E paper pdf (07 1 2017) lhr

CMYK

saturday, 7 January, 2017 i 8 Rabi-us-sani, 1438 i Rs 20.00 i vol vii No 189 i 20 Pages i Lahore Edition

PaNaMaGaTE hEaRiNG

Sharifs to prove how they came to own properties abroad g

Bench adjourns hearing till Monday

No extension in term of military courts, says Chaudhry Nisar STORY ON PAGE 03

India resists World Bank move to resolve Indus Waters Treaty dispute STORY ON PAGE 03

Govt approves Rs20 billion tax exemptions for OLMT project STORY ON PAGE 04

Kh Asif confirms Raheel Sharif appointed chief of Islamic military alliance STORY ON PAGE 02

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Mar yam Nawaz submits reply, says she is not ‘beneficial owner ’

Kashmir moot urges emerging world powers to help resolve Kashmir dispute STORY ON PAGE 02

ISLAMABAD SHAH NAWAZ MOHAL

T

he Panamagate case hearing continued consecutively for the third day here at Supreme Court before a bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa.

Continuing his arguments on ownership of London flats, PTI counsel Naeem Bukhari contended that using Maryam Nawaz’s name as the owner of these properties is just a smokescreen. In reality they are owned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself.

Bukhari informed the court that in

the last six years the Prime Minister has given more than Rs67 million as gift to his daughter in two instalments. he further argued that Maryam Nawaz had no source of income when those flats were bought.

Eight killed, 5 injured in trainrickshaw collision in Lodhran

CONTINUED ON PAGE 02

Multiple dead in Florida airport shooting STORY ON PAGE 04

Pakistan urges incoming Trump administration to play balanced, proactive role in South Asia DOssiER ON iNDia’s iNTERfERENCE, TERRORisM haNDED OvER TO UN ChiEf

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Railways Minister Saad Rafique orders inquiry

STORY ON PAGE 02

STORIES ON PAGE 03

02 NEWS Kh asif confirms raheel sharif appointed chief of islamic military alliance MONITORING DESK Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Friday confirmed the recent development that former army chief Raheel Sharif was made the chief of 39-nation Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism in Middle East. Speaking during a talk show of a private news channel, the minister said he didn’t have further details of the said agreement at the moment, but admitted that an agreement in this regard was finalised recently. The minister said the incumbent government was taken into confidence about it and due process was followed before finalising the agreement.

“The prime minister was also part of the deliberations,” he added. Asif said that any such assignment or posting required proper clearance from both the government and General Headquarters (GHQ). Pakistan had initially found itself in the crosshairs of Middle Eastern politics as Saudi Arabia named it as part of its newly formed military alliance of Muslim countries meant to combat terrorism, without first getting its consent. However, after initial ambiguity, the government had confirmed its participation in the alliance, but had said that the scope of its participation would be defined after Riyadh shared the details of the coalition it was assembling.

Civilian killed, 2 cops injured in Karachi grenade attack KaRaCHi: A police constable and ASI were injured while a rickshaw driver was killed in a grenade and gun attack by unidentified gunmen riding on motorcyclists in North Nazimabad area. Sources said that some unknown motorcyclists attacked Taimoori police station with a hand grenade. The blast occurred alongside the wall of the police station. Resultantly, ASI Iqbal, standing outside the police station sustained injuries and the suspects managed to escape from the scene. After some distance apart from police station, near Five Star Chorangi, they targeted a traffic police constable who also sustained bullet injuries. A nearby rickshaw driver, Ali Imran, when tried to catch these suspects, they opened fire at him. As a result he died on the spot. while the accused once again managed to escape. ONLINE

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

Kashmir moot urges world powers to help resolve Kashmir dispute ISLAMABAD

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LAMBASTS UNSC FOR ITS FAILURE TO INTERVENE IN THE ISSUE

MIAN ABRAR

HE speakers at the concluding session of the two-day International Seminar on Kashmir on Friday blasted the United Nations Security Council for its failure to play its role in resolving outstanding conflicts like Kashmir and Palestine, calling for new but emerging world powers like China and Russia to play their role in resolution of the Kashmir conflict.

The Seminar also called upon UN Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, OIC (Organization of Islamic Countries) and elected representatives in the UK and Australia to hold an independent investigation into human rights (HR) violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

Chairman Foreign Relations Committee of the National Assembly Awais Khan Leghari co-chaired the plenary on Pakistan-India relations with PM Azad Jammu and Kashmir Rajad Farooq Haider Khan at Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS).

Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, PTI leader Shehryar Afridi and others also addressed at the forum organised by Young Parliamentarians Forum in collaboration with the Min-

istry of Foreign Affairs and PIPS. Nafees Zakria, the man behind the successful event, made sure that not only top parliamentarians of the world but also scholars from across the globe attended the moot. In his speech, Awais Leghari said India has millions of unemployed youth but it continues to spend billions of dollars on its army.

"Foreign countries use Pakistan and India as proxies. The United States is supporting India with its military assistance, including the recent sale of Howitzer missiles despite the ongoing human rights crisis in Kashmir. No international country has sought to solve the water issue with India despite Narendra Modi giving irresponsible statement, one after the other," he added. Awais Khan said United Nations’ resolutions were not being implemented because of vested interests.

"Media, especially from the India side, needs to be more responsible and play their role. Instead they are badmouthing Pakistan for more ratings and advertisement money. Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of Pakistan has already made recommendations on India-Pakistan relations and they need to be looked at and imple-

mented," he maintained.

Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani said that United Nations has become a redundant institution which only listens to the tunes of Western and American imperialism. Whereas the world community has become a silent spectator to the atrocities and human rights violations in the Indian-held Kashmir. Rabbani called for reassessing the ground realities for a fresh and a comprehensive Kashmir policy with a focus on sensitising the world about human rights violations and the right of self-determination.

He said that the rape has become a weapon of war in Kashmir and hundreds of Kashmiris have lost their eyesight due to use of pallet guns by Indian forces. PTI young leader Shehryar Afridi said the shadows of war haunt the future of Pakistan and India collectively. He said despite a history of wars between France and Britain, both nations transformed into a model example of bilateral relationship.

"The poor remains deprived of bread and butter while the forces are equipped with expensive ammunition to kill the civilians as a punishment for being born on the other side of the bor-

der," he said and added that this needs to be changed.

Resolution passed: The participants from Canada, the UK, EU, and Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan carried a detailed resolution on the second day of the conference and called on India to cease forthwith all human rights violations against and stop bloodshed of the people of Jammu and Kashmir; and urged India to allow UN/Independent investigations into the human rights situation, to establish responsibility and determine appropriate punishment for the perpetrators of such crimes that are against International Humanitarian Law and international Human Rights Law. Recalling the massacres committed in IOK by Indian occupation forces between 1990 and 2016, the resolution took note of the findings of International People Tribunal's Report, entitled; Buried Evidence in the wake of discovery of unnamed and unmarked mass graves in IOK. It also called on India to withdraw all its troops including Armed Constabulary from Jammu and Kashmir, particularly from cities, towns and villages to enable resumption of normal life and create enabling environment for the plebiscite to be held under the auspices of the UN as enshrined in the UNSC resolutions on Kashmir.

Eight killed in Lodhran train-rickshaw collision MULTAN APP

At least eight people including seven students and a rickshaw driver were killed while another five sustained injuries as a train hit a motorbike rickshaw near Jalalpur Morr Lodhran, about 40 kilometres away from here on Friday morning.

Multan Divisional Commercial Officer (DCO) Nabeela Aslam said that 12-Down Hazara Express was heading for Karachi when it hit a rickshaw at 8am near Jalalpur Morr level crossing at Lodhran.

She said that eight people including seven students and the motorbike rickshaw driver died on the spot and an-

other five people including a passer-by received injuries in the accident.

She said that the injured were shifted to Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur.

She said that Lodhran police arrested the level crossing guard identified as Afzal and train driver and assistant driver Iftikhar and Tauqir.

She said that Federal Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafiq would visit hospital to inquire about the injured. Nabeela said that an inquiry committee consisting of three officials had been constituted which would investigate the matter from January 7.

MS Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur Dr Rao Javed said that one injured, Maryum, 6, daughter of Nadeem, succumbed to her head in-

jury. He said that five wounded being treated were identified as Saqlain, 6, son of Amjad, Yusuf, 8, son of Akbar Ali, Arslan, 11, son of Salman, Salman, 6, son of Kashif, and Zahid, 6, son of Nadeem. He said that two of the injured were being treated at Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while others were admitted to different wards. He said that four, out of five, had severe head injuries while one was brought with minor injury.

According to Rescue sources, all the victims belonged to Member Wala Khooh, Mouza Kundi, Lodhran. The deceased included Sajjad, son of Ishtiaq, Irfan, son of Salman, Usman and Danish and three others yet to be identified, Rescue sources added.

Meanwhile, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has said that responsible of Lodhran accident would not be spared after comprehensive inquiry and initial inquiry report of the accident was expected within 24 hours.

However, both drivers of the train and gate keeper have been arrested and investigation team has reached at the spot, he added.

He was addressing a press conference about Lodhran accident at Lahore Railways Headquarters on Friday.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has expressed grief and sorrow over the accident at Lodhran Railway crossing. The CM Shahbaz also directed concerned authorities to provide best medical facilities to the injured.

Sharifs to prove how they come to own properties abroad CONTINUED fROM pAGE 01 He also argued that the bench has laid the burden of proof regarding money that was used to buy London

flats squarely on the Sharifs.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa remarked that the court has the power to ask for documents and evidence. ‘The court is not powerless as far as documents are

MARYAM NAWAZ IS THE OWNER OF MINERVA LTD: FAWAD CH ISLAMABAD: PTI Spokesman Fawad Chaudhry has said that evidence has been submitted in the court which proves that Maryam Nawaz is the beneficial owners of Minerva Financial Limited and she is benami of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He said this while talking to media after the hearing of Panamagate case in Supreme Court (SC) here on Friday. He said that Maryam Nawaz is the beneficial owner of Minerva Minerva Financial Limited along with being the owner of Nelson, Nescol and London flats. We have proved through documents presented in the court that Maryam Nawaz is not trustee and she is an owner.

He held that Hussain Nawaz gifted Rs740 million to PM Nawaz Sharif while no tax was paid upon this amount. He also said that the Chairman NAB has in cahoots with the government on money laundering and other matters. He said that the PM gave Rs40 million to Maryam Nawaz in 2011 and gifted another Rs50 million to her in 2012. The PM then gave Rs30 million to her in 2013.

Hassan Nawaz gave a loan of more than Rs 20 million to Maryam Nawaz as well. These transactions revolve around Nawaz Sharif, proving that Maryam Nawaz is benami of her father Nawaz Sharif, he added. ONLINE

concerned. We can ask Sharif family to present before us complete records regarding the money used to buy flats in London,’ he remarked.

He also said that failure to establish ownership of Minerva Financial Limited

by Sharif family’s counsels, the court will consider claims made by opponents. Justice Khosa also said that the onus of proof lies on the one who is in possession of property. PTI’s counsel told the court that the investigative organisation was informed that London flats were never rented out and that they are in use of Maryam Nawaz and her family.

Justice Aijaz Afzal asked Bukhari how and when flats were transferred to Maryam Nawaz. ‘Do you have any documentary evidence of transfer of property to Maryam Nawaz?’ he asked. He replied that the onus lies on Maryam Nawaz to prove otherwise by providing documents in her possession.

Maryam Nawaz also submitted her reply through her counsel Shahid Hamid.

She denies all allegations and says that she is not the beneficial owner of any property. She said that she is a trustee and a signatory of family companies.

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PTI Chairman Imran Khan submitted an interview by finance advisor to Sharif family, Haroon Pasha, on 6th December 2016 as evidence and asked the bench to kindly make it part of record.

The bench was of the opinion that the main question is the presentation of

record before the court. Justice Aijaz Afzal remarked that the court is neither conducting an inquiry nor is a trial court.

The court adjourned the hearing till Monday 9th January 2017 when PTI counsel Naeem Bukhari will continue his arguments.

PTI IS LYING IN THE COURT AND MISLEADING MASSES, SAYS TALAL CH ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Muhammad Tallal Chaudhry said on Friday that lawyers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have lied in the court in Panama Papers case and misled the masses through submission of unverified documents. He says PTI has failed to prove dependency of Maryam Nawaz in the court. Talking to media outside the Supreme Court after hearing of Panamagate case here, he said PTI lawyers have solved half the case as they were connecting the assets with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He said that it was the responsibility of the PTI to prove ownership of Sharif family’s flats in London before 2006 because it was their allegation. “We did not change our stance. We will prove what we said in the court,” he said. He asked the nation to observe Friday as “Hidayat Day” for Imran Khan and next Friday as “Thanks Day”. PTI Chairman Imran Khan should understand that mere allegations are not enough and he has to present solid evidences in the court to prove them. APP

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

NEWS

maleeha urges trump to adopt balanced approach in south asia NEW YORK APP

Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi has urged the incoming President-elect Donald Tump’s administration to play a more proactive role in defusing tensions between India and Pakistan stemming from the ‘inflamed’ situation in Kashmir and help resolve this decades-old dispute to usher in peace in the region. “I think that can only happen if it (the United States) has a more balanced policy in South Asia,” Maleeha Lodhi said during a wide-ranging discussion at the platform of World Affairs Council, a Washington-based think-tank dedicated to open discourse across sectors to better inform on timely matters of global importance. The discussion with Ms Lodhi was conducted by US Congressman James Moran at the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations in New York. The event was part of a series about “Women Ambassadors in the United States.” Asked about tensions between Pakistan and India, she said the United States was in a unique position as it has good relations with both Islamabad and New Delhi, enabling it to role of building bridges between two countries.

“Somebody needs to play this role and we think the United States is in the best position to do that,” the Pakistani envoy said.

“I mean at this point in time, for example, the situation in Kashmir - the long-standing dispute between Pakistan and India—is once again inflamed; the situation is grave, it poses a critical threat to regional peace and security and again, you know, what we like to see is the United States not coming as a fire brigade to put out a fire but to come in at a time where it can avert any kind of crisis from brewing and exploding actually. “So I am not suggesting that’s about to happen but I am saying before the next crisis happens this is a role of leadership that the United States can play”.

Elaborating her call for a more balanced policy in South Asia, Ambassador Lodhi said, “In recent years we in Pakistan have felt that the United States lacked balance in its approach to South Asia, and as a result we lost something in the relationship”.

She said the lack of balance was best represented in the nuclear deal—the civilian nuclear deal that the Bush administration pursued and in fact concluded with India— which was a discriminatory nuclear policy towards the region and had consequences for it. Asked whether a plebiscite in Kashmir could pave the way to peace, Ambassador Lodhi referred to a series of UN Security Council resolutions calling for enabling the Kashmiri people to determine their own destiny that have not been implemented. “We say and I have said that several times at the UN that the people of Kashmir have waited for seventy years to see justice done to their cause, to see Security Council resolutions being implemented, so we do believe that the answer to the instability in our region which is caused by primarily and principally the dispute over Kashmir should be resolved”.

“We’ve got to find a negotiated peace in Afghanistan—that is the consensus of the United Nations and that is the consensus of the international community. I know the United States is dedicated also to this goal, but dedication may not be enough, it needs to be proactively involved in order to achieve and accomplish this goal.”

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CloCK running down on military Courts trying suspeCted terrorists

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Pakistani law allowing military courts to try suspected terrorists is set to expire on Saturday, but the government has been silent on its renewal.

Lawmakers amended the constitution in January 2015, responding to an attack by Taliban fighters on a militaryrun school that killed 134 children, but inserted an expiry clause to keep the measure temporary.

Experts say Pakistan’s government would be reluctant to push for a renewal amendment just over a year ahead of a general election due by May 2018.

“But if the civilian judicial system fails to perform, and things go back as they were before 2015, we may have no choice but to clamor for a similar amendment,” said human rights lawyer Yasser Latif Hamdani.

A government spokesman and interior ministry officials did not respond to telephone calls to ask about the future of the courts. A proposal to replace the military courts with “speedy-trial courts” was being considered, an interior ministry official said on condition of anonymity, without elaborating. At

No extension in military courts’ term: Nisar Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that suggestion pertaining to extension in time period of military courts has not been under consideration.

The statement of the minister comes hours before the expiry of 21st Amendment, which allowed formation of military courts to try civilian suspects of terrorism for a period of two years. Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf has already said that terrorismrelated cases will now be forwarded to anti-terrorism courts (ATCs), as the term for military courts expires on January 7. Sources with the Ministry of Interior told a private news channel that, from tomorrow, around 160 cases being tried in the military courts will be handed over to ATCs. Pakistan’s political leadership, days after the Army Public School Peshawar attack that left over 140 people—majority children— dead in December 2014, had agreed to set up military courts for two years to cope with the scourge of terrorism that claimed thousands of lives over the recent years. Representatives of political parties had then unanimously approved a resolution during a meeting of parliamentary parties chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. NEwS DESk

the time the law was introduced, MPs and the military argued that civilian courts were too slow for terrorism cases needed to be dealt with swiftly, since

many judges, fearful of revenge, were reluctant to deliver verdicts.

A total of 275 cases have been referred to the military courts and 12 con-

Pakistan hands over dossier on Indian cross border terrorism to UN secretary general ISLAMABAD AGENCIES

Pakistan has asked the United Nations to restrain India from interfering in Pakistan and from activities aimed at destabilising Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, delivered Friday a dossier on India’s interference and terrorism in Pakistan, to the United Nations’ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, along with a letter from Mr Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs.

The dossier contains additional information and proof of Indian/RAW interference in Pakistan and involvement in terrorism, particularly in Balochistan, FATA and Karachi. This is a follow up to the three dossiers which were shared with the United Nations in October 2015.

In the covering letter sent with

the dossier, Sartaj Aziz noted that the arrest of Indian RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav from Balochistan and his confessional statement admitting involvement in activities aimed at destabilising Pakistan, and support to terrorist elements vindicated Pakistan’s longstanding position about India’s involvement in such activities. India was carrying out these activities in clear contravention of the UN Charter and the resolutions of the UN Security Council on counter-terrorism and international conventions on terrorism. India’s hostile intentions towards Pakistan were also borne out by recent statements of its political and military leadership.

The Adviser added that Pakistan had made a major contribution to global counter-terrorism efforts and secured significant gains in its domestic fight against terrorism. This achievement had come at a great national cost, including the lives lost of thousands

of civilians and security forces personnel. India’s actions threatened to undermine these gains.

He urged the Secretary General and relevant United Nations bodies to seriously consider the matter in the light of information shared by Pakistan and play a role in restraining India from these activities, which were in clear violation of international law and posed a threat to regional and international peace and security.

Pakistan continues to desire peace with all its neighbours including India. It is convinced that the common objectives of economic development and prosperity for our people can best be promoted through regional cooperation, conflict resolution and peaceful settlement of disputes. At the same time, however, Pakistan will resolutely defend its territorial integrity and take all necessary measures to counter any threat to its security.

victs executed, the interior ministry says. The tribunals have sentenced 161 people to death and handed jail terms, mostly life sentences, to 116.

“Military courts should never have the jurisdiction to try civilians, nor should they ever have the authority to impose death sentences,” rights group Amnesty International said in a report after the courts were established.

At least 27 convicts filed appeals with civilian courts, alleging coercion of confessions and denial of access to lawyers and evidence, Reuters research and media reports show. Besides the opaque nature of the military courts, they have diverted focus from the need for wider judicial reform, lawyers say.

“The end of military courts will make no huge difference, as they weren’t conceived to fix the criminal justice system or end terrorism,” lawyer Babar Sattar told Reuters. The measure sought to keep the military from getting too entangled in the criminal justice process, he said, while hastening proceedings for those arrested in military operations.

“It was an instrument of convenience,” Sattar said. AGENCIES

Five hazara men injured in Quetta gun attack NEWS DESK Unidentified gunmen injured five members of Hazara community in a targeted attack in Quetta on Friday, police said.

According to police officals, the victims were on their way to home in a taxi when armed assailants riding a motorbike opened fire at them and fled from the scene. Deputy Inspector General Police Quetta Razzak Cheema said the assailants shot and injured the five Hazara community members on Spini Road in Qila Mubarak area, adding that initial investigation indicated it was a targeted attack.

The injured identified as Najeeb Ali, Najeeb, Javed, Qazim Ali and Irfan were ferried to Combined Military Hospital, where doctors said two of them were in critical condition. Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the entire area and started efforts to arrest the outlaws. Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri condemned the incident and directed security forces to arrest the culprits at the earliest. Meanwhile, at least four suspected militants were killed in a trade of fire with security forces in Balochistan’s Naseerabad district on Friday. A security official said that security forces conducted a search operation in Uch and other areas of Naseerabad district.

INDIA RESISTS WORLD BANK MOVE TO RESOLVE INDUS WATERS TREATY DISPUTE NEWS DESK Pakistan’s former Indus Water Commissioner has claimed the World Bank (WB), the arbitrator between Islamabad and New Delhi over an ongoing water dispute, bowed to Indian pressure.

“In my view the World Bank has bowed to Indian pressure which in turn is stalling on the process of resolution by a Court of Arbitration (CoA),” Jamait Ali Shah said during an interview with The Third Pole, a non-profit organisation.

Shah added that Pakistan had approached the WB to set up the CoA as a last resort only after it failed to resolve the issue bilaterally with its arch rival.

India recently revealed its intentions to block waters flowing into Pakistan.

However, Islamabad took an exception to the Indian designs, saying any such move would be taken as open aggression. Pakistan disputed India’s move to construct two power plants – the 330-megawatt Kishanganga hydropower plant and 850megawatt Ratle hydroelectric power plant. The power plants are being built by India on the Kishanganga and Chenab rivers respectively. eXeRCise in FutilitY: According to the ex-commissioner, the WB’s request to restart bilateral negotiations at the level of the Indus Commission is going to be an exercise in futility. “To

my mind, this dilly dallying on the part of the Bank only reinforces the latter’s intention to give impetus to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s threat of scrapping the treaty,” he posited.

