E-Paper PDF 25th December (ISB)

CMYK

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019 I 27 Rabi-ul-Sani, 1441 I Rs 19.00 I Vol X No 175 I 16 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Rana Sanaullah getS bail in naRcoticS caSe

Pakistan rejects us decision to keep it in religious freedom blacklist STORY ON BACK PAGE

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Pml-n PresidenT shehBAz shArif sAys BAil is Proof rAnA sAnAullAh’s innocence

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firdous AshiQ AwAn sAys lhc hAs seT ‘uniQue PrecedenT’ By GrAnTinG BAil To Pml-n leAder

LAHORE

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STAFF REPORT

he lahore high court (lhc) on Tuesday granted bail to Pakistan muslim league-nawaz (Pml-n) Punjab President rana sanaullah in a case pertaining to the drug smuggling filed against him by the Anti-narcotics force (Anf). on July 1, the Anf officials arrested rana sanaullah from islamabad-lahore motorway near sukheki, while he was traveling from faisalabad to lahore.

Anf had registered an fir against the Pml-n leader under 9-c, 15 and 17 of the control of narcotic substances Act. it was alleged that Anf recovered 15 kilogrammes of heroin and other drugs from sanaullah’s car, whereas the operation was conducted on a tip-off.

The trial court had twice rejected the bail petition, filed by rana sanaullah in the case. however, the co-accused had been granted bail. it may be mentioned that a new cns judge was appointed in sanaullah’s case last month after his predecessor was removed mid-hearing. “i have just received a whatsapp message, the lahore high court has repatriated me. i cannot lend my expertise to this case anymore,” Judge masood Arshad had said as he excused himself from hearing the case.

Though, the law ministry had denied the claim of whatsapp notification.

‘FALSE CASE’: reacting to the verdict, leader of opposition in national Assembly and Pakistan muslim league-nawaz (Pml-n) President shehbaz sharif said that the bail was proof that a “false case” was made against sanaullah. reacting to rana sanaullah’s bail, he said that an “innocent man was charged with drugs but thanks to Allah almighty that he finally gets justice”.

The Pml-n president went on to say that the independence of judiciary and institutions was a guarantee for

Govt decides to keep Maryam on ECL STORY ON BACK PAGE More InsIde

dr moeed yusuf becomes Pm’s aide on national security Nawaz at ‘risk of heart attack’, seeks extension in bail lhc forms full bench in musharraf treason case STORIES ON PAGES 02 & 03

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nAB sAys iT will conTinue To TAke AcTion AGAinsT corruPT individuAls PPP sAys BureAu’s AcTion AGAinsT oPP lAwmAkers TAnTAmounT To hArAssmenT

nAB gets 13-day physical remand of Ahsan iqbal

hearing the case. once a judge was appointed, sanaullah’s lawyers “created obstacles” in the commencement of the trial by using different excuses, Awan alleged.

“The trial of the case has not yet started. Anf will present evidence once the trial begins,” she said.

Awan said the lhc has set a “unique precedent” by granting sanaullah bail, but added that the concerned minister would comment on the decision. “what the court judgements are saying is being heard by you and seen by us,” she said without elaborating.

Pm vows to address issues of overseas Pakistanis

PPP, NAB lock horns after Bilawal skips hearing g

Pakistan’s development and prosperity. shehbaz further regretted that the incompetent government was using institutions for political revenge.

‘UNIQUE PRECEDENT’: commenting on the bail granted to sanaullah, government’s chief spokesperson firdous Ashiq Awan at a press conference said the Anf will present evidence against the former provincial minister once the trial of the case begins. she suggested that the “influential” accused in the case had used “resources” which led to judges recusing themselves from

Premier welcomes Al TAmimi GrouPs’ invesTmenT inTeresT in PAkisTAni secTors STORY ON PAGE 05

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Pml-n sAys nAB hAs no evidence AGAinsT senior PArTy leAder STORIES ON BACK PAGE & 02

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Pakistan’s power sector debt swells to Rs1.69 trillion g

elecTriciTy TAriff mAy increAse STORY ON PAGE 11 furTher in JAnuAry 2020

CMYK Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

02 NEWS NAB gets 13-day physical remand of Ahsan Iqbal ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad on Monday granted the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) 13-day physical remand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal in a case pertaining to alleged corruption in the Narowal Sports City project. Accountability court judge Mohammed Bashir, who presided over the proceeding, ordered to produce Iqbal on Jan 6. Speaking to the media before the hearing, Iqbal said: “I accept the punishment if I am being punished for speaking out in favor of the death sentence handed to [former president] General (retd) Pervez Musharraf [in the high treason case]”. “I accept the punishment if I was arrested for fulfilling my promises to the people of Pakistan. But, if by arresting me they think they can stop me from speaking out against [Prime Minister] Imran Ahmed Niazi, that is not acceptable [for me].” A day earlier, Iqbal was arrested by the Bureau from its Rawalpindi office where he had appeared to record his statement in the

aforesaid case. NAB has accused Iqbal of using funds from the federal government and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for the multi-billion-rupee sports city being established in Narowal — his hometown. The former minister had earlier said he had submitted documents related to his income and expenditures to NAB. The opposition leader had already replied to a questionnaire given to him by the bureau in connection with the same case.

PML-N CRIES FOUL:Addressing the media outside the accountability court, party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that “the soldiers of Nawaz Sharif, who are standing up for the rights of the people, are being arrested one by one”. “They [proceedings] are being conducted without a shred of evidence. NAB itself has said that there is no evidence of any kickback or commission,” she said, adding: “Today when Ahsan Iqbal was presented before the court, NAB did not have any evidence against him.” “Iqbal fulfilled the promises made to Nawaz Sharif, the promises made to the people of Narowal. He didn’t go back on his claims like our ‘U-turn’ prime minister. PMLN is being prosecuted for fulfilling the promises made to the people,” she added. STAFF REPORT

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NAwAz At ‘rIsk of heArt AttAck’, seeks exteNsIoN IN BAIl LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

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MId reports that the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was at risk of a heart attack, the Punjab government has been requested to extend the bail period of the ex-premier in the light of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict in the case.

In its verdict, the IHC had directed the ailing former prime minister to seek Punjab government’s permission for further relief, if required, under Section 401(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrCP). In its verdict, the IHC declared that until the provincial government decides the matter, the bail would remain in effect, adding that the court order will cease to exist if the government decides against ex-

tending the bail period.

Meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat said that the bail request of exPM Nawaz was under consideration while refuting reports about the formation of a committee on the issue.

Raja Basharat said that his “bail petition was under consideration”, adding that Nawaz Sharif also attached his medical reports with his petition. He said that the medical reports were “authorised by institutions of Pakistan and abroad”.

NAWAZ AT RISK OF HEART ATTACK: Separately, a local media outlet claimed in a report that the former prime minister was at risk of a heart attack due to insufficient blood supply to the heart. This was also the reason that he was suffering from angina.

Nawaz visited Royal Brompton and Harefield

Hospital on Monday for Cardiac PET scan where he was seen by a team of specialist doctors, the report claimed.

Meanwhile, PML-N President and Nawaz’s brother Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that Nawaz’s test results are scheduled to be received after the Christmas holiday but added that it was clear from the scans that the former premier is at risk of heart attack and his ongoing angina is a serious concern.

Nawaz arrived in London on Nov 20 for his medical treatment via an air ambulance.

His arrival came a day after the interior ministry issued a notification allowing him to travel abroad for medical treatment. According to the ministry, the decision was an “interim arrangement” in light of the Lahore High Court order, directing the government to let the former premier travel abroad for treatment.

CMYK Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

NEWS

lhc forMs full BeNch IN MushArrAf treAsoN cAse NEWLY-CONSTITUTED BENCH TO COMMENCE HEARING ON FORMER PRESIDENT’S PETITION ON JAN 9 LAHORE

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STAFF REPORT

full bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has been constituted to hear convicted military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf’s petition challenging the formation of a special court that had sentenced him to death in the high treason case. The bench will be chaired by Justice Amir Bhatti while Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Masood Jahangir will be part of it. The hearings on the former

president’s petition will commence on January 9, 2020.

Musharraf had earlier moved the high court against the formation of the special court citing legal flaws in the procedure. He had asked the high court to stop the special court from announcing its verdict in absentia. However, the verdict was announced on december 17, just three days after the former military ruler had filed his petition. He was given a death penalty after the three-member bench convicted him in a treason case on the basis of Article 6 of the constitution which states that any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or hold in

abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance the Constitution by use of force or show force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.

The former president was booked in the treason case in 2013 for suspending the Constitution by imposing a state of emergency in the country on November 3, 2007. He was declared a proclaimed offender and later sentenced under Article 6. The special court’s verdict marks the first time in Pakistan’s history that a military chief has been declared guilty of high treason and handed a death sentence. Following the verdict, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had termed the trial against Musharraf “unfair”. Addressing a late-night joint press conference the same day, Attor-

ney General of Pakistan (AGP) Anwar Mansoor Khan had said that he “will defend the law in the case but not any individual”.

The armed forces stood by Musharraf, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director General Major General Asif Ghafoor, in a statement, had said that the “decision given by special court has been received with [a] lot of pain and anguish by rank and file of Pakistan Armed Forces”.

Later, the detailed verdict in the case, which was issued a few days later, stirred controversy as it had stated that the former president must be arrested and hanged to death and if he dies before the sentence is executed, his body must be dragged to d Chowk of the federal capital and hanged for three days. The detailed verdict drew criticism from members of the political, legal and religious fraternities.

Dr Moeed Yusuf becomes PM's aide on national security Renowned author and expert on international affairs dr Moeed Yusuf was appointed as the special assistant to the prime minister on national security and strategic planning on Tuesday, said a notification issued by the Cabinet division.

The notification added that dr Yusuf was appointed by Prime Minister Imran Khan and that he would hold the status of minister of state. dr Yusuf had earlier served as associate vice president of the Asia centre at the US Institute of Peace in Washington dC. In September, he was appointed as chairperson of the Strategic Policy Planning Cell (SPPC), which functions under the National Security division (NSd).

The author of Brokering Peace in Nuclear Environments: US Crisis Management in South Asia, Yusuf has taught at Boston University, George Washington University, and Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He is also a columnist for daily dawn. Yusuf

holds a Masters in international relations and a Phd in political science from Boston University. According to his LinkedIn profile, Yusuf before joining the USIP was a fellow at the Frederick S. Pardee Centre at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, and concurrently a research fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Centre at Harvard Kennedy School.

He has also worked at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank. In 2007, Yusuf co-founded Strategic and Economic Policy Research, a private sector consultancy firm in Pakistan. He has also consulted for the Asian development Bank, World Bank, and the Stockholm Policy Research Institute, among others. Between 2004 and 2007, Yusuf was a full-time consultant with the Sustainable development Policy Institute (SdPI) in Islamabad, according to his profile. NEWS DESK

Govt wants to empower minorities: PM ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has reiterated that the government treats all minority citizens as equal citizens of Pakistan and undertakes to empower them to use their abilities socially, economically and politically for the national development. In a message on the occasion of Christmas, the prime minister extended his heartiest felicitations and wished Merry Christmas to the Christian brethren in Pakistan and all over the world. The prime minister said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had, right from the first day of creation of Pakistan unequivocally declared a policy of equality, freedom and security for all communities living in Pakistan irrespective of their religion, profession or ethnic origin. “Our Government is dedicated to preserve the sanctity of peaceful coexistence and equality of opportunities enjoyed by all Pakistanis including our minorities,” a press release quoted him as saying. He said Christmas was an auspicious occasion to reflect on the message of Jesus Christ, the eternal message of love, peace, tolerance and compassion for humanity. “We, as Muslims deeply revere Jesus Christ as one of the great messengers of Allah Almighty,” he added. The prime minister further said that he was immensely happy to note that minorities in Pakistan were actively contributing to the development and prosperity of the country without any hindrance including serving in the Armed Forces of Pakistan. “This reflects the communal harmony and profound cohesion between all faiths practiced across the length and breadth of the country. This is the spirit that binds us together as one family to celebrate our blessings and the values we hold dear,” he added. APP

cabinet approves removal of over 0.6m people from BIsP ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday approved removing over 600,000 beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme. The decision was taken on a recommendation forwarded by the Sania Nishtar-led Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety division, taken up at the weekly federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan. Pegged as the largest social safety programme, BISP provides cash transfers to about 5.1 million poor families across the country. It used the proxy means test (PMT) methodology to ascertain the eligibility of the beneficiaries. In its recommendation, the division said that a 2010-11 survey on socio-economic indicators for 27 million households across Pakistan established a cut-off poverty score at 16.17 to make ever-married women as BISP beneficiaries. “The demographic and socio-economic status, as well as the composition of households, change with time,” reads the letter. “Over time some of these beneficiary households have become relatively better-off.” INP

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court summons shehbaz in Ashiana case on Jan 7 LAHORE: An accountability court in Lahore on Tuesday summoned Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif in Ashiana Housing reference in a personal capacity on Jan 7. during the hearing on Tuesday, accountability court judge Amjad Nazir issued a written court order in this regard. The court observed that Shehbaz’s continuous absence is affecting the proceedings. It merits a mention here that Shehbaz is currently in London alongside his ailing older brother former premier Nawaz Sharif who is undergoing medical treatment there. The court gave the final chance to the National Assembly opposition leader to ensure his presence in the next hearing. The controversial low-cost Ashiana housing projects were launched in 2010 by the previous PML-N government in Punjab. Shahbaz, in capacity as the chief minister, is accused of ordering the cancellation of a contract given to successful bidder m/s Chaudhry Latif and Sons for the housing scheme, which led to the subsequent award of the contract to Lahore Casa developers, a proxy group of Paragon City (Pvt) Ltd., resulting in a loss of Rs193 million. The former Punjab chief minister is also accused of directing the Punjab Land development Company (PLdC) to assign the project to the Lahore development Authority (LdA), which, then, awarded the contract to Lahore Casa developers, causing a further loss of Rs715m and the ultimate failure of the project. NAB also accused Shahbaz of directing the PLdC to award the consultancy services contract for the Ashiana-i-Iqbal project to Engineering Consultancy Services Punjab (Pvt) Ltd, – a consultancy that was established in 2011 and registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) in February 2013, three years after the project was launched – for Rs192m, while the actual cost was supposed to be Rs35m as quoted by the state-owned National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak). Shehbaz was indicted in the Ashiana case by an accountability court in February this year. NAB has also framed charges against Fawad Hassan Fawad, the former principal secretary to the prime minister, Ahad Khan Cheema, former LdA director-general, in the case.

Other people arrested in the case include Bilal Qidwani, Imtiaz Haider, Shahid Shafiq, Sardar Saeed and Arif Butt. STAFF REPORT

04 ISLAMABAD PRAyER TImINgS FAJR SUNRISE

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section 144 imposed in Peshawar PESHAWAR: Peshawar’s district administration on Tuesday imposed a ban on pillion riding and displaying weapons across the district for 30 days. The directions for imposing Section 114 Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was issued following a request by the senior superintendent police Peshawar. “The deputy commissioner Peshawar in exercise of power conferred on me under section 144 Cr.P.C, do hereby order and impose a ban on display or weapons and pillion riding,” read a notification issued on Tuesday morning.

