E paper pdf (2 05 2017) (isb)

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tuesday, 2 May, 2017 I 5 Sha’ban, 1438 I rs 19.00 I vol vII No 304 I 16 Pages I Islamabad edition

CeASefIre vIOlAtIONS At lOC?

vulNerAbIlIty Of hIgh-SeCurIty AreAS

Pakistan army rejects indian claims of killing two soldiers

Nisar questions security agencies’ performance

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ispr stAtemeNt sAys pAkistAN Army shAll Never disrespect A soldier, eveN AN iNdiAN ISLAMABAD/SRINAGAR

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AGENCIES

he inter-services public relations (ispr) on monday rejected indian Army’s claims that pakistani soldiers killed two indian soldiers on the line of control (loc) and mutilated their bodies. “pakistan Army did not commit any ceasefire violation on the line of control or a BAt (Border Action team) action in Buttal sector as alleged by india,” the ispr statement said. “indian blame of mutilating indian sol-

diers' bodies are also false,” it said. in response to the allegations, the statement said that the pakistan Army was a highly professional force and shall never disrespect a soldier even indian. on monday, the indian Army accused the Border Action team (BAt) of ‘mutilating bodies’ of two of their soldiers on two forward posts along the line of control in krishna ghati sector in poonch, a district in the indian-held kashmir. the claim from the indian side has come via a tweet from a verified account of the indian Army's Additional directorate general of the pub-

lic information. in a statement, india’s Northern Army command claimed that the pakistan Army carried out ‘unprovoked rocket and mortar firing’ on two forward posts and a BAt action on a patrol operating in between the posts. the dead soldiers have been identified as head constable prem sagar of 200th Battalion of the Border security force (Bsf) and naib subedar paramjeet singh of 22 sikh regiment of the army. “Another constable from the Bsf also sustained injury, but is out of danger,” a Bsf spokesman said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

COAS visits Pak-Afghan border, spends day with troops g

geN BAjwA AppreciAtes effective Border STORY ON PAGE 03 security ArrANgemeNts

STORY ON PAGE 02

Afghan leadership likely to visit pakistan soon g

NA speAker sAys pAkistAN reAdy for meANiNgful pArtNership with AfghANistAN STORY ON PAGE 04

Imran draws parallels between KP, Sindh

MuShArrAf reAdy tO ShAKe hANd wIth IMrAN KhAN

STORY ON PAGE 03

STORY ON PAGE 03

02 NEWS

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

VULNERABILITY OF HIGH-SECURITY AREAS

Nisar questioNs security ageNcies’ PerforMaNce INTERIOR MINISTER, ALONG WITH TWO FEDERAL MINISTERS, ATTENDS CEREMONY AT WAH CANTT DESPITE THREATS WAH

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APP

INISTER for Interior Affairs Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday said that if security is not adequate in a high-security area like Wah Cantonment, then it could raise a question mark on the performance of intelligence and security agencies.

An intelligence report expressed fears of a terrorist attack in the Wah Cantonment, citing that terrorists could carry out an attack at the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Complex during a Labour Day ceremony.

Despite the security fears, the interior minister along with Federal Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanvir Hussain and Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Barjees Tahir attended the ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, Nisar said that if the lives of labourers were not safe, then even he does not care for his own life.

“If even the life of a Wah factory labourer is not safe then may Almighty

Allah protect us all,” he said. “I was told not to visit this site due to security threat. Those who are spreading these rumours are insane,” he told the gathering. He also said that the prestige of the Ordinance Factory was only due to its labourers.

On the occasion, he announced Rs 1.2 billion financial package for the welfare of the POF employees. He said that the government always remained in forefront and would do the same in future to address their problems. The package, formally approved by the prime minister, includes 25 per cent raise in the salaries and two annual increments, which will be applicable from May 1 this year.

Nisar announced that the POF employees would get enhanced salaries from June 1 this year. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif always had a soft corner for labourers and his government would leave no stone unturned for their welfare and that of their families, he said.

He said that he would ask the prime minister to form a high powered committee to address the problems being

faced by the PoF. He said that the previous governments had never paid any heed to the problems of the POF workers. It was the PML-N government, which had always given importance to their betterment and adopted concrete measures to address their problems on priority, he added.

Nisar said that he had strong attachment with the area, particularly with the POF employees, to whom the government would continue to facilitate. It was evident from the fact that development works of more than Rs 15 billion were continuing in the area to ensure betterment in the lives of local people, he added.

Addressing the ceremony, Tanvir Hussain appreciated the efforts of Chaudhry Nisar Ali for getting approval of the financial package for the POF employees. Terming the package historic, he said it showed how the government was giving importance to the issues of the workers and making allout efforts and utilising resources for their redressal.

He said that the better policies in-

troduced in the POF had increased exports of defence production goods to Rs 100 billion from Rs 25 billion in 2013.

Barjees Tahir also lauded the role of the interior minister for the development work in the area and also betterment of the POF workers.

He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would not only help increase employment opportunities in the country but also ensure raise in the wages of labourers and worker class.

Hafiz Saeed’s house arrest extended for three more months The Punjab government issued a notification on Monday to extend the house arrest of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed—who had been placed under house arrest on January 31— for three more months.

Other members of the JuD — including Abdullah Ubaid, Abdul Rehman Abid, Zafar Iqbal and Qazi Kashif Niazi of Multan, who handles JuD’s publications — were also taken into protective custody.

“Hafiz Saeed’s Johar Town residence is declared a sub-jail for a further 90 days,” the notification issued by the Punjab government said.

“The [party] leaders will be placed under house arrest in the same places,” the notification says, adding that Ubaid, Iqbal, Abid and Niazi will re-

maind under house arrest for another three months as well. The JuD and the Falah-i-Insaaniat Foundation (FIF), a charity organisation affiliated with the JuD, have been included in the Second Schedule and were placed on the government’s watch list for six months under Section (1) 11EEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 in January.

The names of several JuD leaders had also been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL). The United Nations Security Council had sanctioned the JuD, declaring it a terrorist organisation in December 2008.

The US State Department in June 2014 had termed the JuD a “foreign terrorist organisation”, a status that freezes any assets it has under US jurisdiction.

The organisation has also been listed under the

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267, which is known as the Al Qaeda and Taliban sanctions committee.

The JuD chief had previously remained under house arrest for months during the Musharraf regime in 2002, after an attack on the Indian parliament, and once again after the Mumbai attack in 2008. The Lahore High Court had ordered his release in June 2009 after the government had failed to establish a case against him. Hours before he was detained on Monday, Saeed had held a briefing for journalists and columnists on the Kashmir issue. Responding to a query about a possible ban on the JuD, he said that he would move the court instead of setting up an alternative party. NEwS DESk

No uNaNNouNced load sheddiNg iN couNtry: MiNistry ISLAMABAD: No unannounced load shedding is being carried out in the country, stated the Water and Power Ministry in a statement issued here on Monday. According to the ministry, the power generation stands at 13859 megawatts whereas the demand is 16149 megawatt. The power shortfall is 2287 megawatt. PPI

govt plans e-readiness from July 1 ISLAMABAD AMER SIAL

The government has directed all ministries and their allied departments and the regulator bodies to put their policies, guidebooks, filing of applications, specimen documents, online tracking system and online complaint management system on their respective websites before the start of next financial year.

An official source said that the government plans to announce major incentives for starting new businesses in the budget for the next financial year. The source added that government wants to reduce the time taking process for starting new businesses because this budget is to be an election year budget. The source said that cabinet division issued directives to all ministries and regulators to improve their e-readiness in mid-April and the final deadline for completing the tasks is set at June 30, 2017. The government is also working on e-commerce policy and rules, which will be unveiled before the start of next financial year. The government wants to improve the country’s ranking in the international ‘ease of doing business’ index. This step will also attract more foreign direct investment, especially after the completion of early harvest projects under CPEC, the source added. The international financial institutions (IFIs) have pointed out to the government that Pakistan’s poor e-readiness was affecting the investment flows in different sectors.

They stressed improvement in management of official websites could lead to increase in investment in the construction sector. It is important to mention that the government established an e-government directorate in 2002 to improve the online presence of departments, but even after 15 years, the websites of ministries, their subsidiary departments and most of the regulators provide scant information about their working and functions. Officials of different ministries said that the policies, guide books, specimen letters would be placed on their respective websites by the end of May. However, they expressed that the online application, tracking and complaint management system will require time as standard operating procedures and other requirements were to be looked into.

riaz appointed sBP governor ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Riaz Riazuddin on Monday was appointed as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor. Riaz holds position as interim SBP chief after his predecessor Ashraf Mehmood Wathra’s term ended—Ashraf Wathra was appointed as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor with effect from April 29, 2014, for a period of three years. Prior to assuming charge as the governor, Riaz has been serving as deputy governor of the bank.

Last year for government to showcase its economic know-how PSDP TO GET INCREASED SHARE IN THE NEXT BUDGET LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The Planning and Development (P&D) Department has asked the government for Rs1 trillion for the next federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

However, the Ministry of Finance, citing lack of availability of funds, have refused their request.

According to sources, there is a possibility of allocation of Rs850 billion in the fiscal year 2017-18 for the overall federal development budget.

As much as Rs 700 billion will be allocated for the federal development budget from internal resources, whereas Rs 150 billion will be allocated from the

external resources, sources say.

The next development budget will also see a greater focus on the National Highway Authority (NHA) and energyrelated projects.

For the current financial year, Rs800 billion had been allocated for the federal PSDP, according to documents.

The documents reveal Rs656 billion had been allocated for the federal PSDP from internal resources while Rs 143 billion had been allocated from the external resources.

For the current fiscal year, Rs 579 billion have already been released for the current financial year’s PSDP. Sources suggest government employees and low-wage labourers might be in for a pleasant surprise as the budget might witness an increase in the minimum wages from Rs 14,000 to Rs 15,000, thereby giving some relief to labourers.

The FY 2017-18 is also going to wit-

Budget aiMs at achieviNg sustaiNaBle, iNclusive growth: dar ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar Monday said the budget for the upcoming fiscal year (2017-18) was being formulated to attain the government’s objective of achieving sustainable and inclusive high growth, which would enhance employment opportunities in the country. Chairing a review meeting here, the minister expressed appreciation over the state of budget preparations, emphasising continued coordination among all the departments engaged in formulating the budget 2017-18. Earlier, the secretary finance gave the participants an update on the budget preparations and informed them about the details of interaction with different stakeholders for seeking inputs and proposals for the budget. He said in accordance with instructions given by the finance minister, the inputs were being considered, keeping in view available fiscal space and feasibility of the proposals. The meeting also reviewed preparations for Pakistan delegation’s participation in the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) annual meeting being held in Pacifico Yokohama, Japan, from May 4-7. Among others, the meeting was attended by senior officials of the finance and economic affairs divisions. APP ness an increase in the salaries and pensions of government employees, up to 1015 per cent. The increment in salaries will add Rs40-45 billion to the budget.

According to sources in the Ministry

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of Finance, the budget for salaries can see a rise from Rs 390 billion to Rs 395 billion. When it comes to pensions, the budget might witness an addition of Rs 25-30 billion. Therefore, in total, the

budget for pensions would increase from Rs 270-275 billion.

The sources also suggest that different allowances for government employees might also see an increase.

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

NEWS ADMINISTRATIVE, POLITICAL CHALLENGES

iMraN draws Parallels BetweeN KP, siNdh KARAcHI

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AGENCIES

AKISTAN Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday drew parallels between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh from the perspective of administrative and political challenges that stand in the way of efficient governance.

Addressing a gathering of traders here on Labour Day, he shared his views on devolution of power, police reforms, tax collection and good governance. Talking about the work his party has done for the province, he said that Galiyat near Abbottabad has started to look like Europe.

“The powers the Karachi mayor is asking for are those that Peshawar mayor already has,” he told the audience. “The more you devolve power the more efficient your systems will be. Devolution is really important for Karachi. The current set-up is neither here nor there,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of having democratically elected representatives being answerable to the public. In Peshawar, the mayor gets to spend 30 per cent of the development budget, he told the audience. Among other things, he considers the rooting out of corruption as one of his party’s significant achievements in Pakhtunkhwa.

“Why are we getting record levels of

investment in Pakhtunkhwa,” he questioned. Because the companies know that they won’t have to pay bribes at every level, he said, adding that they know that if they spot something unusual, they can tell Imran Khan about it and Imran Khan will take action. On police and law and order, he said that the KP police, after being reformed, stood at a much better place than they once did.

“Even Allah Dino Khawaja says he wants a police like that of Pakhtunkhwa,” he said, while quoting police chief of Sindh. “How did we improve KP’s policing? We installed Nasir Durrani as police head and gave him authority,” he said, claiming that the police

was so politicised in Punjab, almost all “our leadership in Punjab has cases registered against them.”

Scoffing at the role of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Pakistan’s apex tax collecting authority, he said that Pakistan was a very generous nation. “We give more in charity than we do in taxes. What does that indicate,” he questioned. He spoke about creating an environment where people pay taxes out of choice as opposed to compulsion, stressing that it was only possible if taxpayers could see their money being spent on their own development.

“Why would anyone pay taxes if the money is going to go to Panama and

COAS visits Pak-Afghan border, spends day with troops ‘Pakistan on the way to progress’

PTI CHAIRMAN SAYS GALIYAT NEAR ABBOTTABAD LOOK LIKE EUROPE; POINTS OUT BAD GOVERNANCE IN SINDH, DIRT IN KARACHI Dubai? We don’t know how many Ayan Alis are leaving the country with suitcases full of money,” he said. He ended his speech by thanking the traders present at the occasion. He reminded them how significant their contributions had been in setting up the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital.

“When I started my campaign to launch Shaukat Khanum, a lot of people encouraged me but only a few actually donated money. The traders helped a lot,” he said. He concluded his Labour Day speech by directing PTI leader Asad Umar to set-up a committee that would be responsible for registering and addressing the concerns of the traders.

Pakistan army rejects indian claims of killing two soldiers cONtINuED fROM pAgE 01

WASHINgtON APP

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Aizaz Chaudhry met US Congressman Ted Lieu and exchanged views on Pak-US relations and issues of mutual interests. Ambassador Chaudhry told Congressman Lieu, who is a member of House Committee on Foreign Affairs, that the security and economic situation had improved tremendously in Pakistan as a result of the prudent government policies. He said Pakistan’s economy was on an upward trajectory and set to achieve 5 per cent growth this financial year, with economic indicators showing positive trends. He particularly mentioned the new investment opportunities opening up in Pakistan as a result of boost in economic activities. The ambassador stated that the government was taking all measures to facilitate foreign investors to make investment in Pakistan which would be win-win situation for all.

In this regard, he noted that international donor and financial agencies had acknowledged the progress made by Pakistan in the economic sphere.

Ambassador Chaudhry and the congressman had a productive exchange of views on bilateral relations and regional issues. The Congressman was informed about the committed efforts made by the government to root out the menace of terrorism from the country.

He stated that the military operation was successful in eliminating terrorists’ hideouts and they were on the run.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Chaudhary also met the leading Pakistan-American women entrepreneurs and professionals in community and humanitarian work in Los Angeles. He appreciated the role played by them supporting community and humanitarian work. He said that women in Pakistan were playing pro-active role in myriad fields. He stated that Pakistan had a target to involve 45pc participation of women in economy by 2025. He encouraged them to explore opportunities of business in Pakistan where women entrepreneurs were running many successful business ventures and making significant contribution to the overall economy. The ambassador also informed the gathering that the government was fully appreciative of the role being played by the overseas Pakistanis in helping their motherland. He urged them to continue to work to promote the soft image of Pakistan and portray the country as a welfare state.

03

GEN BAJWA APPRECIATES EFFECTIVE BORDER SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS pESHAWAR APP

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa spent a day with troops deployed along the Pak-Afghan border in Khyber Agency, according to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday.

The army chief was briefed about operational preparedness and improved

border security measures, including employment of newly-raised Frontier Constabulary (FC) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wings, the ISPR statement said. He appreciated effective border security arrangements, which have enhanced control on cross border terrorist movement.

He hailed exceptionally high morale of the troops and their undaunted determination to eliminate terrorism. Talking to soldiers, the army chief said that the na-

tion supports the army due to innumerable sacrifices “we have made for defence and security of our motherland.”

“Writ of the state has largely been restored and we are progressing towards enduring peace and stability,” he said. On his arrival, General Bajwa was received by Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Nazir Ahmed Butt and the inspector general of the Frontier Constabulary.

In Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said in a statement that the Pakistan Army did not commit any ceasefire violation on the Line of Control in Jammu Kashmir as alleged by India.

“Indian blame of mutilating Indian soldiers at Line of Control is also false,” he said.