Shah went on to suggest that it was very alarming for Islamabad and there had been suspicion that India was pushing Pakistan for a Treaty II only on the western rivers, the waters of which were allocated to the latter in 1960. “That is why the Bank and the US are seen debating it and dictating Pakistan for an amicable resolution (revision in the treaty). Or at least India wants to get out of the restriction laid down on them in the IWT regard-

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ing western rivers, as India cannot liberally utilise these waters as per its will and demand,” he said.

MinistRY’s disinteRest: In response to a question regarding what strategy should Pakistan adopt in face of the growing hastily from its eastern neighbour, the former commissioner said the disinterest in matters of the ministry of water and power had added to the damage.

“Pakistan first notified India for resolution of the questions (on Kishanganga and Ratle projects) by a NE (neutral expert) and then withdrew it, then approached the Bank for a CoA,” he said adding that it was an issue to be

resolved by the NE being technical/design in nature.

According to Shah, processing the issue through CoA was not required. “But the question that comes to mind is to look deeper in the vested interest in the deadlock,” he said. “Who is guiding Pakistan to go round in circles? Most importantly, who engaged the two law firms in Washington DC which decided to process the case for CoA through the Bank?”

Claiming that many people aim to benefit from the case being taken from one authority to another, Shah said the expenses incurred were Rs300 million of which Rs190 million have already been paid.

04 NEWS

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

‘HeAltHcAre initiAtives being tAken on A priority bAsis’ ISLaMaBad

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APP

RIME Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday terming the healthcare sector as one of his top priorities said the government was taking initiatives for the uplift of poorest of the poor patients.

The prime minister stated this in his address at the foundation-laying ceremony of King Hamad University of Nursing and Associated Medical Sciences. Bahrain’s National Guard Commander Lt-Gen Sheikh Muhammad bin Essa bin Salman was also present on the occasion.

The King Hamad University of Nursing and Associated Medical Sciences to be built in Chak Shehzad is a gift from Bahrain and will be affiliated with Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland.

Addressing at the event, the prime minister said in view of the dearth of trained nursing and training staff in the country, the noble project by Bahrain would help fill gap in healthcare sector.

Nawaz Sharif said nursing care was an area facing major challenges in Pakistan due to neglect in previous years and thus required a serious

revamp. He said the project would upgrade the quality of nursing profession and bring it at par with international standards.

He expressed gratitude to King of Bahrain Hamad bin Essa al Khalifa for the project, which he said symbolised the bond of friendship between the two countries.

The prime minister termed the nursing university another remarkable addition in the an-

nals of Pakistan-Bahrain cooperation.

He said the government was committed to uplift of healthcare sector and mentioned that under National Health Programme launched in 2015, fifty new hospitals would be constructed across the country. He said the same programme would also provide free primary and tertiary healthcare to patients, adding the programme being carried out on periodic basis would eventually benefit 100 million persons.

The PM also mentioned the free-of-cost immunisation for infants and pregnant mothers besides continuity of anti-polio campaign.

State Minister for Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar giving salient features of the project said the state-of-the-art university would completely transform nursing sector in Pakistan.

The minister said the graduates of the university affiliated with prestigious Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland would have an edge in local and international markets.

Earlier, the PM flanked by Lt-Gen Sheikh Muhammad bin Essa unveiled the plaque of King Hamad Nursing University and Associated Medical Sciences.

FORT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT SHOOTING

Multiple people killed, suspect in custody: official Fort LauderdaLe Agencies

Multiple people were killed in a shooting Friday at the Fort Lauderdale airport, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said on Twitter. The gunman is in custody and was a lone shooter, Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief told CNN on Friday.

“We have no evidence at this time that he was acting with anyone else. He is currently in custody and we’re investigating,” Sharief said. Investigators are looking into the suspect’s motive, she said. At least nine people were injured in a shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport on Friday, a US official familiar with the incident said. The shooter is in custody, according to the official. Parts of the airport were apparently evacuated. Aerial footage from CNN affiliates showed large groups of people standing outside on the tarmac.

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said in a tweet: “I’m at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Shots have been fired. Everyone is running.” Airport officials said on Twitter that there is an “ongoing incident” in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2. Multiple reports on social media — including tweets from former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, described the shooting. Florida Governor Rick Scott is travelling to the airport to be briefed by law enforcement. More casualties are feared. It is pertinent to mention here that domestic arrival/departure in America has relatively laxed security and the chances of a shooter bringing weapons are a bit higher as compared to international arrival/departure.

Altaf issues ‘last’ welcome back call to dissidents

MINOR CHILD TORTURE CASE: TWO CLAIM PARENTHOOD

DNA test to be conducted to confirm girl’s parents ISLaMaBad HAMiD KHAn WAZiR

The torture case of a minor child took another twist when two different persons came to the fore claiming that Tayyaba — the little girl who was allegedly tortured while working at the residence of Additional Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan, was their daughter.

In order to ascertain the truth, a four-member medical board headed

by Prof Dr Tariq Iqbal, Director, Burn Care Center, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), has been constituted. Talking to Pakistan Today, PIMS Administrator Dr Altaf said that a four-member medical board has been constituted to identify the parents of Tayyaba, as there were two families claiming that she was their daughter.

He said that all the arrangements have been made to conduct her NDA test but she was not brought to the hospital on Friday.

Tayyaba has mysteriously disappeared along with her father Mohammad Azam on Thursday after the Supreme Court summoned them following an out of court settlement between the two families.

The whereabouts of the girl and her father are still not known. Dr Altaf said that blood samples of two different persons claiming to be the parents of Tayyaba, who were identified as Zafar and Farzana, residents of Faisalabad, were taken.

Similarly, he said that blood sample of another woman namely Kausar Bibi and her sister were also taken. However, he said that the medical board could not proceed the case until Tayyaba is not been produced and her blood sample is not received. To a question, he said that blood sample of the parent who reached an out of settlement with the judge family could not be taken because they were not brought to the hospital.

Earlier, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar—- headed a two-member bench hearing the suo moto case, asked the police official, “Where is Tayyaba?” However, Islamabad advocate general was clueless about her whereabouts and said Tayyaba could not be found; however a medical board comprising doctors from PIMS had been constituted to carry out her medical examination.

Justice Saqib Nisar said that if

the child is not present how the medical examination can take place, adding that the whereabouts of Tayyaba should be found and she should be presented before the court.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar directed the police to use modern methods of investigation to complete the probe by Wednesday and present findings. CJP Nisar remarked, “No ‘agreements’ can be reached in matters concerning fundamental human rights.”

“Even parents cannot deny children their fundamental rights,” the judge observed. “How did they reach a settlement on torture against the child? CJP Nisar was referring to affidavits submitted in

court earlier this week after the father of the girl ‘forgave’ her alleged tormentors, Additional Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan and his wife, Maheen Zafar.

In the affidavits, the girl’s father Mohammad Azam, her mother Nusrat Bibi and her aunt Pathani Bibi had stated, “I reached a settlement with Raja Khurram Ali Khan and his wife Maheen Zafar with my free will and hence forgiving them unconditionally.” The apex court ordered the DIG Operations Islamabad to form and head an investigative committee to probe the case. Expressing trust in the police, the court ordered them to bring the truth to light.

KaraCHI AAMiR MAJeeD

There were reports that Muttaheda Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder-leader Altaf Hussain issued a ‘last’ comeback call to the dissident party workers and leaders ahead of January 21 rally, reliable sources claimed. As per sources, London-based party leaders called disgruntled party leaders and informed them that the founder has given them a last chance to return back to the party. It may be pertinent to mention here that MQM-Pakistan Convener Dr Farooq Sattar along with almost all elected members of the National and Provincial assemblies parted ways with Altaf Hussain after his August 22, 2016, anti-state speech.

An uncomfortable atmosphere prevailed in the quarters of Muttaheda Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) following the announcement of a rally in the city this month by the MQMLondon (MQM-L). An inside discussion was going on that whether announced rally would be held in the metropolis on as per announced schedule or not. A parallel discussion was also going on that who will participate in this rally if it is held. As per sources, the London-based leadership had made a contact with all the leaders of the MQM-P and conveyed them the decision taken by the founder ahead of January 21 rally. London-based party leaders had announced a rally on January 21 from Aysha Manzil to Mazar-e-Quaid in response to MQM-Pakistan public gathering at Nishtar Park on December 30. Requesting anonymity, a MQM-Pakistan MNA told this scribe that he has been approached by London-based party leadership and informed him about welcome back decision of Altaf Hussain. “I am looking into the offer and discussing it with the likeminded friends,” the MNA maintained. When he was asked about rejoining Altaf Hussain, he claimed except Dr Farooq Sattar and few others, all disgruntled party leaders and workers are considering seriously rejoining founder leader on an appropriate time. MQM-Pakistan member Coordination Committee Ameen-ul Haque when approached for confirmation of such reports, he didn’t deny such reports but maintained that he had no information in this regard.

ECC EXEMPTS MACHINERY IMPORTS FOR OLMT FROM TAXES AND DUTIES ISLaMaBad AMeR siAL

In a major decision, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Friday decided to grant exemption from taxes and duties on import of machinery and equipment for the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project.

An official source said the committee also decided to extend similar exemption to other rail based mass transit projects in other provincial headquarters, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. The exemptions

were granted as Chinese firms have raised serious concerns over the taxes and duties, which they said resulted in inordinate delays in release of machinery and equipment in case of any conflict over assessment of duty with tax authorities. It also increased the project costs.

The source said that the taxes and duties were deemed a cause of inordinate delay in the execution of the projects. The government wants orange line project completed or near completion before the next general elections. The government wants that all the development projects

should be executed with full speed and would not tolerate red tape intervention to slow their progress. It is important to mention that the JCC has approved railbased mass transit projects in three provincial capitals, the Greater Peshawar Mass Transit, Karachi Circular Railway and Quetta Mass Transit. All these four mass transit projects have been made part of the CPEC framework. The source said that a similar exemption for establishment industrial zones in provinces was also under consideration. The government has already granted exemptions for setting up

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industries in Gwadar. JCC has approved establishment of nine new industrial zones in different parts of the country, including one each in four provinces.

An official handout said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting of the ECC meeting. The ECC approved the proposal of the Planning, Development and Reform Division at the request of the Government of Punjab to grant exemptions from withholding tax beyond 6 per cent of E&M contract price, and from taxes and duties on import of equipment to be installed for the Lahore Orange Line

Metro Train Project. The ECC also decided that a similar dispensation would also be extended to the other rail based mass transit projects in Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta at the appropriate time.

The meeting was informed that the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project has been made a part of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) along with rail based mass transit projects in other provincial capitals at the recently concluded sixth Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting held in Beijing, China.

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

IncOmIng trump admInIStratIOn aSKS ‘pOlItIcal amBaSSadOrS’ pOSted aBrOad tO reSIgn

u

WASHINGTON AGENCIES

S ambassadors posted in some of the important world capitals such as London and Paris have been asked to resign by January 20, the day President-elect Donald Trump takes the White House.

According to a report by the Washington Post, US State Department officials have confirmed the unusually ‘stern and specific’ directives being issued to ‘political’ ambassadors with no exceptions. Such appointees are often presidential donors and friends.The demand for the political ambassadors to resign came at the behest of the incoming Trump administration, according to the report quoting the State Department officials.

The instruction is apparently aimed at disallowing any extensions often made citing family circumstances such as allowing children to finish school year etc. Past administrations have allowed such conces-

sions. The report said that the Obama administration has already directed the ‘noncareer’ ambassadors to submit their

resignations effective from January 20, and ambassadors have complied.

In the past, a small number of ambas-

NEWS

sadors have sought brief extension after submitting their resignation for personal or professional reasons. The new directive, however, forbids such allowances.

Trump transition officials, according to the report, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the order or whether it was intended to break with precedent.

Those being impacted by the directive include high-profile Obama envoys such as Jane Hartley, a Democratic fundraiser who has served as ambassador to France and Daniel Shapiro, a former Democratic congressional aide and Obama adviser who became ambassador to Israel in 2011. Trump has already named one of his advisers, David Friedman, for the ambassadorial post in Israel.

As it takes months to select and confirm ambassadors from outside the State Department, appointments in key world capitals in Europe, Asia and Middle East would likely remain empty this spring.

‘FEDERAL, PUNJAB GOVTS FAILED TO DELIVER’

PPP Punjab issues ‘white paper’ LAHORE ONLINE

People’s Party Punjab Provincial Parliamentary Party issued a “White Paper” on failures of federal and Punjab governments during 2016 listing 25 major scandals of PML-N. In a white paper issued by MPA Faiza Malik from People’s Party Punjab Provincial Parliamentary Party, it was stated that the PML-N was safeguarding its corruption and both the governments were using the name of democracy. The government deprived the regulatory bodies of their autonomy to allow corruption.

The report of Justice Qazi Essa has revealed the failures of the government regarding implementation on National Action Plan. The deficit of Pakistan International Airline, Pakistan Railways and Pakistan Steel Mills spiked up to Rs 705 billion.

The government failed to address the reservation of Opposition and nationalist parties on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The dismal national rating of 146

out of 188 in Human Development Index was another indication of the poor performance of the government.

The PML-N government has so far borrowed more than Rs 2500 crore. More than 63 train accidents, 150 suicides, 86 incidents of rapes, 1624 protests against the government in Lahore alone, six per cent increase in crime rate in Punjab during 2016 were enough statistics to prove the bad governance and corrupt ways of PMLN. Furthermore, 65627 absconders were roaming scotfree in Punjab while poor people were denied health facilities and forced to use donkey cart for transportation of critical patients. The government could not appoint heads of 900 public educational institutions throughout last year. Nearly 500 public schools were under illegal occupation. The current government has reduced the education spending to less than two per cent of GDP. It was further revealed in ‘White Paper’ that the total domestic debt of PIA increased from Rs 80 billion to Rs 100 billion in one year while WAPDA borrowed Rs 37 billion increasing its total debt to Rs 56 billion during 2016.

Similarly, the total liabilities of PSM jumped up to Rs 43 billion while the circular debt of power sector has again reached to Rs 350 billion’s threshold.

Pakistan has fallen to 123rd place in Standard of Education Index during the regime of current rulers.

Around 300,000 children were out of school in Lahore alone while the female illiteracy rate is 36.6pc in urban areas and 69.4pc in rural areas.

The crime rate has witnessed a surge of 7pc in Lahore while gang rape incidents saw 75pc increase in Lahore, 300pc in DG Khan, 18pc in Rawalpindi and 17pc in Sargodha. Moreover, there were 23000 more crimes happened during 2016 than previous year. The child-kidnapping scandals also rocked the major cities of Punjab during 2016. The ‘White Paper’, quoting APTMA, stated that more than 500 industrial units were forced shut down due to power crisis leaving two million people unemployed. These realities show the stark contradictions between the election promises and real performance of PML-N.

SU officers demand judicial inquiry into student’s death HYDERABAD APP

The Sindh University Officers Welfare Association (SUOWA) has demanded the conduct of a fair inquiry into the mysterious death of a female student, Naila Rind, who was found hanged in her hostel room. The association put this demand atop their 13-point ‘Charter of Demands’ which was submitted to the University of Sindh Muhammad Acting Vice Chancellor Siddique Kalhoro on Thursday evening, according to a press release.

A six-member delegation of the SUOWA comprising of President Ghulam Nabi Kaka, General Secretary Engr Sajjad Hussain Shah, Vice President Iftikhar

Ahmed Pathan, Joint Secretary Aachar Khan Ahmedani, Finance Secretary Maula Bux Rind, and Press Secretary Nadir Ali Mugheri reached the VC’s office and submitted their charter of demands to the acting vice chancellor. In its demands, the association demanded that a judicial commission should be constituted to find out the cause of death of final year student Naila Rind. Other demands included due promotions, issuance of rectified seniority lists, removal of various in-charges and conveners, awarding of higher grades to certain officers according to varsity code, and allocation of offices.

The association warned that if the university management failed to accept these demands, a petition would be filed in the court of law.

SuSpect arreSted MONITORING REPORT: Police have arrested a suspect in the case of the mysterious death of a female student in Sindh University’s hostel, officials said on Friday. Briefing the media here, Hyderabad DIG Khadim Rind claimed to have arrested a suspect and recovered images and videos of 30 other girls from him. “The suspect used to blackmail young girls,” he stated. “Police traced him with the help of mobile data that showed that he was in contact with the deceased girl,” the DIG added. Rind further said that the body had been sent for a postmortem and that no signs of torture had been found. Reportedly, the family of the deceased are satisfied with the police’s findings regarding the case. Initial reports suggested that Naila Rind had committed suicide by hanging herself after she was found dead in her hostel room. Hailing from a village near Qambar, Sindh, she was enrolled in the university’s Sindhi department.

05

Britain acknowledges pakistan’s efforts for regional peace RAWALPINDI: British High Commissioner Thomas Drew on Friday called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at General Headquarters, Rawalpindi. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest and regional security were discussed, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said. The visiting dignitary acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan’s continuous efforts for peace and stability in the region. The COAS underscored the importance Pakistan attaches to the support of all nations in Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate terrorism. APP

president for early implementation of Fata reforms ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday appreciated the good work done by FATA Reforms Committee (FRC) for framing comprehensive reforms in consultation with all stakeholders for mainstreaming FATA. He urged for early implementation of the recommendations for transforming the lives of people of the area.

The president said this while being briefed on FATA Reforms by Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at Aiwan-e-Sadr. KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch, Minister for Law Zahid Hamid and senior officials also attended the meeting. Mamnoon expressed optimism that the FATA Reforms Committee will soon be able to develop a complete consensus on the proposed reforms which will be a milestone in granting due political, legal and constitutional rights to the people of FATA. APP

IOK: Indian troops kill youth ISLAMABAD: Indian troops in occupied Kashmir, in their fresh act of state terrorism, martyred a Kashmiri youth in Badgam district on Friday.

According to Kashmir Media Services, the troops killed a youth during a siege and search operation at Gulzarpora in Muchwa area of the district.

The operation continued till the last reports came in. Indian troops and police personnel have cordoned off the area and have launched a massive operation. Meanwhile, thousands of people on Friday participated in the funeral prayers of a Lashkar-e-Taiba’s militant Muzaffar Ahmad Naiku who was killed in an encounter with forces in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Witnesses said that people staged a pro-freedom demonstration after the funeral prayers of Naiku alias Muza Moulvi at his native Batpora village of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Police and paramilitary forces deployed in the area fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters, they said. APP

US army eases rules on beards, turbans for Muslim, Sikh troops AGENCIES The US army has taken new steps to make it easier for Sikhs, Muslims and other religious minorities to obtain approval to dress and groom themselves according to their religious customs while serving in the military, a spokesman said on Thursday.

Army Secretary Eric Fanning, in a memorandum signed this week, revised the uniform policy to set appearance standards for people seeking religious accom-

modations to wear beards, turbans and head scarfs. The new rules also enable brigade-level commanders to approve the religious accommodations, an authority that previously rested with the army secretary. Denial of a religious accommodation may be appealed as high as the army secretary. An approved religious accommodation will continue throughout the soldier’s career and may not be revoked or modified without approval of the army secretary, the memo says. The accommodation will not affect job specialties or

duty locations, except in a few limited cases, the memo says.

“Our goal is to balance soldier readiness and safety with the accommodation of our soldiers’ faith practices, and this latest directive allows us to do that,” Lieutenant Colonel Randy Taylor said in a statement. The new rules were welcomed by the Sikh Coalition. “We are pleased with the progress that this new policy represents for religious tolerance and diversity,” said coalition Legal Director Harsimran Kaur.

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Sikhs have a long tradition of military service in India and elsewhere and have served in the United States as far back as World War One. But uniform reforms after the Vietnam War made it difficult for them to serve without violating the tenets of their faith.

The new rules permit religious accommodations for beards, but they may not be longer than 2 inches unless rolled or tied up. Soldiers with a religious accommodation may wear a turban or under-turban known as a patka.

Soldiers with religious accommodations still must be able to wear combat helmets and other protective headgear and must modify their hairstyles to achieve a proper fit.

The new rules allow head scarfs, or hijabs, for Muslim women. They must be of a similar colour to the uniform and be free of designs or markings, unless they are camouflage and worn with a camouflage uniform. Hair grooming rules have been amended to allow for braids, cornrows, twists or locks, the memo said.

06 LAHORE

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

WEATHER UPDATES

SATURDAY

Punjab govt will extend full cooPeration to local govts: cM LAHORE

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staff RepORt

UNJAB Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that the local government system has become fully functional and the government will extend all out cooperation to local governments at every level.

He said this while chairing a meeting participated by provincial ministers, assembly members, mayor and deputy mayor of Lahore on Friday.

The chief minister said that the government has empowered local governments as well as granted them financial autonomy and besides administrative and financial powers, maximum resources will be made available to the local governments, however, they will also be held accountable. He added, “Who serve the masses will be honoured while others will be held accountable”. He said that local bodies’ representatives will be given their rights as well as due importance. He expressed the confidence that the new system will be successful and, in the past corruption was rampant in local government system as there was no check and balance but self-accountability is essential for any system.

Shehbaz Sharif said that like general elections of 2013, masses have

also expressed full confidence in the Muslim League-N leadership in local bodies’ elections and now new records of public service will be set. He urged local bodies’ representatives to adopt hard work, honesty and commitment as their motto and spare no effort in the service to the people. He said that local bodies’ representatives will have to perform their responsibilities efficiently for resolving problems of the people at the local level and work with proper planning and team spirit.

The chief minister said that transparency is the hallmark of Pakistan Muslim League-N government and there is no room for corrupt elements in the government and the administration will provide all-out cooperation to local governments and instructions have been issued by him in this regard.

He stressed upon local government representatives to strive for resolving issues such as cleanliness, streetlights, water and sanitation and other problems.

He said that the role of local governments is of vital importance for the improvement of education and health facilities and local bodies’ representatives should also monitor development projects.

Local government representatives while expressing their views assured to come up to the expectations of their leadership and the masses and make public service their mission.

