may be subsequently available for other categories of mutual funds after customer risk profiling by the AMC. The requirements stipulate that AMCs shall employ internal control mechanisms to monitor any suspicious transaction in line with the international standards.

INP

Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) President Mian Zahid Hussain has said the government’s Auto Policy has started bearing fruit as two foreign auto makers have decided to invest in Pakistan automotive sector. In a statement here on Friday, Mian Zahid Hussain said that the new entrants would promote competition and three existing Japanese automakers would have to provide fuel efficient, comfortable and secure cars to the consumers at relatively low price, he said. He said that French automaker Renault which was in business since 1899 has decided to start producing cars as early as 2018 in Pakistan while Nissan would follow the suit which would also benefit the masses.

The PBIF President said that existing players continued to earn handsome profit but reluctant to introduce models with efficiency, safety and with latest features resulting in high fuel consumption and other losses, he noted. He said that masses were fed up of the cars with outdated technology and they want better products for their money which was only possible if new players stepped into Pakistan’s lucrative market.

OIL SALE UP BY 13 PER CENT KARACHI ARSHAD HUSSAIN

19.18 46.19 33.55 11.40 3.70

18.00 44.00 30.65 10.26 3.50

18.33 44.61 31.60 10.43 3.53

-0.15 -0.09 -0.58 -0.66 -0.20

Interbank Rates uSd gBP JPy Euro

Pkr 104.8501 Pkr 139.1675 Pkr 1.0018 Pkr 116.0586

Forex uk Pound Sterling Euro uS dollar australian dollar Canadian dollar Japanese yen Saudi riyal u.a.E dirham China yuan

Reserves have now increased to over $ 24 billion, the prime minister apprised the delegation.

Our Investment Policy has been designed to provide a comprehensive framework for creating a conducive business environment for the attraction of FDI, he said. Pakistan's policy trends have been consistent, with liberalization, de-regulation, privatization, and facilitation being its foremost cornerstone, stated the prime minister. The Law of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) has been made to meet the global challenges of competitiveness to attract Foreign Director Investment (FDI).

Members of the visiting delegation lauded the vision of the prime minister for economic revival and putting the country on development path. The members of the delegation said that Pakistan

was fully ready as well as capable of absorbing and capitalising the Foreign Direct Investment. The delegation apprised the prime minister that they were bringing $ 3 billion investment fund to Pakistan because of the vision of the prime minister that focussed on infrastructure development and energy sectors. The Chinese delegation also expressed its intent to explore possibility of starting a new airline in Pakistan after the permission from the Government of Pakistan.

The Chinese side said that it was actively pursuing its investments in infrastructure, power, aviation and tourism sectors of Pakistan.

‘We fully appreciate the vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif which enunciates that economic prosperity is an offshoot of infrastructure connectivity and self sufficiency in the energy sector’, the members of the delegation stated.

They said that the present government under the visionary leadership of Nawaz Sharif has done enormous work in infrastructure development and achieving energy self sufficiency. The present government has very liberal investment regime that offers an ideal and investor friendly environment for which the leadership role of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is highly appreciated, said the members of the delegation.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chairman Board of Investment Miftah Ismail, Mayor Islamabad Ansar Aziz and other senior government officials were also present during the meeting.

Dar lauds interest of Chinese investors in Pakistan

BUY

SELL

131 116.5 105.8 80.5 79.25 1 28.1 28.7 15.4

132.75 117.7 106.1 81.3 80.1 1.03 28.3 28.95 15.55

79,225,000 21,082,500 20,840,500 20,657,500 16,107,500

Total oil sale of Pakistan was up by 13 per cent year on year (YoY) to 2.4 million tonnes in October 2016 as sharp growth in white oil continued to support oil sales, while four month (Jul-Oct 2016-17) sales have gone up to 8.9 million tonnes which is up 17 per cent YoY. The analyst at Toplines brokerage house said the sales were in line with estimates.

Sales of High Speed Diesel (HSD) were up by 17 per cent YoY to 834,000 tons led by increased demand from transportation and power sector. MOGAS (MS) sales were also up by 12 per cent YoY to 573,000 tones.

Increase in power generation in the country also led to uptick in Furnace Oil sale as it increased by 10 per cent YoY to 875,000 tones in October 2016.

Pakistan State Oil (PSO) sales outperformed the market growing by 17 per cent to 1.4 million tones driven by strong HSD sales that were up 31 per cent. As a result, PSO market share increased to 58 per cent in Oct 2016 from 56 per cent in the same period last year.

Hascol Petroleum (HASCOL) also witnessed an impressive sales growth of 25 per cent.

Attock Petroleum (APL) underper-

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formed as their sales increased by 4 per cent whereas Shell Pakistan (SHELL) reported 3 per cent decline.

Refinery supplies to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) were down 6 per cent to 917,000 tones. This decline was mainly attributed to decline in HSD supplies (down 16 per cent YoY) as OMC had adequate HSD stocks, the analysts believe. In Jul-Oct 201617, refinery supplies were up 4 per cent to 3.5 million tonnes. Furnace Oil and MOGAS sup-

plies increased by 6 per cent and 3 per cent to 272,000 tones and 154,000 tones, respectively.

According to the analysts, dynamics for oil marketing companies (OMC) sector remains favourable as improving macros, increase in demand from auto sector and higher power generation are likely to drive OMC sales going forward. Linkage of margins on retail products (HSD & MOGAS) with CPI inflation also bodes well for the sector profitability.

BUSINESS 17

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

Sale OF rOn 92 tO Start FrOm nOvemBer 10 ISLAMABAD

F

AHMAD AHMADANI

IRST cargo carrying environment-friendly 92 RON petrol has arrived at Karachi Port and sale of higher quality petrol to the consumers is likely to start

by November 10, Pakistan Today learnt on Friday.

The sources at Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources informed this scribe that first cargo of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) carrying 55 thousand tons of Research Octane Number (RON) 92 petrol has reached at Karachi port to protect the

environment and boost efficiency of the vehicles. And, the transportation of international standard petrol to the country’s petrol filling stations is to start in one or two days. They told that availability of 92 RON petrol at country’s filling stations was likely by November 10. “However, consumers of petrol will now bear additional Rs 2.60 per litre to fill the tanks of vehicles with environment friendly because 92 RON petrol was expansive to the per litre price of RON 87 petrol in the international oil market, the sources said.

When contacted with spokesman of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) to confirm the information about the import of 92 RON

petrol to the country, she confirmed that first cargo of 92 RON petrol has disembarked at Karachi, while second cargo carrying 92 RON petrol is expected to arrive on November 6 or 7, and third cargo of 92 RON petrol is scheduled to arrive at Karachi port on November 11.

Currently, the country is using 87 RON premiums, which is almost abandoned by the world.

“Consumers of petrol living in the major cities of Punjab province and Karachi (Sindh) will find 92 RON petrol at the petrol pumps very soon as sale of this international standard petrol to the consumers is likely during next four to

five days, sources said. They added that with the import of 92 RON standard petrol to the country it is expected that its use in vehicles will make the environment cleaner, more hygienic to engines, boost efficiency of the vehicles and more mileage per litre.

Earlier, Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on August 18 allowed the introduction of 92 Research Octane Number (RON) premium motor gasoline (petrol) in Pakistan. The decision was part of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources’ plan to introduce petrol — premier motor gasoline (PMG) — of three different grades of better-quality im-

ports to replace the existing petrol of 87 research octane number (RON). The higher-grade PMG imports include 92 RON, 95 RON and 97 RON. The gasoline currently available in Pakistan has a RON value of 86/87.

It is to note here that the refineries, worldwide, have reduced the production of Octane/RON 87, which is weaker fuel as compared to 92 RON. Also, current automobiles are designed at 92 RON or higher grade, while domestic refineries are not capable of producing 92 RON petrol because of their old technologies requiring substantial investments for up-gradation.

CORPORATE CORNER lifebuoy soap becomes Guiness world record holder this global handwashing day KARACHI: Unilever’s health soap Lifebuoy celebrated the 9th Global Handwashing Day (GHD) together with famous celebrity, Fahad Mustafa, and other influential people in attendance. This record breaking event was popularly known as #high5forHandwashing and was the biggest GHD event in Pakistan, with 20,000 participants.

Lifebuoy broke the Guinness World Record of Most Number of Double High-Fives in relay in 60 seconds and created history.

Through this initiative, Lifebuoy will give back to society by saving many precious lives, as each high five will lead to teaching 5 kids the act of handwashing. Lifebuoy aims to save more and more lives this way under the ‘help a child reach 5’ platform. PRESS RELEASE

reaffirmation of entity ratings of hascol Petroleum limited by JCr-vIS KARACHI: JCR-VIS Credit Rating Company Ltd. (JCR-VIS) has reaffirmed the entity ratings of Hascol Petroleum Limited (HPL)at ‘A + / A-1’ ( Single A Plus/A-One). Rating of HPL’s secured Sukuk issue of Rs.2 billion has also been reaffirmed at AA- ( Double A minus). Outlook on the assigned ratings is ‘Stable’. The ratings assigned to HPL reflect its growing market share, adequate financial risk profile and improving corporate governance framework. Aggressive market share acquisition strategy is planned to continue with HPL targeting to become the second largest player in the sector with a 15% market share by 2020.

Moreover, HPL has continued to pursue expansion in its storage capacities and retail outlets. Ratings also take into account the induction of Vitol Dubai Limited (Vitol) acquiring 15% stake in the company which will facilitate the company in securing and ensuring the smooth supply of petroleum products and hedging its procurement risk. PRESS RELEASE

BaFl enters into strategic partnership with lumS to connect industry, academia KARACHI: Bridging gaps between industry and the academia for shared benefit, Pakistan’s leading financial institution, Bank Alfalah Limited (BAFL) has entered into a strategic partnership with Pakistan’s prestigiouseducational institution, (LUMS). The partnership will connect industry and academia to devise viable strategies for promoting mutual learning and training in lieu of evolving industrial requirements. Under the partnership, REDC and BAFL will jointly develop customized in-house learning programs and BAFL will enjoy access to the Gad & Birgit Rausing Library at LUMS. The mutually benefitting agreement also entails recognition of top LUMS students by awarding BAFL medals upon graduation as well as the provision for nominations for enrollment of BAFL officials in Islamic Banking programs by Islamic Finance Centre LUMS. PRESS RELEASE

akzonobel partners with Pakistan Green Building Council LAHORE: AkzoNobel Pakistan is collaborating with Pakistan Green Building Council to to help raise awareness on the utilization of environment friendly products amongst architects, builders, investors, and all involved in public and private development work; people who are the true stakeholders in the sustainable future of Pakistan. As a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals and as one of the leaders in the area of sustainability, AkzoNobel strongly believes in responsible corporate citizenship andwill be participating at the Green Building Council Expo – Stoneca scheduled to take place from 27th to 29th October at the Karachi Expo Centre. Speaking about the long-standing partnership with Pakistan Green Building Council (PGBC) Jehanzeb Khan, Chief Executive AkzoNobel said, “We know that our future hinges on our ability to do radically more while using less. More innovation, less traditional solutions; more renewable energy and materials, less fossilbased; more value chain focus, less introvert thinking.This is why sustainability is at the heart of all that we do. We have a commitment to balancing our business priorities with our social, economic and environmental responsibilities in the long term.” PRESS RELEASE

ISLAMABAD: A worker thrashing cotton at his workplace. INP

JAPANESE MAYOR FOR ENHANCED BILATERAL TRADE TIES WITH PAKISTAN KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Mayor of Kibichou Town of Japan, Yamamoto Masanori has said that despite all the negative advisories and different instructions from concerned authorities to avoid visiting Karachi, he preferred visiting this city which was a secure, peaceful, exciting and one of the most vibrant city of Pakistan with a very bright future.

"I was too much worried of making a safe trip to Karachi but after seeing the hospitality and vibrancy of Karachi, I have no issues and I find myself pretty much comfortable here. I was eager to see Karachi which is a city from where a well-known personality Hakim Muhammad Saeed, who we highly admire, came to Kibichou some 20 years ago", he added while exchanging views with KCCI office-bearers and managing committee members during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

KCCI President Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President Asif Nisar, Vice President Muhammad Younus Soomro, Chairman of Diplomatic Missions and Embassies Liaison Sub-Committee Altaf A. Ghaffar, Former President AQ Khalil and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present at the meeting.

Highlighting various products and services available in Kibichou town, the Japanese mayor said that the purpose of his visit was to look for opportunities of exchanging goods and services between Karachi and Kibichou town in order to enhance trade and further improve relations between the two countries. He also advised Karachi Chamber to send a delegation to Kibichou town which was a Muslim-friendly town, geographically located in the center of Okayama prefecture.

"Besides agricultural production, two major industrial zones are also situated in Kibichou town where some blue chip companies have settled their factories and Halal food manu-

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facturers are also active in this town", he said, adding that the Kibichou town has widely opened its tourism doors to the world especially as a Muslim friendly town.

He was fairly optimistic that his first ever visit to Karachi would prove to be a milestone in furthering the existing relations.

"Although on a short trip of just 5 days, but we will try to learn as much as we can about Pakistan and share our experiences in Pakistan with the people in Kibichou. We want to play role in deepening the existing relations between the two countries", Yamamoto Masanori added.

KCCI President Shamim Ahmed Firpo, while commenting on Pakistan-Japan ties, said both countries have been enjoying healthy bilateral economic relations since 1952 and the strong relations can be gauged from the fact that at present, over 76 Japanese companies were operating in Pakistan.

He said that trade volume between Pakistan and Japan was recorded at $1.6 billion during FY2015-16, of which Pakistan's exports stood at $197 million and imports were approximately $1.4 billion whereas the over-

all trade volume was largely in favor of Japan.

He was of the view that there was a huge potential to enhance bilateral trade relations between Japan and Pakistan as Japan fulfilled its large share of grain, textile and surgical goods demand through imports. Hence, Pakistan can tap these segments by exporting its products to Japan which would further boost the bilateral trade volume between the two countries. Pakistan and Japan must also look for joint ventures in automobile sector by providing training assistance, he added.

He stressed that the project of Karachi Circular Railway should be implemented on fast track as it is a worthwhile investment project which would facilitate Karachi's commuters with much desired improved transport services, and would also be more environment friendly.

Shamim said that the Karachi Chamber was keen to strengthen trade ties and exploring new bilateral trade prospects with Japan as Pakistan's improved relations and enhanced trade with countries like Japan would surely help ensure prosperity for both countries.

18 SPORTS

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

FIFA chArge IrIsh FA over 1916 eAster uprIsIng logo

F

AgeNCies

IFA has charged the Irish Football Association (FAI) over a shirt logo worn in March to commemorate the 100th anniversary of an uprising against British rule.

“We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened on this matter,” a spokeswoman for world soccer’s governing body, whose rules forbid players from wearing anything that can be perceived as a political statement, said on Friday.

“We cannot comment further at this stage nor speculate on any outcome.”

Th er e w as no immed iate r eactio n f r o m the FA I .

Ireland’s players wore the logo — with the words Eire 1916/Ireland 2016 — when they played a friendly match against Switzerland on March 25, two days before official state commemorations of the 1916 Easter uprising.

The rebellion is widely seen as the defining

But many unionists in the British province of Northern Ireland consider the event an illegal uprising. The province’s First Minister Arlene Foster has said it was used to justify Irish Republican Army violence in the 1970s and 80s.

FIFA is separately involved in an argument with England and Scotland, who want their players to wear poppies on armbands when they play a World Cup qualifier on Nov. 11, the anniversary of World War One’s Armistice Day in 1918.

Irish media said the Ireland logo had been used as an example by England and Scotland in negotiations with FIFA. British Prime Minister Theresa May strongly criticised FIFA on Wednesday, telling parliament that the soccer body’s stance was “utterly outrageous”.

“Our football players want to recognise and respect those who have given their lives f o r ou r s af ety an d s ecu r ity. I think it is absolutely right that they should be able to do s o, ” s h e s aid.

moment of an independence struggle that ended centuries of British rule five years later.

New Zealand spinner Santner out of first Pakistan test AgeNCies New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner has been ruled out of this month’s opening test against Pakistan with a fractured wrist, the country’s cricket board said on Friday.

The 24-year-old left-armer was struck on his right wrist while training with the Northern Districts and is also doubtful for the second match of the two-test series.

Santner, who has played 10 tests for the Black Caps, showed promise during the recent tour of India where New Zealand were blanked 3-0 in the test series and lost the following fivematch one-day international series 3-2.

“After such a strong tour of India, it’s really disappointing for Mitch to pick up this injury ahead of the first match of the home summer,” New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said in a statement.

“We’re unsure whether Mitch will

be available for the second test at this stage, but we’ll be monitoring his recovery closely and look forward to having him back.”

The first test against Pakistan begins on Nov 17 in Christchurch with the second test in Hamilton from Nov 25.

West Ham striker Andy Carroll threatened at gunpoint Two armed motorcyclists attacked on his way home from training on Thursday, reported the British press.

While driving to his home in Kent in his Mercedes G-Wagon, the robbers attempted to force the 27-

Rohit likely to miss England ODIs too Courtesy esPN India batsman Rohit Sharma will travel to London next week for treatment on his thigh injury, which has ruled him out of cricket for at least 10 to 12 weeks. This means he is almost certain to miss the limited-overs leg of the England tour, and also puts him in doubt for the one-off Test against Bangladesh, which will be played early in February. It is possible he might have to undergo surgery. Rohit suffered the injury while batting in the last ODI of the five-match series against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam. He was on 46 when he hurt his quadriceps while diving into the crease to avoid being run-out.

This happened in the 17th over and Rohit continued batting for five more without a runner because international cricket does not allow for such anymore. His 70 off 65 balls on a slow pitch was crucial to India winning the series 3-2.

Kane back in Tottenham squad for Arsenal game London: England striker Harry Kane will return to Tottenham Hotspur’s squad for Sunday’s North London derby at Arsenal, manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday. Kane has been out of action since he suffered an ankle injury after scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory against Sunderland on September 18. “He will be available for selection for Sunday and now I need to decide whether he will be part of the starting 11 or on the bench. We’re very happy—yesterday, he had a very good training session, he’s fit,” Pochettino told reporters. “It’s important he is back and can help the team.” Kane scored against Arsenal both home and away last season, which he ended as the top scorer in the Premier League with 25 goals. Agencies

State’s appeal against Oscar Pistorius sentence to be heard in open court JohANNesburg Agencies

South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) on Friday told state prosecutors and the defence to argue their case over the six-year sentence for murder handed to Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius in open court.

Pistorius was sentenced to six years in prison in July after being found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on appeal last December, in a case that has attracted worldwide interest.

Legal experts had expected the SCA to issue a ruling on whether prosecutors have the right to challenge the sentence but instead said both parties should first argue their case in court. The court did not set a date for the appeal hearing. State prosecutors, led by advocate Gerrie Nel, say the sentence was too lenient as the jail term was less than half the 15-years they sought. In his arguments at the trial, Nel said Pistorius had shown no remorse for the 2013 shooting.

Lawyers for the gold

year-old to the side of the road.

However, Carroll ignored the thieves and sped quickly until returning to West Ham’s training facility in Rush Green where he phoned the police.

“West Ham United can confirm an incident targeting one of our players on Wednesday November 2,” the statement read. “The matter is now being handled by the police.”

Speaking about the ordeal, Carroll’s head coach Slaven Bilic was quick to offer support for the attacker.

“He got chased for 15 or 20 minutes, it wasn’t like 10 seconds, so it was probably planned,” Bilic stated in Thursday’s press conference.

“I know that he was very brave to do what he did.

“Carroll came back to the training ground and it stopped.

“But he’s good, he’s okay, he’s not in shock and he acted as a really brave man.”

medallist, known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, say he did not deliberately kill model and law graduate Steenkamp.

The athlete originally received a five-year sentence for a manslaughter conviction that was upgraded to murder on appeal.

Trial Judge Thokozile Masipa, who sent Pistorius to the six-year jail term, dismissed a request by Nel to appeal Pistorius’ sentence, saying she was not persuaded that there was a reasonable prospect of success at another court.

CMYK

AVB replaces Sven-Goran Eriksson as Shanghai SIPG boss shANghAi Agencies

Former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas is set to earn a reported £11m a year after taking over Chinese Super League team Shanghai SIPG. He replaces former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who left the club on Thursday after two years in charge. Shanghai finished second and third in the league under the 68-year-old Swede. “Andre Villas-Boas is the leading young manager in European football, with a huge amount of passion and coaching experience,” a Shanghai statement said.

“We are convinced his arrival will enrich the tactical nous of the team, unearth the potential of our young talents and guide our club to scale new heights.” Portuguese Villas-Boas, 39, had been without a job since leaving Russian side Zenit St Petersburg at the end of last season.

BPL 2016’s opening game washed out in Dhaka DhAkA Agencies

The opening game of the Bangladesh Premier League 2016-17 became the tournament’s first to be abandoned without a ball being bowled. Persistent rain meant not even toss was possible and the two teams - defending champions Comilla Victorians and Rajshahi Kings - had to settle for one point each after the umpires called off the game. Unseasonable showers, caused by a depression in the Bay of Bengal, had been affecting Dhaka and different parts of the country over the past 24 hours.

WWE debut ends in victory for former Germany goalkeeper sPorts Desk Former Germany goalkeeper Tim Wiese’s WWE career got off to a ‘winning’ start in Munich on Thursday night. Wiese was contesting a tag-team bout alongside partners Cesaro and Sheamus. The 34-year-old, who won six caps for Germany, also revealed his nickname in the scripted entertainment series will be ‘The Machine’.The former Werder Bremen, Hoffenheim and Kaiserslautern player has packed on 40kg (88lb) of muscle since quitting football in 2014.

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

BccI Asks ecB to BeAr expenses oF teAm’s IndIA tour B

SPORTS 19

sPorts Desk

OARD of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked England to pay from their own pocket for their hotel stay, travel and other arrangements for their upcoming fivematch Test series against India.

In the absence of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between BCCI and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke explained the situation in a letter to England team manager Phil Neal, while apologising for the inconvenience caused.

“Dear Phil, I warmly welcome you for the upcoming cricket series,” wrote Shirke. “I am, however, at great pain to inform you that the BCCI is at present not in a position to execute the MoU between the Indian cricket board and the ECB. This is due to restrictions on execution of contracts imposed on the BCCI by a court order.”

Shirke also mentioned that the Indian board hasn’t been granted the permission to sign an MoU, with the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha panel seeking further details.

“A committee has been appointed that is to oversee BCCI’s financial transactions,” said Shirke. “The board referred this issue to the committee appointed by the Supreme Court on October 28, and sought urgent permission

Saints battle to famous win over Inter Milan southAmPtoN Agencies

for the execution of the MoU. However, the committee, while seeking further details a short while ago earlier today, has not yet granted us this permission.”

The secretary added: “Certain courtesies such as hotel, travel and

Shirke also duly apologised saying, “I apologise on behalf of the BCCI for the inconvenience that is being caused.”

The first Test will commence from Wednesday at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.

various other arrangements have been extended to you on England’s arrival in India. However, till the MoU is executed, the BCCI is not in a position to commit to paying for the same. Please make arrangements to remit such payments.”

Southampton remain on course to reach the Europa League knockout phase after fighting back to earn a memorable win against Italian giants Inter Milan. Inter scored with their first shot on target when skipper Mauro Icardi pounced to smash in a loose ball. Dusan Tadic missed a controversial penalty in first-half injury-time, but Virgil van Dijk hooked in to level as Saints improved after the break. And they claimed all three points after Yuto Nagatomo’s own-goal howler. The Inter defender, under little pressure, allowed Tadic’s left-wing cross to bounce off his thigh and loop over his keeper Samir Handanovic. Victory keeps Saints second in Group K with seven points from their four matches, meaning they could clinch a last-32 place if they win at leaders Sparta Prague in their next game on 24 November.

INJURED SOUTH AFRICA PACEMAN STEYN OUT OF AUSTRALIA SERIES Perth Agencies

South Africa paceman Dale Steyn was ruled out of the test series against Australia on Friday after suffering a shoulder injury on day two of the first match in Perth.