The notification also noted that anyone found violating the law would be proceeded against under section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), adding that the order will be enforced for 30 days unless modified or withdrawn. earlier, the Sindh government imposed a ban on pillion riding, rallies and carrying or displaying arms across the province. STAFF REPORT

islamabad police trace, reunite three lost teenagers with their families ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police on Tuesday traced and reunited three teenagers with their families who had lost their way during hiking at the Margalla Hills, a police spokesperson said. According to details, Shan Mustafa, Abdul Wahab and SamUllah lost their way during hiking on trail-III. They managed to call Rescue 15 and informed them about forgetting their way. After the call, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) WaqarUddin Syed tasked Superintendent of Police (Saddar Zone) Muhammad Umer Khan to trace the boys. A special team constituted under his supervision including ASP (Margalla-Circle) Hamza Aman-Ullah, SHO Margalla Police Station Inspector Qaiser Niaz Gillani and others started search operation and managed to trace the boys. They reunited boys with their families who have appreciated police for their timely response and successful efforts to trace the boys. DIG (Operations) Waqar Uddin Syed has appreciated this performance and announced cash prizes and commendation certificates for the members of police team. INP

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

WEATHER UPDATES 0 WEDNESDAY

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KP cabinet aPProves civil adMinistration act to ensure good governance PESHAWAR

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APP

HYBeR Pakhtunkhwa cabinet with Chief Minister, Mahmood Khan in chair Tuesday approved for passage KP Civil Administration (Public Service Delivery & Governance) Act 2019 with recommending some amendments in the draft document.

“The Act aims at appointment of Additional Commissioner in subordination of Commissioner at Divisional level and Chief Minister can constitute committees for ensuring good governance, public service delivery, effective regulatory system, and for improvement of relations between public sector departments at Division, District and Tehsil Administration,” said Ajmal Khan Wazir, Spokesman for KP government and Advisor to Chief Minister on Merged Districts.

Addressing a press conference here at Cabinet room of Civil Secretariat, Ajmal Wazir said the KP Civil Administration Act 2019 will ensure provision of service delivery to masses at their door steps. The cabinet also approved constitution of Search and Scrutiny Committee under chairmanship of Chief Secretary for selection of Chairman of Commission under KP Whistle Blower and Vigilance Commission Rules 2016. Additional members of the committee included Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Law, Secretary establishment and one member Provincial Assembly.

The cabinet also approved payment of compensation of Rs. Five hundred thousands each to heirs of two volunteers who embraced martyrdom while dous-

ing forest fire in Gandian area of Haripur district. The meeting also approved declaring of newly established Upper Chitral district as Session Division in the light of Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 Act. The cabinet also approved authorization of powers of Additional Majistrats to Assistant Commissioners and Additional Assistant Commissioners under 14-A section of Code of Criminal Procedure Act. These special majistrats can hear cases related to forest, mineral, food adulteration, encroachment, building control and municipal services.

The cabinet also approved naming of Gandao Dam in Mohmand Agency as Abdul Shakoor dam. The decision has been taken to honor the sacrifice of Abdul Shakoor, contractor of the dam, who embraced martyrdom in 2018 over showing resistance of terrorists who wanted to stop work on the project. The cabinet also decided to give exemption to KP eZDMeC from KPPRA rules for hiring services of legal consultant.

The meeting also approved appointment of Faisal Salim Rehman as Director in Board of Directors of Rashakai economic Zone. The provincial cabinet also approved KP Govt Rest Houses and Tourism Properties regulation, monitoring, management and development Bill 2019 for leasing and outsourcing of government rest houses. A grant of Rs. 300 million as supplementary grant for making Provincial Tourism Authority as functional was also approved in the meeting. The grant will be handed over to the authority till June 2020. The cabinet also approved appointment of Kamran Afridi (BPS-18) as Director General Provincial Culture and Tourism Authority.

KP CABINET APPROVES RS15 MILLION GRANT FOR PESHAWAR PRESS CLUB PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial cabinet which met with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair approved onetime special grant of Rs 15 million for Peshawar Press Club here on Tuesday. The cabinet also approved Rs 5 million grant for Khyber Union of Journalists. The chief minister had announced those grants-in-aid during oath taking ceremony of the elected cabinet of the press club. Meanwhile, election committee of the Peshawar Press Club held a meeting under the chairmanship of Muhammad Sharif Khan Mohmand. The committee which comprises Shehzad Anjum, Nasir Dawar, Muhammad Daud and Arif Khan issued a final list of contesting candidates for the annual election 2020 of the press club. In total, 57 candidates are in run, including five for post of president, four for vice president, three general secretary, five joint secretary, four finance while 36 candidates are contesting for governing body of the press club.

Polling will be held on December 28 at Zubair Mir Hall, Peshawar Press club. The polling would continue from 9.am to 4pm. APP

Missing boy found dead ISLAMABAD: A four-year-old boy who had gone missing from Islamabad’s Bhara Kau area last week was found dead on Tuesday, a police spokesperson confirmed, adding that all four suspects in the case have been arrested.

The four-year-old had been kidnapped outside his home in Dhok Jilani, Bhara Kahu, four days ago, and an FIR was registered at the Bhara Kahu police station. Two of the arrested suspects —Hamza and Aftab — confessed after being questioned that they abducted the boy and kept him inside a rented house. However, when police reached the house, they found the boy dead. STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD: A beautiful view of Christmas decorations in France Colony. ONLINE

Modi can’t suppress courage of Kashmiris, says Mushaal ISLAMABAD: Mushaal Hussein Mullick, wife of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader Yaseen Malik condemning the Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir on Tuesday that the curfew in IOK has uncovered the brutal face of Indian govt. Talking to a private news channel, she said that occupation army has compelled Kashmiris to starve to death as India wanted to keep its illegal control in the occupied valley. She said people in Jammu and Kashmir have been under siege for more than four months and knew nothing about the well-being of their dears as many of them have been wounded or martyred by Indian force. APP

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

NEWS

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi shifted from jail to hospital for surgery Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former prime minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday was shifted from Adiala jail to a private hospital so that he may get operated for hernia. According to local media sources, the PML-N leader has shifted to a hospital in Islamabad, where he will undergo surgery on December 26. It may be noted here that the PML-N leader is currently in jail on judicial remand over corruption charges in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) contract.

Abbasi was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) while en-route to Thokar Niaz Baig in Lahore on July 18 in a multi-billion-rupee case related to the award of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import contract. NAB sources said that Abbasi, in 2013, had awarded LNG import and distribution contract to the Elengy Terminal in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and relevant laws. NEWS DESK

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PM vows to address issues of overseas Pakistanis ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

RIME Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that the country can progress only by working on the system of merit and the government will introduce reforms in the institutions to bring more improvement.

PM Imran Khan was addressing the inauguration ceremony for introducing a system through which remittances can be transferred through Pakistan Post and vowed to address the issues of overseas Pakistanis. He said that the primary task of the government is to create ease for the Pakistanis abroad, who had to settle outside as the home country failed to provide conducive opportunities.

Prime Minister lauded the resilience of the Pakistanis working abroad, contributing to the economy through remittances.

“Whenever I speak of new Pakistan, it is about the new approach,” said the Prime Minister.

The Premier also announced health cards for the families of overseas Pakistanis.

Imran Khan pointed out that there is a need to change the mindset of the people to bring reforms in the society.

The Prime Minister maintained that the government is making efforts to provide fa-

PREMIER WELCOMES AL TAMIMI GROUPS’ INVESTMENT INTEREST IN PAKISTANI SECTORS cilities in the state-run hospitals.

“Pakistan Post was in a sheer loss earlier, now it has been greatly reduced,” the prime minister said Imran Khan further said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has tried to stabilize the country’s economy.

SAUDI INVESTMENT: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday welcomed Saudi Arabia’s AlTamimi Group of Companies’ investment interest in food processing, dairy & livestock, and meat processing sectors of Pakistan.

The prime minister emphasized while talking to the Chairman of Al-Tamimi Group of Companies, Sheikh Tariq Ali Abdullah Al-Tamimi, on the reforms taken by the government regarding the ease-of-doing-business and providing a one-window operation to potential investors.

The prime minister added that Pakistan was blessed with 12 climatic zones, which were suitable for a variety of agricultural,

Severe gas crisis irks people ISLAMABAD: The gas crisis on Tuesday turned severe in the country as low pressure causing cooking impossible while on the other hand closure of CNG stations have disturbed citizens as the public transports are out of the roads.

Despite the long shutdown of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations the homes were facing the issue of low pressure causing headache for housewives in cooking. People in Lahore and other parts of Punjab have also been suffering from shortage of gas. INP

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fruit, dairy, and fisheries production.

He stated that the government was also focusing on research & development to enhance productivity and increase exports with the help of private investors.

The prime minister added that the government was working on establishing an export-oriented grading and standardisation of indigenous fruits, including apple, peach, mango and citrus, to meet the international demands as these fruits were widely acclaimed for their quality and taste.

Adviser to Prime Minister of Pakistan for Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood and other senior officials were also present during the meeting.

The chairman of Al Tamimi Group of Companies’ highly appreciated the measures taken by the government towards achieving economic stability and growth.

He stated that the stability of economic policies was a major factor in attracting foreign investments, and international businesses were now confident in investing in Pakistan due to transparency and facilities being provided to businessmen.

International organisations like the World Bank have also rated Pakistan among the world’s top 10 countries set to improve business climate.

“Pakistan is my second home,” said Tamimi.

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

06 WORLD VIEW

Is NetaNyahu plaNNINg a pre-emptIve attack agaINst hezbollah? al-moniTor

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PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IS CONSIDERING A PRE-EMPTIVE ATTACK AGAINST IRANIAN PROXY HEZBOLLAH, PERHAPS BEFORE THE MARCH ELECTIONS

Ben Caspit

RImE minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have a security window of opportunities at the moment, made possible by timing and circumstances, in particular his complicated situation. He has nothing to lose and plenty to gain, but will he take advantage of that window to launch a pre-emptive strike on the infrastructure developed by Hezbollah for producing rockets and precision missiles and that is becoming more firmly established in Lebanon?

The annual forecast for the coming year released by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security on Dec. 15 includes the following explosive statement: “Preparations are necessary for aggravated scenarios, including a possible Israeli decision to launch a pre-emptive strike on Hezbollah.” That one sentence lit a fire under the Israeli defense establishment and also set in motion a tsunami of speculation about the possibility of a conflagration on Israel’s northern front.

The staff of the Jerusalem Institute consists of experienced experts, many of whom still have ties to Israel’s defense and intelligence establishments. The most prominent of them is maj. Gen. (res.)

Yaakov Amidror, a former national security advisor to Netanyahu.

Amidror is clearly identified with the right, but he was never the kind of adventurer who wanted to implement solutions by force. To the

contrary, during his years working with Netanyahu, he earned the reputation of being the responsible adult in the Prime minister’s Office and was seen as having a close strategic relationship with his American counterpart, Tom Donilon. In short, he was perceived as one of the people in the prime minister’s inner circle capable of convincing the government to show some restraint.

“I think we need to seriously consider a pre-emptive strike in Lebanon,” Amidror told Al-monitor. “We made two fatal strategic errors in the past in our dealings with Hezbollah. One more mistake will leave us regretting it for generations to come. We must not let Hezbollah cross that red line.”

When asked what mistakes he was talking about, Amidror responded, “The first mistake was that we let the organization grow dangerously powerful when we withdrew from Lebanon after the First Lebanon War. The second mistake was that we didn’t insist that Security Council Resolution 1701 be enforced after the Second Lebanon War. Now Hezbollah has grown to almost monstrous proportions. We will pay a very steep price if we allow it to have such a large number of rockets and precision missiles. Israel is a tiny country. We have very few advantages, so we cannot make that mistake.

We are now facing a watershed moment. We must be prepared to bear the cost of a pre-emptive attack if it turns out that Hezbollah

has, in fact, accumulated capacities that it did not have in the past that would bring about a drastic shift in the balance of power. As soon as the Hezbollah acquires exceptional capacities, we would be facing a tiebreaker. Under no circumstances may we allow that to happen.

Does the Jerusalem Institute’s prediction encompass the thoughts and opinions only of Amidror and his colleagues at the institute or does it also reflect the possibility that a pre-emptive Israeli strike is already starting to take shape?

Amidror denies that the assessment was based on intelligence briefings.

“I am no longer part of the system, and I do not know if such an attack is possible during an election campaign period,” he said.

“What I do know is that Netanyahu is capable of making such a move in principle, but I don’t know if he can do so in practice. If so, he would first have to coordinate the move with [Blue and White leader] Benny Gantz, and that would have to happen while they are running against each other in the election.

If he does invite Gantz to a meeting, updates him and receives his consent to such a move, he would be stripping an attack of any political opposition. Will that happen?

I don’t know. What I can tell you is that it is what should happen.”

Despite all this, the vast majority of security sources in Israel, including the most senior defense commentators, agree that the chances are not especially high of Israel initiating a widespread pre-

Frequent mobile and internet shutdowns undermine the dream of Digital India

Israel would suffer vast, unprecedented damage. Yet, even this would not worry Netanyahu too much. He is already on his way out because of corruption-related indictments against him, so he can only benefit, rather than be harmed politically, by military action.

The second variable is Israel’s new defense minister, Naftali Bennett. He is young, chock full of energy and eager to make contact with the enemy at almost any price. Bennett has already begun to grow frustrated with all the restrictions placed on him in handling the situation in Gaza. Despite his bellicose statements over the past few years, his appointment did not result in a shift in the strategy with which Israel contains the whims of Hamas and its allies in Gaza. The handling of the northern front, however, seems to have Bennett’s signature all over it. He has made increasingly aggressive statements about it over the last few weeks and on Dec. 18 declared, “Syria is becoming Iran’s Vietnam.” That said, he might find himself in Lebanon, which would once again become Israel’s Vietnam.

Nevertheless, there is a system of checks and balances within the Israeli defense establishment that is supposed to filter and tone down political pressure to act militarily.

“I find it hard to believe that Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi will lend his support to a comprehensive preemptive strike initiated by Netanyahu and Bennett,” one senior defense official told Al-monitor

Ben Caspit is a columnist for Al-Monitor’s Israel Pulse.

A Hindu critique of Hindutva

Times of india With the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens moving the authorities to shut down the internet in different parts of the country, India’s dubious distinction as a world leader in blocking internet services has come to the fore. In fact, last week the national capital saw its first such curb on information flow, marking the 95th time this year that authorities had blocked the internet. Since 2012, government has suspended internet services 367 times and in 2018, 67% of the world’s internet shutdowns were in India. Add to this the ongoing internet shutdown in Indian held Kashmir crossing 140 days, the longest ever in a democracy.

Embarrassingly, India’s frequent internet shutdowns have been praised by communist China to justify its own restrictive internet practices. All of this seriously undermines India’s commitment to a democratic or modern society.

After all, the internet today is akin to electricity in earlier decades. It is fundamental to modern life and economy. Frequent shutdowns also undermine the government’s Digital India dreams. At a time when other nations are moving to 5G mobile technology to advance digital economies, India’s curbs are antediluvian.

True, there could be extraordinary law and order instances where temporary internet curbs may be imposed. But such shutdowns can’t become the order of the day, nor should they flow from knee-jerk reactions on the part of authorities.

The curbs make commerce extremely difficult and diminish India’s attractiveness to investment, whether foreign or domestic. The lockdown in Indian held Kashmir following nullification of Article 370 has reportedly cost the local economy more than $2.4 billion. The internet shutdown has contributed to this. Therefore, government would do well to recognise the enormous costs of curbing internet access. Other democracies prioritise security too, but they don’t do it at the cost of the internet or by suspending mobile phone services.

emptive strike against Hezbollah’s rocket and missile infrastructure.