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LAHORE: Indian fishermen released by Pakistan as a goodwill gesture show their ID cards at Lahore Railways Station before their departure. staff phOtO

fia cell arrests 5 for forging travel documents LAHORE app

The FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) on Thursday arrested five persons alleged for forging travel documents. According to a spokesman, the accused were trying to go to Malaysia on forged document. They tried to depart by flight PK898. The accused have been identified as Muhammad Asghar of Khanewal, Safdar Hussain of Faisalabad, Sajid Ali, Wajid Ali and Muhammad Zaman of Lalamusa. Further investigation is under way.

LAHORE: Workers repair an old wooden bridge of Lahore Fort on Friday. Online

Rs 39,852.71 million scheme approved under Safe City Project LAHORE app

The Punjab government has decided to introduce the Safe City Project in five cities of the province under the development scheme Punjab Police Integrated Command Control and Communication (PPIC3) at an estimated cost of Rs 39,852.71 million.

Punjab Planning and Development Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said this while chairing the 44th Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) Forum meeting at Planning and Development Complex in Lahore on Friday.

He said that the PDWP approved the scheme of Punjab Police Department / Safe City Authority for the year 2016-17, in five cities of Punjab including Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Bahawalpur.

In these cities, office buildings of Safe City Project would be constructed and security cameras, along with related specialities, would be installed on roads.

The Punjab Development Forum also granted approval of seven development schemes of various sectors at an estimated cost of Rs 23,913.045 million.

The approved development

schemes included: rehabilitation/ widening of 10-12 and construction of 12 wide roads under Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme (KPRRP), Phase-IV at a cost of Rs 6,938 million, rehabilitation of Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme (KPRRP), Phase-IV in Punjab Highways Department (North Zone), (umbrella PC-I) at a cost of Rs 8022.787 million, construction of Khadime-Punjab Rural Roads Programme (KPRRP), Phase-IV in Punjab Highways Department (North Zone), (umbrella PC-I) at a cost of Rs 990.030 million.

The provision of Missing Specialities for the up-grading of DHQ hospitals (AIMH & GSBH Sialkot) to teaching hospitals, (Part-I) at a cost of Rs 3,802.707 million, provision of missing facilities for the up-gradation of DHQ Hospital DG Khan to teaching hospital, DG Khan at a cost of Rs 3,634.199 million.

The provision of clean drinking water, sewerage system, PCC and allied facilities in Jallo Mor, Batapur and adjoining localities in Lahore at a cost of Rs 500 million and consultancy services for major programme management support project, stage-I (PC-II) at a cost of Rs 25.322 million.

Pakistan’s regional languages face looming extinction Around a hundred women have gathered in a community centre in Peshawar — but they are conversing in a dialect incomprehensible to the Pashtun ethnic group that dominates the region.

Instead they are exchanging anecdotes and ideas in their native Hindko (literally, “the language of India”) at a conference organised to promote the increasingly marginalised language.

Pakistan’s 200 million people speak 72 provincial and regional tongues, including official languages Urdu and English, according to a 2014 parliamentary paper on the subject that classed 10 as either “in trouble” or “near extinction”.

According to scholars, Hindko’s decline as the foremost language of Peshawar city began in 1947 when Hindu and Sikh traders left the city after the partition of British India.

Known for its curious aphorisms such as “Kehni aan dhiye nu, nuen kan dhar” (“I’m talking to my daughter, my daughter-in-law should listen”) — which is meant to convey a harsh message but in-

directly), it only has some two million speakers across Pakistan as opposed to Pashto’s 26 million.

It has also become a minority language in the city of its birth.

“Years and years of political unrest in Pakistan’s northwestern region and Afghanistan have adversely impacted our language and it has lost grounds to Pashto,” Salahudin, Chief Executive of the Gandhara Hindko Board which organised the event, explained. Some three million mainly Pashto speakers fled war from neighbouring Afghanistan over the past 35 years, while others are more recent migrants from other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkwa province.

Loss of cuLture: The most endangered of Pakistan’s dialects are now spoken by only a few hundred people, such as Domaaki, an Indo-Aryan languages confined to a handful of villages in remote northern Gilgit-Baltistan. Even regional languages spoken by tens of millions like Sindhi and Punjabi are no longer as vigorous as they once were.

“There is not a single newspaper or magazine published in Punjabi for the 60 million-plus Punjabi speakers,” wrote journalist Abbas Zaidi in an essay, despite it being the language of the nationally revered Sufi poet Bulleh Shah and the native-tongue of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. English has been seen as the language of the elite in Pakistan since the country was founded.

It is used at the highest official levels, despite the fact this excludes the majority of Pakistanis — many of whom, as a consequence of low literacy rates, do not speak English well or at all, according to leading linguist Tariq Rahman.

Urdu, the most common national tongue and spoken as a second language by the majority of Pakistanis, has been relegated to the middle- and lower-level halls of power, while the widely spoken regional languages — usually native to their speakers — are not even taught in schools. “The result is an underclass that remains out of any public policy making, its upward mobility increasingly limited,

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and harbouring a deep sense of inferiority,” wrote Urdu poet Harris Khalique in a research paper.

“A majority of Pakistanis is unable to recognise car registration plates, many road signs that are only in English, the signboards of shops and offices.” taking a stand: Some language activists have taken a stand, such as Rozi Khan Baraki, a champion of the Urmari language of South Waziristan tribal zone that claims some 50,000 speakers. At its peak in the early 16th century, the language flourished across much of Afghanistan and what is now northwest Pakistan.

“But then people in [the area] began speaking Pashto and Persian because many of the speakers of those languages migrated to the fertile lands of this region.

“Migrations have also threatened our next generation, who being Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar, and Karachi have stopped communicating in their mother tongue.”

Baraki said to avoid extinction, com-

munity elders have asked their people to “force their children to speak Urmari at homes, especially those who have married women who speak other languages”.

“Our next generation is threatened, this language is going to die if we don’t preserve it today,” he said.

Rahman lauds such efforts but says the process of saving dying languages can only happen when it is taken up at a governmental level as was the case with Welsh, a regional language of Britain.

A loss of diversity can have lasting ill effects, he warns. Those who shift from their mother tongue to assimilate “try to become clones of another group — the one which they want to imitate, and lose respect for their former group,” he said.

Children find it difficult to communicate to their elders, while folk stories and music can also fade from memory.

“There are names of herbs and local names for fruit and animals that are lost. In some cases when you lose the name of the herb the use is also forgotten,” he said. aGenCies

LAHORE 07

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

lwMc vows to make lahore world’s cleanest city LAHORE app

The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has pledged to make Lahore the cleanest city in the world. The company said in its annual report that it removed 2.862 million tonnes of waste from the city and addressed 38,095 waste-related complaints during 2016. The report said that the company launched hundreds of cleanliness and awareness campaigns in educational institutions, markets, parks and public places to sensitise and mobilise communities. The company closed the Mehmud Booti dump site in order to commence its rehabilitation and conversion into a green park. “Closure of Mehmud Booti and its rehabilitation will be a major step towards a cleaner and safer environment,” the report added.

Landmark projects initiated during the year included the commencement of construction of a storm water drainage channel at Lakhodair landfill site, acquisition of land for the construction of waste transfer stations and waste enclosures, 110 acres of land acquired at Sunder for the construction of a material recovery facility, acquisition of a contract of janitorial and housekeeping services for the Multan metro bus system, and the authority to practise enforcement of solid waste bylaws (imposition of fines and lodging of FIRS against violators) by establishing a team of enforcement inspectors. In order to introduce and promote the culture of waste reduction, reuse and recycling, and segregation at source, pilot projects in two selected areas of Shadman II & Upper Mall were launched to bring usable components of waste into use.

only accountability can save country, says sarwar LAHORE Online

PTI senior leader Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar on Friday said that the dark nights can only be eradicated in the country by accountability. While talking with the party worker’s delegation at his office he said that poverty, inflation, and unemployment cannot become the future of Pakistani nation. Sarwar said that the party will bring change under the leadership of Imran Khan. “We want to provide equal facilities for education, health, employment and justice to everyone in the country”, he added. He said that nation has become disappointed due to contemporary circumstances of the country, but PTI will bring hope and change in the country. The party is fighting for the free and fair accountability and rule of law.

There will be no compromise on these principles. PTI has become greatest and biggest public political party of Pakistan.

LAHORE: Workers seen desilting the canal. ZubaiR MahfOOZ

Political interference Makes it iMPossible!

encroachers thrive in liberty Market LAHORE

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Rana haiDeR

OLITICAL and youths wings of traders in the famous Liberty Market of Lahore, while patronising the encroachment mafia, have started collecting thousands of rupees. Even the administration seemed helpless to do something about it.

Stalls erected in front of important shops and banks have become a security risk. The promises made by higher authorities to curb the influence of the encroachment mafia have been proven false. Furthermore, an application filed against PML-N Youth Wing’s president, in which there’s a recording of him accepting money for favours, has been ignored.

According to sources, important markets of Lahore, including Liberty Market, have been plagued by the encroachment mafia. In the Liberty Market, PML-N Traders Wing’s Sohail

CM for zero-tolerance against manufacturers of spurious drugs LAHORE staff RepORt

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting to review the progress of campaign launched against the spurious and substandard drugs in the province.

Provincial Ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique, Khawaja Imran Nazir, Honorary Advisor Dr Umer Saif, additional chief sectary, sectary law, prosecution, Specialised Health and Medical Education, Primary and Secondary Health, King Edward Medical College VC, Punjab Forensic Science Agency DG and the other concerned authorities attended the meeting.

CM directed to speed up the pace of campaign and implement zero tolerance policy for the culprits involved in this odious business and ordered a strict punishment and heavy fines.

He said that the quality medicine is a right of every citizen, “We will leave no stone unturned to provide our people

with their rights”, he added.

CM also directed to ensure the swift appointment of qualified professionals in Lahore Drug Testing Lab and to send medicines samples to world’s best testing labs. He said that menace of bogus drugs should be eliminated from the province at any cost. All concerned departments have to work with full devotion to nip this evil in the bud. In this regard, Punjab government has introduced a modern system of procurement, supply and distribution of medicines.

Also, latest drug testing lab has been established in Lahore whereas labs in other five cities are in the upgrading process. cM visits aiLing MauLana fazuL ur reHMan: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif visited Ittefaq Hospital where JUI chief and Chairman Kashmir Committee Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman is undergoing treatment.

The CM inquired about his health, presented him with flowers and prayed for his speedy recovery.

Sarfraz Manj and PML-N Youth Wing President Hafiz Jameel Jarral have erected different stalls and counters around the footpaths, where they are collecting a huge amount of money under the guise of rent.

While organising political functions and inviting political bigwigs, the administration is pressurised to not carry out any anti-encroachment operation against them. Owing to that pressure, the administration of Gulberg Town doesn’t take an action against the encroachers, whereas the armed guards of the youth wing and traders’ wing can be seen collecting cash from the markets.

One month ago, a stallholder filed an application against youth wing president Hafiz Jameel Jarral.

The application included a recording where Jarral can be heard threatening stallholders and issuing them grave threats. Acting on that, the Gulberg Town’s administration informed the higher authorities about the prevailing situation and also told them about political interference—

city receives drizzle LaHore: The parts of the provincial capital and adjacent areas received drizzle on Friday early morning. According to the Met office, due to cold winds and cloudy weather conditions, city temperature dropped and was recorde15-degreeee celsius (maximum). More rain-thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills is expected at isolated places in Islamabad, upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore and Faisalabad Divisions), Upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan divisions), FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during next 24 hours, daily weather report said.

Foggy conditions are likely to continue over plain areas of Punjab and upper Sindh during night and morning hours. a p p

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especially to stop authorities’ actions against encroachers.

However, the applicant was threatened by Salman Zakaria for his application demanding action against encroachers; he was forced to take back his application. The higher authorities also ignored the application and refused to take an action, despite strong evidences like audio recording. The sources further revealed that, by this point, the youth and traders wing of PML-N have erected thousands of stalls and were seen collecting a huge amount of money (in lacs), whereas the higher authorities have been rendered helpless due to consistent political interference from bigwigs.

Hafiz Jameel Jarral refused to comment on this issue and didn’t answer any question.

Sohail Sarfraz Manj of the traders wing maintained complete disassociation with the encroachments and said, “The authorities can take an action; I won’t have an issue.”

lhc suspends orders freezing lesco bank account LAHORE app

A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Friday suspended orders of an LHC single bench regarding the freezing of a bank account of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) worth more than Rs 44.5 million.

The division bench headed by Justice Shahid Jamil Khan passed the orders on an intracourt appeal filed by LESCO, challenging the single bench’s orders.

During the hearing, LESCO’s counsel submitted that an LHC single bench had frozen LESCO’s bank account for using one kanal land of the Miani Sahib Graveyard as a store since 1986 and ordered the payment of half the rent due since then.

The lawyer contended that LESCO owned the land, and asked the court to set aside the orders. The division bench suspended the orders and issued notices to the parties besides adjourning the matter for two weeks.

Meanwhile, the single bench comprising Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi on Friday ordered Lahore’s deputy commissioner to formulate a policy regarding land reserved for graves in the Miani Sahib Graveyard. The court also ordered the DC to submit the policy at the next hearing.

08 FOREIGN NEWS

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

US inTel RepoRT idenTifieS RUSSianS who Gave emailS To wikileakS: officialS

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AGENCIES

HE CIA has identified Russian officials who fed material hacked from the Democratic National Committee and party leaders to WikiLeaks at the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin through third parties, according to a new US intelligence report, senior US officials said on Thursday. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Central Intelligence Agency and others have concluded that the Russian government escalated its efforts from discrediting the US election process to assisting President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign.

The intelligence assessment was presented to President Barack Obama on Thursday and will be briefed to Trump on Friday. Trump has rejected the broad intelligence community’s assessment that Russia staged cyber attacks during the election campaign to undermine Demo-

cratic rival Hillary Clinton. Russia has rejected the hacking allegations. “By October, it had become clear that the Russians were trying to help the Trump campaign,” said one official familiar with the full report speaking on the condition of anonymity because the complete version is Top Secret. In some cases, one official said, the material followed what was called “a circuitous route” from the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, to WikiLeaks in an apparent attempt to make the origins of the material harder to trace, a common practice used by all intelligence agencies, including U.S. ones.

These handoffs, the officials said, enabled WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to say the Russian government or state agencies were not the source of the material published on his website.

In an interview with Fox News this week, Assange said he did not receive emails stolen from the DNC and Clinton aide John Podesta from “a state party.”

Assange did not rule out the possibility that he got the material from a third party.

Details of the report emerged as the top US intelligence official, James Clapper, said on Thursday he was “even more resolute” in his belief that Russia staged cyber attacks on Democrats during the 2016 election campaign. Not all 17 intel-

ligence agencies participated in preparing the assessment. An unclassified version of the report is expected to be released on Friday morning, two officials said.

The report contains some of what the officials called “minor footnotes” about open questions and other uncertainties, in part because some of the evidence supporting the conclusion is inferential.

One such example, the officials said, was that intercepted messages and conversations among senior Russian officials in Putin’s inner circle indicated they were aware of the hacking campaign and celebrated Trump’s election as a victorious end to the campaign. The officials declined to discuss the nature of the communications, including whether they were domestic, international, or both.

“People who knew what this was about were celebrating a victory over the United States,” said one official.

Another example of inferential evidence, the officials said, was that as time

passed and the early leaks attracted media attention that undermined or eclipsed Clinton’s campaign, the Russians increasingly focused their hacking “almost exclusively” on Democratic rather than Republican targets. There was also strong resemblance — including the use of the same computer malware — the Russians have used against targets in Europe and the marriage of traditional espionage tactics used by Soviet and Russian intelligence such as bribery, blackmail and internet vulnerabilities, which they said Putin has devoted increasing resources and attention to exploiting.

For example, one official said, the Democratic databases and email servers the Russians hacked also contained personal information that WikiLeaks has not published. Such information could be used to search for financial, medical, browsing history and other records that can be used to target individuals for recruiting efforts by Russian spies.

Turkey mails bombed parliament debris in New Year cards PARIS AGENCIES

It’s a New Year’s card with a message.

Turkey has mailed thousands of diplomats and journalists a fragment of its bombdamaged parliament, along with its wishes for a happy year of democracy. The national assembly in Ankara was hit by air strikes in July during a failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan which was blamed by the government on the USbased Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen.

“This piece of marble that fell from the wall of the grand national assembly of Turkey… is presented to you as a symbol of Turkey’s devotion to democracy,” says the New Year’s card received by AFP in Paris. “I wish you a Happy New Year enjoying the fullest sense of democracy,” said a message from Mehmet Akarca, the

press director for Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. Erdogan was incensed by what he saw as a lack of solidarity from Western countries after the challenge to his rule, which critics see as increasingly authoritarian.

The European Union and the United States have both raised concerns about the arrest of tens of thousands of soldiers, judges, journalists and teachers in a vast post-coup purge. The cards stating “Terrorism is a crime against humanity” and debris from the parliament have been sent to 4,000 diplomats and journalists around the world, the Turkish prime minister’s office said in a statement. AFP’s arrived in a velour black case containing an angular piece of grey stone. Others have also been sent to university heads, mayors and different non-government organisations in Turkey, the prime minister’s office said.

TRUMP TEAM SEEKS AGENCY RECORDS ON BORDER BARRIERS, SURVEILLANCE AGENCIES In a wide-ranging request for documents and analysis, President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team asked the Department of Homeland Security last month to assess all assets available for border wall and barrier construction.

The team also asked about the department’s capacity for expanding immigrant detention and about an aerial surveillance program that was scaled back by the Obama administration but remains popular with immigration hardliners. And it asked whether federal workers have altered biographic information kept by the department about immigrants out of concern for their civil liberties. The requests were made in a Dec. 5 meeting between Trump’s transition team and Department of Homeland Security officials, according to an internal agency memo reviewed by Reuters. The document offers a glimpse into the president-elect’s strategy for securing the US borders and reversing polices put in place by the Obama administration.

Trump’s transition team did not comment in response to Reuters inquiries. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security and US Customs and Border Protection declined to comment. In response to the transition team request, US Customs and Border Protection staffers identified more than 400 miles along the US-Mexico border, and about the same distance along the US-Canada border, where new fencing could be erected, according to a document seen byReuters.

Reuters could not determine whether the Trump team is considering a northern border barrier. During the campaign, Trump pledged to build a wall and expand fencing on parts of the

US-Mexico border but said he sees no need to build a wall on the border with Canada.

One program the transition team asked about, according to the email summary, was Operation Phalanx, an aerial surveillance program that authorises 1,200 Army National Guard airmen to monitor the southern border for drug trafficking and illegal migration.

The program once deployed 6,000 airmen under President George W. Bush but was downsized by Barack Obama, a move blasted by some conservatives who argue the surveillance is vital to border security.

POLICY SHIFT: The transition team also asked for copies of every executive order and directive sent to immigration agents since Obama took office in 2009, according to the memo summarising the meeting.

Trump has said he intends to undo Obama’s executive actions on immigration, including a 2012 order to allow children brought to the US illegally by their parents to remain in the country on temporary authorizations that allow them to attend college and work.

The program, known as DACA, collected information including participants’ addresses that could theoretically be used to locate and deport them if the policy is reversed. Another request of the transition team was for information about whether any migrant records have been changed for any reason, including for civil rights or civil liberties concerns, according to the internal memo seen by Reuters.

A Department of Homeland Security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the agency interpreted the request to mean the transition team wanted to make sure that federal workers were not tampering with information to

protect DACA recipients and other migrants from deportation.

On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to deport more undocumented immigrants, a promise that may have prompted the transition team’s request for information about the feasibility of expanding temporary detention facilities.

The internal memo summarizing the meeting between Trump’s transition team and US Customs and Border protection said the team had requested a comprehensive picture of border security as well as resources available for walls and barriers. The Department of Homeland Security official said agency representatives who attended the meeting believed the request to include both the northern and southern borders. US Customs and Border Protection then prepared a report on specific locations and costs of building a fence along the US-Canada border.

Reuters reviewed a copy of the report, which estimated the cost of building fencing along the northern border fence would be $3.3 billion and cover 452 miles along border of Canada and the states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Adding 413 miles of fencing on the southwest border would be more expensive, according to the estimate of $11.37 billion, because it would be aimed at keeping pedestrians as well as vehicles from crossing.

Pedestrian fences require more staff and would cost $11.2 million per mile versus $4.1 million per mile to build to build, according to the report. In fiscal year 2015, the latest year for which data is available, border patrol agents apprehended 2,626 illegal migrants on the USCanada border compared to 331,333 apprehended on the US-Mexico border.

Brussels police call in sick, protesting against overwork since security crackdown BRUSSELS: Police officers collectively called in sick in the Brussels district of Molenbeek on Friday, complaining that a security crackdown had left them overworked, a senior officer said. Molenbeek has been in focus since it emerged that militants who attacked Paris in November 2015 had lived there. Patrols and other measures stepped up even further after two coordinated suicide bombings hit Brussels in March last year. “They are talking about an overload of work, which I can understand. Things have not been easy neither in 2015 nor in 2016,” Johan De Becker, the head of the Brussels West police area that includes Molenbeek, said. De Becker acknowledged that government promises of extra officers had not come through, but said he still did not approve of the stay-athome protest. “One cannot take the population hostage.”