Steyn clutched his right shoulder on the follow-through when bowling at the WACA before lunch and promptly left the field to head to hospital for scans.

“Preliminary scans ... confirmed a new

West Indies bring in Dowrich, leave out Samuels in updated squad Following his heroic efforts in Sharjah, which helped West Indies to a rare away-Test win, wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich has been drafted into the ODI squad to play in the tri-series in Zimbabwe later this month. Fast bowler Miguel Cummins was also brought into the 15, with the two being left out at their expense being the experienced batsman Marlon Samuels and teenage fast bowler Alzarri Joseph. Dowrich has played eight Tests but is yet to play an international limitedovers game. While not always at his best with the gloves, he scored 47 and 60 not out in Sharjah after West Indies had been five down and in trouble in both innings. In 26 List A games, he has 344 runs with a high score of 48, and 21 catches and eight stumpings. Cummins has played just the one ODI, against Ireland in February 2014. He debuted in Test cricket this year, and has 10 wickets from five matches. He has played only five List A games as well. Samuels had an average run against Pakistan in the Tests, scoring a half-century in the first Test but failing to get past 30 thereafter. West Indies had also left out senior players in wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and allrounder Kieron Pollard for the tri-series, which also includes hosts Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. The series is set to begin on November 14 in Harare. Agencies

fracture of the bone in the shoulder joint,” Cricket South Africa said.

“He will take no further part in the match (he will bat if absolutely necessary) and the series, and will return to South Africa to see a shoulder specialist who will advise on an appropriate plan of action.”

CSA said the 33-year-old would probably need surgery. No replacement has been decided.

Steyn broke the same shoulder nearly a year ago, forcing him out of tests against England.

The loss of the pace spearhead is a hammer blow for the tourists, who play two more tests against Australia in Hobart Adelaide.

The remaining bowlers rallied brilliantly in Steyn’s absence, dismissing Australia for 244 on Friday before the Proteas batsmen pushed to 104-2 at stumps and a lead of 102 runs.

Steyn’s absence may be felt more keenly if South Africa bowl again in Perth, with Vernon Philander and 21-year-old Kagiso Rabada to shoulder the pace burden alone.

Robben back for Dutch World Cup qualifier after a year away

Aritz Aduriz hits five in Athletic Bilbao win

amsterdam: Arjen Robben is set to make his return to the Netherlands team for the first time in a year for their World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg. In agreement with his club, Bayern Munich, Robben will only be available for that competitive fixture on November 13 and will sit out the friendly with neighbours Belgium four days earlier, coach Danny Blind said on Friday. The 32year-old has had a litany of injuries, mainly hamstring problems, over the last 12 months and won the last of his 88 caps in the 3-2 away win over Wales last November, when he scored twice. Blind said Robben would only join up with the 25-man squad after next Wednesday’s friendly against Belgium in Amsterdam, ahead of the qualifier against Luxembourg. The agreement was made after discussion with German champions Bayern Munich, who have been at odds with the Dutch football association (KNVB) before over the use of the injury-prone attacker. Kevin Strootman, of Roma, who captained the Dutch last month when they beat Belarus but lost to France in World Cup qualifiers, has been left out with injury. Blind has named newcomer Marvin Zeegelaar in the squad and recalled Stijn Schaars and Jeremain Lens. Agencies

BiLBao: Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz became the first player to score five goals in a Europa League game as the Spaniards thrashed Genk 5-3. The 35-year-old Spaniard scored a hat-trick of penalties and is the first Spaniard to score five goals in a single European game since 1971. Fabrizio Ravanelli was the last player to score five goals in a second-tier European game hitting that mark for Juventus in a Uefa Cup match against CSKA Sofia in 1994. After 24 matches and 77 goals on Thursday night, Zenit St Petersburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Schalke and Ajax booked their place in the knock-out stages. Zenit only needed a draw but beat Irish champions Dundalk 2-1 to progress with two games still to play. Shakhtar had not conceded a goal in the competition but were behind after just 19 seconds against Gent before coming back to win 5-3 on the night. In Germany, Schalke scored two first-half goals to beat Russian side Krasnodar 2-0 and seal their place in the last 32. Ajax also made it through after holding off a late fight-back to beat Celta Vigo 3-2. Anderlecht thumped Mainz 6-1 in Belgium, scoring three of their goals between the 89th and 94th minutes. Agencies

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SPORTS Saturday, 5 November, 2016

South AfricA bounce bAck on eventful 2nd dAy Perth

Agencies

W

HEn Australia and South Africa play, you should expect the unexpected.

The second morning began with Australia firmly on top; the third will start with South Africa in a position of strength. By stumps on day two, the visitors had a lead of 102 runs with eight wickets in hand, a quite unbelievable state of affairs only eight hours earlier. Dean Elgar was on 46 and JP Duminy had 34, and South Africa had completely loosened the tight grip Australia had held on the match the previous evening.

It all started with David Warner dabbling outside off and edging Dale Steyn to slip on 97.

Strange things then started to happen. Firstly, Steyn failed to complete his next over; clutching his right shoulder he walked off the field, a sorry sight for South African fans, who have seen their team win a Test without him only once in the past eight years. Late in the day, Steyn’s injury was confirmed as a fracture that ruled him out of the entire tour.

Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and debutant Keshav Maharaj ran through Australia’s order with renewed vigour, completing

AUSTRALIA LOST ALL 10 WICKETS FOR 86 RUNS AFTER BEING 0 FOR 158

a remarkable collapse of 10 for 86 that began with the single wicket taken by South Africa’s best bowler, perhaps of all time, who was otherwise absent. Philander became the leader, and they applied constant pressure on Australia’s batsmen.

Philander and Rabada found some reverse swing, and Maharaj bowled impressively, keeping

things tight enough at his end while also picking up a few wickets. He is the first specialist spinner in Test history to make his debut at the pace-friendly WACA, and he justified his inclusion by dismissing Australia’s captain Steven Smith, wicketkeeper Peter nevill, and then Mitchell Starc.

The wicket of Smith was particularly jaw-dropping, mostly for

WE WANT TO WIN THIS GAME FOR DALE: PHILANDER

the brazen - though legitimate lbw decision given by umpire Aleem Dar. Smith, yet to score, advanced down the pitch from his fourth delivery and could not get bat on ball, which prompted a zealous appeal from Maharaj but a half-hearted one from his teammates. It was, as the police might say, just a routine enquiry - until Dar unholstered his finger.

Smith looked dumbstruck, and immediately asked for a review. The broadcaster’s technology suggested he was well down the pitch - 2.8 metres from the stumps when struck - but the ball was hitting in line, and was going on to clip the top of leg stump.

The umpire’s decision stood: Maharaj had his first Test wicket, and Australia were starting to wobble at 3 for 168.

Already Usman Khawaja had been and gone, bowled for 4 by a beauty from Rabada, who angled one in from around the wicket and sneaked through the batsman’s defences. Shaun Marsh, who had batted so solidly with Warner in a 158-run opening stand, fell to a similar delivery from Philander for 63 - he did get his pad in the way, but nigel Llong’s lbw decision was also upheld on review.

There was precious little resistance from the rest of Australia’s order, although Adam Voges and Peter nevill at least reached the 20s. But Mitchell Marsh, under pressure to hold the no. 6 spot after selector Rod Marsh said last week “he needs to get a Test hundred I reckon”, fell a hundred runs short. He was lbw for an eight-ball duck to Philander, and perhaps the biggest worry was the distance by which he missed the ball.

Voges spooned a return catch to Rabada for 27, Starc was caught at midwicket for a duck off Maharaj, nevill was caught at slip off Maharaj for 23, though was unlucky Australia’s reviews were exhausted for he appeared not to have touched the ball. Josh Hazlewood was taken at gully off Philander for 4 and nathan Lyon was caught at slip off Philander for 0.

Peter Siddle remained unbeaten on 18, having helped Australia squeeze into the lead.

It was a quite remarkable collapse; not on the scale of Australia’s 47 all out in Cape Town, of course, but remarkable mostly because South Africa achieved all but one of the wickets without their best bowler. Australia went rapidly from complete dominance to serious danger of conceding a first-innings lead. By the change of innings, the Test was effectively all square. Still, South Africa needed to avoid the kind of top-order wobbles that had left them at 4 for 32 on the first morning. Stephen Cook and Elgar provided a more solid opening stand on this occasion, although Cook still could not survive for too long, and was caught for 12 pulling Siddle to midwicket.

The loss of Hashim Amla, who chopped on to Hazlewood for 1 - his first-innings duck meant a Test aggregate of one run in this match, equalling his career worst - had the potential to give Australia the momentum, but they could not find another breakthrough. By stumps, Elgar and Duminy had moved the total on to 2 for 104.

Poor Man Utd lose at Fenerbahce Istanbul Agencies

Fenerbahce scored two stunning goals to beat Manchester United and leave Jose Mourinho’s side in danger of Europa League elimination.

Striker Moussa Sow gave Fenerbahce the lead within 65 seconds with an overhead kick which sailed over David de Gea, and Jeremain Lens curled in a brilliant free-kick in the second half.

The visitors dominated possession but saw world-record signing Paul Pogba go off with a leg injury in the first half. Captain Wayne Rooney smashed in a 25-yard consolation goal late on.

Defeat means United are third in Group A - one point behind leaders Feyenoord and Fenerbahce - with two games left, against the Dutch side at Old Trafford and away to Ukraine’s Zorya Luhansk.

Qualification for the next stage remains in the Reds’ hands, but

Perth Agencies

Vernon Philander’s parting words to his new-ball partner Dale Steyn were a promise that Philander would do everything in his power to try and finish the job Steyn started and return home with a series win. Steyn will play no further part in the Tests after fracturing his right shoulder and Philander has taken it on himself to lead the pack.

“Losing big players leaves a big gap but there’s always an opportunity for someone else to step up,” Philander said. “In this game KG [Kagiso Rabada] and me will have to step up. That serves as motivation for us to step up and deliver. Dale’s done it for a long time and we owe it to him.”

So far, Philander has followed through. He took four for 56 in an exceptional second-day spell in which he found subtle seam movement and admitted he knew it would be up to him to ensure Australia did not get too far away. “Dale’s been the leader of this attack for a very long time

and it’s sad to see him go down like that. We had a job to do and that was to get the Aussies out as cheaply as possible, and it was a job well done by the rest of the bowlers,” Philander said. “It’s a responsibility that will be well taken by the rest of the team and the squad. We want to win this game for Dale as well.”

Steyn made one mark on the match though and it may yet to prove to be the most important - when he had David Warner caught at slip on 97 and sparked the Australian collapse. Although Warner may be secretly pleased he does not have to see Steyn for the rest of the series, he will miss the contest. “I am disappointed for Dale. After all the amp and the talk before the series, I know how pumped he would have been to play a big role. It is disappointing for him,” Warner said. “I hope he can get back on the park and play the competitive cricket that we’ve seen him play.”

Warner remains wary of a South African attack that has already shown it can bowl Australia out sans Steyn and despite depleted resources.

they will need to be more incisive against their next opponents.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho accused his players of approaching the loss to Fenerbahce as if it was a “summer friendly”. The Red Devils dropped to third in Group A of the Europa League following a 2-1 defeat in

Istanbul.

United have now won just two of their last seven games in all competitions.

“A team that concedes after two minutes is a team that is not ready, not mentally prepared, not focused, not concentrated,” said Mourinho.

Dale Steyn had to leave the field due to a shoulder injury, Australia v South Africa, 1st Test, Perth, 2nd day.

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.

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CMYK

Saturday, 5 November, 2016 i 04 Safar-ul-Muzaffar, 1438 i rs 20.00 i vol vii No 127 i 20 Pages i lahore edition

Nawaz vows not to bow down to liars, detractors g

Says (PTI’s) tall claims ended in a whimper, referring to its Islamabad lockdown plan

g

Says liars and those disgracing others publicly can’t lead Pakistani nation

g

Says opponents can’t digest all-round development, want to halt this process

ChiNeSe iNveStorS Meet PM, PlAN to BriNg $3B iNveStMeNt to PAKiStAN

ASWJ men among five shot dead in Karachi

STORY ON PAGE 04

SC maintains restrain on PM from taking ‘unilateral’ financial actions STORY ON PAGE 02

STORIES ON PAGES 03 & 16

Bilawal insists accountability begins from prime minister

PPP chief says govt won’t complete its tenure if judicial commission on Panamagate is not formed STORY ON PAGE 03

Safdar comes to rescue of Maryam Nawaz Tells court his wife does not own any offshore company STORY ON PAGE 02

02 NEWS

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

CONSTiTuTiON dOES NOT PErMiT PM’S SOlO FlighT: SC ISLAMABAD

T

STAFF REPORT

HE Supreme Court dismissed a review appeal by the federal government on Friday over its ruling that the prime minister is not above the cabinet and he cannot take decisions on financial matters and make statutory regulatory orders (SROs) without the federal cabinet’s scrutiny and approval.

The constitution does not allow the prime minister to take a solo flight, Justice Saqib Nisar said.

He added that powers of tax exemp-

tion and tax levies belong to the federal government. “Nowhere does the constitution state that the prime minister or a single minister is the federal government.”

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on August 19, this year, struck down the impugned notifications for withdrawing exemption of sales tax to the companies, importing cellular phones and textile goods.

The court accepted the appeals filed by the petitioners, the companies importing cellular phones and textile goods, against the judgment of Islam-

abad High Court (IHC). The court clarified that in passing, it has in the past consistently held that greater latitude is allowed in relation to beneficial notifications and that principle still applies.

The counsels of cellular phones and textile goods importers’ argued that the federal government earlier had granted them certain exemptions from sales tax, but subsequently these exemptions were either withdrawn or tax rates modified vide notifications No.280(1)/2013 and 460(1)/2013, which were issued under the provisions of Sales Tax Act, 1990.

The importers had challenged the

notifications before the IHC that those were not in accordance with Section 3 of the Sales Act. The high court, however, dismissed their petitions. The importers had filed appeals against the IHC verdict in the apex court. The court on Thursday set it aside.

The judgment authored by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar ruled that the prime minister cannot take decisions by himself, or by supplanting or ignoring the cabinet because the power to take decisions is vested with the federal government i.e. the cabinet, and leader of the House and unilateral decisions taken by him would be a usurpation of power.

senate adopts resolution condemning quetta terror attack Pak-China agree to work on security, in other sectors BISHKEK INP

Pakistan and China agreed to work closer at regional level to address common challenges in security and socio-economic sector. Both sides also exchanged views on prevailing regional and global issues including Afghanistan, Kashmir and South Asia. This was agreed during a meeting between Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who met on the sidelines of 15th SCO Heads of Government Council meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The two leaders held detailed discussions on the entire range of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction on the progress so far achieved.

They also agreed to continue close coordination at the United Nations and other multilateral forums. Pakistan thanked China for its support in becoming the full member of the SCO. Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that China appreciates Pakistan’s contribution to fight terrorism, extremism and separatism and opposes any false insinuations in this regard.

Jaffar Express escapes terrorist attack

resolution was moved by leader of oPPosition aitzaz ahsan ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The senate on Friday passed a unanimous resolution strongly condemning the terrorist attack on the police training center in Quetta.

The resolution was moved by opposition leader Aitzaz Ahsan, which

expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the incident. The resolution expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and prayed for the eternal peace of the martyred and early recovery of the injured. The resolution reiterated the commitment to stand by the peace loving people of the country and the

security forces for complete elimination of terrorism from the country.

The house also passed two separate condolence resolutions expressing deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of former senators Syed Qammar-uz- Zaman Shah and Nargis Zaman Kiani. The House prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased and said that their services would be remembered for long time.

The house also offered Fateha for those martyred in Quetta incident and other accidents in the country.

Capt (r) Safdar comes to rescue of Maryam Nawaz tells the Court that his wife does not own any offshore ComPany ISLAMABAD INP

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s sonin-law Capt (retd) Safdar informed the Supreme Court that his wife, Maryam Nawaz does not own any offshore company and that Imran Khan’s allegations are ‘baseless’.

In his response submitted in the apex court, Capt (retd) Safdar claimed that he mentioned complete details of his assets in the nomination papers for 2013 general elections. He said his wife regularly pays taxes and the details of assets were shown on her tax returns.

The PML-N lawmaker further stated that no reference has been forwarded to the National Assembly Speaker regarding his disqualification.

“Raising question over ‘eligibility’ in the Supreme Court is a violation of Article 225,” he added.

Capt (retd) Safdar argued, “Article 63 (2) of the Constitutions is limited to post-election disqualification matters relating to a Member of Parliament, which are set out in Article 63 (1) thereof. Allegations pertaining to pre-election qualifications of a Member of Parliament as provided for in Article 62 (1) of the Constitu-

tion cannot be raised or made after the holding of the election and notification of the result thereof.”

He said that Imran’s ‘petition has no merit, being based on false and incorrect allegations and is liable to be dismissed.’

The data from the Panama Papers released in April this year allegedly describe Maryam as “the owner of British Virgin Islandsbased firms Nielsen Enterprises Limited and Nescoll Limited, incorporated in 1994 and 1993”.

On one of the documents released by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the address listed for Nielsen Enterprises is Saroor Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The document, dated June 2012, describes Maryam Safdar as the ‘beneficial owner’.

NFC meeting scheduled for month-end ISLAMABAD INP

The federal government has decided to convene a meeting of the National Finance Commission in the last week of November to move forward the next award, a media report said. The decision came after a meeting presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The meeting reviewed the progress achieved so far by the working groups. The decision came after provinces demanded of the Centre to transfer the control over collection of royalties on oil and gas produced in their areas. Sindh says the Centre should surrender its right to collect royalties on oil and gas and sales tax on goods. Dar stressed the need to enhance efforts at federal and provincial levels to increase revenue mobilisation in order to boost economic growth. As initial work has been completed, it’s time to move to the next steps for completion of the award, he said. He emphasised for increased focus on resource mobilisation and strengthening of relations between the federation and provinces to achieve national harmony and partnership. Earlier, Sindh’s member on NFC Senator Saleem Mandviwalla in a statement said the provinces would write a letter to Premier Nawaz Sharif to convene a meeting on new NFC award at the earliest. He demanded that the Centre should surrender the right to collect royalties on oil and gas and sales tax on goods to the provinces. Sindh’s member said that the provinces should be given the right of collecting sales tax on goods because it was their basic right which was being denied even after the passage of the 18th Amendment.

Smog spell likely to persist in Punjab: Met Office ISLAMABAD INP

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Director Mohammad Haneef on Friday asked the people to take precautionary measures as the spell of smog would last for few more days.

The PMD official said that he has never seen such level of smog in the history of Pakistan.

The health experts have also advised the people to cover their face and eyes with masks and sun glasses to prevent hazardous effects of air pollution. Mohammad Hanif said that rains during November and December would be less than normal in Pakistan. On the other hand, M2 Motorways from Lahore to Sial More and Rawalpindi to Faisalabad was shut down due to zero visibility, however, a decrease in the smog has also been witnessed in Lahore.

Separately, Manga Mandi, Pattoki, Okara and Sahiwal are also facing spell of fog. The Motorway Police have directed the people to avoid unnecessary travelling. Punjab government has formed a 20-member committee to suggest measures to reduce the effects of smog.

QUETTA APP

The law-enforcement agencies on Friday saved Quetta-bound Jaffar Express train from planned terrorist attack by timely defusing improvised explosive device which was planted on railway track near Aab-e-Gum area in Bolan district. A spokesman of Balochistan Frontier Corps said here that unknown terrorists had planted IED on railway track near Aab-eGum area between Mach and Sibi to target Jaffar Express train coming from Rawalpindi to Quetta. “After receiving intelligence information, the FC personnel and Railways Police rushed to the scene and defused the IED,” he said. He further said the remote-controlled IED exploded when bomb disposal squad personnel of FC and Railways Police were engaged in defusing it as the terrorists hiding in mountains pushed switch of the remote to send signals to IED for explosion. “However, the BDS personnel remained unhurt as they had worn bomb proof protective dress,” he said. He said the law-enforcement agencies have launched operation to trace out the suspects.

‘no prospect for resolution of kashmir issue’ ex-indian offiCial Calls Pak-india ties a ‘managed hostility’ NEW YORK INP

Ignoring hostile attitude of India and its accusations against Pakistan over any mishap or failure in the country, former Indian Foreign Secretary and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon has claimed that Pakistan’s polity does not have the capacity to sustain normal relationship with India, and characterised relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours as “managed hostility”.

“I would characterize [India—Pakistan relations] today as managed hostility, which I hope it stays managed,”

Calls seat on the seCurity CounCil a status quo

Menon said in response to a question on relations between the two nations at a panel discussion organised by the ‘South Asia Centre at New York University’ on Thursday.

On whether he sees any prospect for resolution of the Kashmir issue, Menon, who has been India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, replied in the negative. He said many of the issues relating to Kashmir have been around for a long time and, “We know the solutions” to many of them but they seem to be “politically difficult” to serve.

“Today I don’t think Pakistan’s polity has the capacity to sustain normal relationship with India. I think there is

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a very strong institutional interest there,” he said.

Menon, who has authored the book ‘Choices: Inside the Making of Indian Foreign Policy’, however added, ‘His fear is that if it becomes a party political issue in India, which it has not always been, then you have the same dynamic operating’.

He emphasized that expectations in India on any improved relations with Pakistan were “very very low” particularly after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

“There is very little public support for actually trying to fix those issues after the Mumbai attack and the series of cross-border terrorist attacks didn’t

help either. Given that, I wouldn’t expect rapid resolution of all these issues,” he said.

Menon was asked given that India’s position on various global issues like Syria, Russia and Yemen has been different from that of the US, would it vote alongside the US as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

He replied India should not spend its time worrying about a seat on the UN body.

“For me frankly a seat on the Security Council, with due apology, is a status quo. That is a beauty contest. You want to win a beauty contest, go ahead and enjoy yourself,” he said.

“That’s not the point. Our point is to create an enabling environment for India’s transformation and work with the US for that. I think that’s in the US interest too,” he said

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

Nawaz vOwS NOT TO bOw dOwN TO liarS, dETraCTOrS d KAHUTA

terrupt it at any cost. “Such elements want to halt the development process which the Pakistan Muslim League-N government is continuing in the best interest of the common man,” he added. The premier however categorically vowed not to bow down before opposition’s such attempts and negative propaganda.

Nawaz also deplored that no previous governments whether of retired army chief Pervez Musharraf or Pakistan People’s Party had taken steps for the development of the country, including construction of motorways or adding more power to the national grid to overcome electricity shortfall. He termed those responsible for energy crisis as ‘public offenders’, and said their apathy resulted in worst load shedding of even 16 to 18 hours a day.

“The PML-N is the sole political party with the credit of economic turnaround,

STAFF REPORT

AYS after Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf chief Imran Khan’s planned lockdown of Islamabad on November 2 turned into a ‘thanksgiving’ rally, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday lashed out at his detractors, saying liars and those who disgrace others publicly cannot lead the Pakistani nation.

“Pakistanis give honour and receive honour; they reject the politics of disgracing others. The one habitual of publicly disgracing and humiliating others, cannot be their leader,” the premier said while addressing a charged crowd in Narh village of Kahuta. Without naming the PTI chairman, Nawaz said the opposition was scared of the government’s journey of progress and prosperity and wanted to in-

nuclear tests, motorways and overcoming energy shortage,” he said. PM Nawaz also expressed confidence that the PMLN would sweep the next general elections of 2018 on the basis of its track record of development. He said the construction of a highway from Khunjrab having altitude of 16,000 feet at China border down to Gwadar was in progress which would connect the country’s north with south.

The premier said the ongoing journey towards progress was in fact pinching the opponents as it would earn the PML-N more opportunities to serve the masses leaving the adversaries just to wait.