In the first week of April, UN secretary general’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said at a regular briefing in New York that the United Nations Military Observer Group is investigating the violations of ceasefire across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu Kashmir. “We’ve seen the alleged ceasefire violations over the Line of Control, which are currently being investigated by the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP),” he said.

“We continue to underline the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue,” he said. “We will share when the UNMOGIP presents its report on the alleged incidents,” he said, but ignored a reporter’s claim that India was pressuring the UNMOGIP not to make a report.

‘I AM NOT INSECURE’

Musharraf ready to shake hand with Imran Khan FORMER PRESIDENT SUGGESTS GRAND ALLIANCE TO DEFEAT PML-N, PPP IN NEXT GENERAL ELECTION LONDON AGENCIES

Former president Pervez Musharraf, who now heads the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are set to win the next general elections, likely to be held in 2018, unless a grand alliance of various parties is made to defeat these two parties.

Addressing a press conference, he said that there was a 90% chance that the PML-N and the PPP would win the next general elections from their traditional strongholds, including from possibly the Pakhtunkhwa, if a third force was not formed to mount a challenge.

He said that Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran khan alone

cannot defeat the PML-N and the PPP because he has no plan. He assured the PTI chairman that he (Musharraf) was not interested in taking over the office of the prime minister.

Musharraf was accompanied by officer bearers of his party including Afzaal Siddiqui, Tebraiz Aurah and Shaan Abidi.

“Imran Khan has done a lot to raise awareness on Panama Papers case and other issues and deserves credit for that but he needs new thinking and rise above himself and look beyond,” he said.

“I say openly I have no desire to become the prime minister of Pakistan. I am not insecure and I can guarantee that I am ready to shake hand with Imran Khan and for that matter anyone on this planet who is against the PPP and PMLN,” the former president said.

When asked when he will return to

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Pakistan, Musharraf said that he was trying to get his cases resolved through courts but would return once there was mass public support behind him. He said that he was avoiding Pakistan because there’s no point in returning if his freedom of movement was restricted.

He said that change was needed in Pakistan because the country faces internal and external threats. “Our economy is going down. Pakistan’s debt has crossed 70 billion rupees. We were about to be declared defaulted in 1999.

I took Pakistan forward. I gave confidence to Pakistan. Everybody today wants to leave Pakistan. Those in Pakistan are in a bad shape and I have the right solutions,” he said.

Musharraf said that former Indian prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh were good people and wanted to normalise relations with Pakistan but (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi’s intentions were against Pakistan.

India’s institutions were fundamentally against Pakistan, he told a questioner.

“India realises that there is no military solution in respect to Pakistan, so they are looking for non-military solutions by strangulating Pakistan’s economy, weakening Pakistan army, isolating Pakistan internationally and internally destabalising Pakistan. This is what India’s strategists are saying,” he said.

On the question of former army chief Raheel Shareef taking up position as head of Saudi-led military alliance, Musharraf said that it was a sensitive matter and was being seen in many circles in sectarian terms. He said that ambiguities exist around Raheel Shareef’s appointment.

“If the position were offered to me

by Saudi Arabia, I would have asked what the job is going to be, who I am going to lead and what are aims and objectives of this alliance,” he said, adding that Raheel Shareef was an excellent man, he hoped that the former army chief would make good use of his new role.

04 NEWS

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

AFghAn lEADErShIP lIKEly to vISIt PAKIStAn Soon NA SPEAKER SAYS PAKISTAN READY FOR MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH AFGHANISTAN ISLAMABAD

n

StAff RePoRt

ATIONAL Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Monday said that the Afghan leadership will visit Pakistan soon, as they have assured their cooperation in cementing bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The entire political leadership of Pakistan spoke with one voice for de-

veloping meaningful partnership between Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said while talking to journalists after returning from Afghanistan along with a high-level parliamentary delegation.

“It’s time we move forward in confidence and trust. Pakistan will continue playing its role in improving relations with neighboring countries,” Ayaz said. He said that Pakistan wants to promote peace in the region and it would continue its endeavour to ob-

PM never misses opportunity to tease Army: Pervaiz Elahi Lahore: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) senior central leader and former deputy prime minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif got issued an incomplete notification under a well-conceived plan in the news leaks and tried to undermine the army. Talking to a delegation of lawyers at his residence here today (Monday), he said this has not happened for the first time, as the PM has never missed out on an opportunity to tease the army. Ch Elahi said that the army is in a state of war both within and outside Pakistan. “In this state of war how can the army remain silent over leakage of national secret from the Prime Minister House,” he said, adding, “There is unrest and concern in the army on this issue from top to bottom.” Ch Elahi further said that nobody will be ready to accept that a functionary of the Prime Minister House can leak a story about such a high-level meeting. Therefore, the nation is justified in demanding that real culprits of committing leakage of national secret be exposed and given exemplary punishment. StAff RePoRt

Seven killed in raid on bank van in India-held Kashmir Seven people including five policemen were killed Monday when suspected separatists attacked a bank van carrying cash in India-held Kashmir, police said. “All the seven in the van, five policemen and two bank employees, were killed,” Director General of Police S P Vaid said. The van was returning to a bank in the village of Pumbai in Kulgam district, around 70 kilometres south of the main city of Srinagar, when it came under fire, Vaid said. Another police officer said on condition of anonymity that the attackers made off with cash and weapons.

Suspected separatists in recent months have targeted banks across Indian-held Kashmir, where several armed groups have been fighting against Indian rule for decades. Last week police said they foiled a bank raid in the southern district of Anantnag by two men who opened fire on paramilitary guards. One of the attackers was arrested whereas another managed to escape. AntiIndia sentiment runs deep in Kashmir, where most people favour independence or a merger with Pakistan. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947 but both claim the territory in its entirety. AGeNCIeS

tain this objective.

He expressed the hope that the visit of the high-level parliamentary delegation would open a new chapter in the bilateral relations of the two countries. He said that the main objective behind this visit was to reviving old relations between the two countries and addressing concerns.

He termed the visit as very successful, saying there was representation of all provinces and parliamentary parties. He said that both the sides raised issues and detailed discussions were held on these issues. He said that the parliament, people and the government of Afghanistan welcomed the delegation.

Ayaz said that the delegation has taken an initiative to break the ice between the two sides by making sincere efforts in bridging the differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said that the visit would pave way for lasting peace and friendship between the two countries.

He said that it was mutually agreed to take full advantage of Pakistan’s first step of sending a goodwill delegation and turn it into a sustained process in order to remove any arising irritants. It is pertinent to mention here that a 17-member delegation visited Afghanistan comprising the entire political spectrum, represented in the both houses of the parliament.

Whole nation stands behind PM: Muqam ADVISOR SAYS PTI WOULD FACE DIFFICULTIES IN FINDING CANDIDATES FOR 2018 POLLS

PREDICTS THAT PML-N WOULD FORM NEXT GOVT IN KP ON THE BASIS OF PERFORMANCE

PESHAWAR

against PTI speaker in KP Assembly but Imran Khan had never asked him to resign.

Earlier, the leaders and workers of Pakistan Muslim League-N Khyber Pakthunkhwa and FATA here Monday expressed full confidence in the leadership of Advisor to the Prime Minister and Provincial President PML-N Amir Muqam and NA Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi and assured them full support.

Muqam thanked the leaders and workers of the party for reposing full confidence in him and prayed Allah Almighty to help him in fulfilling on leadership and workers expectations. Muqam said workers were real asset of the party and they would be held on high esteem and paid tributes to PML-N MPAs for their positive role for promotion of democratic values.

NA Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi said he had accepted the office of general secretary as challenge and would try hard to fulfill on party expectations. He said we were all united under the leadership of Engr Amir Muqam to further strengthen the party in KP. The PMLN leaders said International Labour Day reminded us of the matchless sacrifices rendered by the labourers in Chicago and the best tribute to them to work hard in our selected fields to take the country towards new heights of glory.

They appealed to both the workers and employers of the country in general and of KP and FATA in particular to join hands; wage afresh and efficient struggle for strengthening and development of their respective institutions and spare no effort in ensuring their role and quality of services compatible with the present day requirements.

APP

Pakistan Muslim League Provincial President and Advisor to the Prime Minister Engr Amir Muqam said here Monday that entire nation stood behind the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as he was the only leader who has the ability to address the existing challenges on external and international fronts besides taking the country to new heights of progress and prosperity.

He said the people of Pakistan had rejected propaganda and agitation politics of PTI and the opponents were now hiding faces from masses as all their prayers regarding disqualification of the prime minister were rejected the Supreme Court. Engr Amir Muqam was addressing a function here in connection with World International Labour Day, also attended by Javed Murtaza Abbasi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly cum General Secretary KP PML-N and MPAs besides office-bearers of different districts.

Engir Amir Muqam said negative politics of PTI Chief Imran Khan was rejected by people of Azad Kashmir, GB and Peshawar PK 8 and would face crushing defeat in 2018 polls. He said the PTI leadership would face great difficulties to find candidates in 2018 polls due to confrontation and sit-ins politics of Imran Khan. He said PML-N has strong roots in masses and would form next government in KP on the basis of performance.

He said judgment of Supreme Court in Panama case was very clear and demands of opposition parties regarding resignation of PM was totally unjustified and irrational. He said serious allegations of corruption were leveled

SECOND PHASE

Ishaq Dar reviews progress of census ISLaMaBaD: Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar Sunday reviewed progress of 6th Population and Housing Census 2017 here at Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) Headquarters.

The minister was chairing a high-level meeting, during which he was given a detailed briefing by Chief Statistician Asif Bajwa on the progress of ongoing census process.

He highly appreciated the PBS team, census workers and security personnel for their good spirit, hard work and dedication in carrying out the process of census.

“The good spirit and dedication demonstrated in the first phase should also be kept up in the second phase,” he added.

Earlier, the chief statistician informed the minister that the second phase of the census— which started on April 25—was going on smoothly and apprised him about the overwhelming public support and participation in the census activities. APP

Fire engulfs govt offices in Kohistan A fire erupted on Monday in the offices of District Disaster Management Authority in Pattan area of Kohistan and engulfed almost all government offices located in the vicinity.

“The fire has been controlled after hectic efforts by rescue services, army and local citizens,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Aurangzeb Khan.

No loss of life was reported in the incident.

The police official further added that the administration of the nearby district of Shangla had been asked for assistance and firefighters along with their vehicles have been dispatched from the district.

Pattan is a posh area of the district, said Khan, adding that people in the area were vacating their residences as the fire had also spread to a few houses and shops. Some units of Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) were also assisting. Besides local police, police and army personnel who were stationed in the area for census duty also reached the scene and participated in rescue efforts.

A local resident, Gul Shahzada, said the fire was first spotted near the local court building and then it rapidly spread.

Pattan is the lower headquarters of Kohistan district and almost all governmental offices of the area are located in the same vicinity.

Offices of deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner, wildlife department and local police were part of the complex engulfed by the flames. NeWS DeSK

Uber suspends Pakistani driver in Australia over bomb plot allegation NEWS DESK Uber has suspended a driver in Australia while police investigate allegations that he told a passenger he led an organisation related to the militant Islamic State (IS) group and planned to blow up Parliament House, the ride-hailing company said Monday.

The passenger, a woman who declined to be identified out of fear for her safety, said on Monday she was heading home from downtown Canberra after a

night out with friends when she caught an Uber early Sunday morning.

The woman said the driver said he was from Pakistan and asked if she had “ever eaten human flesh.”

He said he planned to blow up a Canberra shopping mall as well as Parliament House and told her he was not taking her to her home on Canberra’s outskirts but to the town of Cooma, 100 kilometres to the south, the woman said.

She said she told the driver to pull

over at a gas station so she could use the toilet, and called the police emergency number from there. Two police cars arrived about 10 minutes later, she said.

Police said they searched the Uber car but found nothing suspicious. Police drove the woman home and did not arrest the driver. “Police conducted initial background checks and established there was no threat to the public or the complainant,” a police statement said.

It said an investigation of the

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woman’s allegations was continuing with the involvement of national police and security agencies.

The driver’s access to the Uber app was restricted when the company became aware of the allegations, Uber said.

“We’ll continue liaising with the police as the allegations are assessed,” Uber said in a statement. The woman said police told her the driver didn’t dispute her accusations but explained to them “he was just trying to wind me up.”

“It was a terrifying experience. I’m so stressed I can’t even explain how I feel,” she told Australian media on Monday. “I want Uber to be doing a lot more screening of the people that they’re bringing on, because apparently it’s not doing enough,” she said. The gas station where the journey ended was on a highway to Cooma, but before the turnoff to the woman’s home.

Canberra became the first city in Australia to regulate ride sharing when Uber launched there in October 2015.

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

IndIAn PM cAllS for deePenIng econoMIc TIeS wITh TUrkey NEW DELHI

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AGENCIES

NDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called for deepening economic relations between New Delhi and Ankara, and also invited Turkish businesses to invest in this country.

"India and Turkey are among the top 20 largest economies in the world.

Both economies have shown remarkable stability even in volatile global situations," Modi told an India-Turkey business summit in Delhi.

"We are optimistic about our economic prospects. There is immense goodwill for each other between the people of the two countries. Time has come to deepen economic relations."

He added: "There is huge potential to enhance bilateral engagement. This

is possible through trade and FDI (foreign direct investment) inflows, technology tie-ups and cooperation on

various projects. We have seen some increase in participation of Turkish companies in some areas."

FOREIGN NEWS 05 Palestinians pin peace hope on Abbas's meeting with Trump RAMALLAH AGENCIES

Claiming that his government was in the process of building a new India, the Indian prime minister said: "Our focus is on making it easier to work and to do business. This includes reforming policies, processes and procedures. We have achieved lots of success and recognition on this front.

Our global ranking has gone up on many parameters."

On the tourism sector, he said: "We are putting up new ports and modernizing old ones ... Similar focus is on upgrading existing airports. Turkish tourism sector is globally renowned.

The number of tourists going to Turkey has gone up in the last few years. It's also popular for shooting Indian films and television industry. We must explore wider opportunities in this area."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is on a two-day tour of India.

India mob kill two Muslim men over suspected cow theft

Palestinian President's spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeinah said Monday that the upcoming meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas and US President Donald Trump on Wednesday would set the political track for coming years. Abu Rudeinah said that Abbas will reiterate the "need for a just and comprehensive peace based on the two state solution and the Arab peace initiative," according to a statement published by official Palestinian news agency (WAFA).

The statement said that Palestinians are in constant coordination oath Arab states committed to the 2002 Arab peace initiative and a political path leading to a genuine peace that brings security and stability to the region. He said "there is a real opportunity to make peace, and the international community should reinforce this opportunity and not miss it, because the region is in a state of boiling, and the occupation cannot continue in any way." As part of regional consultations, Abbas has met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi last Saturday in Cairo and with Jordanian Monarch Abdullah II Sunday.

US congressional leaders reach deal to fund govt through Sept

ASSAM AGENCIES

WASHINGTON

Two Muslim men have died after they were attacked by Indian villagers who suspected them of stealing cows, police said Monday, the latest such attack over the animal Hindus consider sacred. Police in the northeastern state of Assam said they had registered a murder case over the deaths of Abu Hanifa and Riyazuddin Ali who were beaten with sticks on Sunday. Two suspects have been detained for questioning. “They were chased and beaten with sticks by villagers who said the two boys were trying to steal cows from their grazing field,” Debaraj Upadhyay, Nagaon's top cop, told AFP by telephone.

“By the time we took them to the hospital at night they had succumbed to their injuries,” he added. The incident comes amidst a wave of rising tensions over the killing and smuggling of cows in Hindu-majority India, where the animal is considered sacred and its slaughter is a punishable offence in many states. There have been a spate of attacks in recent months by 'cow protection' vigilante groups, who roam some highways inspecting livestock trucks for any trace of the animal.

A Muslim man died last month after his truck carrying cows was attacked by a group in western Rajasthan state. But Updadhyay dismissed any suggestion that a vigilante group or association was involved in the latest incident. In 2015, a Muslim man was lynched by his neighbours over rumours that he had slaughtered a cow. Police later said the meat was mutton. Critics say the vigilantes have been emboldened by the election in 2014 of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Last year Modi criticised the cowprotection vigilantes and urged a crackdown against groups using religion as a cover for committing crimes.

AGENCIES

US congressional leaders have reached a deal to fund the government through the end of September, according to local media. The bipartisan agreement includes 12.5 billion US dollars in new military spending and 1.5 billion dollars more for border security, the Washington Post reported on Sunday night, adding that Congress is expected to vote on the broad spending package early this week.

The money for border security will be spent on technology and on repairing existing infrastructure, but it can not be used to pay for the construction of a wall along the USMexico border that US President Donald Trump has proposed, according to the Wall Street Journal. "This agreement is a good agreement for the American people and takes the threat of a government shutdown off the table," Senate minority leader Charles Schumer said Sunday night.