Officers called in sick on the Thursday evening patrol shift, and again on Friday morning, he added. Officers from others areas were making up the shortfall, Brussels West police said. The interior ministry was not immediately available for comment. AGENCIES

Germany says can’t figure out Trump’s foreign policy goals BERLIN: German officials who have held talks with members of US President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team have not been able to figure out what kind of foreign and security policy his administration wants to pursue, a spokesperson said on Friday. “It ultimately remains the case that there still is no clear, coherent and comprehensive picture of what kind of foreign and security policy the new Trump administration wants to pursue in the world,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Martin Schaefer told a regular government news conference. Trump has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and nominated people seen as friendly toward Moscow to senior administration posts. Should Trump seek to improve relations with Kremlin, he could unsettle Germany, whose Chancellor Angela Merkel has supported the extension of European Union sanctions against Russia over its role in the conflict in Ukraine. AGENCIES

US intelligence chiefs call Russia ‘major’ cyber threat to US WASHINGTON: Russia is a major threat to a wide range of US interests because of its “highly-advanced offensive cyber program” and sophisticated capabilities, senior US intelligence officials said on Thursday. “Russia is a full-scope cyber actor that poses a major threat to US government, military, diplomatic, commercial and critical infrastructure,” James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, Marcel Lettre, Undersecretary of Defense for intelligence, and Admiral Michael Rogers, director of the National Security Agency, said in joint testimony prepared for a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee. AGENCIES

FOREIGN NEWS 09

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

RUSSia STaRTS ScalinG down SyRia miliTaRy deploymenT: aGencieS

33 prisoners killed in new Brazil prison uprising

MOSCOW

RIO DE JANEIRO AGENCIES

At last 33 inmates have been killed in a new prison uprising in the Amazon region of Brazil, officials said Friday, just five days after 56 inmates were slaughtered in a nearby state in the country’s worst prison massacre for more than two decades.

Details were murky about the latest uprising that took place early on Friday in Roraima state’s largest penitentiary. However, experts had predicted more violence in Brazil’s gang-controlled prison system in the wake of the massacre earlier this week, which saw members of one drug gang butcher inmates from a rival criminal group.

Brexit negotiator verhofstadt running for eU parliament head

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AGENCIES

USSIA’S military on Friday said it has begun scaling down its deployment to Syria, with Moscow’s sole aircraft carrier set to be the first to quit the conflict zone.

“In accordance with the decision of the supreme commander of the Russian armed forces Vladimir Putin, the Russian defence ministry is beginning the reduction of the armed deployment to Syria,” Russian news agencies quoted military chief Valery Gerasimov as saying. Gerasimov said that a naval group headed by aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov would be the first to leave the area. “The tasks set for the aircraft carrier group during its military mission have been fulfilled,” added Russia’s main commander in Syria Andrei Kartapolov, agencies reported.

VIENNA

AGENCIES

The European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt announced Friday his candidacy to lead the assembly, vowing to be a “bridge builder” during turbulent times. The former Belgian prime minister and leader of parliament’s liberal group is seeking to replace Martin Schulz, who announced in November he was stepping down to return to German politics.

The outspoken Verhofstadt will be up against Italian Antonio Tajani of the centreright European People’s Party and socialist Gianni Pittella, also from Italy, in the race to run the EU’s only elected body.

“In these insecure, turbulent times, when Europe is threatened by nationalists and populists of all kinds we need visionaries, bridge builders and compromise seekers alike,” Verhofstadt said in a video on his Facebook page. “It is time for change, time for a broad coalition of all pro-European forces that will put the interests of the European citizens first,” he said in the headline. Verhofstadt was named in September as the European Parliament’s lead negotiator on Britain’s exit from the European Union, following the British referendum vote to leave on June 23 last year. But he is expected to give up that position if he wins the presidency of the parliament, with European sources saying it would be too difficult to do both jobs at once.

Since September 2015, Russia had boosted its firepower on land in Syria and off the coast in the Mediterranean in support of regime forces targeting the

Austrian minister calls for hijab ban for public servants AGENCIES

BRUSSELS

Kartapolov said that Russia still had sufficient air defence capabilities in Syria thanks to its S-300 and S-400 systems deployed in the war-torn country.

second city of Aleppo.

Troops loyal to Russia’s ally Bashar al-Assad finally ousted rebels from the city last month in their biggest victory in more than five years of fighting, paving the way for the Kremlin to launch a fresh push for a political solution to the conflict. Russian President Putin ordered a reduction in his forces in Syria on December 29, as he announced a ceasefire between government and rebel forces that has since dampened down the fighting.

Russia, along with Turkey and Iran, are currently pushing for peace talks to be held later this month in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana. Moscow launched its bombing campaign in Syria in September 2015, helping to turn the tide in favour of Assad’s ailing forces.

Putin already announced a partial withdrawal of Russian forces in March 2016, but Moscow later had to ramp up its presence again as fighting increased.

Austria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Integration Sebastian Kurz said on Friday he wanted to ban public servants, including school teachers, from wearing the Islamic headscarf. Kurz, of the Christian Conservative People’s Party (OVP), is working on a draft law with Muna Duzdar, a junior minister from the OVP’s senior Social Democrat coalition partner who has an Arab family background and is Muslim.

If passed by parliament, the nationwide ban would be stricter than

laws in France, where only the full body veil is illegal, or Germany, where the highest court in 2015 restricted lawmakers’ scope to ban teachers from wearing the headscarf.

“Because there (schools), it’s about the effect of role models and the influence on young people. Austria is religion-friendly but also a secular state,” Kurz said, according to a spokesperson.

Christian crosses, widespread in staunchly Catholic Austria, should be allowed in classrooms, Kurz said, referring to the country’s “historically grown culture”. An adviser to the European Court of Justice (ECJ)

said in March companies should be allowed to prohibit staff from wearing the Islamic headscarf but only as part of a general ban on religious and political symbols.

Kurz is revamping Austria’s integration laws and would also like to include a ban on full body veils and restrictions on the distribution of the Quran by Salafist Muslims, Kurz’s spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for Austria’s most prominent Muslim group, IGGIO, noted that discrimination in the workplace on religious grounds was illegal in Austria and said: “After such a statement, trust is badly shaken.”

She said such a ban would send the wrong signal, not least because working women wearing the headscarf could help overcome deep “patriarchal prejudices”.

Duzdar also told Reuters a person cannot be discriminated against in the workplace on the grounds of their religion and said she wanted to wait for a final ECJ ruling on the issue before sending the law to parliament.

“I’m open to discussions about this but in reality one cannot pick individual religions. If you discuss religious dress and symbols, you have to speak about all religions. We work on a dialogue with all religious communities,” she said.

The coalition has not set a deadline for the draft to be finished.

In a hardening of her stance on migrants’ integration in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel last month called for a ban on full face veils “wherever legally possible”.

TRUmp callS SToRm oveR RUSSia hackinG ‘poliTical wiTchhUnT’ WASHINGTON AGENCIES

President-elect Donald Trump called the controversy over Russian hacking during the 2016 presidential campaign a “political witchhunt” on Friday in an interview hours before he was to receive a US intelligence briefing on the topic.

“China, relatively recently, hacked 20 million government names,” Trump told the New York Times, referring to the Office of Personnel Management breach in 2014 and 2015. “How come nobody even talks about that? This is a political witch hunt.” He said hackers have infiltrated the White House and Congress. “We’re like the hacking capital of the world,” said Trump.

UN WARNS OF WAR CRIME AS DAMASCUS WATER CRISIS GROWS BEIRUT AGENCIES

The United Nations warned Thursday that sabotaging water supplies was a war crime after the main source for Syria’s capital was cut, leaving more than five million people facing shortages. Water supplies from the rebel-held area of Wadi Barada near Damascus have been severed since December 22, with the regime and rebels trading blame. The head of a UNbacked humanitarian taskforce for Syria said Thursday the shutdown had already had “dramatic” consequences.

Jan Egeland said water supplies to 5.5 million people had been hit “because of fighting, or because of sabotage or because of both”. “To sabotage and deny water is of

course a war crime, because it is civilians who drink it and civilians who will be affected by waterborne diseases” if supplies are not restored, he told reporters in Geneva. The shortages have sent prices for water in Damascus soaring. Residents said they have been forced to buy bottled water at twice the normal price as their supplies have run low and what little tap water is available is undrinkable. “We used to complain about power cuts, but now we can see that it’s nothing compared with the lack of drinkable water. Water is life,” said Faiz, a 50-year-old civil servant.

The shortages have prompted a regime assault to retake Wadi Barada. Rebel fighters clashed with government forces backed

by Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah there Thursday, even as a nationwide cease-

fire brought quiet to other parts of Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said regime forces hit the area with air strikes, mortars and artillery. Syria’s main opposition coalition urged the United Nations Security Council Thursday to put an “immediate” halt to what it said were regime violations of the truce. It accused the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of “violations and war crimes” in Wadi Barada. The regime says forces in Wadi Barada include former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front, previously known as Al-Nusra Front, which Moscow and Damascus say is excluded from the ceasefire.

Rebels deny the group is in the area.

The relative peace was also rocked by a car bombing on Thursday in Syria’s coastal city of Jableh, a regime bastion, leaving at

CMYK

least 15 dead, the Observatory said. Syrian state television also reported the blast near the town’s municipal stadium.

CRITICAL PHASE: The fighting threatened a truce aimed at paving the way for peace negotiations later this month in the Kazakh capital Astana. Despite backing opposite sides in the conflict, Ankara and Moscow have worked closely to broker the ceasefire and plan the Astana talks, which Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said could take place on January 23.

The ceasefire and Astana talks are the latest bid to resolve nearly six years of conflict in Syria, which has been ravaged by violence since an uprising began in March 2011. The UN Security Council has backed the process, despite the fact it offers a com-

peting track to UN-sponsored talks set to resume in Geneva in February. “We, the UN, welcome such efforts,” the UN’s Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters in Geneva Thursday. He said any effort that consolidates the cessation of hostilities “is certainly welcome”. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said fighting had eased considerably since the truce came into force.

“The number of casualties has fallen a lot, with only 13 dead in the areas covered by the ceasefire since the truce began. That would have been the toll of a single air strike before it came into force,” he told AFP. Karim Emile Bitar, professor of international relations at Saint-Joseph University in Beirut, said Syrian ceasefires had become “merely a continuation of war by other means”.

10 COMMENT

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

A battle for hearts and minds in Balochistan

The CPEC: An olive branch to India

A fight for everyone

Dr AhmAD rAshiD mAlik

COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa has paid a fourth visit to Balochistan in two months. This time he selected Khuzdar Engineering University in the heart of the province to deliver an important message i.e., the army gives as much importance to social and economic development of the people in the province as to security related issues. He said he promised to develop every part of Balochistan, “come what may.”

Many in Balochistan are skeptic about the claims.

The British constructed a fantastic railway system with tunnels that were the engineering wonders of the 19th century. It helped the British transport army and officials but left no positive impact on the social development of the local population. The Sui gas production benefited the rest of the country while the Baloch were denied access to it for over two decades. They fear that the mega projects would provide jobs to outsiders while their influx would turn the Baloch into a minority in their own province.

The COAS conceded that Balochistan had been neglected in the past. But this time it was going to be represented in the most influential corridor of power, i.e. the armed forces. The army’s pro-active approach has led to nearly 20,000 young men from Balochistan having been inducted into the army, including 603 officers. The Baloch are also represented in Air Force, Navy and various law enforcement agencies. Presently there are 232 cadets undergoing training at PMA while 25,000 youths were receiving education at the schools and cadet colleges run by the Army and FC. Gen Bajwa visualized a Baloch being raised in the years to come to the post of the COAS. But there are problems that still need solutions, The ongoing development activity in the province will require technical manpower and skilled labour, sectors where the local population is deficient. This could turn out to be a spoiler if measures are not taken urgently in manpower training. Will those who matter set up a chain of polytechnics producing students with required skills? Setting up a NUST campus in the province is a good move but a single swallow does not make a spring.

Do more, Punjab!

Apex Committee must implement its recent decisions with a stern resolve ‘Do more’ is a much despised term in our lexicon, courtesy the daily US harping on it to pressurise Pakistan into undertaking one sided actions which it perceived as essential for success in the war on terror.

But this is exactly what needs to be done in Punjab, whose southern areas have become a breeding ground of terrorism, extremism and sectarianism, a force multiplier for domestic and allegedly foreign militancy. The Punjab Apex committee meeting on Thursday chaired by the Chief Minister and attended by senior military and civilian officials made certain decisions to rid the country of this trio of evils. These matters of immense national importance need strict implementation in a proactive manner. The present trend of reacting only after a horrific incident of terror needs replacement by a concerted policy of intelligence-based prevention and preemption. And zero-tolerance is the name of the game.

The apex committee made all the right noises. It reiterated some of the basic points set out in the National Action Plan (NAP) for the elimination of radicalism in all its forms, going after the financial backers and facilitators of terrorism, checking the printing and distribution of hate literature and provocative speeches, punishing the collaborators in the social media, and a sharper vigilance at the province’s entry and exit points.

Of course it sounds very easy on paper, but the ground realities present a more intricate and formidable picture.

For one, the Punjab, unlike Sindh, lags behind in regulating mushroomed seminaries and weeding out those promoting militancy, proscribed organizations reappear under a new label and garb, Rangers are given full rein in KP and Sindh but stubbornly kept out here, the existing police force is woefully ill-equipped to tackle militancy, successful prosecution of netted terrorists is low, while opportunistic politicians from mainstream parties deliberately make a ‘devils’ alliance’ with known extremists for votes at election time. It is clear that following NAP in letter and spirit, and especially in its implementation, offers the brightest chance of success against inhuman excess.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

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B

y all means, Pakistan and India should improve their relations. On 12 December, The Times of India, published an interview of the Hurriyat leader from the Indian-Held Kashmir, Mirwaiz Farooq, who said that Kashmir could a gateway to India joining the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He highly appreciated the CPEC and said that ‘’in terms of larger economic activity, everybody wants to be part of the CPEC.’’ He further elaborate by saying that the CPEC ‘’is an opportunity for Jammu & Kashmir also to be part of the old Silk Route, once again’’. ‘’We can be part of the CPEC, even before the resolution of Kashmir issue and become a part of Central Asian discourse rather than South Asian discourse.’, he pointed out. He concluded by saying that ‘’Kashmir can be gateway for India as well and am sure India will also want to be part of the CPEC.’’ These were the honest views of Mirwaiz reflecting the inner feelings of the people of Kashmir about joining of the CPEC. This will change their miserable economic fate and will seek a new connectivity with Pakistan, China, Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Russia through Gwadar Port for the landlocked Kashmir, wishing liberation and prosperity as their inalienable right. It is hoped that the Modi Sarkar would give a serious thought of joining the CPEC and would review its antiCPEC strategy in the past 20 months.

After political voice from within Kashmir, a military voice from Pakistan has joined the idea of Mirwaiz within days. Lieutenant General Aamir Riaz, Commander of the Southern Command, Quetta, asked India to join the CPEC on 21 December. The cross-border voices should be given a serious thought, which would be a indirect step toward the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

On 23 December, Chinese Foreign Ministry wonders if India would accept the Pakistani good

will offer to India of joining the CPEC, which is an open and inclusive project to promote the long-term regional development and peace. The mouth-piece of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Global Times, wrote that ‘’New Delhi should consider accepting the olive branch Pakistan has extended in a bid to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.’’

The multi-billion and multi-dimensional CPEC is considered to be great game changer and its has the capacity to even change the exiting geo-strategic and geo-economic game between Pakistan and India. The CPEC could become a new CBM (Confidence Building Measure) between the two arch rivals and addressing the recent spade of military and diplomatic violence.

Traditionally, India has the following four major points of disagreements on the CPEC: 1. The CPEC is a unilaterally decided between Pakistan and China 2. The CPEC goes through the dispute territory between Pakistan and India 3. The CPEC would promote terrorism across the Indian-Held Kashmir 4. Gwadar Port will be used by China for military purposes.

These objections could be clarified. All of these are misperceptions about the CPEC. The first point that the CPEC was unilaterally decided Pakistan and China is incorrect. The CPEC is a bilateral agreement between Pakistan and China and it was not a trilateral agreement.

India has been invited to join the CPEC. The CPEC at present does not go into any disputed territory between Pakistan and India such as the Line of Control (LoC). Gilgit and Baltistan were and are under the actual control of Pakistan, and China and Pakistan had redefined a border in 1963 comprising that area. The British authorities in India remained unable to define that border.

The CPEC does not promote terrorism rather it is a threat to the CPEC and the political voice inside the Indian-Held Kashmir verifies this claim. Gwadar is pure commercial project and

Diverse threats CPEC

lt Col (retd) muhAmmAD usmAn

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O Pakistan, CPEC is a game changer. It will tremendously boost its economic, commercial and geo- strategic position in the region. To China, it is a vital and cost effective plank of their concept of trade “One Belt One Road”; a primary gateway for trade between China and Africa and Middle East. To USA, it is a counter stroke to their policy of Asia Pivot, aimed at containment of China and Russia because it gives access to China to the areas where at the present, USA has the hegemony. To India, it is a tranquilising dream. It will shatter their vaulting ambition of regional power or more beyond measure. To UEA, a major cut in their virtual monopoly over trade in gulf. To Iran, a serious case of ambivalence and to Afghanistan a bugbear because this is the main place from where anti CPEC schemes would be unleashed. CPEC is a project of great enterprise with huge bearing on world politics. In realpolitik, an undertaking of such proportions seldom sees smooth sailing. It is bound to encounter threats of different kind. In instant case, likely threats include some, externally instigated and some are of own creation.

The security threat to CPEC emanates mainly from Tehreek-e- Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-eJhangvi, East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Baluchistan Liberation Army, Baluchistan Liberation Front and Jundullah. It is no more a secret that RAW is actively engaged in acts of sabotage and subversion against CPEC in connection with these terrorist organizations. A special cell in RAW has been established under the instructions of Modi government with lavish financial allocation to undermine CPEC in every way possible.

Sufficient reason exists that RAW also has tacit backing of US because it largely operates from Afghanistan to launch terrorist activities against

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

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Pakistan. It is needless to mention that Afghan Intelligence Agency; NDS is a pawn in their hands because of huge Indian influence on Afghan government. Its modus operandi is likely to focus on aggressive intelligence gathering, killing/kidnapping of the workforce, Physical damage, psychological warfare and terrorism. On the other hand, Indian government will intensify the situation against Pakistan by rhetoric/diplomatic offensive and aggressive movement/violence at line of control/ working boundary, air and sea. The intrusion of Indian atomic submarine in Pakistan’s maritime limits is a clear pointer. There is also no dearth of voices which sound that primarily US is present in Afghanistan to contain Chinese’s economic advance in the world and CPEC is the springboard. A big super power does not allow another aspiring big super power such luxury at such nominal price. US will definitely up the ante and Pakistan would be the playing field because CPEC passes through its length and breadth. In its wake, existing instability in Pakistan will be aggravated further. In this context, one cannot desist from having another glance over a statement of US president Obama in recent past “for even without Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant(ISIL), instability will continue for decades in parts of the world – in the Middle East, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in parts of Central America, Africa and Asia”. It may not be a mere assessment rather a desire. Habitually, US becomes rash to get its preferences accomplished until not dealt with astute handling. It may be borne that CPEC is meant for cargo to ply around the clock. Basically money is coward and cargo is the money. The cargo does not move in a convoy under the security cover.

It moves independently. In absence of assurance of security, it will refuse to travel on a truck which is uncertain to make it to the destination. The remedy lies in implementation of NAP. It had two dimensions; military and civil. The military dimension has been implemented to resounding effect but civil part is a dismal story. Conventional wisdom underlines that half measures are all pain and no gain.

Until NAP is implemented in true letter and spirit, utilization of CPEC even barely would remain a distant possibility.

Threat of polarization is also taking roots in polity of the Pakistan over CPEC because of petty politics, inconceivable cloak of secrecy and lack of transparency and communication. So far nation does not know exact contours of CPEC. The provinces does not know how many projects would fall in their jurisdiction and their allied details. The change in priority of work to Eastern Route, is antagonizing Baluchistan and KPK.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

China has never trequested Pakistan to use the port for naval or military purposes. Gwadar would be developed on the pattern of Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai and it would never be converted into a ‘’Chinese Diego Garcia’’ .

Russia, France, and Germany have shown interest in joining the CPEC. If these far-flung European countries could be attracted to the CPEC, it would be unfortunate that the people of adjoining Kashmir could be deprived of the CPEC benefits and connectivity.

China wishes to share development experience it gained in the past 35 years with other countries. China does not seek domination and influence under the OBOR and CPEC. China has learnt a great deal of lessons from the Soviet demise during the Cold War and the American military hegemony of the world during and after the Cold War. China would certainly not repeat such strategic gaffes.

Under the OBOR, Eurasian region will be benefited and under the CPEC Pakistan would be benefited by offering opportunities to all its surrounding regions. The forced isolation of Kashmir from the CPEC would be considered as a major stumbling block to change fate of the poverty-ridden people Kashmir. The people of Kashmir could learn a great deal of lesson from Chinese experience.

Like western China, Central Asia, and Afghanistan, Kashmir is also a landlocked. The area cannot be left alone because that it is disputed and no development could be carried out.

The China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963 asked for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute and on the basis of that resolution boundary could be re-drawn pending on the future sovereign authority of Kashmir. The CPEC offer even a better opportunity to address the Kashmir dispute.

Dr Ahmad Rashid Malik is Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. He is an expert on Japan, China, and East Asian affairs.

Reportedly, change was necessitated because of relative security concerns and inclination of Chinese companies to undertake projects along this route on BOT (build, operate, transfer) basis.

Notwithstanding this, both the province blames that it is the handiwork of Nawaz government.

The Punjab stands to benefit the maximum from the change and it is the electoral constituency of Nawaz Sharif. CPEC is because of seaport at Gwader and it is in Baluchistan. Major share of the windfall belongs to them. Besides, Baluchistan is the most backward, downtrodden and impoverished province. It deserve sympathy and generous support. Both aspects are the imperatives. The Baluchistan is already a hotbed of foreign intrigue and may assume new dimensions in backdrop of CPEC. We must address at priority, apprehensions being spread there by nationalist and separatist elements; with advent of CPEC, Baluch would turn into minority in their own province, on the name of development, resources of Baluchistan would be plundered and mushroom of strangers would alter their way of life. These will fuel unrest in Baluchistan further.