He advised the opposition not to impede national development rather support the government to get deliverance from power and gas crises, build motorways to bring in prosperity, end poverty and unemployment and inflation by enriching business activities. Speaking about the

ACCOUNTABILITY BEGINS FROM PRIME MINISTER, INSISTS BILAWAL BHUTTO PPP Chief says Pakistan being says govt won’t ComPlete its tenure if judiCial run by an inComPetent Pm Commission on Panamagate is not formed DHARKI STAFF REPORT

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, addressing a public rally in Ghotki’s Dharki area on Friday, said accountability should start from the prime minister and he needs to present himself for ‘democratic accountability’.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will now have to present himself for accountability and the accountability needs to be democratic,” he said, adding that the country was being run by an incompetent prime minister for the last three years.

He also claimed that the government would not be able to complete its tenure if a judicial commission on Panamagate was not formed. Bilawal said he was not accusing the prime minister of corruption, but the evidence brought forth in the Panama Papers reveals his corruption for all to see. The PPP chairman, criticising the PML-N government, said the current policies pursued by the government of Nawaz

Sharif are some of the worst in the history of the country and the same policies have divided the people.

“We need the people to be united, but Nawaz Sharif, your flawed policies have divided the people,” said Bilawal.

The PPP chairman also reminded the prime minister that he is not a monarch, neither is Raiwind the throne of Pakistan.

“Pakistan is a democracy, not a monarchy, you are a prime minister and not a king”. Bilawal also questioned the current government on its lack of transparency and answers to questions which have been raised in the parliament and Senate. He also asked why is the enquiry report not made public after attacks on national institutions.

“You (Nawaz) will have to answer the people, you have never answered the people,” added Bilawal. The PPP chairman also said large public development schemes should be transparent and noncontroversial.

Bilawal, addressing his party workers, also questioned Nawaz’s ‘friend-

saad rafique advises bilawal not to copy imran’s politics KARACHI: Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Friday said that politics of shutting down the cities will not work and is destined to fail. Speaking during Meet the Press programme at Karachi Press Club, the minister pointed out that those who had in the past practiced the politics of laying a siege to Karachi were divided into several groups. The minister advised PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to refrain from copying Imran Khan in politics as in such a case he would attain no success. He said he acknowledged the sacrifices of PPP for the cause of democracy, but added that “Bilawal should not try to teach us a lesson about democracy”. “We remember the Federal Security Force of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,” he went on to add. Rafique pointed out that Karachi had been converted into a heap of garbage. He also said that PTI’s “dharna” was a conspiracy against democracy. Regarding Thursday’s collision of trains near Karachi, the railways minister stated that the mishap was owing to human error as according to initial investigation, the signals and other system were functioning correctly. He said that the railways traffic system had now been restored up to 80 per cent. He was of the view that train accidents also occurred in other countries as a result of human errors. STAFF REPORT

ship’ withe Indian Prime Narendra Modi.

“We do not know what benefit you get by being friends with Modi?”

The PPP chairman said he wants to neutralise “Modi’s conspiracy against Pakistan”.

Coming down hard on Imran Khan, Bilawal said, “Uncle Imran enough is enough, public has tolerated a lot.”

“If you talk about minus one then we will demand the same,” said Bilawal referring to Imran Khan’s earlier suggestion to the PPP that Asif Ali Zardari should leave the party.

Following Bilawal’s address, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Imran Ismail heavily criticised Bilawal Bhutto and his party.

“PPP is deeply involved in corruption,” said Imran Ismail.

He said that Zardari does not come to Pakistan because he will be arrested immediately upon his arrival.

“If they could not trace the killers of Benazir in their tenure then what else they are capable of?” he said.

Panama case hearing: Pti to keep on anti-corruption movement ISLAMABAD HAMID KHAN WAZIR

Though the case of Panama Papers leaks is now in the Supreme Court (SC) to decide, Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) would keep on its anticorruption movement without any hiccup. Well-placed sources told Pakistan Today that PTI Chairman Imran Khan strictly advised the party leadership to vigorously raise the issue of corruption, especially of Panama Leaks at all forums and further speed up the public awareness campaign in this regard.

They said that Imran Khan is quite happy with the outcome of the agitation because, eventually, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif surrendered himself for accountability, which was one of the main demands of the party. However, sources said that he categorically stated that they should not let the issue of corruption dead and keep themselves well-prepared for TV talk shows. They said that PTI chairman will visit KhyberPakhtunkhwa (PK) and Punjab and address public gatherings and workers conventions there, as a part of PTI’s anti-corruption movement.

The PTI consultative meeting was held in Bani Gala with Imran Khan in the chair on Friday, which was attended by PTI Secretary General Jehangir Khan Tareen, PTI Secretary Information Naeemul Haq, Dr Shireen Mazari, Hamid Khan, Shafqat Mehmood and others. During the meeting, the Panama Papers issue was discussed in threadbare. PTI lawyers’ team briefed Imran Khan regarding the Panama Papers case as well as the replies submitted by PM Nawaz Sharif and Captain (Retd) Safdar in this regard.

They said the boycott of the National Assembly would continue.

In the meeting, Imran Khan asked to provide him with the detail of all PTI’s detained workers and those who were injured because of teargas shelling by the police when they were trying to reach Islamabad.

Sources said that PTI chairman will visit homes of the injured party workers, besides he would distribute appreciation certificates among the PTI workers, especially those belonging to KP who faced police valiantly.

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country’s economic turnaround, PM Nawaz said that the inflation was on a downward trajectory and an end to unemployment was among his top priorities.

The premier also reiterated that the government had broken the back of terrorists and highlighted his government’s welfare schemes like free laptops and scholarships worth billions of rupees to students and free health treatment schemes for the poor.

The free health treatment scheme would also be extended to Kahuta and Narh, he assured the audience chanting pro-PML-N and pro-Nawaz Sharif slogans.

He said the government was overhauling the Railways into a self-sufficient entity, while the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was offering efficient services to passengers.

Premier Sharif said the people had al-

NEWS

03

ready rejected those impeding the government’s national development agenda.

Without naming PTI’s U-turn from much-hyped ‘lockdown’ to ‘Yaum-eTashakkur’, the prime minister said, “Tall claims ended in a whimper.”

Highlighting his government’s transparent policies, the prime minister claimed that no one could blame the government for any kickback in projects’ execution during last three and half years.

He announced various development projects for Kahuta and Kalar Sayedan including widening Rawalpindi-Kahuta road to two-lane highway, electrification and gas supply to all union councils of both the twons, upgradation of Kahuta hospital and 12 high schools to higher secondary schools.

He also announced to fund the construction of roads with total stretch of 100 kilometers in Kahuta and Kalar Sayedan what he believed would bring in progress and prosperity in the area.

He said a tunnel would be constructed through the hills falling on the way from Rawalpindi to Narh to reduce travel duration from three to one hour.

The prime minister also tasked Raja Ashfaq Sarwar and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to work out a roadmap to promote tourism in picturesque Kahuta area and committed to provide as much funds as required for the purpose.

Nat Geo’s ‘Afghan girl’ Sharbat Gula to be deported from Pakistan PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

Peshawar High Court on Friday sentenced Sharbat Gula to 15 days in prison and a Rs 110,000 fine after she plead guilty to charges of possessing a fake Pakistani identity card.

After the completion of her sentence which starts from the time of her arrest, Sharbat Gula will be deported from Pakistan. Sharbat Gula was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for illegally possessing a Pakistani computerised national identity card (CNIC).

A case against her and three former National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) employees was registered on October 20.

Sharbat Gula, who fled Afghanistan during Soviet occupation shot to fame after her photograph as a young refugee was published on the cover of National Geographic magazine back in 1985 on her arrival to Peshawar. The FIA arrested her from Nauthia, Peshawar, on the charges of possessing fake Pakistani CNIC. The FIA was looking into the issuance of CNICs in her name and in the name of two Afghan men who were mentioned as her sons in the registration forms.

04 NEWS

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

FAteMi urGeS uNSC tO FulFil COMMitMeNt OF PlebiSCite iN iOK ISLAMABAD

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APP

PeCIAL Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi on Friday called upon the permanent members of the UN Security Council to fulfil their commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, through the holding of a free, fair and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices.

He said this during his briefing to the ambassadors of the permanent members of the UN Security Council comprising China, France, Russian Federation, UK and USA on the deteriorating human rights situation in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He also highlighted the escalation and ceasefire violations from the Indian side at the LoC and the Working Boundary and the Indian involvement in subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan. He condemned the Indian bru-

talities in IoK, resulting in killing of more than 115 innocent people and injuring more than 16,000.

He noted that more than 1,000 peo-

ple have been injured due to the use of pellet guns by the Indian occupation forces, while scores of hundreds of people have become partially or perma-

nently blind.

He characterized the systematic and grave human rights violations, as crimes against humanity.

Reiterating his call for holding plebiscite in accordance with the Security Council resolutions, he noted that the people of IoK were being brutalized for demanding their fundamental rights, including the right to self-determination.

He stated that unprovoked continued firing and ceasefire violations from the Indian side on the LoC and the Working Boundary have resulted in the loss of many innocent lives.

He referred to the Indian attempts to escalate tensions, as an effort to divert international attention from grim situation in the IoK. Tariq Fatemi also deplored Indian involvement in subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan.

While highlighting Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism, he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to eradicate the menace of terrorism, including Indian state-sponsored terrorism.

Pakistan ratifies COP-21 climate change agreement LAHORE SAMIULLAH RANDHAWA

Gaddani ship fire doused after four days GADDANI INP

Fire at an oil tanker at the Gaddani Shipbreaking yard was put out on the fourth day.

Rescue work inside the ship could not be started as the metal plates are scalding, the sources said. Rescue operation at the upper portion of the Gaddani oil tanker has been completed. Rescue officials claimed that 19 bodies and body parts of three people were recovered from the wreckage. Rescue operation in the lower portion will begin shortly. eighty five per cent of the wreckage has been given clearance by rescue workers. At least 22 people were killed and 58 injured when its fuel tank exploded on November 1. The MTSS ship with a Nairobi flag had reached Gaddani carrying 19 Indian crew members on October 22. The same day the crew left the ship, sources said. The ship was bought by owner of Ghafoor and Company Abdul Ghafoor, who has been missing since the incident. Police have arrested the contractor who was dealing with the workers. A case on behalf of the government has been filed at the Gaddani police station. According to police, four suspects have been named in the case. The suspects include Chaudhry Ghafoor, Muhammad Hafeez, contractor Jalal and Farooq Bangali. One of the suspects, Hafeez has been arrested by the police. The Gaddani ship-breaking industry has fallen on hard times recently and employs about 9,000 workers, fewer than in its boom years at the end of the last decade.

Pakistan has touched a new milestone as it ratifies Conference of the Parties COP-21 (Paris global climate change agreement) which was aimed on the reduction of carbon emissions from respective countries.

This move had come in the wake of Paris agreement which would be entered into force today (Friday) in Marrakech, Morocco.

Climate change ministry’s sources said that Pakistan government had forwarded a letter to the United Nation as COP-21 was under United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC).

Paris global climate change was adopted in December, 2015, and was marked a critical turning point towards a zero-carbon, and resilient world. At least 192 countries signed the agreement during the COP-21 summit held in Paris. Pakistan had become the 95th country in the world which ratified the agreement.

The agreement had to come into force after the ratification of the countries which produced 55 percent global carbon emission.

Only two countries, United States and the China were responsible for emitting 40percent carbon in the world. Both countries had announced to ratify the Paris Agreement ahead of G20 summit held on September 4 this year, which had made it possible for the agreement to come into the force.

India had ratified the COP-21 agreement last month on the eve of Gandhi’s birth anniversary in a ceremony held in New Delhi.

Spokesman of Climate Change Ministry, Saleem Sheikh while talking to Pakistan Today confirmed that a letter with suggestions in view of climate change ratification was sent to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and which was later forwarded to the UN. On a question, he said that an open announcement and any ceremony regarding this development could not be held due to tense political scenario

in Islamabad. However, he said that our delegation would represent the report on climate change today in Marrakech, Morocco.

The delegation will be headed by secretary Climate Change while federal director general of Climate Change and others will also be present on the occasion, Shiekh informed.

COP-22 Climate Change Conference would be held in Marrakesh from November 7 to 18 in which all member countries would present their reports regarding their responsibilities.

The Paris agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to climate change by keeping a global temperature rise of this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Additionally, the agreement was aimed to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change.

President orders to amend SC Judges Order 1997 ISLAMABAD APP

President Mamnoon Hussain has ordered special additional pension of Rs 12,000 per month instead of services of an orderly and Rs 10,000 per month in lieu of services of a driver for judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. According to Ministry of Law and Justice, the president promulgated the order to amend the Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) Order 1997 for providing the facility. The order may be called the Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) (Amendment) Order, 2016 and it shall come into force at once.

MQM’s NA resolution demands Khattak’s trial under Article-6 ISLAMABAD INP

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Friday submitted a resolution demanding trial of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak in National Assembly Secretariat. MQM-P MNA Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui submitted the resolution in the NA Secretariat. The resolution stated that the statement of KP CM was against the national security and integrity of the country.

It added that Khattak tried to stoke hatred and ethnic tension among different communities living in the country. The resolution said that the chief minister’s threatening statements against the sate were condemnable. The resolution demanded Khattak’s trial under Article 6 of the constitution. It urged the National Assembly to unanimously pass the resolution.

Girl burnt in Khaipur acid attack over marriage feud KHAIRPUR INP

A girl was adversely scorched after being attack by youth with acid in suburbs of Khaipur over marriage feud. According to detail, youth threw acid on a girl identified as Fahmida Bhambhan in village Tarko of taluka Tharimirwah, district Khaipur. As a result of acid attack, 80 percent of girl’s body was burnt. She was shifted to Nawab Shah Hospital from where she was referred to Karachi due to critical condition. Sources said that the acid attack was outcome of the marriage feud. A case was registered against the accused at Tharimirwah police station and investigation was underway.

Pakistan tO stay away frOm tObaCCO COnferenCe in india Pakistan will not attend a global tobacco-control conference in India next week, a government minister said on Friday, in the latest fallout of strained diplomatic ties between the South Asian neighbours.

India is hosting the biennial conference of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the only global treaty to deter tobacco consumption. Delegates from around 180 countries are expected to attend.

“It’s a very important meeting on tobacco, but our visit doesn’t appear feasible due to on-going tensions,” Saira Afzal Tarar, State Minister of Health Sciences Regulation and Coor-

dination, told Reuters.

Pakistani health ministry officials had not yet secured visas to attend the conference, Tarar said.

“One or two officials of the health ministry had applied for visa to attend the conference, but I think they are facing issues in getting it.”

India’s foreign ministry spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

Pakistan was invited to the conference but said it would not be able to attend, Guangyuan Liu, an official of the FCTC secretariat, told reporters in New Delhi on Thursday, without giving any reason for the decision.

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The conference will run from Monday to Nov 12.

Conference decisions on treaty provisions will have a direct bearing on a global tobacco industry that euromonitor International estimates is worth $784 billion this year.

Topics for discussion include alternative livelihoods for tobacco farmers, e-cigarettes and trade and investment issues.

Relations between Pakistan and India have soured in recent weeks after New Delhi said it had launched retaliatory “surgical strikes” against militants in Pakistan in the wake of a raid on an Indian army camp that left

19 soldiers dead.

The Pakistani military swiftly rubbished the claim as false, and said the episode was normal shelling by India.

Artillery duels and skirmishes on the border dividing the disputed Kashmir region have surged since.

The Indian prime minister stepped up a drive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically after the Uri army base attack.

The two countries have locked horns over the Kashmir issue since Indian forces stepped up a crackdown against protesters after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by government forces in July. AGENCIES

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

aswj men among Five shot dead ASWJ SpokeSmAN cLAImS fouR vIcTImS WeRe ASSocIATed WITh ASWJ KARACHI STAFF REPORT

a

T least five men were gunned down in Karachi on Friday, officials said, adding that four of these men were associated with the proscribed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ).

As many as three men were shot in the Shafiq Mor area of North Karachi, Central SSP Muqadas Haider said. Separately, two men were shot and wounded critically near Fatima Bai Hospital in Patel Para area of Jamshed Quarters police.

“They were transported to Civil Hospital Karachi

where doctors pronounced Mohammed Amin, 30, as dead on arrival,” said Senior Medico-Legal officer Dr Qarar Ahmed.

“Both men sustained bullet wounds on the head and the injured man in his 40s is in serious condition” Qarar added. An ASWJ spokesman claimed all four victims were associated with the banned group. He added that the men were returning after attending a rally at Nagan Chowrangi. He identified one of the deceased as Maulana Usman Haidery.

A prayer leader was shot dead in Karachi’s North Nazimabad area on Friday evening, according to police

officials.

“Prayer leader identified as Shafiq Rehman, 30, was feeding pigeons in Block-H of North Nazimabad when armed pillion riders attacked him,” said Hyderi Market SHO, Zulfiqar Haider.

“The victim was a Pesh Imam (prayer leader) of a small mosque located at ground floor of multi-storey Al-Hamra apartment in North Nazimabad, however, his association with any religious party could not be ascertained immediately,” Zulfiqar added.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took serious notice of firing incidents in the city and made telephone contact with the Karachi police chief and the additional inspector general of the CTD and directed immediate action be taken.

ISLAMBAD STAFF REPORT

Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani in his ruling, with regard to a written reply, has said that no person, organisation, body, authority or government can refuse to provide information to parliament by taking refuge under any rule, regulation or law.

The government (National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Ministry of Finance) had misled parliament by merging two provisions of distinct laws to create impression which was not legally justified, he added. He asserted that this was a deliberate attempt to withhold information from parliament which amounted to a breach of privilege of the House and its members.

However, he said, keeping in view the stand taken by Law and Justice minister, NBP through Ministry of Finance must inform the House within 10 days of this ruling regarding the names and action taken against officials of the NBP and Ministry of Finance who drafted and approved the misleading answer before the parliament.

Elaborating further, Raza Rabbani said that the constitution of Pakistan placed parliament on a different pedestal from that of any organisation or body and the same could be fortified by Clause (3) of Article 66 of the Constitution. The senate chairman maintained that even otherwise, if the government was of the opinion

JI to file additional ToRs in SC ISLAMABAD INP

Jamaat e Islami (JI) has decided to file additional ToRs before the Supreme Court seeking indiscriminate accountability of all those who have got bank loans written off, whose names have appeared in the Panama leaks and people involved in corrupt practices or concealment of assets.

The decision was taken at a meeting between Ameer JI Sirajul Haq, and his counsel Muhammad Asad Manzur on Friday.

They also decided to request the court to set

up a strong, autonomous and independent judicial commission vested with full powers to take any action for the eradication of corruption, and where the common citizen could file a petition against the rulers and powerful elite. They expressed the hope that apex court would deliver a decision to cleanse the country of ill practices. Sirajul Haq said on the occasion that the JI would not take sides in the case and would raise voice at every forum against all those who had plundered public money, deprived the masses of their rights and burdened every citizen under heavy debt.

Three suspected militants affiliated with AQIS, LeJ apprehended KARACHI: As many as three suspected militants allegedly affiliated with banned terror outfits were arrested during a CounterTerrorism Department (CTD) operation on Friday from Karachi, said a statement released by the Karachi Police. The three suspected militants were arrested from Korangi, Orangi and Lyari area. They were identified as Mohammad Aziz affiliated with Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), Tauseef Zaheer affiliated with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and Abdul Hafeez affiliated with Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, added the statement.

“Arrested suspects were involved in various terror activities ranging from attack on law enforcement agencies, extortion, providing explosives and financing terrorists and their activities,” the statement said. STAFF REPORT

Two girls burnt to death in Nawabshah house fire NAWABSHAH: At least two young girls were burnt to death when a house caught fire in Goth Naseer Unar of Nawabshah on Friday. Rescue sources said the fire erupted due to unknown reasons. Two girls stated to be under ten years were trapped in the house and burnt to death before the blaze could be extinguished.

Later, the scorched bodies were pulled out and shifted to a hospital. INP

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NEWS 05 No Information can be withheld from parliament: Rabbani that providing names of persons who had obtained loans would be against the public interest, the only available remedy was to make recourse to the provisions of Senate Rules, 2012, for making request to the chairman senate in this regard, which request was not made in the instant case.

Giving background of the ruling, the chairman senate said that responding on a question of Senator Ch Tanvir Khan seeking information regarding the names of persons/ companies who had obtained loans of Rs 5 million or more from the NBP during the last five years and the number of cases in which the said loans had been repaid were being repaid and those which had been waived off. The NBP took a position that no bank or financial institution would divulge any information relating to the affairs of its customers and secrecy of bonafide banking transactions shall be strictly observed.

However, aggregate loan amount of Rs 5 million and above disbursed by NBP during last five years (i.e. July 2011 to June, 2016) was amounting to Rs360 billion. Out of total amount disbursed during the period, the loan of Rs271 billion was outstanding comprising regular loan of Rs216 billion and

Non Performing Loans (NPLs) of Rs. 55 billion. The reply of the Bank was endorsed by the minister in-charge during a supplementary question. However, in a motion made

by Senator Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini which was supported by Senators Saeed ul Hassan Mandokhel, Numan Wazir Khattak, Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, Salem Mandiviwala, Taj Haider and Moulana Hafiz Hamdullah reiterated that no information could be withheld from parliament.

Leader of the opposition, Atizaz Ahsan endorsed the point of view of the senators.

However, the Minister for Law and Justice Mr Zahid Hamid contesting the point of view of the senators and Aitzaz Ahsan had stick to the stance adopted by the NBP through Ministry of Finance. After due deliberation and analysis of the legal and factual position based on the relevant rules, judgments of the Supreme Court, High Court, the above ruling had been given with the direction to the Senate Secretariat to send the copies of the same to the minister for finance, revenue, economic affairs, statistics and privatisation, Law and Justice minister and the minister for parliamentary affairs for ensuring strict compliance.

06 LAHORE

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

WEATHER UPDATES

SATURDAY

280C 160C

SUNDAY

270C

160C

MONDAY

280C 140C

TUESDAY

280C 140C

CM presides over Meeting of Cabinet sub-CoMMittee on law and order LAHORE

p

STAFF REPORT

UNJAB Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting of Cabinet sub-committee on law and order on Friday which reviewed in detail the steps being taken for the overall law and order situation. The chief minister lauded cabinet sub-committee, police and administration on ensuring law and order atmosphere during Muharram-ul-Haram and the processions in the last month. He said that the state institutions also performed their duties efficiently during protests in previous days and did not allow anyone to create hurdle in the daily routine of the people.

He said due to their hard work, no unpleasant incident occurred during Muharram-ul-Haram and their role is appreciable on performing their duty of protection of life and property of the people efficiently. Shehbaz Sharif said that protection of life and property of the people was basic responsibility of state and no effort should be spared in ensuring the supremacy of law and justice.

He directed indiscriminate action against those who take law in their hands and said that no one would be allowed to take law in ones hand.

He said that encouragement of employees and the institutions had resulted in improvement of the performance of the departments.

Provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah, Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Rana Mashhood, Malik Nadeem Kamran, Bilal Yasin, MNA Hamza Shehbaz, Punjab government’s spokesman Zaeem Hussain

Qadri, Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmed, IG police, secretaries of concerned departments, police officials and senior officers of law enforcement agencies attended the meeting, while divisional commissioners, RPOs, DCOs and DPOs participated in the meeting through video link from their respective districts.

LORD NAZIR MEETS SHEHBAZ SHARIF: Member of British House of Lords, Lord Nazir Ahmad met Shehbaz Sharif on Friday. Lord Nazir appreciated the performance of chief minister on speedy completion of development projects and implementation of revolutionary programme of public welfare.

He said that the Chief Minister had set new records of public service and credit of completion of public welfare projects with transparency goes to the dynamic leadership of Shehbaz Sharif.

He said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government had set up a new example by saving billions of rupees in development projects.

He said that problems of overseas Pakistanis were being resolved with the setting-up of Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that journey of service, honesty and transparency was continuing speedily under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

He said tremendous work had been carried out for resolving the problems of the people during the last three and a half years and Pakistan had been making rapid progress.

