E-PAPER 11 MARCH 2020 (LHR)

CMYK

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020 I 15 Rajab, 1441 I Rs 20.00 I Vol X No 252 I 16 Pages I Lahore Edition

Coronavirus tally hits 19 in Pakistan g

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Three new CASeS rePOrTeD FrOM hyDerABAD, KArAChI AnD QueTTA On TueSDAy

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SInDh CM SAyS All COnFIrMeD CASeS hAVe TrAVel hISTOrIeS, ASKS PeOPle nOT TO PAnIC

engrO ClOSeS KArAChI OFFICe AFTer eMPlOyee TeSTS POSITIVe FOr COrOnAVIruS

PM launches Data4Pakistan portal for poverty alleviation g

IMrAn SAyS lOPSIDeD DeVelOPMenT hInDerS A COunTry’S grOwTh ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

KARACHI

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STAFF REPORT

he total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has touched 19 after three cases were detected in hyderabad, Karachi and Quetta on Tuesday. In Sindh, one of the patients is from hyderabad who arrived from Syria via Doha while the other is detected from Karachi who arrived from Iran via Dubai, the officials said. “The health department is in the process of tracking down all the contacts for further testing,” the statement added.

In Balochistan’s maiden case, the virus was found in an eight-year-old child, whose parents had returned from Iran via Taftan, said the head of the Fatima Jinnah hospital in Quetta. The minor, hailing from Dadu district of Sindh, was quarantined at Taftan for eight days and was transferred to the hospital on Monday. According to the MS, the virus

was not detected in the parents of the child.

Following the reports of a hike in cases in the province, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah urged residents to remain calm and take precautions. Shah, who was chairing a meeting of the provincial task force on COVID-19, was informed that the 14 patients under treatment at various hospitals after testing positive are all recovering, according to a statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office.

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Stocks savaged, Italy on lockdown as coronavirus spreads STORY ON BACK PAGE

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday expressed the government’s determination to alleviate poverty from the country.

Addressing the launch ceremony of Data4Pakistan Portal in the federal capital on Tuesday, he said that no country can progress if a significant portion of its population lives in poverty. he said that a civilized society is known by the standard of living of its poor. Imran said this is the first step in finding the necessary ways and means to fight poverty. he said that this portal will help identify the areas which are in most need of funds, besides finding other vital statistics about issues being faced by the local people.

Criticising the policies of previous governments, the prime minister said that ground realities were not considered in budget allocations at that time and more than 55 per cent of Pun-

PML-N in disarray as Sharifs stay away g

PMl-n leADerS unhAPPy wITh KhAwAJA ASIF, wAnTS ABBASI TO leAD TheM In ABSenCe OF ShehBAz

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more inside

Oil prices bounce back 8pc after biggest one-day fall since 1991 STORY ON BACK PAGE

govt grants additional powers to committee probing sugar, flour shortage

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The senior leadership of the Pakistan Muslim league-nawaz (PMl-n) on Tuesday urged party president and national Assembly Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif to return to the country and lead the upcoming protests against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

The PMl-n chief had left Pakistan with his elder brother nawaz Sharif after the latter was allowed to go to london for medical treatment in november by the lahore high Court. Both haven’t returned despite the expiration of bail given to the elder Sharif by the Punjab government.

The demand of Shehbaz’s return was made by Mohsin Shahnawaz ran-

jab budget was being spent on the development of lahore alone while other provincial cities were ignored.

“All of Punjab’s development budget was being spent on lahore. lahore was developing, but the cities surrounding the metropolis were cannibalising, regressing. Poorer areas were going backwards, while a select few areas were being developed,” he said. highlighting the cons of this phenomenon, the premier said, “Firstly, all of the people go to that one developed city seeking employment opportunities, putting a burden on existing facilities. Further, facilities such as health and investment remain limited to a small area.”

“This initiative is crucial because it gives us an opportunity to inform the people where exactly funds are needed. why is there a need to spend money, what is the state of education in that area, and why are our girls not enrolled in schools, all of

these questions and more can be answered [through this initiative],” he added.

“The current Punjab chief minister hails from a very poor area in the province. when he started spending money in his area, in Dera ghazi Khan, there was a lot of uproar. however, when you go over the data you will realise that more money needs to be spent in Dg Khan,” he further said.

Imran also said that poverty is like a disease. “you are only able to find a cure once you have ascertained the exact cause,” he said, adding that the government will focus on the equal development of all the areas.

The prime minister said that Data4Pakistan will also help in policymaking at the higher level as well as the allocation of budget. he said that the earmarking of the budget will be on need and merit basis, without any political or other influences. earlier, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr Sania.

jha, considered close to heir apparent Maryam nawaz, during the parliamentary meeting of the party and was endorsed by other leaders.

According to sources, the PMl-n members also considered the appointment of a senior leader, preferably Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, to head the party in parliament in the absence of Shehbaz Sharif, as Khwaja Asif was not “representing the aspirations of the party lawmakers”.

A proposal will be sent to london for a final decision, where party president Shehbaz Sharif will decide this after a consultation with supreme leader nawaz Sharif. Sources said the party

leaders also questioned the role of Khawaja Asif as the parliamentary leader and the party’s decision to support the extension given to the army chief, gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

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Punjab govt rejects Nawaz’s request for continued suspension of sentence STORY ON PAGE 03

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STORY ON BACK 03

PHC postpones verdict in over 220 appeals against military court convictions STORY ON BACK PAGE

uS starts troop pullout, seeks end to Afghan leaders’ feud STORY ON BACK PAGE

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Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

NEWS

SC urged To uTiliSe Bahria TowN MoNey for welfare ProjeCTS

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APP

HE Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday refused to give Bahria Town fine money to the Malir Development Authority on the latter’s request, saying the money will be funneled into welfare projects instead of

the Sindh government or the MDA. As the top court took up the Bahria Town implementation case, MDA counsel Advocate Farooq H. Naek told the bench that the Sindh government owed the MDA more than Rs1.6 billion and that money should be refunded from the amount which Bahria Town had deposited in the top court.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan said that the money didn’t belong to the MDA and that it should ask the Sindh government for money if it had any pending dues.

Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan said the money belonged to the people of Sindh instead of the provincial or federal governments and submitted a proposal in the court asking it to spend the money on

welfare projects in the province.

He urged the court to constitute a committee headed by a retired judge, comprising the representatives of the Federation and Sindh as its members, for transparency in these projects.

Upon this, the Sindh advocate general raised an objection and said the federal government shouldn’t be allowed to interfere in the internal matters of Sindh.

Justice Ahsan said the committee would be formed to give proposals for the welfare schemes and that it won’t be interfering in the matters of the provincial government.

Criticising the Sindh government and MDA, Justice Ahsan the land was “gifted to Bahria Town” as both Sindh and MDA were of the view that neither the land nor the money should be returned.

However, after the money was returned, now the MDA and Sindh government both want to start development works, he took a jibe.

The court issued notices to the Sindh government over the federal government and the Malir Development Authority pleas and adjourned the case till April 12.

IHC to hear Vawda’s disqualification case on March 18 ISLAMABAD

upon the bench, which was led by Justice Aamer Farooq, that the minister was a dual national when he submitted his nomination papers.

According to the Supreme Court’s decision, Vawda was supposed to surrender his US nationality before filing the nomination papers, Jadoon argued.

“He is the federal minister for water resources and is overseeing major projects. He should be stopped from working,” he added.

The court had earlier asked Vawda to submit a reply by February 24; however, the hearing was adjourned due to unavailability of the bench.

Meanwhile, ECP also heard miscellaneous petitions, seeking Vawda’s disqualification, filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan

STAFF REPORT

Bilawal sees no difference in Naya Pakistan and dictatorship LAHORE

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday fixed hearing of the petition seeking disqualification of Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda for March 18.

The court has also sought a reply from cabinet division, law secretary and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The petition for Vawda’s disqualification was filed by Mian Mohammad Faisal’s counsel Jehangir Jadoon. It argued that the federal minister had submitted a false affidavit while filing his nomination papers to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Advocate Jadoon earlier prayed

People’s Party (PPP).

ECP adjourned the hearing till 24 March asking Vawda to submit a comprehensive reply.

Verdict on Talpur's bank accounts case on March 20 ISLAMABAD APP

An accountability court on Tuesday reserved its judgement on a petition filed by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Faryal Talpur seeking unfreezing of her bank accounts by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on recommendation of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The court will announce its verdict on March 20. Authorities froze Talpur’s bank accounts in the fake bank accounts case that involves alleged money laundering of billions through 29 accounts, which were found opened in three banks — Summit Bank, Sindh Bank and United Bank Ltd. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had named Zardari, Talpur, Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed, his sons and over 10 others as suspects in an interim charge sheet filed in a banking court in August 2018. The case was transferred to Islamabad after a Karachi banking court accepted the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) transfer request filed following the Supreme Court judgment forwarding the joint investigation team (JIT) report to the bureau with directions to investigate and file references. Stressing upon Talpur’s knowledge of illegal transactions, the anti-graft watchdog’s counsel said the PPP leader’s plea is non-maintainable and added that the accounts were frozen as per law. However, Talpur’s counsel, Farooq H Naek, maintained that the bureau had admitted to freezing the accounts before the inquiry was finalised. “NAB has accepted that the case initially fell under Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) domain,” he explained. “Freezing accounts before an inquiry violates the law.” Naek further pointed out that the bank account was of personal use and not ‘benami’. He said the counsel was not seeking to unfreeze Zardari Group’s bank accounts and added that those accounts were not even frozen. “Not even a penny in her personal bank account was transferred from a fake account,” said Naek.

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) policies and likened the Naya Pakistan to a dictatorship.

Addressing the lawyer’s community on the invitation of Peoples Lawyers Forum at the Lahore High Court, he said the present regime gave nothing to people, but starvation. Bilawal emphasised that the ‘concerned quarters’ give a right of appeal to the aggrieved party against the decision handed in suo muto proceedings.

Talking about the services of the legal fraternity, he said that the bar council always had been raising voice against dictatorship. He admired the lawyer’s profession and the sacrifices laid down by them adding, “Quaid -e-Azam was also a lawyer who gave us Pakistan”. Expressing gloom over the judicial killing of party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he said that “it is regrettable that a man who gave Pakistan its Constitution was made subject to the judicial killing”. PPP’s prominent leaders Qamar Zaman Kaira, Manzoor Ahmed, Nafisa Shah, Aziz ur Rehman Chan, Hassan Murtaza and others were present at the occasion.

Coronavirus tally hits 19 in Pakistan COntInuED fROM pAgE 1 The meeting was told that samples of a further two suspected patients have been sent for testing and their results are awaited. Out of the total 15 cases detected in Sindh so far, one patient was discharged after making a full recovery. A second patient is recovering and might be discharged from hospital on Wednesday, the meeting was informed.

The CM noted that all of the cases to have emerged in the province so far have been “imported”. He said the government will speed up its efforts to control the virus from spreading further. “Nobody in Sindh needs to worry,” Shah was quoted as saying during the meeting. “By the blessing of Allah the situation is under control.” The chief minister urged the public to take all necessary precautions to prevent infections.

ENGRO OFFICES CLOSED: Meanwhile, the Karachi offices of Engro Corporation will remain closed for the next three days “as a precautionary measure” after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, said a statement issued by the company after an employee found positive with coronavirus.

“Engro employees will be expected to work from home during these three days.

Upon return to work on Monday, March 16, employees at the Harbour Front Building will be screened for symptoms,” said the statement. Sindh’s Minister of Health and Population Welfare Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho urged the Sindh government to curb the spread of coronavirus in the province by imposing a ban on public gathering. It was suggested to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to put a ban on large public gatherings like the ongoing HBL Pakistan

Super League (PSL) and to keep schools in the province shut down for a longer duration. So far 18 Pakistanis have been tested positive for COVID-19, the mysterious viral pneumonia-like disease caused by the novel coronavirus. 15 of them belong to Sindh while one has already fully recovered and discharged from the hospital in Karachi last week. Also, CM Murad directed all government and private hospitals to share details of patients with symptoms of pneumonia so that their further medical investigations could be conducted to ensure that they have not contracted the mysterious disease. On Monday, nine more cases of coronavirus had been confirmed in Karachi, taking the total number of cases across the country to 16. Out of the nine patients, five had arrived in the country from Syria via Doha, whereas the other four had returned from London via Dubai last week.

In a tweet, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza had said, “I can confirm 9 new cases of #COVID19 in Karachi. All these cases are

contacts of an already confirmed case.

Further contacts are being traced and tested. This makes a total of 16 cases in Pakistan.” CM Murad’s brother-in-law was also among these nine people tested positive for the virus. According to details, CM Murad’s close relative Syed Mehdi Shah had travelled to Iran and came back to Pakistan two days ago. More than 100,000 people have been infected and over 3,200 have died worldwide from the virus, which has now reached over 90 countries and territories. Almost 300 million students worldwide faced weeks at home, with Italy the latest country to shut schools over the deadly new coronavirus, as the IMF urged an all-out, global offensive against the epidemic.

‘PRECAUTION BETTER THAN CURE’: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Tuesday stated that screening is something that can help prevent an outbreak of coronavirus, adding that prevention is better than cure.

'No imminent plans' for flight operations to Pakistan, says US embassy ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The United States Embassy here on Tuesday said there were “no imminent plans” for starting direct flights between Pakistan and the US. According to a press release, officials from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) — the US government agency that oversees airport and air carrier security — will visit Islamabad airport, view Pakistan’s aviation security infrastructure, and meet with their Pakistani civil aviation counterparts this week.

However, the statement goes on to add “there are no imminent plans for direct flights between Pakistan and the United States.”

According to the press release, Transportation Security Administration officials were in Pakistan as part of the US Mission to Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen economic ties and air connectivity between the United States and Pakistan.

TSA Attaché Daniel McQuaid was quoted in the press release as saying: “Secure international air travel is essential to facilitate trade and connections and fostering stronger bonds between the United States and Pakistan.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority as we explore additional areas of cooperation and the possibility of capacity development.”

Reports in local media had earlier suggested that the TSA team’s visit was linked to the commencement of direct flights between the US and Pakistan.

Last month, on January 22, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson Abdul Hafeez had said Pakistan was expecting to resume direct flights to the US in May this year “subject to a final clearance by the US Transportation Security Administration.”

CMYK

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

NEWS

goVT graNTS addiTioNal PowerS To CoMMiTTee ProBiNg Sugar, flour ShorTage FIRDOUS SAYS FEDERAL CABINET HAS DECIDED TO STOP THE EXPORT OF RESPIRATORY MASKS AMID CORONAVIRUS THREAT ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

HE federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the request for granting powers of an inquiry commission to the committee formed to probe the recent wheat flour and sugar shortage in the country.

“The committee, which is due to present its report on the shortage of two commodities before the cabinet next week, has been given powers of inquiry commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2017, ” Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan told the media after the federal cabinet’s weekly session.

She said that the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) director general, who was the convener of the committee, sought some time from the cabinet for submission of the report while updating it about the recent developments. Dr Firdous said that most of the cabinet members stressed on making the report on the shortage of wheat flour and sugar public at the earliest. The report would be submitted before the cabinet soon, she added. She said that the status of the inquiry commission would give legal cover to the committee to visit the relevant departments during the inquiry process and forensic audit of their accounts.

The FIA DG told the cabinet that the forensic audit of accounts was imperative to exposing elements behind the sugar crisis,

she said. “The cabinet also decided to include the anti-corruption DG and senior representatives of the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in the commission. The inquiry commission would also be authorised to form special committees for certain matters,” she added.

She further said that Prime Minister

Punjab govt rejects Nawaz's request for continued suspension of sentence GOVT LETTER ASKS PML-N SUPREME LEADER TO RETURN TO PAKISTAN AND SURRENDER TO AUTHORITIES

aurat March organisers call for probe into 'coordinated attack' on islamabad rally ISLAMABAD AGENCIES

The Aurat March organisers on Tuesday called for an independent judicial probe into a “coordinated attack” on their rally over the weekend that left at least one person injured. Days of mounting tensions boiled over on Sunday when a group of miscreants broke a flimsy barrier between the two rallies in the capital hurled stones, bricks, and sticks at a march marking International Women’s Day. “It was a coordinated attack from the patriarchal and right-wing forces on the women’s movement,” said Ismat Shahjahan, one of the organisers of the event. “We demand an independent judicial inquiry,” she added. The capital’s police registered a case against 12 identified and 300 to 400 unidentified people late Sunday — including organisers of the anti-feminist rally — for “provoking the religious sentiments” of their followers against the Women’s Day marchers. According to the FIR, the counter-protest to the Aurat March was held without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the authorities.

The Aurat March organisers, however, have argued that police downplayed the severity of the attack and should have issued more serious charges against the suspected assailants. The incident follows last year’s second annual Aurat March, which sparked a backlash against participants — including rape, death, and bomb threats. In the days leading up to this year’s rally, at least two petitions were filed to the country’s higher courts asking for authorities to ban marches across the country, while religious political parties vowed to stop the demonstrations. In a society where women have been shot, stabbed, stoned, set alight, and strangled for damaging a family’s “honour”, marchers have been accused of promoting Western, liberal values, and disrespecting religious and cultural sensitivities.

nEWS DESK The Punjab government has rejected former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s request for continued suspension of his sentence and asked the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader to surrender to authorities, according to media reports.

Nawaz, who was sentenced to seven-year jail term in Al-Azizia graft case in December 2018, was released on bail on Oct 29, 2019 on medical grounds in view of an alarming fall in his blood platelet count. The government later in November also allowed him to fly to London for medical treatment.

According to a report, the Punjab government in a letter said the provincial cabinet after thoroughly discussing the issue has decided to turn down Nawaz’s December 23, 2019,

request for continued suspension of his sentence.

On December 23, Nawaz – through his counsel Khawaja Haris – had sent a request to suspend his sentence along with a Dr David Lawrence’s letter and an echocardiography report. The government had, however, found the reports inadequate and directed Nawaz to submit a medical report again.

In response to the letter from the Punjab government, PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar on January 17 submitted a medical report, but a special medical board formed by the Punjab government had expressed dissatisfaction over the report and asked for more reports.

The required reports included reports of the hematologists of Guys and St Thomas Hospital and London Bridge Hospital; reports of the cardiologist of Royal Brompton and Herefield Hospital; platelet count and bio-chemical re-

sense of deprivation among employees is removed. She also said that the people have high expectations from this government and all steps would be taken to ensure it.

“The issue of testing service for jobs in various government departments was also discussed by the cabinet. Adviser on establishment and special assistant on social welfare were asked to devise a course of action regarding testing in government departments so that candidates for the posts of BPS-1 to BPS-5 are facilitated,” Firdous said.

She said that the cabinet approved the resignation of Board of Investment Chairman (BoI) Zubair Gilani who resigned over personal reasons. She also said that the prime minister was informed of the public interest initiatives of various ministries.

“The cabinet overviewed the decisions made so far. The premier said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government inherited an energy crisis and all the agreements were made during the tenure of previous governments. However, people have to face the consequences of these decisions. It was decided that energy issue will be deliberated upon in the next meeting of the cabinet,” she added.

Firdous said that the cabinet reiterated its decision not to do trade with India due to its suppression of Muslims in occupied Kashmir and India.

Imran Khan directed the committee to step up its efforts to conclude the factfinding process so that the culprits could be taken to the task.

The special assistant said that the committee, which was probing the reasons behind the sugar shortage, had also been given the mandate to evaluate the role of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) during the situation.

“The committee will also investigate why the commission which ought to expose, punish and eliminate the cartels and mafias, has been playing the role of a silent spectator,” she added. The special assistant also said that the prime minister directed for uniform pay scales of government employees to avoid discrimination.

She said that the premier assigned the Advisor on Finance Abdul Hafeez Sheikh to hold talks with striking employees and also work with central and provincial governments to remove this disparity and proposals should be sent to the federal cabinet so that

ports and report of whole body PET scan – all on the hospitals official letterheads.

On February 12, the Punjab government formed a high-level committee to investigate the case of Nawaz Sharif.