BANGKOK: People advocate maternity rights for female labourers as they attend a rally in front of the Democracy Monument on the International Workers' Day in downtown Bangkok on Monday. XINHUA

Thai workers express worries over unemployment on Labour Day BANGKOK AGENCIES

Thai workers expressed their worries over unemployment on a Labor Day parade Monday as the country emphasizes innovation and the appliance of technology.

Several workers were in a strange silver paper suit, imitating robots, with a sentence on them reading "I come to kill workers" during a parade from Bangkok's Democracy Monument to the building of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) A female worker even said on a stage that she is against the introduction

of machines in manufacturing. "We cannot reject technological development, the loss of jobs caused by technological change is already happening, so it has effects on employment," Sawit Kaewvarn, president of Thai Labor Solidarity Committee, said to Xinhua.

Sawit thus asked the government to consider how to deal with the unemployment caused by technological development and have some policies to help those affected instead of solely saying that the introduction of new technology is good. Workers also asked the government to increase the minimum wage, to provide better social welfare and to stop the reform of stateowned enterprises in the parade held by the Thai

Labor Solidarity Committee and the State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday asked all workers not to worry about unemployment under Thailand 4.0 strategy. Prayut said the government is responsible to promote equality among workers and increase employment of Thais as well as take care all 70 million people of Thailand. "If someone does not have a job, the government, more or less, will help the person to find one," He added.

Prayut also emphasized that Thailand 4.0 strategy will not cause unemployment, but it is a strategy to reform Thailand's economic structure.

Over 800 Afghan troops died in 2017 winter fighting: US watchdog WASHINGTON AGENCIES

Afghan security forces were killed at a “shockingly high” rate during what historically has been a winter lull in fighting against the Taliban, a US watchdog said in a report Monday.

According to the US government's Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), 807 troops from the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces died between January 1 and February 24.

“Afghanistan remains in the grip of a deadly war. Casualties suffered by (ANDSF) in the fight against the Taliban and other insurgents continue to be shockingly high,” the report noted.

Levels of violence have traditionally dipped over Afghanistan's cold winter months, but this year the Taliban contin-

ued to battle government forces, most successfully in a horrific April 19 attack on a military base outside the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The massacre saw insurgents armed with guns and suicide bombs slaughter at least 144 recruits, a US official told AFP, though multiple sources have claimed the toll was higher still.

The Afghan Taliban launched their “spring offensive” Friday, heralding fresh fighting the group said would include “conventional attacks, guerrilla warfare, complex martyrdom attacks (and) insider attacks.” Afghan police and army units in 2015 took over from Nato the task of providing security for the country.

According to SIGAR, 6,785 Afghan soldiers and police officers were killed between January 1 and November 12, 2016, with another 11,777 wounded.

The Afghan government has not provided US Forces-Afghanistan with data for

the last seven weeks of that year, but even the partial numbers showed an increase of about 35 percent from all of 2015, when some 5,000 security forces were killed.

The SIGAR report also found that both Afghan government and insurgent groups slightly increased the amount of territory they held, as the number of areas previously considered “contested” dropped.

Afghan forces now control 59.7 percent of the country, up from 57.2 percent the previous quarter. The Taliban and other insurgent groups meanwhile saw their areas of control or influence increase slightly from about 10 percent to 11.1 percent. The US Congress created SIGAR to provide oversight into how the more than $100 billion appropriated for Afghan reconstruction has been spent since 2002.

Part of its remit is to compile quarterly reports providing snapshots of the country's progress ─ or lack thereof ─

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and highlight ongoing challenges to the security situation. The SIGAR report also points to a UN tally showing that civilian casualties in 2016 were the highest since the United Nations Assistance Mission in

Afghanistan began recording them in 2009. That count found conflict-related civilian casualties in Afghanistan rose to 11,418 in 2016, including 3,498 killed and 7,920 wounded.

06 ISLAMABAD

WEATHER UPDATES

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

TUESDAY

330C 210C

WEDNESDAY

300C 190C

THURSDAY

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Rs290 million Released foR fde pensioneRs FUNDS DIVERTED FROM THOSE ALLOCATED TO CONSTRUCT AND REPAIR SCHOOLS ISLAMABAD

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HAMid KHAN WAZir

HE government has eventually released Rs290 million to clear the long-pending salaries of the daily-wage staff serving in various educational institutions being overseen by the federal directorate of education (FDE). However, the amount has been released from special grant of Rs400 million allocated for con-

structing boundary walls and repairing the damaged schools.

A senior official from the ministry of capital administration and development division (CADD) told Pakistan Today that the CADD Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry held meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in March end and requested him to clear the long-delayed salaries of the daily wage employees.

The finance minister approved release of Rs 290 million to clear the due of

the daily wage staff for this financial year, he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the FDE overseen by the CADD has more than 2,200 daily-wage staff members, both teaching and non-teaching, in its educational institutions in the federal capital, who have been under the employment of the FDE for the past eight years.

The daily-wage employees had not been paid their salaries since November 2016 despite the fact that they were given assurances a number of time because of their repeated protests, demonstrations and boycott of classes.

However, the official said that eventually the said amount had been released

from the CADD ministry’s special grant of Rs400 million allocated for construction of boundary walls and repairmen of the damaged schools to clear their dues.

The official said that the ministry could not utilize the fund earmarked for the construction of boundary walls, repairmen and renovation of educational institutions; therefore it was decided to re-appropriate the Rs290 million and adjusted in daily wage employees’ salaries.

“The amount has been adjusted in the salaries of daily-wage staffers, otherwise the amount would most likely be lapsed,” he added.

He said that although the salaries of daily wager staff employees had been

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cleared for the financial year, the issue will come out again in the beginning of the new financial year, because no allocation has been made in the upcoming budget for daily wage employees.

The official said that the CADD sent a summary to the finance ministry for the regularisation of the daily-wagers, but it had already been rejected because the prime minister directed to follow the due selection process to get them permanent.

He said that the cabinet division approved a formula for their regularisation that they would appear in open test. However, the daily wage staffers would be given up to five grace marks according to their experience. For one-year experience, one mark; for two-year experience, two marks; and for five-year experience, five marks would be given to them.

“There is extreme shortage of teaching staff in the federal capital despite the presence of the daily wage teachers,” he added.

The official said that the CADD ministry sent a summary for recruitment of 2,000 teachers, was rejected by finance ministry on the ground that it could not be considered until resolving the issue of daily wage teaching staff.

lawyers use residential premises as chambers against law ISLAMABAD SHAH NAWAZ MOHAL

Lawyers and doctors are using their entire residential premises as offices calling it legal under Section 2.17 of Islamabad residential zoning regulations 2005 of building control section, which says that they have rights to consume only 25 per cent area of their residential house as office but approval from the building control section (BCS) of CDA is mandatory and most of the lawyers, doctors have failed to get it.

Moreover, Islamabad High Court Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, in 2014, directed the BCS not to allow any lawyer, or doctor to consume 25 per cent area as commercial under ‘home occupation’ because they exceeded it to consuming their hundred percent area for commercial purposes.

Previously, Deputy Director of BCS was the competent authority to give them permission; however, the authority was shifted to Director BCS. It is pertinent to mention here that the honourable supreme court of Pakistan has ordered the civic authority to undertake an across the board action against the nonconforming use and it gave a deadline of six months to rid the capital of this practice. More than a year has lapsed but still, the practice is being done at full pace. Earlier, a total of 1695 houses had been earmarked as premises used for nonconforming use by building control section and notices had been issued to vacate and relocate to commercial zones in markets and main marakiz.

In upscale F-belt, G-belt, where showrooms, schools, restaurants, boutiques and guesthouses were conducting businesses in houses meant for residence, have yet to be sealed by the authority as most of them bagged stay orders. After gaining much attention, in the beginning, the drive against nonconforming use has hit a snag in recent weeks. It is alarming that the BCS has not sealed any residential premise on commercial use in the past two months.

Sources confided that the lack of interest in sealing homes involved in commercial activities is due to political pressure from influential individuals.

In 2016, Member Planning Asad Mehboob Kiani wrote a letter to Islamabad IG, asking the police force to assist BCS team in their operation against nonconforming use of land.

BCS Director Shafi Marwat has said that the BCS does not have enough manpower to conduct the operation on its own. He said that they need police and enforcement by their side to put an end to this practice. When contacted, CDA spokesperson Mazhar Hussain said that the operation against the non-confirming use of residential areas is in progress as a number of houses are sealed on daily basis. Out of around 1700 houses, only a few are remaining mainly due to the stay orders or other legal issues, he said.

ISLAMABAD: Labourers busy in preparing footpath as people mark International Labor Day on May 1st. iNP

EPA takes action against marble units, printing presses PESHAWAR APP

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has taken action against a number of marble units and printing presses in Peshawar over non-compliance of National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQs).

“The action was taken as part of regular monitoring of industrial units over compliance of NEQS,” said KP EPA Director General Dr Muhammad Bashir.

Talking to the news agency, DG EPA said he issued Environment Protection Order (EPO) to 61 marble units at Warsak road, and seven printing presses in city area, directing them to stop activities due to discharge of untreated effluents and creation of noise

pollution, respectively. Dr Bashir said two teams were constituted for inspection of marble units and printing presses. One team took action against

different printing press machines at Jangi Mohalla, Qissa Khawani Bazar and the other team raided different marble units at Warsak road. The EPA team

was accompanied by officials of District Administration of Peshawar, adds director general EPA. The team inspecting marble units, found eight units in compliance of Environmental Protection Order (EPO) while 15 were found in violation and were sealed on the spot.

It is pertinent to mention here that a total of 61 EPOs were issued to different marble units of Warsak road by EPA, out of which 23 were checked and remaining will be inspected on working day of coming week. The EPA team visiting printing presses found three presses violating NEQs by creating noise pollution and were sealed on the spot. While owners of remaining four presses have sought 24 hours time for EPO compliance from the district government.

UkRainians moURn poet BoRys oliynyk ISLAMABAD: Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Lakomov paid tribute to the famous Ukrainian poet, translator and songwriter Borys Oliynyk who passed away in Kyiv. He was 81. Oliynyk died on April 30 at noon, after suffering a long and severe illness, said a press release issued on Monday. Oliynyk was a national hero of the Ukrainians who possessed all the virtues of a gentleman. “We all are proud of him,” Lakomov added. The late poet was a face of the motherland. His love for the country and nation was the motivation for his poetry. Lakomov said that Oliynyk has died physically but he will remain alive in the hearts of Ukrainians. Oliynyk published over 40 poetry compilations, in addition to numerous essays and journalistic articles. He also translated many Slavic languages to Ukrainian. From 1991-2006, he was a member of parliament for Ukraine’s communist party though he was eventually suspended from the party in 2005 due to his support for the Orange Revolution in 2004. In October 2005, Oliynyk was awarded the title ‘Hero of Ukraine’. “Ukrainian culture suffered a great loss today,” Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in his official statement of condolences on April 30. APP

ISLAMABAD 07

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

soy protein may ease inflammatory bowel disease

ISLAMABAD: A daily wages labourer on his way back after day long work on World Labour Day. There is always a holiday on Labour Day in Pakistan at the private and government level. Rights for labourers are demanded in these functions, seminars, rallies and processions. It is pledged that all hurdles must be removed and labourers will share equal rights. The whole day passes in these claims, slogans and promises. The sun sets and fate decides otherwise. ONLiNE

kp eneRgy dept completes feasiBility stUdy of fiVe mega pRojects 82 MOUS INKED DURING ROAD SHOW IN CHINA PESHAWAR

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APP

HE Khyber Pakthunkhwa power and energy department has completed feasibility studies of five mega projects with a capacity of 1123MW to help supplement federal government efforts to address the problem of energy shortfall. Officials in KP power and energy department said that that seven hydro power projects with a total capacity of 1978MW have been presented in the road show held during April 17-19 in China for inclusion in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Multiple Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with different Chinese companies to tap KP’s energy potential.

The official said that at least $6,919 million would be required for the successful completion of these seven projects that would be constructed in Chitral under CPEC. The projects proposed for CPEC include Mujigram-Shoghor hydro power project (HPP) of 64MW capacity which

requires investment of $182 million, Istaru Booni (HPP) of 72MW capacity requires investment of $276 million, Turen More Kari (HPP) Chitral of 350MW capacity requires investment of $753 million, Jamshill Tureen More (HPP) Chitral of 260MW capacity requires $616 million investment and Ghrait-Swir Lasht (HPP) Chitral of 377MW capacity requires $1811 million investment.

The official said that the feasibility studies of these projects have been completed and they are ready for execution, adding that most of these projects would be built on River Chitral and adjoining water streams as Chitral is ideal for power generation.

The other two projects proposed for inclusion in CPEC include 409MW capacity Torcamp-Gudubar (HPP) requiring an investment of $1534 million and Kari-Mushkur (HPP) having 446MW capacity requiring an investment of $1748 million that would be completed with assistance of brotherly country China.

The work on the feasibility studies of these projects are underway, which would be completed soon, the official said, adding that MoUs of these projects have been signed with Chinese companies in the recently held Road Show. The official further stated that

the terms and conditions for sharing investment between KP government and Chinese companies would be determined later, after signing of proper agreements.

The official said that about 900 Chinese companies had participated in the road show and 82 MoUs against 86 prepared projects in diversified sectors have been inked.

He said that MoUs with a Chinese company regarding installation of a solar system in 10,000 schools and 400 hospitals of Khyber Pakthunkhwa were also inked. To give practical shape to these projects, the official said that the Chinese investors would visit KP in July this year to analyze these projects on grounds. The Chinese investors and companies are taking immense interest in the province and $24 billion foreign investment is to be expected in Khyber Pakthunkhwa in the future.

The official said that four agreements have been signed with frontier works organization (FWO) for the establishment of oil refinery in Karak, 600MW electricity project and installation of cement plants in Haripur and Model Town, Peshawar.

To another question, the official said that 1000 acres land has been acquired for the establishment of an economic zone near Rashaki Interchange

in Nowshera under CPEC where industries, energy and gas projects in addition to technical education institutes would be setup. He further added that Chinese companies had desired 1000 acre more land in Rashakai for future expansion.

The official said that the establishment of a separate cluster of IT city in the Rashakai industrial zone under CPEC has been planned to provide quality education to youth.

An economic and industrial zone would also be setup in Kohat on 1000 acres land at Shehzadi Banda that would be linked with the CPEC route, he said, adding that it would generate employment besides promoting industries in southern districts of KP and Fata. MoUs for industrial estate at Khattar in Haripur on 1000 acres land, special economic zone on 88 acres in Mansehra, special economic zone at Darabanda in DI Khan on 1500 acres have already been signed. These projects would also be linked with the railway network.

These projects after completion would not only generate employment opportunities for the people but would alleviate poverty, promote infant industries and enhance quality communication services and industrialization in the province.

ViRal stomach diseases spRawling in twin cities ISLAMABAD: There has been an increase in the number of patients suffering from viral diseases such as stomach problem, gastro and diarrhoea during the last week in the twin cities. Hospitals and clinics in the cities are witnessing rush of patients especially infants and children. According to Dr Rehana Kausar, hot weather condition is the main cause of viral infections especially diarrhoea. APP

Researchers from Pennsylvania State University have discovered that adding soy protein to the diet alleviates symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel diseases, such as colon inflammation and the loss of gut barrier function. The mouse study could pave the way for human studies to develop effective treatment strategies for the condition. Researchers Zachary Bitzer and Amy Wopperer, former graduate students in the Department of Food Science at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), conducted the research alongside Joshua Lambert, associate professor of food science in the College of Agricultural Sciences, and colleagues.

The team’s findings were published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, have affected an estimated 3.1 million adults in the United States.

Finding ways to mitigate symptoms of IBD is of importance because the chronic inflammation that characterises the disease is a major risk factor for colon cancer. Colonic inflammation is also responsible for the loss of gut barrier function and increased gut permeability.

Previous studies have explored the preventive effects that soybeans may have on cancer. While some studies have shown that consuming soy may reduce the risk of cancer, other studies have yielded mixed results. Recent studies have uncovered that soy protein has promising outcomes in animal models of IBD. However, many questions about the underlying mechanisms behind the anti-inflammatory effect remain.

The Penn State team examined the impact of soy protein concentrate on inflammation and gut barrier function in mice in the new study.

They replaced 12 percent of other sources of proteins in the diets of the mice with soy protein concentrate. The doses of soy protein concentrate substituted were equivalent to the amount that could potentially be used in humans. “We didn’t want to get carried away with using doses that were really high and would crowd out all the other protein that was there,” explains Bitzer. “Instead, we wanted to find a scenario that was going to fit into a more human-relevant situation.”