He said that Overseas Pakistanis Commission was rendering invaluable services for resolving problems of Pakistanis living abroad, and the problems of overseas Pakistanis had been resolved on priority basis.

LAHORE: CPO distributing masks to motorcyclists for protection from smog. INP

Bab-e-Pakistan construction: LHC issues notice to Punjab Govt LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The Lahore High Court on Friday issued notices to the Punjab Government regarding change in master plan of under construction Bab-e-Pakistan monument. Punjab opposition leader Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed filed petition through his counsel advocate Sheraz Zaka challenging the construction work at Bab-ePakistan historical monument.

Sheraz argued that the construction of the historical monument had been completed by sixty percent but the Punjab government

had decided to change the master plan by allowing constructing cinemas and plazas within two hundred feet of the monument in violation of the Antiquities Act 1975. He submitted government was wasting the taxpayer’s money as it had decided to demolish the Bab-e-Pakistan after changing master plan. Zaka argued that the tax-money was being wasted and fundamental rights were at stake. Court issued notices to chief secretary and asked that how the master plan could be altered when already sixty percent of the project had been completed. Court adjourned the further hearing till Nov 16.

PPDWP approved two development schemes LAHORE INP

The Punjab Provincial Development Working Party (PPDWP) approved two development schemes with an estimated cost of Rs 405.491 million. The schemes were approved in the 27th meeting of PDWP of current fiscal year 2016-17 presided over by chairman P&D Board Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan. Secretary Planning and Development (P&D) Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, all members of the P&D board, provincial secretaries and other senior representatives of the relevant provincial departments also attended the meeting. According to Spokesman for P&D, the approved development schemes included Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project (from Ali Town to Dera Gujran and Bridge Finance Facility to Civil Contractors of LDA from the Bank of Punjab) at the cost of Rs. 391.516 million. Another included hiring of transaction advisory services for construction of the Parking Plazacum-shopping mall at old Municipal Corporation, Faisalabad and construction of the Parking Plaza cum Shopping Mall at Zail Ghar Katchery Bazar, Faisalabad (PC-II) on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis at the cost of Rs 13.975 million.

Ajoke theatre festival concludes LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Ajoka theatre’s second annual “Empower Youth Theatre Festival” ended after mesmerizing audiences for four days at Bukhari Auditorium of Government College University (GCU) Lahore. GCU’s vice chancellor distributed certificates and cash prizes among participant teams.

Earlier, Ajoka theatre’s team presented last performance of the festival Lo phir Basant ayee. A colourful play based on the joyful festival of Basant and a celebration of rich and vibrant culture of Lahore that had been distorted by creeping extremism. Written by Shahid Nadeem and directed by Madeeha Gohar, the play reflected the story of Ustaad Maaju - an expert kite-maker who had been rendered jobless due to ban on kite flying and Basant festival. Humour, satire and depiction of folk songs proved highlight of the story. Four day theatre extravaganza was held by Ajoka’s collaboration with GCU and it provided an opportunity for youth to present their enriched talent and commitment to arts. All teams highlighted the message of social justice, tolerance, equality, peace and respect for all religions. Performers received praise and encouragement from young appreciative crowds throughout the festival. It also provided an opportunity for audiences to look and think beyond the taboos.

CMYK

LAHORE 07

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

4 VACCINES TO BE INTRODUCED UNDER EPI: SALMAN RAFIQUE LAHORE

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APP

HIEF Minister’s advisor on Health, Khawaja Salman Rafique on Friday directed the provincial authorities to introduce four vaccines under the Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) in next five years. Chairing a Provincial EPI Steering Committee meeting in the Primary and Secondary

Healthcare Department at Birdwood Road, he said all out efforts would be made to reduce child mortality.

Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan Khan, National Immunization Technical Advisory Group’s Chairman Tariq Iqbal Bhutta, DG Health Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed, Director EPI/EOC Coordinator Munir Ahmed, Children Hospital’s MD Professor Ahsan Waheed Rathore, Professor Akmal Laeeq from KEMU, Dr

Zahida Sarwar of Pakistan Paediatrics Association and technical officials of UNICEF, WHO and Gates Foundation also attended the meeting. The EPI Steering Committee was the apex technical body guiding the provincial EPI on technical and strategic decisions.

Salman Rafique asked the EPI program officials to complete their homework for the introduction of the following: Rubella, Hepatitis B birth dose, Diphtheria booster dose and DT

Woman’s eyes gouged out, limbs cut off by brothers in Muzaffargarh MuLtAn AgENcIES

A woman’s eyes were gouged out and her limb cut off by her brothers in Muzaffargarh after they suspected her of kidnapping one of their daughters.

The incident took place on Tuesday in Muzaffargarh, 400 km from Lahore, when the two suspects abducted their sister and gouged out her eyes with a sharp knife and also cut off her feet, police said.

One of the suspects, identified as Muhammad Afzal, had suspected that his sister – Shareefan Bibi, 40 and mother of five – was involved in the abduction of his daughter Asia. Police said one of the brothers had earlier registered an FIR against the woman, who is in her 40s, for allegedly

kidnapping his daughter.

Meanwhile, the daughter of the victim, Nusrat, told a local newspaper that her uncle along with one of his brother committed the heinous crime to take revenge on her mother for the disappearance of his daughter.

She said her uncles wanted to kill her mother.

The woman has been shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan where her condition is said to be critical.

Police said a case has been registered against the accused but no arrests have been made so far.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while taking notice of this heinous crime, ordered a swift inquiry and gave a 48 hours deadline to the authorities to apprehend the culprits.

Beaconhouse presents ‘A World of Tomorrow’ LAHORE PRESS RELEASE

The Beaconhouse Group has organised the latest in a series of A School of Tomorrow (SOT) conferences, A World of Tomorrow: Seeking Inspiration and Equilibrium in a New Age. This three-day event will bring together members of the public with leaders and experts from Pakistan and around the globe to discuss emerging issues and share their vision for a brighter future.

The event took off on November 4, 2016 at Royal Palm Golf & Country Club with the

opening ceremony. Beaconhouse Chairperson Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri gave a welcome speech in which she mentioned that Beaconhouse had adopted fifty public sector schools in Punjab to assist the Government in raising the standard of education in the province. She expressed her vision to extend this initiative to other provinces of Pakistan.

Chief Guest Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana lauded the efforts and emphasized the importance of taking a proactive role in the improvement of education. Beaconhouse Chief Executive Kasim Kasuri presented the Punjab governor with a token of appreciation.

Three victims of Landhi train crash laid to rest in Pakpattan

Four terrorists held with explosives, detonators in City

PAKPATTAN: Three victims of Karachi train accident were laid to rest on Friday amid tears and cries. A large number of people attended the funeral prayers. According to details, bodies of three people including Mudassar, Mubeen and Rasheeda Bibi who died in Karachi train mishap were transported to the ancestral village. A large number of people including the family members, relatives and dwellers of respective villages attended the funeral prayers of the deceased offered at their home towns. INP

LAHORE:The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested four terrorists besides recovering explosive material, detonators and devices from their possession on Friday evening. The CTD sources said that on an intelligence tipoff, a team of the department conducted operation at Malakand bus terminal, in which four terrorists identified as Athar, Siddique, Habibur Rehman and Aneesur-Rehman were arrested. The CTD also recovered explosives, detonators and devices used in bomb making and other terror activities from the possession of the nabbed terrorists who were shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation. INP

133 criminals arrested during last month LAHORE: The Lahore police operations wing arrested 133 members of 53 criminal gangs and recovered booty worth Rs 10million from them during October, 2016.

Police sources said the police found criminal record of 113 accused, while 105 proclaimed offenders and 679 court absconders had also been arrested in the same period.

About 290 cases were registered against 290 accused for having illicit weapons and police recovered two Kalashnikovs, eight rifles, 18 guns, 230 revolvers and pistols, and other weapons from their possession.

In an offensive against drug-dealers, 528 cases were registered and 533 culprits were arrested and 8.244 kilograms of heroin, 234.240-kilogram hashish, 1.215-kilogram opium and 3,175 bottles of liquor were recovered from them. APP

Two die after truck overturns in Vehari VEHARI INP

At least two people died when a truck carrying cotton bales overturned on Friday. Police said that cotton bales laden truck turned turtle due to over speeding at Mirtro-Karampur road in Vehari.

Two including driver of the truck and the cleaner died on the spot.

The bodies of deceased were shifted to hospital for medico-legal formalities where they were handed over to heirs after post-mortem.

vaccines. Khawaja Salman also sought technical update on introduction of Cervical Cancer and asked to prepare detailed report on it. The meeting reviewed the Diphtheria situation in Punjab and its preventive and curative measures.

EPI Director Dr Munir Ahmed presented a detailed analysis of Diphtheria situation in Punjab, pattern of cases in the country, as well as, the status of vaccination in the union councils which reported diphtheria cases in district Kasur.

Illegal slaughterhouse unearthed MULTAN: The district task force for food Friday claimed to unearth an illegal abattoir in walled city area and seized 100 maund of meat. Assistant Commissioner Khalid Gillani and Human Resources Management’s District Officer Farooq Dogar raided at Dehli Gate, Haram Gate and other areas and detected an illegal slaughterhouse. The team has got arrested a butcher. APP

08 FOREIGN NEWS

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

Eight killEd, ovEr 100 woundEd by Pkk bombing in turkEy

ANKARA

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AGENCIES

IYARBAKIR: Eight people were killed, including two police, and over 100 wounded in a car bombing by Kurdish militants in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Friday, updating an earlier toll. The blast, which Yildirim said was carried out by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), targeted a police headquarters hours after top Kurdish politicians were detained in an unprecedented police crackdown.

The local governor’s office said in a statement that the cause of the blast “seems to be a car bomb used by members of the separatist terrorist organisation”, a reference to the outlawed PKK.

Two local residents told AFP they had seen a minibus explode outside the police building in the Baglar district.

The explosion occurred just hours after police detained the two co-leaders of the country’s main pro-Kurdish party and several other MPs in a major escalation of a broader crackdown against leading Kurds.

An AFP reporter said that several ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the blast, which heavily damaged several residential buildings.

The explosion could be heard several kilometres (miles) away and a thick column of white smoke was seen rising from the site of the explosion.

Gunshots were heard after the blast.

Earlier Friday, police detained Selahattin Demirtas of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) at his home in Diyarbakir while his co-chairperson Figen Yuksekdag

was held in Ankara as part of a terror investigation, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. Their detention appeared part of a large-scale operation against the HDP, which is the third largest party in the Turkish parliament with 59 seats and the main political representative of the Kurdish minority. NTV television said the pair were accused of spreading propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) while Anadolu said Demirtas was accused of provoking violence in deadly protests in October 2014. The raids come as Turkey remains under a state of emergency imposed in the wake of the July 15 failed coup, which critics say has gone well beyond targeting the actual coup plotters.

Thirteen staff from the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper, including the editor-in-chief, were detained on Monday, further heightening strains in Turkish society.

Tensions have surged in the Kurdish-dominated southeast since a fragile ceasefire declared by the PKK collapsed in 2015.

It has since stepped up its insurgency against the Turkish security forces, staging regular attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives among the military and the police.

The HDP seeks to promote the cause of Turkey’s Kurdish minority and defend the rights of Kurds as well as those of women, gays and workers.

But the authorities accuse the party of being a front for the PKK and failing to distance itself from terror, claims it has always vehemently denied.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched repeated personal attacks on Demirtas, who analysts have seen as the sole politician in Turkey who comes anywhere near to rivalling his charisma.

Women in Afghan army overcome opposition, threats KABUL AGENCIES

Kabul’s military training academy is churning out classes of enthusiastic women to serve in Afghanistan’s army, but the realities of rising violence and a conservative society make the future for the young recruits far from certain.

Some of the nearly 150 women training to be officers in the latest class say they feel proud to be part of the effort to secure the country, still racked by an insurgency by the Taliban and other militants to topple the Western-backed government. “I decided to join the army to save the lives of my people and to defend ourselves,” said Sakina Jafari, 21, adding that she believed her service set an example.

“This encourages other girls to join the army’s ranks.” Afghanistan is one of the hardest places in the world to be a woman, according to the United Nations, despite years of pressure by women’s groups and international donors.

Women and men train separately at the base on the outskirts of the capital, but officers say the training is similar, and includes physical education, firearms, tactics and medical care.

Unlike many Afghans, all the women who graduate from the academy are literate and will go into one of several non-combat roles, including management, human resources, logistics, radio operations, or intelligence, said Lieutenant Colonel Cobra Tanha, a 28year military veteran.

Some, however, may go on to assist Afghan special forces with missions like night raids, which often require women to help with culturally sensitive searches

China's 'monkey king' picks Trump as next US president SHANGHAI: A Chinese monkey described as the “king of prophets” has tipped Donald Trump for the US presidency, a tourism park said, after the creature successfully predicted the winner of football’s European Championship final earlier this year. Known as Geda — which means knots or goose bumps — the prophetic primate is the latest in a series of purportedly psychic animals that have popped up around the world since Paul the Octopus correctly predicted multiple 2010 World Cup matches. The simian seer, wearing a yellow shirt emblazoned with his title, was given a chance to pick between bananas placed beside life-sized cut-outs of Republican Trump and his Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton. After “deliberate thought” the mystic monkey chose Trump, Shiyanhu Ecological Tourism Park said Thursday in a statement on its website. Without even waiting, he congratulated the cardboard candidate with a kiss on the lips. The five-year-old simian correctly predicted Portugal would win the 2016 European football championship in July, two days before Cristiano Ronaldo’s side prevailed 1-0, online news portal ifeng.com reported at the time. Then, the monkey was presented with the national flags of Portugal and France with bananas on both. It finally walked towards the national flag of Portugal and ate a banana there, the report said. Geda’s antics seem to have been inspired by the oracular octopus Paul. In 2010, Paul the Octopus became the world’s most famous mollusc when he foretold the results of every match played by Germany at the World Cup in South Africa, as well as Spain’s victory against the Netherlands in the final. AGENCIES

Blast kills 11 on way to Afghan wedding A roadside bomb killed 11 people on their way to a wedding in the northern Afghan province of Faryab, government officials said on Friday, as civilian casualties rise in the war-torn country. “Eleven civilians were killed and 12 others wounded when they struck a roadside bomb in Kosa Qala village in Faryab province,” provincial spokesman Ahmad Jawed Bedar told AFP, adding that the victims were heading to a wedding. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the Faryab blast, which also killed women and children, but officials blamed Taliban militants. The blast occurred on Thursday just as 30 Afghan civilians were killed in Nato air strikes in the neighbouring province of Kunduz, a hotbed of Taliban insurgency. Roadside bombs are the favourite weapon of the militant groups fighting to oust the Western-backed Kabul government. Insurgents frequently target Afghan police and military, but the surge in attacks has also taken a heavy toll on civilians. The UN recently cited a 42 per cent rise in casualties caused by progovernment forces this year compared to 2015. AGENCIES

TUNISIAN MINISTER SACKED AFTER SAUDI REMARKS of homes, she said. The United States, which has about 7,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of a NATO-led mission to help advise and train Afghan forces, has budgeted at least $93.5 million in 2016 to try to increase the number of women in the military.

Despite years of investment, the Afghan army fields less than 900 women soldiers, far fewer than the goal of 5,000, according to the U.S. government’s Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).

Hasina Hakimi, 19, said she could not return to her home province because of Taliban threats, and many women report facing challenges within the army itself.

Women working in public positions are controversial in Afghanistan. Last

year, nearly 60 percent of Afghans surveyed by the Asia Foundation said they did not consider it acceptable for women to work in the army or police.

Even after joining, women may find obstacles to jobs and being promoted in the military, SIGAR reported.

NATO trainers found that common reasons women cited for leaving the security forces were “opposition from male relatives, problems with male colleagues, low pay, family obligations, lack of promotion or meaningful assignment opportunities, and a lack of training and security”, according to SIGAR. Those difficulties were confirmed

by Benafsha Sarwari, a 20-year-old teacher at the Kabul academy, who nevertheless expressed determination to keep serving.

TUNIS AGEN C IE S

Tunisia’s religious affairs minister was fired on Friday for “attacking the foundations of diplomacy” after he publicly suggested the conservative form of Islam practised in Saudi Arabia had links to extremism.

A government statement said Prime Minister Youssef Chahed had relieved Abdeljalil Ben Salem of his duties due to his “attack” on Tunisia’s diplomatic principles.

On Thursday Ben Salem confirmed during a parliament session that he had “dared” to question Riyadh’s ambassador to Tunis, as well as the secretary general of Arab interior ministers — a Saudi national — about Saudi Wahhabism

being a “vehicle for terrorism”.

“I say to Saudis… reform your school because terrorism has historically come from it. I say this to you with love and modesty,” the minister said, according to the private Mosaique FM radio station.

Wahhabism, the fundamentalist school of Islam practised in Saudi Arabia, has been accused of inspiring extremist ideologies in the region.

Ben Salem tried to row back from his comments, issuing a statement saying that Tunisia’s relations with the kingdom were “completely harmonious”.

Tunisia has witnessed a series of extremist attacks since the popular uprising of 2011, including deadly attacks on foreign tourists in 2015.

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

russia-announcEd cEasEfirE to start in syria’s alEPPo BEIRUT

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AGENCIES

Russia-declared unilateral ceasefire is to take hold in Syria’s Aleppo Friday even as rebels stepped up a week-old assault to break a government siege of the city’s eastern districts.

Regime ally Russia, which announced the 10-hour “humanitarian pause” on Wednesday, said it would start at 0700 GMT. The pause is the second declared by Moscow in less than a month after a three-day ceasefire in late October failed to encourage civilians and rebels to leave rebel-held east Aleppo.

The October 20 pause followed a month-long Russia-backed army offensive to recapture the whole city that killed hundreds of civilians and hit health facilities, sparking international condemnation.

Once Syria’s economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been divided since mid-2012 between regime control in the west and rebels in the east. The chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov said Friday’s pause was meant to “prevent

Pro-Trump ad attacks Clinton aide Huma Abedin’s ‘Pakistani origin’ NEWS DESK An ad released on Monday from a proTrump group and produced by the Republican Hindu Coalition attacked Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin for her Pakistani heritage.

The video, aimed at convincing Indians to vote for Trump, begins with a narrator attacking Hillary Clinton for being “sympathetic towards Pakistan,” giving “billions of dollars in aid and military equipment against India”.

The ad also warns, “Her current aide Huma Abedin is of Pakistani origin and will become chief of staff if she wins.” Abedin’s mother is Pakistani. There has been no word beyond speculation that Abedin would be chief of staff in a Clinton administration. According to the New York Post, the ad will air on more than a dozen TV stations in the US, including several catered to Indian viewers.

The TV spot was the second pro-Trump advertisement targeting Indian-Americans. The first, also created by Republican Hindu Coalition founder Shalabh Kumar, showed Trump speaking Hindi and expressing solidarity with India. The group was also sending 60,000 advertisements by mail to voters in three key swing states — Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina, the Post reported. The ads reportedly stated: “Chief of Staff in Clinton White House will be Huma Abedin, of Pakistani and Saudi background,” an apparent reference to Abedin who was born in Michigan but has spent much of her childhood in Saudi Arabia. New emails the FBI is examining related to Clinton’s use of a private computer server were discovered after the agency seized electronic devices belonging to Clinton aide Huma Abedin and her husband, Anthony Weiner, the New York Times reported.

senseless casualties” by allowing civilians and combatants out of east Aleppo. But the United Nations has warned that “humanitarian operations cannot be contingent on political or military initiatives”.

Only a handful of people left

east Aleppo during the October ceasefire, with Russia accusing rebels of preventing people from leaving and a UN plan to evacuate wounded people shelved over security concerns. Rebels have been battling for nearly a week in a desperate bid to break the threemonth siege but have so far been unable to push through government lines in western Aleppo.

The opposition forces on Thursday announced a new phase in their assault on government forces in the city’s western outskirts.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said the “most intense fighting” was on the edges of the Halab al-Jadida neighbourhood.

State media said at least 12 people were killed in rebel rocket and gunfire on Aleppo’s western neighbourhoods.

Two US trainers shot dead at Jordan airbase AMMAN AGENCIES

Two US trainers were killed and a third American wounded in an exchange of fire on Friday at a Jordanian air force base, the Jordanian army said.

The shooting took place at the gate of the al Jafr base when the car carrying the US trainers failed to stop, the army said, adding that a Jordanian officer was also wounded.

“An exchange of fire occurred Friday morning at the gate of the Prince Feisal Air Base in al Jafr when a car

carrying trainers attempted to enter the gate without heeding the guards’ orders to stop,” a statement said quoting a military source.

The army said the wounded were evacuated to hospital and that an investigation was under way to determine the causes of the shooting.

Jordan, a key US ally in the Middle East, is a member of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.

US forces have trained a small group of vetted Syrian

rebels in Jordan, and American instructors have trained Iraqi and Palestinian security forces in Jordan as well over the past few years. Friday’s incident comes almost a year after a Jordanian policeman shot dead two US instructors, a South African and two Jordanians at a police training centre east of Amman, before being gunned down.

Washington said at the time that the two Americans killed in the November 9, 2015 shooting were employees of the private firm DynCorp contracted by the State Department to train Palestinian forces.

Clinton plots final push as race tightens Hillary Clinton saturated the airwaves and deployed star surrogates to battleground states Thursday, looking to snuff-out an eleventh-hour insurgency that has put Donald Trump at the gates of the White House. As a slew of polls showed the race tightening, President Barack Obama shuttled into Florida for multiple rallies aimed at firing up the Democratic base and turning out the vote for Clinton in a must-win state. A CBS/New York Times nationwide survey showed Clinton's lead at 45 percent against Trump's 42 percent, a sign the bombastic mogul is winning over oncewary Republican voters. After months of vitriolic and turbulent campaigning, political tribalism appears to be returning to the fore in the deeply divided nation ahead of Election Day on November 8. AGENCIES

FOREIGN NEWS 09

US authorities warn of al Qaeda threat to election Federal officials have warned authorities in New York City, Texas and Virginia about an unspecific threat of attacks by the al Qaeda militant group around Election Day, putting local law enforcement on alert the weekend before Tuesday's vote, officials said on Friday. A U.S. government source in Washington said some federal agencies sent bulletins to local and state officials flagging the information but that the threat was relatively low-level. A U.S. official familiar with the threat information said that it was "uncorroborated," but that federal agencies believed that they needed nonetheless to remain vigilant. The New York City Police Department and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey were alerted to the information, the local agencies said. The Port Authority, which operates airports, tunnels and bridges around New York City, is continuing high levels of patrol it has had in place, said spokesman Steve Coleman. He declined to offer details on the warning, but the police department said the threat report lacked specifics and was still being assessed. "We are aware of the information," the department said in a statement, adding that it was working with intelligence agencies and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Although some of the attention of U.S. authorities has shifted to Islamic State-inspired attacks, the al Qaeda network has shown resilience more than 15 years after it was responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon. Last month, the United States carried out strikes in Afghanistan targeting two of al Qaeda's senior leaders in the country, and al Qaeda's Yemen branch has posed a risk to merchant ships in waterways nearby.

"We still view al-Qa'ida and the various al-Qa'ida affiliates and nodes as a principal counterterrorism priority," Nicholas Rasmussen, director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, told the Senate's homeland security committee in September, using an alternative spelling for the group. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said his office was monitoring the situation. "Texans should go about their daily lives as usual, but remain vigilant over the next several days and report any suspicious activity," Abbott, a Republican, said in a statement. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, is constantly monitoring state's security, spokesman Brian Coy said. "We are doing everything we can to keep Virginians safe, and we're confident they are going to be able to vote safely on Election Day," Coy said in a phone interview. The task force issued a notice identifying the three states as possible targets of an al Qaeda plot, a New York law enforcement official said on condition of anonymity. The official said the type of threat was common but authorities were giving it more attention because of Election Day. Authorities were assessing whether there was a plot and whether the states named were real targets or misdirection. "Another possibility is that this is just an attempt to inspire someone here to mount an attack," the official said. AGENCIES

Turkey PoliCe deTAin Co-leAders of mAin Pro-kurdisH PArTy ISTANBUL AGENCIES

Turkish police on Friday detained the two co-leaders of the country’s main pro-Kurdish party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), as part of a major crackdown against the group.