The committee which included Punjab law minister, minister of health, additional chief secretary law, advocate general Punjab and prosecutor general.

The three-page letter stated that the committee deliberated for three consecutive days – from Feb 19 to Feb 21 – on the question of giving further extension in bail of the former premier. “[At the committee meeting,] the applicant was represented by PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar and [Nawaz’s personal physician] Dr Adnan Khan (through) Skype on 21 Feb. “Both the representatives were heard in detail. However, they did not reproduce the required reports and reiterated to rely on previous letter of a doctor, cardiac PET scan and echocardiography.”

It said the provincial cabinet during it meeting observed that there was nothing on record that Nawaz went through a substantive medical treatment and admitted to a hospital even for a day. He was also reportedly seen on media enjoying good health and leisure time with family and friends in London.

03

Nawaz's physician dr adnan suffers injuries in london attack Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s personal physician Dr Adnan Khan was allegedly attacked by two masked men in London late on Monday. According to reports, Dr Adnan was out on his daily walk when he was assaulted. He sustained injuries on his head, face and chest after the two men attacked him from behind, punched him and hit him with a metal bar. Khan was taken to a hospital. Dr Adnan accompanied Nawaz when he left for London for his treatment in November and has remained with the former premier since then. He is the chief executive of Sharif Medical City — a medical and educational organisation in Lahore, executive director of Sharif Medical and Research Centre, a fellow of the World Health Organisation and a former member of the National Steering Committee of the Prime Minister’s National Health Programme. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday condemned the attack on Dr Adnan Khan. He said that the nature of the attack showed it was a “planned and organised incident” and he claimed that the attack was carried out to cause “obstruction in Nawaz Sharif’s treatment”. NEWS DESK

Senate rejects proposal for involving SC in CEC appointment SENATE BODY SAYS JUDICIARY SHOULDN’T BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE THESE DECISIONS MUST BE TAKEN BY THE PARLIAMENT nEWS DESK The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Monday rejected the proposal for referring the matter of appointment of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members to the Supreme Court (SC) in case the parliamentary committee is unable to finalise any name.

Senator Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qayyum had moved The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (Amendment of Article 213 & 215). During the meeting earlier in the day, a committee member said that the judiciary should not be involved in the process either and all decisions about such appointments should be taken by the parliament.

The committee urged that a mechanism should come from within the parliament but agreed to an amendment in Article 215 in principle. The committee will further deliberate on the bill in its next meeting.

The committee discussed a total of five constitution (amendment) bills that called for amendments in Articles (51 & 106), (213 & 215), (253A), (45) of the Constitution. The panel while discussing The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Amendment of Article 51 & 106) heard the movers of the bill as well as the members of the committee.

The committee members were of the view that amendment in Article 51 relates to changes in the composition of the National Assembly (NA) that would involve

changes with other provincial representation and would also subject to publication of the 2017 census results.

The amendment of Article 106 calling for increasing seats of the Balochistan Assembly from 65 to 80 was approved by the committee. However, the members stressed upon the need for having a working as to how the seats have to be reallocated.

The committee recommended that the increase in seats should be according to the formula which is currently used by the ECP. The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (Amendment of Article 213) moved

by Senator Siraj ul Haq was clubbed with this bill. The committee also heard the mover of The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (Amendment of Article 45) Sen-

ator Sirajul Haq. APPOINTMENTS PROCEDURE: The CEC is the authority and the appointed chair of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) – the polls supervisory body responsible to conduct elections for the national and provincial legislatures.

The prime minister – who is also the leader of the house in the National Assembly – and the leader of opposition recommend three names for appointment of the CEC and for each member to the parliamentary committee. In case of lack of consensus on the nominees, the premier and the leader of opposition send separate lists to the committee, which consists of 12 members – six each from treasury and opposition benches. One-third members of the committee belong to the Senate. The committee, formed by the NA speaker, later confirms one person for each post. On the recommendation of the committee, the president appoints the CEC and ECP provincial members.

04 LAHORE

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

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PPP, PML-N MeMberS ASSure CM of uNCoNdiTioNAL SuPPorT

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NEWS DESK

EMBERS of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) on Tuesday assured Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar of their continued unconditional support for the provincial government.

The statement was made during a meeting of members of provincial assembly (MPAs) from the two parties with the chief minister which was called to discuss the current political situation and other important issues.

The members agreed to work as a team for the service of the common man while expressing complete confidence in Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s leadership and the Punjab CM. Speaking on the occasion, CM Bazdar also assured the MPAs of working with them for their common aim of uplifting the masses. He maintained that the country’s previous rulers had left no stones unturned in destroying the country, adding that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) had come into power in turbulent times.

BUzdAR cALLS fOR cOnSTRUcTIng SmALL dAmS: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that construction of small dams will protect thousands of acres of land from becoming barren.

While chairing a meeting here on Tuesday, he said that with the construction of small water reservoirs, underground water level would rise and help fulfil people’s need of potable water.

The Irrigation secretary gave a detailed briefing on small dams’ construction. The chief minister was informed about the construction of protective bunds and ponds in

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SSP Mufakhir Adeel surrenders in Shahbaz Tatla murder case The prime suspect in the Shahbaz Ahmad Tatla murder case, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mufakhir Adeel, surrendered to Lahore police authorities on Sunday night. According to local media sources, the fugitive SSP is currently under investigation at the Chung police training centre. Both the key accused, including him and Asad Bhatti, will now face an investigation. It may be noted here that Shahbaz Tatla’s body was reportedly dumped into acid to remove the traces of the murder. The Punjab police SSP was reported missing on February 12. He disappeared exactly a week after the kidnapping of his close friend, former assistant advocate general Shahbaz Ahmad Tatla, who went missing from the jurisdiction of Naseerabad police station and is still untraceable. He had left his home on his official vehicle on Tuesday evening after telling his wife that he was going somewhere. Later, when his wife found a cell phone to be constantly powered off, she informed the police that her husband had gone missing. Police investigators had claimed to have found evidence from a combined residence of both SSP Adeel and Tatla in Lahore’s Faisal Town.

Reportedly, a team recovered a drum from inside the house. NEWS DESK

Sialkot-Lahore travel time to cut down to 41 mins from March various cities of the province.

Usman Buzdar said that water was an asset and the government would do anything to stop its wastage. He said that seven small dams in Dera Ghazi Khan and six in Rajanpur would be constructed for storage of water in hilly areas of the region. Protective bunds would be constructed with Rs 600 million.

Four ponds would also be constructed for provision of potable water and for irrigation purposes in Dera Ghazi Khan. Protective bunds would be constructed at the banks of river Sindh at Gaajni, in order to provide clean drinking water to Rawalpindi.

The CM said Dhodcha dam would be constructed at a cost of Rs 6 billion. Chahan dam would be constructed with Rs 1.56 billion. Construction of Mohata dam would irrigate 4,500 acres of land, whereas Papan dam completed at a cost of Rs 530 million

would irrigate 15,000 acres of land. Similarly, Mohrah Shera dam constructed at a cost of Rs 680 million would irrigate 4,000 acres of land in Chakwal, added the CM. He said that Pandori dam in Jhelum, constructed with Rs950 million, would irrigate 1,500 acres of land. Surah dam would be completed at a cost of Rs910 million. Taja Bara dam in Attock would be completed with an estimated amount of Rs200 million and it would irrigate 300 acres of land.

According to the chief minister, Sidrayal dam would be completed at a cost of Rs100 million and it would irrigate 825 acres of land. Taman dam in Talagang would be completed at a cost Rs1.5 billion. Ghibbar dam would be completed with Rs5.65 billion.

Completion of a project of Dharabi dam in Chakwal would irrigate 6,400 acres of land and it would cost Rs340 million.

Six uplift schemes worth Rs4.93bn approved LAHORE: The Punjab Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) on Tuesday approved six developmental schemes of different sectors with an estimated cost of Rs 4930.158 million. These schemes were approved in the 39th PDWP meeting of current fiscal year 2019-20, presided over by P&D Board Chairman Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh.

The approved development schemes included construction of academic block of

200C

PRAyER TimiNgS

Nawaz Sharif Medical College in Gujrat at a cost of Rs 726.054 million, Establishment of Orthopedic Unit-II at Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital at a cost of Rs 599.702 million, Rs1669.123 million have been approved for establishment of DHQ Hospital in Multan, for detailed and feasibility study of design of Kutcheri Chowk (PC-II) in Rawalpindi at a cost of 18.510 million, Urban Sewerage Scheme (Amendment) in Toba Tek Singh city

at a cost of Rs 655.019 million, improvement of sewerage system in Jhang (Phase-1) at a cost of 1261.750 million.

All Members of the Planning & Development Board, Provincial Secretaries of departments concerned, Senior Chief (Coordinator) Javed Latif, Planning Officer Coordination Muhammad Rashid and other senior representatives of the relevant Provincial Departments also attended the meeting. APP

SC adjourns Khawaja brothers’ bail pleas for a week LAHORE APP

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of bail pleas filed

by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique for one week. A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Maqbool Baqar and comprised Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Yahya Afridi, heard the case. During the course of proceedings, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) pleaded the court to grant some time for the submission of detailed report over the matter. The court accepted the adjournment plea and asked the NAB prosecutor why he was seeking adjournment.

The NAB prosecutor responded that the bureau wanted to submit some additional documents and investigation reports. Justice Maqbool Baqar expressed annoyance over the NAB prosecutor and asked why he was not taking the matter seriously. He said NAB was investigating the matter since last 15 months. Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel asked why the NAB did not file reference over the matter.

Advocate Ashtar Ausaf counsel for Khawaja brothers said the reference had been filed and charges had also been framed. There had also been settlements on some of the charges in this case, he added. Justice Maqbool Baqar asked NAB to submit comprehensive report over the matter in a week. The court also directed NAB to submit a research report and summary with all relevant documents within a week. The court also directed NAB to give the report to the applicant's lawyer in advance three days.

Later, hearing of the case was adjourned till Tuesday.

SIALKOT: The 91.47-km long Sialkot-Lahore Motorway will be opened for commuters on March 30. According to an official, the project would be completed at a cost of Rs44 billion. The new road would reduce the travel time between Sialkot and Lahore to just 41 minutes. He said that the motorway would have four-lanes, nine interchanges, eight flyovers, 20 bridges and 18 underpasses. He said that three industrial zones and two universities would also be established along with the road.

He said that it would be linked with M2 and N5 through Lahore link road near Kala Shah Kaku. He said that the route would run parallel to GT Road, passing east of Kamoke, Gujranwala, Daska, Sambrial and will end at Sialkot. STAFF REPORT

Land-sliding in Kasur village kills 3, injures 1 KASUR: As many as three persons were killed and one was seriously injured in land-sliding in village Dhalan Kalan near Khudian Khas of Kasur district late on Monday night. As per details, labourer Muzaffar Ali, his sister-in-law Bushra Bibi, daughter Faiza and niece Amna were excavating dry soil for their livestock when they were hit by the landslide and buried under the debris. APP

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

NEWS

Banks can auction mortgaged property without court decree, Lhc ruLes LHC REJECTS PLEAS AGAINST REINTRODUCTION OF SECTION 15 OF FIO LAHORE

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STAFF REPORT

Lahore High Court (LHC) fivemember bench on Tuesday rejected petitions challenging the reintroduction of Section 15 of the Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) Ordinance 2001, which empowered banks to sell mortgaged property in case of default in payment by a customer.

The bench held that the banks could auction the mortgaged property without obtaining the court decree. However, the bench noted that it was mandatory that more than one bidder should participate in

such an auction. The five-member bench headed by LHC Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh announced the verdict which had been reserved after hearing arguments of all the parties on Nov 8, 2019.

The petitioners, Muhammad Shoaib Arshad and others, through their petitions had challenged reintroduction of Section 15 of Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) Ordinance 2001, which empowered banks to sell mortgaged property in case of default in payment by a customer.

They submitted that Section 15 of Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) Ordinance 2001, had been declared ultra vires of the constitution by the Supreme Court and the LHC through

two different judgements but the section was reintroduced in the Ordinance through Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) (Amendment) Act 2016 whereas it was not sustainable in the light of the verdicts.

They further argued that no property could be sold without determination of default amount whereas evaluators never gave accurate estimate of the property.

However, a law officer on behalf of government stated that financial institutions were facing problems and recovery of billions of rupees had been stopped due to the stay order given by the court earlier. He pleaded with the court to dismiss the petitions.

The matter was initially heard in 2016 by then LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah who suspended the new section 15.

The LHC CJ had fixed the matter for September 13 after the prime minister had

05

Balochistan mpa titus Johnson injured in fight between two groups NEWS DESK

appealed to him for immediately fixing the case, pending since long, while addressing a ceremony in connection with Naya Pakistan Housing Programme on July 31, 2019.

He observed that an early decision over the issue would enable the banking sector to extend loan facilities and easing the mortgage process.

Balochistan’s Member of Provincial Assembly Titus Johnson was injured Tuesday morning in Quetta’s Nawa Killi. According to the police, the minorities representative was heading a reconciliation meeting between two groups. The groups had been fighting over a property dispute and Johnson was heading a meeting to reconcile them at the Christian Colony. “Things worsened in the middle of the meeting and a fight broke out between both the groups,” Johnson’s son said. Men from one of the groups manhandled the MPA, he added. Five other people including the MPA’s son were also injured. All of them were immediately shifted to the Civil Hospital and the Bolan Medical Complex. Balochistan Government Spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani visited Johnson at the hospital and ordered the hospital’s staff to provide the best medical treatment to the MPA and others injured.

students protest after being barred from sports event in kasur KASUR WAQAS ASHRAF

Students of Government College Pattoki protested against the district sports officer in Kasur on Tuesday for not allowing them to enter the sports complex for the annual sports day despite the notification from the deputy commissioner’s (DC) office in this regard. On the direction of secretary sports, Deputy Director Colleges (DDC) Sardar Abdul Ghaffar Dogar forwarded a letter to Kasur DC for holding sports gala in Shehbaz Sharif Sports Complex, Kasur from March 5 to March 13. When the students reached the stadium, the sports officer stopped them from entering the complex. On seeing the situation, the concerned professors and DDC approached the Kasur DC, who issued a fresh notification for allowing sports activities in the complex without any fee. Students Muhammad Adnan, Malik Ali Hassan and Muhammad Anas said that the sports officer refused to accept the notification as the DC had not signed it himself.

Upon witnessing this scene, hundreds of students protested against the sports officer. Adnan said that they reached Kasur from Pattoki by travelling more than 80 kilometres but returned disappointed because the said officer was only entertaining students of a private college. When contacted, the sports officer rejected the allegations and said that he allowed the students upon seeing the notification and the private students he entertained had paid the fee for holding a funfair at the sports complex.

LAHORE: Hindu community celebrates Holi at Krishna Mandir in Lahore. ZUBAIR MEHFOOZ

PML-N in disarray as Sharifs stay away CONtiNUE fROm PAgE 1 Asif shrugged off the criticism, saying he also used to make passionate speeches when he was “young”. About the extension to the army chief, he said the party leadership took the decision of supporting the extension bill.

Moreover, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi expressed displeasure over the decisions taken at the Business Advisory Committee, which said that the government and opposition lawmakers would be given equal opportunity at the floor of the House.

As per the parliamentary tradition, opposition members are given the opportunity to speak on any issue, whereas a minister’s job is to wind up the debate.

Abbasi questioned the decision to sup-

port the new tradition as per which the National Assembly speaker gives the floor to a treasury member as soon as a lawmaker from opposition benches stops talking. He said this tradition has often led to pandemonium in the House instead of a constructive debate.

During the meeting, Senator Pir Sabir Shah complained that the party had “suffered damage by putting behind the stance [Vote ko Izzat Do] of supremo Nawaz Sharif”. He said that PML-N should have “taken advantage of PTI’s poor performance”, adding that the party’s performance in the parliament had disappointed the people. He went on to warn that if the party did not stick to Nawaz’s stance, it would lose the support of the masses.

He also demanded better representations of all provinces in the party and crit-

icised the way decision-making lied in the hands of the leaders belonging to Punjab.

“Party should give representation to leaders from provinces other than Punjab in its decision-making process “even if it is only symbolic,” he added.

PML-N leader Javed Latif also spoke during the meeting and said that the party leadership should consult more members before making decisions. He insisted that the party should take practical steps as “targets cannot be achieved by talking”.

He urged the party leadership to “move forward and prepare the party for protest”.

Latif also predicted that the party will have to face tough criticism as it had “made a mistake which would be realised in times to come”. He did not specify the “mistake” he was referring to.

The parliamentary meeting was at-

tended by 42 party members out of 83.

Chief Whip Murtaza Javed Abbasi was urged to make sure the attendance of all the members compulsory. The party lawmakers who do not attend the parliamentary party meeting will have to report regularly and give concrete reasons for non-attendance, it was decided.

Later on, in a press release, the PMLN criticised the government policies, saying that the alarming loss at the Pakistan Stock Exchange in one day was a first in history and “sounded an alarm for economic disaster”.

The party also condemned the attack on Dr Adnan Khan, Nawaz’s personal physician, and hoped that London police will provide justice. The party agreed that Nawas should stay in London until he gets better.

pm launches data4 pakistan portal for poverty alleviation CONtiNUE fROm PAgE 1 Nishtar said that Data4Pakistan, the first initiative of its kind in the country, provides open and public access to a spatial interactive portal that has poverty estimates for every district in Pakistan, along with over 120 development and policy indicators. She said that the portal currently has six rounds of district poverty and development data, covering the period 2004-2018. This portal will be a very valuable resource for federal, provincial and district level policymakers for decision making, she added.

Five colonial era rest houses at Nathiagali attract tourists, people in droves PESHAWAR APP

The foreign and local tourists besides general public were seen taking keen interest in rest houses inherited by colonial era in scenic Nathiagali since its opening for the people few days ago to provide safe and affordable accommodation to visitors and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the picturesque valleys.

"The response of tourists and general public to stay in the recently opened five boutique style buildings including Governor House, Chief Minister House, Karnak House, Speaker House and IGP Khyber Pakthunkhwa House at Nathiagali are overwhelmingly and highly positive," Managing Director KP Tourism Corporation (TCKP) Junaid Khan told APP. “In line with the government's decisions, all these five government rest houses were opened for tourists and general public. The response of tourists and people are highly encouraging and overwhelming” said MD TCKP. He said the rent of each building was fixed less than the other competitive hotels in the areas having similar fa-

cilities. The MD TCKP said these buildings are located at a panoramic elevation where from visitors could see the splendid natural beauty, waterfalls, biodiversity and mountainous beauty of Kalabagh, Bagnotar, Jhika Gali, Nathiagali, Dongagali, Baragali, Thandyani and Ayubia with ease besides cost efficient.

The MD said affordable and safe accommodation at breathtaking Nathiagali was the long awaited demand of tourists and people that was fulfilled by the PTI government after opening of these historical buildings for all and sundry.

The visitors can enjoy chairlift ride at Ayubia, zigzag walking tracks at Galayat in a single day while staying in these primitive buildings with eye-catching architectural designs and awesome art work.

Stretched over 76 kanal vast areas and above 7922 feet height from sea level comprising eight rooms and sprawling lush green lawn, the Governor House Nathiagali is a historic building constructed during British era in 1928 where tourists and general public can easily stay in secure environment with their families after proper

booking. The spectacular two-storey building with eight spacious rooms, two drawing rooms, a dining hall and meeting room, walking track, guest rooms and sprawling lawn reminds visitors of its glorious past where decisions about destiny of people of subcontinent and affairs of the province were decided by past rulers.

The Governor House Nathiagali is expected to generate Rs115 million revenue per annum as the one day rent of the palatial historic building is Rs320,000 while Rs40,000 is the rent of each room, officials sources in KP Tourism Corporation (TCKP) told APP. Prior to this popular step of the PTI govt, these buildings incurred huge financial burden on the national exchequer on account of maintenance, staff salaries, utility bills and others unforeseen expenditure.