The misgivings of smaller provinces needs to be allayed prudently before we land in minefield as of 1971 debacle which is too recent to be forgotten. Nawaz government must follow established guiding principles for such big enterprise involving federating units. Fair and diffused development integrates the people and imbalanced progress causes rift and drift. Nothing be allowed to be mistaken for want of communication gap and transperency. Elder brother shows magnanimity and Punjab is the big brother. Genuine leadership sets the gaze on next generations and routine leadership on next elections.

A debt trap is another threat which looms large. Our foreign debt is already in the neighborhood of $ 90 Billion. Nothing is clear that how much is the FDI and how much is the loan out of $46 Billion, earmarked by the China for the CPEC. It may not prove last straw on camel back because when debt exceeds the repayment capacity of a country, its sovereignty is in jeopardy.

The concerns about functional issues are also in air. Presently CPEC’s affairs are being seen by Ministry of planning and development. In principle, Ministry is policy making body. There is a need to form an executive body or alternatively Pakistan should seek a substantive role in executive matters. Notwithstanding provision of finance

by China, CPEC is in Pakistan. People from Pakistan also ought to be at driving seat. What is the share of Pakistan in employment positions at each tier and their compensation packages?. Imbalances in roles/ workforce, unfair handling and disparity in wages/benefits soon become bone of contention. This can cause serious damage to CPEC if grow in magnitude and character.

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Saturday, 7 January, 2017

COMMENT 11 Editor’s mail

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

Fax: +92-42-32535230 E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Humanitarian work should be appreciated instead of punished ADEEL Naeem had visited Turkey, and distributed food items to Syrian refugees. The Mayor in Turkey, appreciated his effort and thanked him for these efforts. Around the world, humanitarian work is appreciated as it helps humanity and brings good name to the country.

It has left us spellbound, that he was under investigation and not released till date. We request the authorities to immediately release him. If there are any queries, objections or charges than the same can be asked in a respectable manner. Picking him up with his car, and detaining him for over 1 year, and denying contact with family, family doctor or any lawyer is questionable to say the least. In his absence two near relatives died. He was married in Oct 2015. His new born daughter is 5 months and awaits her father’s return; both the father and daughter have not seen each other. Adeel’s education is from LSE, GCU & LGS. Our family, many renowned personalities & alumni appreciate his conduct. It seems that his humanitarian work is misunderstood.

Humanitarian work of giving food to refugees and victims of natural calamities is an honorable work, and brings good name to our beloved country. We request you to honorably release Adeel Naeem along with his car and belongings.

NAEEM NAqI

Ensuring the success of the french initiative hands of Netanyahu’s right-wing government, which claims that Israel continues to be existentially threatened and only when the Palestinians unequivocally accept Israel’s existence will negotiations produce a lasting peace agreement.

In his speech, Secretary Kerry defended the US abstention in the UNSC, which allowed the resolution to pass, because it recognised the critical importance of combating terrorism and ending all acts of violence: “Everyone understands that no Israeli government can ever accept an agreement that does not satisfy its security needs or that risk creating an enduring security threat like Gaza transferred to the West Bank…. [but] the vote in the United Nations was about preserving the two-state solution.”

Both the UN resolution and Kerry’s speech, however, failed to recognise that the conditions on the ground have dramatically shifted not only because of the settlements, but also because of the psychological dimensions that impact and impede progress on every conflicting issue.

There is profound distrust between the two sides Dr Alon Ben-meir which is compounded by mutually deep concerns over security, coupled with strong illusions held by ECENT developments in connection with right-wing Israeli and extremist Palestinian conthe Israeli-Palestinian conflict demon- stituencies that claim to have an inherent right to the strated the huge gap between the Israeli entire land stretching from the Mediterranean to the government and the international commu- Jordan River. nity’s position about the settlements in the Hamas has made this claim time and again, and occupied territories and the prospect of a two-state recently Israel’s Education Minister Naftali Bennett solution. United Nations Security Council Resolu- stated that Israel should annex Ma’ale Adumim (lotion 2334, followed by Secretary of State John cated 4.5 miles east of Jerusalem), followed by Area Kerry’s speech condemning the Israeli settlements C in its entirety, which is under Israeli control and is and characterizing them as a major obstacle to peace, more than 60 percent of the West Bank. were largely on the mark. But ending the settlements As Bennett, Netanyahu, and other coalition partenterprise will not, in and of itself, resolve the Is- ners see it, the expansion of settlements and the retroacraeli-Palestinian conflict. Unfortunately, both the UN tive legalization of many others built without initial and Kerry have ignored other critical issues, partic- government approval will create irreversible facts on ularly the poisonous socio-political atmosphere be- the ground making a two-state solution simply inopertween the two sides, the fault lines in the peace able, which is precisely what they want to secure. process itself, and Hamas’ and other Palestinian exTo be sure, the UN resolution and Kerry’s speech tremists’ position that calls for Israel’s destruction, are nothing but a call in the wilderness. Other than to which Kerry made only scant reference. putting some political pressure on Israel and warning The French Initiative to the Palestinians to stop inciteconvene an international conments and acts of violence, there ference on the Israeli-Palestinis no realistic international enian conflict on January 15th is forcement mechanism to compel a momentous opportunity to either side to adhere to the UN offer a new approach that For the French conference to resolution or Kerry’s plea. would mitigate the hostile rela- succeed, however, it should Netanyahu feels confident tionship between the two sides that as president, Trump will reand create a new socio-political not merely echo what the UN store the US’ traditional support environment conducive to of Israel’s position and provide resolution and Kerry’s restarting peace negotiations it with political cover any time with a realistic prospect for sucspeech called for, and not attempts are made by the intercess. However, the agenda of national community to pressure simply push for the the conference and its outcome or coerce Israel to embrace polishould seek to provide a framecies contrary to its perceived naresumption of direct or work for the Trump administrational interests. indirect peace negotiations tion to align itself with because The timing of the French Iniwithout the US’ ultimate suptiative may seem odd as it is takthat will meet the same fate port, it will have no lasting iming place only five days before pact in securing a viable as previous talks. the inauguration of PresidentIsraeli-Palestinian peace. elect Trump. The French governAlthough the UNSC called ment, however, wants to build on for taking “immediate steps to the momentum produced by the prevent all acts of violence UN resolution and Kerry’s against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as speech to engender wider international consensus beall acts of provocation and destruction,” the resolu- yond the UNSC against the settlements and save the tion fell short in condemning Hamas by name and two-state solution, which is viewed as sine qua non to calling upon its leadership to renounce violence and enduring peace. accept Israel’s right to exist.

Furthermore, the French are hoping to prevent This glaring omission plays squarely into the the incoming Trump administration from rushing

A worthy cause

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into taking a position completely supportive of Ne- join the Palestinian Authority in the search for a peacetanyahu and scuttling what’s left of the peace ful resolution to the conflict. Hamas is an integral part process, especially at a time of regional turmoil and of the Palestinian body politic, without which no Isextremism, which the Israeli-Palestinian conflict raeli-Palestinian peace can be forged, let alone endure.

The conferees should especially call on Turkey feeds into with consequential adverse effects on the and Qatar to pressure Hamas (on whom they enjoy European community.

For the French conference to succeed, however, tremendous influence) to renounce violence and acit should not merely echo what the UN resolution cept the inevitability of Israel’s existence without and Kerry’s speech called for, and not simply push necessarily surrendering its arms. As an incentive, for the resumption of direct or indirect peace nego- Hamas should be removed from the EU and US’ list tiations that will meet the same fate as previous talks. of terrorist organizations and provided with targeted The conferees must adopt a three-track approach that financial aid to build housing, medical facilities, schools, and infrastructure, and will be conducive for the repull the Palestinians in Gaza out sumption of constructive negoof their rampant poverty and detiations leading to a peace spair. Under such circumagreement that the Trump adstances, Israel would ease the ministration can support.

Given the intense distrust, The conferees should task blockade and ultimately remove it altogether under conditions of deep sense of mutual insecurity, and persistent illusion that ei- three foreign ministers from peace. third track is the adopther side can have all, it is critiEgypt, France, and the US to tion The of the Arab Peace Initiative cally important to begin the first track with a process of reconcilpersuade Israel and Hamas (API) as the overall framework for peace, which could rally the iation for about two years to to embrace the API, which whole Arab world behind the largely mitigate these three French Initiative and create a major obstacles. offers several common roadmap for the establishment During this period, neither side should be required to make denominators between them. of Israeli-Palestinian peace in the context of a comprehensive concessions regarding any of Arab-Israeli peace. the major conflicting issues— The conferees should task which in any case neither side is three foreign ministers from prepared to make at this juncEgypt, France, and the US to ture—but instead take government-to-government and people-to-people measures persuade Israel and Hamas to embrace the API, which to create a new socio-political environment support- offers several common denominators between them.

There is perhaps no better time than now to do just ive of meaningful negotiations.

The government-to-government measures that because of the intensifying collaboration on seshould include: halting the mutually acrimonious curity and intelligence sharing between Israel and key public narrative, taking no provocative action (e.g Arab states in the Gulf, along with Jordan and Egypt, preventing the Palestinians from suing Israel at the who seek to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict International Criminal Court), substantially slowing and focus on the Iranian threat.

By adopting these three tracks, the conference will the expansion of settlements and providing only for natural growth, encouraging joint economic devel- put the Israeli government and the PA to the test, as opment ventures, further strengthening security co- they cannot profess to seek a two-state solution but operation to prevent violence, and releasing some then refuse to undertake such measures of reconciliaPalestinian prisoners with no blood on their hands as tion which are essential to a genuine peace agreement.

I am convinced that if the conference does not a good-will gesture. Finally, textbooks should be modified to reflect the reality and rights of both peo- adopt the above outlined approach and subsequently ples, which is one of the most critical measures that elicit the endorsement of the Trump administration, must be taken so that the next generation of Israelis it will fail. The failure will deprive the French and, and Palestinians see each other as friends and neigh- by extension, the EU from having much of a say in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the fubors rather than eternally sworn enemies.

In the area of people-to-people interactions, both ture, in which their stakes are extremely high.

Given that the US is and will remain the main sides should undertake several measures (some government-facilitated) including: engaging in an open interlocutor between Israel and the Palestinians, the public discourse to air out some of their concerns and conference will provide Trump (through the threeaspirations for the future, allowing more Palestinian track approach) the time and opportunity to genlaborers to work in Israel, encouraging the media to uinely assess the reality of the Israeli-Palestinian report on any positive developments, facilitating conflict. After all, Trump would not want to grant tourism in both directions, emboldening women ac- Netanyahu’s wishes and let him expand the settletivism, supporting student interactions, providing ments and annex more Palestinian territories if such Palestinian youth opportunities to study at Israeli a move kills any prospect of a two-state solution and universities, embarking on joint sport activities, and subjects Israel to a perilous future.

Trump, who boasts of being the greatest dealexchanging art exhibitions.

The purpose of these activities is to humanize the maker, should take heed of the above and, with the Israelis and Palestinians in each other’s eyes, stop support of the European community led by France, efthe stereotyping, and construct a new relationship fect a peace agreement between Israel and the Palesbased on mutual acceptance and trust, which are es- tinians which will indeed be the deal of the century. sential to peace making.

Dr Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international To significantly allay Israeli concerns (real, perceived, or exaggerated) over national security, the sec- relations at the Centre for Global Affairs at NYU. He ond track is for the conference to call on Hamas and teaches courses on international negotiation and other Palestinian extremists to forsake violence and Middle Eastern studies. alon@alonben-meir.com

12 WORLD VIEW

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

exposing real friends and eneMies of israel in the araB world Palestine ChroniCle

t

hanna kawas n

HE Israeli Institute for National Security Studies has just issued its 275 page report entitled “Strategic Survey for Israel 20162017”. This Israeli research institute and think tank is headed by former IDF Military Intelligence Chief, General (ret.) Amos Yadlin. Its analysis offers a valuable insight into the how the Israeli intelligence and security community view and prioritize developments regionally and globally, and in the process, also exposes who are the real friends and enemies of Israel in the Arab world.

Following are a small sampling of the findings and the recommendations (labelled “challenges and responses”) contained in the report’s summarized conclusion: n “Israel’s peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan have withstood the tumult in the Arab world. The Cairo and Amman embassies in Tel Aviv are an expression of a stable element in the regional system, and constitute an important part of Israel’s strategic position.” page 252 n “The change in Saudi policy has expanded Riyadh’s base of shared interests with Israel, thereby facilitating closer ties between the two countries and possibly

n

n

n

encouraging Saudi Arabia to make those ties public.” page 252 “From Israel’s standpoint, the non-state actors in the region are deeply involved in fighting for their existence, making them less able to concentrate on the struggle against Israel mandated by their ideology. The Islamic State branch that controls territory bordering Israel in the Golan Heights is for the most part inactive against Israel.” page 249 “Although Hezbollah continues its military buildup and poses a significant strategic threat to Israel, and despite the substantial resources invested by Hamas in rebuilding its military force, Israel’s overall strategic position gives it unprecedented freedom of action to initiate military operations aimed at preserving its security interests and restricting the increase in quality of its enemies’ military buildup.” page 250 “The complete standstill in the political process and the deterioration of security in the Palestinian arena continued in 2016, and Israel continues to pay a price in lives, and in its economy, international standing, and internal political arena.” page 253 “Israel’s image in Western countries continues to decline, a trend that enhances the ability of hostile groups to engage in

n

actions aimed at depriving Israel of moral and political legitimacy and launch boycotts in various areas. Indeed, the international campaign to delegitimize Israel continues, as reflected in the BDS movement. Israel’s current right wing government has contributed to this deterioration.” page 254 “… the worst scenario is a conflict with Hezbollah on the border with Lebanon. Conflicts in the Gaza Strip will probably be limited, and Israel is well equipped to deal with them.” page 255

The RecommendaTions n “Even if there does not appear to be a partner on the Palestinian side for reaching or implementing an agreement, Israel has an important interest in halting the gradual drift toward an irreversible one-state situation, and instead, progressing toward a two-state situation that ends Israel’s rule over Palestinians, while carefully maintaining and even improving Israel’s security.” page 257 n “Israel must prepare measures against Lebanon’s national infrastructure without distinguishing it from Hezbollah, and develop capabilities for a ground campaign…” page 259 n “Against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, military preparation should aim to shorten the duration of the next

n

n

n

campaign and anticipate the tactical and systemic surprises that will be encountered.” page 259 “Both arenas, against Hamas and Hezbollah, should be discussed with the Trump administration, with understandings reached about Israel’s red lines, and about what will be considered a legitimate policy on the use of force against these groups in the event of another military conflict.” page 259 “The dialogue between Israel and Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states indicates that an effective process with the Palestinians, even if it does not include negotiations for a permanent settlement ending in a full agreement, will make a breakthrough in relations with the Gulf states possible, including making these relations public.” page 260 “Israel can expect conflicts in both the military sphere and in soft power areas – economic, diplomacy, communications, the social networks, and the courts (lawfare)…It is therefore necessary for Israel to devise organizational frameworks, strategies, and multidimensional, coordinated methods to handle the challenges facing it.” page 260

Hanna Kawas is Chairperson of the Canada Palestine Association and co-host of Voice of Palestine.

How many bombs did the US drop in 2016?

CounCil on Foreign relations Micah Zenko

As President Obama enters the final weeks of his presidency, there will be ample assessments of his foreign military approach, which has focused on reducing U.S. ground combat troops (with the notable exception of the Afghanistan surge), supporting local security partners, and authorizing the expansive use of air power. Whether this strategy “works”—i.e. reduces the threat posed by extremists operating from those countries and improves overall security and governance on the ground—is highly contested. Yet, for better or worse, these are the central tenants of the Obama doctrine.

In President Obama’s last year in office, the United States dropped 26,171 bombs in seven countries.

This estimate is undoubtedly low, considering reliable data is only available for airstrikes in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya, and a single “strike,” according to the Pentagon’s definition, can involve multiple bombs or munitions. In 2016,

the United States dropped 3,027 more bombs—and in one more country, Libya—than in 2015.

Most (24,287) were dropped in Iraq and Syria. This number is based on the percentage of total coalition airstrikes carried out in 2016 by the United States in Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the counterIslamic State campaign. The Pentagon publishes a running count of bombs dropped by the United States and its partners, and we found data for 2016 using OIR public strike releases and this handy tool.* Using this data, we found that in 2016, the United States conducted about 79 percent (5,904) of the coalition airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, which together total 7,473. Of the total 30,743 bombs that the coalition dropped, then, the United States dropped 24,287 (79 percent of 30,743).

To determine how many U.S. bombs were dropped on each Iraq and Syria, we looked at the percentage of total U.S. OIR airstrikes conducted in each country. They were nearly evenly split, with 49.8 percent (or 2,941 airstrikes) carried out in Iraq, and 50.2 percent (or 2,963 airstrikes) in

Syria. Therefore, the number of bombs dropped were also nearly the same in the two countries (12,095 in Iraq; 12,192 in Syria). Last year, the United States conducted approximately 67 percent of airstrikes in Iraq in 2016, and 96 percent of those in Syria. *The data is based on OIR totals between January 10, 2016 and December 31, 2016.This post was coauthored with the research associate, Jennifer Wilson.

Michael BlooMBerg’s JerusaleM new York sun Congratulations are in order to Mayor Bloomberg for his stance in respect of Jerusalem. The Bloomberg View issued on Tuesday an unsigned editorial headlined “Obama’s Betrayal of Israel at the U.N. Must Not Stand.” It’s an exceptionally clear dissection of the Obama abstention on the Security Council resolution declaring Jewish settlement in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria illegitimate. It warns that the act will only make things worse, particularly by incenting the Palestinian Arabs to view the United Nations, rather than Israel, as their negotiating partner.

Mr. Bloomberg’s editorial ranks right up there with the Wall Street Journal’s Review & Outlook column in its use of logic to cut through the cant that we’ve heard from President Obama and Ambassador Power. His Honor reckons that the bipartisan uproar over the abstention at the United Nations “provides an opportunity for Democrats and Republicans to rally around a more constructive policy.” He suggests they “should start by agreeing to President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.”

The former mayor of the city with the second largest Jewish population in the world notes that the movement of our embassy to the capital of Israel is a step “envisioned but never taken by presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.” It would provide what Mr. Bloomberg calls “a powerful reaffirmation to Israel” of America’s “enduring commitment.”

That strikes us as about as straightforward as one can get, and what a remarkable change of tune in respect of Mr. Trump coming from a leader who has heretofore been a harsh critic of the President-elect.

At the Democratic National Convention at Philadelphia, Mr. Bloomberg heaped scorn not only on Mr. Trump but his character and his business achievements and his qualifications to be president. All in the service of a woman who, in Hillary Clinton, had endorsed — and even helped conceive — the Iran appeasement and who chose, in Senator Kaine, a vice presidential candidate who’d led the miniboycott of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s third address to a joint meeting of Congress. Yet when the chips are down, he’s swung behind Mr. Trump on this central issue.

It strikes us as a moment to mark in the Battle of Jerusalem. The State Department’s approach has been to reserve Jerusalem as a so-called “final status” question. This has always struck us as precisely backwards.

Agreement to Israel’s possession of its sacred, undivided, fully incorporated, eternal, Godgiven capital deserves to be resolved first, for it’s hard to imagine a settlement without it.

Moving the American embassy to Jerusalem would be a first step in that direction, and it’s wonderful to see Mr. Bloomberg stepping into the van on this head.

IS TRUMP HEADED FOR A SHOWDOWN WITH AMERICA’S SPY AGENCIES? FisCal times Rob GaRveR

How incoming president Donald Trump will interact with the U.S. Intelligence Community is an increasingly urgent question given the threats that the nation and its interests face from terrorists and unfriendly state actors. Unfortunately, the mass of conflicting signals coming from both the president-elect and his team are only making the answer harder to discern.

Late Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources close to the Trump transition team, reported that the incoming administration was expected to engineer a major shake-up of the IC infrastructure by greatly diminishing the role of the Director of National Intelligence and slimming down the Central Intelligence Agency.

The story seemed to fit comfortably into the available facts about Trump’s feelings toward the IC in general. Since the summer, when the various agencies got together and released a statement asserting their agreement that the Russian government was responsible for cyberattacks on the Democratic National Committee and top Democratic operatives, Trump has been dismissive and antagonistic about the nation’s spy agencies.

He also tapped retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, a man with a notoriously difficult relationship with top intelligence officials, to be his National Security Advisor. Flynn was forced out of his job running the Defense Intelligence Agency by current DNI James Clapper, and has since become a full-throated critic of the IC as it exists today. Flynn also accepted payment for an appearance in Russia from the state propaganda network, RT, and was seated next to President Vladimir Putin at a celebratory dinner.

When the IC went a step further and clarified that the agencies believe the Russian hacking was aimed at helping Trump during the election, the presidentelect denied that the report was accurate, and slammed the CIA in particular for its mistaken claim in the early years of the George W. Bush administration that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump tweeted his displeasure with the IC again, writing, “The ‘Intelligence’ briefing on so-called ‘Russian hacking’ was delayed until Friday, perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!” He went on to favorably tweet about Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s claim that the materials taken during the cyberattacks on Democrats did not come from Russia.

Administration officials told news organizations that they were puzzled by the claim that the intelligence agencies had delayed the briefing, saying that it had always been scheduled for Friday. And intelligence officials were reported to be privately furious at the president-elect’s apparent decision to trust Assange over his own country’s intelligence services.

But Trump was back on Twitter Thursday morning, and his tone had changed somewhat. “The dishonest media likes saying that I am in Agreement with Julian Assange - wrong. I simply state what he states, it is for the people to make up their own minds as to the truth. The media lies to make it look like I am against “Intelligence” when in fact I am a big fan!”

A few hours later, Sean Spicer, the Republican National Committee staffer tapped to be press secretary in the Trump White House, issued a blanket denial about the Journal report. “There is no truth to this idea of restructuring the intelligence community infrastructure,” he told reporters. “It is 100 percent false.”

Notwithstanding Spicer’s comments, ABC News reported late Thursday morning that a “senior Trump transition official” said the overhaul actually is still on the table.