Selahattin Demirtas was detained at his home in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir while the co-chairperson Figen Yuksekdag was detained in Ankara within the framework of a terror investigation, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.

Their detention appeared part of a large-scale operation against the HDP, which is the third largest party in the Turkish parliament.

Anadolu did not give further details on the investigation but NTV television

CMYK

said the pair were accused of spreading propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

According to the Hurriyet daily, several other HDP MPs were also being detained including the prominent lawmaker Sirri Surreya Onder.

It listed the names of half a dozen other HDP lawmakers who had been detained so far in the operation.

Their detention followed a previous resolution by parliament allowing the immunity of MPs to be lifted.

The detentions come as Turkey remains under a state of emergency imposed in the wake of the July 15 failed coup, which critics say has gone well beyond targeting the actual coup plotters.

Tensions have surged in the Kurdish-dominated southeast of Turkey

since a fragile ceasefire declared by the PKK collapsed in 2015.

It has since stepped up its insurgency against the Turkish security forces, staging regular attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives among the military and the police.

The HDP seeks to promote the cause of Turkey’s Kurdish minority and defend the rights of Kurds as well as those of women, gays and workers.

The charisma in particular of Demirtas — dubbed the “Kurdish Obama” by some admirers after the US president — earned it success at the ballot box.

It also divides all its top jobs between a man and a woman, as with the party chairmanship, which is shared between Demirtas and Yuksekdag.

10 COMMENT

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

Side effects may include: growing pains An uphill task for Bilawal

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NCE a countrywide force with a liberal orientation, the PPP has now been reduced to a party of the rural Sindh. Among the factors that have contributed to its downward slide is the party’s misgovernance during 2008-13 in Pakistan, and in Sindh from 2008 till the appointment of the present Chief Minister. The mission undertaken by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of putting life into the party and turning it into a serious contender for power is thus an uphill task.

As it holds power in Sindh and retains public support in its rural part, the PPP can organise a big rally anywhere in the province. The fairly large public gathering in Kamoon Shaheed town addressed by Bilawal is a good beginning but would be of little help in neighbouring Punjab where it must gather support if it wants to to form a government at the center. In the last general elections PPP could only win two NA seats from the province. what is more during the last three years there have been large scale defections from the PPP to PTI with the party leadership witnessing the decline apathetically.

Bilawal dissolved the PPP structures at the provincial and district level all over the country early this year. As new office bearers are yet to be appointed the PPP remains lifeless in Punjab. The party leadership has done little other than holding a public meeting in Jamaldin wali addressed by Bilawal.

Bilawal has problems about personal security which put limits on his movements. Unlike his mother who rarely talked about personal losses Bilwal constantly refers to the heritage of martyrs which indicates personal inadequacies. BB possessed high intellectual caliber and soon got rid of the party’s meddlesome old timers.

Bilawal has to depend on their counsel all the time. He might have developed some understanding about Sindh but is apparently unaware of the complications in Punjab, KP and Balochistan. with these serious handicaps it remains to be seen how PPP chairperson manages to expand the PPP outside Sindh.

Army Matters

Legal Perspective Gadani Incident and role of Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency

MuhaMMad Majid Bashir

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HE tragic Gadani Ship yard was converted into a graveyard when around eight explosions occurred in the oil tankers due to gas welding work in ship breaking yard at Gadani town .This blast ignited various questions regarding the the fatalities that occurred on Tuesday morning. At least 20 workers lost their lives with 60 suffering from serious injuries, authorities fear the death of more. Rescue workers struggled to put out the fire with only one fire engine present with not enough foam to douse it. Some of the bodies of workers were recovered from the water, when they jumped from the ship to save their lives and some quite far from the vessel near the village.

The dead bodies of ship workers were said to be in poor conditions without any protective gear.

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wo important matters related to the army are currently on the PM’s table. one, the investigation into the source of a story published in a local English daily about a civ-mil spat during a high level security meeting last month. Second, the selection of the next chief of army staff (CoAS) after Raheel Sharif’s three year term ends on the 28th of this month.

As far as the investigation is concerned, the army is not satisfied with the government’s offering of a sacrificial goat in the form of information minister Pervaiz Rashid who has been suspended until the investigation is complete on the grounds that he did not do enough to stop the story from being published.

Chaudhry Nisar after having vowed to unveil the culprits very soon has so far been unable to produce any such person(s) in the 29 days since the story first appeared. That he has submitted an application for medical leave to the PM means that the investigation will be further delayed and the army further annoyed.

Apart from few news items that list names of the next possible CoAS – something that can be found with a simple wikipedia search – there is no concrete suggestion as to who the next top general will be. After having announced rather prematurely earlier this year that he will not take any extension, Raheel Sharif should have known whom he would be handing over the mantle two months ago. Nawaz Sharif has made this decision four times before this so it is not rocket science to him.

The probe has to be concluded in a timely fashion, as it was a breach of security. The next chief has some big shoes to fill and he will literally have no time to catch up as we are in an active state of war. with pressures from the opposition, protests on the street regarding corruption allegations, which the judiciary has now taken up, economic woes and the massive undertaking of CPEC, it does not suit the government to drag its feet on issues related to the army.

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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thority to deal with it.

Moreover, the conditions of the shipyard were not reported to the Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency so that it could have taken appropriate steps to improve the quality standards required by law. BEPA who is responsible to measure and monitor industrial areas and implement environmental laws, regulations and National Environmental Quality Standards also failed to notice the hazardous working environment by conducting surveys, inspection, and examinations prescribed by the Balochistan Environmental Protection Act 2012. Government of Balochistan has to immediately put a ban on this ship breaking industry at Gadani and specify safeguards for the prevention of similar accidents and disasters in the future. The horrid incident we just witnessed portrays a failure of collaboration with the shipyard owners to prepare contingency plans necessary control such catastrophes.

The government should constitute a commission for implementation and enforcement of BEPA and review the existing legislations of Province of Baluchistan in the light of ILo guide lines, Basel Convention, Hong Kong convention, EU Directives and allied related International Conventions for workers safety, health, Environment and dismantling of ships.

Muhammad Majid Bashir is an Advocate Supreme Court, Senior Associate ABS & CO, former Additional District and Session Judge and Founding President of Centre for Rule of Law Islamabad-CROLI and can be contacted at: judgemajid@hotmail.com

Currency devaluation Is it Pakistan’s turn?

Unnecessary delays

The prevailing situation shows a picture worth condemnation.

Despite various accidents in the past no measures for provision of health and safety related arrangements had been made by the government of Balochistan. Many NGo’s had filed complaints with Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency (BEPA) against ship breaking industries but BEPA did not take any action against the owners of these ship breaking yards.

The situation and its aftermath raise a mere question of accountability of Director GeneralBEPA, Senior officials of Labour Directorate.

As evident, there is clearly no compliance with the Standards of the International Labour organisation-ILo, EU directives on ship breaking industries, Domestic health, Safety and Labour laws and Balochistan Environment Protection Act 2012. Currently there is no water, electricity, bath rooms and no place to live for the laborers in Gadanil. These poor working conditions at Gadani shipyard are not only dangerous for the workers but have also placed Pakistan in the list of non-complying countries violating international conventions and treaties relating to safety of and health of workers. These scales are are the modern day standards that judge the standing and credibility of a country.

As per the Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents Convention, 1993 (No. 174) measures should have been taken to prevent major accidents; minimize the risks of major accidents; and minimise the effects of major accidents. The employers at the ship breaking yard should have identified the hazards the workers claimed were present and should have notified a competent au-

aBdullah huMayun

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AKISTAN’S economy has been losing out to nimbler rivals in the export game. Citing a loss of competitiveness caused by increased costs of doing business in the country, manufacturers have seen their export market share hacked away by regional competitors. The Textile industry in particular has been badly hit. The industry is in a state of near constant panic, undergoing a slow, painful decline in exports, watching their business gradually trickling away.

Policy making in Pakistan is akin to handling wafer thin glass with a pair of tongs. It requires great skill and luck to get the job done.

Few variables are within the Government’s control, those that are need to be tweaked with utmost care. Anything too drastic is liable to bring down the house.

The global economic slowdown has added a dimension of increased market competitiveness, especially among relatively low-tech, mass market products such as textiles. Europe’s economic malaise, now bordering on chronic, sub-par economic growth, has not helped either. As an important export destination for developing countries, the loss of a growing European market has only intensified competition amongst developing countries in the low-tech sectors. Pakistan’s inability to compete, whether through years of underinvestment in infrastructure, machinery or due to the rising cost of doing business coupled with energy shortages, has resulted in the country being elbowed out by the competition.

In such a situation, two options present themselves. option number one is a long-term, meandering shuffle towards increasing produc-

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tivity through less arbitrary regulation by the government, ensured energy supplies and efforts by the private sector to increase its focus on research and development. The idea is to produce more with each unit of input, thereby lowering per unit cost.

The other route is a short term, steroidal boost to the economy through devaluing the Rupee to bolster competitiveness. This entails devaluing the Rupee to make Pakistani exports cheaper for foreign buyers, thereby re-establishing the country’s price competitiveness in the international market. The use of devaluation is a popular measure among developing countries looking to boost exports in the near term. China has been devaluing the Yuan to get rid of production overcapacity and to avoid a deflationary spiral. After reaching the limits of a debt-fuelled spate of economic growth, the Chinese are looking to maintain their growth trajectory through an increase in exports. The Egyptians have also recently devalued the Egyptian Pound recently to improve flagging growth and ease an impending balance of payments crisis.

The mechanism behind a devaluation led export growth is fairly simple. Exporters are allowed that extra breathing space in negotiations since their prices are likely to be fixed in local currency terms, a devaluation has the effect of lowering prices of local goods in the foreign currency, making export prices more favourable for the foreign buyer.

A devaluation is not without consequences through. Export rivals such as Bangladesh might be tempted to trigger their own round of currency devaluations. Through to be fair, a devaluation of the Rupee is not exactly headline material and hence unlikely to trigger reprisals from regional competitors. The advantages of a devaluation would only hold in cases where regional rivals keep their own currencies’ values constant, allowing the Rupee to get away with a relative price advantage in the international market.

A currency that has been allowed to devalue is likely to transfer inflationary pressures on to the host economy, as the local currency price of imported goods goes up. The stability of prices in Pakistan is a relatively recent phenomenon.

During the 2008 democracy-dictatorship transition inflation topped 20% per year. For a country with large sections of society vulnerable to changes in the price of goods, significant fluctuations in the price level need to be afforded great importance. Plus, given Pakistan’s dependence on imports for a majority of its energy needs means any devaluation is likely to result in in-

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creased energy prices being passed on to consumers, as has been the case historically.

There seems to be a general fatigue amongst Pakistanis regarding the inflationary squeeze over the past years. Competitiveness or not, the public is unlikely to take kindly to any inflationary surprises.

Considerations are also due to Pakistan’s alleged game changer project, CPEC. For local partners importing equipment, a devaluation would eat away at profits, unless the company has arrangements whereby it is protected against currency movements. For Chinese companies operating in Pakistan, being paid in Chinese Yuan, a devaluation will not impact profits but for those being paid in Rupees, profitability will suffer.

Followers of the Chicago school would be dead against any government intervention in the market, instead allowing currencies to establish their own place and price according to what the market sees fit. The main thrust being that the market knows best. The Finance Minister disagrees, of course, given how he made it his mission to maintain the Rupee’s exchange rate. which worked out in Pakistan’s favour; stability was provided when stability was greatly needed.

The process of devaluation can be a tricky, messy business. There is always a chance that the process will take on a momentum of its own, turning neat spreadsheet analysis into a currency rout. A fragile economy leads to uncertainty amongst agents and uncertainty leads to panic.

Unlike China where the state has hundreds of billions of foreign exchange in reserves and where operators are sure as to the outcome of a devaluation; Pakistan’s economy is riven with uncertainty, finely attuned to negative signals and hence to prone to bouts of panic. There is a real chance of a controlled devaluation turning into a Rupee freefall, something on the lines of the Asian financial crisis where, at the IMF’s insistence, a number of Asian economies started the process of currency devaluation, only to find the process taking on an overwhelming force of its own; sending the currencies into an uncontrolled downward spiral.

The risks are great and the benefits fleeting, especially for an economy that is dependent on external energy sources for its needs. A devaluation, while good for a short term boost to exporting sectors, is likely to throw up a host of other challenges that could prove to be detrimental to the country’s economy and general stability.

Abdullah Humayun can be contacted at abdullah.humayun@gmail.com. Twitter: @Ahshafi I

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

COMMENT 11

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

Editor’s mail

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Our cultural and religious heritage

To Lieberman Demonstrate your credibility

dr alon Ben-Meir

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am sceptical of what Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman says as I have judged him only by his actions. For the Palestinians, however, to immediately dismiss what he said in an interview with the Palestinian daily al-Quds—that he supports a two-state solution and would lift Israel’s blockade of Gaza if Hamas relinquishes its military stance—is shortsighted and self-destructive at best. And by rejecting Lieberman’s offer, Hamas is doing nothing but further worsening the plight of the Palestinians living under its rule, forfeiting yet another opportunity to end a conflict that they cannot ever win on their terms. The Palestinian leadership in the west Bank, who perhaps for good reason do not trust Lieberman, should at a minimum call his bluff, if he is indeed bluffing.

Instead of putting Lieberman to the test, the Palestinian Authority chose to denounce what he is offering as if it were a forgone conclusion that Lieberman and his government are simply engaged in public posturing. But even if this was the case, why reject off-hand any offer which only plays into the hands of the extreme right-of-center political parties in Israel? As they see it, the Palestinians are simply unwilling to accept Israel’s right to exist, and anything else they publicly state to the contrary is only for international consumption.

Given that both sides have been engaged for decades in public acrimony against one another, they have created an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and distrust. As a result, they have systematically alienated successive Israeli and Palestinian governments and the general public from one another, thus dooming any overture by either side, however well-intentioned and sincere it may be.

In response to Lieberman’s statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry accused him of spreading lies, stating “Lieberman declares himself to be in favor of a two-state solution, while taking pride in being a settler and legitimising the continued building of settlements and the Judaisation of the west Bank and East Jerusalem.”

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry further blames Lieberman for trying to create a schism between the Palestinian people (i.e.

Hamas vs. PA), when in fact no outsider can rival the Palestinians’ propensity to create and perpetuate their own internal schisms. whereas I take what Lieberman stated with a large grain of salt, I believe that the Palestinian Authority should challenge him to offer some

practical steps to demonstrate his true intentions.

Instead, they opted to attack the newspaper alQuds for publishing the interview, determined to stifle any public discussion on such critical issues, even when there is a desperate need to change the acrimonious public narrative.

Lieberman, like most Israelis, has long since concluded that the status quo is not sustainable. when he talks about a two-state solution, he is not promoting that for the sake of the Palestinians, but for the preservation of Israel as a secure Jewish state.

Yes, the Palestinians have every right to disagree with his vision about the final contours of a future Palestinian state and its demographic composition, as he (like Prime Minister Netanyahu) envisions that any future Palestinian state will end up with a significant Jewish minority.

But whether or not the Palestinians accept such an eventuality, any peace proposal put on the table should be entertained if for no other reason than to prevent the appearance of being rejectionist and uncompromising.

Thus, any effort made by either side to change the public narrative and promote a process of reconciliation between the two sides that could foster trust and mitigate the prevailing sense of insecurity must not be rejected— especially since both sides claim to seek a peace agreement based on a two-state solution.

In connection with Gaza, Lieberman’s offer must be taken at face value. Anyone who understands Israel’s position regarding Gaza knows that it has no interest in engaging in another futile war against Hamas, or reoccupying the territory and assuming the burden of caring for nearly two million Palestinians.

This is precisely why late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon decided to unilaterally withdraw Israelis forces from the Strip, as well as evacuate the settlers. As the newly-appointed Defense Minister, Lieberman studied carefully the pitfalls of another war against Hamas and decided to take a different approach from a position of strength.

The lessons that Lieberman has learned from the last three wars between Hamas and Israel were instructive enough to tell him that even if he decapitates Hamas’ leadership, there will be no end to Palestinian resistance emanating from Gaza, and that the blockade is not and will never provide the answer. what Lieberman is offering Hamas is practical from the Israeli perspective and even more practical from Hamas’ standpoint. while Hamas wants Israel to lift the blockade, it still wants to be in a position to threaten Israel’s very existence.

The illusion that still possesses Hamas’ leadership is that someday, somehow, they will manage to destroy Israel, even though they know only too well that they cannot now or at any time in the future hope to pose an existential threat to Israel and live to see the day.

The vast majority of the two million Palestinians in Gaza live in poverty, the young have no future, the old are despondent and despairing, and all are being held hostage by Hamas to serve its delusional design.

Meanwhile, Hamas is squandering hundreds of millions of dollars to buy more rockets, build tunnels, and prepare for the next war that promises to invite devastation, the likes of which Hamas has not yet seen. Hamas would be wise to take Lieberman’s warning seri-

What Lieberman is offering Hamas is practical from the Israeli perspective and even more practical from Hamas’ standpoint. While Hamas wants Israel to lift the blockade, it still wants to be in a position to threaten Israel’s very existence.

ously—that “If they [Hamas] impose the next war on Israel, it will be their last.”

“If Hamas,” as Lieberman stated, “stops digging tunnels, rearming and firing rockets, we will lift the blockade and build the airport by ourselves.” This is not a rhetorical gesture on Lieberman’s part. He is focusing on a process of reconciliation—government-togovernment—which is sine qua non to reaching a durable peace agreement at a later date.

I fully subscribe to the notion that the conditions on the ground today are not conducive to solving all conflicting issues between the two sides. A process of reconciliation should first take place, and Lieberman’s offer must be viewed in that context, which is the only way the Palestinians could potentially realise their aspiration to establish a state in the west Bank and Gaza.

Given Lieberman’s past record and public statements against the Palestinians, they have good reason to be extremely suspicious of whatever he says or does. The onus now falls on Lieberman to demonstrate that he is sincere about his offer.

For Lieberman to lend credibility to his plans and the concessions he is preparing to make, he should share it with Turkey and Qatar and urge them to use their influence on Hamas to persuade it not to be dismissive of Lieberman’s opening.

The same can be said about the involvement of a few European countries, especially France and Britain, in playing a constructive role between the two sides. This approach will put Israel in a better standing, as it is regularly criticised by the EU as being the intransigent party in the conflict.

Moreover, should Hamas accept Lieberman’s offer, it would open the door to removing Hamas from the list of terrorist organisations that would encourage many countries, specifically in the European Union, to invest in Gaza, which could over a few years turn the Strip from an impoverished land into a thriving entity.

It takes a strong and determined leader to go against the current, and only by engaging Lieberman will the Palestinians be able not only to test his credibility, but change the discourse of a seven decades-old all-consuming conflict.

Dr Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Centre for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies. alon@alonben-meir.com

A country’s cultural and religious monuments and relics are an indicator of its collective conscience. Although Pakistan has several sites which not only carry great importance in terms of our diverse culture but also has immense religious significance.

Having been to one recently in Lahore along with guests from Karachi, I feel there is a dire need to restore our traditional sites.

Here are a few observations after the trip to Badshahi Mosque and Shahi Qila. To begin with, the road leading to the Mosque was in a deplorable condition, which dampened our spirits of patriotism and religious affiliations. After witnessing the poor traffic management and crossing the whole dilapidated passage we reached the grand mosque. Inside the premises I was sad to see the place overflowing with wrappers and dirt. The general public that thronged the place were pushing others and breaking queues.

Furthermore, I felt excited, at first, to know that the place possessed some belongings of our beloved Prophet PBUH. However, soon the excitement transformed into a feeling of sadness, when I saw the way the belongings of the Holy Prophet PBUH and other esteemed personalities were kept in a shabby place. on one side a lot is spent on the renovation and construction of places like Punjab assembly, Governor’s house etc but on the other side there is so much negligence towards the restoration and maintenance of our historical and religious monuments. Unfortunately even though our national leaders frequently go on foreign tours, they do not bring anything constructive back home. Although some parts of the Mosque were very disappointing but I was glad the way our guide enlivened that place for us through his vivid commentary. His passionate details and depiction took us momentarily in that era. I would like to request the concerned authorities to take effective measures to develop the civic sense in our nation, to maintain and clean this cultural site and to highlight the religious relics in glittering cases. There are many workable options like imposing fines or entrance tickets etc. but it depends on the will for improvement and our priorities in life. If there is no immediate hope than instead of irreverence it should be gifted to Turkey as they have the expertise to preserve and respect these relics.

ABIDA NADEEM Lahore

Govt jobs versus the private sector PEoPLE are prone to want government jobs as compared to private sector in Pakistan. Most of the young generation wants to join government jobs and give least priority to the private jobs.

But why do people give much preference to government sector despite of having 3 times more salary in private jobs?

Although private sector is more advanced and give handsome salary packages but on the other hand it is less secure and very hectic for the employee. There are fixed holidays in the government jobs while private sector employer can call you even on holidays due to work load. There are no pay scales in private jobs. Employee can have problems in getting his salary due to poor economic condition of the company. while in government sector, the salaries are given according to the employee pay scale. There are very much limited facilities in the private jobs. They take more work and give less compensation. while government sector takes less work and give much allowance. Government jobs are pensionable while there is no rule of pension in the private sector. It’s really very difficult to get a government job in a country like Pakistan where corruption prevails everywhere. The employees are being hired on references in every sector rather than chosen on merit. Still, people want to start their carrier in the government sector due to the stability and security of the government jobs. The government sector in Pakistan needs much improvement for the better carrier growth of Pakistan’s youth.

SABEEN SOHAIL Rawalpindi

Avoid politics of provocation FINALLY, Supreme Court intervened and diffused the uprising serious crisis at eleventh hour which was leading the country towards chaos and anarchy. It is also commendable that the court’s decision has been welcomed by both parties. Undoubtedly, PTI deserves to claim the credit as unexpectedly sanity seems to have prevailed in the rows of their leaders and they took right and congruous decision by expressing trust and reliance on Supreme Court and calling off the lock down of the capital.

It was all about accountability and this uncertainty, panic and consternation in the country had been avoided if government would have agreed on joint opposition’s ToRs. Now PTI and PML-N have to submit their ToRs on the formation of commission to probe the Panama scandal. It is quite lamentable situation that our elected government always waits for worst situation and believes on delaying tactics. Supreme Court of Pakistan is a dignified and esteemed institution of the country and now everyone is desperately waiting for substantive and concrete result. So it is the need of the hour that announced judicial investigation must be fast paced and impartial and if any kind of wrongdoing has been committed then it must be brought in the light and corrupt rulers must be convicted without any discrimination. There should be no escape citadel for any one if he is involved in any kind of corruption case.

In every enlightened country, elected government proudly takes responsibility to strengthen the integrity of national institutions and work sincerely and selflessly to make them transparent, impartial and efficient but regrettably in our country it has never been our priority.

In spite of this, our politicians always tried to make hostage our institutions and gradually people lost their trust and found these institutions equivocal. There is a dire need to reinforce and fortify our institutions and politicians should refrain to influence on them.

Hopefully in future our political leaders will settle down the matters on discussion table instead of believing on street and dharna politics.

Imran alI Phull Karachi

12 WORLD VIEW

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

United StateS and itS WeStern allieS are to blame for failUre of lateSt ceaSefire IN AN INTERVIEW TO THE SERBIAN NEWSPAPER POLITIKA, PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD SAID THAT RUSSIA WAS VERY SERIOUS AND VERY DETERMINED TO CONTINUE FIGHTING THE TERRORISTS, WHILE THE AMERICANS USED THE TERRORISTS AS A CARD TO PLAY THE POLITICAL GAME TO SERVE THEIR OWN INTERESTS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE INTERESTS OF OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD Question: Mr. President, why has the latest Syria ceasefire failed? Who is to blame for that?