Similarly, Chief Minister House located on top of a mountain peak near Governor House Nathiagali on 12 kanal is also attracting tourists in large number. It was constructed in 1932 with four-state-of the art residential rooms and beautifully designed architectural balconies, sprawling lawn, walking track, meeting and special

rooms for guests also impressed visitors soon after entering this ancient two storey building. The government is expected to earn Rs 32.4 million per year if one day rent of the whole building stands at Rs90,000 and Rs24,000 per room.

Another ancient building opened for tourists and general public is Karnak House in front of the CM House, which was constructed in 1932 where most of federal and provincial ministers besides bureaucrats and lawmakers stayed. Previously known as Hamaliya House, the Karnak House has four architectural designed rooms with vast lawn from where tourists can easily enjoy the splendid view of Nathiagali and adjoining valleys. Its rent for one room is Rs18,000 and the whole house could be hired for Rs72,000 per day.

Moreover, Speaker House constructed in 1933 is also opened for general public and tourists. Its six rooms carrying awesome architectural and art designs were mostly used by Speaker and Deputy Speaker KP Assembly in the past. The rent of one room of Speaker House is fixed at Rs 16,000 and Rs 24,000 for the whole building per day.

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

06 WORLD VIEW

‘JInnAh WAs rIght And gAndhI WAs Wrong’ FULL SPEECH OF HARSH MANDER, WHICH GOVT SAYS ‘INCITED’ VIOLENCE DURING ANTI-CAA PROTESTS. WHAT DID THE EX-BUREAUCRAT ACTUALLY SAY AT JAMIA MILIA ISLAMIA? HERE IS A TRANSLATION OF HIS FULL SPEECH

First Post

“I

HarsH Mander

will raise a slogan today — what are we fighting for and who are we fighting for?

This fight is first for our country, then for our Constitution, and then for love. This government has challenged and declared war not just against our Muslim brothers and sisters of this country, but also against the way this country was imagined to be. During the freedom struggle, there was an imagination of India, an imagining of what kind of a nation ours would be after the colonial rule ended.

Our imagination was that we would build a nation where it won’t matter whether you believed in Bhagwan or Allah or even if you didn’t believe in anything. It wouldn’t matter what jaati (caste) one belonged to or what language one spoke. It would not matter if you

were rich or poor, woman or man. Everyone would be considered an equal human being and an equal citizen of this country. You would have as much right to this country as anyone else.

Today, when the Muslims of this country are being asked to prove their love and loyalty for this country, it’s important to note that this question is being asked by those who never participated in India’s freedom struggle and made no sacrifices.

The Muslim brothers and sisters and children who are present here are Indian by choice. The rest of us are Indians by chance. We had no choice. We had only this country. But you (Muslims) had a choice and your ancestors chose to live in this country.

Today, those who are in the government are trying to prove that (Pakistan’s founder Mohammed Ali) Jinnah was right and Mahatma Gandhi was wrong. The name of their party should be changed from Bharatiya Janata Party to Bharatiya Jinnah Party. Jinnah sahab had said that India is not one country, but two: “Muslim Pakistan and Hindu Hindustan”.

What we are saying is that this is one nation: India, and that everyone – Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, atheists, Adivasis, Dalits, rich, poor, man, woman, everyone – has equal rights.

Anyone who asks you about your nationality and threatens to take away your rights is being challenged by a movement going on across states to save the Constitution of the country and to save love and friendship which form the soul of the Constitution. To save our constitution, we have come out on the streets and will continue to occupy the streets.

However, our fight cannot be won in the Parliament because our political parties, who declare themselves secular, do not have the moral strength to take up the fight.

This fight will also not be won in the Supreme Court. As we have seen its previous judgments case on NRC, Ayodhya dispute and abrogation of Article 370 in Indian held Kashmir, the Supreme Court failed to protect humanity, equality and secularism. We will definitely try as hard as we can in the Supreme Court, because it is our Supreme Court after all. However, the final decision/verdict will be given neither by the Parliament nor by the Supreme Court.

What will be the future of the country? You are young people – what kind of a country do you want to leave for your children? Where will this decision be made? On the one hand, the decision can be taken on the streets. We are all out on the streets. However, there is one more space, bigger than the streets, where this decision will be taken.

But the solution to our struggle will be found in a space

Why the imperfect deal with the Taliban is still better than no deal

bigger than the streets – in your hearts and mine.

What is this space where the solution to this struggle can be found? It’s in our hearts – in your heart and in mine.

If they want to respond to us with hatred and we respond likewise, then only hatred will thrive. If there is someone spreading darkness in the country and we counter them by spreading more then it is natural that darkness will grow thicker. If there’s darkness, it can be countered only by lighting a lamp. If there’s a greater darkness, we will light our own individual lamps. That’s how darkness can be defeated. We have only one answer to their hatred, and that answer is love.

They will cause violence, they will incite us to violence, but we will never commit violence. Please understand that it is their ploy to incite you to commit violence. If we respond with even two percent violence, their response will be 100 times greater. But we know what Gandhi ji taught us about violence and injustice.

Most importantly, we have to fight with non-violence. Anyone who incites you to violence and hatred is not a friend of yours. I will raise a slogan now – Long live the Constitution, Long live Love.”

Harsh Mander is a social activist and former IAS officer.

What does the plunge in oil prices mean for the Arab world?

ANY CHANCE TO WIND DOWN THIS TERRIBLE WAR, NO MATTER HOW PROBLEMATIC, IS WORTH TAKING

Hill MICHaeL KUGeLMan

Just over a week ago, the Trump administration and the Afghan Taliban signed a landmark agreement. It sets a timetable for the withdrawal of American troops, obliges the Taliban to sever its ties with international terrorist groups, and commits the Taliban to a dialogue with the Afghan government to bring a political settlement and peace deal.

It marks a milestone agreement that aims to kickstart a long elusive peace process that ends an interminable war. Yet since the deal was finalized, it has sparked a flurry of criticism, with some suggesting the United States should not have signed off on it because it is too generous to the Taliban and could amount to a surrender to the group that provided sanctuary to the Al Qaeda organization that had staged the 9/11 attacks.

This criticism is understandable. It is a flawed agreement. However, make no mistake, as imperfect as the deal may be, it is better than no deal at all. That is because nearly 19 years of war in Afghanistan, led by the United States, is not just still raging but has now reached levels of intensity and deadliness never seen before in the country.

Any chance to wind down this terrible war, no matter how problematic, is worth taking.

The trend lines are troubling. The Taliban controls or contests more territory than at any time since 2001, and in the closing months of last year, it car-

ried out a record number of attacks. Afghan civilian casualty figures have reached new heights, while opium production has reached unprecedented levels, and drugs are a prime source of Taliban funding.

Meanwhile, the Islamic State in Afghanistan, despite getting hit hard by airstrikes for more than five years, remains resilient and active.

Perhaps most disturbingly are the increasing numbers of civilians killed by Afghan forces and their American allies. According to the United Nations, international forces led by Afghanistan and the United States caused more civilian casualties during the first half of last year than did the Taliban and other militants. These figures undercut claims of American stabilization in Afghanistan, and suggest that American forces are at risk of wearing out their welcome. This is a propaganda victory for the Taliban, which can use these figures to bolster its already robust recruitment prowess. In effect, the United States does not have the luxury of waiting around for a better deal. This focus on the ferocity of the war is not meant to paper over the flaws in the agreement that are meant to help bring about peace.

The Taliban got a lot without having to give much back in return. The deal calls for more than 3,000 American troops to withdraw unconditionally over the next few months, for 5,000 Taliban prisoners to be released this week, and for the United States to end sanctions on the Taliban in a few months. The deal asks the Taliban only to sever its ties with international terrorist groups. This is a light lift. One of the main global jihadist groups in Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, is a shadow of its former self. The other group, the Islamic State, is a Taliban rival with few ties to the insurgents.

Meanwhile, the Afghan government, which at the insistence of the Taliban was excluded from the talks with the United States, has already balked at

the prisoner release. The Taliban insists it will not begin talks with Kabul until its members are freed.

The deal also calls on all American forces to leave within 14 months so long as the Taliban upholds its commitments. However, these promises do not include agreeing to a peace deal or even a ceasefire with the Afghan government. Thus, the deal disproportionately benefits the Taliban and boxes the Afghan government into a corner. The deal also raises the possibility of a full American troop withdrawal, while the war still ravages the country and the casualties continue.

It is easy to see why the deal is flawed. President Trump, determined to bring American troops home, needed any kind of deal to provide himself political cover for a pullout. His administration publicly voiced his desire to withdraw. The Taliban was happy to talk, knowing well it would enjoy leverage because of such haste to get a deal. Indeed, the negotiations unfolded almost entirely on the terms of the insurgents, as the Afghan government was excluded, talks of a ceasefire were deferred, and the prisoner release and sanctions relief demands were addressed.

The agreement could well fail to spark a dialogue within Afghanistan. A dysfunctional political class may prove incapable of representing the state in talks. The Taliban may conclude it has zero desire to negotiate a power sharing deal within a system it has rejected. But squandering the greatest opportunity yet, warts and all, to launch a peace process amid a terrible war is worse. It is better to try and fail to create a pathway to peace than not to try at all. If you fail in the end, at least you can say you tried.

Michael Kugelman is the deputy director of the Asia program and a senior associate for South Asia with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington.

Netanyahu must be replaced for Israel’s sake Editorial Haaretz

Kahol Lavan’s raison d’etre is to bring the era of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a close. It’s no coincidence that they’ve been dubbed the “Just Not Bibi” party. The glue holding the party’s disparate parts together is the absolute certainty of Benny Gantz, and the factions to his left (Yesh Atid) and his right (Telem), that for Israel’s good, Netanyahu must be replaced. That’s why the party was founded, and that’s why people voted for it.

In remarks he made over the weekend, Gantz declared, “The era of Netanyahu’s rule is over,” and he promised to “make every effort to prevent a fourth election.” The only way to keep that promise is to form a government with Labor-Gesher-Meretz, with the support of Yisrael Beiteinu and the Joint List alliance of Arab parties.

We must be realistic: The election results on the one hand, and the ultra-Orthodox parties’ commitment to the right-wing bloc that Netanyahu heads on the other, doesn’t leave Kahol Lavan a choice.

Despite the separatist position of Balad (one of the component factions of the Joint List), without political cooperation between Jews and Arabs there is no option for replacing Netanyahu and avoiding a fourth election.

Now that the Joint List has won 15 seats, the center-left bloc has started to internalize what Netanyahu understood years ago: The only threat to right-wing rule is cooperation between all of the bloc’s parties, including the Joint List. This insight dictated Netanyahu’s political strategy throughout the years of his premiership: Divide the left’s different parts, prevent them from joining forces, and govern forever.

The delegitimization campaign against the Arab

MKs is exactly what it sounds like – a campaign aimed solely at persuading the public that parliamentary representation for Israel’s Arab citizens is unacceptable and dangerous, and that working with them is forbidden.

Netanyahu doesn’t hide the fact that he regards the Arab vote as invalid, and he omits the seats the Arabs won when he tallies up the vote. With his enormous arrogance he declared, “The leftwing bloc is only 47 seats,” and that “The Arabs are not part of this equation, and that’s the people’s will.” For him, a possible coalition that includes Arabs, or that is supported by them, is “vote theft.”

Therefore, it isn’t just realpolitik, but a moral imperative. Netanyahu’s incitement against Arab citizens, their representatives and those who are prepared to cooperate with them, and the rotten fruit of this incitement that fills the public arena, make him a leader who must be replaced, for Israel’s sake.

arabi21/ MiddlE East Monitor MoHaMMad ayesH

Oil prices have plunged to levels not seen in years. They are the lowest since 2016, but a crash of this size and nature has not been seen in modern history. Such chaos in the oil markets has not actually been seen since Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, when prices plunged by more than 30 per cent within a few minutes. However, since the beginning of this year, prices have dropped by between 50 and 60 per cent, more than half.

In January, the price of Brent Crude was $72 a barrel; it is now down to $33 in just two months, a decline that was not expected by even the most pessimistic analysts. Nor could it have been expected by the oil producing countries, which means that if prices remain at such a level, there will definitely be economic crises in countries that depend on oil revenues.

The plunge in oil prices affects all parts of the global economy, because energy is the most important sector, it being a commodity that all people need and all people and countries use. There is no country in the world that does not import or export oil, and so the commodity enters automatically into their economic calculations. Nevertheless, oil-producers such as the Gulf States are undoubtedly the most affected by this collapse.

The prices fell, apparently, based on market forces driven by the spread of the coronavirus, which threatens a major global recession that may lead to a decline in oil demand. This is in addition to the collapse of the OPEC+ agreement, which had guaranteed stability in the markets over the past four years when Russia was convinced to reduce production and align with OPEC policies.

The third factor of the collapse, which is perhaps the most important, is the Saudi decision to reduce prices as from next month, which was intended to put pressure on Russia, but is now putting pressure on the whole world.

Saudi Arabia decided to reduce its oil prices by $6, but the markets responded the next day with the collapse and a decline of over $10.

The crash will mean a lot for the oil-producers. Saudi Arabia, for example, is the world’s largest oil producer and its oil revenues make up more than 70 per cent of its economy, making it the largest oil-dependent economy in the world. There is no other that depends on this commodity to such a degree. This is not the problem, though; it’s the fact that Riyadh prepared its national budget for 2020 on the basis that the average oil prices would be at $60 per barrel, and this is virtually impossible. The Saudis, therefore, face a large budget deficit.

The slide of the Gulf States towards inevitable financial crises will mean that the whole Arab region will also be hit by comprehensive economic difficulties. Countries across the region need to move quickly to contain the repercussions and limit the impact.

This article first appeared in Arabic in Arabi21 on 9 March 2020.

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

FOREIGN NEWS 07

PutIn APProVEs CHAngEs ALLowIng HIm to stAy In PowEr untIL 2036 MOSCOW

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AGENCIES

USSIAN President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday opened the door to constitutional changes that would allow him to remain in power until 2036, but said he favored term limits once the country became politically “mature”.

Putin, who in January unveiled a major shake-up of Russian politics and a constitutional overhaul, is required by the constitution to step down in 2024 when his second sequential and fourth presidential term ends. But addressing the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, he gave his qualified blessing to a proposed change to the constitution that would formally reset his presidential term tally to zero.

“The proposal to remove restrictions for any person, including the incumbent president … In principle, this option would be possible, but on one condition – if the constitutional court gives an official ruling that such an amendment would not contradict the principles and main provisions of the constitution,” Putin said.

He said U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt serving four terms because of the upheaval his country was going through at the time was an example of why presidential term limits were some-

times superfluous.

“In conditions when a country is experiencing such shocks and difficulties, of course … stability is perhaps more important and must be a priority,” he said, adding that Russia was still recovering from the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. If, as Putin’s critics suspect, the constitutional court gives its blessing to the amendment and it is backed in a nationwide vote in April, Putin could serve another two back-to-back six year terms.

Were he to do that, and his health and electoral fortunes allowed, he could stay in office until 2036 at which point he would be 83.

Kremlin critic and opposition politician Alexei Navalny said he believed Putin was now set to become president for life, while Navalny’s ally, Ivan Zhdanov, decried the move as tantamount to a constitutional coup.

ROOM TO MANEUVER: Putin, 67, now had more room to maneuver politically, said Tatiana Stanovaya, a non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Moscow Center.

His stance handed him the option to run again in 2024 should he choose to do so and removed political challenges raised by what had been seen as his last term in the Kremlin, she added.

“The successor issue disappears. The issue of Putin as a lame duck disappears,” said Stanovaya. Opposition activists said they planned to protest against what some called a rewriting of the constitution in the interests of the ruling elite. One group said it had applied for permission to stage a demonstration on March 21.

A former KGB officer, Putin, who is serving his fourth presidential term and has also served as prime minister, has dominated the Russian political landscape for two decades.

Putin has not spelled out what his plans for the future are, but he has said he does not favor the Soviet-era practice of having leaders for life who die in office.

Putin appeared before parliament on Tuesday after Valentina Tereshkova, a lawmaker from the ruling United Russia party and the first woman in space, told parliament she was proposing to amend the constitution in a way that would reset his presidential term count to zero.

Explaining the surprise move, Tereshkova said voters had told lawmakers in recent meetings that they wanted Putin to “stay nearby”, whatever constitutional changes occurred.

“What if suddenly something goes wrong?” asked Tereshkova. “He (Putin) will be able to support, help and have our backs.”

Biden hopes to continue momentum in key Michigan primary

London man second patient to be cured of HIV LONDON: A second patient has been cured of HIV after undergoing stem cell transplant treatment, doctors said Tuesday, after finding no trace of infection 30 months after he stopped traditional treatment. The so-called “London Patient”, a cancer sufferer originally from Venezuela, made headlines last year when researchers at the University of Cambridge reported they had found no trace of the AIDS-causing virus in his blood for 18 months. Ravindra Gupta, lead author of the study published in The Lancet HIV, said the new test results were “even more remarkable” and likely demonstrated the patient was cured. “We’ve tested a sizeable set of sites that HIV likes to hide in and they are all pretty much negative for an active virus,” Gupta told AFP. The patient, who revealed his identity this week as Adam Castillejo, 40, was diagnosed with HIV in 2003 and had been on medication to keep the disease in check since 2012. Later that year, he was diagnosed with advanced Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a deadly cancer. In 2016 he underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat blood cancer, receiving stem cells from donors with a genetic mutation present in less than one percent of Europeans that prevents HIV from taking hold.

He becomes only the second person to be cured of HIV after American Timothy Brown, known as the “Berlin Patient”, recovered from HIV in 2011 following similar treatment. Viral tests of Castillejo’s cerebral fluid, intestinal tissue and lymphoid tissue more than two years after stopping antiretroviral treatment showed no active infection.

Gupta said the tests uncovered HIV “fossils” — fragments of the virus that were now incapable of reproducing, and were therefore safe. “We’d expect that,” he said. “It’s quite hard to imagine that all trace of a virus that infects billions of cells was eliminated from the body.” AGENCIES

WASHINGTON

Canada introduces bill to ban gay 'conversion therapy'

AGENCIES

Prince Andrew shuts door on cooperation in Epstein case LONDON: Britain’s Prince Andrew has “completely shut the door” on cooperating with the FBI in its investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a US prosecutor said Monday. Despite publicly offering his assistance, “Prince Andrew has now completely shut the door on voluntary cooperation,” said New York attorney Geoffrey Berman, who had already accused the prince in late January of failing to cooperate. Berman added that his office, which is known for having some of the most aggressive investigators in the US federal judiciary system, “is considering its options” on how to proceed, without offering further details. Queen Elizabeth II’s second son stepped back from frontline royal duties after he faced outrage over an interview with the BBC late last year in which he defended his friendship with Epstein.

Andrew, 59, also denied having sexual relations with Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was trafficked to have sex with friends of Epstein when she was 17. Epstein, 66, killed himself in a New York jail in August while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. He was a multi-millionaire hedge fund manager who befriended countless celebrities over the years, including US President Donald Trump. Epstein was charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and another of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. He denied the charges but was facing up to 45 years in jail if found guilty. AGENCIES

Surging US presidential candidate Joe Biden urged Michigan voters Monday to help him bolster his lead over Bernie Sanders as the rivals made their final pitches hours before the battleground state holds its Democratic primary.

The veteran politicians — Biden a moderate former vice president and Sanders a leftist senator calling for nothing less than a political revolution — are locked in a political duel to decide who faces President Donald Trump in the November election.

Michigan is the top prize with the largest number of delegates at stake among six states, and the candidates campaigned heavily here.

While Sanders is desperate to right his listing ship with a strong showing, Biden is riding high, having won 10 of 14 states that voted last Tuesday, and was hoping to continue the momentum.

“Michigan, I’m counting on you in a big way!” Biden told a cheering crowd at a majority black high school in Detroit. Biden, 77, is flush with the endorsements of several high-profile former rivals in the Democratic race, including two prominent AfricanAmerican senators: New Jersey’s Cory Booker, who threw his support behind Biden early Monday, and Kamala Harris of California. Both law-

makers are touted as possible vice presidential picks for Biden. Michigan “could be the turning point” of the campaign, Booker said at a Biden rally in Flint.