“Israel has not launched a preemptive strike since it was founded,” a senior defense establishment official told Al-monitor, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “It would only make an exception to this rule in the event of nuclear developments, which is why it destroyed nuclear reactors on two separate occasions: the first in Iraq and the second in Syria. Israel did not attack Egypt’s ground-to-air missile batteries before the 1973 Yom Kippur War, nor did it launch attacks like that in similar circumstances.

This is a permanent dilemma facing the defense establishment.”

The source then added, “And yet not one step forward has been taken until now, given the growing threat posed by our enemies.”

It is important to consider a couple of variables in regard to analyzing the current situation. The first is Netanyahu’s own situation.

The election scheduled for march 2 could very well be his last. His time in politics is running out.

Short of a miracle, he will be leaving the political arena in the coming year. Before the upcoming vote is his last chance to leave a legacy of deeds, not just of speeches and rhetoric. Even having to play a political price, something that Netanyahu feared throughout his career, is no longer relevant. A preemptive Israeli strike against Hezbollah would mean a comprehensive war in the north in which

on the condition of anonymity.

Countering this assessment is the deep concern shown by Gabi Ashkenazi (Blue and White), the new chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and former military chief of staff.

People close to Ashkenazi have reported that since being appointed committee chair and given access to the latest intelligence reports, he has become more worried and concerned than in the past. Could that be why he was the only person among Blue and White’s leadership who supported entering into a rotation coalition with Netanyahu and with Netanyahu serving first?

The most up-to-date assessment of most Israeli security sources is that the odds are low for a comprehensive, pre-emptive strike by Israel against Hezbollah’s rocket and missile infrastructure.

To make such a decision, Netanyahu would need the kind of political clout that he doesn’t have, while the defense establishment would need vast amounts of precise intelligence that it might not have.

On the other hand, the chances of a comprehensive clash or even a fullblown war along the northern border exist and are growing with time. Such a conflagration could be the result of what is commonly called a “miscalculation,” possibly an Israeli operation followed by retaliation from Hezbollah and then mutual escalation. This is the most likely scenario for a comprehensive war along the northern front, a war that neither of the parties wants right now, but one that could happen anyway of its own accord.

Hindu avijit pathak

The question I ask myself as we witness the assertion of the ideology of Hindutva and its resultant fear among minorities is this: Is it possible to have yet another reading of my religion or the experience of religiosity and take part in a collective movement for creating a society filled with love, empathy and pluralism? This is both a sociopolitical and an ethico-existential question. At a time when the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 has caused fear and existential insecurity among the minorities, there is a danger of the movement against the discriminatory nature of the CAA degenerating into violent communal politics.

Therefore, it is important to introspect and redefine one’s politics, culture and religiosity for a collective struggle.

TRANSCENDING LIMITING IDENTITIES Yes, there is a Left-Ambedkarite version of secularism, and many of us — university-educated/metropolitan intellectuals and civil society activists — are reasonably free from the burden of the conditioned mind that religious orthodoxy causes. Yet, a careful look at India’s culture and society would indicate that religion is all-pervasive: it can be seen in beliefs, rituals as well as in the dangerous stereotypes we nurture about others.

Hence, the mere act of debunking religion will not help. We need to rescue religion from zealots and rediscover the

spirit of religiosity as, to use Rabindranath Tagore’s language, our ‘surplus’. It is in this context that as someone born in a Hindu family, I would like to critique Hindutva or, for that matter, any deterministic/one dimensional doctrine of religion. This critique emanates not from scientism or soulless secularism, but from deep religiosity, the urge to transcend limiting identities.

The kind of Hindutva we see today is against some of the finest aspects of my religiosity that I learned as a Hindu.

While the discourse of Hindutva with its hypermasculine nationalism is essentially monolithic and centralising, I have learned about the beauty of the elasticity of human consciousness and merger of multiple faiths and paths from the likes of Ramakrishna Paramahansa. While the doctrine of militant Hindutva is recklessly engaged in an act of ‘othering’ and stigmatising muslims, I have learned about love, empathy and listening from m.K. Gandhi’s remarkably nuanced engagement with Hinduism.

Likewise, while Hindutva intensifies aggression, mira’s bhajans teach me that love and religiosity are not separate. The character of ‘Anandamayee’ that Tagore created in his classic novel Gora makes me see the enchanting power of maternity, the current that absorbs everything.

And hence, I begin to see the hollowness in the assertion of brute masculinity seen in instances of mob lynching by zealots, which ruthlessly denies the possibility of an evolutionary journey towards what Sri Aurobindo regarded as the ‘divine consciousness’.

Yajnavalkya’s conversation with maitreyi in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad helps me conceive the depths of spirituality, the quest for the Eternal, and also helps me see the ugliness in a doctrine that reduces religion into mere identity politics, or a weapon for intensifying the narcissistic ego of the ‘Hindu nation’.

Engagement with the Bhagavad Gita ac-

quires a different meaning. I see the ethos of niskam karma (or the spirit of work as an offering without selfish interests) in Gandhi’s politico-spiritual pilgrimage to Noakhali in 1946, not in the calculative machiavellian urge to build a temple at Ayodhya at the demolished site of the Babri masjid. moreover, there is a culture of conversation and argumentation in the broad tradition of Hinduism. While Nachiketa dared to converse with Yama, the proponents of Lokayata did argue with the followers of Vedanta. In a way, it is possible to be a Hindu with the spirit of pluralism and dialogue in our consciousness. Paradoxically, it is possible to be a Hindu, yet be a non-Hindu. This is why the ideology of Hindutva is not in conformity with religiosity as people’s inner quest for moving towards a world of love and togetherness.

We are passing through difficult times. First, as the CAA and the National Register of Citizens together indicate, the minority community has further been stigmatised. And in a society with a long history of the tension-ridden relationship between the two communities, the ghettoisation of space and mind has further erected a huge wall of separation. Hence, the danger is that the anger against the CAA might take a communal turn, and it is not impossible for the ‘nationalist’ media to project it as a conflict between ‘patriotic’ Hindus and ‘problematic’ muslims. From Seelampur in Delhi to Aligarh muslim University in Uttar Pradesh, these ‘muslim sites’ might be immediately projected as ‘war zones’.

And in a vicious cycle of humiliation and provocation, the minorities could feel more and more lonely.

A CULTURE OF COMMUNION majoritarian Hindutva is not merely against muslims; it is no less hostile to those Hindus who think and live differently — while some would be castigated as ‘leftists’, ‘pseudo secularists’ and ‘urban Naxals’, the rest would be re-

garded as ‘effeminate idealists’ or ‘Gandhian fools’. Therefore, in such a situation, it is important to try to evolve a culture of communion between the two communities, and fight together for a better world.

However, the discourse of communalism or a politics based on exclusivist religious identity (and even though majority communalism is immensely destructive, minority communalism is no answer to it) is essentially against this spirit of communion. Likewise, a soulless secularism which fails to deal with the religious/spiritual quest doesn’t succeed much in touching people’s hearts for inspiring them to create a new moral politics for collective redemption.

In troubled and directionless times, Gandhi could tap the therapeutic power of religiosity and move towards this communion. He could be a Hindu; yet, dialogic, experimental and elastic. In a way, as Nathuram Godse might have thought, he was also a non-Hindu. Likewise, I would imagine that a muslim with true religiosity is equally eager to resist the attempt by the orthodox clergy or the fundamentalist elements to hijack the religious sphere. He/she ought to be inherently against the Talibanisation of consciousness. Because true religiosity is the art of using the ‘form’ in order to be formless. Imagine a world where Kabir and Rumi, Gandhi and maulana Azad, and Tagore and Nizamuddin Auliya work with us, become our educators, and inspire us to heal the world through the power of love and understanding. Even though in the age of dystopia it may appear to be impossible, it is a challenging task we ought to strive for. This is precisely the most important sadhana, or the meaning of being a ‘Hindu’ — a seeker who seeks to break the iron cage of Hindutva or, for that matter, any other fundamentalist doctrine.

Avijit Pathak is Professor of Sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

FOREIGN NEWS 07

at least 24 dead in indonesia bus plunge JAKARTA AGENCIES At least two dozen people died and 13 others were injured after a bus plunged into a ravine in Indonesia, police said.

The bus carrying dozens of passengers careered into a 150-meter (500-foot) ravine in South Sumatra province just before midnight (1600 GMT) on Monday and ended up in a river, local police spokesman Dolly Gumara told AFP on Tuesday. “It crashed into the concrete road barrier before plunging into the ravine. Some people are still trapped inside the bus,” Gumara said, adding no other vehicle was involved. Search and rescue teams have been deployed to look for victims, Gumara said, adding injured survivors were taken to hospital.

The accident happened in a remote and steep area near the town of Pagar Alam, hampering the efforts to rescue the victims. The regional bus left Bengkulu province for Pagar Alam with only 27 passengers but some survivors told police there were around 50 people on board when the accident happened.

“Some passengers were probably added along the way so there’s a possibility some more people are still missing in the river,” Gumara said, adding the cause was being investigated. Traffic accidents are common in the Southeast Asian archipelago, where vehicles are often old and poorly maintained and road rules regularly flouted. In September, at least 21 people died when a bus plunged into a ravine in West Java’s Sukabumi region. Several months earlier, 12 people were killed and dozens more injured when a passenger tried to wrest control of a bus steering wheel following an argument with the driver on the same toll road in West Java as Thursday’s accident. The bus smashed into two cars, causing a truck to roll.

Nepal detains 122 Chinese for suspected cyber crime and bank fraud KATHMANDU AGENCIES

Police in Nepal have detained 122 Chinese men and women in its biggest crackdown on crime by foreigners entering the country on tourist visas, officials said on Tuesday. The chief of police in the capital Kathmandu said the suspects were rounded up in raids on Monday following information that they were engaged in suspicious activities. The Chinese are suspected of cyber crime and hacking into bank cash machines, the police chief, Uttam Subedi, said, adding that they were being held in different police stations and their passports and laptops had been seized. “This is the first time that so many foreigners have been detained for suspected criminal activities,” he said. Another senior police officer, Hobindra Bogati, said the Chinese embassy knew about the raids and had supported the detentions. Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Chinese and Nepali police had cooperated on the case and China was willing to increase law-enforcement cooperation with its neighbor. Chinese people are regularly detained in Asian countries on suspicion of involvement in various illegal activities, often involving fraud back in China. Last week, authorities in the Philippines arrested 342 Chinese workers in a raid on an unlicensed gambling operation.

In September, police arrested five Chinese nationals on a charge of stealing money by hacking bank cash machines. Chinese citizens were also arrested with smuggled gold this year. Nepal and China signed a treaty on mutual assistance in criminal matters during a visit to Nepal by President Xi Jinping in October. China has been increasing its investment in Nepal in recent years in areas such as roads, power plants and hospitals. More than 134,000 Chinese tourists visited Nepal between January and October this year, up 9.2 percent from the same period in 2018, according to Nepal Tourism Board data.

turKey to Keep seeKing aCCountability on Khashoggi no matter 'how high it goes' ANKARA

t

AGENCIES

URKEY said on Tuesday it would keep pushing for accountability “regardless of how high it goes” over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, after what it called a “sham trial” of 11 people.

Khashoggi disappeared after going to the consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018, to obtain documents for his planned wedding. His body was reportedly dismembered and removed from the building, and his remains have not been found.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia sentenced five people to death and three to jail over the murder, while dismissing charges against three others, finding them not guilty. A U.N. investigator accused Riyadh of making a “mockery” of justice by exonerating senior figures who may have ordered the killing.

The presiding Saudi court rejected the findings of a U.N. inquiry by ruling that the killing was not premeditated, rather carried out “at the spur of the moment”. Turkey said on Monday the trial outcome fell far short of serving justice, and on Tuesday Turkish Communications Direc-

tor Fahrettin Altun slammed the verdict as an “insult to the intelligence of any fair observer”.

“The international media must pursue the case of Khashoggi until there is true accountability…Those responsible must face justice sooner or later,” Altun said on Twitter.

“This despicable murder was done at a diplomatic facility against every diplomatic norm imaginable!

We will follow this case to the end regardless (of) how high it goes.”

The murder of Khashoggi, a US resident and critic of the kingdom’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,

caused a global outcry, and some Western governments, as well as the CIA, said they believed the prince ordered the killing. Saudi officials say he had no role, though in September the crown prince indicated some personal accountability, saying “it happened under my watch”.

After Monday’s verdict, a source familiar with US intelligence assessments said key US government agencies rejected the validity of the court proceedings and CIA experts still believed Prince Mohammad personally ordered or at least approved of, the killing.

Hong Kong police fire tear gas to disperse Christmas Eve protesters HONG KONG AGENCIES

Hong Kong riot police fired tear gas at thousands of protesters, many wearing masks and reindeer horns, after scuffles in shopping malls and in a prime tourist district as anti-government rallies escalated into chaos on Christmas Eve. Protesters inside the malls had thrown umbrellas and other objects at police who responded by beating some demonstrators with batons, with one pointing his gun at the crowd, but not firing.

Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters who had occupied the main roads outside the malls and nearby luxury hotels, including the Peninsula.

Many families with children had congregated in the same area to

view the Christmas lights along the promenade in the Tsim Sha Tsui East tourist district of Kowloon, the spectacular backdrop of Hong Kong island on the opposite side of the harbor. The protests, now in their seventh month, have lost some of the scale and intensity of earlier violent confrontations. A peaceful rally earlier this month still drew 800,000 people, according to organizers, showing strong support for the movement.

Scores of black clad, mask wearing protesters chanted slogans including “Revive Hong Kong, revolution of our time,” and “Hong Kong independence” as they roamed the malls. “Lots of people are shopping so it’s a good opportunity to spread the message and tell people what we are fighting for.” said Ken, an 18-year-old student.

“We fight for freedom, we fight for our future.” At one mall in the teeming Mong Kok district, also on the Kowloon peninsula, police used pepper spray to disperse some protesters, according to Cable television.

Some protesters were planning to march in Tsim Sha Tsui and count down to Christmas, according to notices on social media.

The Civil Human Rights Front, which has organized some of the biggest marches involving more than a million people, has applied to stage another march on New Year’s Day. Police have arrested more than 6,000 people since the protests escalated in June, including a large number during a protracted, violent siege at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in mid-November.

Iran arrests family of young man killed in 'riots' ISFAHAN AGENCIES

Iran has arrested the family of a young man killed in street violence that flared during last month’s protests against fuel price hikes, Mehr news agency reported on Tuesday. The family of Pouya Bakhtiari, who was “killed suspiciously during the recent riots”, had been invited for talks with authorities, Mehr said, citing what it called an informed source.

They were found to have been “carrying out a counter-revolutionary project” and “anti-structural activities”, said the agency, which is close to moderate conservatives in Iran. “Consequently, these elements were arrested by a judicial order in order to protect the order and the security of the honourable people and others damaged by the rioters,” it said without specifying which family members were taken into custody. Bakhtiari was reportedly killed in Karaj city, west of Tehran, in street violence that erupted in mid-November during nationwide protests over a shock decision to hike petrol prices by as much as 200 per cent. He was 27. His Instagram account, which is now reportedly run by his father, announced a ceremony marking 40 days since his death would be held at Karaj cemetery on Thursday. It was still active with more than 18,000 followers on Tuesday. Officials in Iran have yet to issue an overall death toll for the unrest, but international human rights group Amnesty International has put the number at more than 300. An Iranian security official rejected a foreign media report on Monday that the figure was as high as 1,500, saying it was based on “false propaganda”. “This way of news writing and making accusations is essentially nothing special,” said Alireza Zarifian Yeganeh, head of the information and communications secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

Quoted by the Tasnim news agency, he dismissed the reports as “a series of ludicrous claims”. “And when you would ask this media about its source, it would refer to some invisible creatures and there is no possibility of verification.” The days of unrest in Iran from November 15 saw police stations attacked, shops looted and banks and petrol stations torched as authorities imposed a week-long internet blackout. Videos that have surfaced since purport to show scenes from the crackdown that followed, including footage of security forces firing at unarmed demonstrators or beating them with batons. The United States, France and Germany have all condemned Iran over the bloodshed.