While all this was going on, top intelligence officials Clapper, Marcel Lettre,

the undersecretary of defense for intelligence, and Admiral Michael Rogers, head of the National Security Agency and United States Cyber Command, were appearing on Capitol Hill.

The hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee was supposed to focus on cyberthreats in general, but much of the discussion focused on the IC’s relationship with the incoming president and the allegations of Russian hacking affecting the election. The intelligence chiefs said that the IC stands behind its determination that Russia was involved in the hacks and that the operation was directed at the highest levels of the Kremlin.

Clapper, who will retire in just over two weeks, suggested that Trump’s attacks on the IC had gone beyond the realm of healthy skepticism into “disparagement” and said that he has been contacted by counterparts in other countries expressing concern about the presidentelect’s apparent disdain for the work done by intelligence professionals.

Rogers said that he was concerned about losing talented staff who may decide not to work for a Trump administration if they believe that their work is not respected and their conclusions dismissed without any consideration.

All this comes as Trump is reportedly

refusing his daily intelligence briefings, meeting instead with briefers once a week or so, and has yet to name a replacement for Clapper.

That job could be tough to fill. Spicer’s insistence that there is no shake-up of the DNI position in the works sounded definitive, but Trump’s willingness to change directions at a moment’s notice, and the emergence of multiple power centers within the nascent administration make it difficult to know what his real plans are.

On top of that uncertainty, the new DNI would be responsible for riding herd on the 16 different agencies that make up the Intelligence Community, many of which are reportedly suffering serious morale problems in the wake of the incoming president’s attacks on them.

His top pick is reported to be retired Indiana Sen. Dan Coats, who until the end of the previous Congress served on the Senate Intelligence Committee, but no formal announcement has yet been made.

The job may be less attractive today than it looked when Coats visited Trump Tower in Manhattan last November. Current DNI Clapper has taken to publicly mentioning how soon he will retire in his appearances before Congress and on Thursday, he didn’t disappoint. “Happily, I just have 15 days left,” he said.

LEISURE 13

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

Although you have an abundance of innovative ideas today, you could squander your gift of ingenuity if you aren't careful.

However, you might not know exactly what to do with your excess physical and spiritual.

You might not understand all the complex dynamics that are impacting your family relationships while the futuristic Uranus trines expansive Jupiter in your 4th House of Roots.

Nevertheless, you can feel..

You may be so overwhelmed by the wide array of tasks you need to complete today that you can't decide where to begin. As soon as you pick a specific plan, something unexpected happens that requires you.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Stability seems highly overrated today as your optimism reveals potential success stories every which way you turn. But don't dive into a new project just because it looks like an easy cure to your restlessness..

Everyone seems to think your heart is like an open book now that the evocative Moon is moving through demonstrative Leo. However, chances are that no one actually knows your true desires, even if they..

You may have been suffering in silence for too long with hidden tension at home or on the job.

Taking a calculated risk to put things back in order is a good idea today because you have invisible cosmic.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

You feel blessed to have wonderful friends who are enthusiastic about being an integral part of your life. However, you may grow annoyed if they are more of a distraction now than it's worth. Nevertheless,.

It doesn't matter how ingenious your thoughts are now; they aren't likely grounded in experience or logic. However, your intuition won't lead you astray; it's wise to act on your desires because the odds.

You are already drifting out into the cosmos, and the big picture becomes even bigger today.

You're comfortable with your colorful day dreams, but it's time to put your grand plan into motion. Fortunately,

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You may not be aware of the driving intensity of your current ambitions, but this is not the time for analysis. Push steadily toward your goals because you have the necessary inner resolve to overcome..

A close friend or ally might offer you extra support today as brilliant Uranus harmonizes with the big-hearted Leo Moon in your 7th House of Others. Even the most casual conversation could bring forth.

Although you might butt heads with someone at work, you won't likely get to the source of the squabble today. Your interactions with your coworkers aren't as simple as they seem on the surface, for unspoken.

cRosswoRd

ACROSS 1 Make unsolicited contact to sell something (4,4) 5 Lie adjacent to (4) 10 Break the sameness of (7) 11 Covering to protect the back of a chair from hair oils (12) 13 deliver a sermon (6) 14 Robert Burns' "Great chieftain o' the puddin'-race" (6) 17 Chief assistant (5-4,3) 20 Spend extravagantly (4,3) 21 One of the Brontë sisters (5) 22 16 (4) 23 foolhardy (8)

woRd sEaRcH

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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, 7 January, 2017

ARTS

Pakistan’s regional languages face looming extinction

a

rOuND a hundred women have gathered in a community centre in Peshawar, the heart of Pakistan’s fabled northwest — but they are conversing in a dialect incomprehensible to the Pashtun ethnic group that dominates the region.

Instead they are exchanging anecdotes and ideas in their native Hindko (literally, “the language of India”) at a conference organised to promote the increasingly marginalised language.

Pakistan’s 200 million people speak 72 provincial and regional tongues, including official languages urdu and English, according to a 2014 parliamentary paper on the subject that classed 10 as either “in trouble” or “near extinction”.

According to scholars, Hindko’s decline as the foremost language of Peshawar city began in 1947 when Hindu and Sikh traders left the city after the partition of British India.

Known for its curious aphorisms such as “Kehni aan dhiye nu, nuen kan dhar” (“I’m talking to my daughter, my daughter-in-law should listen”) — which is meant to convey a harsh message but indirectly), it only has some two million speakers across Pakistan as opposed to Pashto’s 26 million.

It has also become a minority language in the city of its birth.

“Years and years of political unrest in

Pakistan’s northwestern region and Afghanistan have adversely impacted our language and it has lost grounds to Pashto,” Salahudin, Chief Executive of the Gandhara Hindko Board which organised the event, explained.

Some three million mainly Pashto speakers fled war from neighbouring Afghanistan over the past 35 years, while others are more recent migrants from other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkwa province.

The most endangered of Pakistan’s dialects are now spoken by only a few hundred people, such as Domaaki, an Indo-Aryan languages confined to a

handful of villages in remote northern Gilgit-Baltistan.

Even regional languages spoken by tens of millions like Sindhi and Punjabi are no longer as vigorous as they once were.

“There is not a single newspaper or magazine published in Punjabi for the 60 million-plus Punjabi speakers,” wrote journalist Abbas Zaidi in an essay, despite it being the language of the nationally revered Sufi poet Bulleh Shah and the native-tongue of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

English has been seen as the language of the elite in Pakistan since the country was founded.

It is used at the highest official levels, despite the fact this excludes the majority of Pakistanis — many of whom, as a consequence of low literacy rates, do not speak English well or at all, according to leading linguist Tariq rahman. urdu, the most common national tongue and spoken as a second language by the majority of Pakistanis, has been relegated to the middle- and lower-level halls of power, while the widely spoken regional languages — usually native to their speakers — are not even taught in schools.

“The result is an underclass that remains out of any public policy making, its upward mobility increasingly limited, and harbouring a deep sense of inferiority,” wrote urdu poet Harris Khalique in a research paper.

“A majority of Pakistanis is unable to recognise car registration plates, many road signs that are only in English, the signboards of shops and offices.”

Some language activists have taken a stand, such as rozi Khan Baraki, a champion of the urmari language of South Waziristan tribal zone that claims some 50,000 speakers. At its peak in the early 16th century, the language flourished across much of Afghanistan and what is now northwest Pakistan.

“But then people in [the area] began speaking Pashto and Persian because many of the speakers of those languages

migrated to the fertile lands of this region.

“Migrations have also threatened our next generation, who being Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar, and Karachi have stopped communicating in their mother tongue.”

Baraki said to avoid extinction, community elders have asked their people to “force their children to speak urmari at homes, especially those who have married women who speak other languages”.

“Our next generation is threatened, this language is going to die if we don’t preserve it today,” he said. rahman lauds such efforts but says the process of saving dying languages can only happen when it is taken up at a governmental level as was the case with Welsh, a regional language of Britain.

A loss of diversity can have lasting ill effects, he warns.

Those who shift from their mother tongue to assimilate “try to become clones of another group — the one which they want to imitate, and lose respect for their former group,” he said.

Children find it difficult to communicate to their elders, while folk stories and music can also fade from memory.

“There are names of herbs and local names for fruit and animals that are lost. In some cases when you lose the name of the herb the use is also forgotten,” he said. Agencies

Trump Fish: Iraqi restaurant spells out Kurdish faith in president-elect tilikum, the seaWorld orca that killed a trainer, dies Tilikum, the orca that killed a trainer at SeaWorld Orlando in 2010, has died, his owners have announced. it was “deeply saddened” by the killer whale’s death, saying Tilikum had suffered serious health issues but did not give a cause of death. He was estimated to be 36-years-old and was born in waters off Iceland. Tilikum was featured in the documentary Blackfish, which criticised parks that keep killer whales in captivity. On Friday the theme park company, which had kept Tilikum for 25 years, announced that it had died. The orca, which was almost seven metres (23ft) long, had suffered from a bacterial lung infection. In a lengthy statement, the company said the animal had faced some “very serious health issues”. “The SeaWorld family is deeply saddened to announce that one of its most well-known orcas, Tilikum, has passed away,” it read.

“Tilikum passed away early this morning surrounded by the trainers, care staff and veterinarians that provided him around-theclock world-class care.” It featured in Blackfish, a 2013 documentary that had an impact far beyond its low budget, inspiring protests against the holding of orca. Its argument that killer whales grow more aggressive towards humans when they are held in captivity led animal rights activists to stage demonstrations and entertainers to pull out of planned performances at the parks.

SeaWorld’s visitor numbers dwindled, profits fell and an airline ended its long-term support of the park. In 1999, a naked man eluded security and sneaked into SeaWorld at night.

The next morning, security guards found the whale swimming around a breeding tank, with the man’s lifeless body on its back.

Tilikum was born off the waters of Iceland but was moved to a theme park in Canada after being captured. It became SeaWorld’s most prolific male orca, siring 14 calves during its stay in Orlando. Agencies

The newest enterprise bearing Donald Trump’s name is not a five-star hotel or an exclusive golf club. It is a restaurant in northern Iraq serving fire-roasted carp for $10 a kilo which the uS president-elect probably doesn’t even know exists.

Trump Fish, whose logo features the businessman-turned-politician’s distinctive yellow mane, opened about 10 days ago in the Kurdish city of Duhok, an hour’s drive from the latest battle against Islamic State militants in Mosul.

Owner Nedyar Zawity says he registered the Trump name months ago with Kurdish authorities.

The 31-year-old entrepreneur insists the branding is more about turning a profit than endorsing politics, but he likes Trump’s strong personality and reputation as a successful businessman.

Above all, he appreciates the president-elect’s promise to ramp up support to the Kurds and their peshmerga fighters, a sensitive proposition in a country where competing pro-government forces vie for Western backing.

“I personally love Trump for this,” Zawity told a foreign news agency. “The name Trump is beloved in Kurdistan.”

The Kurds, oppressed under successive Arab governments in Iraq, are perhaps the biggest victors of the new order born out of the uS-led invasion that

toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

While Iraqi Arabs further south have been gripped by sectarian conflict for more than a decade, Kurdistan remained relatively safe, enjoyed an economic boom and steadily developed its autonomy.

More recently, Kurdish peshmerga fighters – whose name literally means “those who face death” – have proven vital uS allies in the war against Islamic State, which seized a third of the country in 2014 when Iraqi forces collapsed.

The Kurds have pushed for years to receive direct support instead of aid funneled through Baghdad – something Washington has resisted in pursuit of a strategy to prevent Iraq fragmenting.

Trump gave the Kurds hope that this might change when, during the campaign, he praised their fighters’ skill and loyalty and called for them to be armed. “I’m a big fan of the Kurdish forces,” he said in July.

Trump’s position on full Kurdish independence is unclear and his office did not respond to a request for comment.

But many Kurds will be hoping that his endorsement of their military prowess will translate into political support for the long-held ambition of statehood for their autonomous region, which relies heavily for income on foreign aid and oil sales.

COURTING CONTROVERSY: Trump Fish, located between an appliance shop and a laundromat, has not yet turned a profit, according to Zawity, who runs the eatery with his three brothers.

The dining room was empty when a foreign news agency visited at lunchtime, save a few customers who had ordered takeaway.

The restaurant offers just one dish: masgouf, a grilled fish farmed in local rivers and seasoned with olive oil, pepper, lemon and spices. It is considered Iraq’s national dish.

The Trump name has helped attract customers, according to Zawity, including Westerners who say they don’t necessarily support the republican figure but dine here for novelty’s sake.

“He is an American, maybe he is not my favorite, but he is still American. So I’m happy to try a restaurant with an American name with Kurdish-Iraqi food,” said David Hirsch, a librarian at the university of California, Los Angeles. Agencies

HOW THE CHRISTIAN MACEDONIAN COP AND MUSLIM IRAQI REFUGEE GOT MARRIED KUMANOVO, MACEDONIA Agencies

The scene was hardly conducive to romance: she was a sick Iraqi in a wave of refugees trying to enter Serbia, while he belonged to the stern Macedonian police force keeping guard.

But Noora Arkavazi, a Kurdish Muslim, and Orthodox Christian Bobi Dodevski quickly fell in love after they met at the muddy border in early March — and celebrated their wedding four months later.

Bobi recalls the rainy day he first saw Noora in no man’s land between the two Balkan countries, when he was working only by chance after swapping shifts with a colleague.

“It was destiny,” the affable 35year-old tells a foreign news agency

over tea in his small apartment in the northern Macedonian town of Kumanovo, where he now lives happily with his young wife.

Noora, 20, hails from Diyala, an eastern province plagued with violence in the Iraqi conflict. She says at one point Islamic State jihadists kidnapped

her father, an engineer, and demanded thousands of dollars for his return.

Early in 2016, Noora and her brother, sister and parents abandoned their home and began a long journey west, crossing the border into Turkey, taking a boat to the Greek island of Lesbos and eventually entering Macedonia.

Their path was one well-trodden by hundreds of thousands of people escaping war or poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia — and like many of their fellow travellers, the Arkavazis had set their sights on Germany.

While her family continued on their odyssey, Noora stayed put in Macedonia after Cupid’s arrow struck.

“I had a simple dream to live with my family in Germany,” she says. “I didn’t imagine a big surprise for me here.”

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

INdIaN actOr OM PurI PaSSeS away at 66 V EntErtainmEnt DEsk

EtEran Bollywood actor Om Puri passed away early Friday morning in mumbai. Born on October 18, 1950, the actor made his film debut in the 1976 film Ghashiram kotwal. He was known for his performances in indian, as well as Pakistani and Hollywood movies. a versatile artist, Puri became a key player in india’s arthouse cinema scene in the 1980s and 1990s but achieved international fame for his roles in Hollywood films such as City of Joy, Wolf, and Charlie Wilson’s War. Puri was also awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire). He was given the Padma shri in 1990 for his contribution to cinema. among Puri’s well known films were aakrosh (1980), ardh satya (1982) for which he won the national award for Best actor, and British film East is East (1999).

Puri made a name for himself in the 1980s with the alternative art cinema that found a niche audience in india, playing several memorable characters that de-

Ainak Wala Jinn’s Bil Batori ill, begging on streets

EntErtainmEnt DEsk The cult classic Ainak Wala Jinn was the favourite TV show for most children born in the ‘90s. Recently it was discovered that the iconic Bil Batori, played by the very talented Nusrat Ara was found begging on the streets of Lahore.

After a recent paralysis attack that affected her left leg, Nusrat Begum was rushed to Lahore’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where doctors discharged her with just a prescription. The actor waited for medical aid on the steps of the

hospital but no one cared to help.

Originally a resident of Karachi, Nusrat relocated to Lahore about 30 years ago, hoping to further her acting career. Life took a turn for the worse once Ainak Wala Jinn ended, forcing her into unemployment and poverty. Decades later, Nusrat is still struggling. To make matters worse, she has developed depression and related mental disorders over the course of time.

She feels it’s cruel how the government has failed to take notice of her struggle over the last 25 years.

picted the anger and angst of those times.

He also worked in a number of Hollywood and British films, including “the reluctant Fundamentalist“, “East is East“, and most recently in “the Hundred-Foot Journey“.

Om Puri continued to face trouble ever since he voiced his opinion to support Pakistani actors and urged for the sanity to prevail. He also spoke negatively about the indian soldiers on the national television. However, he apologised for his disparaging remarks. in October last year, a police complaint was filed against the veteran actor for his comments that were found to be insulting to indian soldiers by a section of the film industry. Complainant Prithvi maske said, “referring to the indian army and soldiers, he [Om Puri] said that we had not given the invitation to the soldiers of the indian army. they joined the army at their will.” During a debate on a tV channel, Puri had said: “Did we force them to join the army? my father was also in the army… We are proud of them (soldiers)… i am asking you: Do you want india and Pakistan to become israel and Palestine?

Om Puri was supposed to work with me in Manto: Nawazuddin Siddiqui Nawazuddin Siddiqui is saddened by the demise of veteran actor Om Puri.

The actor says he was supposed to work with him in Manto. Siddiqui will be bringing the life of Pakistan’s short story-writer Sadat Hassan Manto alive on the silver screen through actor and film-maker Nandita Das’s project titled Manto. Calling him an inspiration and the best actor in the world, Nawazuddin condoled his death on Twitter. Nawazuddin posted, “The best actor in the world, an inspiration to me and many, he was supposed to work with me in Manto. Deeply saddened by the news.” A Padma Shri awardee and National awardwinning talent, Puri died on Friday of a heart attack here. He was 66. His work extended from theatre, television, Indian films to those in Britain and the US too. A National School of Drama alumnus, Puri also featured in movies like Mirch Masala and explored his ability to dabble in the comedy genre with Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Chachi 420, Hera Pheri, Malamaal Weekly and more. Puri also nurtured an international career, which started with a cameo in Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi. AGENCIES

ARTS 15 NAWAZ PAYS TRIBUTE TO VETERAN ACTOR isLamaBaD APP

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed sorrow over the demise of veteran Bollywood actor Om Puri who passed away after a heart attack in Mumbai on Friday. Paying tribute to the acclaimed actor, the prime minister said that Om Puri delivered some stellar performances in mainstream commercial Pakistani, Indian movies and elevated the status of Indian cinema through his natural talent. The premier said that late Om Puri made significant contribution in linking the cultural ties between India and Pakistan and refused to succumb to the pressure of anti-peace lobbies. He prayed on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan for patience and forbearance for the family of Om Puri to bear this irreparable loss.

MEHR TARAR Shocked and deeply saddened at Om Puri's demise. One of India's best,an irrevocable loss to the art of cinema. An actor loved across borders

MICHAEL MCFAUL Once Putin gets all that he can from Trump, he'll use his instruments of power , including dumping SIGINT & stolen data, to undermine Trump

SHAH RUKH KHAN “Gods garden must b beautiful, He always takes the best“ Will miss ur laughter over the shared brandy in Berlin. Will miss u lots Omji. RIP

AHMER NAQVI Shout out to all my fellow Karachiites busting out their leather jackets and woolies for their one day of winter in the year.

KHURRAM HUSAIN Chinese state media says "the range of Pakistan's nuclear missiles will also see an increase" after India tests long range ballistic missile

Taiwan: 50 pole dancers escort politician’s funeral precession

Vin Diesel sings for Deepika Padukone on her birthday

Chris Pratt refused ‘Moneyball’ role for being too fat

EntErtainmEnt DEsk: Fifty exotic pole dancers riding on top of luxury vehicles saw a Taiwanese politician off to afterlife in a bizarre public funeral precession in the east Asian nation. Politician Tung Hsiang, who held the position of speaker for Chiayi county’s local government, died at the age of 76 in December The funeral procession took place on Tuesday, and was organised by Hsiang’s son, who spoke of his father’s excitement for life. The procession took two hours and caused road blocks around Chiayi city. During the funeral parade, locals crowded the route to pay their respects and enjoy the spectacle. In a video footage, ‘Shake it for me’ can be heard blaring from speakers, while a troupe of female pole dancers in skimpy clothes performed steamy routines on top of a beach buggy motorcade. Taiwan News reported, more than 100 luxury cars and 50 scantily clad women were involved in the procession.

EntErtainmEnt DEsk: The team of xXx: The Return of Xander Cage film has kickstarted the promotions of the movie and guess what, the day they chose to do so was our Bollywood queen, Deepika Padukone’s birthday. On Friday, the film’s entire cast and crew were in Mexico for its promotions. Deepika Padukone, along with Vin Diesel, hosted a premiere of her Hollywood debut in the foreign land and later went to attend a press conference with the entire team. Vin Diesel, who is in complete awe of Bajirao Mastani star Deepika, didn’t leave the chance to wish her on her special day. Telling the audience about Deepika’s birthday, Vin asked the audience to sing along with him the birthday song.

EntErtainmEnt DEsk: Chris Pratt said he missed out on a leading role in sports movie ‘Moneyball’ because producers thought he was too fat. The once-chubby star, who has since become one of Hollywood’s leading men, said the snub inspired him to lose weight and get in shape. ”That was the first time I heard someone say, ‘We’re not gonna cast you - you’re too fat’,” the 37year-old ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ star said. “So I decided to drop the weight, like in wrestling. I couldn’t afford a trainer, so it was all running and crash-dieting and cutting alcohol.”

CMYK

16 BUSINESS

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

Weekly iNFlATioN FAlls by 0.12% ISLAMABAD

T

APP

HE weekly inflation for the week, ended on January 5, for the combined income group has declined by 0.12 percent as compared to the previous week.

According to the data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday, the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 217.84 points against 218.45 points of the last week.

As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined group in the week under review witnessed a decrease of 0.13 percent.

Meanwhile, the SPI for the lowest income group up to Rs 8,000 decreased by 0.11 percent as it went down from 208.93 points in the previous week to 208.70 points in the week under review.

As compared to the last week, the SPI for the income groups from Rs 8001 to 12,000, Rs 12,001 to 18,000, Rs 18,001 to 35,000 and above Rs 35,000

Probe into matter of petroleum levy to be widened ISLAMABAD

also decreased by 0.12 percent, 0.13 per cent, 0.13 percent and 0.12 percent, respectively.