Later in Detroit, he implored Michiganders to get out the vote on Tuesday to help secure a Biden victory. “We can’t pray he wins, we can’t hope he wins, we can’t wish that he wins,” Booker said. “We’ve got to vote him in.” Biden took the stage with Booker, Harris and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, hugging each of them before the quartet held hands and raised them triumphantly aloft. Biden, who served eight years as deputy to Barack Obama, America’s first black president, has repeatedly warned that Americans were not looking for a revolution — a jab at Sanders, the 78-year-old self-described demo-

cratic socialist. In Detroit, he pushed his Rust Belt roots, highlighted his extensive work in Michigan and reprised his blue-collar message that he honed earlier in the race.

“Wall Street didn’t build America, you built America,” Biden said.

“Unions built the middle class.”

Sanders also campaigned in Detroit on Monday and held a roundtable with experts on the coronavirus, which has left at least 26 people dead in the United States and sent stock markets plunging.

Sanders criticized Trump’s handling of the crisis, saying the president’s “reckless statements are confusing people in this country and all over the world.” Biden made no mention of coronavirus at the Detroit rally, but his campaign made several bottles of hand sanitizer available to attendees.

MONTREAL: The Canadian government on Monday announced a bill to ban so-called “conversion therapy,” which tries to change the sexual orientation of young LGBT people.

The bill would create five new offenses in the Canadian criminal code, including prohibiting subjecting a minor to the practice, either in Canada or abroad. An adult would also not be able to undergo conversion therapy against his or her will, and no one would be allowed to profit from or advertise it. If the bill passes, Canada’s laws on conversion therapy would become some of the “most progressive and comprehensive in the world,” David Lametti, the minister of justice, told reporters while presenting the bill to parliament. Two adults who had been forced to undergo conversion therapy in childhood testified on about their experiences. “I’m a survivor of conversion therapy,” said Erika, a trans woman. “My body is a prison because of what my conversion therapist did to me, and I live with that every day,” she said in a vehement denunciation of the practice. The bill’s adoption by parliament appears all but assured, even though Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government is the minority in the House of Commons. The left-wing New Democratic Party has already announced it intends to back the bill. AGENCIES

A DAY WITHOUT US

Mexican women stage protest by absence MEXICO CITY AGENCIES

Women mostly stayed off Mexico City’s streets Monday as part of a protest against the country’s soaring rate of gender violence.

The “Day Without Us” strike was staged to highlight the more than 1,000 women and children murdered in Mexico last year.

“This is what a society without women would look like,” said Jorge Luna, 21, an employee at a chain of cafes where only male customers and staff were present on Monday. Few women could be seen walking or driving through the center of the capital, waitresses abandoned cafes and restaurants to their male counterparts and female teachers and office workers for the most part stayed at home.

“Parents, be informed that female personnel are joining this national strike by women,” read a sign posted outside one school in Mexico City. Many schools remained shut as a result, while female students boycotted university lectures. Elsewhere, women who had chosen to work wore a purple ribbon or garment, in solidarity with the nationwide campaign against gender violence In Mexico City center, a woman cleaned the glass windows of a cafe bearing the sign in support of the strike that read: “We stand with those who make us giants.”

The country’s biggest daily newspapers featured purple-colored pages. Spaces normally allotted to pieces by women columnists were empty or filled with the phrase: “A day without them.”

The morning radio and television news

broadcasts featured only male presenters.

Only a third of Mexican bank Banamex locations opened for business, while less than half of all BBVA bank branches were functioning, the El Universal daily reported.

Nurses and other health workers turned up for work as usual at hospitals, but taco sellers working from street kiosks and subway cleaning staff were conspicuous by their absence. “In some metro stations, men are working and replacing female employees,” Jesus Aguilar, head of the city’s Zocalo metro station told AFP. On Eje Central Avenue in the city center, most businesses run by women remained closed.

CONSERVATISM DISGUISED AS FEMINISM: Women’s movements in Mexico have gradually become more vocal in their demands for immediate action to re-

duce the number of femicides, which grew by 136 percent between 2015 and 2019.

Two brutal murders last month, including that of a seven-year-old girl, highlighted the issue ahead of an International Women’s Day march on Sunday attended by 80,000.

When a “no-women day” was first an-

nounced, businesses and government agencies were quick to report that women employees who took part in the protest would be paid normally. “Our system is so patriarchal that when women decide to stop (work), men feel compelled to give us their permission,” said Yindira Sandoval, leader of a Mexican feminist association. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador dismissed the women’s protests as “conservatism disguised as feminism” and accused his political opponents of trying to destabilize his government by using feminist organizations. Apart from an end to violence against women, feminist groups are also campaigning for progress in reducing the gender wage gap and an end to workplace harassment. Other women’s protests were also held throughout Latin America.

Some 3,000 women taking part in a feminist strike demonstrated in Chile’s capital Santiago, where there were some clashes with police, who responded using water cannon and tear gas.

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

ArgEntInA ProPosEs $69 bILLIon dEbt rEstruCturE PLAn BUENOS AIRES

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AGENCIES

RGENTINA has finalised a proposal to restructure some $69 billion of the country’s massive public debt, the government said Tuesday, hoping to delay the maturity of some institutional loans and reduce the amount owed to private creditors.

Since taking office in December, President Alberto Fernandez’s administration has insisted it will not be able to pay off its creditors if its recession-hit economy fails to resume growth.

The country is struggling with inflation of more than 50 percent, a major currency depreciation and a poverty level that has soared almost to almost half the population after nearly two years of economic downturn.

In 2001 Argentina defaulted

rights groups condemn 10-year jail term for Vietnam blogger

on payments on nearly US$100 billion of its external debt, but has since paid some back in the form of large swaps. Now the government wants to delay the maturity on some loans and work with private creditors to reduce overall debt. Last week the government said it had recruited HSBC, Lazard and Bank of America to help with the restructuring.

Argentina currently owes $311 billion — more than 90 percent of the country’s GDP — with more than $30 billion in repayments due before the end of March. That includes a deeply unpopular $57 billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund negotiated by Fernandez’s center-right predecessor Mauricio Macri in 2018.

Last month the IMF said Argentina’s debt was “not sustainable” and urged the government to generate funds from private investors.

British PM Johnson defeats lawmaker revolt on Huawei's 5G role LONDON AGENCIES

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday defeated his first party rebellion over a government decision to allow China’s Huawei to have a role in building Britain’s 5G phone network.

Huawei, the world’s biggest producer of telecoms equipment, has been caught in a stand-off between Washington and Beijing after the United States accused it of spying on Western secrets, allegations which the company has denied.

Britain decided in January to allow Huawei into what the government said were non-sensitive parts of the country’s 5G network, capping its involvement at 35%.

This angered the United States, which

wants to exclude Huawei from the West’s next-generation communications systems and has urged Britain to rethink.

Some senior Conservatives shared the U.S. unhappiness. They wanted Huawei eliminated entirely from Britain’s 5G networks by the end of December 2022.

The government tried to placate the rebels by saying it would work toward increasing the supply of 5G telecoms gear so operators would not need to use Huawei, but it refused to commit to any timetable to ban the Chinese company.

It was not enough, however, and the rebels pushed their plan to a vote.

The government, which has an 80 seat majority, won by 24. Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman said the government had “heard loud and clear the points made on all sides of the house”.

Bob Seely, one of the rebels, signaled the group would continue to pursue their cause, describing the vote as “a strong first showing” in a posting on Twitter.

The rebels wanted to amend the Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill to ensure that companies termed by British security experts as “high-risk vendors” – such as Huawei – were stripped out of networks completely by the end of 2022.

The government said it did not want high-risk vendors to have any role, but in a market dominated by three players, Huawei, Sweden’s Ericsson (ERICb.ST) and Finland’s Nokia (NOKIA.HE), some network operators were relying on Huawei. “We would like to get to the point where we won’t need to have any high risk vendors at all,” digital minister Oliver Dowden told parliament.

Huawei vice president Victor Zhang said the company had been “reassured” by the government’s decision in January, which would “result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure”.

“An evidence-based approach is needed, so we were disappointed to hear some groundless accusations asserted,” he said. “The industry and experts agree that banning Huawei equipment would leave Britain less secure, less productive and less innovative.”

TIMETABLE: Conservative lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith, who put forward the amendment, said he wanted a clear timetable from the government on its plan to completely remove high-risk vendors.

“I am always flexible on the date, providing the intent and commitment to eradicate the involvement of high risk vendors from our system, across the board, full stop,” he said.

Dowden said the government would work with international partners to increase the choice of vendors during this parliament, which is due to end in 2024.

While the Conservative rebels failed to change government policy, they fired a sizeable warning shot across the newly-installed government’s bows.

Mike Rake, the former chairman of broadband and mobile company BT BT. and an adviser to Huawei, said the Chinese firm has a vital role in building the 5G network Britain needs.

“Any attempt to further restrict Huawei 5G equipment, or to remove existing 4G equipment, will not only incur very significant costs but prejudice trade relationships with China and will significantly set back the government’s broadband ambitions,” he said in an open letter.

“This, in turn, will further damage our competitiveness as an economy at what is a critical moment.”

HK denies 'slavery' as prisoners work nights to make face masks KUALA LUMPUR AGENCIES

Hong Kong prison authorities rejected criticism of “modern slavery” on Tuesday as female inmates started working night shifts to produce millions of face masks after the fast-spreading coronavirus triggered shortages.

Inmates at the Lo Wu prison have complained about their health and low pay after monthly production for government agencies was doubled to 2.5 million masks amid surging demand, said lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun who met with the prisoners. “This is an exploitation and another form of modern slavery,” said Shiu, a former social worker who has been campaigning for prisoners’ rights.

Prison officials defended the decision on Tuesday.

“All persons in custody participating in the night

shift are on a voluntary basis,” said a spokeswoman at the Hong Kong’s Correctional Services Department, which oversees prisons.

“If they found themselves not adaptable to the night shift work, they may approach the management at any time,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in emailed comments. More than 114,000 people have been infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus globally and over 4,000 have died since it emerged in China in December, sparking a rush for face masks even as health officials have said healthy people do not need them. Across Asia, the spread of the flu-like virus has sparked a run on masks, with some hospitals struggling to procure enough for their staff, leading to rationing and arrests for hoarding.

With round-the-clock production, female prisoners, often working night shifts, earn about HK$800 ($103) a

month, Shiu said, which he said compared poorly to Hong Kong’s minimum wage of HK$37.50 per hour.

“This is not an incentive payment – this is a disincentive,” said Shiu, himself a prison laborer when he was jailed for five months last year over his role in Hong Kong’s 2014 pro-democracy protests.

The prison official said about 100 women prisoners work six days a week, for shifts of six to 10 hours, sometimes at night, and earn about HK$25 to HK$200 per week, depending on their skills or exact work.

About 1,200 retired or off-duty prison officers are also working to produce the masks, the government said.

Prisoners around the world have been put to work for centuries, although the United Nations guidelines stipulate that inmates should not be held in slavery and deserve a fair wage and decent work conditions.

HANOI: The jailing of a Vietnamese blogger for 10 years was condemned by rights groups Tuesday as “unacceptable” and an attack on free speech. Truong Duy Nhat, a regular contributor to Radio Free Asia, was found guilty in a brief trial Monday of defrauding the public of $560,000 when he worked for a stateowned newspaper in the central city of Danang in 2004, state media said. Describing the sentence as “harsh and totally unacceptable”, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called for the “immediate release” of Nhat who had posted articles critical of the government on his blog. RSF ranked Vietnam 176th on its 2019 World Press Freedom Index as one of the world’s biggest jailers of journalists and bloggers. “Officially convicted of abusing his professional position, he is in fact paying dearly for his professionalism,” said Daniel Bastard, RSF’s Asia-Pacific director. Radio Free Asia also condemned the conviction as “unjust” and “a blow against free speech and free expression.” All media in Vietnam is state-run and independent journalism and bloggers are banned. Since its hardline leadership took power in 2016, the country’s single-party state has tightened its grip on criticism and different viewpoints. This is Nhat’s second prison stint.

He was jailed for two years in 2014 for “abusing democratic freedoms” for critical blog postings. He was discovered in a Vietnamese prison in March last year after fleeing to Thailand seeking refugee status with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The circumstances of Nhat’s return to Vietnam were never clarified by Hanoi. AGENCIES

market rout costs India's Ambani crown as Asia's richest person MUMBAI: India’s Mukesh Ambani has lost his crown as Asia’s richest person after the latest rout across global markets wiped almost $6 billion off his fortune, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. All told, the world’s 500 richest people lost $238.5bn on Monday, according to Bloomberg, the biggest daily plunge since the index began tracking them in October 2016. Equity and oil markets went into meltdown on what has been dubbed Black Monday as growing fears about the economic impact of COVID-19 were compounded by Saudi Arabia’s decision to slash crude prices following a row with Russia over production cuts. Crude prices tanked by a third in their worst drop since the 1991 Gulf War. The sell-off erased $5.8bn from 62-yearold Ambani’s net worth to leave him with a net worth of about $41.8bn. He was overtaken

by Chinese tycoon Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba whose fortune had fallen about $1.1bn to $44.5bn. Ma, 55, had ceded the number-one ranking in mid-2018. The slump in oil prices raises questions about plans by Ambani’s Reliance conglomerate to cut debt as they hinge on selling a stake in its oil and petrochemicals unit to Saudi Aramco, Bloomberg reported. AGENCIES

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

08 COMMENT

India’s communal citizenship law

Window of opportunity for Imran Khan Relief for common man and uplift of business activity

How India hoodwinks the international community

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AmjEd jAAVEd

PeAKing at ghallanai in Mohmand district on Monday, PM imran Khan pointed out that neither the common man nor the national industry can sustain more pressure from the iMF. His government therefore was determined not to raise the electricity and gas tariffs. The fall in oil prices by almost a third, following Saudi Arabia’s move to start a price war with Russia, offers imran Khan an opportunity to fulfil his promise and more. one hopes that the opportunity is not lost.

Pakistan will save around $4-5 billion in oil and gas imports alone. This would benefit the country which badly needs to reduce its current account deficit. The fall in petroleum prices would also help decelerate the currently high level of inflation and prepare a strong case for a cut in the benchmark interest rate by as much as one percentage point to 12.25 percent. The deceleration in inflation will reduce the sufferings of the common man while the expected reduction in the benchmark rate will provide relief to the business community, provided the bulk of the bank loans are not acquired by the government. negotiations with the iMF are already underway on how to reduce circular debt without increasing energy tariffs. The government can use part of the fuel price adjustment in settling circular debt, thus retrieving its promise. The government has now an opportunity to resolve energy inefficiencies and high generation cost. The breathing space provided by a lower petroleum price could also be used to renegotiate some of the Fund’s grossly unrealistic targets.

Prime Minister imran Khan has received suggestions from various ministries on how to capitalize on this low price environment. The problem with the government is the presence of so many lobbies in the Cabinet which continue to sway Mr Khan’s opinion, leading his critics to maintain that he is capricious. on Monday, he removed the third Board of investment chairman in less than a year and a half. The PM needs to formulate a balanced policy that provides a major relief to the common man while it also promotes economic activity. What one hopes is that he will then stick to it.

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AnY countries including iran, indonesia. Turkey and Malaysia are rueful at enactment of india’s controversial communal citizenship act. Several international business and political figures like Bernie Sanders, front runner for the USA’s Democratic presidential nomination, and Roger Waters, cofounder of rock band Pink Floyd, actor John Cusack, and comedian John oliver also have criticised the law. Forty-six Muslims protesting against the law were shot dead by Hindu goons. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee called it “state-sponsored genocide”. earlier, 26 people had been killed in countrywide protests.

The Indian Express of 31 January commented in its editorial “Minorities in india are coming to believe that there is a campaign to make them second-class citizens. For the present, let it be said, that if the price of proving their nationalism and patriotism is blood, then the minorities of india have overpaid”. india’s foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, however, insisted on March 1st, “let me clearly state here what our leadership has repeatedly confirmed at the highest level to the government of Bangladesh: this is a process that is entirely internal to india.

Therefore, there will be no implications for the government and people of Bangladesh. You have our assurance on that count.” He said so while addressing a seminar organised by the Bangladesh institute of international and Strategic Studies (BiiSS) in Dhaka.

His assertion is strongly contradicted by, for instance, the Assam government which announced to “provide nRC Rejection Slip to over 1.9 million people from March 20. The Rejection Slip will mention the reasons for excluding a person’s name from the final nRC. Those rejected are mostly Bengali immigrants. india dubs over 1.9 million Bengali refugees or settlers in Assam after 1951 ‘infiltrators’. The citizenship register establishes genealogical family trees going back until 1951. The forbears of some Assamese Muslims go back 500-700 years. But they have no document to prove their nationality. india is all set to drive ‘infiltrators’ out. Most of the settlers were sheltered during 1971 war as precious raw material for Mukti Bahini (freedom fighters). While disenfranchising Bangladeshis, india would grant ‘citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Par-

Political vigilantism The government should condemn the attack on Dr Adnan Khan

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oliTiCAl discourse in Pakistan has gone through a worrying amount of degradation over the last few years. This can be seen within Parliament where important issues that need to be debated are overshadowed by crosstalk from both sides of the aisle that eventually results in shouting matches, hurling of abuses and even coming to blows. even if elected representatives aren’t fighting amongst themselves directly, their many followers are at it on the social media where there is no limit to what can be said or done as things tend to get very personal very fast. Apart from followers, there are paid trolls running fake pages whose only purpose is to perpetually instigate fights across all social media platforms.

The most extreme form of this behaviour is ‘political vigilantism’, where groups of people will attempt to humiliate opposition politicians by standing outside their homes screaming obscenities. This is much easier when the politician in question is not on his home turf as is the case with former Prime Minister nawaz Sharif and his family, who have faced this sort of abuse the most since their addresses in london were revealed. A physical altercation between one such group and Mariyam nawaz’s son outside his london apartment last year is one example of how quickly such situations can escalate. on Monday Sharif’s personal physician Dr Adnan Khan was attacked and beaten up badly by two masked men in london while he was taking a walk in the evening. That Dr Khan had been receiving threatening phone calls for days prior to the incident shows that the assault was premeditated and organized. Although street crime in london is quite rampant, until the investigation is complete, nothing should be ruled out.

There is a deeper malaise at play here that has been allowed to spread and grow. This intolerance towards the opposition’s view on anything has taken its roots from the sort of politics the PTi practiced during its five years in the opposition, something that it has continued with, now in power. When federal ministers are not reprimanded for publically slapping journalists, those watching intently are dangerously empowered. When the criteria for a good ‘government spokesperson’ is his or hers effectiveness and readiness to call any opposition member that criticizes the Prime Minister a lying thief using new ways and metaphors, then those looking up to the PM also take the same cue. Any change in this policy would have to start from the very top, which is a tall order, considering how that is where it originates from. But a condemnation of the attack on Dr Khan would be a good start and would not be asking too much either.

Be a hero not a villain Many non-Muslims showed heroism in the recent riots

ALI SUKHANVER

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eligion is, most of the time, not by choice. Tom is a Christian because his parents were Christians and Akbar is a Muslim because his parents were Muslims. The Same is the case with Ram and gupta; who are Hindus because they were born in a Hindu family. People do change their religion but such cases are very rare.

However, extremism in religious thoughts is all the time a very personal trait. We have ample examples of people belonging to Christianity but taking care of helpless Muslims, and vice versa. Though increasing economic pressure and everyday growing social problems have made life more complicated and more complex than before, but at the same time these factors, to some extent, are diverting the attention of religious extremists to the issues directly linked with their existence and survival.

A change is in process; the change of minds and hearts.

The days are not very far away when the world around us would come to realize that humanity is the strongest bond and the most trustworthy basis of sincere relationship. Recently new Delhi presented a very sublime example of this humanity-based relationship.

For the past many days, the capital city of Delhi has been burning in the fire of communal clashes.