Iran has repeatedly denied casualty figures issued abroad. In a report on December 2, state television charged that foreign media had been “hyping up” the death toll. It also said that security forces “had no choice but to resort to authoritative and tough confrontation in order to save people from the hands of the rioters, and a number of rioters were killed”.

Bethlehem welcomes pilgrims for Christmas celebrations JERUSALEM AGENCIES

Pilgrims from around the world gathered Tuesday in the biblical city of Bethlehem, revered by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus, to celebrate Christmas in the Holy Land.

Palestinians and foreigners began converging on the “little town” in the Israeli-occupied West Bank from early morning, with Christmas Eve festivities taking place in and around the Church of the Nativity. Tourists queued to visit the grotto inside the church, believed to be the exact site where Jesus was born, with Ola, a Nigerian visitor, saying it was a “special day.” Outside in the winter sun, hundreds watched as Palestinian scouts paraded to the sound of drums.

“I feel really emotional to be here

today, it’s wonderful,” said Germana, an Italian travelling with her husband and two children.

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the most senior Roman Catholic official in the Middle East, was due to travel from Jerusalem to Bethlehem on Tuesday morning.

He will lead midnight mass in the Church of the Nativity, with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas expected to attend. Bethlehem is close to Jerusalem, but cut off from the holy city by Israel’s separation barrier.

The first church was built on the site in the fourth century, though it was replaced after a fire in the sixth century.

This year celebrations were bolstered by the return of a wooden fragment believed to be from the manger of

Jesus. Sent as a gift to Pope Theodore I in 640, the piece had been in Europe for more than 1,300 years before being returned last month, Francesco Patton, chief custodian for the Holy Land, said.

“We venerate the relic because (it) reminds us of the mystery of incarnation, to the fact that the son of God was born of Mary in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago,” Patton told AFP at the time.

In the square by the church, Palestinian tourism minister Rula Maaya told AFP it had been a good year, with 3.5 million tourists visiting the city.

But fewer Christians from the Gaza Strip were in attendance than in previous years, as Israel granted permits to just around 200 of the some 900 people who applied, said Wadie Abunassar, an adviser to church leaders in the Holy Land.

The Palestinian territories of the

West Bank and Gaza are separated by Israeli territory and crossing between them requires hard-to-get permits.

Abunassar said Christmas remained a time for hope. “The Holy Land is not only the site of the birth and crucifixion (of Jesus), it is also the place of resurrection,” he told AFP. “Despite all challenges, difficulties, pain and problems we are facing, we keep the hope in God and people.”

Around the world, people were getting ready to ring in the Christmas festivities.

In her traditional Christmas Day message, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II was to describe 2019 as “quite bumpy” after a year of crises in the royal family.

In France, travellers were meanwhile in for more woe in the bitter nearly-three week strike by train drivers fighting government pension reform plans.

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

08 COMMENT Getting things done The ‘accountability’ way

T

he appointment of a new Chief election Commissioner (CeC) is proving more difficult for the PTI government than it had perhaps hoped.

After all, it requires a two-thirds majority in the Lower house meaning that consultations and negotiations with the opposition are necessary. There is a deadlock over the PTI government’s nomination, Secretary eCP Babar Yaqoob, who the PML-N maintains facilitated delivering the 2018 general election result that they feel was severely compromised. Amid the stalemate, PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal has been arrested by NAB for alleged corruption in the Narowal Sports City Project.

Mr Iqbal, who has remained a vocal critic of the PTI government’s policies and performance so far, joins a long list of prominent PML-N leaders who are behind bars, awaiting trial, on the basis of allegations that are yet to be proven. The timing and disproportionate tilt of these arrests towards the opposition leaves little room to argue against the impression that NAB is being used by the government to get its way, substituting consensus building in Parliament with fear and coercion. It is therefore understandable why PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has refused to appear before NAB in the fake accounts case, terming the call-up notice “illegal” and challenging it to come arrest him “if they have the courage”. The FIA has now joined in on the action, with its new chief Wajid Zia who was the head of the Panamagate JIT that convicted Nawaz Sharif, summoning three PML-N leaders in the Judge Arshad Malik video leak case.

It seems now that the higher judiciary has taken notice of certain unnecessary incarcerations, considering how Miftah Ismail, who had been arrested in the LNG case, secured bail through the Islamabad high Court where the Chief Justice commented that there was no need to keep an accused behind bars until the crime is proved. Federal Minister for Water resources Faisal Vawda calling for Ahsan Iqbal to be hung for at least three days suggests that there is an element of personal vengeance fuelled by a sadistic mindset that exists at the very top and trickles downwards. The PTI and its backers should understand that this strategy of getting their way in politics through so-called ‘accountability’ is not sustainable as a plethora of issues ranging from the economy to foreign policy and security meanwhile hang in the balance, receiving much less attention than they require.

Test cricket comes back Pakistan is safe for cricket

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here was a fitness in Sri Lanka being the first Test team to tour Pakistan after a decade. After all, it had been the last, on whom a terrorist attack had led to other teams refusing to tour, and Pakistan having to shift its home fixtures to Dubai. Technically, international cricket had resumed in Pakistan, with Zimbabwe visiting for T20s and ODIs in 2016 and Sri Lanka itself visiting earlier in the season for ODIs, but the two-Test series ending in Karachi on Monday represented a return to Pakistan of Tests. That Pakistan won 1-0, after drawing at rawalpindi, was only appropriate, following as it did win against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in the shorter formats.

The Pakistan team did not let the violent past or the peaceful present weigh on them, and after the nightmarish series in Australia, in which both Tests were lost by an innings, there were some positives to take away from the Tests at home. Where Pakistan out on its usual pathetic batting display in the first innings, which saw the team dismissed for 191, the second innings saw only the second time in Test history that four batsmen scored centuries, allowing Pakistan to declare on 555, and give Sri Lanka a target of 475 by lunch on the fourth day. It might be too early to predict a revival of Pakistani batting generally, but the fact remains that the batting came good when it was most needed. Abid Ali seems a good find at the top of the order, now having two centuries in just three Test innings. Shan Masood partnered him well at Karachi, but at 32, Abid is a little long in tooth. Shan is 30, also not necessarily a long-term prospect. On the other hand, the bowling heroes, Shaheen Afridi with a five-wicket haul that kept Sri Lanka to 271 in the first innings, and Naseem, Shah with another, that bowled out Sri Lanka in the second, are both in their teens, and could give the team good service for years to come.

Pakistan should bring its cricket home, including the PSL tournament entirely. The panicky security of PSL matches in past must be avoided, for while Pakistanis want their cricket, they want to enjoy it, not have heavy-handed security crowd out the fun.

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

I

Who will bell the cat?

The tribal mindset still persists

JAved iqbAl

I

N his famous article on a workers’ strike, a former Indian judge, Pana Chand Jain, quoted the French philosopher Charles Fourier who gave the theory of “the right to work.” Fourier had declared that “politics extol the rights of men and do not guarantee the prime and only useful right, the right to work.” Meanwhile, the Indian apex court had held in Delhi Transport Corp. vs DTC Mazdoor Congress case that income is the foundation of many fundamental rights; and when work is the source of income, the right to work becomes as much fundamental. Moreover, many other Indian high Courts had passed rulings against strikes.

The prevailing skirmish between black coats and white coats in Lahore is best reflected in Gunnar Myrdal’s Asian Drama that says “the softer a state is, the greater the likelihood that there is an unholy nexus between the lawmaker, the lawkeeper, and the lawbreaker.” The current situation truly reflects that. The lawmakers are being probed and punished by the courts and law-keepers have turned into lawbreakers in everyday life.

No aspect of society seems straightforward nowadays. The day-to-day crisis-like situation has made society quite unsafe for the hapless.

Neither the law nor any tradition of respect or equality before the law has flourished and this has inevitably resulted in the law of the jungle. Our society could not be developed as a single societal unit; rather, it’s like a group of many factions that do their best for safeguarding their interests. For that reason, the law and the Constitution could not grow enough, to say the least. Some say that the state’s writ has been badly compromised. The institutions are weak; which instead of imposing restrictions on outlaws, support the mafias. The sordid PIC tragedy is not the first event to be mourned. It is one of such sad stories that happens on an everyday basis.

This time, there are two kinds of groups who are face to face, the lawyers and the doctors. They have always won battles against state institutions for their interests. Both have ignored the sanctity of professional ethics. The former, by violently vi-

olating the law; and the latter, by playing the strike card and ignoring critical patients in hospitals.

It is said society can survive oppression but not injustice. It is thus strange that there is injustice everywhere and society continues to ignore the writing on the wall. The row between the black and white coats is under trial in the court.

Let the judicial and legal proceedings continue but it is clear no one can touch the guilty.

The judicial system is facing major problems and people’s trust is badly damaged. People prefer to take the law into their hands, instead of seeking long-awaited justice from the courts.

They know that it requires the proverbial age of Noah, a treasure of Nimrod and patience of Jacob to get justice. It is also an important question whether the courts can render judgment against powerful groups like lawyers.

The Islamabad high Court (IhC), besides suspending a license, issued contempt of court notice to the Secretary IhC Bar Association Umair Baloch for trying to force lawyers to leave courtrooms as a protest on PIC-related arrests.

Surprisingly, the bar issued a strike-call on the suspension. Lawyers are boycotting courts to show solidarity with those lawyers arrested for involvement in the PIC rampage. even the Pakistan Bar Council issued a notification that states the protest was “against partial and biased conduct of the local police and the administration of Lahore against the lawyers as well as action taken by the Islamabad high Court against the Secretary IhC Bar Association.” It is difficult to concede to the right to boycott courts by lawyers on the analogy of conceding the right to strike of employees. Both, as it seems, don’t bother their and others’ right to work.

There is also the dignity of the court, delivery of justice, sufferings of people and the writ of the state. On the other side, there is a question of the moral fall of the learned side of society.

Now, it seems that there will be mushrooming of conspiracy theories. had the higher authorities taken notice of an unpleasant incident at Toba Tek Singh, in which

government hospital staff was handcuffed and shamelessly presented before lawyers at the district bar, could the PIC tragedy have been avoided? The DC and DPO would have been issued strict explanation letters by the Punjab government for showing cowardice, incompetence and lack of courage or leadership. Nothing happened as the lawyers’ mafia and state institutions joined hands against the poor officials whose only crime was to maintain discipline in the hospital.

If all these incidents are analysed, it seems that we have not yet come out of the tribal mindset. A tribesman helps his people in any way, even knowing that they are unjust. Secondly, intolerance is on the rise. harmony amongst people has much diminished. Trivial matters lead to big fights and even murders. When moral turmoil prevails in society, the values are devalued.

The government should pass legislation to bar any public sector employees to protest or strike, come what may. They challenge and obstruct others’ right to work and create hurdles for others. Moreover, the health department should get signed affidavits from doctors that they would not leave the patients unattended whatever the circumstances. The doctors join the public sector of their own will and may quit it at any time. The trend of lawyers’ boycott should also be curtailed. The government should also ensure that no one interrupts public life as a protest by blocking roads, locking courts and knocking down public offices. The poor writ of the state leads to poor social protection which gives birth to the gangster mindset. This is what happened in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of the USSr. It is a prime job of the PTI government to empower state institutions to curb organised mafias and mob justice. Alas! It has failed in this regard.

If we couldn’t counter mafias, then Swedish economist Myrdal’s thesis in “Asian Drama- An Inquiry into the Poverty of Nations,” would prove true. That drama was about overpopulation, poverty and the danger of what we now call “failed states.”

But who will bell the cat?

The judicial salvo Egos were involved

AskAri rAzA MAlik

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he short order of the ‘special court trying Musharraf left many questions unanswered. The detailed order that followed had no ambiguity as to the intent and purpose of the court and the mindset of the chief judge. Legal shortcomings apart, the language of the said decision has attracted scathing criticism at home and abroad. It was a typical example of the ‘language of the bazaar. With a selected sprinkling of a few fourletter words, the expression would have done the downtown riffraff immensely proud. It also reflected a great deal on the system that had brought the chief judge this far.

The social media has given the judge tit-for-tat. But sombre minds seemed seriously concerned about his mental health. They recommend his suspension until he gets psychologically rehabilitated. It will also be worthwhile to consider putting him in protective custody to save him from possible physical harm.

The last few days had seen the commencement of a sudden judicial offensive for no apparent reason except a frustrated PM complaining about a subordinate court permitting Mian Nawaz Sharif to make his escape good without worthwhile guarantees. Immediately after that in his first public appearance, the previous Chief Justice of Pakistan seemed visibly irritated in a ‘how dare you’ stance. he proudly recounted the accomplishments of the judiciary like sacking and disqualifying previous prime ministers. Then he had raised his arms in taunting mimicry of Musharraf and said that an ex-Army Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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general’s case was also about to be decided. This provocative gesture of the CJP is thought to have spurred the junior judge into an abrasive action. earlier an advocate, a known habitual spoiler, had challenged the extension granted to the Army Chief. Perhaps overawed by the enormity of his challenge he had immediately withdrawn his application. It was not to be. It looked as if the Supreme Court was waiting for such an opportunity. It refused to let go of the application and turned it into a suo motu notice. Moving with a supersonic speed the Court had reached its decision humbling both the chief executive and the Army Chief in one swift blow.

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan said that the act of the Supreme Court was absolutely unnecessary and superfluous, or words to that effect. Barrister Aitzaz had missed the inevitable “I”, the ego. Once it possesses a mind, it robs it of all good sense and smothers the sense of proportion, the hallmark of wisdom.

The venerable CJP, days before his honourable exit, had chosen to badly compromise his stature.

The special court in its consequential decision on Musharraf was perhaps carried away by the unusual audacity displayed by the CJP. It readily took the plunge after him.

The special court, according to the Attorney General, had unfortunately acted rashly and in indecent haste.

A mortified Military stood deeply hurt, with wounded pride, and tarnished image. For the first time in history an ex-President and Army Chief had been sentenced to

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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death for high treason. The narrative built by the ‘Special Court’ is clumsy and unconvincing.

The Musharraf saga is well documented. In 1999, he was compelled to take over the country from a half-witted and whimsical Nawaz Sharif busy playing yet another childish trick on the Army. In 2007, he temporarily suspended the Constitution again and clamped emergency to deal with what in his perception was a rebelling Chief Justice. On both the occasions the Constitution had been temporarily suspended, not abrogated and restored the soonest possible.

When Nawaz Sharif came back to take his turn in power as arranged with the PPP in the ‘Charter of Democracy’, he ordered Musharraf’s trial for treason in a clear act of personal vendetta. Sharif had not even cared to get his Cabinet’s approval. The obliging Supreme Court had immediately constituted a special court to try Musharraf without bothering to scrutinise in detail the validity of Sharif’s request.

Nowhere in the world is an epic court expected to act impetuously in such a case of national import.

The terms of reference were intriguingly tailormade to suit Sharif’s viciousness. Instead of taking cognisance of Musharraf’s 1999 affront, the court undertook to charge him for declaration of emergency in 2007 that had empowered Musharraf to sack the then Chief Justice. It looks that the honourable court was not so much interested in the violation of the constitution in 1999, as to the clamping of emergency in 2007 that

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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had clipped the wings of a troublesome Chief Justice. Though the said Chief Justice was later restored, much to the regret of the following government, the “I” would not rest in peace unless Musharraf’s head was brought on a platter to serve as a warning to all the future rulers of Pakistan to stay clear of the judiciary.