President Assad: Actually, the West, mainly the United States, has made that pressure regarding the ceasefire, and they always ask for ceasefire only when the terrorists are in a bad situation, not for the civilians. And they try to use those ceasefires in order to support the terrorists, bring them logistic support, armament, money, everything, in order to re-attack and to become stronger again. When it didn’t work, they ask the terrorists to make it fail or to start attacking again. So, who’s to blame?

It’s the United States and its allies, the Western countries, because for them, terrorists and terrorism are a card they want to play on the Syrian arena, it’s not a value, they’re not against terrorists. For them, supporting the terrorists is a war of attrition against Syria, against Iran, against Russia, that’s how they look at it.

Question: But which country is supporting terrorism? Saudi Arabia? Qatar?

President Assad: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey…

Question: Turkey?

President Assad: Because they came through Turkey with the support of the government, direct support from the government.

Question: Directly?

President Assad: Direct support from the government, of course.

Question: With money or with armament?

President Assad: Let’s say, the endorsement, the greenlight, first. Second, the American coalition, which is called “international coalition,” which is American.

They could see ISIS using our oil fields and carrying the oil through the barrel trucks to Turkey under their drones…

Question: This is the Syrian oil?

President Assad: In Syria, from Syria to Turkey, under the supervision of their satellites and drones, without doing anything, till the Russians intervened and started attacking ISIS convoys and ISIS positions and strongholds. This is where ISIS started to shrink. So, the West gave the greenlight to those countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, and actually those countries, those governments are puppets; puppets of the West, puppets of the United States, and the terrorists in Syria are their proxy, the proxy of those countries and proxy of the West and the United States.

Question: But money for marketing this oil, who has the money? Turkey?

President Assad: In partnership between ISIS and Turkey. Part of the money goes to ISIS because this is how they can make recruitment and pay salaries to their fighters. That’s why ISIS was growing before the Russian intervention, it was expanding in Syria and in Iraq. And part of the money is going to the Turkish government officials, mainly Erdogan himself and his family.

Question: Erdogan himself?

President Assad: Of course. They were directly involved in this trade with ISIS. Question: Mr. President, do you believe the Russians and Americans can ever agree over Syria? Can Russia and the USA be partners in the war against terrorists in Syria?

President Assad: We hope, but in reality, no, for a simple reason: because the Russians based their politics on values, beside their interest. The values are that they adopt the international law, they fight terrorism, and the interest that if you have terrorists prevailing in our region, that will affect not only our region but Europe, Russia, and the rest of the world. So, the Russians are very serious and very determined to continue fighting the terrorists, while the Americans based their politics on a different value, completely different value, their value is that “we can use the

terrorists.” I mean the Americans wanted to use the terrorists as a card to play the political game to serve their own interests at the expense of the interests of other countries in the world.

Question: The situation about bombing the Syrian Army near the airport in Deir Ezzor… How did the American air attack on the Syrian Army happen? Was it a coincidence or not?

President Assad: It was premeditated attack by the American forces, because ISIS was shrinking because of the Syrian and Russian and Iranian cooperation against ISIS, and because al-Nusra which is Al Qaeda-affiliated group had been defeated in many areas in Syria, so the Americans wanted to undermine the position of the Syrian Army; they attacked our army in Deir Ezzor. It wasn’t by coincidence because the raid continued more than one hour, and they came many times.

Question: One hour?

President Assad: More than one hour.

There were many raids by the Americans and their allies against the Syrian position.

At the same time, they attacked a very big area; they didn’t attack a building to say “we made a mistake.” They attacked three big hills, not other groups neighboring these hills, and only ISIS existed in Deir Ezzor. There is no… what they called it “moderate opposition.” So, it was a premeditated attack in order to allow ISIS to take that position, and ISIS attacked those hills, and took those hills right away in less than one hour after the attack.

Question: ISIS attacking Syrian position after American…?

President Assad: In less than one hour, ISIS attacked those hills. It means that ISIS gathered their forces to attack those hills. How did ISIS know that the Americans would attack that Syrian position?

It means they were ready, they were prepared. This is an explicit and stark proof that the Americans are supporting ISIS and using it as a card to change the balance according to their political agenda.

Question: And after that, America said sorry, huh?

President Assad: They said they regret, they didn’t say sorry. [laughs] Question: Mr. President, who is responsible for the attack on the Red Cross convoy near Aleppo, and what weapons were used for the destruction of the Red Cross convoy?

President Assad: Definitely the terrorist groups in Aleppo, because those are the ones who had an interest. When we announced the truce in Aleppo, they refused it. They said “no, we don’t want a truce.”

They refused to have any convoys coming to eastern Aleppo, and that was public, it’s not our propaganda, it’s not our announcement, they announced it. And there was a demonstration by those militants to refuse that convoy. So, they have interest in attacking that convoy, we don’t have. It wasn’t in an area where you have Syrian troops, and at the same time there were no Syrian or Russian airplanes flying in that area anyway. But it was used as part of the propaganda, as part of the narrative against Syria in the West; that we attacked this humanitarian convoy, because the whole war now in Syria, according to the Western propaganda, is taking the shape of humanitarian war. This is the Western mask now; they wanted to use the humanitarian mask in order to have an excuse to intervene more in Syria, and when I say intervene it means militarily or by supporting the terrorists.

Question: This is like the situation in former Yugoslavia, in the war in Yugoslavia, also in the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the war in Kosovo, humanitarian problems.

President Assad: It’s a different era, maybe, a different shape, but the same core, what happened in your country, and what’s happening now in our country.

Question: And the Western propaganda spoke about the problem of using the chemical weapons and the barrel bombs.

President Assad: The same, to show that you have a black-and-white picture; very very bad guy against very very good guy.

It’s like the narrative of George W. Bush during the war on Iraq and on Afghanistan. So, they wanted to use those headlines or those terms in their narrative in order to provoke the emotions of the public opinion in their countries. This is where the public opinion would support them if they wanted to interfere, either directly through military attacks, or through supporting their proxies that are the terrorists in our region.

Question: I see the news in the last days, the Amnesty International condemned a terrorist group for using the chlorine, the chemical weapons in Aleppo.

President Assad: In Aleppo, exactly, that happened a few days ago, and actually, regardless of these chemical attacks, we announced that the terrorists killed during the last three days more than 80 innocent civilians in Aleppo, and wounded more than 300. You don’t read anything about them in the Western mainstream media.

You don’t see it, you don’t hear about it, there’s nothing about them. They only single out some pictures and some incidents in the area under the control of the terrorists just to use them for their political agenda in order to condemn and to blame the Syrian government, not because they are worried about the Syrians; they don’t care about our children, or about innocents, and about civilization, about infrastructure. They don’t care about it; they are destroying it. But actually, they only care about using everything that would serve their vested interests.

Question: And now, your army… you are the supreme commander of Syrian military forces. Your army now has not any chemical weapons?

President Assad: No, we don’t. Since 2013, we gave up our arsenals. Now, no we don’t have. But before that, we have never used it. I mean, when you talk about chemical weapons used by the government, it means you are talking about thousands of casualties in one place in a very short time. We never had this kind of incidents; just allegations in the Western media.

Question: Mr. President, when do you think the Syrian war will end?

President Assad: When? I always say less than one year is enough for you to solve your internal problem, because it is not very complicated internally. It’s becoming more complex only when you have more interference by foreign powers. When those foreign powers leave Syria alone, we can solve it as Syrians in a few months, in less than one year.

That’s very simple, we can, but providing that there’s no outside interference. Of course, that looks not realistic, because everybody knows that the United States wanted to undermine the position of Russia as a great power in the world, including in Syria. Saudi Arabia has been looking how to destroy Iran for years now, and Syria could be one of the places where they can achieve that, according to their way of thinking.

How? First of all, by stopping the support of the terrorists by external countries like the regional ones like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, and by the West, of course, mainly the United States.

When you stop supporting terrorists in Syria, it won’t be difficult at all to solve our problem.

Question: Mr. President, is it true that Syria is the last socialist country in the Arab world?

President Assad: Today, yes. I don’t know about the future, how is it going to be. We are socialist, but of course not the closed type.

Question: Humane socialism, because your government is supporting the education with the subvention, like the Swedish-type socialism.

President Assad: I don’t know a lot about the Swedish-type, but let’s say that in Syria, we have an open economy, but at the same time we have a strong public sector, and that public sector played a very important role in the resilience of the Syrian society and the government during the war. Without that public sector, the situation would have been much more difficult. So, we’re still socialist, and I think the war proved that the socialistic system is very important for any country, taking into consideration that I’m talking about the open socialism, that could allow the freedom of the public sector to play a vital role in building the country.

Question: And your big companies… this is the state companies or private companies?

President Assad: We have both. But usually in such a situation, the public sector always plays the most important part. As you know, the private sector could feel the danger more and could suffer more and in some areas could quit the whole arena, the economic arena, because of the insecurity.

So, that’s why you have to depend in such a situation more on the public sector, but still the private sector in Syria plays a very important part beside the public.

Question 13: And you have a very tolerant atmosphere towards churches, Christians, Muslims, and…

President Assad: It’s not tolerance, actually; they are part of this society. Without all different colors of the society – Christians, Muslims, and the different sects and ethnicities – you won’t have Syria. So, every Syrian citizen should feel fully free in practicing his rituals, his traditions, his beliefs. He should be free in order to have a stable country. Otherwise you won’t have Syria as a stable country. But I wouldn’t call it tolerance. Tolerance means like we accept something against our will; no, Muslims and Christians lived together for centuries in Syria, and they integrate in their life on daily basis, they don’t live in ghettos.

Question : No separate schools for Muslims, for Christians, young people, no?

President Assad: No, no. You have some schools that belong to the church, but they are full of Muslims and vice versa. We don’t allow any segregation of religions and ethnicities in Syria, that would be very dangerous, but naturally, without the interference of the government, people would like to live with each other in every school, in every place, in every NGO, in the government, that is the natural…

That’s why Syria is secular by nature, not by the government. The Syrian society has been secular throughout history.

Question: And, Mr. President, it’s been one year since Russian air forces took part in the Syrian war, how much has Russia helped you?

President Assad: Let’s talk about the reality. Before the Russian interference, ISIS was expanding, as I said. When they started interfering, ISIS and al-Nusra and the other Al Qaeda affiliated groups started shrinking. So, this is the reality. Why? Of course, because it’s a great power and they have great army and they have great firepower that could support the Syrian Army in its war. The other side of the same story is that when a great country, a great power, like Russia, intervene against the terrorists, in coordination with the troops on the ground, and in our case, it’s the Syrian Army, of course you’re going to achieve concrete results, while if you talk about the American alliance, which is not serious anyway, but at the same time they don’t have allies on the ground, they cannot achieve anything. So, the Russian power was very important beside their political weight on the international arena, in both ways they could change the situation, and they were very important for Syria in defeating the terrorists in different areas on the Syrian arena or battlefield.

Question: Is the Syrian society divided by the war today?

President Assad: Actually, it’s more homogenous than before the war.

Question: And a question about the American presidential elections; who would you like to win in USA presidential elections, Trump or Hillary?

President Assad: I think in most of the world, the debate about this election is who’s better, Clinton is better or Trump.

In Syria, the discussion is who’s worse, not who’s better. So, no one of them, I think, would be good for us, let’s say. Second, from our experience with the American officials and politicians in general, don’t take them at their word, they’re not honest. Whatever they say, don’t believe in. If they say good word or bad word, if they were very aggressive or very peaceful, don’t believe them. It depends on the lobbies, on the influence of different political movements in their country, after the election that’s what is going to define their policy at that time. So, we don’t have to waste our time listening to their rhetoric now. It’s just rubbish. Wait for their policies and see, but we don’t see any good signs that the United States is going to change dramatically its policy toward what’s happening in the world, let’s say, to be fair, or to obey the international law, or to care about the United Nation’s Charter. There’s no sign that we are going to see that in the near future. So, it’s not about who’s going to be President; the difference will be very minimal, each one of them is going to be allowed to leave his own fingerprint, just personal fingerprint, but doesn’t mean change of policies.

That’s why we don’t pin our hopes, we don’t waste our time with it.

Question Mr. President, thank you for your time.

President Assad: Not at all. Thank you for coming to Damascus.

LEISURE 13

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

You're not in the mood to play by anyone else's rules today, but your rebellious attitude can create problems if you just do the opposite of whatever you are told. Striking out on your own may seem like.

At times you seem stubborn for no obvious reason, yet you may have an excellent justification for maintaining the status quo today. Unfortunately, you might find it challenging to explain your motives.

Your plans to network with others could run into unexpected glitches today because everyone seems to have his or her own agenda. Fortunately, you can have a positive impact on the flow of events by concentrating.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Coworkers might be so passionate about their ideas that you feel like retreating to insulate yourself from the intensity. You don't want to be coerced into making a choice before you're ready, so you're.

You may enthusiastically respond to someone's social invitation without even checking your calendar now that the reactive Moon is back in your sign. Unfortunately, you might discover that you said yes.

Burying your head in the sand is not the wisest approach to handling an intense emotional encounter today. You are more transparent than you realize, and others probably won't trust you if they think that.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Your need to please others leads to fun today as long as you don't have selfish motives. But your expectations can get in the way of a wonderful experience if you're only considering what's advantageous.

You might believe that you have to stand strong today, but your worries about being judged harshly could prompt you to overstate your opinion. You may even be so rigid in your presentation that others.

Your optimism reaches new heights now, and you might not have the patience to listen to anyone's negativity. If someone expresses dissatisfaction with your agenda today, you could be tempted to just run.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

It seems as if someone is exerting unnecessary influence over you today and you don't like it one bit. Instead of burying yourself in your work to avoid a confrontation, you could be sufficiently annoyed.

You prefer others to be transparent about their needs, but you're not too happy with friends or coworkers who act selfishly today. You may try to maintain your positive attitude, but you might respond..

You may feel the need to put on a show at work today because you want to be appreciated for your contributions. But instead of making an unnecessary scene, just quietly go about your business since completing.

cRosswoRD

ACROSS 1 Stabilising appendage on a fish's back (6,3) 8 Baby (slang) (5) 9 Aerosol (7) 10 Over the moon (8) 11 Leg bender (4) 13 Loads and loads (6) 14 dirty domicile (6) 16 Profound (4) 17 Malign (8) 19 (Of a bedroom) having a private bathroom attached (2,5) 20 discharge from the eyes and nose (5) 21 hairy arachnid (9)

woRD sEARcH

DOwn 1 Worn and shabby (3-5) 2 Country where Omsk is situated (6) 3 Cockeyed (4) 4 UfO (6,6) 5 Jack and Jill, for example (7,5) 6 Region of interplanetary space — battered soil (anag) (8,4) 7 Man in a woman's outfit (or vice-versa) (5-7) 12 Coffee-flavoured rum drink (3,5) 15 Rich cake (6) 18 Someone from Turku (4)

HAGAR tHE HoRRIbLE

GARFIELD

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fOREST fREE fUNNy MARITIME MOUSE ORANGE PARTy PLAyfUL PORT PROCESSION RITE ROAST SPIT TAPS TRAIN TRICk VICTIM

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

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Today’s soluTions

bRIDGE DEcEptIvE pRActIcE

sUDokU crossword solution sudoku solution

1.Qxc6+ Bxc6 2.Nxe6# * chess solution

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

14

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

ARTS

Hack attacks cut internet access in Liberia Liberia has been repeatedly cut off from the internet by hackers targeting its only link to the global network.

Recurrent attacks up to 3 November flooded the cable link with data, making net access intermittent.

Researchers said the attacks showed hackers trying different ways to use massive networks of hijacked machines to overwhelm high-value targets.

Experts said Liberia was attacked by the same group that caused web-wide disruption on 21 October.

Those attacks were among the biggest ever seen and made it hard to reach big web firms such as Twitter, Spotify and Reddit.

The attacks were the first to send overwhelming amounts of data from weakly protected devices, such as webcams and digital video recorders, that had been enrolled into what is known as a botnet.

A botnet variant called Mirai was identified by security firms as being the tool used to find and compromise the insecure devices.

The source code for Mirai has been widely shared and many malicious hacker groups have used it to seek out vulnerable devices they can take over and use to mount what are known as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

“There’re multiple different botnets, each with a different owner,” security researcher Kevin Beaumont told the agencies. “Many are very low-skilled. Some are much better.”

For more than two weeks, my internet has not been working properly. At first I thought it was a problem with my internet provider, which often suffers from slow speeds. But this feels more serious.

Even when you do get online, the connection repeatedly cuts out. I’ve spent the past week trying to upload some photos and audio to send to London, without success.

A woman who runs a computer club for young people in the capital, Monrovia, tells me that they have been having trouble getting on to Facebook and that their connection has slowed in recent weeks.

The hotel I am staying at in the north-eastern town of Ganta is right next to the network tower of a company that provides my internet service, but the connection is still coming in and out.

The hackers behind the “huge” network that attacked Liberia, dubbed botnet#14, were “much more skilled”, Beaumont said.

“The attacks are extremely worrying because they suggest a Mirai operator who has enough capacity to seriously impact systems in a nation state,” he wrote in a blogpost.

The attacks varied in length with some lasting only 30 seconds and the longest being sustained for a few minutes. At times the amount of data being funnelled towards Liberia exceeded 600 gigabits per second.

Net access in Liberia comes via an undersea cable whose capacity is shared with many other nations in West Africa. AGENCIES

Pakistan ranked as most affordable country for telecom, ict services: rePort

P

News Desk

AKISTAN has been ranked as most the affordable country for ICT services, according to a report published by the World Economic Forum.

The WEF on Thursday published its annual “Global Information Technology Report 2016” which showed Pakistan’s technology and telecom market had the world’s lowest price points as compared to other markets from around the globe.

The report analysed relevant indexes from 139 global markets and rated them against each other. The countries were rated for their financial conditions as well as other factors such as usage, general environment, and impact.

“Pakistan is the market with the lowest price points,” the report said.

However, the report stated that while these affordability indicators are

mate “Networked Readiness Index”.

Although Pakistan made it to the top in terms of affordability, in other sub-indexes it ranked poorly and wasn’t able to make it to the top 100 for any.

Pakistan ranked 110 of 139 on the “Network Readiness Index”, as compared to 112 last year.

Here Are SoMe of tHe cAtegorIeS LISteD:

measured in terms of prices associated with the usage of ICT service and the prices that pose as the entry barrier for the masses, they are not associated with quality adjusted prices.

Further, the report measured vari-

ous indicators in “Network Readiness Index”. The countries were rated at the fundamental rating level of ‘pillars’.

Different ‘pillars’ then added up to the concerned ‘sub-indexes’ and the ‘subindexes’ were aggregated to the ulti-

November supermoon will be biggest in nearly 70 years ISLAMABAD: A record-breaking supermoon, biggest since 1948, will brighten the night sky later this month, it has been learnt.

According to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), the November full moon is not only the closest full moon of 2016 but also the closest full moon since 1948 (which is still the last time the Cleveland Indians won the World Series).

According to EarthSky, the moon will look plenty full and bright all night on November 13 and 14 as it rises in the east around sunset, climbs highest around midnight and then sets in the west at or near sunrise.

This is one you might want to watch out for because the full moon won’t come this close to Earth again until Nov. 25, 2034.

Interestingly, supermoon would be visible to stargazers in Pakistan and India as well. For Pakistani citizens, the supermoon would unveil its beauty around 6:52 pm while Indians can catch a glimpse of supermoon at 7:22 pm.

A supermoon occurs when the moon is slightly closer to Earth than it typically is, and the effect is most noticeable when it occurs around the same time as a full moon. It can appear 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual, according to NASA. AGENCIES

Turkey blocks access to Twitter, WhatsApp: Internet monitoring group Access to social media sites Twitter and Whatsapp was blocked in Turkey on Friday, an internet monitoring group said, following the detentions of 11 pro-Kurdish lawmakers in the mainly Kurdish southeast overnight.

Access was being blocked by throttling, an expert from the monitoring group Turkey Blocks said, a method of slowing certain websites to the point where they are unusable. This move is made after Turkey remains under a state of emergency imposed in

the wake of the July 15 failed coup, which critics say has gone well beyond targeting the actual coup plotters. Thirteen staff from the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper, including the editorin-chief, were detained on Monday, further heightening strains in Turkish society.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have been repeatedly criticised over curbs on social media.

This isn’t the first time the

Turkish government has curbed internet access in the country.

Turkey’s parliament in April 2015, approved legislation to tighten control over the Internet by allowing the government to block websites without prior judicial authorisation.

The government blocked Twitter and YouTube in March 2014 after they were used to spread a torrent of audio recordings implicating Erdogan — then premier — and his inner circle in an alleged corruption scandal. AGENCIES

PAKISTAN RANKS 154 OUT OF 183 COUNTRIES ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX News Desk Of 183 countries, Pakistan has recorded the largest decline in its overall youth development score by 18 per cent between 2010 and 2015, according to the Global Youth Development Index and Report 2016.

Ranking a dismal 154 among 183 countries, Pakistan performed even worse than war-torn and terrorismplagued Syria which stood at 137.

Compared to its neighbours, Pakistan lagged behind India (133) and Bangladesh (147) but performed better than Afghanistan at 167.

The decline has been brought about by a dramatic fall in the country’s scores in the domains of civic

Over All Network Readiness Index: 110 Political and Regulatory Environment: 128 Business and Innovation Environment: 98 Infrastructure: 126 Affordability: 1 Skills: 127 Individual Usage: 123 Business Usage: 101 Government Usage: 103 Economic Impacts: 105 Social Impacts: 106

participation (58 per cent) and political participation (69 per cent). In particular, Pakistan’s lack of a youth policy – which is the primary indicator for the domain of political participation – has driven the fall in its score.

The Commonwealth Youth Development Index uncovered a fascinating picture of the prospects of youth in the said countries. It measured opportunities for the youth in terms of civic participation, education, employment, health and wellbeing and political participation.

Pakistan’s low score was explained by its performance in the areas of education, financial inclusion and political participation. The country scored below the South Asian av-

erage in all domains of the YDI except health and well-being. eDucAtIon: Except Afghanistan, all other South Asian countries have better scores than Pakistan in the domain of education. The report pointed out that only 42 per cent of children in Pakistan are enrolled in secondary schools. Similarly, the youth literacy rate in Pakistan is approximately 76 per cent. fInAncIAL IncLuSIon: The report suggested that only six per cent of youth in Pakistan have an account at a formal financial institution. The South Asia and global figures for the same indicator are 31 per cent and 42 per cent respectively.

Germany topped the list with a

score of 0.894, followed by Denmark and Australia. While the United Kingdom secured the fourth spot, United States performed way below at 24, lagging behind countries such as Costa Rica, Malta, Slovenia and Luxembourg. On August 19, a report by the Population Council said the prevalent scenario of standalone policies for youth with minimal integration and poor linkages across sectors does not provide a framework for coordinated efforts. As a result, stakeholders need to work in synergy to secure pathways for the betterment of the youth. It also suggested forming a task force to develop intersectional thinking to launch scaledup initiatives and initiate discourse between the public and private sectors.

Starbucks accused of ‘promoting Islam’ with new cups News Desk The revelation that the latest Starbucks cup will be green has led some people to suggest the global coffee chain is promoting Islam, the Washington Post reported. Starbucks claims that the only message behind the cup is that of unity. “Friends, baristas, and customers drawn in one continuous line —reminding us we’re all connected,” a tweet from the official account of Starbucks reads.

Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz said, “The green cup and the design represent the connections Starbucks has as a community with its partners (employees) and customers. During a divisive time in our country, Starbucks wanted to create a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other.” He added, “The imagery was created by artist Shogo Ota in a design intended to communicate “shared humanity and connection.”