These clashes started with an ordinary quarrel between pro- and anti-CAA groups but the law-enforcement agencies could not, or did not try. to make the matter settle down. The clashes soon turned into riots reulting in the death of more than 50; and more than 200 seriously injured. But during that entire massacre there were many who simply endangered their lives in trying to save the Muslims in trouble; and these res-

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Umar Aziz

Asher John

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Deputy Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

sis, Christians and Buddhists from Pakistan, tion. These demands must be contextualised in the Afghanistan and Bangladesh who came to india’. light of the developments in Tripura over the last The citizenship criterion violates provisions of Arti- four decades. As early as 1979, after years of strugcle 14 of the indian constitution. The article guaran- gle, the tribal people of the State had gained special tees ‘equality before the law and prohibits autonomy provisions, like the institution of the discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and the recognition of their spoken language, among sex or place of birth’.

The anti-Bengali sentiment in Assam is fast en- other assurances.

The nRC process in Assam has overwhelming gulfing other indian states. For instance Meghalaya, support across most polit‘the abode of clouds’, also ical parties. There is no is on the boil. The Tribune consensus as to how the commented on 3 March, deportation process “The Citizenship Amendshould proceed. Such a ment Act bogey continues The Indo-Bangladesh border is bureaucratic exercise has to spread hate and fear in porous. How much ordinary deep humanitarian implithis scenic state. looking it would create at the larger picture, the Bengali soldiers hate India is well cations. new fault lines, especially Centre’s tough stand on in a State like Tripura the CAA is proving to be reflected by a small incident. where there is no such counterproductive, be it in A flag meeting at Indian request unanimity of views on the the northeast or the rest of nRC process. it will play the country”. was held in October to resolve the havoc with reconciliation Just three months after between Bengali-speakthe final draft of the natransmigration issue. Suddenly, ing and tribal people. tional Register of Citizens The indo-Bangladesh for Assam was released, during the meeting a Bangladeshi border is porous. How india’s Supreme Court has border guard pulled out his AK-47 much ordinary Bengali tagged a petition seeking a soldiers hate india is well similar process for rifle and shot dead a Border Security reflected by a small inciTripura.

The bench headed by the previous Force jawan, while injuring another dent. A flag meeting at indian request was held in Chief Justice of india, Mr october to resolve the Justice Ranjan gogoi, transmigration issue. Sudpassed this order on a pedenly, during the meeting tition a group of activists from Tripura. They sought a process to identify illegal a Bangladeshi border guard pulled out his AK-47 rifle migrants and deport them from the State. They and shot dead a Border Security Force jawan, while pleaded that the influx amounted to “external aggres- injuring another.

To please indian Prime Minister narendra Modi, sion” and had turned the tribal people into a minority Bangladeshi Prime Minister Hasina Wajed presented in their own native land.

Much of the migration into Tripura had occurred him a portrait of Pakistani troops’ surrender in 1971, before the creation of Bangladesh. The petition takes when he visited. Several Bangladeshis were hanged recourse to the 1993 tripartite accord signed by the for harbouring pro-Pakistan sentiments. Yet, india’s government of india with the All Tripura Tribal insincerity to Bangladesh now stands unmasked.

Force that asked for the repatriation of all What a journey from ‘Joi bangla’ (long live Bangladeshi nationals who had come to Tripura after Bangladesh) to ‘bongla kheda’ (drive out Bengalis)!

25 March 1971 and were not in possession of valid The writer is a freelance journalist, has served documents authorising their presence in the State. in fact, the petitioners sought relief even further than in the Pakistan government for 39 years and holds the terms of the accord. They demanded that the cut- degrees in economics, business administration, and He can be reached at off date for the recognition of migrants should be law.

July 1949, based on Article 6 of the indian Constitu- amjedjaaved@gmail.com.

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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cuers included Hindus, Sikhs and even Christians.

Recently The Guardian published an article by Premkant Baghel was also one of those who bravely Samanth Subramanian, ‘How Hindu supremacists are fought for his Muslim neighbours. According to the tearing india apart.’ The writer says, “For seven media reports, he saved the lives of six Muslims when decades, india has been held together by its constituan unruly mob threw petrol bombs and set Muslim tion, which promises equality to all. But narendra homes on fire. in his rescue-efforts, 70 percent of his Modi’s BJP is remaking the nation into one where own body received serious burns. He is still in hospital some people count as more indian than others.” He furbattling for his life. Certher says, “The Akhil tainly Premkant is an exBharatiya Vidya Parishad emplary character and his (ABVP) is the youth wing name would always be rethe Rashtriya SwayamIndia is a country doing trade and of membered whenever there sevak Sangh (RSS). is talk of religious harFounded 94 years ago by business very successfully with mony, tolerance and sacrimen who were besotted fice. Someone has very various countries all over the world. It with Mussolini’s fascists, beautifully commented on the RSS is the holding has so many big names and brands company of Hindu suthe ‘humanity-loving’ behaviour of Premkant premacism: of Hindutva, like Ambanis, Tatas, Birlas, and Baghel, “ When you face as it’s called. given its role a raging fire, you have the Mittals; the extremism and narrow- and its size, it is difficult to choice to sit and stare at it, find an analogue for the add more fuel to it or jump mindedness of the BJP might bring a RSS anywhere in the in it to save lives. Your world.” Certainly the ideas catastrophic disaster to these choice defines what your expressed by Samanth religion has taught you.” business organizations. Disaster in Subramanian would not be The same caring attitude welcomed by the BJP exwas shown by the Sikh the field of trade and business means tremists but this type of community in Delhi durpositive and mild approach destruction of the whole social fibre. towards ing the riots against the life, in fact, keeps Muslim community. societies alive.

Mr. Modi must review the direction in Media reports say that alindia is a country most all gurdwaras in which he is moving if he wants to doing trade and business Delhi opened their doors very successfully with varkeep India strong and integrated to Muslim families who ious countries all over the were forced to move out world. it has so many big from their homes. This is names and brands like Amthe real passion we need banis, Tatas, Birlas, and for making this world a paradise on earth. This world Mittals; the extremism and narrow-mindedness of the doesn’t need hatred and enmity based on religious dif- BJP might bring a catastrophic disaster to these busiferences. Anyone who is promoting religion-based ha- ness organizations. Disaster in the field of trade and tred and disgust is in fact a terrorist. Such rascals must business means destruction of the whole social fibre. be discouraged, rather chained in the larger interest of Mr. Modi must review the direction in which he is movthe world peace and prosperity. our world needs peo- ing if he wants to keep india strong and integrated. The ple like Premkant Baghel, not narendra Modi. More- indian nation is expecting from him the role of a hero, over it is not only Premkant Baghel who put his life but he seems opting for the role of a villain. in danger for saving his Muslim neighbours; there are countless other examples in indian society.

Ali Sukhanver is a freelance columnist.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Pension in PIA

A welcome development The extension of GSP Plus status will help boost exports

mALIK mUHAmmAd ASHRAf

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He european Commission has extended gSP Plus status for Pakistan till 2022 which would allow duty free access of Pakistani goods, especially textiles, into 27 member countries of the european Union. That indeed is a very positive and encouraging development as the countries of the european Union are the biggest market for our textile and garments and a major source of foreign exchange earnings. The extension in the gSP Plus was absolutely essential for our export sector, because our textiles and garments as yet cannot openly compete with other countries like China, india, Bangladesh, Turkey and Vietnam which are also marketing their textiles in eU countries. our textile and garment industries, besides earning foreign exchange, also provide job opportunities for our ever increasing labour force, especially women. According to reliable sources, since the grant of gSP Plus to Pakistan in 2014, our exports to the eU have increased from €4.538 billion in 2013 to €7.492 billion in 2019, registering an increase of 65 percent. The extension in the gSP Plus comes in the wake of the european Commission report on the implementation of 27 international conventions by Pakistan. The report particularly appreciated and expressed satisfaction on the progress made in regards to areas of climate change, forestation under the billion-tree tsunami project, improved vigilance to combat illicit narcotics and wildlife trade, political and administrative reforms to integrate the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), social protection initiatives like the ehsas Programnme, promotion of interFaith Harmony including opening of Kartarpur Corridor, and legislation to ensure the rights of women, children and the transgender.

The 3rd Biennial Assessment of gSP was published by the european Commission on February 10, 2020. According to gSP Regulations, the Commission and european external Action Service (eeAS) has to submit a report to the european Parliament and european Council on the performance of the gSP Scheme and the status of compliance of gSP-beneficiary countries on the 27 international conventions covered under the Regulation. The report was discussed in the international Trade (inTA) Committee of the eU Parliament on February 19 and in the gSP

The grant of gSP Plus to Pakistan, besides Working Party of the european Council on February 26.The european Commission and exter- representing success of the well coordinated nal Action Service recommended at both the diplomatic offensive of the government, also inforums to continue gSP Scheme and stated their dicates the faith of the eU countries in the qualmonitoring priorities for the next biennial mon- ity of our textile products. The eU is Pakistan’s itoring cycle. other countries which also have key partner in peace and development. The apbeen given this facility include Armenia, Bo- proval of the gSP Plus also reflects the commitlivia, Cape Verde, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Philip- ment of the european Union to its relations with Pakistan. The country direly needed this preferpines and Sri lanka.

The federal government, provincial govern- ential treatment as its textile products are still ments and the concerned ministries and depart- not competitive at the global level. it is like a ments under them deserve accolades for making whiff of fresh air for our strangulated economy. concerted efforts in regards to the implementa- The endorsement by the eU of the progress made by Pakistan with tion of the international regard to international conventions essential conventions also goes for claiming the gSP a long way in improvPlus status. in this reing the image of the gard the visionary Though Pakistan has qualified country in the comity ehsas Programme for the GSP on the basis of the of nations. launched by the PTi gSP Scheme government under the progress made on international wasThe launched by the stewardship of Prime eU in 1971 under Minister imran Khan conventions, still a lot needs which duty-free import which is meant to elimto be done in our own interest of goods from developinate poverty, achieve ing countries is allowed empowerment of to improve on the avenues of with the objective of women and make nudging and encouragloans to youth for startgood governance, which is not ing sustainable develing their own busionly utmost imperative for opment and good nesses, has received governance in them. it great appreciation from realizing our national objectives is a kind of incentive the european Commisarrangement for the desion. but also for earning a veloping countries. The As they say, credit beneficiaries are inmust be given where it respectable place in the cluded in the prois due. The PTi govcomity of nations. It is pertinent gramme on the basis of ernment has not only having ratified and imtaken imaginative and to point out that an ideal plemented 27 Un conpragmatic initiatives to ventions regarding stem the rot in the situation would be when human rights, good economy but has also Pakistan does not have to rely governance and enviput in place unpreceronment. Pakistan has dented measures to on concessional treatment from already ratified those change the fortunes of conventions and fulthe less-privileged secthe EU and its products can filled other qualifying tions of the society openly compete in that market. conditions. However, through the multi-dikey members of mensional ehsas iniThe government and the business some the eU, including gertiative. it is pertinent to many, have been insistpoint out that the status community need a productive ing on elimination of of gSP Plus beneficithe death penalty and ary granted to Pakistan collaboration in that regard of child labour in Pakby eU has not come istan to support its bid not only through the for inclusion in the implementation of the gSP Scheme. international convenThough Pakistan has qualified for the gSP tions but also by intensive lobbying by the Pakistani embassies in the eU countries, Ministry on the basis of the progress made on international of Commerce and the government of Pakistan at conventions, still a lot needs to be done in our own interest to improve on the avenues of good the highest level.

The extension in the gSP Plus status has governance, which is not only utmost imperative provided yet another opportunity to our business for realizing our national objectives but also for community and industrialists to make their con- earning a respectable place in the comity of natribution to the much needed enhancement in our tions. it is pertinent to point out that an ideal sitexports as they are considered to be the biggest uation would be when Pakistan does not have to propeller of any economy. The concession given rely on concessional treatment from the eU and by the eU would provide necessary props for the its products can openly compete in that market. efforts of the PTi government to revive the econ- The government and the business community omy through export-led growth, which forms the need a productive collaboration in that regard. pivot of its economic strategy. it is likely to spur Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic. economic activity within the country besides He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com. creating millions of new jobs.

PAKiSTAn international Airlines (PiA) had increased pensions for its retired employees first in 2013 and then in 2019.

According to the latest notification (2019), 25% increase was approved for the pensions being drawn over 30 years while 20% increase was for the pensions over the period of 20 years.

Similarly, 15% increase was given to the pensions drawing from over 10 years and 10% increase was allowed to the pensions for less than 10 years. According to the admin order no 21/2016 dated July 26, 2016, the salaries of general Manager and above were increased with effect from october 1, 2015 (Rs 74000) and then further increased with effect from January 1, 2017 (Rs 56000), making the total increase of Rs 130,000 approximately. But the fact is that the management should increase the pension of retired employees as per its circular no 21/2003 dated July 31, 2003. it is mentioned in this circular that ‘in future revision/suitable increase in pension shall be linked with salary revision of serving employees.

The ground reality is that almost every year there is plausible increase in the pensions of federal and provincial government employees at the time of budgets but this doesn’t happen at PiA. As per rules, all other governmental organizations give their retired employees 50% of their salaries as pensions.

This was also in practice at PiA till the end of 2003. interestingly, the national airline gives its employees 32 percent of their total salary as pension but the formula (which was adopted in 2003) it applies in the end makes the pension calculated on their basic pays. This is not fair.

Moreover, the payment of commuted amount must be given to the retired employees after attaining the age of 70 years as in practice at all government departments. on behalf of all retired employees of PiA, i request to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chief Justice of Pakistan to look into this issue and direct PiA that the pensions should be increased in line with the salary increase with the ratio of serving employees.

And in future pension increase should be made as per increase in federal budget every year by the government.

BASHIr AHMAd Lahore

Coronavirus in Balochistan WHen two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Pakistan, the Balochistan government announced holidays in the educational institutions of the entire province, till March 15 and, simultaneously, cancelled the HSSC Annual examinations as a precaution to protect children from the coronavirus. nevertheless, all the Markets, Shopping Malls, Picnic Points and Cricket grounds in the province are open. isn’t this an open contradiction?

How can young people be saved from the coronavirus by closing educational institutions and opening the Markets, Shopping Malls, Picnic Points and Cricket grounds?

Meanwhile, the situation is perfectly fine and fortunately, no cases have been reported in Balochistan till now; then why haven’t the matriculation exams started yet? To conclude, i request the Balochistan government and the education Minister to announce the new schedule for the HSSC Annual examination and revoke the holidays. dILSHAd BALucH SAJIdI, Kandahar Awaran, Baluchistan

Skardu accident THe horrifying incident that happened in Skardu where a coaster fell onto a river, resulting in the death of 21 passengers is a very tragic incident.

Unfortunately, this is a regular occurrence and families lose their loved ones every year. Army helicopters rescued the survivors and lifted the dead bodies, from the river. How long will it take our respectable government will take to notice of such serious incidents and make boundaries on those dangerous spots so people can travel safely? For some reason this is not a priority of the provincial or federal governments.

Shahzaib Shaikh Skardu

US- Afghan peace deal THeRe were smiles all around in Afghanistan because two bitter foes were shaking hands in the hope that a two decades long war was coming to an end. it started after 9/11 in and has affected the whole region and Pakistan has suffered more than any other country. Pakistan became “a state of refuge” for Afghans. it has done everything it could to host and help the refugees. Pakistan has also played a central and important role in bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.

The US also spent 1 trillion dollars in the conflict and lost 2,400 soldiers. Moreover, after destroying Afghanistan and killing thousands of Afghans, America get a safe passage by striking a deal. But who will pay for what the peaceful people of Afghanistan lost during the war? And who is the real winner of this war? T Taliban with plenty of deaths or America after wasting over 1 trillion dollars and losing 2,400 soldiers?

SAMEEr uMrAnI Karachi

Urdu commentary oVeR the years our country has produced gems like Munir Hussain and Hassan Jaleel in the field of Urdu Commentry. Munir Hussain was the pioneer of Urdu Cricket Commentary in subcontinent while Hassan Jalil is considered as a trendsetter in Urdu Commentry. But on the other hand in PSl season 5 the standard of Urdu Cricket Commentary is not up to the mark. Ramiz Raja who has established himself as an english commentator is unable to impress with his Urdu Commentary though he has tried his level best to do so. Here i would suggest PCB and other higher authorities to try commentators like Tariq Saeed and Mirza iqbal Baig for Urdu Commentary as it will definitely double the charm of PSl 5 KAMrAn KHAMISo KHAwAJA Sujawal

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

BUSINESS 11

CORPORATE CORNER Lucky Cement receives Corporate Excellence Award KARACHI: Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK) has won the Management Association of Pakistan’s (MAP) Corporate Excellence Award in the cement sector category. Lucky Cement Limited Executive Director Syed Noman Hasan received the award at the 35th MAP Annual Corporate Excellence Award Ceremony held at a local hotel. The Corporate Excellence Awards was instituted by MAP in 1982 with the sole aim to recognize and honor companies showing outstanding performance and demonstrating progress and enlightened management practices. PrESS rElEASE

G.H. Thaver gets APNS Gold Award KARACHI: At the APNS 24th Annual Awards Ceremony held recently at Islamabad, G.H. Thaver was amongst the few to be singled out for the coveted APNS Gold Award in recognition of five decades of excellence and achievements in the media industry. For over 60 years, Thaver has been serving trade and industry and has won many awards over the years. The stamp of Thaver quality in creative and focused advertising makes the agency one of the most competent in the advertising business. PrESS rElEASE

LoCAL ASSEmbLiNG of mobiLE PHoNES iNfLiCTS RS7.6bN LoSS iN 13 moNTHS ISLAMABAD

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AHMAD AHMADANI

HE assembling of mobile phones in the country has caused approximately Rs7.6 billion loss to the national exchequer in the last 13 months or so as local assemblers have allegedly been found involved in tax evasion, official documents reveal.

Local assemblers evaded duty/taxes on the import of mobile phones during the period under review, documents available with Pakistan Today said.

The data obtained from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) too confirms huge evasion of duty/taxes by way of misclassification as components/parts of mobile phones had been imported under PCT head 8517.700 (parts), instead of classifying the same in the correct PCT head 8517.1211 (SKD), which was specifically created by the government for local assemblers to classify mobile phones imported in CKD/SKD conditions.

19 ASSEMBLERS AUTHORISED BY PTA ARE ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN TAX EVASION, SAYS REPORT Against the duty/tax structure of Rs905 per mobile set (payable from May 24, 2018 to Jan 23, 2019) and Rs377 per mobile set (payable from Jan 24, 2019 to June 30, 2019; local assemblers actually paid Rs60-70 per mobile set, which reflects the quantum of tax evasion, the documents further say.

So far 27 local assemblers have been authorised by PTA to run local plants for assembling mobile phone sets after importing component/parts. They (the assemblers) have paid only Rs370 million instead of paying around Rs7.6 billion as only Rs60-70 per mobile set had been paid instead of Rs905 per mobile set during the period under review.

According to documents, up to 20.27 million mobile sets were imported and sold out from May 2018 to June 2019, but the Customs department was told about the import of 331,101 of sets.

Nineteen assemblers evaded taxes

and caused irreparable loss to the national exchequer under various heads like use of old IMEI, features smartphone etc.

The Directorate General, Intelligence & Investigation (Customs) Karachi- in a report titled as ‘Report on misdeclaration and evasion of duty/taxes on the import of mobile phones in CKD/SKD conditions’ to the DG I&I (Customs) Islamabad- has requested for necessary guidelines, and revision in policy so that evaded duty/taxes could be recovered from the local assemblers.

It is also learnt from the report of the DG I&I (Customs) Karachi that mobile phone importers/assemblers have declared suppressed value of imports at $1-3 per mobile set, while its actual value was $6-8. “Thus local assemblers massively undervalued their imports and transferred under-invoiced amounts through money laundering besides

transferring huge foreign exchange by using unfair means, which needs to be investigated,” read the report.