The salvo had been fired. The fire ignited. The military became apprehensive for many reasons.

The Chief had to call an urgent conference to help ease taut nerves.

The commandoes live by a unique esprit de corps which an outsider can hardly ever imagine. The Army Chief, alive to this sensitivity, had to rush to the Commandoes headquarters to soothe the agitated minds and calm the indignant souls.

The spontaneous nationwide support must have come as a surprise to even the staunchest of Musharraf apologists. The court in its utter naivety had indeed opened a Pandora’s Box of unlimited proportions.

The military has maintained its professional focus and composure and has refused to be dragged in silly assertions of self-importance.

For a dwindling democracy to find steady legs to stand upon, all the institutions must strictly operate in their respective territories. As far Pakistan, let us not forget that “my enemy is my enemy, my friend’s enemy and my enemy’s friend”.

Those whose actions please the enemies of Pakistan must decide for themselves where they stand.

Askari Raza Malik has served the Pakistan Army as a Major General.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

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

Social media, a blessing in disguise

USA-India nexus essentially anti-Pakistan The world powers must realise where their real interests lie

MAlik MuhAMMAd AshrAf

A

few days ago, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Secretary of Defence Mark esper held bilateral talks with their Indian counterparts, dubbed as two-plus-two ministerial dialogue. and in the joint statement issued at the end of the parleys while reaffirming the growing strategic partnership and working in support of a free, open and inclusive Indo-pacific region, unwarrantedly asserted that the Pakistani territory was being used by the terrorists. The statements also asked Pakistan to take immediate and irreversible action against these networks and prevent its territory from being used in this manner.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, reacting to this indiscreet assertion, rightly rejected the statement, terming it as anti-Pakistan.

The reality is that the USA-India nexus is not only designed to promote the objective of the ContainChina policy, but is also essentially anti-Pakistan.

The USA and its allies, blinded by their strategic and commercial interests, are showing criminal indifference to the state terrorism by India in Indian-Occupied Kashmir and the ruthless killing spree in the Valley at the hands of the Indian security forces and the Indian action to end the special status of the state which effectively nullifies the UN resolutions on the Kashmir dispute.

They have also kept mum on the export of terrorism to Pakistan by India through the likes of Kulbhushan Jadhav, whose confessional statement and later conviction by the military court present irrefutable evidence of Indian involvement. The conscience of the so-called champions of humanitarian causes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter and the Universal human rights Declaration does not seem to have been stirred either by what is happening in Indian-Occupied Kashmir nor by the recent anti-Muslim legislation enacted by the Modi government which has provoked a country-wide protest movement. They have not gone beyond mild rebuke and concern over what is happening.

The USA and its allies have also shown utmost hypocrisy with regard to the sacrifices made

by Pakistan in the War On Terror. While they acknowledge that Pakistan as a frontline state in the War On Terror has done a lot, they in the same breath also do not mince their words about the alleged presence of terrorist outfits on Pakistani soil

done well to convey her apprehensions to the to please their strategic partner India.

Their support and grovelling attitude towards P5 and other countries regarding Indian designs India encourages the latter to continue with its op- and seeking their support and intervention to pression in Indian Occupied Kashmir and adop- de-escalate the situation. Pakistan needs to intion of a hostile posture towards Pakistan. My tensify the diplomatic offensive to sensitise the considered view is that Indian PM Narendra world about the dangers to peace and security Modi could not have made a move on Kashmir in the region due to Indian action in Indian-Ocwithout approving nod by the USA. he pro- cupied Kashmir and the pieces of anti-Muslim ceeded with that illegal action which even consti- legislation enacted by her.

Pakistan, inspite of being capable of giving tuted an affront to UN and the world community a befitting reply to any agafter behind-the-scene asgressive move by India, surances by the USA and as it proved in February its allies that there would when Indian planes be no harsh reaction crossed over to Pakistan against those indiscretions. and got shot down, does The continued firing not want an armed conalong the LoC by the InThe Modi government also flict with her. Pakistan dian forces and the threat needs to realise that the course and India are nuclear hurled by the Indian Army adopted by it is neither in the powers and any miscalcuchief that the situation at lation on either side can the LoC could escalate ultimate interest of India nor have disastrous conseany time are ominous porthe entire region. Its war-like quences for both of them. tents that reinforce fears The countries of the expressed by Pakistan that disposition could endanger which believe in in an effort to divert the atpeace and security in the region world peace and tranquillity tention of the world comand beyond and also jeopardises need to play a role and use munity from the situation their influence on India to in Indian-Occupied Kashfor good its efforts to change persuade her to reverse mir, and compelled by the the economic situation of the the situation in Indian-Ocdeteriorating internal situation over the Citizenship teeming millions in India. Peace cupied Kashmir and also refrain from the course it Amendment Bill, India and security in the region are has adopted to make India might try to re-enact a pivotal to alleviation of poverty a hindu state, which can false flag operation which could easily lead to an and shared economic prosperity. have a spillover effect in the region, particularly armed conflict between The only way this objective can Pakistan. The USA and the two countries. her Western allies also Prime Minister Imran be realised is through to revisit their stratKhan, reacting to the resolution of disputes between need egy of extending unqualiemerging situation, has Pakistan and India including fied support to India, rightly tried to draw the atrealising that it could spell tention of the international the core issue of Kashmir disaster in the region and community to the lurking through dialogue in conformity also undermine their dangers in his Twitter strategic interests. message saying, “I have with the UN resolutions. The The Modi governbeen warning the internasooner this reality sinks into ment also needs to realise tional community of this the minds of the Indian that the course adopted for some time and I am reiterating again, if India leadership the better. Wars and by it is neither in the ultimate interest of India nor does such an operation to confrontations bring death and the entire region. Its wardivert attention from its domestic chaos plus whipdestruction and not prosperity like disposition could endanger peace and security up war hysteria to moin the region and beyond bilise hindu nationalism, and also jeopardises for Pakistan will have no opgood its efforts to change tion but to give a befitting the economic situation of response. Over the last the teeming millions in five years of Modi’s government, India has been moving towards a hindu India. Peace and security in the region are pivrashtra with its hindutva Supremacist and fas- otal to alleviation of poverty and shared ecocist ideology. Now with the Citizens Amendment nomic prosperity. The only way this objective Act, all those Indians who want a pluralist India can be realised is through resolution of disputes are beginning to protest and it is becoming a between Pakistan and India including the core mass movement. At the same time the siege by issue of Kashmir through dialogue in conformIndian Occupation forces in Indian-Occupied ity with the UN resolutions. The sooner this reKashmir continues. A bloodbath can be expected ality sinks into the minds of the Indian when it is lifted. As these protests are increasing, leadership the better. Wars and confrontations the threat to Pakistan from India is also increas- bring death and destruction and not prosperity. ing. The Indian Army Chief’s statement adds to Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic. our concerns of a False Flag operation.”

Under the circumstances, Pakistan has He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com

IN the Pakistani society it isn’t unprecedented to feel that internet-based life is a threat which has spread especially among youths to destroy their lives. Frequently seen as the best issue of our age, web-based life is intensely scrutinised. however, there are sure benefits of online networking which can refute this manner of thinking. This conviction springs from what online life sites have been named as. Destinations, for example, Facebook and Twitter have gotten incredible analysis starting late normally being seen as a path for youngsters to squander their days on their electronic gadgets.

This to a degree can even be viewed as obvious yet just in the event that one contemplates over the outside of the ocean that is present day media. While indeed, web-based life may have expanded the utilisation of electronic gadgets, the benefits accompanying it are much more than that of a silver coating.

In the electronic age of the 21st century, online life is the best stage to make mindfulness. We would now be able to see works pioneers, scandalously Donald Trump, running their administration of web-based life locales, for example, Twitter.

This mass mindfulness has demonstrated to really be a gift. The #BlackLivesMatter and #WeAreThe1% for the Fergeunson and Occupy Wall Street Movement individually have been more prominent occasions of social developments which did make mindfulness about critical issues as well as tackled these issues. All however the two issues conflicted with the standards which had been set a state as incredible as the United States of America, when mass familiarity with an issue becomes even the best countries need to pay regard. Along these lines, internet-based life costs to be a crucial resource.

Internet based life has additionally allowed each person to voice their conclusion. The #MeToo is the best case of this where not just have ladies at long last had the capacity to talk about a predominant issue in the public arena yet have had the capacity to join to neutralise it. Through thusly a solitary post via web-based networking media makes numerous ladies feel less alone. Thus, the ongoing down disorder displaying programme on Facebook have made it conceivable to maintain kids with the affliction and not make them feel segregated.

Obviously the best course to embrace, as in each part of life, is balance. A reasonable utilisation of media, in the correct ways will permit to utilise it appropriately as an extraordinary stage. Issues emerge regular. Where better to talk about their gravity and need to talk facing them then a medium through which our each word can achieve a huge number of individuals by the dash of a catch? henceforth, before naming online networking as an ‘instrument of the fiend” we should contemplate over its benefits and how it has helped fill in as a mode of increasing essential data and crating mass mindfulness. Along these lines it might genuinely end up being a surprisingly positive turn of events.

AbbAS FAtEH-uD-Din ASiM Lahore

Consequences of climate change ThrOUGh the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I want to express my deep concern and anxiety on the climatic change due to various man-made reasons. Man is responsible for all the degradation of the environment It started with the indiscriminate feelings of trees. The deforestation has led to innumerable harms to the environment and ecology. Trees provide oxygen and absorb C02 from the atmosphere. The clearing of forests led to droughts and dry spells. This has resulted in global warming and sudden climatic changes.

Pollution of air, water, and land is making our living quite miserable. Our seas, rivers and lakes are also polluted. They have become dumping grounds for human and industrial wastes. Glaciers are melting. So are the ice volumes of the poles. Man’s unlimited needs and limited natural resources are further aggravating the problem. Unplanned urbanisation and industrialisation have adversely affected the landscape and climate. Let us check the degradation of the environment and make this planet a pleasant place for human habitation.

AYESHA REHAn islamabad

Fake promises IS the government fit for the phrase “all words and no action”?

Let’s keep aside all other unfulfilled promises of the government, if we only consider its commitment to put those behind bars who are corrupt and recover illegal and unauthorised money from them, appeared nothing but another fake promise. I regard myself as a supporter of the ruling party and the obvious reason is rhetoric and convincing speeches of the premier but those words when fail to turn into reality offer great pain and disappointments.

Government remained unsuccessful to recover country’s looted money and convict those who are responsible despite clear evidence. When such unfair practices continue to happen, faith of the nation stir. A fresh PTI govt provided a ray of hope for the poor masses and made them to believe that justice will be served across the board and the culprits will be inclusively held accountable. I request our government to avert taking Uturns and empty talks, rather stick to your words and take a firm and fair actions against wrongdoers so that the masses do not lose their hopes and go in despair.

DAnESH YARooSHAH thatta

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

10 FOREIGN NEWS

China hosts Japan, south Korea with eyes on nuClear north

BEIJING

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AGENCIES

HINA hosted the leaders of squabbling neighbours South Korea and Japan for their first official meeting in over a year on Tuesday, flexing its diplomatic muscle with America’s two key Asian allies and seeking unity on how to deal with a belligerent North Korea.

The gathering in the southwestern city of Chengdu was held with the clock ticking on a threatened “Christmas gift” from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that could reignite global tensions over its nuclear programme.

Kim has promised the unidentified “gift” — which analysts and American officials believe could be a provocative missile test — if the US does not make concessions in their nuclear talks by the end of the year.

The gathering also featured the first bi-

lateral meeting between South Korea’s Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 15 months.

Ties between the two have hit rock bottom lately over trade issues and other disputes related to decades of bitter wrangling over Japan’s 1910-1945 occupation of the Korean peninsula. The United States has urged the pair to bury the hatchet — worried their poor relations were complicating diplomacy in Asia — although it has held off on direct mediation.

China is appearing to fill that void with the Chengdu event.

“As the region’s major power, China hopes to show its diplomatic presence to the world by bringing the Japanese and South Korean leaders to the same table,” Haruko Satoh, professor and expert on Chinese politics at Osaka University, told AFP. Before leaving for China, Abe told reporters that links with Seoul remained “severe”.

But Abe and Moon were pho-

tographed smiling and shaking hands, and made positive overtures at the start of their bilateral meeting.

The relationship between Japan and both Koreas is overshadowed by the 35 years of brutal colonisation by the Japanese — including the use of sex slaves and forced labour — that is still bitterly resented today.

Ties began a downward spiral in recent months after a series of South Korean court rulings ordering Japanese firms to compensate wartime forced labour victims.

These infuriated Tokyo, who insisted the matter had been settled by a 1965 treaty between the two countries.

Seoul then threatened to withdraw from a key military intelligence-sharing pact, although it reversed course in November and agreed to extend it “conditionally”.

Abe said he hoped “to improve the important Japan-South Korea relations and to exchange candid opinions”, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK. On Tuesday, Seoul’s presidential Blue House said Moon described the two countries as “the closest neighbours geographically, historically and culturally”.

But at a press conference after the bilateral, Abe said it was “South Korea’s responsibility” to resolve the issues.

“I urge the South Korean side to get the ball rolling to regain the soundness of JapanSouth Korea relations,” he said.

After the meeting with China, both Japan and South Korea urged the resumption of talks between Pyongyang and Washington — which have been largely deadlocked since a second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Kim in Hanoi collapsed at the start of this year.

Former US adviser warns of 'imminent' North Korea risk WASHINGTON AGENCIES

Former US national security adviser John Bolton on Monday sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s North Korea policy, warning that the Asian country posed an “imminent” threat.

“The risk to US forces & our allies is imminent & more effective policy is required before NK has the technology to threaten the American homeland,” tweeted Bolton, who was dismissed in September amid growing disagreements with Trump, particularly regarding his North Korea policy.

The erstwhile advisor, a longtime hawk on North Korea, was openly skeptical of the 2018 summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and encouraged the US president to be cautious.

The denuclearization process has been

largely deadlocked since the collapse of a second summit in Hanoi at the start of this year. North Korea promised an ominous “Christmas gift” earlier this month if Washington does not give ground by the end of December.

In an interview with news site Axios published Monday, Bolton also said he thinks the Trump administration does not really intend to stop Pyongyang from becoming a legitimate nuclear power capable of firing missiles at other countries, otherwise “it would be pursuing a different course.”

“The idea that we are somehow exerting maximum pressure on North Korea is just unfortunately not true,” he said.

Should North Korea conduct a major test or make some other significant provocation after the ultimatum expires, Bolton said he hopes Washington will acknowl-

edge its mistake and say, “We’ve tried.

The policy’s failed.”

The US should then work with allies to show that “when we say it’s unacceptable, we’re going to demonstrate we will not accept it,” he added.

Bolton also criticized Trump for saying the North Korean short-range missile tests don’t bother him.

“When the president says, ‘Well, I’m not worried about short-range missiles,’ he’s saying, ‘I’m not worried about the potential risk to American troops deployed in the region or our treaty allies, South Korea and Japan,'” he charged.

“We’re now nearly three years into the administration with no visible progress toward getting North Korea to make the strategic decision to stop pursuing deliverable nuclear weapons,” Bolton said, noting that “time is on the side of the proliferator.”