During the week under review, the

average prices of 9 items registered decrease, while 16 items increased with the remaining 28 items’ prices unchanged. The items, which registered decrease in their prices during the week under review, included tomatoes, potatoes, chicken, lentils, onions, garlic , and red chilli.

The items, which recorded increase in their average prices, included sugar, eggs, bananas, LPG cylinder, powdered salt, rice , cigarettes, mutton, wheat, vegetables, vegetable ghee, grams , wheat flour and cooking oil.

The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included bread (plain), beef with bone, milk, curd, powdered milk, mustard oil, tea (packet), cooked beef, tea (prepared), long cloth, shirting, shoes, electricity charges, gas charges, kerosene oil, firewood, electric bulb, washing soap, petroleum products, telephone local call and soap.

Dar expresses concerns over rising meat, pulses and sugar prices

APP

Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday directed widening of the investigations into the matter of petroleum levy. According to the ministry, the ongoing investigations on the issue of petroleum levy were initiated on the directions of Interior Minister Nisar.

In the last four days, marketing companies have deposited Rs440 million, of petroleum levy, in the national exchequer.

Forex reserves stand at $23.163b

ISLAMABAD APP

The total liquid foreign reserves held by the country stood at $23,163.6 million as on December 30, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported. According to break up figure, the foreign reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan stood at $ 18,268.9m while the net foreign reserves held by commercial banks were recorded at $4,894.7 m. According to SBP report, during the week ending December 30, the SBP’s reserves were decreased by $30m to 18,269 m due to external debt servicing.

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday expressed concern over the increase in prices of meat, chickpeas, sugar, eggs, garlic and milk powder and directed the provinces and ministries to take steps to control the situation.

The National Price Monitoring Committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The meeting was attended by the representatives from the provinces, Islamabad Capital Territory, Ministries of Industries, Law and Justice, Commerce, National Food Security, Cabinet, Planning, Inter Provincial Coordination, Statistics Division, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Utility Stores Corporation and Federal Board of Revenue.

The meeting noted the increasing trend in the prices of eggs, garlic, milk powder (NIDO), beef, mutton and chickpeas. The minister expressed concerns on a increase in the trend of these food commodities and directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Competition Commission of Pakistan to closely monitor the situation, control the undeclared monopoly, take corrective measures and stop any cartelization, particularly in milk and meat products, as well as to mitigate any expected rise in prices of the pulses.

For chickpeas, he directed the

food ministry and the USC to carry out inter-ministerial consultations with all stakeholders in order to address any abnormal spike in prices.

He expressed concerns about the slight increase in the prices of sugar and directed the commerce ministry to vigilantly monitor the prices and if there is any erratic movement, then take appropriate remedial actions.

With regard to prices of beef and mutton, he directed the Ministry of National Food Security to take on board all the stakeholders and take corrective measures to curb smuggling. He advised provincial governments to be more vigilant to control prices.

The meeting was informed that the headline inflation measured by the CPI increased by 3.7 percent in December 2016 as compared to 3.8 percent of the previous month and 3.2 percent of December last year.

On average, during Jul-Dec FY 2017, it is recorded at 3.88 percent as compared to 2.08 percent in the corresponding period last year. The CPI is tamed down and in control. The other inflationary indicators have also been contained.

The meeting noted a continuous decline of the SPI since last week of November 2016. It recorded continuous six weeks decline which has brought food inflation to 3.0 percent in December 2016 as compared to 3.3 percent of previous month, while non-food inflation remained at the same level of previous month

at 4.2 percent, whereas core inflation increased by 5.2 percent as compared to 5.3 percent of previous months; the SPI and the WPI in December recorded at 0.5 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively, compared to 0.6 percent and 2.6 percent of the previous month.

The meeting noted the price movement of essential items on month on month and year on year basis. It was observed that prices of wheat, wheat flour, chicken, onion, tomatoes, cooking oil, vegetable ghee, masoor pulse, moong pulse, mash pulse decreased in December 2016 as compared to the corresponding month of the last year.

Prices of cooking oil, loose vegetable ghee, vegetable ghee (tin), chicken, banana, tomatoes, rice basmati, rice, and mustard oil are much lower than 2013 prices.

The meeting also reviewed the regional price comparison of essential commodities among Islamabad, New Delhi and Dhaka, and observed that the prices of nine items which include wheat, wheat flour, chicken farm, petrol, diesel, rice basmati, sugar, mash pulse and beef are lowest in Pakistan as compared to New Delhi and Dhaka; and second lowest in nine items which include onions, masoor pulse, moong pulse, eggs, chickpeas, vegetable ghee, milk fresh, red chillies and tomatoes.

The meeting noted that the prices among the provinces are stable.

As Trump targets Toyota over Mexico, Nissan faces bigger risk US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) over its Mexican-built cars, but the biggest risk from a punitive tariff would be for its compatriot Nissan Motor Co (7201.T), the largest automaker operating in the country.

Trump has criticized U.S. companies like General Motors (G.N) and Ford Motor Co (F.N) which manufacture abroad, accusing them of costing U.S. jobs. On Thursday he took on Toyota, warning the world’s largest automaker that it would face a “big border tax” if it exported Mexico-built cars to the US market. But it is Nissan, Japan’s second-largest automaker, which would be the bigger victim of any tax punishment.

Nissan built its first overseas plant in Mexico in 50 years ago and now produces more than 800,000 cars there, mainly its entry-level Versa and Sentra sedans.

Nissan’s production dwarfs that of Toyota, Honda Motor Co (7267.T) and Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T) in Mexico. It exports roughly half of its output to the United States, where it also has production plants.

Vehicles made in Mexico comprise roughly one-quarter of Nissan’s total U.S. vehicle sales, industry experts say, compared with around 30 percent for smaller rival Mazda, but less than 10 percent for Toyota and Honda. Japanese automakers together produced around 1.4 million vehicles in Mexico in the year ended March, nearly 40 percent of the country’s total output.

According to the Japan External Trade Organization, they plan to ramp up production to 1.9 million by 2019. Current production in Mexico is dwarfed by the number of cars they produce in the United States, their single largest market, where Japan’s top three automakers alone produced around 4 million vehicles in 2015. Trump has said he plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico, and has vowed to impose a 35 percent tariff on cars exported to the United States from Mexico.

According to JP Morgan estimates, an increase in tariffs on cars exported from Mexico to the United States to even 10 percent would hit Nissan’s consolidated operating earnings by 10.3 percent, more than 5.5 percent at Mazda. Toyota would see a hit of 0.7 percent, while Honda 2.2 percent. AGENCIES

INDIA SEES ECONOMY SLOWING EVEN WITHOUT MODI SHOCK CASH BAN FY17 GDP SEEN GROWING 7.1%; DOESN’T INCLUDE CASH BAN EFFECTS India forecasts its growth will slow to a three-year low even before the effects of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cash clampdown start to show.

Gross domestic product will grow 7.1 percent in the year through March, the Statistics Ministry said in a statement on Friday. However, the numbers don’t consider data from November onward, when Modi shocked the nation by banning high-value bank notes, Chief Statistician TCA Anant said at a subsequent briefing in New Delhi.

The $2 trillion economy is expected to expand 6.8 percent this fiscal year, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of 18 economists.

ECONOMISTS SEE FORECAST LOWERED IN REVISED EST. DUE FEBRUARY 28 That’s slower than last year’s 7.6 percent and the 7.7 percent expansion predicted before Modi’s Nov. 8 move.

“The negative impact from the demonetization is yet to be captured,” said Sujan Hajra, chief economist at Anand Rathi Securities Ltd. in Mumbai. “Going forward, we expect significant revision to this estimate.”

Modi’s decision had sucked out 86 percent of currency in circulation in a nation where 98 percent of consumer payments are made in cash. Indians had until Dec. 30 to deposit their worthless bills into bank accounts. The central bank hasn’t yet disclosed how much of money was deposited.

“Given the underlying volatility in bank deposits, for sectors of financial, insurance, real estate and professional services, we took a conscious view to not base projection in November figures due to demonetization,” Anant said. He added that he wouldn’t speculate on the revised estimate—due Feb. 28.

• Gross value added—a key input of GDP—is seen growing 7 percent compared with the previous fiscal year’s 7.2 percent expansion • The forecast is dominated by a 9 percent growth projection for services such as financial, insurance and real estate, compared with the previous year’s 10.3 percent • Other services such as trade and telecommunication will grow 6 percent versus 9 percent • Manufacturing 7.4 percent versus 9.3 percent • Agriculture—the biggest employer— will expand 4.1 percent versus 1.2 percent • Construction—the biggest creator of jobs -- 2.9 percent versus 3.9 percent

CMYK

•

Mining will decline 1.8 percent compared with growth of 7.4 percent The Reserve Bank of India—which left rates unchanged in December despite lowering its GVA forecast to 7.1 percent from 7.6 percent—will cut the key rate to 6 percent from 6.25 percent this quarter, a Bloomberg survey shows.

The central bank is due to review pol-

icy on Feb. 8, a week after the government presents its annual budget for the year starting April 1.

“We expect monetary and fiscal policies to be sufficiently expansionary to support growth,” said Rupa Rege Nitsure, group chief economist at L&T Finance Holdings Ltd. in Mumbai Courtesy Bloomberg

BUSINESS 17

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

APTMA ProPoses MeAsures For revivAl oF TexTile iNdusTry APTMA CLAIMS 10 PER CENT ANNUAL GROWTH IN EXPORTS, RS 105.2 BILLION COST SAVINGS EXPECTED IF PROPOSALS PUT INTO ACTION LAHORE

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STAFF REPORT

ll Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman Aamir Fayaz proposed several measures for the revival of Pakistan’s textile industry, including removal of customs duty on imported cotton, duty-free imports of man-made fabrics, tax rebates and tax refund on packaging material under a zero-rated regime.

He proposed these measures in a meeting held with Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Chairman SM Muneer.

Aamir was of the opinion that the primary reason for falling exports is the high cost of business. Over the past three years, textile and clothing export performance have been consistently deteriorated. According to the statistical data presented by APTMA, the exported quan-

tity of cotton cloth, knitwear and cotton yarn went down by 35pc, 10pc and 28pc, respectively. Readymade garments, bed wear and towels also showed similar downward trends.

This decrease in our statistics came at a time when other regional players experienced growth in their textile exports.

According to APTMA, India has grown by 13pc over the same time period; Bangladesh has gone up by 12pc; China experienced growth of 11pc and Vietnam grew its textile exports by 40pc.

To add salt to the wounds, not only Pakistan’s exports are falling but around 30-35pc of the production capacity of the industry is also impaired. The provincial breakdown of the textile industry further showed that a major proportion of this idle capacity came from Punjab. In monetary terms, this idle capacity in the country’s industry is worth approximately $3.5 billion, according to the APTMA chairman.

Proposing solutions to the aforementioned problems, Aamir suggested that the government should play its role for the revival of the textile industry. He suggested that the 4pc customs duty on the import of cotton should be removed and duty-free imports of all MMFs should be allowed for all MMFs that were not being produced in the country.

He further suggested that the government should permit the drawback of taxes and levies and extend the DLTL on export value of yarn and greige cloth at 4pc, processed fabric at 5pc and bedwear, towels and knitwear at 6pc.

Catering to the problems of investments in the textile machinery, the chairman gave a $6 billion “step up” plan for spinning, weaving, processing and garments machinery. According to the projected data, 18pc of this investment will go towards garments which would provide for approximately 220,000 new stitching/set up machines.

15pc of the budget will be allocated to spinning which would allow for BMR and Technology replacement for 10 million. Furthermore, approximately 19pc of the investment would go to 10,000 new Airjet Looms for the weaving sector. The

which would yield an impact of Rs3.2 billion. Total expected financial impact of all the measures proposed by the APTMA (duties, taxes and tariffs) approximately equals Rs105.2 billion, according to the APTMA chairman.

The presentation of these proposals also included an estimated 10pc annual growth in exports over the next five years, with 2014-15 as the base year. The textile industry experienced negative growth in the current fiscal year, but the chairman gave projections of 10pc growth every year, making the total turnout to be in the positive direction from 2016-17 at approximately $13,700 million going all the way up to $2 billion by the year 2020-2021.

The TDAP chairman expressed his concurrence with the APTMA chairman’s ideas by saying that exports should be among the top priorities for any country and it was high time that Pakistan caught up to its competitors by reducing the costs of doing business.

remaining 49pc would be dedicated to the processing industry that will supply 225 new dye ranges. He also mentioned the problems accrued to the textile industry by the high costs of energy.

Proposing solution pertaining to such problems, he said that a multi-year tariff should be determined by the NEPRA for the industry without the inclusion of surcharges. He recommended that the final tariff should not exceed Rs7/KWh. According to the projections made by the APTMA, this would lead to a net financial impact of Rs13 billion for the industry. He further said that RLNG tariff should be on par with System Gas tariff (RLNG tariff be reduced to Rs. 600/Mmbtu as per system gas, as the textile industry consumes about 180 MMCFD of RLNG).

The financial impact of this measure is expected to reach Rs15 billion. He also suggested a reduction of turnover tax from 1pc to 0.25 and withdrawal of 0.25pc of export development surcharge

CORPORATE CORNER kashf Foundation wins the european Microfinance Award 2016 LAHORE: Leading Pakistani microfinance organisation Kashf Foundation recently won the European Microfinance Award 2016, which was presented by Ministry of Foreign and European Awards, Luxembourg. The 2016 Award honours the microfinance institution for its set up of innovative solutions to enable access to education and professional training for young people and adults and, as a result, stimulate the creation of economic activities.

The foundation was inspired by the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and was set-up in 1996 as Pakistan’s first specialised microfinance institution. Premised on the belief that access to credit and capacity building plays a vital role in the empowerment of women from low-income households, Kashf provides a suite of financial and non-financial services aimed at transforming the lives of lowincome households. PRESS RElEASE

Major Gainers COMPANY Wyeth Pak Ltd ICI Pakistan Service Ind.Ltd Bhanero Tex. Hinopak Motor

KOHAT: Customers buy fish from a vendor as demand has increased due to cold weather. ONlINE

GOVT SPENDING RS131 MILLION ON BADIN COAL RESERVES’ APPRAISAL: MINISTRY ISLAMABAD APP

The government is spending Rs 131.619 million for the appraisal of huge coal reserves confirmed by the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) in 2014 after an extensive drilling of two years.

“Rs 131.619m will be used for the appraisal of the newly discovered coal resources in Badin and its adjoining areas of Southern Sindh,” official sources in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources told APP. According to the GSP, they said the coal deposits were estimated to be over 1 billion tonnes. “The coal is of good quality and high heating value.”

Besides, the sources informed that there were substantial deposits of gold, copper and more than 200m tonnes of iron ore but these could not be exploited or utilised because of lack of infrastructure and technology.

They said efforts were also being made for exploration of tertiary coal in Central Salt Range, Punjab, aimed at meeting the growing domestic energy demand and to develop coal fields and an increase in the power generation.

The sources said exploration of oil, gas, minerals and coal resources was undertaken on regular basis which contributed significant discoveries, especially in the oil and gas sectors. Recent geological investigations have shown that 185 billion tonnes of coal reserves exist in different parts of the country, which could be used as a primary and inexpensive source for power generation.

“More than 184b tonnes deposits are located in Sindh, with Thar coal field being the largest followed by Thatta-Sonda, Lakhra

and Jhimpir. Coal is primarily classified into four major categories: lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous and anthracite.

The sources informed that further steps were being carried out to explore and evaluate coal deposits in Musakhel, Kingri and Toisar Basin, Balochistan.

Answering a question, they said the mining and quarrying sector grew by 0.6 percent in 2015-16. “Estimates suggest there are copper reserves of 1.9 b tonnes and 11.2m ounces of gold in different localities.”

They admitted that the primary reason for not getting maximum benefit of these natural resources was the application of outdated technologies, poor management and inadequate capital besides the security situation in some of the areas where the bulk of the mineral resources were located.

The mineral sector of Pakistan is spread over 600,000 square kilometres and 92 known minerals, of which 52 are commercially exploited.

Presently, the sources said above 5,000 operational mines and 50,000 small and medium enterprises were producing an average 68.52m tonnes per year and providing direct employment to 300,000 workers.

CMYK

OPEN 4900.00 989.99 1440.00 758.10 1770.70

HIGH 5143.95 1038.13 1530.00 758.10 1798.00

LOW 4855.00 989.99 1440.00 758.10 1770.70

CLOSE CHANGE TURNOVER 5124.60 225.60 3,700 1038.13 49.43 195,700 1522.86 47.86 24,060 758.10 36.10 50 1795.38 33.36 460

5630.00 4200.00 1339.99 8200.00 550.00

5630.00 4100.00 1300.55 8200.00 524.00

5630.00 4200.00 1300.68 8200.00 527.46

-270.00 -100.00 -68.31 -50.00 -16.54

20 40 1,200 20 3,950

14.28 18.71 9.50 18.08 77.90

13.28 17.65 8.45 17.20 76.50

14.26 18.71 9.23 17.87 76.90

0.98 1.00 0.68 0.53 0.75

51,084,500 30,996,000 29,063,500 15,018,000 12,085,500

Major Losers Unilever Foods Bata (Pak) Pak Tobacco Rafhan Maize J.D.W.Sugar

5630.00 4100.00 1310.02 8200.00 532.00

Volume Leaders Dost Steels Ltd. Aisha Steel Mill Azgard Nine B.O.Punjab Pak Elektron

13.27 17.70 8.51 17.54 76.50

Interbank Rates USD GBP JPY EURO

PKR 104.7876 PKR 129.8161 PKR 0.9040 PKR 111.0225

Forex UK Pound Sterling Euro US Dollar Canadian Dollar Australian Dollar Japanese Yen Saudi Riyal U.A.E Dirham China Yuan

BUY

SELL

132.75 113.75 108.35 80.5 77.5 0.88 28.6 29.45 15.05

134.5 114.95 108.65 81.35 78.3 0.91 28.8 29.7 15.2

18 SPORTS

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

australia team doctor asks icc to consider concussion substitutes

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uSTRAlIA’S team doctor Peter Brukner has said that the introduction of concussion substitutes should be “very seriously” considered by the ICC, after opening batsman was ruled out of the against Pakistan due to concussion.

Renshaw was struck twice on the helmet, once while batting on the opening day, and then again while fielding at short leg on day three. He was cleared of concussion after the first blow. But he left the field with a headache following the second hit, and with the ill-effects still being felt the next morning, he was ruled out of the match by Brukner. Cricket Australia’s concussion protocols leave such a decision solely in the hands of medical staff, and Brukner said coach Darren lehmann and

captain Steven Smith had been fully supportive of the decision. However, it means that Australia will be one player short for the remainder of the Test, after the ICC last year rejected a CA proposal to allow concussion substitutes in first-class cricket.

CA has this summer trialled the in the Matador Cup and BBl. However, it is not permitted in the Sheffield Shield, as that would require the ICC to alter the playing conditions for first-class cricket, which it has so far declined to do.

“The more examples we have of this, the more common it is, the more pressure there will be on the ICC to do something about a concussion sub,” Dr Brukner said on Friday. “The concern we have is there’s a tendency for the player and coaches and so on to want to continue, because they

don’t want to let the team down.

“It would be helpful in that regard if we had a sub, it would make it easier to pull players out with a concussion. But that’s for the ICC and the politicians to sort out ... We introduced it in the nonfirst-class cricket in Australia and it seemed to be successful. I think it’s something that certainly needs to be looked at very seriously by the ICC.” In June last year, at a two-day meeting at lord’s, the ICC’s Cricket Committee discussed the idea of concussion subs, but decided that it was not necessary to introduce the system in first-class cricket.

“The committee considered a proposal from Cricket Australia for a ‘concussion substitute’ to be trialled for two years in domestic first-class cricket,” the ICC said

in a statement at the time.

“The committee acknowledged the seriousness of the issue of concussion in cricket, and stressed the need for consistent concussion policy to be implemented in all countries, but its view was that the current laws and playing conditions allow players to receive the best possible medical treatment, and further change to the regulations in this area is not required at present.” Renshaw does not have any playing commitments over the next few weeks as he is not part of a BBl squad, which should allow him plenty of recov-

ery time before he returns to training. He is not expected to be in any doubt for Australia’s next Test series.

Dr Brukner said Renshaw had passed concussion tests on both days one and three of the Sydney Test, but on the fourth morning “still had a headache, dizziness and felt a bit foggy”. He said it was impossible to know whether Renshaw’s susceptibility to concussion from the fielding blow had increased as a result of being struck on the helmet while batting on day one.

Courtesy ESPN

We were capable of winning the series: Younis sydney AgencieS

Which will it be for the last day of this Test series? Will it be the Pakistan that we saw towards the end of the Brisbane Test, never quite down and pushing towards what would have been the most epic scaling of a target in Test cricket? Or will it be the Pakistan of Melbourne’s last day, unable to bat out 67 overs on a blameless surface to secure a draw?

It is difficult to believe that this Pakistan side is one bad session from yet another whitewash in Australia, what would be the fourth in a row. Difficult as much because this is no vintage Australia side and that this was Pakistan’s most settled side in nearly 15 years to visit; difficult because, for once, Pakistan’s batting has done enough good work most of which their supposedly better halves have wasted.

It hasn’t worked out that way but even this deadest of dead rubbers holds some point for Pakistan. A draw will be their best result since the Sydney win over 20 years ago. It will be small consolation, but consolation

Pakistan Women squad announced for 2017 World cuP qualifiers Pakistan Women squad for the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2017 was announced on Friday after Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shaharyar Khan approved a 14-player list forwarded by women’s national selection committee. The women’s team is currently participating in a practice camp in Karachi for the matches scheduled to be played between February 7 and 21. Squad Sana Mir (captain), Bismah Maroof (vice-captain), Javeria Wadood, Ayesha Zafar, Nahida Bibi, Syeda Nain Abidi, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper), Aliya Riaz, Nashra Sandhu, Ghulam Fatima, Anam Amin, Aiman Anwar, Maham Tariq.