The cellular mobile phones in CKD/SKD condition are importable at zero rate of duty in terms of Sr No 101 of Part-III of the fifth schedule to the Customs Act, I969, subject to the conditions stipulated there against. It, however, has been observed that local assemblers/manufacturers of cellular mobile phones are importing various parts of mobile phones through third party/contract assemblers rather than availing the said serial number of the fifth schedule.

And, this method is being adopted to avoid levy of regulatory duty and sales tax as per the ninth schedule to the Sales Tax Act, I990. Since most of these parts are being Imported from China FTA, as against 11pc stated tariff and paying sale tax @ 17pc on value of such parts instead of rates prescribed vide the ninth schedule, still sums up as duty/tax saving option for such importers, besides regulatory requirements of IOCO is also by passed.

Amid expected dip in inflation, textile millers demand significant rate cut LAHORE HASSAN NAQVI KARACHI: HabibMetro Bank was recognized for its best practices in diversity and inclusion at the Global Diversity and Inclusion Benchmarks (GDIB) Awards 2020. The bank won three awards ‘Recruitment & Development’, ‘Social Responsibility’, ‘Learning’. PrESS rElEASE

ISLAMABAD: Descon Manpower Services (MPS) has successfully conducted a nationwide recruitment campaign for the selection of workers for several overseas projects. The campaign began in July 2019 and concluded in February 2020. P rES S rEl EA S E

KARACHI: Tri-Angles Electronics (Pvt) Ltd – the official manufacturers and distributors of Hisense LED TV in Pakistan, has unveiled its new lineup of split type and floor standing type air conditioners in Pakistan. PrESS rElEASE

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited, a subsidiary of a British American Group, has launched the second chapter of its export initiative ‘Made in Pakistan2’ as well as its roadmap for future manufacturing investments to enhance exports. Pr ES S r E lE A S E

Textile millers and economic experts on Tuesday urged the government to reduce the interest rate, currently at 13.25pc, to a single digit.

Talking to this scribe, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association APTMA Group Leader Gohar Ijaz said that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) must announce at least a 250bps cut in the interest rate so as to stabilise the country's economy.

APTMA Punjab Chairman Adil Bashir said that the interest rate needs to be below 10pc, in line with other regional countries.

According to figures from the central bank, the benchmark interest rate in Pakistan is the highest in the region, as compared to Japan (-0.10pc), Thailand (1pc), South Korea (1.25pc), Taiwan (1.38pc), Hong Kong (1.50pc), Malaysia (2.50pc), Philippines (3.75pc), China (4.35pc), Indonesia (4.75pc), India (5.15pc), Vietnam (6pc) and Sri Lanka (7.5pc). "We [Pakistan] need an emergency reduction in interest rates...world interest rates are headed to zero or negative and we must also bring it to a single-digit immediately," said APTMA Punjab Vice-Chairman Aamir Sheikh.

Meanwhile, Naveed Gulzar, a leading textile miller from Faisalabad, told this scribe that the interest rate should be half of what it is at the moment, but it cannot be done in one go. "The

government should try and reduce it gradually over a period of three months -- 100bps cut in interest rate every month."

Acclaimed Economist Dr Qais Aslam said that 13.25pc interest rate by SBP was set in a bid to attract 'hot money' by speculators from abroad who get loans where the interest rate is 1.5pc and get a pure profit of 12pc.

Dr Aslam said Pakistan gets easy portfolio investments, but the irony is that the speculators take their money away in three months and there is no real investment in the country.

"Also, the fear is that if they take out all their money at once, the economy will go bankrupt. It is advisable to bring these interest rates to 8pc so that local investors can decrease their cost of doing business and the real economy might pick up and so would our GDP growth," he said.

Dr Ikramul Haq, an economic expert, noted that central banks around the world are reducing interest rates to give leverage to business houses and absorb the possible challenges in the wake of coronavirus.

"Secondly, inflation is also expected to come down after lower oil prices. There is certainly a sound economic theory behind keeping higher discount rate vis-à-vis inflation," he said.

Dr Haq added that if inflation is coming down as told by Prime Minister Imran then SBP must reduce the discount rate and bring it down to 12pc.

Dollar jumps to Rs157.44 interbank KARACHI: Bank Alfalah hosts an event for State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Dr Reza Baqir and international investors in Dubai. Pr ES S rE lE AS E

ISLAMABAD: A one-day conference on ‘Kashmir: Heaven in Ashes’ was organized by Bahria University at Islamabad Campus to raise awareness about the Kashmir cause. Pr ES S r E lE A S E

BUSINESS DESK: The US dollar maintained an upward trend against the Pakistani rupee in the interbank market for a second consecutive day on Tuesday.

The greenback went 86 paisa up to close at Rs157.44 for the day as compared to the previous closing of Rs156.58.

The Pakistani rupee has plunged by Rs3.20

against the dollar in the last two days.

On Monday, the greenback appreciated by Rs2.34 to settle at Rs156.58 for the day in the inter-bank market as compared to the previous closing of Rs154.24.

A similar trend was witnessed in the open market where the dollar rose by Rs2.70 to trade at Rs157 against the local unit.

Saudi Arabia, Russia raise stakes in oil standoff KARACHI: Indus Motor Company (IMC) has won the Best Corporate Excellence Award in the category of ‘Automobile Assembler’, as adjudged by the Management Association of Pakistan (MAP). PrESS rElEASE

KARACHI: Romana Sohail was announced the grand prize winner of ‘Go Home with Luxury’ contest, organised

by Shell Pakistan Limited (Shell Pakistan) and Visa. A special celebration was held at SPL Defence service station. PrESS rElEASE

KARACHI: National Highways and Motorway Police Inspector General Dr Syed Kaleem Imam august the officers and staff of South Zone, Karachi, while visiting the regional headquarter. PrESS rElEASE

LAHORE: The Bank of Punjab (BOP) and Alteridom Films Pvt Ltd have signed an agreement for banking arrangements. PrESS rElEASE

DUBAI/MOSCOW: Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it would increase its crude oil supply to a record high, raising the stakes in its price war with Russia and effectively rejecting Moscow’s overtures for new talks.

The clash of the two oil titans sparked a 25pc slump in oil prices on Monday, triggering panic selling and heavy losses on Wall Street’s main stock indexes, already hit badly by the coronavirus outbreak.

On Tuesday, Amin Nasser, chief executive of Saudi Aramco said the oil giant would increase supply to 12.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in April for customers inside the kingdom and abroad.

That’s 300,000 bpd above its maximum production capac-

ity, indicating Aramco may also free up crude from storage.

Saudi Arabia has also agreed with Kuwait to resume output from jointly operated oilfields in the so-called Neutral Zone, production which is not accounted for under Aramco’s output capacity of 12 million bpd.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Russia’s ambassador to the United States on Monday that energy markets needed to stay “orderly” amid rising concerns that extra supply from Saudi Arabia and Russia could trigger bankruptcies among higher-cost US shale oil producers.

Saudi Arabia has been pumping around 9.7 million bpd in the past few months. The kingdom holds hundreds of mil-

lions of barrels of oil in storage so it can supply oil above its production capacity.

Brent oil prices jumped 10pc on Tuesday above $37 per barrel after Russian energy minister Alexander Novak said Moscow was ready to discuss new measures with OPEC, effectively offering an olive branch to Riyadh.

But Saudi Arabia’s energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman appeared to rebuffed the idea. “I fail to see the wisdom for holding meetings in May-June that would only demonstrate our failure in attending to what we should have done in a crisis like this and taking the necessary measures,” Prince Abdulaziz told Reuters. AGENCIES

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

12 BUSINESS

Amnesty scheme: fbR asked to explain 12,000 pending cases of taxpayers ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PArACHA

Taking suo moto notice of 12,000 pending cases of aggrieved taxpayers, who failed to avail last amnesty scheme, the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to present its point of view on the matter.

Sources said the FTO had taken suo moto notice of those taxpayers who had paid tax challans before the deadline but were unable to avail the amnesty scheme due to the failure of the IRIS system. About 300 aggrieved taxpayers had lodged complaints with the FTO, they added. Sources said approximately 12,000 people had deposited Rs2.6 billion tax before the deadline of July 3, 2019 after creating draft declaration on the FBR’s eportal, but due to failure of online system, they could not declare their assets, sources said. According to the FTO, it was the prime responsibility of the tax department to provide technical facilitation to taxpayers, but the bureau had failed to provide such facility and consequently the taxpayers could not avail the tax amnesty scheme. Officials said the Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) had also lodged a complaint with the FTO to take suo moto notice of 12,000 pending cases with FBR. According to the PTBA’s written complaint, as many 12,000 people failed to declare their assets due to overburdening of the FBR’s online system, and loss of draft declarations that were saved on the FBR’s e-portal. However, no serious action had been taken so far by the FBR, which is a serious misconduct and maladministration, the complaint further stated. The FBR needed to prepare an alternative plan to facilitate the taxpayers to avail this scheme, while the FTO should interfere in the matter to provide relief to 12,000 aggrieved taxpayers, the association further said. According to the PTBA, the affected taxpayers lodged complaints with the FTO after getting disappointed with the FBR. The association claims that the prime purpose of the amnesty scheme was to broaden the tax net, documentation of the economy and to revive the tax system. The taxpayers must not be victimised for the failure of the FBR’s online system and that it should be re-opened to allow aggrieved taxpayers, who had already paid the tax, to avail the amnesty scheme. In May 2019, through a Presidential Ordinance a Tax Amnesty Scheme (Asset Declaration Act, 2019) was launched to allow the people to declare their concealed assets.

PiA suffers Rs2bn loss as flights to KSA suspended ISLAMABAD INP

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suffered a loss of Rs2 billion following the suspension of flights to Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the coronavirus-triggered temporary ban on Umrah. PIA officials told reporters on Tuesday that the airlines’ schedule has been seriously disturbed as tickets of 50,000 passengers have been cancelled so far. They further said that 34 flights to Medina and 13 to Mecca were scheduled weekly for business visa and iqama holders despite fewer passengers.

FLIGHTS TO MILAN CANCELLED: In separate development, PIA has decided to suspend direct flights to Italy’s financial hub, Milan, amid coronavirus outbreak. The decision had reportedly been taken in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in Italy, especially in Milan, which has claimed over 463 lives so far. PIA operates flights to Milan from Lahore and Islamabad airports. Sources said the flight operations to Milan would remain suspended till March 31.

‘CHiNESE PRESidENT To iNAuGuRATE RASHAKAi SEZ by JuNE THiS yEAR’ ISLAMABAD GHUlAM ABBAS

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FTER a delay of almost five months, the Rashkai Special Economic Zone of China Pakistan Economic Corridor would finally be inaugurated in May or early June by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is planning a visit to Pakistan by mid of this year.

This was disclosed by the Board of Investment (BoI) Secretary Omer Rasul while addressing a ‘Dialogue on Industrial Cooperation under CPEC and SEZs Framework’ on Tuesday.

“Since a successful contract between the Economic Zones Development and Management Company and the state-owned China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) has been signed to develop the Rashkai Special Economic Zone (RSEZ), the work on the first SEZ under CPEC will start in a month,” the BoI secretary said.

He said the government would ensure availability of utility services along with the infrastructure at the SEZ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within next one month while practical work on the first phase of the zone would be started by the mid of this year. “We are committed to providing over 60 MW to the zone in one year,” he said, adding that the Punjab government was also doing good job on development of M3 SEZ in Faisalabad.

He said among the three priority zones, Dhabeji SEZ would be the best zone because of its location.

He admitted that bureaucratic hurdles, compli-

cated procedures of approving the project and PCI, involvement of multiple departments in the execution of the project and fear of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were among the major hurdles which cause delays in the execution of any project in the country.

As per the plan, Rashakai SEZ, located in Nowshera district, will be spread over 778 acres of land and will be developed in three phases over six years.

It was earlier planned to be inaugurated in November 2019 but delayed for the absence of utility services and contract with the Chinese developer.

Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood said that the government's strategy for the future of the country was being prepared considering CPEC and the Special Economic Zones being developed under the corridor.

Dawood laid out the framework of economic development strategy and stated that the future lies in export-led growth strategy, which makes the development of SEZs more vital to improve the capacity and to complement the export requirements of the country.

He explained that Pakistan’s economy faced a lot of challenges, in terms of fiscal and current account deficits, and required serious steps in terms of devaluation, control on imports and government expenditures.

He apprised the participants that export-led growth strategy has already started bearing fruits as Pakistan had posted 13.6pc growth in exports

during February 2020 (in terms of value), while all other regional competitors showed a decreasing trend.

The adviser appreciated the efforts of exporters and businessmen for achieving this result and expressed his gratitude towards China for the phaseII of the Free Trade Agreement, which, according to him, was poised to further boost growth in overall exports of Pakistan.

Explaining the objective of Special Economic Zones under CPEC, Dawood informed that the SEZs were open for businessmen from all countries and nationalities, as lucrative incentives under SEZs were the same for everyone.

He added that investments in various sectors have started to pour in and that this momentum would pick up in the coming days. Dawood underscored that the second phase of CPEC was about “industrial and agricultural cooperation”, while the next phase would be about connectivity with regional and global markets, as a part of the overall Belt and Road Initiative.

Earlier, talking to the gathering, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing explained that the second phase of CPEC would include the engagement of private sector, local community and society at large.

He underlined that the current phase of CPEC would cover cooperation in industrial, agriculture, social, poverty alleviation and science & technology sectors, with an aim to boost the economy of Pakistan as well as to raise the skillset and living standards of the local population.

mARket DAily

KSE-100 rebounds after Monday’s rout KARACHI

Remittances rise 5.4pc to $15.1bn in eight months KARACHI

STAFF rEPOrT

MEIrYUM AlI

After taking a thrashing in the previous session, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) managed to recover some of its losses on Tuesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining over 600 points.

Global oil prices saw a recovery of around 4pc after falling around 30pc on Monday. It also helped the Asian markets take a breather after a tragic first session of the week.

On the economic front, the State Bank of Pakistan (PSX) is expected to announce its monetary policy on March 17th. Pakistan’s current interest rate at 13.25pc is among the top 20 highest rates in the world. Argentina currently has the highest rate of 38pc, followed by Zimbabwe with 35pc. Three countries; Japan, Denmark and Switzerland, discourage savings by implementing a negative interest rate.

Losing 145.26 points, the KSE-100 Index touched its intraday low at 36,913.69 during the initial trading hours. However, refusing to stay down, the index then rebounded and gained 675.80 points to mark its intraday high at

37,734.75. It finally closed higher by 636.80 points at 37,695.75.

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index gained 448.91 points to settle at 58,741.45, while the KSE All Share Index accumulated 309.07 points, ending at 26,184.13.

The overall trading volumes declined from 307.96 million in the previous session to 274.48 million. Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF +2.54pc), Pak Petroleum Limited (PPL -5.58pc) and Fauji Cement Company Limited (FCCL -1.44pc) topped the volume chart, exchanging 27.88 million, 23.62 million and 16.09 million shares, respectively.

Sectors that added positivity to the benchmark KSE-100 Index included banking (+353.01 points), fertilizer (+112.27 points) and oil & gas marketing (+93.34 points).

Among the companies, Habib Bank Limited (HBL +100.55 points), Bank AL Habib Limited (BAHL +64.49 points) and MCB Bank Limited (MCB +59.86 points) added maximum points to the index.

The oil & gas marketing sector (+5.66pc) turned out to be the top gainer of the session, with Attock Petroleum Limited (APL +6.85pc), Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL +5.56pc) and Hascol Petroleum Limited (HASCOL +1.69pc) closing with decent gains.

Overseas Pakistani workers remitted $15,126 million during the first eight months of the current fiscal year, an increase of 5.4pc or $770.7 million when compared with $14,355.8 billion received during the same period of last year. On a year-on-year basis, the country received remittances worth $1,824.3 million in February 2020, a growth of 15.3pc or $242.5 million when compared with $1,581.8 million received in February 2019, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan However, on a month-onmonth basis, workers’ remittances received during February FY20 witnessed a drop of 4.4pc when compared with $1,907.32 million worth of remittances received in January 2020. When comparing remittances received during February 2020 and that received in January 2020, almost all countries witnessed a decline.

Remittances received from Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA and UK stood at $421.96 million, $387.1 million, $333.5 million and $253.5 million, respectively. This is a decline of 2.6pc, 2.1pc, 0.5pc and 15.2pc respectively, when compared to January 2020.

‘Rate cut imminent’, analysts predict ahead of monetary policy meeting KARACHI ArIBA SHAHID AND MEIrYUM AlI

As the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is all set to announce its monetary policy later this week, almost all major brokerage houses and analysts have predicted that the current policy rate of 13.25pc will experience a cut.

Profit called 16 leading financial institutions and enquired about their stance regarding the upcoming monetary policy announcement. Fifteen responded while Al Habib Capital Markets reserved comments until the weekly Sensitive Price Index numbers are released.

Of the 15 that called, only two expect the policy rate to remain unchanged, while the remaining expect a policy cut. The mode is a 50bps cut. No house anticipates a rate hike.

The houses may change their stances if the Sensitive Price Index data released at the end of this week is different from their expectations.

The Monetary Policy Committee of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will meet on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, to decide about

the monetary policy.

The last rate hike was made in July 2019 to 13.25pc, following which the policy rate has remained unchanged. The cycle of monetary tightening was undertaken to control the rising inflation rate.

ANALYST COMMENTS: Adnaan Sheikh, the Deputy Head of Research at Pak Kuwait Investment said, “Given the recent change in macros fueled by coronavirus/oil prices etc. gives the SBP the chance to appease the businessmen community."

Arif Habib and BMA Capital, however, expect a 100bps cut, bringing the policy rate to 12.25pc.

Saad Hashmi, Executive Director of BMA, said, "Sooner than expected fall in inflation due to lower energy prices is the reason behind our expectation of a 100bps cut.

The primary reason is we did not expect oil to collapse the way it did, which is a positive for Pakistan."

Sami Tariq, the Head of Research at Arif Habib Ltd., cited weak global economic outlook, lower than expected inflation and commodity prices, and lower rates by global

central banks as the reason behind AHL expecting a 100bps cut.

With policy rates averaging at 5.69pc, and only 29 countries in the world bearing double-digit policy rates, there is a global trend of monetary easing.

According to Fahad Khan, the Deputy Head of Research at Adam Securities, “We have the highest rate in Asia. Most countries have started to cut rates to support the dwindling economy due to the virus.”

CAN THE ECONOMY AFFORD A CUT?: With two of the world’s biggest oil exporters engaged in a price war, and the already dampened economic sentiments due to Covid-19, the global crude oil market its worst since the 2008 global recession.

As bears take control of the market, the Pakistani economy can now move toward a rate cut owing to reduced inflationary pressure.

Speaking at an event of English Speaking Union held at a local hotel earlier this month, Dr Reza Baqir said the monetary policy committee of the central bank had to increase the interest rates as inflation was rising. At the same time, the committee was

confident that inflation would come down.

“We are confident that the combination of policies between the interest rates and the exchange rate is going to deliver declining the inflation and also it is going to keep the exchange market orderly”.

Analyst Tahir Abbas, in an earlier released report by AHL, said that for every $5/bbl decrease in oil price, our base case inflation (11.6pc for FY20) will be contained by 23 bps.

Abbas says for every $5/bbl downward movement in oil prices, there will be an annualized impact of around $1.1 billion on Pakistani imports, which may lead to a further reduction in current account deficit (CAD).

Pakistan imported $14 billion energy imports last Fiscal Year with Brent averaging at roughly $70/bbl. Pakistan will be able to save approximately $4 billion this annum if we average brent prices at $50 for the next fiscal year.

Considering how COVID-19 is not expected to impact Pakistan’s economy as devastatingly as it is around the world the

COVID-19 outbreak could affect Pakistan’s import mix. Of the top 20 commodities imported to Pakistan in the fiscal year 2019, China is the top supplier for 18 of them. The industries most affected include fertilizers, synthetic yarn, semiconductors, medical instruments, and others.