The researchers found that soy protein concentrate has an antioxidant and cytoprotective effect in human bowel cells cultured in a laboratory. Furthermore, in the mice with induced IBD, substituting just 12 percent of other protein with soy protein concentrate was enough to stop body weight loss in its tracks and improve spleen swelling, reveals Lambert. This evidence indicates that soy protein concentrate might be able to moderate the severity of inflammation. “Soy protein concentrate mitigates markers of colonic inflammation and loss of gut barrier function in the mice with induced IBD,” says Wopperer.

Future studies by the investigators will try to determine whether their findings could be replicated in humans. Soy protein is a readily available food ingredient that is already used as a substitute for meat. Lambert believes that because of this, human studies could be just around the corner. ONLiNE

World Asthma Day being observed today 383,000 DEATHS REPORTED IN 2015 ISLAMABgAD APP

Like other parts of the globe, World Asthma Day will be observed in Pakistan on Tuesday (May 2) to raise awareness, care and support for those affected by the disease.

Various activities have been planned to mark the day by medical and educational institutions, hospitals and governmental and non-governmental organisations with a focus on supporting the persons with asthma and their families, friends and caregivers.

According to the latest World Health Organisation’s (WHO) estimates, there were 383,000 deaths due to asthma in 2015. Most asthma-related deaths occur in low and lower-middle income countries, it added.

It said some 235 million people currently suffered from asthma while it was a common disease among children.

Asthma is one of the major non-communicable diseases; it is a chronic disease of the air passages of the lungs which inflames and narrows them, said public health expert Dr Wasim Khawaja from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). He said that the strongest risk factors for developing asthma were inhaled substances and particles that might provoke allergic reactions or irritate the airways.

Medication could control asthma, and avoiding asthma triggers could also reduce its severity. An appropriate management of asthma could enable people to enjoy a good quality of life, Dr Khawaja added. The disease is characterised by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which varied in severity and frequency from person to person, said the health expert.

Dr Khawaja said that symptoms might occur several times in a day or week in the affected individuals and for

some people became worse during physical activity or at night.

Recurrent asthma symptoms frequently cause sleeplessness, daytime fatigue, reduced activity levels, and school and work absenteeism, said Dr Sharif Astori, a medical practitioner at Federal Government Poly Clinic (FGPC). Asthma had a relatively low fatality rate compared to other chronic diseases, he added. Dr Astori said that the strongest risk factors for developing asthma were a combination of genetic predisposition with environmental exposure to inhaled substances and particles that might provoke allergic reactions or irritate the airways.

Those included indoor allergens like house dust mites in bedding, carpets and stuffed furniture, pollution and pet dander while outdoor allergens were pollens and moulds, besides tobacco smoke, chemical irritants in the workplace and air pollution. Dr Astori advised that people with persistent symptoms must take long-term medication daily to control the underlying

inflammation and prevent symptoms and exacerbations.

Although asthma could not be cured,

appropriate management could control the disease and enable people to live a good quality of life, Dr Astori concluded.

08 COMMENT

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

Rise of the right in India

May Day Bad days ahead for Pakistani society unless...

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HE working class suffers from the double whammy of increasing unemployment and rising prices of commodities of daily use. That trade unions have weakened over the years is a bad omen for the system.

Ten years of power shortages have led to the partial or complete closure of thousands of production units particular in the textile sector which employs about 30 per cent of industrial labour. Economic crunch in the Middle East and the rise of anti–immigrant sentiment in the West have led to the return of tens of thousands of Pakistanis from abroad adding to the already sufficient pool of the unemployed The iMF projects an increase in unemployment ratio from the current 6 per cent to 6.1 per cent in the next fiscal year. Pakistan needs a growth rate of 7-8 per cent on a sustained basis to absorb the increasing number of jobless and clear the backlog. ahsan iqbal’s promise that the cPEc will create 85,000 jobs for youths is no more than a pie in the sky.

The government has no massive manpower training programme. The planners have no idea regarding what kind jobs would be needed in next ten years. The absence of trained manpower would continue to discourage foreign investors. The government’s policies also discourage trade unions which play a useful role in industrial economies by mediating between the industrial workers and the factory management. a higher economic growth fuels inflation and raises the cost of living which becomes problematic since most people can’t make a comfortable living if their incomes do not rise commensurately. The iMF has forecast a spike in inflation from 2.9 per cent in FY 2016 to 4.3 per cent and 5 per cent in FY 2017 and FY 2018 respectively.

The rising inflation would lead to hike in interest rates thus increasing the cost of commodity production. This would mean more inflation and hence, greater suffering for low-income groups including the working class.

Unless the government provides hope to the unemployed by setting up a large and countrywide manpower training programme and expands manifold the social security net, the dejected and jobless youngsters are likely to become an easy prey to the terrorist networks recruiting agencies.

Tweeting troubles ‘Mind your language’ should be the watchword

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ocial media is a double edged weapon. it has made the planet ‘small and round’ through intense global connectivity, but is also the hangout of Big Brothers, virtual ‘Peeping Toms’, spymasters, con men and other misbegotten fauna. and then there is the innocuous but deadly tweet, a web weapon made famous in the last 100 days by US President Donald Trump. another controversial tweet dominating our media was made without much thinking by the DG, iSPR, in response to the ridiculous notification on ‘Dawn leaks’ by the Prime Minister’s Secretary, himself reportedly one of the suspects in the lingering affair. This notification proved the proverbial red rag to the bull.

The government’s overall incompetence and negligence have rightly invited critical media comment and remark. in ‘Dawn leaks’, there is also the confusing and contrasting viewpoint of the interior Minister and the Prime Minister’s office regarding primacy in issuing the official notification. another puzzling aspect of this whodunit is the mysterious absence of the Defence Minister, who should be in the forefront in allaying mutual suspicions. His silence is deafening. Was it because the interior Minister and the Defence Minister are not on talking terms for the last many years?

What stops the interior Minister from living up to his statements and issuing the notification with full public disclosure of the entire Dawn leaks report, sparing no sacred cows, cronies or close relatives? or is he, too, a party to the attempted hush up? The unfortunate habit of blaming others for all ills while studiedly ignoring repeated lapses or deliberate ulterior designs, in order to gain goodwill and support of certain quarters, will not wash any more. The remarks of the interior Minister that tweets (meaning that by DG, iSPR) are poisonous for democracy will hardly defray an already charged situation.

The civilian leadership should remember it has delivered nothing to the common man that would gain his sympathy and support on the streets. if democracy is weak today it is because the two successive governments failed to deliver.

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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Yasmeen aftab ali

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NDia is changing. The face of a tolerant india is submerging in a sea of the rise of an intolerant right. Hindu society as a whole has had an immense ability to respect diverse religions, diverse spiritual experiences. However, in the past years, something in india has gone wrong. More than the stance of the extreme rightists, who feel Hindutva ideology, is equal to negation of the non-followers of Hindu religion, the silence of those who do not subscribe to this thinkingare responsible for contorting the image of secular india.

R.S.S and BJP has a history of closeness.

Many of RSS members became candidates of the BJP- including Modi and advani before their joining politics. Mohan Bhagwat in 2012 referred to RSS as the party “ideological fountainhead.”

BJP had been in power before. in 2014 however, its rise was meteoric with BJP forming a government in centre without having to lean on a coalition force to do so. BJP was successful in collectively amalgamating different fragmented caste groups. This was not the only reason for BJP success. it focused also on looking ‘economically inwards.’ Modi’s thrust was on manufacturing and attracting investment that greatly appealed to industrialists and professional working class. People of india believed him. He had Gujarat to prove that with the economy growth at 10% a year when other

states were way behind.

Somewhere along the line, Hindutva ideology interpreted by many of india’s leaders as cutting through pan-indian-Nationalism and thereby replacing it, has emerged. This politically religious ideology has its roots in the entity that gave birth to it. RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) brainchild of Keshav Hedgewar was formed in mid-1920. Keshav Hedgewar was very much influenced by V D Savarkar who in book on Hindutva discussed the origins of a Hindu. as a further discussion, as per his understanding the Muslims and christians living in india did not belong there.

Both had their holy lands in the Middle East. only the Hindu was the “true son of the soil” (so to speak). if one recalls the 2002 Gujarat riots the law enforcing forces had not made efforts to control the killings as the houses and businesses of Muslims were razed to the ground and killed mercilessly.

The steps taken in the recent years by Modi government is hurting the image of india internationally. one example is of physically attacking other religious communities for protection of the cow. The failure of state to react timely coveys a partisan feeling to the world; hurting india’s secular face. in 2016, as per a news report, 7 of a Dalit family were beaten up for skinning a dead cow. ‘a purported video of the victims being attacked with iron rods and sticks was circulated on social media. in the video, some of the victims are seen tied to a car, while the accused are beating them up.’ (July 20th) ‘The BJP stoutly insists that the beef ban was not intended to harm Muslims, but at the core of RSS metaphysics is an understanding of india in which Muslims are strangers.’ (Foreign Policy) according to another report by ‘The Hindu’, “in Dadri’s Bishara village on September 28, a 50-year-old Mohammad akhlaq was lynched and his son Danish (22) was brutally beaten up as punishment for allegedly eating beef on Eid and ‘storing it’ for later consumption….. a riot-like situation gripped the sleepy village, a little over 40 km from the bustling sub-city of Noida, near Delhi, on September 29, when their relatives were barred from participating in the funeral procession…… as the

rumour spread, villagers blocked a highway in Bisrakh area on September 29, demanding death penalty for those involved in the slaughter.”(october 3, 2015) The rise of BJP, supporting more of right policies than an all nationalistic ones has done damage to the social fabric of india herself. according to one report, “Police stopped a church event attended by more than 150 people, including 10 american tourists, here after the right-wing Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) alleged that religious conversion was being carried out.” (april 8, 2017) Worse is the forced effort to re-convert Muslims and christians into Hinduism. Discrimination against minorities on multidimensional levels and attacks on their homes, businesses and religious places cannot lead to a progressive society. it cannot lead to a cohesive society joined together as one on path of progress and development. No society attacking its members belonging to minority groups can claim to be either secular or progressive. if one reads the citations above and all what the reader can amass from other sources, it keeps boiling down to V D Savarkar expounding of the theory that the Muslims and christians living in india did not belong there. according to Kennedy School Review (July 27, 2016) by Shahnoor Seervai, “What’s frightening about Modi’s silence is that it could be read as tacit approval of the mobs leading the charge against minorities, writers, and activists. it is no secret that Modi relies heavily upon the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organisation, for ideological support and manpower during elections. The RSS is a grassroots movement with thousands of local branches. Millions of volunteers across india serve its mission to create a militant Hindu state.”

The rise of intolerance has already left wounds on india’s secular image- let it not be destroyed.

Yasmeen Aftab Ali is a lawyer, academic and political analyst. She has authored a book titled ‘A Comparative Analysis of Media & Media Laws in Pakistan.’ She can be contacted at: tweets at @yasmeen_9 and yasmeenali62@gmail.com

How many of us believe in germs?

Or science, for that matter man setting up a biogas plant on his farm was mocked by his workers for his ‘silly foreign ideas’, for thinking that cow dung would light up homes and work pumps.

But when the dung water slurry started generating electricity the men lined up for connections. it takes someone willing to reach over ignorance and act in ways that are informed by education, to show in practical terms that yes, such and such thing exists and works, thereby facilitating progress.

But at least these people who do not believe in what they cannot see have the excuse of being illiterate and uninformed. What excuse does the President of the United States, a man apparently educated in one of the most expensive universities in the country, have for his attitude when a few years ago for example he tweeted – as he does – that ‘The concept of global warming was created by and for the chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.’ Really? So who is going to reach over the President of the United States and his colleagues who have been handpicked by him, who share his attitude, people at the pinnacle of a great nation to support science? That is what they are doing all those men and woman carrying some very interesting signs, participating in rallies all around the world, supporting science in an attempt to reach over those ignorant minds to protest against the proposed cut of billions of dollars in funding for

Rabia ahmed

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T is a truth universally acknowledged that any person in possession of a mind should not be wanting in education. There is a lot that is beyond sight and comprehension, a lot that exists and is waiting to be understood and discovered. To an ignorant mind however, the unseen does not exist, and it takes education and specifically science, that systematic study of the world through observation and experiment to achieve understanding and discovery, to change our day to day life.

To the common man in this country that is how it is; for him the unseen does not exist. Most people do not believe in germs, and certainly not vaccinations. a

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

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Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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scientific research.

People have discovered the power of numbers. Women marched on Washington earlier this year to protest against the new administrations attitude towards women. The rally was a resounding success, with many politicians, academics and celebrities also taking part. Since then similar rallies supporting the same cause have taken place around the world. at an estimate more than 4,000,000 people participated in the US and up to 5 million worldwide. if there is one thing that mobilises politicians it is the prospect of losing votes.

So what excuse does the Pakistani leadership have for not promoting educating, for not providing even a decent level of science in schools in this country? and is it time to threaten to pull votes if this neglect does not end?

How many of us, after all, believe in germs? i have mentioned this before but in my class of students learning spoken English, only one had ever seen a magnifying glass. The one exception again was the only one to have heard of the equator or the poles. Except for two none could say where in relation to Pakistan india was located, and none knew the name of the major river that runs the length of Pakistan.

These girls were students of intermediate to Bachelors, some of them studying science. it may sound astounding, but the common man in the US is not much better informed. Unfortu-

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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nately given the level of scientific research in the US, if funding to science is cut off there, the rest of the world will feel the impact. Not funding science in Pakistan, as it is not funded now, impacts upon us and us alone. This does not make the fact any less tragic, it is mentioned only to highlight how little important research is done in this country. as reported in an English daily newspaper, ‘Pakistan was ranked at 131 out of 141 countries in the 2015 report of the Global innovation index — which explores the impact of innovationoriented policies on economic growth and development. This, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology is because of a 1) low percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for science and development, and 2) low standards of science education in our educational institutions.’

This, in spite of the fact that Pakistan possesses a large number of researchers and academic Doctors. it isn’t PhDs we need as much as young students with a strong sense of curiosity, who have been taught to find answers to simple questions by means of observation and research. For this Pakistan needs basic practical teaching of science in schools by teachers who, for want of a better analogy once again, believe in germs themselves.

Rabia Ahmed is a freelance columnist. Read more by her at http://rabia-ahmed.blogspot.com/

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

COMMENT 09

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

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

May 1 in Gujarat oVER the last three or so decades, Gujarat has emerged as one of the major suppliers of wooden home furniture in the country.

While some of the wealthier furniture manufacturers from the city have expanded their business to different cities and set up display centres in lahore and islamabad, etc, several others are producing furniture for local brands with showrooms across the country.

Gujarat’s wooden furniture industry is divided into cottage and small- to medium-scale industry. out of the almost 250-300 units engaged in the production of furniture in the city, less than a score can be categorised as medium-sized producers.

But the situation of labour has been worsening in Gujarat furniture industry. Pakistan’s latest labour policy of 2010 has stated that humane conditions of work should be guaranteed to all workers. The 1973 constitution of Pakistan also ensures economic and social well-being of the people and guarantees prohibition of slavery. our law also cover almost all aspects of labour and industry related subjects such as wages, labour environment, labour inspection, control of employment, rehabilitation of disabled persons, social security, social protection and workers’ welfare but almost 94 per cent of workers happen to be in Gujarat furniture industry do not have appointment letters because they are not registered as workers, average work time is 11 hours a day and their monthly income ranges between Rs8,000 to 12,000. Deaths, injuries and other dreadful conditions of the workers were very common at the workplace. Workers have no paid holidays, no job security, no medical coverage, no pension or provident fund and are paid no overtime. child labour in Pakistan is growing at a disturbing rate. However, there is not much change looking at the present situation. There seem to be no labour laws.

HAJi NASiR Gujarat

A burden to share Israeli And Palestinian women must raise the banner of revolt

dR alon ben-meiR

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N the sad occasion of the fiftieth year of the israeli occupation of the West Bank, i will be writing a series of articles that will propose a number of peaceful people-to-people measures—which have been largely missing—that israelis and Palestinians must take to bring an end to the occupation. This is the first article that addresses the critical role of israeli and Palestinian women.

Historically, women have played a critical role in solving major violent conflicts that have lasted for years, if not decades. although israeli and Palestinian women have protested in the past against the occupation, it was on a small scale and their voices were drowned by the intense resistance of the powerful settlement movement. While there is a majority of israelis and Palestinians who consistently want an end to the conflict, neither the Netanyahu government nor the Palestinian authority have pursued policies consistent with the requirements to reach a peace agreement. it is time for israeli and Palestinian women to raise their voices en masse and demand peace now, and be prepared to resort to any peaceful measure to that end, regardless of how taxing and long this process may be.

The role of women in ending global conflicts offers a vivid picture of how women can impact the course of events. in Northern ireland, the organisation Peace People was instrumental in increasing solidarity across sectarian divides, delegitimising violence, and providing the momentum for peace. The group organised marches, culminating in a 10,000+ strong rally in london, and further engaged in facilitating peace in local areas.