But many took to Twitter to criticise the new cups, suggesting that there is a hidden political message behind the new design. William Hicks wrote on Heat Street, “The giant coffee chain is calling this year’s monstrosity the “unity” cup… Hmm, what else is unified…. ISIS!!?! The unified caliphate of the Islamic State!” This is not the first time Starbucks has found itself at the centre of a political storm over the colour of its cups. Last year, Christian evangelicals in America claimed the Seattle-based chain had declared “war on Christmas” by using a simple shade of red on its festive packaging. Joshua Feuerstein’s widely shared Facebook post about the issue has been viewed 16 million times since it was posted last November. “Starbucks isn’t allowed to say Merry Christmas to customers,” Feuerstein wrote. “Do you realise that Starbucks wanted to take Christ and Christmas off of their brand new cups? That’s why they’re just plain red.”

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

ARTS

15

RanveeR Singh choSen aS indian ambaSSadoR foR SwitzeRland touRiSm MUMBAI AGENCIES

b

OLLyWOOD’S livewire actor Ranveer Singh has been named the Indian ambassador for Switzerland Tourism. “I had such a great time on my trip to Switzerland this summer!

I did some crazy things like sky diving and paragliding. Now that I am the official Brand Ambassador of Switzerland Tourism, I am just raring to go back in the winter and see what it looks like in the snow. I can’t wait to try the slopes of St. Moritz and Titlis Engelberg. It will be so much fun,” said Ranveer.

The 31-year-old actor will now be in charge

of promoting Switzerland Tourism’s campaign for 2017 — Nature wants you back!

Known for his effervescence and adventurous nature, Ranveer tried an array of activities in Switzerland to get his adrenaline pumping. From wakeboarding on Lake Zurich to ski jumps at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne, tobogganing on Mt. Pilatus, paragliding and skydiving in Interlaken, he tried them all. But the adventure was just one of his holiday thrills. “Being a versatile energetic and adventurous personality, Ranveer explored and enjoyed all that Switzerland has to offer. His passion and excitement for the country are what compelled us to request him if he would take on the mantle of Brand Ambassador to which he enthusiastically agreed,” Clau-

Asma Abbass already on her way to recovery LAHORE ANNAM LODHI

Pakistani actress Asma Abbas, who is currently starring in ‘Laaj’ has been diagnosed with first stage colon cancer.

Ahmad Abbas, her son, confirmed the news while talking to Pakistan Today, stating that the hype isn’t needed and all they need are prayers.

“We found out about cancer almost 20 days ago and the treatment started nine days ago,” Ahmad said.

Asma Abbas is also Bushra Ansari’s sister “She is responding well to treatments. Doctors say she would be in remission soon,” Ahmad added.

Asma’s roles in dramas have usually been supporting in nature and about the typical urban middle age woman.

She has also acted in a number of tele-

vision serials, both serious dramas and comedies, such as Saltanat e Dil, Mamta, Laadon Mein Pali, Mann Ke

CHARLES LISTER #Assad says there are 200,000 people in besieged eastern #Aleppo. [Assad’s online supporters say 60,000 - 70% less] [UN says 275,000]

MURTAZA HUSSAIN Notice that Russia or Iran, two countries loudly claiming to be "helping" Syria, have not taken a single refugee from that country.

GLENN GREENWALD Entrapping kids in terror plots.

Surveilling Muslims. Infiltrating activists. It took opposing Hillary for Dems to realize FBI can be bad.

Moti, Janam Jali, Lanhi, to name a fee.

We wish her a speedy recovery and good health.

News breaks at 3 am in Turkey and each journalism tool is blocked one by one: Twitter, Facebook. Youtube and now Whats App.

FAIZAN LAKHANI Hearing news that Renault has decided to make cars in Pakistan, to partner with Gandhara motors, this involve about 100m dollars investment.

Meryl Streep to get Golden Globes lifetime award Meryl Streep, regarded as the finest actor of her generation, will get the Golden Globes lifetime achievement award at the annual ceremony in January, organisers announced on Thursday. Streep, a three-time Oscar winner, will be presented with the Cecil B. DeMille award in recognition of her 40 years in the industry. “She has always taken roles with strong female leads, creating art by showing vulnerability and portraying truth on the big screen. Simply put, she is a trailblazer, having paved the way for women in television, film and stage,” Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) President Lorenzo Sofia said in a statement. “For shattering gender and age barriers, all with finesse and grace, the HFPA is humbled to bestow this honour upon her,” Sofia added. The HFPA organises the Golden Globes awards for film and television, one of the biggest ceremonies in Hollywood’s long awards season. The 2017 ceremony will take place in Beverly Hills on January 8. Streep’s most recent film was the 2016 comedy Florence Foster Jenkins, in which she plays a rich, elderly American with no talent for singing but big ambitions. The 67-year-old actor won Oscars for her performances in The Iron Lady, Sophie’s Choice and Kramer vs. Kramer. She has received a record-setting 19 Oscar nominations during her career. Streep joins Denzel Washington, George Clooney, Woody Allen and Jodie Foster as recipients of the Cecil B. DeMille award. AGENCIES

There are grey shades to SRK’s character: Rahul Dholakia

La La Land trailer shows great chemistry between Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling

Shah Rukh Khan and Mahira Khan’s Raees has fans all pumped up for the release ever since the first announcement. Not only that, if we needed any more reasons to be excited about the release, director Rahul Dholakia has provided it. Dholakia revealed the audience will be surprised to see SRK in a role with grey shades, Hindustan Times reported. “There are a lot of grey shades to his [SRK’s] character. He is playing an interesting character. He has done a great job. He is brilliant in the film… people will be amazed to see him like this,” Dholakia said. “It’s a big film for me. One needs to do his best and I have given my best,” he added. This is the first time Dholakia who has teamed up with SRK and the director is all praise for the actor, “He is very nice, sweet, humble and a loving person. There is a reason why he is up there, it’s not because of the actor that he is but it is also to do with the person he is.” Apart from SRK, Mahira Khan will also be seen in the upcoming film. Raees is set in 1980s Gujarat and tells the story of bootlegger Raees Khan (Shah Rukh) whose business is challenged and eventually thwarted by a police officer played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The film is slated to release on January 27 next year. ENTERTAINMENT DESK

The first full trailer for offbeat musical La La Land brings with it an opportunity to sample the film that has had the festival circuit buzzing.

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling star as an actress struggling to get into the movies and a jazz pianist with employment troubles.

Watch the trailer beloW: The pair meet thanks to a succession of chance encounters and their romance and career trajectories both appear set to take off.

JK Simmons returns from director Damien Chazelle’s previous film, the award-winning Whiplash, and is joined by the supporting cast

by Sonoya Mizuno, Finn Wittrock, Rosemarie DeWitt and musician John Legend.

Debuting at the Venice film festival in August 2016, La La Land is an early favourite for awards season success, having scored a host of pos-

itive reviews from its festival circuit tour and won accolades from Venice, Toronto, the Hamptons, and the Hollywood Film Awards.

A North American general release is set for December 16 with select territories receiving it before then — Singapore, the Philippines and Belgium among them — and a gradual international rollout following throughout January. A teaser trailer had been released in August. AGENCIES

I WAS IN SCHOOL WHEN PRIYANKA WON MISS WORLD: DEEPIKA NEW DELHI

CEYLAN YEGINSU

dio Zemp, Director - India, Switzerland Tourism added.

The Bajirao Mastani star is now looking forward to visiting Switzerland in winter early next year. During his next trip to the country, Ranveer will be visiting St. Moritz, the village of Titlis Engelberg and will enjoy an array of activities and the country’s local culture.

“Switzerland is a perfect place for a complete holiday experience that will leave you spellbound for days. Tourists look for a blend of sightseeing, relaxation and adventure together with easily available accommodation and good food and welcoming hosts,” Ritu Sharma, Deputy Director, Switzerland Tourism India, said.

COURTESY HINDUSTAN TIMES

The rivalry is not a new word for Bollywood. Actors are known to walk out of films because of their equations with each other. However, there are some who consider it a healthy competition.

In an interview with Vogue, Deepika Padukone said that she doesn’t have any problem with Priyanka Chopra. Both, Deepika and Priyanka, are working hard to earn a name in Hollywood. While Priyanka is already a major TV star

after Quantico, Deepika is soon going to be seen with Vin Diesel in xXx: Return Of Xander Cage.

Deepika said, “We have had very different beginnings. I still remember I was in school when she won Miss World! I’ve known her for many years and nothing has changed.”

She further said, “What she wants from her career will be very different from what I want and that needs to be understood and respected.”

Priyanka Chopra is currently shooting for Baywatch with Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock.

CMYK

16 BUSINESS

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

ChIneSe InveStOrS Plan tO BrInG $3B InveStment FunD tO PakIStan PM Nawaz SayS CouNtry'S ECoNoMiC outlook altogEthEr ChaNgEd iN thrEE yEarS ISLAMABAD

a

STAFF REPORT

consortium of Chinese investment companies met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday and announced to bring $3 billion in investment funds to Pakistan.

Representatives of a consortium of Chinese investment companies comprising China Huarong International Holdings Limited, China Innovative Finance Group Limited, Hong Kong Tian Group, Chandong Hi-Speed Group and China Road & Bridge Group called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM’s House.

Warmly welcoming the delegation, the prime minister appreciated the Chinese delegation’s fruitful interaction with ministries of Finance, Petroleum & Natural Resources, Water & Power and Capital Development Authority.

The PM expressed hope that members of the Chinese delegation would have a productive visit in the backdrop of briefing by various ministries about immense potential for investment in Pakistan’s infrastructure development, energy and communication sectors.

The prime minister expressed his gratitude to the leadership and brotherly people of the People’s Republic of China for their all-weather support that was getting stronger with each passing day. The CPEC was a game changer that was going to transform the lives of the billions of people of the region, the PM added.

He said that the economic outlook of Pakistan has altogether changed in the last three years, which was being acknowledged globally. Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has also upgraded Pakistan’s ranking to B from B-; Pakistan is among this year’s global top 10 improvers in Doing Business 2017. Inflation was continuously on downward trend; reduction in petroleum prices also helped in decreasing inflation, further added the PM. The Foreign Exchange

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to set up bank The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a pact of six nations led by China and Russia, is looking to establish a new development bank in a bid to boost investment in the region, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday. At a meeting of the group in the Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek on Thursday, prime ministers of the six nations also agreed to boost overall economic cooperation and work to facilitate trade, the report said. According to the China Daily newspaper, Chinese premier Li Keqiang told the meeting that China was open to the establishment of a free trade zone among the group, which also includes Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The group also approved a 38point plan to boost cooperation in finance, transportation and agriculture over the 2017-2021 period, the paper said. AGENCIES

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ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A delegation of Chinese private equity investors led by Chairman HaoTian Group Holdings Limited Yau Wai Ming held a meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Friday. The finance minister appreciated the interest of Chinese investors in Pakistan. The minister said that the ongoing projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor are stimulating further investment in infrastructure development in Pakistan.

The minister emphasized that Pakistan and China have a strong collaboration in developing connectivity in the region. The Finance Minister briefly discussed with the delegation the financial stability achieved by Pakistan during the last three years and steps taken to enhance ease of doing business. He especially mentioned the high performance shown by recently established Pakistan Stock Exchange which is attracting international investment interest. The minister appreciated the interest shown by the delegation in various fields and offered all possible assistance of his team to assist the delegation in identifying best possible opportunities to invest in Pakistan. China Huarong International Holdings Limited Vice-President Ms. Cheng Yan appreciated recent economic progress made by Pakistan. She briefed the minister that the delegation was interested in identifying investment opportunities in Pakistan in the fields of infrastructure, finance, petroleum and retail business.

Govt’s auto policy bearing fruit: PBIF president ISLAMABAD

SECP introduces accounts for individual investors of mutual funds ISLAMABAD INP

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has introduced Sahulat Sarmayakari Accounts for opening of mutual funds accounts by individual low-risk customers and branchless banking accountholders with asset management companies (AMCs).

This initiative by the SECP is aimed at achieving the objectives of financial inclusion as set out in the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) recently adopted by the government of Pakistan. Moreover, recent expansion in online and branchless banking warrant innovative products to facilitate the investors. Now AMCs can open account of individual investors by obtaining certain minimum information on a simplified one-page form. This information can be ob-

tained either directly from the investor or in case of branchless banking account can be transferred from mobile service provider. The information will be subsequently verified through NADRA, and then the account shall be made operational. The maximum investment limit for low-risk investors at any point of time is Rs 800,000 whereas the limit is Rs 400, 000 for branchless banking customers.

The AMCs can open only one account against a single computerized national identification card (CNIC). Initially, this facility is available for investment in money market funds and income funds, which may be subsequently available for other categories of mutual funds after customer risk profiling by the AMC. The requirements stipulate that AMCs shall employ internal control mechanisms to monitor any suspicious transaction in line with the international standards.

INP

Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) President Mian Zahid Hussain has said the government’s Auto Policy has started bearing fruit as two foreign auto makers have decided to invest in Pakistan automotive sector. In a statement here on Friday, Mian Zahid Hussain said that the new entrants would promote competition and three existing Japanese automakers would have to provide fuel efficient, comfortable and secure cars to the consumers at relatively low price, he said. He said that French automaker Renault which was in business since 1899 has decided to start producing cars as early as 2018 in Pakistan while Nissan would follow the suit which would also benefit the masses.

The PBIF President said that existing players continued to earn handsome profit but reluctant to introduce models with efficiency, safety and with latest features resulting in high fuel consumption and other losses, he noted. He said that masses were fed up of the cars with outdated technology and they want better products for their money which was only possible if new players stepped into Pakistan’s lucrative market.

OIL SALE UP BY 13 PER CENT KARACHI ARSHAD HUSSAIN

19.18 46.19 33.55 11.40 3.70

18.00 44.00 30.65 10.26 3.50

18.33 44.61 31.60 10.43 3.53

-0.15 -0.09 -0.58 -0.66 -0.20

Interbank Rates uSd gBP JPy Euro

Pkr 104.8501 Pkr 139.1675 Pkr 1.0018 Pkr 116.0586

Forex uk Pound Sterling Euro uS dollar australian dollar Canadian dollar Japanese yen Saudi riyal u.a.E dirham China yuan

Reserves have now increased to over $ 24 billion, the prime minister apprised the delegation.

Our Investment Policy has been designed to provide a comprehensive framework for creating a conducive business environment for the attraction of FDI, he said. Pakistan's policy trends have been consistent, with liberalization, de-regulation, privatization, and facilitation being its foremost cornerstone, stated the prime minister. The Law of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) has been made to meet the global challenges of competitiveness to attract Foreign Director Investment (FDI).

Members of the visiting delegation lauded the vision of the prime minister for economic revival and putting the country on development path. The members of the delegation said that Pakistan

was fully ready as well as capable of absorbing and capitalising the Foreign Direct Investment. The delegation apprised the prime minister that they were bringing $ 3 billion investment fund to Pakistan because of the vision of the prime minister that focussed on infrastructure development and energy sectors. The Chinese delegation also expressed its intent to explore possibility of starting a new airline in Pakistan after the permission from the Government of Pakistan.

The Chinese side said that it was actively pursuing its investments in infrastructure, power, aviation and tourism sectors of Pakistan.

‘We fully appreciate the vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif which enunciates that economic prosperity is an offshoot of infrastructure connectivity and self sufficiency in the energy sector’, the members of the delegation stated.

They said that the present government under the visionary leadership of Nawaz Sharif has done enormous work in infrastructure development and achieving energy self sufficiency. The present government has very liberal investment regime that offers an ideal and investor friendly environment for which the leadership role of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is highly appreciated, said the members of the delegation.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chairman Board of Investment Miftah Ismail, Mayor Islamabad Ansar Aziz and other senior government officials were also present during the meeting.

Dar lauds interest of Chinese investors in Pakistan

BUY

SELL

131 116.5 105.8 80.5 79.25 1 28.1 28.7 15.4

132.75 117.7 106.1 81.3 80.1 1.03 28.3 28.95 15.55

79,225,000 21,082,500 20,840,500 20,657,500 16,107,500

Total oil sale of Pakistan was up by 13 per cent year on year (YoY) to 2.4 million tonnes in October 2016 as sharp growth in white oil continued to support oil sales, while four month (Jul-Oct 2016-17) sales have gone up to 8.9 million tonnes which is up 17 per cent YoY. The analyst at Toplines brokerage house said the sales were in line with estimates.

Sales of High Speed Diesel (HSD) were up by 17 per cent YoY to 834,000 tons led by increased demand from transportation and power sector. MOGAS (MS) sales were also up by 12 per cent YoY to 573,000 tones.

Increase in power generation in the country also led to uptick in Furnace Oil sale as it increased by 10 per cent YoY to 875,000 tones in October 2016.

Pakistan State Oil (PSO) sales outperformed the market growing by 17 per cent to 1.4 million tones driven by strong HSD sales that were up 31 per cent. As a result, PSO market share increased to 58 per cent in Oct 2016 from 56 per cent in the same period last year.

Hascol Petroleum (HASCOL) also witnessed an impressive sales growth of 25 per cent.

Attock Petroleum (APL) underper-

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formed as their sales increased by 4 per cent whereas Shell Pakistan (SHELL) reported 3 per cent decline.

Refinery supplies to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) were down 6 per cent to 917,000 tones. This decline was mainly attributed to decline in HSD supplies (down 16 per cent YoY) as OMC had adequate HSD stocks, the analysts believe. In Jul-Oct 201617, refinery supplies were up 4 per cent to 3.5 million tonnes. Furnace Oil and MOGAS sup-

plies increased by 6 per cent and 3 per cent to 272,000 tones and 154,000 tones, respectively.

According to the analysts, dynamics for oil marketing companies (OMC) sector remains favourable as improving macros, increase in demand from auto sector and higher power generation are likely to drive OMC sales going forward. Linkage of margins on retail products (HSD & MOGAS) with CPI inflation also bodes well for the sector profitability.

BUSINESS 17

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

Sale OF rOn 92 tO Start FrOm nOvemBer 10 ISLAMABAD

F

AHMAD AHMADANI

IRST cargo carrying environment-friendly 92 RON petrol has arrived at Karachi Port and sale of higher quality petrol to the consumers is likely to start

by November 10, Pakistan Today learnt on Friday.

The sources at Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources informed this scribe that first cargo of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) carrying 55 thousand tons of Research Octane Number (RON) 92 petrol has reached at Karachi port to protect the

environment and boost efficiency of the vehicles. And, the transportation of international standard petrol to the country’s petrol filling stations is to start in one or two days. They told that availability of 92 RON petrol at country’s filling stations was likely by November 10. “However, consumers of petrol will now bear additional Rs 2.60 per litre to fill the tanks of vehicles with environment friendly because 92 RON petrol was expansive to the per litre price of RON 87 petrol in the international oil market, the sources said.

When contacted with spokesman of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) to confirm the information about the import of 92 RON

petrol to the country, she confirmed that first cargo of 92 RON petrol has disembarked at Karachi, while second cargo carrying 92 RON petrol is expected to arrive on November 6 or 7, and third cargo of 92 RON petrol is scheduled to arrive at Karachi port on November 11.

Currently, the country is using 87 RON premiums, which is almost abandoned by the world.

“Consumers of petrol living in the major cities of Punjab province and Karachi (Sindh) will find 92 RON petrol at the petrol pumps very soon as sale of this international standard petrol to the consumers is likely during next four to

five days, sources said. They added that with the import of 92 RON standard petrol to the country it is expected that its use in vehicles will make the environment cleaner, more hygienic to engines, boost efficiency of the vehicles and more mileage per litre.

Earlier, Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on August 18 allowed the introduction of 92 Research Octane Number (RON) premium motor gasoline (petrol) in Pakistan. The decision was part of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources’ plan to introduce petrol — premier motor gasoline (PMG) — of three different grades of better-quality im-

ports to replace the existing petrol of 87 research octane number (RON). The higher-grade PMG imports include 92 RON, 95 RON and 97 RON. The gasoline currently available in Pakistan has a RON value of 86/87.

It is to note here that the refineries, worldwide, have reduced the production of Octane/RON 87, which is weaker fuel as compared to 92 RON. Also, current automobiles are designed at 92 RON or higher grade, while domestic refineries are not capable of producing 92 RON petrol because of their old technologies requiring substantial investments for up-gradation.

CORPORATE CORNER lifebuoy soap becomes Guiness world record holder this global handwashing day KARACHI: Unilever’s health soap Lifebuoy celebrated the 9th Global Handwashing Day (GHD) together with famous celebrity, Fahad Mustafa, and other influential people in attendance. This record breaking event was popularly known as #high5forHandwashing and was the biggest GHD event in Pakistan, with 20,000 participants.

Lifebuoy broke the Guinness World Record of Most Number of Double High-Fives in relay in 60 seconds and created history.

Through this initiative, Lifebuoy will give back to society by saving many precious lives, as each high five will lead to teaching 5 kids the act of handwashing. Lifebuoy aims to save more and more lives this way under the ‘help a child reach 5’ platform. PRESS RELEASE

reaffirmation of entity ratings of hascol Petroleum limited by JCr-vIS KARACHI: JCR-VIS Credit Rating Company Ltd. (JCR-VIS) has reaffirmed the entity ratings of Hascol Petroleum Limited (HPL)at ‘A + / A-1’ ( Single A Plus/A-One). Rating of HPL’s secured Sukuk issue of Rs.2 billion has also been reaffirmed at AA- ( Double A minus). Outlook on the assigned ratings is ‘Stable’. The ratings assigned to HPL reflect its growing market share, adequate financial risk profile and improving corporate governance framework. Aggressive market share acquisition strategy is planned to continue with HPL targeting to become the second largest player in the sector with a 15% market share by 2020.

Moreover, HPL has continued to pursue expansion in its storage capacities and retail outlets. Ratings also take into account the induction of Vitol Dubai Limited (Vitol) acquiring 15% stake in the company which will facilitate the company in securing and ensuring the smooth supply of petroleum products and hedging its procurement risk. PRESS RELEASE

BaFl enters into strategic partnership with lumS to connect industry, academia KARACHI: Bridging gaps between industry and the academia for shared benefit, Pakistan’s leading financial institution, Bank Alfalah Limited (BAFL) has entered into a strategic partnership with Pakistan’s prestigiouseducational institution, (LUMS). The partnership will connect industry and academia to devise viable strategies for promoting mutual learning and training in lieu of evolving industrial requirements. Under the partnership, REDC and BAFL will jointly develop customized in-house learning programs and BAFL will enjoy access to the Gad & Birgit Rausing Library at LUMS. The mutually benefitting agreement also entails recognition of top LUMS students by awarding BAFL medals upon graduation as well as the provision for nominations for enrollment of BAFL officials in Islamic Banking programs by Islamic Finance Centre LUMS. PRESS RELEASE

akzonobel partners with Pakistan Green Building Council LAHORE: AkzoNobel Pakistan is collaborating with Pakistan Green Building Council to to help raise awareness on the utilization of environment friendly products amongst architects, builders, investors, and all involved in public and private development work; people who are the true stakeholders in the sustainable future of Pakistan. As a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals and as one of the leaders in the area of sustainability, AkzoNobel strongly believes in responsible corporate citizenship andwill be participating at the Green Building Council Expo – Stoneca scheduled to take place from 27th to 29th October at the Karachi Expo Centre. Speaking about the long-standing partnership with Pakistan Green Building Council (PGBC) Jehanzeb Khan, Chief Executive AkzoNobel said, “We know that our future hinges on our ability to do radically more while using less. More innovation, less traditional solutions; more renewable energy and materials, less fossilbased; more value chain focus, less introvert thinking.This is why sustainability is at the heart of all that we do. We have a commitment to balancing our business priorities with our social, economic and environmental responsibilities in the long term.” PRESS RELEASE

ISLAMABAD: A worker thrashing cotton at his workplace. INP

JAPANESE MAYOR FOR ENHANCED BILATERAL TRADE TIES WITH PAKISTAN KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Mayor of Kibichou Town of Japan, Yamamoto Masanori has said that despite all the negative advisories and different instructions from concerned authorities to avoid visiting Karachi, he preferred visiting this city which was a secure, peaceful, exciting and one of the most vibrant city of Pakistan with a very bright future.