A previous Moody’s report in February market volatility might affect countries that rely on foreign-currency borrowing, which will face tighter financing conditions. These would include frontier market countries with nearer-term funding needs, such as Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

Earlier, Arsalan Soomro, Managing Director at KASB Securities, “Pakistan must capitalize on this once-in-a-term opportunity to fix the structural mess in the Power sector, build FX war-chest, increase tax-revenues, increase developmental spending - infrastructure, education, and healthcare - and reduce fiscal and external vulnerabilities for sustainable growth.”

Soomro further said, "PTI should think long-term and pass one-third of the relief to the masses. Save for the rainy days!"

“Early Mourning Hours” by saMiHaH Pargas is a soul-stirring anEcdotE At the age of 20, she writes sentiments immersed in sorrows and feelings that remain unsaid and the situations that most of us feel and go through daily. Reading the excerpts from her book is quite daunting. It looks like she knows what most of us are suffering from. As if this small girl is pretty much aware of the darkest secrets, the painful journeys, and the ecstatic victories. Lack of belief, finding peace, letting go of pain or searching for God, these pieces of paper with a black ink talk to you about the matters that are closer to your heart. She pens things down so beautifully that it hurts a little less, it gives courage to so many to move on from the pain and to learn from the trials and scars. We are talking about the very talented, unapologetic and wild (in her own sassy way), Samihah Pargas.

8

1

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

Well, I’m South African, from Johannesburg. I’m 20 and working on getting my degree. Apart from studying, I like to dabble in creative endeavors- writing, digital art, and photography too. It keeps me sane really, so I try to make time for it. I collaborate with other artists as well and enjoy creating and experiencing art with them.

2 3

What do you hope your readers take away from this book?

I tend to think that words/messages will reach whoever needs them, for whatever reasons they may need them.

So I hope readers take what they need to from the book, even if it’s simply that they feel less alone after reading it.

Tell us about “Early Mourning Hours”?

“Early Mourning Hours” is my bearing witness to journeys I have made. It is emotion, documented. Observations recorded. It’s also my first self-published book. I’d never have foreseen myself writing it although I had every intention to.

What was the inspiration behind writing it?

I was fortunate to have been in the company of other writers who often spoke of being more than just social media presence. We encouraged each other to do more with our words. I was, and am, an avid reader so I was familiar with the idea of a book. It came naturally, it seems. It made sense to me to dream of writing one. I didn’t know exactly what I would write about, just that I would write something. And that’s how it began really. The inspiration was the bright feeling at the very beginning of the dream.

4

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

What triggers your thought process and you feel like writing? For instance, every artist needs a kick.

What is yours?

I don’t think it’s a kick that artists need. Mostly I think the pivotal moment of inspiration is a myth we could debunk. I used to think I was only able to write at night and when in pain. Turns out, I just happened to use writing as cathartic relief for when I was in pain. I won’t deny some of my favourite pieces were written from a place of hurt. But some were written from curiosity, love, and confusion, and joy too. Artists can art whenever, especially if we stop telling ourselves that we need miracles to do so. Creativity is abundant, I think we just ought to learn how to connect with it. I practice stream of consciousness writing these days. I write whatever comes to mind without trying to shape it into something whilst writing. Then I focus on an interesting idea in the newly written piece that I want to expand on. It’s been helping me trust my work, and to navigate and understand my self. That’s my personal process and it’s still under construction. If I want to write something more structured, I keep the storyline in mind. Stories feel daunting to me, however. I’m keeping a safe distance from them until curiosity overrides my fear of failure.

By Rohama Riaz

5

What is the significance of the title?

Ah, the title! I have most of my epiphanies (and existential crises) very late at night or early in the morning.

My sleeping pattern is suffering of course. Writing is easier at these times, somehow. I think this is because around then, it’s finally quiet where I am. Any quiet time is a romantic time for contemplation and feeling to me. I confront a lot that I struggle to deal with then, too. In the book, there are poems mourning people and things. You can probably guess when they were written now.

6

Reading the excerpts, they look more like personal experiences. Is this so?

They are definitely personal. I’m not one to write anything that isn’t personal. I think that if I tried, my emotion and personal sentiments will find their way into the work. I don’t think a writer can be removed from their work.

7

What is the key theme and/or message in the book?

I think the key theme is healing. Even when the poem speaks of a painful experience, it calls to healing in whatever form it’s available for the reader.

9 10

In your words ( one line) How do you define God and his relationship with the creature?

Presently, I believe there is the One that guides and the one who trusts.

Nostrils take turns receiving the majority of the air you breathe, which explains why one is usually stuffier than the other.

When did you realise that there was a writer inside you?

I have been writing for as long as I can remember. I think I must ask when I realised that the writer inside me wanted to share.

The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade featured lions, camels, and elephants from the Central Park Zoo.

12

Writing and then sharing your pieces on social media; does acceptance or rejection from people in the world of social media make you anxious or worried?

It does make me anxious. In fact, it’s something I’ve been struggling with a lot lately because I’ve chosen to confront it. It’s easy to fall into trying to cater to what your audience wants. The thing is, both acceptance and rejection, if taken too personally, can lead you to try to fit into shapes that you aren’t. I’m learning to write for myself again and be just the person I am on social media. I want to embrace transparency and authenticity regardless of reactions online.

Wax-modeling pioneer Madame Tussaud was nearly executed by guillotine during the French Revolution.

John Krasinski calls wife Emily blunt ‘most tremendous actress of our time’

Aamir Khan wishes everyone ‘Holi Mubarak’ with pics of wife Kiran, son Azad

Holi 2020: aishwarya rai has fiery celebration with daughter aaradhya

Actor-director John Krasinski says wife Emily Blunt is the “most tremendous actress of our time”. The actor-turned-filmmaker has worked with his wife on A Quiet Place and then its sequel. He shared his admiration for his wife of nearly 10 years at the red carpet of the premiere of their film A Quiet Place Part II. “She is without a doubt the most tremendous actress of our time in my opinion,” etonline.com quoted Krasinski as saying. Krasinski, who wrote and directed the sequel, said that Blunt isn’t just a wonderful actress, but an amazing collaborator too.

“She is the most incredible partner in writing and directing and set designs. She just has such good ideas,” said Krasinski, 40, adding: “So I actually felt like I had my partner in all things on set, not just the best actress in the world. Anything I can think of, she makes 10 times better so that’s a pretty good weapon to have on set.”

A Quiet Place was about a post-apocalyptic world where humans are the prey of fast-moving creatures who track victims by sound.

The 2018 film revolved around a family struggling to survive in a world where making the slightest sound draws the attention of a predatory alien species that has taken over the planet.

Actor Aamir Khan has wished his fans and followers ‘Holi Mubarak’.

Aamir took to social media on Tuesday to share pictures of wife Kiran Rao and their son, Azad, as they celebrated the festival of colours.

He captioned the post, “Holi Mubarak guys,” and added his signature sendoff, “Love, A.” In the pictures, both Kiran and Azad can be seen wearing Holi clothes, and are coated in colours. Azad is even pointing a ‘pichkari’ towards the camera in the first picture, and beaming with joy in the second image.

Aamir’s fans took to the comments section to wish him and his family the very best. “Happy Holi!” wrote one person. “Love you from Israel” wrote another.

Aamir is currently filming Laal Singh Chaddha, his follow-up to the critical and commercial flop, Thugs of Hindostan. Laal Singh Chaddha is the official remake of Hollywood classic Forrest Gump, starring Tom Hanks. Speaking about how he, at the age of 50, could replicate running scenes filmed when Hanks was 30, Aamir told Hindustan Times, “Not really. [In Forrest Gump]… if you see each running shot, it’s not more than 30 seconds.

Actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has taken to Instagram to share pictures from the Bachchan family’s Holi celebrations on Monday. The actor’s pictures show her posing with daughter Aaradhya Bachchan, with a Holi bonfire in the background.

Aishwarya captioned her post, “Happy Holi to All. Love n Light.

She added a heart and star emoji to her caption as well. The first picture shows Aishwarya and Aaradhya smiling for the camera, with Aaradhya wearing a pink dress. Aishwarya has a ‘tika’ on her forehead. The next couple of pictures from the post show a magnificent bonfire, blazing away. The post has been ‘liked’ over half-a-million times.

The actor’s fans took the opportunity to wish her and the Bachchan family a happy Holi. Several fans left fire emojis in the comments section as well.

Aishwarya often shares pictures of her family on social media. Her most recent post featuring husband Abhishek and their daughter came on February 15. She also shared several pictures of the entire family, including father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan and mother-in-law Jaya Bachchan on Abhishek’s birthday on February 5.

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

14 SPORTS

MiaMi OpeN tO gO ahead aFter iNdiaN WeLLs axed miami

O

Agencies

RGANISERS of the Miami Open said Monday the tournament was still set to go ahead, a day after the ATP/WTA Indian Wells event in California was cancelled due to coronavirus. A brief statement released by the Miami Open organisers on Twitter said preparations for the March 23-April 5 event were "moving forward as scheduled."

"Safety remains a top priority, and we are monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely with local, state and federal officials and health organisations in the lead up to the tournament," the statement said.

"In addition we are working with the ATP and WTA tours on recommended best practices and following CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines closely to provide a safe environment for fans, players and staff," it added.

The statement came less than 24 hours after organisers of this week's ATP/WTA Indian Wells event said the tournament was being cancelled -- just days before it was due to begin.

Indian Wells is the most high-profile sporting event to be cancelled in North America because of the coronavirus.

Fans banned from Barca v Napoli Champions League tie over coronavirus

Officials said they opted to call off the event -regarded as one of the biggest tournaments in tennis outside of the four Grand Slams -- after California authorities declared a public health emergency in the region east of Los Angeles where the tournament is staged. That declaration followed confirmation of a COVID-19 case in the region.

Last week, Indian Wells organisers said they planned to go ahead with the tournament but had put in place a range of health measures such as hand-sanitising stations, beefed-up cleaning protocols and gloves for ball kids, volunteers and food workers.

Florida health authorities on Friday confirmed Friday two deaths from COVID-19, the first US fatalities outside the west coast states of Washington and California.

In a separate statement on Monday, ATP Tour chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said the calendary beyond Indian Wells "remains as status quo."

"We continue to monitor the situation daily, working closely with our player and tournament members with the understanding that direction must be taken from local public health authorities," Gaudenzi said. "We are committed to exploring all options for the operation of upcoming tournaments as the health and safety of our players and all other stakeholders remain our top priority."

peshawar leading Women games tally with 11 gold medals PeSHaWar APP

All sport in Italy halted because of coronavirus crisis

Barcelona Agencies

Barcelona's Champions League round of 16 return match against Napoli on March 18 has been ordered to be played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus outbreak, both clubs announced Tuesday. "The Champions League match scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, between FC Barcelona and Napoli, will be played at Camp Nou behind closed doors," the Spanish giants said on Twitter. Two other Champions League matches -- Tuesday's tie between Valencia and Atalanta in Spain, and Wednesday's Paris Saint-Germain v Borussia Dortmund match -- are scheduled to be played in empty stadiums in efforts to curb the spread of the killer virus. PSG's match at the Parc des Princes was forced behind closed doors after the French government announced a ban on all gatherings of more than 1,000 people in a country where 1,412 cases of COVID-19 infections have been recorded and 25 deaths. The announcement was closely followed by the postponement of the Six Nations rugby match between France and Ireland scheduled for Saturday in Paris. Spanish club Valencia's match against Atalanta was considered high risk and ordered behind closed doors because the Italian side come from Bergamo in the Lombardy region, one of the areas of Italy most affected by the virus. Italy, Europe's worst-hit country with 9,172 cases and 463 deaths, on Monday banned all sporting events until April 3, suspending all Serie A football fixtures.

rome Agencies

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Monday announced the suspension until April 3 of all sporting events in the country, including the top-flight Serie A football league, as Italy grapples with the coronavirus crisis.

The final Serie A game before government announcement saw Sassuolo beat Brescia 3-0 behind closed doors in Reggio Emilia on Monday.

After scoring his opening goal Sassuolo striker Francesco Caputo held up a handwritten message on piece of paper, urging fans: "Every-

thing will be fine. Stay at home."

A few hours later the Prime Minister used similar words as he announced a countrywide lockdown.

"I am going to sign a decree that can be summarised as follows: I stay at home," Conte announced in a dramatic evening television address.

The unprecedented measures limiting travel and banning public gatherings across the country of more than 60 million people came after 97 more deaths took Italy's toll to 463.

The measures include the closure of schools, universities and the suspension of sports competitions.

"There is no reason why matches

and sporting events should continue and I am thinking of the football championship," said Conte. "I'm sorry but all the fans must take note of it, we will not even allow gyms to be used for sports activities," he added.

The decree allows the possibility of organising matches under international jurisdiction behind closed doors, such as ties in UEFA's Champions League and Europa League.

Juventus are due to host Lyon in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Turin next week.

Inter Milan are due to host Spain's Getafe in the Europa League on Thursday while Roma welcome Sevilla a week later.

DRACONIAN MEASURES: Earlier Monday, Italy's National Olympic Committee (CONI), which has authority over all national sports federations, had recommended "sporting activities at all levels" be suspended until April 3 to help contain the virus outbreak and called for a government decree to enforce the request.

The decree, which goes beyond sport and provides for draconian new measures to combat the coronavirus, will come into force on Tuesday throughout Italy, the second most-affected country after China.

Peshawar with 11 gold, 4 silver and one bronze medal leading the Women Games so far, followed by Mardan with three gold medals and two silver and seven bronze medals took struggling at second and Hazara with two gold, three silver medals and one bronze medals at third in the ongoing KP U21 Women Games being played at Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex Charsadda on Tuesday.

Mardan also grabbed gold medals in Handball, Tennis, and Baseball with two silver medals and seven bronze medals. Mardan defeated: Peshawar Kohat has won one gold and one bronze medal. DI Khan Region has won one gold and one bronze medal so far. In judo competitions, Hazara won two gold medals with one bronze medal, Peshawar with one gold medal and two silver medals, while Kohat won one gold medal, one silver and one bronze medal. Women are competing in baseball, handball, tennis, judo, taekwondo, wushu, hockey, squash, archery and basketball, Director Female Games Miss Rasheda Ghaznavi said while briefing the media men during presentation ceremony of all Games. In the -40kg weight Kohat's Hasina won gold, Peshawar's Sahara won silver and Mardan's bronze medal, Hazara's Iqra won gold medal in -44, Soiya of Swat was second and Kohat's Laiba was third, in -48kg Nada of Hazara won gold medal, Peshawar's Rani Silver and Kohat's Saharish and Bashrai won bronze medal, in -52kg category, Bannu's second and Asma's Hazara finished in third position.

KARATE: In Men Full Contact Karate Peshawar with six gold medals and one silver medal secured 100 points and won overall trophy, followed by Hazara with one gold, one silver and two browns medals got 58 points.

Mardan with six browns medal took 42 points.

However, Malakand won one gold, one silver and two bronze, DI Khan, one gold and one bronze medals. Bannu won two silver and two bronze medals in these competitions.

ARCHERY: Peshawar secured 814 points, Mardan got second position with 396 points and Bannu finished third with 303 points. Peshawar won gold in both men and women.

Israr, Tayeb, Salman, Ihtesham while the women's team consisted of Aresha, Aqsa, Ayshia, and Laiba.

Bergwijn out for season, Mourinho still confident of Spurs success london Agencies

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho does not believe Dutch international Steven Bergwijn will play again this season to compound his lack of forward options with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min also sidelined by injury.

Bergwijn suffered a sprained left ankle in a 1-1 draw at Burnley on Saturday that stretched Spurs' run without a win in all competitions to five games.

However, Mourinho is bullish Spurs can spring a surprise by overturning a 10 first leg deficit away to Leipzig on Tuesday to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. "I don’t expect him to play again this season," said Mourinho at this pre-match press conference in Germany.

"We’re used to it. I’d say we were psychologically more down with the other injuries because this one, when you’ve got four or five injuries, to have six or seven is the same. No problem, we are very confident."

Tottenham are eighth in the Premier League, seven points adrift of a place in the top four, and were knocked out of the FA Cup by struggling Norwich last week. A run of poor results despite a depleted squad has raised questions over Spurs chairman Daniel Levy's decision to sack Mauricio Pochettino in November and replace the Argentine with Mourinho.

Pochettino transformed Tottenham's fortunes in five-and-a-half years in charge, but failed to turn that progress into trophies.

Mourinho has a stellar coaching CV having won 25 trophies at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United and he is confident that he will also end Tottenham's wait for silverware.

"I believe that Tottenham is not going to be my only club without silverware," added Mourinho.

"I won at every club and I believe I'm going to do it at Tottenham.

"I'm here for three or four months.

I get the team in a difficult situation,

now the team is in an even more difficult situation for the problems we are having, but I believe in me, in the players, in the club and believe that during my contract I will help the club and the players to do it."

In the absence of Kane, Son and Bergwijn, the onus is on Dele Alli to deliver the goals to keep Spurs' season alive. "This isn't a time to get our violins out. We have to show our character now as a team, everyone has to step up," said Alli.

"It’s been a difficult season but we have to keep believing."

Kane returned to training on Monday, but the England captain is still some weeks away from a comeback as he recovers from hamstring surgery.

"It’s a massive boost. Even when he’s coming to games to watch the games, he's always speaking and trying to motivate everyone, he’s a real leader," added Alli."I don’t want him to rush it because I know how much it can come back, but at the same time we need him as well."

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

SPORTS 15

hBL-psL 5: LahOre QaLaNdars deFeat peshaWar ZaLMi By 5 WiCKets

HBL PSL tODAY’S MAtcH vS 7:00 PM MuLtaN suLtaNs

LAHOre

QuOta gLadiatOrs

O'Brien's last-ball six helps Ireland clinch super-over win Greater noida Agencies

hBL scOrecArD Peshawar Zalmi innings (20 overs maximum) Kamran Akmal † c Haris Rauf b Patel1 ................................................................................................2 T Banton c Mohammad Hafeez b Shaheen Shah Afridi...............................................................0 LS Livingstone c Fakhar Zaman b Patel..............................................................................................4 Shoaib Malik c Fakhar Zaman b Wiese................................................................................................62 Haider Ali c †Dunk b Dilbar Hussain ...................................................................................................69 L Gregory b Shaheen Shah Afridi...........................................................................................................8 CR Brathwaite not out................................................................................................................................16 Wahab Riaz (c) b Shaheen Shah Afridi ................................................................................................1 Hasan Ali not out ..........................................................................................................................................7 extras: 8 (w 8) TOTAL: 187/7 (20 Overs, RR: 9.35) Did not bat: Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Tom Banton, 0.2 ov), 2-10 (Liam Livingstone, 1.3 ov), 3-24 (Kamran Akmal, 3.2 ov), 4-140 (Shoaib Malik, 15.2 ov), 5-155 (Lewis Gregory, 16.5 ov), 6-163 (Haider Ali, 17.4 ov), 7-169 (Wahab Riaz, 18.3 ov) BOWLing: ............................................................O......................M..................................R .......................W Shaheen Shah Afridi .........................................4-.....................0-.................................2........................8 SR Patel ..................................................................4-.....................0-.................................37-....................2 Dilbar Hussain .....................................................4-.....................0-.................................38-....................1 Haris Rauf .............................................................4-.....................0-.................................39-....................0 Maaz Khan ............................................................-0-...................1....................................4-......................0 D Wiese .................................................................3- .....................0..................................31.......................1 Lahore Qalandars innings (target: 188 runs from 20 overs) Fakhar Zaman c Yasir Shah b Wahab Riaz .......................................................................................63 Sohail Akhtar (c) run out (Haider Ali/†Kamran Akmal) ...............................................................21 CA Lynn c Yasir Shah b Brathwaite ......................................................................................................59 BR Dunk †c Banton b Brathwaite..........................................................................................................7 Mohammad Hafeez c Gregory b Brathwaite ...................................................................................4 SR Patel not out ...........................................................................................................................................11 D Wiese not out ...........................................................................................................................................17 extras: 7 (b 1, lb 3, w 3) TOTAL: 189/5 (19.5 Overs, RR: 9.52) Yet to bat: Dilbar Hussain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Maaz Khan Fall of wickets: 1-50 (Sohail Akhtar, 6.2 ov), 2-146 (Chris Lynn, 15.5 ov), 3-148 (Fakhar Zaman, 16.1 ov), 4-158 (Mohammad Hafeez, 17.2 ov), 5-160 (Ben Dunk, 17.5 ov) O-..........................M-.....................R-..............W BOWLing: Hasan Ali 4- ..........................0-.....................37-............0 Rahat Ali 4- ..........................0-.....................44-...........0 Wahab Riaz 4- ..........................0-.....................27- ...........1 Yasir Shah 3-...........................0-.....................26- ...........0 L Gregory 2- ..........................0-.....................23- ...........0 CR Brathwaite 2.5-.......................0-.....................28- ...........3 Match Details: gaddafi stadium, Lahore series: Pakistan Super League Toss: Lahore Qalandars , elected to field first Player Of The Match: Lahore QalandarsFakhar Zaman Season: 2019/20 Hours of play (local time) 19.00 start, First Session 19.00-20.30, Interval 20.30-20.45, Second Session 20.45-22.15 Match days

10 March 2020 - night match (20-over match) Umpires EnglandMichael Gough PakistanAleem Dar TV Umpires PakistanAsif Yaqoob Reserve Umpire PakistanNasir Hussain Points Lahore Qalandars 2, Peshawar Zalmi 0

Kusal perera included for england tests despite finger injury colomBo Agencies

Sri Lanka have left Lahiru Thirimanne out of their Test squad to play England, and Kusal Perera has been included in his place despite a finger injury leaving him doubtful for the first game of the twomatch series. Wanindu Hasaranga was named as the 16th member of the squad, but with an addendum that his left hamstring injury would not allow him to take part in the series. A replacement is expected to be picked before the first Test. There are three specialist spinners already in the squad however - with offspinner Dilruwan Perera, left-arm spinner Lasith Embudleniya and left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan all in the 15. Dhananjaya de Silva is around to bowl some offspin as well. There are four specialist seam-bowlers: Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha and left-armer Vishwa Fernando.

laHore Agencies

The Lahore Qalandars continued to win their second consecutive match against the Peshawar Zalmi on Tuesday at the Gaddafi Stadium, downing the latter by five wickets. It was not until Brathwaite took two quick wickets that the Zalmi started believing in a win yet again. The West Indian dismissed Bunk for 7 runs off 5 balls and Mohammad Hafeez who scored a run-a-ball 4 runs to turn the tables on the Qalandars.