The Northern ireland Women’s coalition ultimately gained representation in the Northern ireland Forum (which led to the Good Friday agreement) and provided a critical voice in the peace process. a number of women’s organisations were active during the conflicts in the Balkans, each providing its own voice to end the conflict. The Belgrade branch of Women in Black began organising weekly silent vigils to protest Serbian atrocities in the region and supported the creation of the international criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

Today, they continue their work through ongoing vigils and protests, along with support-

ing refugees and displaced persons from the conflict, and partnering with a Kosovar women’s organisation to create bridges between Serbia and Kosovo.

The “Women of liberia Mass action for Peace” was critical in facilitating the end of the second liberian civil War. Women involved with this group engaged in protests in their own communities (publicised initially by catholic church-owned radio stations, which later spread to other domestic and international news organisation) and subsequently travelled to peace talks in Ghana, blocking all entrances and exits from the building where negotiations took place until there was a resolution.

Perhaps one of the most famous womenled peace organisations in the world is Madres de Plaza de Mayo, which was formed in 1977 by mothers of the “disappeared” during argentina’s Dirty War. Their weekly protests prompted the civilian government starting in 1984 to investigate and prosecute those involved in the atrocities. a related organisation, Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, was instrumental in the foundation of the argentine Forensic anthropology Team and the National Genetic Data Bank, which have located and identified the bodies of those disappeared, as well as their still-living children who were clandestinely and illegally adopted. in israel, civil society should support current efforts by groups such as Women in Black and Women Wage Peace to use their challenging power and make their voices heard.

Women in Black have hosted vigils every Friday night in Jerusalem starting in 1988 to protest the israeli occupation, and have in fact inspired a number of branches across the globe (including in Serbia, as previously mentioned).

Women Wage Peace has engaged in a number of activities, including a prominent hunger strike during 2014’s operation Protective Edge, which led to a meeting with Netanyahu and his promise that he would meet with abbas at any time without preconditions. other programmes included country-wide screenings of Pray the Devil Back to Hell, a documentary about liberia’s peace movement, in Hebrew, arabic, and Russian, to foster interest in peace and demonstrate how successful such movements can be.

Whereas all of these activities were absolutely necessary, they were limited in scope and failed to engender wide-spread public support – reflecting the overall complacency of israeli society – and force the hands of the israeli and Palestinians governments to commit to peace rather than pay lip-service by calling for peace but taking no concrete actions to demonstrate that commitment.

There are a number of joint civic actions that should be spearheaded by israeli and Palestinian women that could change the dynamic of the conflict in a similar way to the examples cited above. To succeed, israeli and Palestinian women should undertake multiple activities, remain consistent, and escalate these activities should their respective governments fail to respond to their demands.

Mass protests should be organised by the tens of thousands, and they must signal their intention to follow these protests with regular

weekly demonstrations, on a relatively smaller-scale. These demonstrations should take place in different parts of the country to voice their opposition to their government’s policies, and demand an immediate shift by beginning a process of reconciliation to mitigate hatred and distrust between the two sides.

Should there be no official positive response or movement from the government; this is where escalation can begin—i.e. moving toward civil disobedience provided that violence in any shape or form is prevented. civil disobedience should include, but is not limited to, mass crowding of public spaces (airports, city squares, malls, etc.), as the general society needs to feel the tangible effects of these protests in real time. Many of the demonstrators can expect to be arrested; they should not resist arrest but welcome it, making it impossible for the authorities to cope with hundreds if not thousands of detainees.

Sit-ins at military checkpoints on both sides will greatly hinder security personnel from processing the movement of israelis and Palestinians from one side to the other, making it especially difficult for Palestinian labourers to work in israel where they are needed. This not only has an impact on Palestinian labourers, but negatively impacts the israeli industries in which they work.

Protests at the separation wall will make it all but abundantly clear that peace will not rest on separation between the two sides, but on collaboration and full cooperation on all civilian and security interactions.

Protests at the israeli Knesset and the Palestinian authority’s headquarters in Ramallah will send a clear message to legislators and those in a position to shape policy that the current deadlock cannot and must not continue, as there is no alternative to coexistence and peace. any and all symbols of the occupation need to be specifically targeted (e.g., separation wall, settlements) – possibly creating works of art on the wall that highlights the irony that israel is in fact building a prison for itself while acting as prison guards against the Palestinians under siege.

To ensure peaceful marches, organisers should have a clear plan of action about any of the civil disobedience activity, have contingency plans on hand, and enlist volunteers to act as ‘crowd control’ to prevent any confrontation with police officers. israeli and Palestinian women should use their formidable power to demand an end to the conflict. They will have far greater sway than men if they join hands, go out in force, and remain consistent with the message to end the occupation. after 70 years, the tragedy of the israeliPalestinian conflict must come to an end. israeli and Palestinian women have the power to raise the banner of peaceful revolt, and ought to use it now to bring peace to the land that both sides must inevitably share.

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

Sindh intermediate exams THRoUGH this letter i want to draw the attention of readers towards mass cheating during intermediate exams in Sindh.

From the start candidates used books and other material to do paper in Sukkur but the administration has not yet taken any action in this regard. Rampant cheating was also observed during Sindhi exam in larkana where solved papers were being sold at Rs100. and yet there has been no vigilance ensured in the examination halls which gave free hand to students who openly used cheating material and mobile phones. The tradition of cheating didn’t break even in 2017. in our country, the education sector is in decline. in fact, it seems that students are also not serious about their studies. cheating in examination destroys the future of students but no one seems to realise this. at times, even invigilators help students cheat. The standard of education in Sindh has deteriorated over the years because of cheating. if this culture is not eradicated, the education sector will remain in decline. The concerned authorities are requested to look into the matter and resolve the issue. concrete steps from a primary level should be taken so that no one cheats in an examination.

TABEER RAzA Karachi

Call for assistance THRoUGH your highly esteemed newspaper i would like to draw the attention of concerned authorities towards a serious crisis that we have been going through for quite over a month now. in year 2014, my uncle filed a civil suit against us after he came up with a fraudulent sale deed of the house that we have been living in for more than sixty years now. it is the property of my deceased grandfather which my uncle has now transferred illegally to his name so as to usurp the property and filed the suit against my father, who is the eldest in family and his only brother. There are several other properties too which he has grabbed the hold of forcibly. However, when things started running against him in courts, he took to cheap tactics and cut off our electricity supply. Though an order was passed in our favour on april 11 to restore electricity right away but he is adamant. Forcing us to leave the house is the only thing on his mind. Passing an order is not the sole duty of the courts but the practical implementation involving police and other authorities is also very important. it has been 37 days now that we are living on candles and emergency lights in these terribly hot days!

USMAN SHAHiD Karachi

Woes of 227 SPSC candidates SPSc invited applications for the posts of combined competitive exam in the year 2013. after many hiccups, the written exams were held in april 2015, followed by the interviews and final result in the year 2016 that declared 227 candidates successful. all such process which was spread over two to three years was declared null and void by the Supreme court due to ineligibility of the chairman of SPSc. it shall be noted that before the intervention of court, the candidates were successfully able to complete all the due process after the reception of appointment letters i.e. Police verification and Medical clearance. They also left their previous Jobs and given this, many were not able to join any other service (that they cleared during that period once they received offer letters). i am one of the affected candidates of the decision and pray the Honourable Supreme court chief Justice and The Honourable Supreme court Judges to look into the matter as the matter has much depth to it, whereas candidates are not to be blamed for the faults of Sindh Government (as per the very own judgment) FAHAD SHAiKH Karachi

10 BUSINESS

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

CCI lIkEly to approvE gas sUpply to loCalItIEs aroUnd gas fIElds ISLAMABAD

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AHMAD AHMADANI

HE Council of Common Interests (CCI) is likely to approve the much-awaited supply of gas to the localities/villages falling within a five kilometer radius of the gas producing fields, it was reliably learnt.

Official sources at the petroleum ministry, on the condition of anonymity informed that the federal government has called a meeting of CCI on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 to discuss a 12 point agenda, including amendments in the NEPRA Act to bring the power sector regulatory authority ostensibly under the administrative control of the power ministry. They said the meeting will take up summaries/proposals of provincial governments of Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa as well as of various ministries including the Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC), water and power, petroleum and natural resources, cabinet and finance divisions for discussion and necessary approvals. The four chief ministers have been requested to attend the meeting as official invitations have been sent to the provinces, ministries and divisions, sources said.

The sources said the 31st meeting of CCI on Tuesday, which is to be presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is likely to submit its approval to a summary of petroleum ministry, seek-

ing gas supply to localities and villages which fall within a radius of 5 km of the gas producing fields across the country.

Currently, two public sector companies i-e Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) are supplying gas in the country through their extensive network of pipeline, altogether serving millions of domestic consumers.

It is also learnt that the planning ministry has supported the proposal, whereas the finance ministry was of the view that such schemes may be executed according to the availability of funds. The Sindh government is of the view that the federal government may pay the entire cost whereas Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa suggested that the cost should be borne by the gas utilities. And, the government of Punjab was of the view that per-consumer cost criteria should be revised, before discussing cost-sharing with the provinces.

According to the CCI agenda, the

CCI will take up amendments in the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997, settlement of net hydel profit (NHP) issue between WAPDA and the government of Punjab, draft bills for the establishment of the National Meteorology Institute of Pakistan (NMIP), National Water Policy, National Forest Policy, 2015, short supplies of water in Pat Feeder and Kirthar canals, inquiry into corruption charges of Kachhi canal, supplies of gas to localities/villages within a 5 km radius of gas producing fields, resolution of energy problems of Balochistan province/enhancement of absorption capacity, establishment of fiscal coordination committee, implementation of Kazi Committee Methodology (KCM) for the calculation of NHP and the allocation of 1200 cusecs (650.5MGD) additional water for Karachi city (K-IV project), and senior citizens privileges as well.

The sources said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) gov-

ernment might face music in getting an approval from the CCI to put an end to the sovereignty of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).

They said PML-N government might face stiff opposition from the provinces of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the proposed amendments to clip the wings of NEPRA, which is an autonomous body. They said the prime minister, chief minister Punjab, and the federal minister for water and power are annoyed with NEPRA over various issues pertaining to tariff determination and for failing to reduce the transmission and distribution losses for each power distributing company (DISCOs) etc. They said the government wanted to get CCI’s approval over the amendments in NEPRA Act primarily to make it mandatory for NEPRA to implement government’s instructions. However, so far, two provinces, Sindh and KP have opposed to any alteration in the NEPRA Act, which, as a result, will compromise the independence of the regulator, sources said.

It is worth mentioning here that after the Panamagate verdict by the Supreme Court, the PML-N government seems to be in a hurry to announce the ambitious plans/schemes so that it can fight the elections with something concrete at its disposal. The CCI also provides an opportunity to other ruling parties of the four provinces to vent out concerns regarding development and other matters of great importance.

LAHORE: A labourer family busy in harvesting the wheat crop in hot weather on the International Labour Day. ONLINE

BANGKOK STAFF REPORT

Effective governance and improved fiscal management are essential to sustaining a robust economic growth and improving its quality, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) said in its annual flagship report launched today. The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2017 highlights that despite a broadly positive economic outlook for 2017, Asia-Pacific economies are vulnerable to rising global uncertainty and trade protectionism.

The region’s developing economies are projected to grow at 5.0 and 5.1 per cent in 2017 and 2018, respectively, up from 4.9 per cent last year, according to the Survey. Economic conditions are broadly stable in China and higher valueadded sectors are gradually replacing excess capacity sectors as drivers of output and employment. The continued softening of economic growth in China, projected at 6.5 per cent in 2017 against the previous 6.7 per cent in 2016, reflects the ongoing deleveraging and restructuring efforts to boost output in the medium term. India's growth forecast states 7.1 per cent this year as re-monetization restores consumption while infrastructure spending increases.

IWCCI team leaves for EU to explore trade potential ISLAMABAD APP

A delegation of women entrepreneurs has left for a ten-day visit to explore the European market, and find ways and means to boost exports. The delegation is led by the founder president of Islamabad women’s chamber of commerce and industry (IWCCI) Samina Fazil. Other delegates are former IWCCI president Mumtaz Akhter, and Munazza Arif, Shahida Mazhar, Rizwana Atif, Naadia Sami, Saadia Hassan, Anjum Arif and Safina Insaf, a press release stated on Monday. The team will visit Hungary and Italy to explore potential for unconventional exports. It will also meet the business community, trade officials and diplomats. Before leaving for Hungary, the business women said that they hoped to promote trade links in areas of common interests and explore avenues for export of ‘made in Pakistan’ items.

“We want to share expertise, learn about new designs and modern skills from their counterparts,” Samina Fazil said, adding that they would also study new trends and requirements of interested clients as there was a great demand of Pakistani products such as handicrafts, jewellery and clothing in Europe. She said that Europe was Pakistan’s important trading partner accounting for 21.2 per cent of Pakistan’s total exports and 16 per cent of its total imports. Pakistan’s exports to Europe were dominated by textiles and clothing as well as leather products. “We should also focus on other exportable products to increase our share in the European market and reduce dependence on traditional exports,” she added. She said that the trade volume between Pakistan and the EU was not much impressive. She expressed that the local business community should explore the European market to exploit its potential to the maximum for which coordinated efforts were needed. She thanked national business leader SM Muneer for extending every possible support to make their visit a success.

Samina Fazil said that the government should send more business delegations to the Europe. She explained that the delegations could hold exhibitions and use all the methods to raise awareness about Pakistani products.

Effective governance will sustain Asia-Pacific economic growth, improve its quality: UN report Relatively higher oil prices are projected to lift the economic growth of the Russian Federation by 1.1 per cent in 2017, after last year’s contraction of 0.2 per cent.

The projected moderate Asia-Pacific economic growth faces risks from rising protectionism and global uncertainty. The survey estimates that a steeper-than-anticipated increase in these factors could reduce the average regional growth in 2017 by up to 1.2 percentage points.

Launching the survey in Bangkok, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Dr Shamshad Akhtar emphasized that better governance for effective mobilization and use of fiscal resources is critical to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“As we enter the second year of the 2030 Agenda, economic growth in AsiaPacific economies is steady but modest, amid prolonged weak external demand and rising trade protectionism. Future economic growth will need to rely more

on productivity gains, compared to factor accumulation,” said Dr Akhtar.

“Sustained productivity gains, in turn, will require effective institutions and better governance, in both public and private spheres,” she added. “In addition to ensuring sustained and robust economic growth, policymakers will need to address the social and environmental challenges in order to improve the quality of this growth.”

The survey highlights the importance of effective governance and fiscal management, given the high demands on fiscal policy to address the diverse challenges to sustainable development.

For instance, economic expansion has been accompanied by rising income inequality with inadequate creation of decent jobs in the region, which trails the world in social protection coverage. Developing Asia-Pacific economies also use twice as many resources per dollar of the GDP as does the rest of the world.

To address these challenges, the sur-

vey calls for effective governance, in particular a proactive fiscal policy through productive investments in such areas as infrastructure, social protection and resource efficiency. Effective governance can for example; improve health outcomes in the Pacific, promote economic diversification in North and Central Asia and the creation of decent jobs in South and South-West Asia, reduce development gaps in South-East Asia and accelerate ecological innovation in East and North-East Asia.

The survey recommends that structural reforms could complement fiscal policy and help increase potential output.

It notes that governments provide an enabling environment of policies, institutions and public services that helps factor and product markets to work efficiently.

The survey evaluates governance quality by analyzing data on rule of law, regulatory quality, control of corruption and government effectiveness. A marginal improvement of institutional quality is ob-

served in the Asia-Pacific region, primarily from gains in East and North-East Asia and in the landlocked developing countries, particularly in North and Central Asia.

The survey finds that when institutions are weak, inequalities tend to increase and the pace of poverty reduction declines. The quality of governance also affects environmental outcomes, as reflected for instance in varying capacities to make and apply environmental rules and safeguards, and initiate ecological innovation and technological transfer.

The quality of governance further impacts revenue mobilization, as willingness to pay taxes is influenced by public's perception of government expenditure efficiency. The survey further highlights the importance of transparency and accountability for better governance, and advocates for the production and dissemination of key fiscal data and development of capacity to monitor, evaluate and audit policies as essential to effective governance.

BUSINESS 11

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

HoArdiNG GAmEs bEGiN

pUlsEs, frUIts bEIng IMportEd ahEad of raMadan dEspItE a hUgE sUrplUs ISLAMABAD

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GHULAM ABBAS

NLIKE the market phenomenon of demand and supply and in an apparent move to hoard commodities ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, pulses and fruits are largely being imported despite the huge surplus of stock of consumer items already available.