Australian PM under pressure as bushfires fuel climate debate SYDNEY: Calls for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to resign have littered social media platforms after it was revealed he was holidaying in Hawaii while the country battled a bushfire emergency and his return has failed to douse the criticism. Voters have taken to social media calling for leadership at a time of crisis, and along with some of the country’s political editors, have criticized Morrison’s refusal to take tougher action on climate change. Similar to the criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump by American comedians, Morrison has been ridiculed on social media, portrayed as a deformed creature sitting in a burned out forest on Christmas Day patting a lump of coal he calls “precious” to a flying superhero called “Bullshit Man”. On Twitter on Tuesday, #NotMyPrimeMinister, #MorrisonMustGo and #ScoMoResign were the top trending topics in Australia after a viral video showed a volunteer firefighter, Jacqui, shaking hands with Morrison as she said “not my prime minister”.

“Jacquie is all of us,” Twitter user Yabba said. Another user @bugwannostra tweeted “she’s only saying what more than 12 million think…” The tweet prompted Morrison to issue a clarification on Tuesday. “Indeed, as Jacqui joked with me yesterday, I’m not her PM, because she’s British, Boris Johnson is,” he tweeted. Devastating bushfires have burned more than 4 million hectares (9.88 million acres) of land across five states and killed nine people since September. Uncontrolled fires are still burning in South Australia, after ripping through the state’s prominent wine region, and around the country’s largest city Sydney. Hazardous smoke blanketed Sydney for days this month, heightening public anger and raising political pressure on the government to do more to battle climate change. When it was revealed Morrison and his family had slipped away to Hawaii for a holiday voters became angry. On his return Morrison further inflamed his political critics by saying there would be no change to climate policy and denied suggestions of a split within his government after his deputy agreed more action was needed. He also ruled out holding a summit with the nation’s fire chiefs and compensation for thousands of volunteer firefighters who have battled blazes for months. A series of photo opportunities of Morrison with firefighters and animals affected by the fires was ridiculed on social media on Tuesday. Morrison stunned the nation in May by winning an election, securing a parliamentary majority, but his political capital six months later is now being questioned. “He has lost any personal link to that deep, crucial, reservoir of gravitas we confer, automatically, on our PMs simply because of their position,” The Canberra Times newspaper columnist Nicholas Stuart wrote on Tuesday. But some analysts say it is too early to write Morrison’s political epitaph, but concede Australia’s summer bushfires may eventually see a change in climate policy. In Australia, the world’s largest exporter of coal, climate and energy policy have infused politics for a decade, helping to bring down both liberal and conservative lawmakers.

Queen admits 'bumpy' year in Christmas message LONDON AGENCIES

Queen Elizabeth II called 2019 “quite bumpy” in a Christmas message at the end of a chaotic year which saw Britain bitterly divided over its split from the European Union and her scandal-plagued son Prince Andrew withdraw from public life.

But in some good news on Tuesday, the 93-year-old monarch’s husband Prince Philip checked out of a London hospital after four nights of treatment for an undisclosed “pre-existing condition” in time to join the royal family for Christmas.

The year was filled with disappointments for the queen — a seminal figure in British public life who assumed the throne in 1952 and is beloved by much of the nation. None may have been more bitter than a calamitous BBC interview in which her second son Andrew tried to distance himself from American paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew promised to “step back from public duties” after his denial of having sex with one of Epstein’s alleged victims was ridiculed in the UK media and reportedly criticised in Buckingham Palace.

The queen will point to the life of Jesus as an example of how reconciliation can be achieved and “how small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions” in her speech, which will be broadcast on Christmas Day. The remarks were widely interpreted as a reference to the Brexit debate that has torn Britain apart since it voted to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum.

“The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference,” the queen will say. Royal commentators said the queen’s use of the word “bumpy” marked her most explicit admission of turmoil since her headline-grabbing description of 1992 as an “annus horribilis”. The marriages of three of her children fell apart and her beloved Windsor Castle nearly went up in flames that “horrible year”.

The queen found herself dragged into the tortuous political drama of Brexit when she approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s request to suspend parliament in August. Critics claimed it was an attempt to silence opponents to his Brexit

plans. The Supreme Court subsequently ruled that Johnson’s request had been unlawful and many people blamed him for making the queen look bad.

The queen was also rumoured to have been disappointed by her grandson Prince Harry and his American former actress wife Meghan Markle.

The young couple made waves by

speaking out about their struggle with living in the public eye and then suing three British newspapers for prying into their private lives. Their picture was notably absent from the collection of family photographs on the queen’s desk in her televised address.

Harry and Meghan will also miss that annual Christmas Day gathering at the

royal retreat at Sandringham that Philip was whisked to after leaving the hospital.

The queen has remained one of Britain’s most popular figures despite the royal family’s travails.

A poll by YouGov in November showed 72 per cent of respondents had a positive opinion of the monarch.

The queen’s Christmas Day message also reflected on the heroism of British forces during the D-Day landings in Normandy that turned the course of World War II in 1944.

Her trips abroad are becoming increasingly rare, but she made one in June to attend the 75th anniversary commemorations in France.

“For the 75th anniversary of that decisive battle, in a true spirit of reconciliation, those who had formerly been sworn enemies came together in friendly commemorations either side of the Channel, putting past differences behind them,” the queen will say in her message.

“By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honour the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost.”

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

PakIstan’s Power seCtor Debt swells to rs1.69tr ELECTRICITY TARIFF MAY INCREASE FURTHER IN JANUARY 2020 ISLAMABAD

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GHULAM ABBAS

HE Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has indicated that there would be a further increase in electricity prices in Pakistan from January next year in order to pay the idle capacity payments to the power producers.

"For the second quarter of Financial Year 2020, an adjustment in power tariff will take place by end-January 2020," the review report said. In the last fiscal year, Rs465 billion were added into the power sector circular debt, the IMF noted, adding that the total debt as of end-September 2019 has increased to Rs1.69 trillion.

As per the report, the government already increased by 5pc power prices in September and then 2pc again in No-

vember. "The government will also amend the NEPRA Act to reintroduce the powers to slap debt servicing surcharges. This will be done before the end of this month."

The IMF has estimated annual circular debt servicing costs in excess of Rs100 billion, which it wants to be recovered from honest consumers and to compensate for theft.

As per the report, the power sector has long been a significant constraint on growth in Pakistan. Over the past decade, the power sector has been characterized by a significant demand-supply gap, manifested in frequently scheduled power outages (load shedding).

"The amount of new circular debt was Rs465 billion, with around 1/3 of this amount coming from the inefficiencies in the DISCOs described above.

Another significant source of circular debt, over 40pc of the accumulation, comes from policy decisions related to the provision of unbudgeted subsidies, government-provided subsidies that remain unpaid as there is no allocation in the budget, and delays in tariff notifications, whereby the government does not proceed with timely notification of tar-

Govt mulls offering tax breaks to 20 industrial sectors, says Dawood

iffs," the report said.

Against the challenges in the power sector, the authorities have prepared a comprehensive circular debt reduction plan. The plan, prepared in consultation with IMF staff and other international partners, aims to reduce the annual flow of circular debt from the current level to around Rs50–75 billion by FY2023 through improved collection and reduction in losses, streamlined tariff updates, and rationalized subsidies.

Monitoring of the plan will take place through implementation reports published by the Ministry of Energy. Key measures of the plan include: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) Act will be amended to (i) give the regulator the power to determine and notify quarterly tariffs; (ii) ensure timely submission of tariff petitions by the DISCOs; (iii) streamline the notification of annual tariffs by the government; and (iv) reintroduce the power of the government to introduce tariff surcharges to stem the accumulation of arrears.

Amendments to the NEPRA Act are expected to be submitted to parliament by end-December 2019.

"Timely updating of tariffs. Until

Cement exports decline 5.2pc in five months ISLAMABAD: The export of cement witnessed a decrease of 5.27pc during the first five months of the current financial year (FY20) as against the exports of the corresponding period of last year. Pakistan exported cement worth $124.204 million during July-November 2019-20, as against the exports of $131.118 million during JulyNovember 2018-19, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). In terms of quantity, the export of cement increased by 6.56pc, from 3,246,669 metric tonnes to 3,046,771 metric tonnes. Meanwhile, on a year-on-year basis, the cement exports witnessed an increase of 11.27pc during the month of November 2019 as compared to the same month of last year. The export of cement in November 2019 was recorded at $29.794 million, as against the export of $26.776 million in November 2018. On a month-on-month basis, the export of cement increased by 7.80pc in November 2019 as compared to the exports of $27.637 million in October 2019. APP

the process of adjusting quarterly tariffs becomes fully automatic, the government will continue to notify tariffs for capacity payments on a quarterly basis shortly after the end of the preceding quarter. For example, the Q2 FY 2020 adjustment will take place by end-January 2020," the reported added.

Regarding Rightsizing of subsidies, the IMF says energy sector subsidies are very poorly targeted, requiring significant cross-subsidization in the tariffthus increasing the level of tariffs on all consumers-and sizeable budgetary allocations. Recognizing these costs, the authorities plan to revisit all government-provided power sector subsidies so the FY 2021 budget reflects better targeting of the subsidies provided to residential consumers, industrial sectors, and the agricultural sector.

The authorities, together with international partners, are designing a strategy to settle the stock of arrears while limiting the impact on government finances. The plan envisages the following steps: (i) the government will issue new guarantees to transfer costly CPPA payables to IPPs into the PHPL; (ii) the government will absorb PHPL into its budget, fully recognizing the liabilities in PHPL as debt of the government and taking over the servicing of the loans contained in PHPL; and (iii) the government will reduce the stock of outstanding payables through the use of power assets privatization proceeds, recoveries from the outstanding stock of receivables, the existing debt servicing surcharge, and the rightsizing of sector-related subsidies.

Disparity in sugar prices irks PM

BUSINESS DESK Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood has said Pakistan was considering offering tax breaks to various industries with export potential as it looks beyond textiles to boost outbound trade, Bloomberg reported. Dawood in an interview with the publication said that engineering, chemicals, technology and footwear were among 20 sectors identified for incentives, adding that an export policy will be announced next month. “I am in favour of limited time-bound incentives,” Dawood said. The adviser further said there might be a three- to four-year period for tax breaks. When asked about concessions for the textile industry, Dawood opposed the idea and said, “If we want to go to $100 billion or $200 billion exports like Malaysia or Thailand, you ain’t gonna do it on textile,” said Dawood. Pakistan’s exports, particularly textiles, became competitive after the rupee’s devaluation and duty cuts, Dawood said, citing a 36 per cent jump in quantity of garments shipments. “It means that we are getting market share, we are taking somebody’s market share.”

According to Bloomberg, Pakistan’s trade deficit narrowed 33 per cent to $9.7 billion in the five months to November, as imports dropped by 18 per cent and exports rose 5 per cent in the same period.

BUSINESS 11

ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA

Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed serious concerns over mounting sugar prices in the country.

As per the documents available with this scribe, members of the Sugar Advisory Board were informed in the previous meeting that PM Imran Khan had shown serious concerns over the difference in sugar prices across the country.

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR)

secretary had informed the board that there was a difference of Rs10/kg to Rs15/kg between the average retail price and ex-mill price of sugar.

The average retail price of sugar was Rs75/kg and Rs80/kg in some cities. This is against the claim of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) that ex-mill prices of sugar had come down from Rs69kg in September to Rs65kg in October 2019.

During the meeting, the Kissan Board of Pakistan representatives insisted to link the price of sugar with sugarcane. "If the price of sugarcane

is not increased from Rs180/40kg to Rs250/40kg, it would be very difficult for the growers to bear the input price for upcoming crop and the country will face crisis."

The NFSR secretary informed that the Agriculture Policy Institute calculated the cost of production of sugarcane every year. An API representative explained that they conducted the field survey and the cost of sugarcane production was based on the said survey.

The meeting was also informed that the actual closing stock of sugar was 1.411MMT and if the stock of seven sugar mills of Sindh was added, it would reach to 1.611MMT with a production of 3.103MMT. The board maintained that in order to reduce the gap between exmill price and retail price of sugar, the Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP) secretary would approach the provincial governments to regulate differentials so as to bring them down at reasonable margins and to manage the recent price hike in the wholesale and retail markets.

In addition, MNFSR would also consult MoIP to review the costing models of sugar as shared by PSMA.

IMF notes stability in Pakistan’s banking sector KARACHI MEIRYUM ALI

The banking sector remains stable, but credit conditions are tight, according to a staff report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). At end-September 2019, capital adequacy ratios (CAR) improved, with average CAR moving to 17.1pc, from 16.2pc at end-December 2018.

Private sector credit growth has slowed to 9.3pc year on year in September 2019.

“Gross non-performing loans (NPLs) increased slightly to 8.8pc of total loans, up from 8pc at end-December 2018, with the banking sector highly exposed to the energy sector (17pc of outstanding loans),” the report said. However, the bulk of NPLs are provisioned (80.5pc at end-September). The IMF report said the banking sector in Pakistan is well capitalized, but added that the probability has been moderating, “reflecting smaller margins and higher interest rates.”

However, it did note that despite a “sound” and well capitalized financial sector, two non-systemic banks are uncapitalized. “The authorities are actively engaged with the two private sector banks to develop plans to meet the minimum capital requirements by endJune 2020. They reported that one state-owned bank was liquidated in September, and another state-owned bank was included in the government's privatization list. Staff stressed the importance of addressing this longstanding issue promptly.” The IMF said that Pakistani authorities recognized weaknesses in these banks, and are committed to modernizing the resolution frameworks, and will submit necessary legislation to Parliament by May 2020.

Separately, the IMF report discussed the urgent need to address Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) deficiencies. “While the authorities have recently stepped up efforts with the creation of a high-level inter-agency working group, the bulk of measures in the structural benchmark remain outstanding.” “Faster progress is needed to improve the AML/CFT framework, supported by technical assistance from the IMF and other capacity development providers. Swift adoption of all the necessary measures is needed to exit the FATF’s list of jurisdiction with AML/CFT deficiencies.” The FATF’s Asia Pacific Group also discussed Pakistan’s Mutual Evaluation Report, noting that existing efforts were inconsistent with the level of risks and that greater effectiveness needs to be demonstrated. Pakistan missed the end-October benchmark to strengthen the framework. A new benchmark has been set for end-June 2020, with “an improvement towards a substantial level of effectiveness” set for end-March 2020.

Govt's decision to impose 8pc tax on NTC likely to be reversed ISLAMABAD SYEDA MASOOMA

National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) MD Brig (r) Viqar Rashid Khan said that the government has heard the flaw in 8pc increase in taxation for NTC and chances are that the move will be rescinded.

Previously, 1.5 percent tax rate was applicable to NTC. He said this while giving a detailed presentation on the services of the corporation and the challenges it faces to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Information Technology and Telecommunication. The committee met here today at the NTC Headquarters under chairmanship of Ali Khan Jadoon. MD Viqar spoke at length on the ICT services being offered by the corporation and the lack of government support, and legislation, that is causing challenges for the company despite the fact that NTC is “financially self-sufficient and does not ask the government for funding, unlike most other similar organizations”.

He said that for the first time since the turn of the decade, NTC has been able to reverse its losses in the past financial year. In his presentation, he said that in 2014-15 the revenues of the corpora-

tion were Rs 2.8 billion, while the losses amounted to Rs 146 million. In 2018-19 NTC managed to earn Rs 3.9 billion in revenues and for the first time turned losses into a profit of Rs 73 million.

He also said that NTC has a deal with the government whereby they pay their profits to the government in the consolidation account, and if they are making a loss, the government pays them the amount of difference. “If there is an 8% tax, then with these numbers still we will end up making losses and it will not be favorable for the government. [Federal Minister for Economic Affairs] Hammad Azhar sat with us and heard our side of the argument and agreed to work with us on this taxation percentage”, the MD informed.