Earlier, the Qalandars brought their A game against Peshawar Zalmi as fiery half-centuries from Fakhar Zaman and Chris Lynn put the underdogs in the driving seat of the match at the Gaddafi Stadium. The Qalandars were off to a flying start with Zaman and Sohail Akhtar hitting boundaries all over the ground. However, a mishap for the Qalandars occurred when a throw from Haider Ali was instrumental in running out Akhtar. He scored 21 off 19 balls, hitting three 4s.

In walked Chris Lynn and he unleashed on the Zalmi bowlers

right from the word go. His innings featured towering sixes and fiery 4s. Lynn scored 59 runs from 32 balls before a superb diving catch from Yasir Shah off a Brathwaite delivery saw him return to the pavilion. Yasir Shah took another catch, a few deliveries later, to dismiss Zaman. He scored 63 from 46 balls, hitting seven boundaries in total (four 4s and three 6s.

A match that had seemed under control for so long finally seemed to wrestle itself free from Lahore’s grips. It was needlessly allowed to go down to the wire but Samit Patel and David Wiese got what needed done to get their side their third consecutive win.

Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi had set a 188-run target against the Lahore Qalandars after they were invited to bat first. Haider Ali and Shoaib Malik both scored halfcenturies, boosting the side's total significantly, despite their loss of seven wickets.

After losing the toss, Zalmi were sent to bat by the Qalandars.

Zalmi suffered an early setback when Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Banton off his first

bowl, caught by Mohammad Hafeez. Shortly after, the in-form Samit Patel took Livingstone's wicket. He scored a disappointing 4 runs off 5 balls before heading to the pavilion.

The dangerous Kamran Akmal hit a four and a six each before he got out, caught by Haris Rauf from a Patel delivery. Reeling from an early loss of three wickets inside of four overs, the side managed to recover courtesy the performances by Ali and Malik.Malik, who scored 62 runs off 43 balls, was dismissed off Wiese's delivery when he miscued his shot and sent it down to Fakhar Zaman at long on.

After Malik's dismissal, those of Lewis Gregory (8 off 4 balls) and Ali (69 pff 43) followed within an over of one another by Afridi and Dilbar Hussain, respectively. Wahab Riaz was sent packing next, after having scored just one run. He was taken out by Afridi, who took three wickets over the course of the innings.Peshawar Zalmi are at the number 2 spot in the table with 9 points.

The 'Yellow Storm' have so far won four of their eight matches.

Kevin O'Brien smashed Rashid Khan for a six on the last ball of the Super Over to give Ireland their first win over Afghanistan in last 13 T20Is in the third and final match of the series in Greater Noida. After Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Nabi could manage only eight against Craig Young in the Super Over, Paul Stirling hit a four off Rashid's second ball to reduce the equation to four required from four balls. Rashid got Stirling lbw on the next delivery and conceded just one from the next two to make it five needed from the last ball. But O'Brien sealed the game to give his side a consolation win in a series that Afghanistan won 2-1. It was Rashid who had earlier helped Afghanistan tie the match in regular time.

Afghanistan needed 16 from the final over and then 13 from the last three balls but Josh Little bowled two wides either side of a Rashid six. With five needed from last delivery, Rashid scythed the attempted wide yorker over covers to level the scores. Afghanistan, though, had only themselves to blame to be in such a situation. Gurbaz gave them another brisk start with a 29-ball 42, and at one stage, they needed 52 from 48 balls with eight wickets in hand.

Then, Barry McCarthy bowled Karim Janat but it was Simi Singh who turned the game around by dismissing Nabi and Najibullah Zadran off successive balls in the 15th over.

Unlike the last game, Asghar Afghan struggled for the timing and could manage only 32 off 30 balls before getting out in the final over. Rashid helped them tie the scores but couldn't fetch them the victory in the Super Over. Earlier, Naveen-ul-Haq and debutant legspinner Qais Ahmad picked up three wickets each to restrict Ireland to 142 for 8. Naveen sent back Stirling and Andy Balbirnie in his first two overs but O'Brien and Gareth Delany added 62 in 6.5 overs to revive the innings. Ahmad broke the stand by dismissing O'Brien for 26 off 21. In the next over, Rashid dealt Ireland another blow by getting rid of Delany, who struck 37 off 29. That put the brakes on the scoring rate and despite Harry Tector's 22-ball 31, Ireland could manage only 40 from the last seven overs. But what looked like a well below-par total at the innings break proved just enough in the end.

Opportunity for Bangladesh to test bench strength as they target series whitewash dHaka Agencies

As Bangladesh look to complete a 100 per cent win record against Zimbabwe in this home season, their performance in this series seems to have re-energised some of their players, ahead of a pretty busy year in which they have a lot to prove without Shakib Al Hasan in action for most of it.

On Monday, Bangladesh thrived on another good start from Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das, who paced themselves very well during the powerplay and the 4.2 overs thereafter. But even after both returned to the dugout, the home side didn't slow down as Soumya Sarkar added 40 runs with Mushfiqur Rahim and 54 in 4.1 overs with captain Mahmudullah.

Bangladesh calmly defended the 200 runs, with Mustafizur Rahman and Aminul Islam taking three wickets each.

They were well backed up by Mohammad Saifuddin and Shaiful Islam, and it looked like they didn't even miss the sta-

bility of a left-arm spinner. Mahmudullah perhaps can have one of his spinners take on a few more pressure overs in the match, even though it is certain that Mustafizur and Saifuddin are his gun bowlers at the death.

Zimbabwe meanwhile are lurching from one problem after another. Their captain Sean Williams has said that he is disappointed with the lack of attention to detail from his team-mates. He is also strongly backing his top and middleorder, particularly Brendan Taylor who has had an unusually light tour.

They will once again bank on their experienced middle-order, but they also must realise that the time for learning is over for some of their bowlers. Carl Mumba and Donald Tiripano must have something to show for by the end of this tour, while Chris Mpofu had a poor outing, conceding 58 from his four overs in the first T20I. Zimbabwe also depend heavily on Sikandar Raza's offspin, although it was strange to see them not use Tinotenda Mutombodzi at all on Monday.

CMYK

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

NEWS

Oil PriCes bOunCe baCk 8PC after biggest One-day fall sinCe LONDON

O

AGENCIES

IL prices bounced back 8% on Tuesday from the biggest one-day rout in nearly 30 years, as investors eyed the possibility of economic stimulus despite a price war between top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia. US President Donald Trump on Monday said he will be taking “major” steps to gird the US economy against the impact of the spreading coronavirus outbreak and will discuss a payroll tax cut with congressional Republicans on Tuesday.

Brent crude futures rose $2.51, or 7.3pc, to $36.87 a barrel by 0418 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $2.15, or 6.9pc, to $33.28 a barrel. Both benchmarks plunged 25pc on Monday, dropping to their lowest since February 2016 and recording their biggest one-day percentage declines since Jan 17, 1991, when oil prices fell at the outset of the US Gulf War. Trading volumes in the front-month for

both contracts hit record highs in the previous session after a three-year pact between Saudi Arabia and Russia and other major oil producers to limit supply fell apart on Friday.

“In times of turmoil, nothing is more important in restoring confidence than the government appearing calm and in control of the situation, how tenuous that control may be,” said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at broker OANDA in a note.

Asian shares bounced and bond yields rose from historic lows as speculation of coordinated stimulus from global central banks and governments calmed panic selling.

Sentiment was also lifted after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, for the first time since the epidemic began, and as the spread of the virus in mainland China sharply slows.

China, the world’s second largest oil consumer, is trying to get people in hard-hit Hubei province back to work by using a mobile phone-based monitoring system that will allow people to travel within the province.

Crude was also supported by hopes for a settlement and potential US output cuts, although gains could be temporary as oil demand continues to be hit by the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, analysts said. “Oil’s rally right now will likely be short-lived as the drivers for both the supply and demand side will remain bearish for now,” said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA. Saudi Arabia plans to boost its crude output above 10 million barrels per day (bpd) in April from 9.7 million bpd in recent months, and has slashed its export prices to encourage refiners to buy more.

Russia, one of the world’s top producers alongside Saudi Arabia and the United States, also said it could lift output and that it could cope with low oil prices for six to 10 years.

US shale producers rushed to deepen spending cuts and could reduce production after OPEC’s decision to pump full bore into a global market hit by shrinking demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“When you look at the leverage the in-

US starts troop pullout, seeks end to Afghan leaders’ feud KABUL AGENCIES

The United States began withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, the US military said on Tuesday, taking a step forward on its peace deal with the Taliban while also praising Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s promise to start releasing Taliban prisoners after he had delayed for over a week.

The US-Taliban deal signed on February 29 was touted as Washington’s effort to end 18 years of war in Afghanistan. The next crucial step was to be intraAfghan talks in which all factions including the Taliban would negotiate a road map for their country’s future.

But Ghani and his main political rival, Abdullah Abdullah, were each sworn in as president in separate ceremonies on Monday. Abdullah and the elections complaints commission had charged fraud in last year’s vote. The duelling inaugurations have thrown plans for talks with the Taliban into chaos, although Ghani said Tuesday that he’d start putting together a negotiating team. The disarray on the Afghan government side is indicative of the uphill task facing Washington’s peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad as he tries to get Afghanistan’s bickering leadership to come together. In an early Tuesday tweet, Khalilzad said he hoped the two leaders can “come to an agreement on an inclusive and broadly accepted government. We will continue to assist.”

US military spokesman in Afghanistan Sonny Leggett said in a statement on Tuesday that the military had begun its “conditions-based reduction of forces to

8,600 over 135 days.” Currently, the US has about 13,000 soldiers in Afghanistan — 8,000 of whom are involved in training and advising Afghanistan’s National Security Forces, while about 5,000 are involved in antiterror operations and militarily supporting the Afghan army when they are requested.

Ghani had been dragging his feet on releasing some 5,000 Taliban prisoners, something agreed to in the USTaliban deal. Ghani promised Monday to announce a decree to free the prisoners, after the US and a number of foreign dignitaries appeared to back his claim to the presidency by sending their representatives to his inauguration.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a statement Monday saying, “We also welcome President Ghani’s announcement that he will issue a decree March 10 on Taliban prisoner release.”

Taliban officials said late Monday that a flurry of biometric identifications were being conducted on Taliban prisoners, hinting at a mass release, according to prisoners currently in lockup. The Taliban officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorised to talk to the media.

Pompeo also said he “strongly opposed” the establishment of a parallel government in Kabul, despite the early signs of one emerging. Abdullah had quickly sent his vice-presidents to occupy the official offices on Monday, ahead of Ghani’s plan to send his vice presidents to their offices Tuesday. Pompeo warned against “any use of force to resolve political differences.” Both candidates — but particularly Abdullah — are backed by warlords with heavily armed militias, underscoring fears they

dustry is in, at prices of around $30, it’s not profitable,” said Jonathan Barratt, chief investment officer Probis Group.

“Saudis and other Middle Eastern producers have their budgetary constraints, Russia is starved for cash and the breakeven for […]

could use force to back their candidate.

The US has said its partial troop withdrawal over an 18-month period provided for in the deal will be linked to the Taliban keeping their promises to help fight terror in Afghanistan, but not to the success of talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government. On the weekend, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said the insurgent group was committed to their agreement with the United States and called on Washington to do its part to make sure their prisoners were freed.

The militant Islamic State claimed responsibility for a rocket attack that took place during Ghani’s inauguration ceremony. IS also claimed a brutal attack last week on a gathering of minority Shiites that killed 32 and injured scores more. The US in reaching its deal with the Taliban said they expected the Taliban, which has been battling Afghanistan’s IS affiliate, to further aid in the effort to defeat IS.

shale has to be around $50 a barrel. So the dynamics of all those put together will mean they will come to an agreement somewhere.” On the demand side, the International Energy Agency said oil demand was set to contract in 2020 for the first time since 2009.

PHC postpones verdict in over 220 appeals against military court convictions PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday postponed announcing its decision in over 220 appeals against military court convicts. A two-member bench headed by PHC Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth and comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar was scheduled to announce the verdict on Tuesday, however Additional Attorney General Qazi Babar Irshad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General Shumail Ahmed Butt submitted raised objections on the high court’s jurisdiction to hear appeals against military court decisions. Citing Article 199 (5) of the Constitution, they said the high court would be violating the constitution if it announced the verdict. The government’s counsel also argued that a Defence Ministry plea against a similar PHC verdict was being heard by the Supreme Court (SC) and sought an adjournment until the top court decides on the matter. But Justice Seth noted that the appeals in PHC and the apex court were separate matters. Meanwhile, a representative of the Defence Ministry lamented over absence of convicts’ counsels in the hearings. He submitted records pertaining to the cases in review appeals. The bench admitted the written arguments by the law officials and records by the Defence Ministry and adjourned the hearing till Wednesday. Additional Attorney General Sajid Ilyas Bhatti on Monday had re-

Stocks savaged, Italy on lockdown as coronavirus spreads ROME AGENCIES

All of Italy under lockdown, reeling financial markets and rioting prisoners made clear on Monday how the global coronavirus epidemic was extending its reach into all aspects of social and economic life.

Major European stock markets dived more than 7 per cent, Japanese indexes fell over 5% and U.S. markets sank over 7% after Saudi Arabia launched an oil price war with Russia that sent investors already spooked by the coronavirus epidemic running for the exits. In Italy, scene of Europe’s worst outbreak with infections and deaths still soaring, the government took its most drastic steps yet to contain the outbreak, affecting some 60 million people. It ordered everyone across the country not to move around other than for work and emergencies, banned all public gatherings and suspended sporting events, including soccer matches.

Deaths in Milan’s Lombardy region – which had already been on lockdown with cinemas, theaters and museums closed and restaurant hours restricted – jumped 25% in a day to 333, while the national death toll soared by 97 to 463, the highest in the world after China.

Over 9,000 people have become infected

in Italy in little over two weeks, out of a global total of more than 113,000 in over 100 countries. Nearly 4,000 people have died across the world, the vast majority in mainland China.

“Now that the virus has a foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become very real,” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference.

But he welcomed Italy’s tough measures, noting that just four countries – China, South Korea, Italy and Iran – accounted for 93% of cases worldwide. Israel ordered anyone entering the country to self-quarantine for 14 days on Monday. “It would be the first pandemic that could be controlled,” Tedros added. “The bottom line is we are not at the mercy of the virus.”

TRUMP TO ANNOUNCE ECONOMIC PLAN: In the United States, which has reported over 600 cases and 26 deaths, the administration scrambled on Monday to assure Americans it was responding to the outbreak as stock markets plunged and top health officials urged some people to avoid cruise ships, air travel and big public gatherings.

US President Donald Trump, who continued to play down the threat posed by the flu-like virus, said he would announce economic measures on Tuesday and would discuss a payroll tax cut with Congress to bolster the economy. Trump recently spent time with

two members of Congress, including one who rode on Air Force One, who are selfquarantining over concerns about exposure to the virus. Vice President Michael Pence said he did not know if Trump had been tested for coronavirus.

Around the world, flights have been canceled, communities and cruise liners isolated, and concerts and trade fairs postponed.

While some countries, such as China and Italy, have turned to drastic measures to try to delay the spread of the virus, others remain in a “containment” phase, where individual cases can still be tracked. Britain, with five deaths from almost 300 confirmed cases, said it would remain in that phase for now, allowing major gatherings and sporting events to continue, while making extensive preparations to move to the “delay phase.”

In neighboring Ireland, acting Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said a 3 billion euro ($3.4 billion) coronavirus package had been agreed. Funds set aside for a potential sudden rupture in trade ties with Britain, which has left the European Union, were to be diverted to coronavirus mitigation.

Perhaps just as dramatically, Varadkar announced cancellation of all parades planned for the national St. Patrick’s Day festival on March 17, including one in Dublin that draws more than 500,000 people from all over the world. In Spain, schools

were closed across the Madrid region and the Basque capital Vitoria for two weeks as cases topped 1,200 nationwide. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said an emergency economic plan had been prepared.

SAUDI FINES: In the Gulf region, where most cases stem from travel from Iran, the emphasis has been on border control. Saudi Arabia said it would fine people who did not disclose health information and travel details at entry up to $133,000.

Iran, with 7,161 cases and 237 deaths, said it was temporarily releasing about 70,000 prisoners because of the coronavirus.

China and South Korea both reported a slowdown in new infections. Mainland China, outside the outbreak center of Hubei province, recorded no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases for the second day.

South Korea reported 165 new cases, bringing the national tally to 7,478, while the death toll rose by one to 51.

With the rate of increase in new infections at its lowest in 11 days, President Moon Jae-in said South Korea could enter the “phase of stability” soon.

In Italy, that phase still seems far off.

Authorities said seven prisoners died as riots spread through more than 25 jails across the country over measures imposed to contain the coronavirus.

Police and fire trucks massed outside the

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

CMYK

main prison in the northern town of Modena, the site of some of the worst violence.

Barkeepers in Rome and Milan said police had visited them to warn that they risked closure if they let customers huddle together.

PENTAGON SAYS CORONAVIRUS CASES LIKELY HIGHER THAN OFFICIAL COUNT WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The U.S. military’s official tally of service members and related personnel who have been infected by the coronavirus likely undercounts the actual total, the Pentagon acknowledged on Tuesday, as a second service member in the United States tested positive for the virus. “I think that it is likely, given what we are seeing around the world, and the fact that we have people all over the world, that there are more,” Joint Staff Surgeon Air Force Brigadier General Paul Friedrichs told a Pentagon news briefing.