According to official sources at the ministry of national food security and research, large quantities of various pulses are being imported, despite the availability of over 385000 metric tons (MT) of fresh crop which is enough to meet the domestic consumption till December this year. The monthly consumption of pulses is around 50000 MT while the demand in Ramadan could reach up to 120000 MT. “Although there is no need to import pulses, importers are surprisingly importing the kitchen item, citing shortage as the reason,” they said.

“Not only are the pulses and fruits being imported in excessive quantities, but also without meeting the set quality and quarantine standards, certification and testing reports, risking the domestic crop. Despite the unwanted imports and the nonconformity of the required phytosanitary certificates, the importers were

pressurizing the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and other concerned authorities for an early release of their shipments at the Karachi Port,” they added.

According to a letter sent to the ministry by the DPP on April 26, 2017, a copy of which is available with Pakistan Today, states that during the past 10 months (from 1st July, 2016 to 24 April, 2017), 10026 shipments of lentils/pulses, weighing 1065491.00 MT have so far arrived Pakistan. Surprisingly, the imports of p u l s e s recorded during the past 10 months were higher by 285958 MT as compared to the total imports in financial year 2015-16, in which only 779,533 MT pulses were imported.

Out of 1065491.00 MT imports, 4840 shipments weighing 522830.00 MT had a valid import permit and valid phy-

tosanitary certificate. 116 shipments weighing 12947.00 MT arrived without the phytosanitary certificate, however, having a valid import permit, were allowed entry under Rule 8(6) after taking the necessary phytosanitary actions i.e., inspection, fine, testing and treatment with in 2 to 3 days.

“Only non-compliant shipments were kept under phytosanitary actions in order to prevent entry and spread of exotic and invasive insects, pests, diseases and weeds in order to safeguard the national crops' wealth, ensuring food security because once the exotic bio security risks are introduced in the country, it will requires billions of rupees for their eradication, applying long term control programs and measures,” the letter said.

According to the letter pathogenic microorganisms, including Fusarium chylamydosporum, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium moniliformi and Fusarium semitectum have been detected and identified during lab testing of imported pulses at the point of entry in Pakistan.

Besides quarantine weeds' seeds, out of which two are quarantine pests of Pakistan and are very destructive.

Whereas others are regulated

non-quarantine pests and require phytosanitary measures before allowed an entry. Apart from the pulses, 336 consignments of 12088 MT fresh fruits were also imported during the past 10 months without permit orders. However, these were released by DPP after some preliminary tests at ports.

When contacted, Director General DPP Dr Syed Waseem ul Hassan said that annual import of only pulses into Pakistan were $450 million, which could be stopped only by investing $100 million in the sector. He said that hue and cry on the part of importers for an early release of consignments at the port were not justified keeping the facts in view. “Importers, as they claim to shift 4000 consignments to India, had actually availed the opportunity of Rs 30/kg profit in India. Besides, those who claim non clearance of 2000 containers at the port by DPP, are actually lying as they were deliberately delaying in grounding of cargo for inspection to wait for a further price jump in the market,” he said.

“There is no shortage of pulses in the country and enough stock is available to meet the demand of next eight months.

It’s up to the government and administrations of all the provinces to discourage hoarding and artificial shortage in market,” he added.

dubai becomes first city to get its own Microsoft font BUSINESS DESK

RAWALPINDI: A labourer carries bricks on his back at a construction site. ONLINE

PPL announces gas discovery at Zafir, Gambat KARACHI APP

The Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) on Monday announced gas discovery at Zafir X-I Gambat South Block.

An official said that PPL, the operator of Gambat South Block, with 65 percent working interest (WI) along with its joint venture partners Government Holdings Private Limited and Asia Resources Oil Limited with 25 percent and 10 percent WI, respectively, has discovered gas at its exploration well Zafir X-1 located in District Sanghar, Sindh.

He said that Zafir X-1 was spud on March 14, 2017 and

reached the final depth of 3,928 meters on April 12, 2017. Based on wire-line logs, potential hydrocarbon bearing zones were identified which are currently under testing.

Initial testing in the massive sand of Lower Goru Formation flowed 29.2 MMscfd gas and 310 bbls/day of condensate at 48/64 inches choke, thus confirming the presence of commercial quantities of hydrocarbons at Zafir X-1.

The well is being flowed at different choke sizes to measure gas flow rates, and the actual flow potential of the well will be determined after completion of the test, the PPL official further pointed out.

Not content with having the world's tallest building and biggest shopping centre, Dubai has become the first city to get its own Microsoft-designed font.

The typeface comes in both Latin and Arabic script, and will be available in 23 languages. Government bodies have been told to use it in official correspondence.

But given the human rights record of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, eyebrows will be raised at claims it is a font of "self-expression".

Dubai's Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed al-Maktoum said he had been personally involved in "all the stages" of the development of the font.

It was "a very important step for us as part of our continuous efforts to be ranked first in the digital world," he added.

"We are confident that this new font and its unique specifications will prove popular among other fonts used online and in smart technologies across the world".

Dubai's government said the typeface's design "reflects modernity and is inspired by the city" and "was designed to create harmony between Latin and Arabic".

"Self-expression is an art form," says the blurb accompanying the launch of this font. "Through it you share who you are, what you think and how you feel to the world. To do so you need a medium capable of capturing the nuances of everything you have to say.

"The Dubai Font does exactly that. It is a new global medium for self-expression."

But the United Arab Emirates - of which Dubai is part - has been criticised for its restrictions on free speech.

The constitution does guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression, but Human Rights Watch (HRW) says, "It has no effect on the daily life of the citizen" and the country "has seen a wave of arrests and violations of human rights and freedoms and mute the voices of dissent".

In March, high-profile human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor was arrested, a move HRW said showed "complete intolerance of peaceful dissent".

The UAE's official news agency, WAM, said Mansoor had been held "on suspicion of using social media sites to publish "flawed information" and "false news" to "incite sectarian strife and hatred" and "harm the reputation of the state."

12 WORLD VIEW

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

Trump has already sTarTed building a legacy. iT’s highly negaTive.

WashingTon posT

p

FranCis Fukuyama

RESIDENT Trump’s election provoked extraordinary fears that he would become an American strongman in the mold of authoritarian leaders he admires such as Vladimir Putin of Russia or RecepTayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Unlike those countries, however, the United States has a very robust set of institutional checks and balances that are supposed to prevent any one individual from acquiring excessive power. The empirical question, then, is whether that system would successfully contain a president who displayed little respect for legal or ethical constraints.

At the 100-day mark, it seems clear that the system is working properly and that Trump is more likely to go down in history as a weak and ineffective president than as an American tyrant. Apart from the appointment of Neil M. Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, he has failed to carry through on any of his major campaign promises such as stopping Muslim immigration or building his “big, beauti-

ful” wall. His most abject failure was the effort to replace Obamacare with the American Health Care Act, which had to be withdrawn for lack of votes. This absence of winning (is it called “losing”?) unfolded even as the Republican Party controls both houses of Congress and the presidency.

There are multiple sources of this weakness. Most immediate is Trump’s own ignorance of the workings of the U.S. government and the inexperience of the advisers he chose to surround himself with. He seems to have come into office believing he could run the country the way he ran his family business, through executive orders. But the American system puts Congress in the driver’s seat for any major initiatives, and presidents are powerful only to the extent that they can build legislative coalitions. Trump failed to do this on health care, and he is no more likely to succeed with tax reform or infrastructure.

Trump’s second weakness is structural. To be a powerful president, he would have had to reach out beyond the narrow base that brought him victory in the electoral college, just as President Ronald Reagan succeeded in doing.

Trump has sought the opposite, doubling down on his core supporters while doing everything possible to undermine trust on the part of Democrats and independents.

In theory, he could create a bipartisan coalition on an issue popular with Democrats such as infrastructure, but at this point they are unlikely to want to rescue what looks like a failing presidency.

This does not mean, however, that Trump will be an inconsequential president. His main legacy will be a highly

negative one: the first president to undermine a whole series of informal norms about American government. He and his family have not even pretended to avoid conflicts of interest after taking office.

Meanwhile, the administration is rolling back transparency laws as it loads its staff

Abbas fears the growing influence of Barghouti naTional Jonathan Cook

The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is due to meet Donald Trump in the White House on Wednesday to discuss reviving the long-cold corpse of the peace process.Back home, things are heating up. There is anger in the West Bank, both on the streets and within the ranks of Mr Abbas’s Fatah movement. The trigger is a two-week-old hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners.

Last Thursday, Palestinians shuttered their businesses in a show of solidarity, and the next day youths clashed with the Israeli army in a "day of rage".About a quarter of the 6,500 political prisoners held by Israel – almost all of them in Israeli territory, in violation of international law – are refusing food in protest at their degrading treatment.

They want reforms to Israel’s industrial system of incarceration. Some 800,000 Palestinians – 40 per cent of males – have passed through Israel’s cells since 1967.

Israel hopes to break the prisoners’ spirits. It has locked up the leaders in solitary confinement, denied striking inmates access to a lawyer, taken away radios, and last week began confiscating salt rations – the only sustenance along with water the prisoners are taking.The strike is led by Marwan Barghouti, the most senior Palestinian leader in jail – and the most popular, according to polls.

Mr Abbas is publicly supportive of the strikers, but in private he is said to want the protest over as quickly as possible. Reports at the weekend revealed that he had urged Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah El Sisi, to intercede with America and Israel to help.In part, Mr Abbas fears the influence of MrBarghouti, a man often described as the Palestinian Nelson Mandela and seen as

Mr Abbas’s likely successor. Notably, the Palestinian president has repeatedly sidelined him within Fatah.But Mr Abbas is also concerned that the hunger strike will provoke violent clashes in the West Bank with Israeli security forces, damaging his efforts to persuade Mr Trump to back his diplomatic campaign for Palestinian statehood.Instead, he wants to prove he can snuff out any signs of what Mr Trump might see as "terrorism".

That requires tight security cooperation with Israel.

The visit to Washington and the hunger strike have brought into sharp relief the biggest fault line in the Palestinian national movement.Mr Abbas’s strategy is strictly top-down. Its starting point is that western states – those that have consistently betrayed the Palestinian people over many decades – can now be trusted to help them attain a state.From this dubious assumption, Mr Abbas has sought to suppress anything that plays badly in western capitals. Pressure has only intensified under Mr Trump.

By contrast, the "battle of empty stomachs" is evidence of a burgeoning bottom-up strategy, one of mass non-violent resistance. On this occasion, the demands are limited to prison reform, but the strike’s impact could spread.Not least, the model of protest, should it succeed, might suggest its relevance to a Palestinian public disillusioned with Mr Abbas’s approach. They too are living in cells of Israel’s devising, even if larger, open-air ones.The starkly different logic of these two strategies is harder than ever to ignore.To stand a hope of winning over the Trump administration, Mr Abbas must persuade it that he is the sole voice of the Palestinians.That means he must keep a lid on the hunger strike, encouraging it to fizzle out before prisoners start dying and Palestinian fury erupts

across the occupied territories. His approach is reported to be creating severe tensions within Fatah.

Wishing only to add to those difficulties, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded last week that Mr Abbas halt financial aid to the prisoners’ families, calling it compensation for terrorism.Mr Abbas also feels compelled to assert himself against his Hamas rivals in Gaza.

That is why last week he stopped funding the fuel needed to generate electricity there, having recently cut medical services and salaries to Gaza’s civil servants.

His hope is that, as he turns the screws, Hamas will be toppled or forced to submit to his rule.But more probably, the fissure with Hamas will deepen, forcing the cornered Islamist movement into another bloody confrontation to break free of Israel’s decade-old blockade. These divisions, most Palestinians increasingly understand, weaken rather than strengthen their cause. Mass non-violent resistance such as the hunger strike, by contrast, has the potential to reunite Fatah and Hamas in struggle, and reempower a weary Palestinian populace.Reports have suggested that MrBarghouti has reached a deal with jailed Hamas leaders committing to just such a struggle in the occupied territories once Mr Abbas has departed.A popular struggle of non-violence – blocking settlement roads, marching to Jerusalem, tearing down walls – would be hard to characterise as terrorism, even for Mr Trump. It is the Israeli army’s nightmare scenario, because it is the only confrontation for which it has no suitable response.Such a campaign of civil disobedience, however, stands no chance of success so long as Mr Abbas is there to undermine it – and insists on obediently chasing after illusions in Washington.

Jonathan Cook is an independent journalist in Nazareth

with former lobbyists, despite its “drain the swamp” slogan.

The second negative legacy has to do with government service. The Trump administration has done nothing but express contempt for the public servants who run the government. Administration officials

Japan Times Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, has a new incoming governor. AniesBaswedan, a former minister of education, bested incumbent Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (popularly known as Ahok).

While results of the April 19 election have implications for future leadership races in Indonesia, the most important element of the vote is the growth of religious intolerance in the country. Radical Islam appears to be ascendant in Indonesia, an extremely worrisome development.

Forecasts that Ahok would prevail in the ballot were upended by a campaign against him led by radical Islamist groups. Those groups charged Ahok, a Christian, with blaspheming by mocking a Quranic verse during a campaign rally last September. Even though leading Islamic scholars dismissed the charge, the Indonesian Ulama Council, the country’s supreme Islamic group, issued a ruling (a fatwa) that concluded Ahok was in fact guilty. The radicals used that ruling to get millions of people to join anti-Ahok rallies, which in turn prompted the Indonesian government to open its own investigation into the charges and resulted in a blasphemy trial.Anies was quick to exploit those developments, casting himself as an “Islamic candidate” and used that label to court the Muslim vote — 85 percent of Jakarta’s registered voters. Banners appeared in mosques that discouraged Muslims to vote for Ahok, and various incidents — in one case, a woman who died after voting for Ahok in the first round was denied a Muslim burial — revealed a powerful strain of intolerance in Jakarta.

Tentative tallies have shown Anies winning 58 percent of the vote, and Ahok claiming just 42 percent. The results will have implications for national elections. The win provides Anies with a platform to consolidate support for a presidential run in 2019. His tenure as governor in Jakarta provided the current president, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, with the exposure and experience to prevail in the last ballot. Many Indonesians consider Anies a better challenger to Jokowi than others also expected to run against the president: He is younger, more telegenic and he has proven capable of tapping the Islamic vote.The more important element of this outcome is the growing impact of Islam in Indonesian politics.

Prior to the democratic transition that followed Suharto’s fall in 1998, successive governments had focused more on development than religion. Indeed, Indonesia was often touted as the poster child for “developmentalism,” technocratic development programs that included na-

have shown no particular urgency in appointing the hundreds of mid-level officials needed to run the government, declared a hiring freeze and pay cap, and solicited ideas for which government agencies to eliminate entirely. The administration seems not to realize that the federal government actually has fewer full-time workers than it did in the 1960s, despite the fact that it is processing five times the amount of money (the gap being made up by contractors). What bright young person is going to want to go to work for the State Department when the secretary of state has abetted its marginalization?

Third, Trump is the first president in living memory who has not paid even lip service to the importance of democracy or human rights around the world. His embrace of Abdel Fatah al-Sissi of Egypt and his congratulations to Erdogan after the Turkish strongman consolidated his presidential powers send powerful signals that the world’s leading democracy no longer cares about democracy elsewhere.

The one area in which the president has authority to act on his own is foreign policy. While recent moves regarding Syria, China and Russia suggest he is moving back into the Washington foreign policy mainstream, the more important legacy may be the administration’s uncanny ability to undermine its own credibility. The recent miscue on whether the USS Carl Vinson was sailing toward North Korea is only the latest example.

Is a presidential tweet the same thing as U.S. policy? Neither our friends nor our enemies know, and credibility is the coin of the realm in foreign policy. How this legacy will play out in the real crises we face in Asia, Europe and the Middle East is unknowable at this juncture, but the danger that the United States will abate rather than enhance global stability is all too real.

Francis Fukuyama is a senior fellow at Stanford University and Mosbacher Director of Stanford’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law.

A troubling election in Jakarta tionalist and statist features. The “Berkeley Mafia” had more political power in Indonesia than many religious leaders.

Also central to the period was the articulation of a form of Islam that was more inclusive and tolerant than many of its Middle Eastern and South Asian variants. The moderate form of Islam was touted as a model for other Muslim societies following the terror attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

It was also enshrined in Pancasila, a form of pluralism that was part of Indonesia’s official founding principles. Pancasila calls for equality among all Indonesia’s ethnic and religious groups. Muslims, despite constituting an overwhelming majority of Indonesia’s population, enjoy no special status in the country.

This election would seem to undercut that principle and appears to confirm both increasing intolerance among the Islamic faithful and growing activism among Islamic hardliners in Indonesia. There are growing numbers of Islamic prayer groups and study circles in public universities, calls for women to wear veils and rising numbers of regulations that restrict the rights of political minorities. There are more demands to implement Shariah law in Indonesia as well. The fact that intolerance would succeed in Jakarta, where education and income levels are higher than elsewhere in Indonesia, suggests that such tactics will spread still further.