"I was too much worried of making a safe trip to Karachi but after seeing the hospitality and vibrancy of Karachi, I have no issues and I find myself pretty much comfortable here. I was eager to see Karachi which is a city from where a well-known personality Hakim Muhammad Saeed, who we highly admire, came to Kibichou some 20 years ago", he added while exchanging views with KCCI office-bearers and managing committee members during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

KCCI President Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President Asif Nisar, Vice President Muhammad Younus Soomro, Chairman of Diplomatic Missions and Embassies Liaison Sub-Committee Altaf A. Ghaffar, Former President AQ Khalil and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present at the meeting.

Highlighting various products and services available in Kibichou town, the Japanese mayor said that the purpose of his visit was to look for opportunities of exchanging goods and services between Karachi and Kibichou town in order to enhance trade and further improve relations between the two countries. He also advised Karachi Chamber to send a delegation to Kibichou town which was a Muslim-friendly town, geographically located in the center of Okayama prefecture.

"Besides agricultural production, two major industrial zones are also situated in Kibichou town where some blue chip companies have settled their factories and Halal food manu-

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facturers are also active in this town", he said, adding that the Kibichou town has widely opened its tourism doors to the world especially as a Muslim friendly town.

He was fairly optimistic that his first ever visit to Karachi would prove to be a milestone in furthering the existing relations.

"Although on a short trip of just 5 days, but we will try to learn as much as we can about Pakistan and share our experiences in Pakistan with the people in Kibichou. We want to play role in deepening the existing relations between the two countries", Yamamoto Masanori added.

KCCI President Shamim Ahmed Firpo, while commenting on Pakistan-Japan ties, said both countries have been enjoying healthy bilateral economic relations since 1952 and the strong relations can be gauged from the fact that at present, over 76 Japanese companies were operating in Pakistan.

He said that trade volume between Pakistan and Japan was recorded at $1.6 billion during FY2015-16, of which Pakistan's exports stood at $197 million and imports were approximately $1.4 billion whereas the over-

all trade volume was largely in favor of Japan.

He was of the view that there was a huge potential to enhance bilateral trade relations between Japan and Pakistan as Japan fulfilled its large share of grain, textile and surgical goods demand through imports. Hence, Pakistan can tap these segments by exporting its products to Japan which would further boost the bilateral trade volume between the two countries. Pakistan and Japan must also look for joint ventures in automobile sector by providing training assistance, he added.

He stressed that the project of Karachi Circular Railway should be implemented on fast track as it is a worthwhile investment project which would facilitate Karachi's commuters with much desired improved transport services, and would also be more environment friendly.

Shamim said that the Karachi Chamber was keen to strengthen trade ties and exploring new bilateral trade prospects with Japan as Pakistan's improved relations and enhanced trade with countries like Japan would surely help ensure prosperity for both countries.

18 SPORTS

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

FIFA chArge IrIsh FA over 1916 eAster uprIsIng logo

F

AgeNCies

IFA has charged the Irish Football Association (FAI) over a shirt logo worn in March to commemorate the 100th anniversary of an uprising against British rule.

“We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened on this matter,” a spokeswoman for world soccer’s governing body, whose rules forbid players from wearing anything that can be perceived as a political statement, said on Friday.

“We cannot comment further at this stage nor speculate on any outcome.”

Th er e w as no immed iate r eactio n f r o m the FA I .

Ireland’s players wore the logo — with the words Eire 1916/Ireland 2016 — when they played a friendly match against Switzerland on March 25, two days before official state commemorations of the 1916 Easter uprising.

The rebellion is widely seen as the defining

But many unionists in the British province of Northern Ireland consider the event an illegal uprising. The province’s First Minister Arlene Foster has said it was used to justify Irish Republican Army violence in the 1970s and 80s.

FIFA is separately involved in an argument with England and Scotland, who want their players to wear poppies on armbands when they play a World Cup qualifier on Nov. 11, the anniversary of World War One’s Armistice Day in 1918.

Irish media said the Ireland logo had been used as an example by England and Scotland in negotiations with FIFA. British Prime Minister Theresa May strongly criticised FIFA on Wednesday, telling parliament that the soccer body’s stance was “utterly outrageous”.

“Our football players want to recognise and respect those who have given their lives f o r ou r s af ety an d s ecu r ity. I think it is absolutely right that they should be able to do s o, ” s h e s aid.

moment of an independence struggle that ended centuries of British rule five years later.

New Zealand spinner Santner out of first Pakistan test AgeNCies New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner has been ruled out of this month’s opening test against Pakistan with a fractured wrist, the country’s cricket board said on Friday.

The 24-year-old left-armer was struck on his right wrist while training with the Northern Districts and is also doubtful for the second match of the two-test series.

Santner, who has played 10 tests for the Black Caps, showed promise during the recent tour of India where New Zealand were blanked 3-0 in the test series and lost the following fivematch one-day international series 3-2.

“After such a strong tour of India, it’s really disappointing for Mitch to pick up this injury ahead of the first match of the home summer,” New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said in a statement.

“We’re unsure whether Mitch will

be available for the second test at this stage, but we’ll be monitoring his recovery closely and look forward to having him back.”

The first test against Pakistan begins on Nov 17 in Christchurch with the second test in Hamilton from Nov 25.

West Ham striker Andy Carroll threatened at gunpoint Two armed motorcyclists attacked on his way home from training on Thursday, reported the British press.

While driving to his home in Kent in his Mercedes G-Wagon, the robbers attempted to force the 27-

Rohit likely to miss England ODIs too Courtesy esPN India batsman Rohit Sharma will travel to London next week for treatment on his thigh injury, which has ruled him out of cricket for at least 10 to 12 weeks. This means he is almost certain to miss the limited-overs leg of the England tour, and also puts him in doubt for the one-off Test against Bangladesh, which will be played early in February. It is possible he might have to undergo surgery. Rohit suffered the injury while batting in the last ODI of the five-match series against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam. He was on 46 when he hurt his quadriceps while diving into the crease to avoid being run-out.

This happened in the 17th over and Rohit continued batting for five more without a runner because international cricket does not allow for such anymore. His 70 off 65 balls on a slow pitch was crucial to India winning the series 3-2.

Kane back in Tottenham squad for Arsenal game London: England striker Harry Kane will return to Tottenham Hotspur’s squad for Sunday’s North London derby at Arsenal, manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday. Kane has been out of action since he suffered an ankle injury after scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory against Sunderland on September 18. “He will be available for selection for Sunday and now I need to decide whether he will be part of the starting 11 or on the bench. We’re very happy—yesterday, he had a very good training session, he’s fit,” Pochettino told reporters. “It’s important he is back and can help the team.” Kane scored against Arsenal both home and away last season, which he ended as the top scorer in the Premier League with 25 goals. Agencies

State’s appeal against Oscar Pistorius sentence to be heard in open court JohANNesburg Agencies

South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) on Friday told state prosecutors and the defence to argue their case over the six-year sentence for murder handed to Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius in open court.

Pistorius was sentenced to six years in prison in July after being found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on appeal last December, in a case that has attracted worldwide interest.

Legal experts had expected the SCA to issue a ruling on whether prosecutors have the right to challenge the sentence but instead said both parties should first argue their case in court. The court did not set a date for the appeal hearing. State prosecutors, led by advocate Gerrie Nel, say the sentence was too lenient as the jail term was less than half the 15-years they sought. In his arguments at the trial, Nel said Pistorius had shown no remorse for the 2013 shooting.

Lawyers for the gold

year-old to the side of the road.

However, Carroll ignored the thieves and sped quickly until returning to West Ham’s training facility in Rush Green where he phoned the police.

“West Ham United can confirm an incident targeting one of our players on Wednesday November 2,” the statement read. “The matter is now being handled by the police.”

Speaking about the ordeal, Carroll’s head coach Slaven Bilic was quick to offer support for the attacker.

“He got chased for 15 or 20 minutes, it wasn’t like 10 seconds, so it was probably planned,” Bilic stated in Thursday’s press conference.

“I know that he was very brave to do what he did.

“Carroll came back to the training ground and it stopped.

“But he’s good, he’s okay, he’s not in shock and he acted as a really brave man.”

medallist, known as the “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, say he did not deliberately kill model and law graduate Steenkamp.

The athlete originally received a five-year sentence for a manslaughter conviction that was upgraded to murder on appeal.

Trial Judge Thokozile Masipa, who sent Pistorius to the six-year jail term, dismissed a request by Nel to appeal Pistorius’ sentence, saying she was not persuaded that there was a reasonable prospect of success at another court.

CMYK

AVB replaces Sven-Goran Eriksson as Shanghai SIPG boss shANghAi Agencies

Former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas is set to earn a reported £11m a year after taking over Chinese Super League team Shanghai SIPG. He replaces former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who left the club on Thursday after two years in charge. Shanghai finished second and third in the league under the 68-year-old Swede. “Andre Villas-Boas is the leading young manager in European football, with a huge amount of passion and coaching experience,” a Shanghai statement said.

“We are convinced his arrival will enrich the tactical nous of the team, unearth the potential of our young talents and guide our club to scale new heights.” Portuguese Villas-Boas, 39, had been without a job since leaving Russian side Zenit St Petersburg at the end of last season.

BPL 2016’s opening game washed out in Dhaka DhAkA Agencies

The opening game of the Bangladesh Premier League 2016-17 became the tournament’s first to be abandoned without a ball being bowled. Persistent rain meant not even toss was possible and the two teams - defending champions Comilla Victorians and Rajshahi Kings - had to settle for one point each after the umpires called off the game. Unseasonable showers, caused by a depression in the Bay of Bengal, had been affecting Dhaka and different parts of the country over the past 24 hours.

WWE debut ends in victory for former Germany goalkeeper sPorts Desk Former Germany goalkeeper Tim Wiese’s WWE career got off to a ‘winning’ start in Munich on Thursday night. Wiese was contesting a tag-team bout alongside partners Cesaro and Sheamus. The 34-year-old, who won six caps for Germany, also revealed his nickname in the scripted entertainment series will be ‘The Machine’.The former Werder Bremen, Hoffenheim and Kaiserslautern player has packed on 40kg (88lb) of muscle since quitting football in 2014.

Saturday, 5 November, 2016

BccI Asks ecB to BeAr expenses oF teAm’s IndIA tour B

SPORTS 19

sPorts Desk

OARD of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked England to pay from their own pocket for their hotel stay, travel and other arrangements for their upcoming fivematch Test series against India.

In the absence of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between BCCI and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke explained the situation in a letter to England team manager Phil Neal, while apologising for the inconvenience caused.

“Dear Phil, I warmly welcome you for the upcoming cricket series,” wrote Shirke. “I am, however, at great pain to inform you that the BCCI is at present not in a position to execute the MoU between the Indian cricket board and the ECB. This is due to restrictions on execution of contracts imposed on the BCCI by a court order.”

Shirke also mentioned that the Indian board hasn’t been granted the permission to sign an MoU, with the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha panel seeking further details.

“A committee has been appointed that is to oversee BCCI’s financial transactions,” said Shirke. “The board referred this issue to the committee appointed by the Supreme Court on October 28, and sought urgent permission

Saints battle to famous win over Inter Milan southAmPtoN Agencies

for the execution of the MoU. However, the committee, while seeking further details a short while ago earlier today, has not yet granted us this permission.”

The secretary added: “Certain courtesies such as hotel, travel and

Shirke also duly apologised saying, “I apologise on behalf of the BCCI for the inconvenience that is being caused.”

The first Test will commence from Wednesday at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.

various other arrangements have been extended to you on England’s arrival in India. However, till the MoU is executed, the BCCI is not in a position to commit to paying for the same. Please make arrangements to remit such payments.”

Southampton remain on course to reach the Europa League knockout phase after fighting back to earn a memorable win against Italian giants Inter Milan. Inter scored with their first shot on target when skipper Mauro Icardi pounced to smash in a loose ball. Dusan Tadic missed a controversial penalty in first-half injury-time, but Virgil van Dijk hooked in to level as Saints improved after the break. And they claimed all three points after Yuto Nagatomo’s own-goal howler. The Inter defender, under little pressure, allowed Tadic’s left-wing cross to bounce off his thigh and loop over his keeper Samir Handanovic. Victory keeps Saints second in Group K with seven points from their four matches, meaning they could clinch a last-32 place if they win at leaders Sparta Prague in their next game on 24 November.

INJURED SOUTH AFRICA PACEMAN STEYN OUT OF AUSTRALIA SERIES Perth Agencies

South Africa paceman Dale Steyn was ruled out of the test series against Australia on Friday after suffering a shoulder injury on day two of the first match in Perth.

Steyn clutched his right shoulder on the follow-through when bowling at the WACA before lunch and promptly left the field to head to hospital for scans.

“Preliminary scans ... confirmed a new

West Indies bring in Dowrich, leave out Samuels in updated squad Following his heroic efforts in Sharjah, which helped West Indies to a rare away-Test win, wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich has been drafted into the ODI squad to play in the tri-series in Zimbabwe later this month. Fast bowler Miguel Cummins was also brought into the 15, with the two being left out at their expense being the experienced batsman Marlon Samuels and teenage fast bowler Alzarri Joseph. Dowrich has played eight Tests but is yet to play an international limitedovers game. While not always at his best with the gloves, he scored 47 and 60 not out in Sharjah after West Indies had been five down and in trouble in both innings. In 26 List A games, he has 344 runs with a high score of 48, and 21 catches and eight stumpings. Cummins has played just the one ODI, against Ireland in February 2014. He debuted in Test cricket this year, and has 10 wickets from five matches. He has played only five List A games as well. Samuels had an average run against Pakistan in the Tests, scoring a half-century in the first Test but failing to get past 30 thereafter. West Indies had also left out senior players in wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and allrounder Kieron Pollard for the tri-series, which also includes hosts Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. The series is set to begin on November 14 in Harare. Agencies

fracture of the bone in the shoulder joint,” Cricket South Africa said.

“He will take no further part in the match (he will bat if absolutely necessary) and the series, and will return to South Africa to see a shoulder specialist who will advise on an appropriate plan of action.”

CSA said the 33-year-old would probably need surgery. No replacement has been decided.

Steyn broke the same shoulder nearly a year ago, forcing him out of tests against England.

The loss of the pace spearhead is a hammer blow for the tourists, who play two more tests against Australia in Hobart Adelaide.

The remaining bowlers rallied brilliantly in Steyn’s absence, dismissing Australia for 244 on Friday before the Proteas batsmen pushed to 104-2 at stumps and a lead of 102 runs.

Steyn’s absence may be felt more keenly if South Africa bowl again in Perth, with Vernon Philander and 21-year-old Kagiso Rabada to shoulder the pace burden alone.

Robben back for Dutch World Cup qualifier after a year away

Aritz Aduriz hits five in Athletic Bilbao win

amsterdam: Arjen Robben is set to make his return to the Netherlands team for the first time in a year for their World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg. In agreement with his club, Bayern Munich, Robben will only be available for that competitive fixture on November 13 and will sit out the friendly with neighbours Belgium four days earlier, coach Danny Blind said on Friday. The 32year-old has had a litany of injuries, mainly hamstring problems, over the last 12 months and won the last of his 88 caps in the 3-2 away win over Wales last November, when he scored twice. Blind said Robben would only join up with the 25-man squad after next Wednesday’s friendly against Belgium in Amsterdam, ahead of the qualifier against Luxembourg. The agreement was made after discussion with German champions Bayern Munich, who have been at odds with the Dutch football association (KNVB) before over the use of the injury-prone attacker. Kevin Strootman, of Roma, who captained the Dutch last month when they beat Belarus but lost to France in World Cup qualifiers, has been left out with injury. Blind has named newcomer Marvin Zeegelaar in the squad and recalled Stijn Schaars and Jeremain Lens. Agencies

BiLBao: Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz became the first player to score five goals in a Europa League game as the Spaniards thrashed Genk 5-3. The 35-year-old Spaniard scored a hat-trick of penalties and is the first Spaniard to score five goals in a single European game since 1971. Fabrizio Ravanelli was the last player to score five goals in a second-tier European game hitting that mark for Juventus in a Uefa Cup match against CSKA Sofia in 1994. After 24 matches and 77 goals on Thursday night, Zenit St Petersburg, Shakhtar Donetsk, Schalke and Ajax booked their place in the knock-out stages. Zenit only needed a draw but beat Irish champions Dundalk 2-1 to progress with two games still to play. Shakhtar had not conceded a goal in the competition but were behind after just 19 seconds against Gent before coming back to win 5-3 on the night. In Germany, Schalke scored two first-half goals to beat Russian side Krasnodar 2-0 and seal their place in the last 32. Ajax also made it through after holding off a late fight-back to beat Celta Vigo 3-2. Anderlecht thumped Mainz 6-1 in Belgium, scoring three of their goals between the 89th and 94th minutes. Agencies

CMYK

SPORTS Saturday, 5 November, 2016

South AfricA bounce bAck on eventful 2nd dAy Perth

Agencies

W

HEn Australia and South Africa play, you should expect the unexpected.

The second morning began with Australia firmly on top; the third will start with South Africa in a position of strength. By stumps on day two, the visitors had a lead of 102 runs with eight wickets in hand, a quite unbelievable state of affairs only eight hours earlier. Dean Elgar was on 46 and JP Duminy had 34, and South Africa had completely loosened the tight grip Australia had held on the match the previous evening.

It all started with David Warner dabbling outside off and edging Dale Steyn to slip on 97.

Strange things then started to happen. Firstly, Steyn failed to complete his next over; clutching his right shoulder he walked off the field, a sorry sight for South African fans, who have seen their team win a Test without him only once in the past eight years. Late in the day, Steyn’s injury was confirmed as a fracture that ruled him out of the entire tour.

Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and debutant Keshav Maharaj ran through Australia’s order with renewed vigour, completing

AUSTRALIA LOST ALL 10 WICKETS FOR 86 RUNS AFTER BEING 0 FOR 158

a remarkable collapse of 10 for 86 that began with the single wicket taken by South Africa’s best bowler, perhaps of all time, who was otherwise absent. Philander became the leader, and they applied constant pressure on Australia’s batsmen.

Philander and Rabada found some reverse swing, and Maharaj bowled impressively, keeping

things tight enough at his end while also picking up a few wickets. He is the first specialist spinner in Test history to make his debut at the pace-friendly WACA, and he justified his inclusion by dismissing Australia’s captain Steven Smith, wicketkeeper Peter nevill, and then Mitchell Starc.

The wicket of Smith was particularly jaw-dropping, mostly for

WE WANT TO WIN THIS GAME FOR DALE: PHILANDER

the brazen - though legitimate lbw decision given by umpire Aleem Dar. Smith, yet to score, advanced down the pitch from his fourth delivery and could not get bat on ball, which prompted a zealous appeal from Maharaj but a half-hearted one from his teammates. It was, as the police might say, just a routine enquiry - until Dar unholstered his finger.

Smith looked dumbstruck, and immediately asked for a review. The broadcaster’s technology suggested he was well down the pitch - 2.8 metres from the stumps when struck - but the ball was hitting in line, and was going on to clip the top of leg stump.

The umpire’s decision stood: Maharaj had his first Test wicket, and Australia were starting to wobble at 3 for 168.

Already Usman Khawaja had been and gone, bowled for 4 by a beauty from Rabada, who angled one in from around the wicket and sneaked through the batsman’s defences. Shaun Marsh, who had batted so solidly with Warner in a 158-run opening stand, fell to a similar delivery from Philander for 63 - he did get his pad in the way, but nigel Llong’s lbw decision was also upheld on review.

There was precious little resistance from the rest of Australia’s order, although Adam Voges and Peter nevill at least reached the 20s. But Mitchell Marsh, under pressure to hold the no. 6 spot after selector Rod Marsh said last week “he needs to get a Test hundred I reckon”, fell a hundred runs short. He was lbw for an eight-ball duck to Philander, and perhaps the biggest worry was the distance by which he missed the ball.

Voges spooned a return catch to Rabada for 27, Starc was caught at midwicket for a duck off Maharaj, nevill was caught at slip off Maharaj for 23, though was unlucky Australia’s reviews were exhausted for he appeared not to have touched the ball. Josh Hazlewood was taken at gully off Philander for 4 and nathan Lyon was caught at slip off Philander for 0.

Peter Siddle remained unbeaten on 18, having helped Australia squeeze into the lead.

It was a quite remarkable collapse; not on the scale of Australia’s 47 all out in Cape Town, of course, but remarkable mostly because South Africa achieved all but one of the wickets without their best bowler. Australia went rapidly from complete dominance to serious danger of conceding a first-innings lead. By the change of innings, the Test was effectively all square. Still, South Africa needed to avoid the kind of top-order wobbles that had left them at 4 for 32 on the first morning. Stephen Cook and Elgar provided a more solid opening stand on this occasion, although Cook still could not survive for too long, and was caught for 12 pulling Siddle to midwicket.

The loss of Hashim Amla, who chopped on to Hazlewood for 1 - his first-innings duck meant a Test aggregate of one run in this match, equalling his career worst - had the potential to give Australia the momentum, but they could not find another breakthrough. By stumps, Elgar and Duminy had moved the total on to 2 for 104.

Poor Man Utd lose at Fenerbahce Istanbul Agencies

Fenerbahce scored two stunning goals to beat Manchester United and leave Jose Mourinho’s side in danger of Europa League elimination.

Striker Moussa Sow gave Fenerbahce the lead within 65 seconds with an overhead kick which sailed over David de Gea, and Jeremain Lens curled in a brilliant free-kick in the second half.

The visitors dominated possession but saw world-record signing Paul Pogba go off with a leg injury in the first half. Captain Wayne Rooney smashed in a 25-yard consolation goal late on.

Defeat means United are third in Group A - one point behind leaders Feyenoord and Fenerbahce - with two games left, against the Dutch side at Old Trafford and away to Ukraine’s Zorya Luhansk.

Qualification for the next stage remains in the Reds’ hands, but

Perth Agencies

Vernon Philander’s parting words to his new-ball partner Dale Steyn were a promise that Philander would do everything in his power to try and finish the job Steyn started and return home with a series win. Steyn will play no further part in the Tests after fracturing his right shoulder and Philander has taken it on himself to lead the pack.

“Losing big players leaves a big gap but there’s always an opportunity for someone else to step up,” Philander said. “In this game KG [Kagiso Rabada] and me will have to step up. That serves as motivation for us to step up and deliver. Dale’s done it for a long time and we owe it to him.”

So far, Philander has followed through. He took four for 56 in an exceptional second-day spell in which he found subtle seam movement and admitted he knew it would be up to him to ensure Australia did not get too far away. “Dale’s been the leader of this attack for a very long time

and it’s sad to see him go down like that. We had a job to do and that was to get the Aussies out as cheaply as possible, and it was a job well done by the rest of the bowlers,” Philander said. “It’s a responsibility that will be well taken by the rest of the team and the squad. We want to win this game for Dale as well.”

Steyn made one mark on the match though and it may yet to prove to be the most important - when he had David Warner caught at slip on 97 and sparked the Australian collapse. Although Warner may be secretly pleased he does not have to see Steyn for the rest of the series, he will miss the contest. “I am disappointed for Dale. After all the amp and the talk before the series, I know how pumped he would have been to play a big role. It is disappointing for him,” Warner said. “I hope he can get back on the park and play the competitive cricket that we’ve seen him play.”

Warner remains wary of a South African attack that has already shown it can bowl Australia out sans Steyn and despite depleted resources.

they will need to be more incisive against their next opponents.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho accused his players of approaching the loss to Fenerbahce as if it was a “summer friendly”. The Red Devils dropped to third in Group A of the Europa League following a 2-1 defeat in

Istanbul.

United have now won just two of their last seven games in all competitions.

“A team that concedes after two minutes is a team that is not ready, not mentally prepared, not focused, not concentrated,” said Mourinho.

Dale Steyn had to leave the field due to a shoulder injury, Australia v South Africa, 1st Test, Perth, 2nd day.

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.

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