Brig Viqar also told the committee about on-going projects by NTC, including a National Data Center – the first of its kind cloud based three-tier technology, costing approximately Rs 450 million. He said that approximately 68 percent outdated telecom technology (TDM) has been replaced by next generation IP networks (NGN) while the remaining 32 percent will also be converted in the next two years. “The TDM equipment removed has also been reutilized in remote and less developed

areas with respect to telecom technology resulting in savings of approximately Rs 80 million for NTC”, he said.

Speaking on their services, the MD said that since NTC is solely providing services to the public sector organizations and also have to abide by the rules of the government, not only their costs are higher than other private telecom operators, but their target customers are also much fewer. “We cannot simply lay off people unlike other organizations, and the salaries and pensions of these employees make up for 72 percent of our total expenses. Likewise we have to have the best equipment and security protocols because we are dealing with government data so we cannot cut corners from that end either. In such a situation, when the public organizations opt for private and cheaper options, that not only hurt us but also compromise the security of these government organizations,” he said adding, “There should be some legislation that leads public organizations to use our services, which will be as beneficial for them as it will be for us.” Chairperson Ali Khan replied that while such a move makes sense in one way, it may lead to complacency in such organizations and therefore some sort of competition is to be maintained.

The committee also pondered over social media security and cybercrime with respect to MLAT and the members expressed exasperation on not being able to move ahead with the issue because of continued absence of stakeholders concerned.

The committee decided to send a note of displeasure with the potential of sending summons if members of ministry of interior, FIA, and other related organizations fail to show up in the next meeting.

In other news, Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication also met today at the Parliament House under Senator Rubina Khalid and delved on continued issues of lack of coordination among different departments related to disaster prevention and preemptive measures. The committee also briefly considered the lingering issues of pending pension payments of Pakistan Telecommunication Employees Trust (PTET). Both issues were deferred, when the chairperson gave National Disaster Management Association (NDMA), Pakistan Geological Department, Meteorological Department, and Pakistan Air Force six weeks to come up with a management plan for improved coordination and better preemptive practices for natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

12 BUSINESS Corporate Corner

revIseD revenue tarGet to be revIeweD In uPCoMInG quarters: IMF ISLAMABAD

LAHORE: realme recently unveiled its 48MP quad camera power hero smartphone “realme 5s”, providing users outstanding performance in under-Rs30,000 price segment. pr

LAHORE: The 22nd Convocation of the University of Central Punjab was held at Expo Centre. Punjab Governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar graced the occasion with his presence as chief guest. pr

F

GHULAM ABBAS

ollowing the first quarterly review of the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Pakistan, the IMF’s resident representative has claimed that like other initiatives, the reduced revenue targets for Pakistan would also be reviewed in next quarters of the programmes.

Talking about the downward revision in the revenue target (Rs5.23 billion) by the IMF Executive Board, Teresa Daban Sanchez said that the board might have considered Pakistan’s stance that contraction in imports, the major source of revenue for Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), was the biggest reason behind not meeting the ambitious target of Rs5.55 trillion in the financial year 2019-20.

According to her, trade-related tax revenues were expected to remain subdued as declining imports continue to weigh on collections—more than 40pc of total tax revenue in Pakistan was collected at import stage. Talking to a selected group of journalists at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Tuesday, the IMF resident representative said unlike the negativity in media regarding expected hike in electric-

OFFICIAL STRESSES IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT LAW TO ENSURE FISCAL DISCIPLINE IN PAKISTAN SAYS A JOINT WORKING GROUP WILL BE CONSTITUTED BY MARCH 2020 TO HARMONISE GENERAL SALES TAX ity & gas prices and inflation, the EFF programme has started showing sustainability in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy. She said IMF was not asking for any increase in utility prices but to adjust the cost of generation with the tariff so that power sector losses could be avoided.

She highlighted various steps that Pakistan must take in the coming months to fully benefit from the programme. “Implementation on the already approved Public Finance Management Law will facilitate the country in long term sustainability of fiscal discipline. She emphasized on harmonization of general sales tax for which a joint working group would be constituted by March 2020.

She noted that lack of coordination between centre and provinces was also an issue in Pakistan, adding that to address this issue, a Fiscal Coordination Committee would meet on a quarterly basis.

On governance in the state-owned entities, she said the government would be completing the process of privatizing two LNG plants by the end of this financial year. Besides, she added, it would publish the audits of Pakistan International Airline and Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) by the end of this month.

The IMF official maintained that any resistance to reform from vested interests could undermine the programme’s fiscal consolidation strategy. “The absence of a majority by the ruling party in the upper house and provinces may underdeliver on the surplus commitments. Failure to get out of the FATF grey list could have implications of capital inflows to Pakistan.”

As per the IMF’s quarterly review report, Pakistan has made progress on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) deficiencies, but “much remains to be done”.

MARKET DAILY LAHORE: Huawei is introducing a New Year offer on its hottest selling Huawei Y9 family, which remained extremely popular throughout the second half of the year. pr

Cabinet decides to reduce prices of 89 medicines BUSINESS DESK With an aim to provide relief to people, the federal cabinet has decided to reduce the prices of 89 medicines, including life-saving drugs, by 15pc with immediate effect. Briefing the media regarding the cabinet meeting decisions in Islamabad on Tuesday, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Zafar Mirza said the prices have been decreased as per Medicine Pricing Policy 2018, which would be reviewed within the next two months. "A National Medicine Policy is being prepared under which the pharmaceutical sector will be regularized," the SAPM stated. On a query, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the cabinet has approved a special financial package to facilitate people living along the Line of Control in Azad Kashmir. She said 33,498 families, who were direct victims of Indian firing along LOC, would be given Rs5,000 on a quarterly basis under this package. She said the cabinet also approved the one-time import of polio finger marker from India on the recommendations of the World Health Organization. Dr Awan informed that Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the Capital Development Authority to take immediate steps to clear garbage and waste from Islamabad. She further said that reforms in tax laws were also approved by the cabinet and that the prime minister has directed the Federal Board of Revenue to prepare a friendly mechanism to facilitate common people.

Bulls return to bourse, lift KSE-100 by 320 points KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a volatile session on Tuesday as the bulls who were nowhere to be seen by midday staged a strong comeback in the late hours, helping the benchmark KSE-100 Index close with decent gains.

The market opened with media reports regarding the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) staff-level report that was finalised during the IMF team’s visit to Pakistan. As per the report, Pakistan remains at risk of being placed on the FATF “blacklist” which can have implications on the country’s capital inflows.

The KSE-100 Index opened slightly positive but soon plunged to its intraday low at 39,455.33 after losing over 500 points. Following a brief battle between bulls and bears, the former managed to gain control in the late trading hours, helping the benchmark index gather around 1,000 points to touch its intraday high at 40,488.68. The index finally settled higher by 320.03 points at 40,328.32.

Major contributions to uplift the market came from the oil and gas sectors; exploration companies added 92.76 points while marketing companies contributed 35.99 points to the index. Among other sectors, power generation & distribution (+33.90 points) and cement (+30.57 points) also contributed positively.

A similar trend of ‘rise after fall’ was also witnessed in other indices. The KSE-30 Index closed higher by 155.66 points; KMI-30 Index inflated by 866.90 points while KSE All Share Index swelled by 218.14 points.

The overall market volumes were recorded at 236.22 million, crossing the five-day average of 226.47 million. Fauji Foods Limited (FFL +3.92pc) remained the top pick for investors, exchanging 25.90 million shares. On the market front, Attock Refinery Limited (ATRL +1.32pc) and National Refinery Limited (NRL +1.14pc) have urged the government to form a working group on the issue of fur-

nace oil crisis faced by local refineries.

Meanwhile, DG Khan Cement Company Limited (DGKC +0.22pc) has announced the completion of installation and commissioning of 12MW Waste Heat Recovery Power Plant at Khairpur. Ghani Global Holdings (GGL +2.69pc) has signed an MoU to establish a joint venture for manufacturing of air separation unit of three gases (liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon) in Ethopia.

Moreover, Dewan Sugar Mills Limited (DWSM +11.46pc) reported a loss per share of Rs5.98, a reduction of 31pc when compared with last year.

National Assembly panel calls for early formation of ZTBL board ZTBL PRESIDENT URGES GOVT TO ANNOUNCE A BAILOUT PACKAGE IN ORDER TO HELP THE BANK AVERT PREVALENT CRISIS ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

National Assembly's Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue has directed the Ministry of Finance to form the board of directors for Zari Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) with immediate effect to ensure smooth functioning of the bank.

The committee also directed the ZTBL management to come up with a comprehensive revival plan to minimise losses and to ensure the provision of maximum facilities to small farmers by providing them loans on low mark-up rates.

The meeting, which was held with MNA Faizullah in the chair on Tuesday, observed that corporate good governance of the bank could not be ensured with a board that is non-functional for the last two years. Committee member Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh pointed out that the markup rate of 18.5pc on loans provided by the bank was too high for the poor farmers.

Briefing the committee, the ZTBL president said the bank was not supposed provide loans on concessionary rates and that it was being run a commercial basis.

"When the Karachi Interbank Offered Rate (KIBOR) was 6pc, the bank was disbursing

loans with a mark-up rate of KIBOR plus 6.5pc. Now the KIBOR is around 13.25pc and the bank is providing loans on markup rate of KIBOR plus 5pc," he explained.

However, he continued, in order to facilitate the farmers, the bank was now taking measures to increase its profitability.

"As the bank has now received the Islamic Banking license, our plan is to convert at least 100 branches to Islamic banking so

that deposits by the people could be increased," the ZTBL president said. "After the conversion of these Islamic bank branches, the bank will be able to provide loans on mark-up rates of as low as 9-10pc."

On a query regarding ZTBL's finances, the bank's president said that the financial situation of the bank was worst and it was expected that by end of the current year, total losses of the bank would

be accumulated to over Rs8 billion.

He urged the government to announce a bailout package so as to bring the bank out of the prevalent crisis.

About the details of disbursements, the committee was informed that during the first 11 months of 2019, the ZTBL had disbursed Rs72.8 billion of loans to the farmers, of which 95pc disbursements were made to small farmers having land up to 25 acres. Out of total disbursements, the ZTBL disbursed Rs61 billion in Punjab, Rs7.8 billion in Sindh, Rs2.8 billion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Rs185 million in Balochistan.

Committee Chairman Faizullah appreciated the intentions of the newly appointed ZTBL president, hoping that during his tenure, the bank would develop and provide maximum facilitation to the farmers.

Saira Rizwan’s Launch Highlights from the launch of Saira Rizwan’s new Flagship Store in Lahore, designed by Strata Spaces.

Marie Curie remains the only person to earn Nobel prizes in two different sciences.

The Starry Night depicts Vincent van Gogh's view from the Saint-Paul de Mausole asylum.

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

The Koblumpi Music Festival lit up Lahore with power packed live performances – a perfect way to end 2019!

Music icon Mekaal Hassan joined forces with entertainment solutions company Origami and hosted one of the biggest music festival of this year, The Koblumpi Music Festival 2019 on 22nd December at The Farm in Lahore. Indeed, it was one of the first ticketed music events in the city in some time.

The impressive music lineup brought together 16 amazing artists and bands from across Pakistan featuring 6 hours of power-packed live performances. The festival opened with Arsalan Hasan which was followed by Madlock, Harris Saeed, Luke William, Cosmic Fluid [the band came all the way from Karachi to perform at the festival], Sikandar Ka Mandar and Bayaan.

'Falcon and Winter Soldier' Reveals New Bucky Costume, More

SWORD, Witches Confirmed For 'WandaVision'

New set pics have hit social media from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier offering a look at the new costume for Sebastian Stan, as well as looks at Anthony Mackie and Daniel Bruhl.

Stan plays Bucky Barnes, aka Winter Soldier; Mackie plays Sam Wilson, aka Falcon, with Bruhl playing Zemo; previously released images have also shown Zemo with the iconic purple mask (see below).

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is due to air on Disney Plus Fall 2020 said to in part follow Falcon getting the Captain America shield; Wyatt Russell is also said to be playing John Walker, aka US Agent.

A batch of set images for the Marvel Disney Plus WandaVision series confirms the existence of SWORD within the MCU and offers up further details about the series that stars Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany.

In the comics, SWORD, aka the Sentient World Observation and Response Department, is more known for dealing with things from outer space, sort of the equivalent of SHIELD, but cosmic.

WandaVision set pics reveal a SWORD headquarters of some sort along with a guard.

Teyonah Parris is also revealed as the grown-up Monica Rambeau, with the character first appearing in Captain Marvel.

In the comics, Monica Rambeau was actually a version of Captain Marvel prior to Carol Danvers, and Monica Rambeau has also gone by the names of Photon, Pulsar, and Spectrum.

Regarding the witches, in the comics, Wanda Maximoff trains as an actual witch with Agatha Harkness, one of the original witches from the Salem Witch trials, which the WandaVision set pics reveal.

CMYK

The ampersand symbol is formed from the letters in et—the Latin word for "and."

Not Ramayana, Hrithik Roshan & Deepika Padukone To Work Together In Draupadi?

From Farah Khan- Rohit Shetty’s Satte Pe Satta remake to Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, multiple projects but there’s one single pair making noise all around – Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan. While fans can’t wait to see them together onscreen, a latest development comes in the form of Madhu Mantena’s Draupadi. While DP is already a part of the project, it is now being said that Hrithik Roshan is being roped in too!

Yes, you heard it right! While nothing concrete came in the form of Satte Pe Satta remake or Ramayana, finally fans may be able to witness their favourite pair together on the big screens. If reports are to be believed, Hrithik Roshan has been approached to play Lord Krishna to Deepika’s character of Draupadi. For the unversed, the two shared a great bond, and their friendship is taken inspirations from. Meanwhile, Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone were recently seen sharing a Death by chocolate cake and fans get gaga over their steaming chemistry.

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

14 SPORTS

Pogba hailed as ‘best midfielder in the world’ by solskjaer Manchester

P no Pakistan Player in CriCket australia’s odi team of deCade sports Desk No Pakistani player made it to Cricket Australia’s ODI team of the decade, which were published on Tuesday to honour the best in the business in the 50-over format between 2010 and 2019.

The closest anyone came to the list was former off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who took 157 wickets at an average of 21.90. He was given an honourable mention only.

The fact that Ajmal was active only for half of the past 10 years may have counted against him as CA, the governing body of cricket in Australia, went with Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan for the spin slot.

India has the most players in the eleven, with Rohit Sharma, captain Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni being its three representatives on the list.

South Africa has two players on the list in the form of AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla, while Australia (Mitchell Starc), Bangladesh (Shakib Al Hasan), England (Jos Buttler), Afghanistan (Rashid), New Zealand (Trent Boult) and Sri Lanka (Lasith Malinga) have a player each.

Pakistan is the only top cricketing nation from Asia to not have a player in Cricket Australia’s ODI team of the decade. West Indies, too, do not have any players in the list.

Agencies

AUL Pogba has been hailed as the "best midfielder in the world" by Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the Frenchman returned from a long injury lay-off.

The World Cup winner was in action for United for the first time since late September as a substitute in their chastening 2-0 defeat at Watford on Sunday. He could be in the starting team against Newcastle on Thursday as Solskjaer desperately seeks the creativity the team needs to break down stubborn opposition defences.

"Let's see how he reacts to this, how he feels," said Solskjaer. "He did really well when he came on. Big, big plus and it might be that we do get him in from the start." Pogba, who had only played twice since the end of August due to an ankle injury, was introduced on Sunday with United already trailing by two goals and went close to scoring during a late attacking flurry from the visitors.