Another argument claims that Ahok’s loss could reflect his status as Chinese, an ethnic group that has been blamed for having disproportionate economic success. A third theory blames Ahok for running a poor campaign, and failing to expand the number of his supporters. Since taking office, his approval ratings ranged between 30 and 40 percent, and he failed to engage voters on the issues that mattered to them — apart from Islam. According to this theory, the focus on Islam, while understandable, actually antagonized moderates.

Anies must find a way to tack back to the center and govern as a traditional Indonesian politician. Riding a militant Islamic wave could threaten secularists and more moderate Islamic politicians. That would divide Indonesia and risk violence.

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

ARTS

13

AnurAg BAsu’s much-delAyed directoriAl “JAggA JAsoos” to releAse shortly Accidental cult star Kurt russell enjoying renaissance If not for Kurt Russell’s mainstream, boyish good looks, the phrase “cult star” would work for this unpredictable actor whose career includes some of the history’s best-loved box office flops. Picture the 66-year-old’s performances in comedy crime caper “Big Trouble in Little China,” sci-fi horror film “The Thing” or buddy cop movie “Tango and Cash,” and it’s easy to see why he has just about attained “national treasure” status. In truth, these movies, like many of his best-known roles, made no significant money during their theatrical runs, and each was panned by critics before enjoying a second lease on life in the home video market. “I’ve done things that I loved that didn’t get a very good release or were ill-timed or that people didn’t want to see, but then got found and became cult movies,” Russell told the agencies in an interview in Los Angeles. “‘The Thing’ was not at the time well received. Now it’s considered one of the great horror movies…. ‘Big Trouble in Little China’ was a movie that was completely misunderstood by a lot of people, loved by some. It really has a big cult following.” This month sees Russell as the common denominator in two of 2017’s biggest blockbusters, with “The Fate of the Furious” having broken worldwide box office records and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” expected to be one of the largest domestic openings of all time. “When that happens, it’s nice. It’s just nice to have the moment happen where two of them go ‘boom boom,’” the actor said, settling into his chair in a West Hollywood hotel. – Opportunity knocks – Sitting firmly to the right of the political spectrum — he calls himself a libertarian — Russell is a passionate supporter of gun ownership rights and enjoys hunting elk at the Colorado ranch he shares with his partner of 34 years, the actress Goldie Hawn. A Tinseltown outsider in almost every respect — even his LA home is an hour’s drive to the coast from Hollywood Boulevard — he has never won a major acting prize, doesn’t go to many showbiz parties and is not even a member of the Academy. His first movie was a two-week shoot with Elvis Presley in “It Happened at the World’s Fair” (1963), but he made his name as a young teen on a series of family-friendly live-action Disney movies. He became friendly with Walt Disney and has often recounted how, shortly after the mogul’s death in 1966, he was shown a sheet of paper on which the great man had scrawled his last written words: “Kirt Russell.” Disney took his plans for the young actor — and the reason for the odd spelling — to the grave but it was not the last time opportunity knocked briefly for Russell before being snatched, or pushed, away.

In 1976 he auditioned for the parts of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in a promising if farfetched-sounding space Western called “Star Wars.” He dropped out, though, as filmmaker George Lucas dithered over which part would be most suitable and as NBC came in with a rival job offer on a Western series. AGENCIES

A

CTORS Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif stepped out of studio hand-in-hand after wrapping up the shooting of Anurag Basu’s much-delayed directorial Jagga Jasoos.

Basu shared the news of wrapping up the film’s shooting by posting two photos of the actors on Twitter on Monday.

In one photo, Basu used their childhood photos and morphed. The other one showed the actors smiling and stepping out of the studio holding hands.

Basu captioned it: “Day 1 Jagga Jasoos to Last Day Jagga Jasoos. How time flies.”

Said to be a family holiday film, it tells the story of a teenage detective in

search of his missing father.

Talking previously in an interview, Ranbir opened up about his much public split with Kat. “It was really punctured by a lot of things – by baseless rumours and reports and perceptions and points-of-view,” he said.

Ranbir also said that Katrina played a crucial part in his life. “It hurt because I think after my parents, she’s been the most influential, most motivational entity in my life,” he said. Such a statement from this mama’s boy was surprising, considering he shares a unique and endearing relationship with his parents.

According to reports, the film has been in the making for over four years. It was slated to release on April 7. AGENCIES

Shahrukh Khan meets his favourite Hollywood star, Warren Beatty

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan met his favourite star – Hollywood legend Warren Beatty. Shah Rukh, who delivered his first speech in TED Talk in Vancouver

earlier this week, tweeted on Saturday to share a photograph of himself along with Beatty.

“After a whirlwind travelling spree spent a quiet evening with

friends in Los Angeles and met one of my fav stars…Warren Beatty,” he captioned the image.

Beatty has been nominated for 14 Academy Awards. In 1999, he was awarded the Academy’s highest honour, the Irving G. Thalberg Award. Beatty has been nominated for 18 Golden Globe Awards, winning six, including the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, which he was honoured within 2007. Among his Golden Globe-nominated films are Splendor in the Grass, Bonnie and Clyde, Shampoo, Dick Tracy, Bugsy and Rules Don’t Apply, all of which he also produced. Earlier this year, Beatty was part of the Oscar blunder which saw the musical La La Land announced as the winner of the coveted Best Picture accolade instead of Moonlight. AGENCIES

george michael fans organise public memorial service for the late singer George Michael fans on Sunday paid their last respects to the late British pop star at a public memorial service they organised themselves.

Hundreds of fans from around the world attended the service at a church in Bushey, on the north-west edge of London, where Michael went to secondary school and met his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley. The service featured some of his best-known hits including “Jesus to a Child” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go”. It was followed by a wake at The Three Crowns pub, where Wham! were formed.

The singer was found dead at his home on December 25. He was 53. His funeral took place in private on March 29 at Highgate Cemetery in north London and was not announced to fans until it was over. George Michael Appreciation Group founder Tracey Wills organised Sunday’s public event. “I have always been a fan and I decided that I was going to do something for him because he has done so much for everyone else,” she said. “George left such a mark on a lot of people and I felt like we needed to do something for him. The fans needed somewhere to grieve. AGENCIES

Eminem takes New Zealand political party to court Rapper Eminem launched court action against New Zealand’s ruling political party on Monday, accusing it of using an unlicensed version of his hit “Lose Yourself” in a campaign advert.

Lawyers for the US artist told the High Court in Wellington that he never gave the National Party permission to use the song, which featured in the 2002 movie “8 Mile”.

Barrister Garry Williams said National breached the copyright of Eight Mile Style, Eminem’s publisher, by using the tune in a 2014 election television commercial.

Williams said the Detroit rapper’s hit was “iconic”, having won an Academy Award, two Grammys and critical acclaim.

He said that meant rights to the work were “enormously valuable” and were strictly con-

trolled by the publisher, which had rarely licensed them for advertising purposes.

Williams said the song, which topped the charts in 24 countries, dealt with “the idea of losing yourself in the moment and not missing opportunities in life”.

“That’s why the song appeals to both the public and those who wish to influence the public by using it in advertising,” he said.

No details were immediately revealed of what damages Eminem was seeking.

National’s lawyers are set to argue the tune they used, “Eminem-esque”, was a generic track that was part of a library bought from production music supplier Beatbox.

They are expected to contend that any copyright infringement was accidental. AGENCIES

Saleha Kashif to exhibit her pre-Ramadan Eid collection on May 6 Leading fashion designer Saleha Kashif to exhibit her label’s signature luxury and formal wear collection on Saturday 6th of May, 2017 at Cosa Nostra Lahore, the collection features a wide array of designs in a varied colour palette dominated by hues of pastels and burst of bold summer colours.

The exhibition starts at 11 am in the morning and ends at 6 pm in the evening.

Saleha Kashif’s Pre-Ramadan and Eid collection fuses modern cuts with traditional embroidery techniques and embellishment on a palette of pastel hues, to add oomph to your special evenings out.

The collection consists of minimal fragmentary elements, such as classy unfinished hemline, overflowing frills, and fussy ruffles, incorporating all the latest fashion trends of 2017. The collection has all the elements of traditional yet elegant and fashion forward wear ensembles featuring tops, tunics with ruffled sleeves,

belts, tassel pants, delicately draped silhouettes and duppattas with complementing trousers, culottes and tailored pants with Saleha Kashif’s gorgeous detailing on the hem.

Speaking about the label’s Pre-Ramadan and Eid Collection, designer Saleha Kashif added ”We believe that customer is a brand’s biggest asset, their feedback matters. Because of increased exposure and globalisation, people have become real fashion forward, not just in Pakistan but all around the world. Our philosophy is to adore femininity through unique and beautiful patterns of embroidery, embellishments and motifs. Pakistani women are becoming more independent day by day, and I have designed this collection especially for these modern women of today, who are family oriented and traditional on one hand yet modern multi-taskers with an individual-

istic taste and subtle aura, on the other.

For the value of money I wanted to give our patrons luxurious fabrics such as organzas, silks and kanjivaram with an addition of our signature design elements which add the right amount of glam, never typical, our outfits can be worn by women of age and body type.

Saleha Kashif Clothing has a history of over past 18 years of commitment to utmost quality products. SK range includes from formal day wear to bridals.

Its exquisite designs and subtle manifestation of fashion are its uniqueness. From modern to traditional, heavily worked or elegantly embellished, all the creations falling under the umbrella are timelessly beautiful, season after season. Saleha Kashif’s aesthetic seeks to fuse a sense of restrained glamour with a flourish of chic; a design objective that forms the base of each of its collections. AGENCIES

CMYK

14 LEISURE

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

You are ready to try anything, which is the secret to your success. Venturing into unknown territory will put you on the path to romance.

People find your pioneer spirit extremely attractive. Are you already in a relationship? Give your amour a special surprise.

Dealing with a mysterious, romantic individual will be lots of fun. You don't know what to expect when you're in their company. Their thoughts don't seem to follow any discernible pattern. One constant is that your conversations are always fascinating.

It's hard for you to relate to others because you have always had unusual goals. Instead of trying to fit in with the crowd, embrace your individuality. They can't possibly understand your desire to achieve distinction because their primary goal is to follow the herd.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

You will find career success in an unusual arena.

You're very good at infusing people with enthusiasm. That's because you have excellent insight to what motivates individuals. When working with someone with low self confidence, you'll praise strengths.

A chance to travel fills you with excitement. You'll be very popular with the locals in a foreign country. Getting this positive reception will make your confidence soar. Don't be surprised when you are inspired to begin an art project.

Unexpected financial gains will ease a stressful situation. It feels good to know you can cover expenses and have a little left over for luxury. Take this opportunity to get some much needed rest and relaxation. Going to a tranquil retreat will be therapeutic.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

You'll be thrown together with someone you don't know very well. Fortunately, you balance each other nicely. You're very good at human relations, while your collaborator is adept at forging new ground. Many people thought this pairing would end in disaster.

Working on your own comes as a huge relief.

Although you like your colleagues, they can sometimes undermine your enthusiasm. Chances are your vision will be warmly received. You have a wonderful way of getting impressive results from limited funds.

An unconventional romance allows you a lot of freedom. You have nothing against making a serious commitment, as long as your partner accepts your need for privacy. Going on solitary holidays and spending time on your own is therapeutic for you.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You have a strong desire to move to an unusual neighbourhood. Although you're very traditional in some ways, you don't want to lead a humdrum existence. Exotic landscaping, vivid colours and unusual architecture are good signs.

Developing an idea will be very stimulating. Someone who shares your affinity for breaking ground will come to your aid. Together, you can attract an investor who is willing to fund a business. You don't particularly like sales; you'd rather spend time perfecting your concept.

You can make money in unusual ways. Ignore conventional wisdom when it comes to business matters. You're better off creating a product or service. Pay careful attention to the demographic shifts in your neighbourhood.

cRosswoRd

ACROSS 1 Breakable quality (9) 8 Adhesive (4) 9 Rogue (9) 10 Small biting fly (4) 13 Convenience (5) 15 Underwear (6) 16 Ball game (6) 17 Ambled (anag) (6) 19 Take into custody (6) 20 Radio receiver (5) 21 Wild cat (4) 24 Inclined to engage in lawsuits (9) 25 Piece of work (4) 26 Stamp-collecting (9) DOWN

woRd sEaRcH

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sUdoKU crossword solution sudoku solution

1...Re4+ 2.Kf2 [2.bxe4 Qxg3+] 2...Qxd2+ chess solution

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

SPORTS 15

Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

PTF CongRATuLATes AisAM on ATP win ISLAMABAd

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Revenge on Atletico’s mind ahead of another Champions League Madrid derby

APP

AKISTAN Tennis Federation (PTF) Monday congratulated ace player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi on winning the doubles title of the coveted ATP 500 Series, World Tennis Championships, at Barcelona, Spain.

PTF President Salim Saifullah Khan and PTF Management Committee, in a statement, extended their heartiest congratulations to Aisam.

Aisam, Pakistan’s leading tennis player, has won his second doubles title of the year and 13th on the ATP Circuit, pairing with his Romanian Partner Florin Mergea.

The pair outclassed AustrianGerman duo of Alexander Peya and Philip Petzschner in straight sets with score of 6/4, 6/3, outperforming their opponents in every aspect of the game.

The PTF president said Aisam continued to make the nation proud with his achievements, and “we are delighted at his latest win.”

Earlier, in the semi-finals, Aisam and his partner stormed into the final of ATP 500 Series Championships

outshining former world No 1 pair of Romanian Horia Tecau and Dutch Julien Roject after a thrilling encounter with a score of 6/3, 5/7, 14/12.

The Dutch-Romanian pair saved five match points before conceding 12-14 in the final tie-break. In the quarterfinals, exhibition topclass tennis and zest, Aisam and Mergea caused a major upset of the tournament when they beat the World No 1 pair of Henri Kontinen of Finland and John Peers of Australia.

Salim said Aisam is a real asset for Pakistan tennis, who has not only raised the flag of the country at the international level, but also led Pakistan Davis Cup team to Asia Oceania Davis

Cup Group-II finals this year.

“We hope he would carry his good form in the upcoming tie against Thailand in September,” he added. aisam has eyes seT on madrid: Aisami has his eyes set on winning the Madrid Open after triumphing at the Barcelona Open on Sunday.

The 37-year-old is looking to improve his ranking and aims to get back in the top 30 doubles players in the world.

“It is great to win the title; I want to win as much for Pakistan and make our people proud,” Aisam told a newspaper.

“Over the last year, I’ve really been struggling with my ranking and that was something I wanted to change. By the

end of last year, I told myself that I would need to work my hardest in order to get back among the top pack of the players in the ATP circuit, because it is that difficult, we have many consistent players who are doing very well, and surely I want to be up there.”

The Lahore-based player is hoping that the ATP 500 Barcelona Open, where he partnered with Romania’s Florin Mergea, will prove to be a turning point.

“In Barcelona, we defeated the world’s best duo then two other top pairs, so it is something very positive.

This tournament would help improve my ranking too. I felt it is only through hard work that good things can happen,” he said.

Aisam has been struggling to get a steady partner at the international doubles circuit too, but he added that with Mergea, the two are playing the best tennis and they will be playing together in Madrid Open too.

He emphasised that not getting another player for the whole season is tricky but he is not taking that as an excuse for the slump in the rankings from last year, while with the win at Barcelona his ranking has moved up five spots to 26.

Buoyant Pochettino keen to build pressure on Chelsea

PARIS Agencies

Revenge will be on the menu at the Santiago Bernabeu for Atletico Madrid and their feisty Argentine coach Diego Simeone, as the Los Rojiblancos face their cross city rivals Real Madrid in the first-leg of the Champions League semi-final on Tuesday. Atletico will be desperate to banish the memories of gut-wrenching Champions League final defeats in 2014 and 2016 to their city rivals.

They have lost Jose Maria Gimenez to a groin injury meaning three key defenders miss the short trip across town. While Simeone’s side have forged their reputation on a measly defence, they are in fine attacking form —a Kevin Gameiro double sealed a 5-0 rout over Las Palmas at the weekend.

But Zinedine Zidane’s Real, hoping to become the first side to retain the trophy in the Champions League era, are formidable opponents at their stadium, where they earned a last-gasp winner Saturday to remain on track in a tight fight with Barcelona for La Liga. “With the fans behind us we are hard to beat here,” match winner Marcelo said after a nervy 2-1 victory over Valencia. Ronaldo opened the scoring against Valencia but also saw a penalty saved. In their last Champions League outing, the prolific Ronaldo bagged a hat-trick in the quarter-final victory over Bayern Munich, taking his tournament tally above 100 goals and another record. The Portuguese is likely to line up with James Rodriguez after the Colombian played in place of the injured Gareth Bale at the weekend.