Standby: Rabiya Shah and Natalia Pervaiz. SportS DeSk

enough and perhaps an appropriate way to sign off on the Misbah era.

“We want to finish this series on a good note,” said Younis Khan, who ended Pakistan’s first innings unbeaten on 175, his first hundred in Australia. “It will be better for us if we show some fight. It will not be easy. Fifth day of a Test, in Sydney, they have two spinners and they have good fast bowlers.

“You can’t say [which Pakistan will turn up]. But my wish and effort is - though we cannot win the series, we were capable of winning it but we didn’t - but at least, if we do well tomorrow, if we fight tomorrow, it will be very good for the Pakistan cricket and the side.”

It has been a strange tour from which to glean positives. The highs have been exquisite and

solely reserved for the batsmen, but they have all come with a bittersweet after-taste. Asad Shafiq’s hundred in the fourth innings at Brisbane, Azhar Ali’s double-hundred at the MCG and now Younis’ 34th century - ordinarily they would be cause for greater celebration for Pakistani batsmen in Australia but they might end up as the footnotes of a whitewash.

Younis’ innings itself was unusual in that it came in a dead rubber (only the second of his 34 for which that is the case) and it brought mixed feelings.

“Definitely,” he said. “I don’t believe there needs to be big individual performances - I believe in having even minor performances but those which help you to winning a game, towards winning, towards positive result.”

But there could be longer-term benefits. “It is a good sign for Pakistan that Azhar for instance scored a double in the last Test and it was Pakistan’s best innings in Australia.

Big names have come here, big openers have come here and they didn’t do as well.

NATIONS CUP TO KICK OFF AMID SAME OLD COMPLAINTS Agencies The begins next week against a backdrop of civil strife in host nation Gabon and ever more strident complaints from European clubs about the tournament taking away key players midway through their season. On the footballing front, the Ivory Coast seek to defend their title, Egypt bid to revive former glories and tiny Guinea Bissau aim to continue their fairytale run.

The trio are among 16 countries at the biennial tournament played at four venues across the oil-rich central African country, which only months ago was beset by civil strife after a disputed election kept President Ali Bongo in power amid allegations of widespread fraud.

The possibility of more protests around the tournament, which will bring an international spotlight the country rarely enjoys, means the likelihood of stifling security as a backdrop to what is supposed to be a celebration of African soccer. Excitement over the event has also been

tempered by ongoing controversy over its timing as the Confederation of African Football doggedly refuses to change the scheduling, much to the frustration of the main European leagues who lose players for a month in the middle of their seasons.

FIFA rules allow countries to call up players, causing a club versus country conflict every two years which this time has led to more players than ever opting to stay with their clubs.

Cameroon, usually among the favourites, will take a weakened side to the tournament after eight players told coach Hugo Broos they wanted to stay with their clubs rather than risk losing their places by going to Gabon.

But holders Ivory Coast have been able to add to their talent pool with Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha eschewing overtures to stay loyal to England and embarking on a new course with his international career.

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french-born mahrez named africa’s finest AbujA: Riyad Mahrez, who inspired leicester City to an extraordinary Premier league title triumph last season, was named African Footballer of the Year on Thursday. Algeria’s Mahrez, the creative linchpin of leicester’s stunning success, was chosen ahead of 2015 winner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund and liverpool’s Sadio Mane in a poll of African national team coaches, technical directors and media experts. The leicester player received 361 votes, ahead of Aubameyang’s 313 and Mane’s 186 with the result announced at the annual Confederation of African Football (CAF) awards in the Nigerian capital. “Algerian wizard Mahrez had an eventful year to remember. He was one of the key actors as leicester City produced the shock of the year, scoring 17 goals in the process,” said African football’s governing body in their citation. The 25-year-old Mahrez is the third French-born player to win the award, after Frederic Kanoute and Aubameyang, and the third Algerian international since lakhdar Belloumi in 1981 and Rabah Madjer in 1987. It is the seventh time in nine years that the winner has come from an English Premier league club. “I want to thank all my team mates at leicester and Algeria and my coaches. This is a huge honour for me,” said Mahrez on receiving the award.

Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho was named Africa’s Most Promising Talent and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi Youth Player of the Year at the CAF awards. AgencieS

thisara Perera, tymal mills sign with bbl Sri lanka allrounder Thisara Perera and England pacer Tymal Mills are the latest additions to the Big Bash league 2016-17, coming in for the Melbourne Renegades and the Brisbane Heat respectively. While Thisara replaces West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo, Mills was brought in for West Indies legspinner Samuel Badree. Thisara brings with him the vast experience of 114 ODIs and 54 T20 internationals, something the Renegades’ coach Andrew McDonald is happy to have his team tap into. “It has obviously been a quick turnaround following Dwayne’s injury but we’re happy we’ve been able to secure someone of Thisara’s experience for the remainder of the BBl,” he said, according to the Renegades site. “I’m looking forward to having him in the group and showing what he can do.” Mills has played one T20I, against Sri lanka in July 2016. He played the Bangladesh Premier league in November, and then went to New Zealand’s domestic T20 tournament, the Super Smash. He is set to play England’s T20s against India, which begin on January 26.

“With Sam Badree and Josh lalor both out injured at the moment, the opportunity to provide additional variety to the attack was very attractive,” the Heat coach Daniel Vettori said of Mills’ selection, according to the Cricket Australia site.

“Tymal has been going well for Auckland so he is match-ready.

We’re looking forward to having him join us and prepare for the matches ahead at the Gabba and the MCG where the conditions should suit him.” Bravo was ruled out last week after doing damage his left hamstring, while fielding against the Perth Scorchers, an injury for which he requires surgery.

Badree too injured his hamstring, on January 3 against the Sydney Sixes, and scans subsequently ruled him out. AgencieS

SPORTS 19

Saturday, 7 January, 2017

munro’s 52-ball hundred razes bangladesh Mount MAungAnui

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AgencieS

ARAuDING 52-ball hundred - his first in T20 internationals - powered New Zealand to a series win with a game to spare.

Munro struck seven sixes and seven fours to lead the hosts to 195, which proved 47 too many for Bangladesh.

New Zealand, though, had to deal with the anxiety of luke Ronchi leaving the field in the eighth over of the chase because of a groin injury. He did not return, with rookie Tom Bruce taking the wicketkeeping gloves.

Bangladesh threatened briefly with a rapid 68-run stand between Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman, but lost their last seven wickets for 44 runs to be dismissed for 148 in 18.1 overs.

Bangladesh had started positively, though, after opting to bowl in Mount Maunganui. Their captain Mashrafe Mortaza struck with the first ball to remove Ronchi, before the spinners made further inroads to reduce New Zealand to 46 for 3 within six overs.

Munro took charge and added 123 runs - for the fourth wicket in T20Is with Bruce, who helped himself to an unbeaten 59 off 39 balls, including five fours and a six.

Munro signalled his intent with a blast down the ground off Mashrafe in the first over. Despite the loss of Ronchi, Williamson, and Corey Anderson, Munro went on a boundary-hitting

NEW ZEALAND 195 FOR 7 (MUNRO 101, BRUCE 59*, RUBEL 3-37) BEAT BANGLADESH 148 (SABBIR 48, SODHI 3-36, WILLIAMSON 2-16) BY 47 RUNS spree. He hit Rubel Hossain for backto-back fours in the second over and then launched offspinning allrounder Mosaddek Hossain for two sixes in the eighth over.

Munro reached his fifty off 31 balls in the 11th over before hammering Shakib Al Hasan for a six over cover and four to long-on. He found excellent support from the newcomer Bruce, who rotated the strike well in addition to putting the bad balls away.

Munro hit top gear when he nailed Mahmudullah behind square for two sixes in three balls in the 13th over.

Mahmudullah eventually conceded 28 runs off that over as Munro zoomed from 64 to 92. He brought up his century with a quick single in the 16th over, becoming the third New Zealand batsman, after Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill, to score a T20I hundred. Munro was dismissed in the next over by Rubel, who proceeded to dismiss Colin de Grandhomme and Jimmy Neesham. He also ran Mitchell Santner out and finished with impressive figures of 3 for 37.

Bangladesh’s start strangely mirrored New Zealand’s. The visitors lost

three early wickets before the fourthwicket pair lent the innings some impetus. Imrul Kayes holed out in the first over, Tamim Iqbal fell to a horrible mix-up in the fourth, and Shakib chipped Ben Wheeler to cover-point, leaving his team at 36 for 3 in 4.1 overs. The early losses put additional pressure on Sarkar, who had managed only 1 and 0 in his last two innings.

He regained form with a glance past fine leg and two sixes over longon. He went on to hit Trent Boult for two fours in the 11th over before topedging a pull to short fine leg. He had made 39 off 26 balls.

Sabbir played some adventurous shots, including a scoop over the wicketkeeper’s head and a number of blasts over long-on, but sliced Ish Sodhi to long-off for 48. Sodhi then combined with Williamson to derail Bangladesh’s chase.

Sabbir missed out on a fifty despite having batted so well with his three sixes, ranging from the scoop over the wicketkeeper’s head to big blasts over long-on.

Ish Sodhi, who conceded 16 off his first over, removed Sabbir before taking the wickets of Mahmudullah and Mashrafe Mortaza as Bangladesh sunk fast in the chase.

Mitchell Santner’s ripping catch at long-on to dismiss Mosaddek Hossain was another highlight in a game in which New Zealand ran into trouble twice, but bounced back strongly to wrap up the series.

Gen Bajwa praises Boxer Muhammad Waseem’s outstanding achievements sports desk World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Flyweight Champion Muhammad Waseem called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at General Headquarters on Friday.

The army chief praised Boxer Muhammad Waseem for his outstanding achievements and expressed his confidence that Pakistani youth will follow his footsteps to bring good name to the country. Waseem had successfully defended his WBC silver flyweight title after defeating

Giemel Megramo of the Philippines in November. Megramo gave Waseem a tough time for the duration of 12 rounds of the fight, with the latter winning the match by 1 point. This is Waseem’s 5th fight during his ongoing professional career, and the boxer has so far proved to be unbeatable.

Known as ‘Falcon Khan’, Waseem, whose ranking is expected to improve, is intended to challenge other recognised fighters.

Following his successful bout, PM Nawaz Sharif had approved a Rs30 million grant for the boxer.

PRESIDENT GOLD CUP SQUASH

Pakistan’s farhan mehboob takes the gold Pakistan’s Farhan Mehboob took on world number 30 leo Au of Hong Kong to clinch the title in the President Gold Cup International Squash Tournament played at the Mushaf Squash Complex here in Islamabad. President Mamnoon Hussain graced the final as chief guest.

Farhan Mehboob played phenomenally in the semifinals against second seed Egyptian Mohamed Reda to go on to represent Pakistan in the $25,000 championship. Top seed Hong Kong’s leo Au beat Egyptian Karim Al-Fathi, in the semifinals.

The President Gold Cup International Squash Championship is a professional squash tournament organised by Pakistan Squash Federation in which international players from Egypt, Hong Kong, Kuwait and Malaysia participated this year.

Serena Hotels made a decision three years ago to reclaim the legacy of squash in Pakistan under its Sports Diplomacy initiative. Since the inception of the Serena Hotels-Chief of Air Staff International Squash Championship, there has been an increase in local squash tournaments and championships and Serena Hotel’s engagement with the sport continues with the support of the President Gold Cup International Squash Tournament.

Sports Diplomacy is an integral part of Serena’s efforts to build stronger relations with communities. Sports are an important medium for bringing people together and participation in sports helps in improving leadership, teamwork, and communication skills along with promoting a healthier lifestyle and presenting a positive image of the country internationally.Squash is rated as one of the healthiest sports in the world. It is also a sport for life, with competitions starting at under-11 level and continuing through all the age groups, even at the age of 80. SportS DeSk

BARCELONA START 2017 WITH DEFEAT MAdrid AgencieS

Athletic Bilbao held out with nine men to secure a first win over Barcelona in four years and carry a 2-1 lead into the second leg of their Copa del Rey last 16 tie on January 11. Two goals in three first-half minutes from Aritz Aduriz and Inaki Williams put the hosts in command. lionel Messi’s fine free-kick halved Barca’s arrears after the break.

And the five-time World Player of the Year was inches away from a precious second away goal when he hit the post with the final kick of the game after Raul Garcia and Ander Iturraspe had been sentoff. “We struggled at the start,” admitted Barca boss luis Enrique. “They used two counter-attacks to put together two good moves and get ahead.

“In the second-half we concentrated more on what we could control, our play, and I think we did enough to deserve more, even taking into account Athletic’s numerical disadvantage.” Enrique started all three of his star strike force of Messi, luis Suarez and Neymar despite handing them an extended winter break which

meant they only returned to training on Monday after two weeks off.

This is the sixth time Barca and Athletic have been paired together in the Cup in nine seasons, including three finals.

Barca have emerged victorious in all five previous occasions, but Athletic looked well on their way to reversing that run with two excellent goals midway through the first-half. Firstly, Aduriz stooped unmarked to head home Garcia’s cross and round off a fine team move on 25 minutes. Then, in the midst of a homage to Athletic defender Yeray Alvarez who was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer, the hosts struck again when Williams smashed home a volley from Aduriz’s neat backheeled layoff.

Alvarez was in the crowd and the club announced earlier on Thursday he will return to training in the next few weeks after undergoing successful surgery. “I think in the first-half we were much better than them,” Williams toldGolTV. “The referee left us with nine men, but that is football and we have to suffer. We will go to the Camp Nou and do our best to reach the next round.”

The match was then dogged by refer-

eeing controversy as Aduriz escaped unpunished for an elbow on Samuel umtiti.

Barca were even more incensed in first-half stoppage time when David Fernandez Borbalan somehow failed to point to the spot when Neymar was chopped down by Borja Etxeita.

Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba were all booked for taking their protests too far, whilst Messi also had to be restrained from confronting Borbalan as the players left the field for half-time. “The first-half ended in the worst way with a lot of cards on our part and the players upset at what we saw on the field,” said Enrique.

Borbalan did come to Barca’s aid just after the break, though, when he adjudged Messi’s free-kick to have crossed the line despite Gorka Iraizoz’s best efforts in the Athletic goal.

Iraizoz tipped over a dangerously dipping effort from Neymar as the pressure from the visitors built and the home side were reduced to nine men in their efforts to halt the Brazilian. Garcia and then Iturraspe had few complaints after seeing second yellow cards for late challenges on Neymar. More Messi magic nearly

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prevented Barca starting the year with defeat as he danced past two defenders before a desperate saving challenge from Mikel San Jose prevented the Argentine getting a shot off. And in the dying seconds Messi smashed a loose ball inside

the area off the inside of the post.

No side other than Real Madrid has eliminated Barca from the Cup since 2008 and the holders will remain confident of turning the tie around on home soil on Wednesday.

SPORTS Saturday, 7 January, 2017

AustrAliA hit 241 At 7.53 in bid for cleAn sweep SyDney

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Agencies

AIn cleared in Sydney for the second time in as many days to allow further progression of the SCG Test but Pakistan will require a world record cloudburst of strokes to prevent Australia advancing to a third victory from as many matches in the series on Saturday.

A firecracker of an innings by David Warner and handsome hands from Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja helped the hosts set Pakistan a distant 465 to win after Younis Khan’s excellent rearguard dissuaded the hosts from enforcing the follow-on. The wicket of an aggressive Sharjeel Khan gave Smith an opening before the close.

The entirety of the first session was lost for the second time in as many days, but Smith’s team made up for lost time by rattling off 241 in a mere 32 overs. Warner was certainly not in the mood to linger, hammering 55 from 27 balls to put Pakistan immediately on the back foot. He took particular toll on Yasir Shah, taking one over for 22.

Smith and Khawaja followed up with plenty of telling blows of their own to stretch the lead, with the captain ultimately closing the innings with 16 overs left in the day and another 98 on day five. Sharjeel’s attacking instincts were given brief vent but his time in the middle on debut was ended when he flicked without due care and attention to Warner, lurking at midwicket.

Earlier, Yasir had lasted more than an hour in the company of Younis to ensure Smith needed to call upon Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood more than he would have preferred if he were to send Pakistan back in. Hazlewood finished an exemplary dis-

PAKISTAN 315 (YOUNIS 175*, AZHAR 71, HAZLEWOOD 4-55) AND 1 FOR 55 NEED 410 RUNS TO BEAT AUSTRALIA 8 FOR 538 DEC AND 2 FOR 241 DEC (KHAWAJA 79*, SMITH 59, WARNER 55) play with four wickets, the last of which a sharp reverse swinger to bowl Imran Khan for a duck.

Australia had one glimmer of hope to end Pakistan’s innings quickly when play got under way, as Starc coaxed an outside edge from Younis’ bat. However, Matthew Wade, back on the field having

missed most of day three due to illness, was unable to hold onto the edge as he dived to his right.

By the time Hazlewood found Yasir’s edge, 44 runs had been wiped off the deficit and Younis had gone well past 150. Australia will be without Matt Renshaw, ruled out of the match due to the symptoms of con-

cussion after being struck twice in the helmet in the first three days.

Khawaja duly walked out with Warner, and was in a great spot for a spectator as Australia’s vice-captain fired shots to all parts and briefly threatened the world record for fastest Test hundred as a follow-up to his century before lunch on day one of this match. In the end Warner got a fraction ahead of himself, bowled when aiming an ugly smear at Wahab Riaz, but he earned a second standing ovation of the Test and allowed Khawaja and Smith to carry on comfortably in his wake - the captain ended the session with a thumping six into the SCG Members.

The runs continued to flow after tea, Smith moving along at a scarcely slower pace than Warner had set, and he was surprised to be given out when the third umpire Ian Gould detected the merest touch on the glove down the leg side when he tried to sweep Yasir. There was time for some flourish from Peter Handscomb before the declaration arrived, leaving Australia with plenty of time to chase a clean sweep of the series.

MOHAMMAD AMIR SUFFERS SIDE STRAIN; WILL BAT IN FOURTH INNINGS SyDney: Mohammad Amir has picked up a side strain that will limit his role in the ongoing third and final Test in Sydney to batting. Amir pulled an intercostal muscle on his right side during pre-match training on the fourth day of the Test and was taken for a scan. He did not appear on the field at all, putting more strain on an already thin bowling attack that was then reduced to just three specialist bowlers. That left Pakistan to open Australia’s second innings with Imran Khan and Yasir Shah, David Warner taking full toll in an explosive start.

Yasir himself has been suffering from a slight hamstring strain in his left leg. Pakistan’s management believe Amir will recover in time to take part in the ODI series against Australia, which begins on January 13, but concerns about the workload on him and others such as Yasir will grow. Since his return to Test cricket on July 14 last year no fast bowler has bowled as many overs in international cricket as Amir, a list otherwise dominated by spinners. Amir injured his knee in the first Test in Brisbane earlier in the series and though it looked serious at the time, he was back on the field and bowling within an hour. In the same Test his thigh was heavily bruised after he was hit by a Mitchell Starc delivery. Earlier in the Test, coach Mickey Arthur acknowledged the workload his bowlers had to take on. “The guys are pretty tired, they really are,” Arthur said. “Amir... he keeps going you know. “Over the last six months or so we have played massive amount of cricket and he just keeps going and keeps going even though he has taken a lot of niggles.” Agencies

My future depends on what team wants from me: Younis SportS DeSk Younis Khan will play on for Pakistan for as long as the side needs him, dousing speculation about his immediate future, unlike that of the side’s captain Misbahul-Haq. Talk of retirement has not attached itself to Younis through the series as resolutely as it has done to Misbah. It has done so more by association - because he is 39 to Misbah’s 42. But a lack of a big innings meant that Pakistan’s leading Test rungetter had speculative questions and barbs thrown in his direction. That has been addressed for now with an unbeaten 175 in Sydney.

“It all depends [his future plans],” Younis said. “I don’t want to give a surprise where I come and say suddenly I’m going, or that I’m playing for the next five years. “It all depends on my team and what they want from me.

That’s the main thing for me.

I’m very near to 10,000 runs and it will be a big achievement for a Pakistani.

If you see that list there is no Pakistani who has made that.

“So it all depends on my team, the PCB and how they want me. I will be in touch with them and as they tell me, what kind of energy and what they need from me, from that I will decide how long to play.

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

CMYK

BCCI appoints Kohli as India’s limited-overs captain SportS DeSk: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have appointed star batsman Virat Kohli as ODI, T20I captain. Kohli replaced former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who resigned from the post earlier this week. The swashbuckling batsman, who has presided over an 18-match unbeaten run as Test captain, will first lead India in three one-day internationals starting from January 15 against England, before the sides play three T20 matches. His first major assignment will come in June when he will lead India’s defence of the Champions Trophy and his appointment also means he should captain India in the 50 over World Cup final in England in 2019. Dhoni, who led India to victory in the 2011 World Cup as well as the 2007 World T20 glory, kept his place in both 15-men squads, the Indian board’s chief selector MSK Prasad announced in a televised press conference. Prasad told reporters that Kohli took part in the selection meeting which also decided on a surprise recall for the veteran batsman Yuvraj Singh. “Virat was with us on Skype” for the selection meeting in Mumbai, said Prasad.

“After discussing with him, this is the best possible team we have. It’s a fantastic team.” The new 28-yearold skipper, whose nickname is ‘King Kohli’, is the world’s number one-ranked batsman in the T20 format, and is also second in the rankings for ODI and Test formats. Since taking over from Dhoni as Test skipper in early 2015, Kohli has been in scintillating form, leading India to five successive series victories and scoring three double centuries in the last six months. He was also the player of the tournament in last year’s World T20 and smashed the record for most runs in the last edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). After making his debut in 2008, Kohli has scored 7,570 runs in 176 ODIs, including 26 hundreds and 38 halfcenturies, at an average of 52.94, whereas he also averages over 57 in T20 internationals. Prasad said that Dhoni had agreed to captain an India A side which would play a warm-up match against England on January 10 in Mumbai.