“He played very well and did the job asked of him, as they all did. I’m very happy with his performance and with the performance of the team as a whole,” Zidane said of the back-in-favour Rodriguez. The return leg of the tie will take place at Vicente Calderón Stadium on May 10.

London Agencies

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is relishing the opportunity to load more pressure upon Premier League leaders Chelsea following his side’s superb derby win over Arsenal.

Chelsea took a step closer to the title by winning at Everton on Sunday, but Spurs are still snapping at their heels, their dazzling 2-0 defeat of Arsenal leaving them four points off the pace.

Spurs can close the gap to a slender point if they win at West Ham United on Friday, which would leave Chelsea to stew for three days before their home game with Middlesbrough the following Monday.

“We are in the race for the title,” Pochettino told reporters at White Hart Lane. “We reduce again the gap with Chelsea and that for us is the focus now because we have another important game ahead on Friday against West Ham.” Asked if victory at West Ham would represent a psychological blow in the title race, Pochettino replied: “It will be. We’ll see after.

“We will have the chance to play before them and if we are capable to win against West Ham, which will be another tough derby game, then we’ll see what happens with them against Middlesbrough.”

Spurs’ win was a fitting way for the team to bow out in the final north London derby at White Hart Lane, which will be demolished to make way for their new 61,000-seater stadium.

Dele Alli broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, sliding home the rebound after Petr Cech had saved from Christian Eriksen, with Harry Kane

adding a nerveless penalty three minutes later.

Had it not been for the acrobatics of Arsenal goalkeeper Cech, the home side might have won by a landslide.

It was Spurs’ ninth straight victory, their 13th successive home win and ensured they will finish the season looking down on Arsenal in the standings for the first time since 1995.

Pochettino said his players had not watched Chelsea’s 3-0 win at Everton earlier on Sunday.

While he admitted to personal disappointment over Spurs’ failure to eat into Chelsea’s lead more significantly, he said nothing could take the sheen off his team’s performance.

“Disappointed about Chelsea? After 2-0 here against Arsenal? Do you believe we’re disappointed?” he asked with a smile. “Of course I am disappointed, because it was a great opportunity to reduce the gap.

“We are four [points behind], there are four games to play. All is possible in football. We’ll see what happens next week.

“Now it’s a moment to feel proud, happy, because the last derby against Arsenal (at White Hart Lane), all that it means for our fans, for everyone that loves Tottenham, it was a fantastic afternoon.”

Arsenal lie six points off the Champions League places, but have games in hand on fourthplace Manchester City and fifth-place Manchester United, both of whom also dropped points.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has asserted that talk of a north London power shift is premature and he suggested the 17-point gap that separates the teams was misleading.

“The points are the points,” said the Frenchman. “They don’t come from heaven. You earn

them on the pitch.

“Often in the final part of a season, that can go one way or the other without really reflecting the difference between the teams.”

Wenger, whose side will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final, attributed his side’s defeat to “soft defending” and a “soft penalty”, awarded for a swipe at Kane by Gabriel.

Arsenal host Jose Mourinho’s United next weekend and Wenger conceded his team face a battle to earn a top-four finish.

“It will be very difficult now, but we have to fight,” he said. “We have a cup final. We have still a chance to get in the top four. We have to recover from today and prepare for our next games.”

RISING PUNE SUPERGIANT V GUJARAT LIONS return catch off the leading edge and Dwayne Smith playing all around a googly - to leave Lions 94 for 4 after 10 overs. McCullum fell soon after. Then, jured Andrew Tye, Lions had batting from 109 for 5, came a brief revival, depth all the way down to James Faulkner with Dinesh Karthik and Ravindra at No. 8. But this was to be one of their Jadeja adding 26 in 19 balls, before anbad days. other slide. Struggling to put away the Suresh Raina fell to a harebrained slower ball, Lions did not score a boundrun-out before Tahir struck with succes- ary between the fourth ball of the 14th sive balls - Aaron Finch sending back a over and the fifth ball of the 19th. Eventually, they were bowled out with one ball still left to play. sangwan, Thampi shock pune Top order: Within nine balls of the Rising Pune innings, a middling target became a RPS daunting one. Pace was the 167 FOR 5 (STOKES catalyst in this transfor103*, DHONI 26, THAMPI 2- mation. Pradeep Sangwan, playing his first 35, SANGWAN 2-38) BEAT game of the season, GUJARAT LIONS 161 produced a classic inswinger from left-arm (MCCULLUM 45, KARTHIK 29, over to trap Ajinkya RaTAHIR 3-27, UNADKAT 3hane lbw (with some help from Marais Erasmus, who 29) BY FIVE WICKETS did not notice that the ball had pitched outside leg stump)

Stokes century scripts stunning Pune win Pune Agencies

A maiden T20 hundred from Ben Stokes moved Rising Pune Supergiant to their sixth win of the season in a seesawing contest against Gujarat Lions. Battling cramp, frequent wicket losses at the other end, and the demands of a testing asking rate, Stokes steered Rising Pune home with a ball to spare.

Sent in to bat, Lions ran away to 55 for no loss inside the Powerplay, but lost their way thereafter to get bowled out for 160.

Supergiants' chase inverted the pattern: the flurry of wickets came in the beginning, leaving them 42 for 4 at one point, before Stokes, with a bit of help from MS Dhoni and Daniel Christian, took the game away from Lions once again.

Tahir sTalls lions afTer brighT opening sTand: Having been sent in to bat, Lions got off to an excellent start, Brendon McCullum and Ishan Kishan finding the gaps and putting

away the short ball clinically to race to 55 in just 5.5 overs. Then Kishan, having already hit Imran Tahir for two fours in the sixth over, sliced the last ball of the Powerplay into the hands of short third man.

What followed was a puzzling slump.

With Dwayne Smith coming in for the in-

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and bounced out Steven Smith. Then Basil Thampi made Manoj Tiwary pay for being stuck on the crease.

Stokes looked in ominous form right from the time he punched his fifth ball for four past the stumps at the other end, and raced away to 25 off 17 to keep the required rate in check. But a mix-up sent back Rahul Tripathi in the sixth over, and Rising Pune were back in deep trouble. spinners Tie down dhoni: Before this match, Dhoni had scored 111 off 79 balls against pace this season, and only 62 off 64 balls against spin. His struggles against spin continued here.

Against Ankit Soni and Ravindra Jadeja, who began bowling in tandem as soon as he walked in, he scored 8 off 14 balls, facing nine dots.

Soni's legspin caused Stokes a few problems too - he didn't seem to pick the slider out of the front of the hand, angled across him, and on a few occasions ended up playing down the wrong line. But successive sixes over long-on off Jadeja and a sliced four past point off Dwayne Smith kept Pune in touch with their asking rate, just about. After 14 overs, they needed exactly two a ball - 72 from 36.

SPORTS Tuesday, 2 May, 2017

Amir, AbbAs bowl west indies out for 312 BrIDgetown

nadal clinches 10th barcelona open title BArceLonA Agencies

Rafael Nadal won a record-extending 10th Barcelona Open title on Sunday by thrashing Dominic Thiem of Austria 6-4 6-1, collecting his second claycourt title in a row. Nadal, who won the Monte Carlo Masters for a 10th time last week, romped to the title without dropping a set on the newly renamed Rafa Nadal court at the Real Tennis Club in Barcelona, and needed just 90 minutes to finish off Thiem. Thiem had beaten the 14-times Grand Slam champion on clay in the Argentina Open last year and earned a place in the final by beating world number one Andy Murray for the first time in his career on Saturday, but he proved no match for Nadal. The Mallorcan took a while to impose himself on Thiem on an overcast day in Barcelona with the cold weather slowing down the court. Thiem earned the first breakpoint of the match but Nadal recovered and eventually took the first set by breaking his opponent in the 10th game.

There was no let-up in the second set from Nadal, who broke the 23-year-old Austrian twice in a row before serving for the championship. “It is two consecutive weeks winning, in Monte Carlo and here, two special tournaments for me, it is a dream start on clay,” said Nadal. “It means a lot for me to reach number 10 here in Barcelona, in front of the people of my club, I am very happy and emotional.”

Nadal won in Barcelona between 2005-2009, 201113 and now in the last two years. The 14-time Grand Slam champion also looks like the man to beat at Roland Garros after winning on a Barcelona court named after him and where he didn’t drop a set all week. “I thank the club and its members for putting my name on this court. It means a lot to me,” added Nadal.

india’s Champions trophy pullout unlikely new DeLHI Agencies

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) will meet on Sunday to consider an additional revenue offer from the game´s world governing body but regardless of what decision they come to, a Champions Trophy pullout by the holders looks unlikely.

Unaccustomed to being snubbed at the International Cricket Council (ICC) meetings, the BCCI was outvoted 13-1 last week in its bid to stall a new revenue model which considerably slashes India´s share from global events in the 2015-2023 cycle.

Unimpressed by the $293 million forecast, down from the $570 million it would have received under the 2014 arrangement, the BCCI responded by refusing to name the squad for next month´s Champions Trophy before the April 25 deadline.

Agencies

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breezy partnership between Alzarri Joseph and Devendra Bishoo ensured the West Indies made it past 300 but the optimism with which they had begun the day had long since evaporated.

Abbas - the most successful bowler today - got rid of Bishoo soon after. Yasir mopped up Joseph next over, and West Indies found themselves shot out for 312, having added just 26 runs to their overnight score.

Earlier, Roston Chase’s second Test hundred and fine support from captain Jason Holder in a record unbroken partnership had lifted the West Indies to 286 for six at stumps on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan at Kensington Oval in on Sunday.

Called upon to repair yet another debacle at the top of the order after Holder chose to bat first, Chase’s unbeaten 131 was characterised by calm assurance and elegant strokeplay after he came to the crease at 37 for three.

Even if he lived a bit dangerously, the skipper also played positively and will resume on the second day alongside Chase on 58, their partnership so far worth 132 runs and establishing a new record for the seventh wicket in Tests for the West Indies against Pakistan.

Chase has so far faced 207 deliveries in five hours at the crease, stroking 17 fours while Holder’s innings has occupied 125 deliveries over three-and-a-half hours with eight fours decorating his knock.

On a surface offering very little assistance to the faster bowlers, the Caribbean team still managed to slip to 154 for six in mid-afternoon and at that stage it looked as if the tourists would have been well into their reply by the end of the day.

Opening bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Abbas claimed a wicket apiece in each of the first two sessions while Shadab Khan, selected for a Test debut in support of senior legspinner Yasir Shah, earned his first success in the shape of Shane Dowrich after Shah had accounted

WEST INDIES 312 (CHASE 131, HOLDER 58, ABBAS 4-56, AMIR 3-65) V PAKISTAN

for Shai Hope.

Amir was the first to strike for Pakistan at the start of the day against a batting line-up surprisingly unchanged from the seven-wicket defeat in Jamaica.

Kraigg Brathwaite enjoyed a moment of good fortune when he was dropped at short extra-cover off Amir.

However the lapse did not prove costly for the visitors as Amir took the outside edge of the opener’s bat in the same over to give a straightforward catch to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

Shimron Hetmyer, one of two batting debutants from a week earlier, faced just three deliveries before driving loosely at Abbas for Azhar Ali to take a sharp catch head-high at third slip.

Hope’s struggle for runs continued when he

was caught at the wicket off Shah, the leg-spinner extracting sharp turn off the first-day pitch and appearing to justify Pakistan’s decision to give a debut to Shadab at the expense of their fastest bowler, Wahab Riaz Kieran Powell, who batted through the morning session, departed on the resumption after lunch.

An lbw appeal off Amir with the batsman on 38 was ruled not out by on-field official Richard Kettleborough only to be overturned on review of the television replays.

Vishaul Singh’s miserable start to his Test career continued with a low catch to Younis Khan at second slip off Abbas and Younis’ secure pair of hands were again in evidence when Dowrich, on 29, pushed at a full length delivery from Shadab and the veteran made no mistake.

Pakistan nine points up WI in ICC ODI rankings ISLAMABAD APP

Pakistan has a nine-point advantage over ninth-ranked West Indies on the ICC ODI Team Rankings, which can prove decisive since England plus the next seven highest-ranked sides as on September 30, 2017 will qualify automatically for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

South Africa and Australia have retained the top two positions on the ODI Team Rankings following the May 1 annual update, an ICC press release issued here said.

The annual update is carried out to ensure the table continues to reflect teams’ recent form with older results being discarded. As such, the table now reflects all matches from May 1, 2014, with matches played from May 1, 2016 carrying 100 per cent weighting.

Both Pakistan and ninth-ranked West Indies have dropped points.

Following the update, Pakistan slipped from 90 points to 88 points and the West Indies from 83 points to 79 points. However, Pakistan’s pre-update seven-point gap has ex-

tended to nine points. Seventhranked Bangladesh and sixth-ranked Sri Lanka have also conceded points.

Meanwhile, number-one ranked South Africa has gained four points and is now on 123 points, while the world champion and second-ranked

Australia has stayed on 118 points.

India, which will defend the ICC Champions Trophy title in the United Kingdom in June, has swapped places with World Cup 2015 finalist New Zealand.

Both sides have gained points following the update but India’s fivepoint gain against New Zealand’s increase of three means India is now ranked third with 117 points and New Zealand is fourth with 115 points.

England, which will host the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, has retained its fifth ranking, but has moved up by one point to 109.

There is no change to 10thranked Afghanistan’s tally of 52 points, but 11th-ranked Zimbabwe has dropped two points and is now on 46 points. Ireland has gained one point and is on 43 points.

MUMBAI INDIANS V ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE

Rohit masterminds tense chase to take Mumbai to top MuMBAI Agencies

Rohit Sharma masterminded the regulation chase that became tight to give Mumbai Indians the lead in the standings, and put beyond doubt their qualification for the playoffs. It pushed the star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore out of the tournament.

On a pitch that was drier than the usual Wankhede belters, Mumbai Indians batsmen kept getting out after getting in. Two big ones - Jos Buttler and Nitish Rana - fell to Pawan Negi, who firstly gave Royal Challengers something to bowl at with his 23-ball 35 and then followed up with figures of 40-17-2. That left Mumbai needing 65 off the last seven, with Kieron Pollard out and Krunal Pandya who took the wicket of AB de Villiers once again - injured, but

Rohit signalled a return to form with a cool chase whose feature was calculated blows. He ended up with 56 off 37 without taking any big risks as Mumbai won with one ball to spare.

ONE SLOWER BALL PICKED, ANOTHER NOT PICKED: Royal Challengers changed their opening combination again with Mandeep Singh coming in ahead of Travis Head.

This was one of the six they had tried in 11 matches. Mumbai were missing their ace defensive bowler, Harbhajan Singh, and his replacement Karn Sharma was one whom Virat Kohli fancies the most. They also had Mitchell McClenaghan who had good numbers against Kohli, but again the big bowler Jasprit Bumrah had struggled against his India captain.

Mumbai took the risk of bowling Karn in the fourth over,

and that produced Mandeep’s wicket, with a slog settling with the only man in the deep on the leg side. In the next over, Kohli showed ominous signs when he picked the near unpickable Bumrah slower ball and dropped

naghan to Kohli in IPL: 28 balls, 20 runs, four wickets.

LEAVE IT TO ROHIT: Krunal, who had injured himself in the field, came out, presumably to counter spinners who were taking it away from righthand batsmen, but found it too painful to carry on and walked back off. Mumbai did seem concerned about spin because they replaced him with another left-hand batsman, Karn Sharma. The MUMBAI one man not INDIANS 165 FOR 5 worried, was (ROHIT 56*, BUTTLER 33, though, Rohit, who NEGI 2-17) BEAT RCB 162 knew the FOR 8 (DE VILLIERS 43, NEGI asking rate was not enor35, MCCLENAGHAN 3-34) mous and waited for the BY 5 WICKETS occasional mistake from the

him over cow corner for six. At the start of the next over, though, Kohli failed to pick the McClenaghan offcutter, and chipped an easy catch to midwicket. Royal Challengers 40 for 2 in the sixth over. McCle-

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

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bowlers.

A square drive and an extracover drive in the 15th over followed by a punch in the 17th kept the asking rate in check, but with 30 required in the last three, Rohit might have thought of the match against Rising Pune Supergiant that he couldn’t finish off. He still remained cool, though, even with Aniket Choudhury bowling an exceptional 18th over with just five off the first five. Then a slower ball slipped wide, and the quicker ball was smacked for six by Hardik Pandya.

Mumbai needed one more such blow to seal this, and Rohit struck that blow with a sweep off S Aravind in the 19th over, placing the slower ball into the vacant square-leg region. Watson bowled a tight final over, but it was always going to tough defending just six.