"He can play anywhere, he can play the whole midfield," said Solskjaer.

"He's a box-to-box midfielder. He

can drop deep, get it, play long passes. He can get it higher up and combine like he did today." "That's the beauty of having Paul, because he is the best all-round mid-

fielder in the world," added the United boss, who has said the 26-year-old will not be leaving in the January transfer window despite links with Real Madrid.

Babar Azam soars to 6th spot in ICC Test ranking for batsmen

Babar Azam has climbed up three spots and is now the sixth-placed batsman in ICC’s Test ranking for batsmen. Azam had cracked the list for the first time last week when he had featured at number nine. However, he scored a 60 and an unbeaten 100 in the second Test against Sri

Lanka in Karachi recently, which has seen his ranking soar some more.

Already the world’s top-ranked T20I batsman, Azam is Pakistan’s only representative in either of ICC’s Top 10 lists for batsmen, bowlers and all-rounders in Test cricket. The nearest any other Pak-

istani comes to the list is Mohammad Abbas, who currently holds the 15th spot in the Test ranking for bowlers. Surprisingly, Yasir Shah features at number 18 on the Test allrounders list, with his battling century against Australia earlier this month helping his cause. sports Desk

REACTION: Solskjaer said he was looking for a reaction from his players against Newcastle after United again failed to turn dominance of possession into a positive result at Watford.

"One of the good things about the team this year, we have reacted after bad results," he said.

"We haven't kept the consistency as we would have liked the other way but we've never gone on a big (bad) run like we did towards the end of last season so there will be a reaction, definitely."

United are struggling in eighth place in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Chelsea despite recent morale-boosting wins against Tottenham and Manchester City.

Solskjaer admitted progress had been slower than expected but said he was focused on developing a team that could dominate and break sides down.

"It's taken Liverpool a few years to get to that stage and we need to keep on building because that's what we want to get to," he said.

"Yes, we're good at counter-attacking. Yes, we've got pace and fast players. We should always keep that because that's in our tradition. Now we need to be better at breaking lower blocks."

rangers boss wants ‘severe example’ made of bottle-throwers Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has urged Scottish football authorities to make a "severe example" of bottlethrowing supporters if they are serious about protecting players. Gers left-back Borna Barisic only narrowly escaped a potentially serious injury during a win away to Hibernian on Friday when a glass bottle was hurled at him from the Easter Road stands. This was not the first time the Edinburgh club's East Stand has provided the backdrop for a violent incident. Rangers captain James Tavernier was confronted by a pitch invader in March, just a week after a glass bottle was thrown at Celtic winger Scott Sinclair. Gerrard believes the repeat nature of these incidents has only increased the likelihood for further attacks, with the former Liverpool and England midfielder saying now was the time for stern measures. "It's a crazy decision to throw a bottle onto a football pitch," Gerrard said. "The damage you could do is unthinkable. "If the punishment isn't severe enough then people will continue to make bad decisions from the terraces. sports Desk

Pace sensation Naseem grows from cub to lion

Lahore Agencies

Naseem Shah may be just a teenager but his fiery bowling has given him a top position on the bowling charts.

On Monday, Naseem grabbed 5-31 in

Pakistan's series-clinching win over Sri Lanka in Karachi to become the youngest fast bowler at 16 years 307 days to achieve the feat.

He broke the record of another Pakistan Mohammad Amir who also made his mark with his first five wicket haul at

17 years 257 days against Australia in Melbourne 10 years ago. Naseem's feat has prompted the cricket world to take notice of the precocious ability.

Belief in his talent, Naseem says, has been the key.

"I had belief in my hard work and talent so when I got the chance I tried my best," said Naseem. "I am elated that my feat on a home ground and before my own people has contributed in the win.

"I know this is just the beginning and if I keep up the hard work more rewards will come my way."

Naseem's landmark moment capped a three-month fast track progress from a precocious talent to one of the leaders of Pakistan's bowling attack.

He has been in the limelight for sometime but it was in October this year that national selectors decided to throw him in the deep when he took nine wickets in a domestic match.

Four days later he was on the plane to Australia for the two-match Test series -a move described as 'throwing a cub before the wolves.'

CMYK

Pakistan's bowling coach Waqar Younis -- himself a lethal fast bowler -likened Naseem to former Australian great paceman Dennis Lillee.

"He's got a very strong action. He reminds me of Dennis Lillee actually. He's got a very similar action," Waqar said before the first Test in Brisbane.

"He's not as big as Dennis - Dennis was a big guy - but when he gets it right, he's a handful. He's very talented with his pace the key." Naseem made people take notice with his short burst of eight overs against Australia A, claiming Marcus Harris's wicket with a sharp bouncer.

That was after he received the news of his mother's death back home.

But he showed steely resolve as a week later he was played in the first Test in Brisbane. He claimed dashing Australian opener David Warner twice, first off a no-ball on 56 and then on 154.

Warner appreciated Naseem's talent.

"He charged in, and there's a superstar there," said Warner.

"If Waqar can get a hold of them (Naseem and other young bowlers) and

get their lines and lengths and their engines going, they're going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future."

TOUGH START: It was a tough baptism for Naseem, who hails from the small town of Lower Dir, in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Naseem said his father was against his playing cricket.

"Those were tough days," recalls Naseem. "My father used to say 'why you play the sport of foreigners, instead study."But cricket was at the core of his life."There were not much facilities in my village so I used to play with tape ball. I watched Waqar and Shoaib Akhtar on television but I liked Shane Bond's (New Zealand fast bowler) action.

"Then I moved to Lahore and played cricket there and it was there I got more opportunities and then I was selected for Pakistan Under-16."

The rest is, as they say, history.

Waqar believes Naseem can go places with his talent.

"He knows what he's doing and knows where to reach in cricket."

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

SPORTS 15

BCB CHIEF EXECUTIVE ON PAKISTAN TOUR

t20is first, deCision on tests after that Dhaka

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Agencies

ESPITE the tough stance adopted by the PCB on Bangladesh's unwillingness to play Test cricket in Pakistan, the BCB has reiterated that as things stood, it could only give the goahead to a T20I series in the country. In what could be seen as a slight softening of position on the Tests, though, chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said that Bangladesh would decide on the longer series after the T20I tour.

Speaking to a few reporters in Dhaka on Tuesday, Chowdhury said that while the BCB understood the sentiments of the PCB, it needed to take into account the views of the Bangladeshi players and the team management. "Pakistan will definitely try for the full return of international cricket to their country.

We have to take into account the views of our players and members of our team management, who are foreigners," Chowdhury said. "The match environment is also important to us. Relevant stakeholders' view is also important, regarding a longer tour to Pakistan.

ben stokes’ father admitted to hospital with 'serious illness’ LONdON: Ben Stokes' father, Ged, has been admitted to hospital in Johannesburg after suffering from what the ECB has termed "a serious illness".Ged, who has travelled to South Africa with other members of the Stokes family to watch Ben in action, was taken ill on Monday night. He remains in a critical condition. Ben Stokes is expected to spend Tuesday at his father's bedside and will not attend training. A decision on his participation in the Boxing Day Test will be made in due course. Ged, a former New Zealand rugby league player, is in his early 60s and lives in Christchurch. He is a regular and popular figure at matches involving Ben and, on the face of things, appeared to be in robust good health. Agencies

"Our primary proposal is to play three T20Is in a shorter period so that players and team management can do a proper assessment of the situation there." That is not too different from

what Sri Lanka did recently. The original schedule was for two Tests in Pakistan in October, but with major Sri Lankan players reluctant to make the trip, only limited-overs interna-

tionals were played, and once that tour was conducted without incident, Sri Lanka agreed to tour in December for a two-Test series with their firstchoice players.

Australia open to fielding five frontline bowlers if MCG pitch flat MeLbourne Agencies

Justin Langer has kept the door ajar for Australia employing the rare tactic of playing five frontline

bowlers should they be confronted by a flat-looking MCG surface on Boxing Day which could hand a Test debut to Michael Neser. James Pattinson will fill Josh Hazlewood's role, but Langer is conscious of the toil Australia's attack has faced in the previous two Boxing Day Tests against England and India. The final decision may be taken as late as the morning of the game with Travis Head the most likely to make way should the bowling unit be bolstered by Neser's inclusion.

There has been much discussion on what the nature of the MCG pitch will be following the abandoned Sheffield Shield game earlier this month, but groundsman Matt Page has promised a decent covering of grass and two days out there was still a good layer on the surface. In the previous two Melbourne Tests Australia have had Mitchell Marsh in the team but he was out of contention after breaking his hand punching the dressing room wall earlier this season.

While the change would give Australia a lengthy lower order - with Tim Paine elevated to No. 6 - Pattinson, Neser, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are all handy with the bat; Neser has a first-class average of 25.13 (plus a domestic one-day hundred) and Pattinson 23.07. Peter Siddle, who was added to the squad

after Hazlewood's injury, is the other bowler available but Langer has made clear he favours consistency in selection and rewarding those who have previously been around the squad. The last time Australia fielded five genuine bowlers at home (as opposed to an allrounder in a five-man attack) was January 2013 against Sri Lanka, at the SCG, when Matthew Wade batted at No. 6 and Mitchell Johnson was used at seven. "We'll work out what the set-up of our team is going to be, whether we play an extra bowler," Langer said. "We'll have a look at the wicket, it looks pretty good two days out.

"The only reason we'd do it is if the wicket looks anything like it has the last few years here on the Boxing Day Test because you have to get 20 wickets. The Australia cricket team doesn't usually go down that path of the extra bowler, but if we are to play on wickets like we have the last two years at the MCG we've certainly got to find a way of taking 20 wickets.

"There's been so much discussion about the wicket we are hopeful that's not the case, but if we were to turn up on Boxing Day and it looks really flat we have the flexibility to be able to do it. In most circumstances you don't need it which is why we don't do it."

bumrah, dhawan return for home series against sl, australia MUMbAI: Jasprit Bumrah is back in India's limited-overs squads for their home series against Sri Lanka and Australia. The fast bowler had been out of action with a stress fracture of the back since the end of India's tour of the West Indies in August. India will play three T20Is against Sri Lanka followed by three ODIs against Australia in January. Meanwhile, limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma and fast bowler Mohammed Shami have been rested for the Sri Lanka series.

Shikhar Dhawan returns to both squads following a quick recovery from the ankle bruising he suffered during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in December. Dhawan's selection also means Mayank Agarwal, who was the reserve opener for the West Indies ODIs, returns to the first-class circuit with Karnataka. Sanju Samson, who had replaced Dhawan in the T20I squad for the West Indies series, keeps his place in the T20I squad. Samson made a century in his most recent Ranji Trophy outing for Kerala against Bengal last week. Bumrah was withdrawn from the Test squad for the series against South Africa at home in SeptemberOctober after the stress fracture surfaced. His previous appearance for India was in the second Test against West Indies in Kingston, during which he became the third Indian after Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan to take a hat-trick in the format. Agencies

Pakistan will play in Pakistan: Ehsan Mani Lahore Agencies

Pakistan's days of hosting international cricket away from home are over, according to PCB chairman Ehsan Mani. Hours after Pakistan wrapped up a Test series win against Sri Lanka in Karachi, the first time any Test cricket has been played in the country since 2009, Mani insisted that there was "absolutely no doubt" Pakistan would play all home series within the country going forward. Mani's comments came at a time when top figures in Pakistan cricket have taken a strong stance on the upcoming, but as yet unconfirmed, Bangladesh tour of Pakistan. Reports suggest Bangladesh are willing to play T20Is in Pakistan, but want the Tests at a neutral venue. On Sunday, head coach Misbahul-Haq said Bangladesh had "no excuse" not to tour, while Test captain Azhar Ali urged the ICC to get involved should such a scenario come up.

"No one should be under any misapprehension as to where Pakistan's home

Tests will take place," Mani said at a press interaction. "All of Pakistan's matches, against Bangladesh or anyone else, will take place in Pakistan. I still hope the BCB will reflect on the matter and accept there is no reason for them not to visit Pakistan. "If Sri Lanka can come - and bringing them was very high-risk then it is safe. If anything even minor had happened, people would have said it isn't safe to come. But they trusted the people here and came and they [the ones that opted out] said they wished they had come for the limited-overs series as well, because what they've been told and the ground realities are very different."

"The Bangladesh women's team came to Pakistan, as well as the Under-16 team, and they went back very happy. So we don't want them to be in any doubt that if they play us, it will be in Pakistan" After initial optimism about the tour of Bangladesh, as ESPNcricinfo has reported, the PCB has become concerned by the unresponsiveness of its counterparts in Bangladesh. Mani said

he had read more about the tour in newspapers than via official communication from the BCB. "When they receive feedback from the Sri Lankans about how security matters were dealt with, hopefully they'll think again and decide to tour," Mani said.

Pointing out that the PSL draft had over 400 overseas players listed, Mani argued that individual players no longer had a problem with coming to Pakistan. Unlike the last few editions of the PSL, where a handful of games at the back-end of the tournament were played in Pakistan, the entirety of the tournament will take place in the country this year.

A lingering uncertainty, now that the PCB has become more forceful in its insistence that teams visit Pakistan for tour commitments, is what would happen if a visiting side refused to tour for a scheduled series. The PCB has, until now, opted against disclosing what its course of action would be, but Mani said the burden of proof had shifted from Pakistan to any team that believed it was un-

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safe to tour the country and hinted at the possibility of taking the matter to the ICC for resolution.

"I have been around with the ICC for a long time. I know the way it works," he said. "They will have to prove Pakistan is not safe. We think it's safe, and we've shown the world it's safe. Look at what happened in Christchurch [with the Bangladesh team], and incidents can happen in Australia and England, and all around the world. India is at present in far greater turmoil from a security perspective than Pakistan is. I will not take a risk with any players' safety or security. We will listen to everyone who is worried about coming here, but ultimately they'll have to prove it isn't safe to come here."

The PCB's tone might suggest discussions with the BCB have stalled, though Mani insisted talks had not been called off. While Mani stressed that nothing but a full tour would be acceptable to the PCB, he stopped short of suggesting that Pakistan would rebuff any other offer.

"We would absolutely have the right

to dispute such a decision with the ICC," he said. "I don't want to say too much, because our discussions with the BCB are ongoing. When they formally tell us what decision they've taken, we'll see what we need to do. The Bangladesh women's team came to Pakistan, as well as the Under-16 team, and they went back very happy. So we don't want them to be in any doubt that if they play us, it will be in Pakistan."

Wednesday, 25 December, 2019

NEWS

Govt decides to keep MaryaM on ecL

SC moved against Peshawar BRT probe

CABINET REJECTS PML-N LEADER’S PLEA AS THERE’S NO PROVISION FIRDOUS ANNOUNCES SPECIAL FINANCIAL PACKAGE FOR LOC VICTIMS IN LAW FOR ‘ALLOWING A CONVICT TO TRAVEL ABROAD’

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court against a Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) order that had directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe alleged irregularities in the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project within 45 days. The provincial government submitted a request in the apex court’s Peshawar registry while the PDA submitted another petition in the top court, challenging the high court order. Earlier this month, a fivemember special inquiry team of the FIA had started its probe into alleged irregularities in the Peshawar BRT in line with the court’s directives. STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD

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STAFF REPORT

HE government on Tuesday rejected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s plea seeking permission to fly abroad to tend to her ailing father, refusing to take her name off from the Exit Control List (ECL).

The decision comes days after the Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the federal cabinet to inform the PML-N leader of its decision on the matter.

The PML-N vice-president was arrested in August by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with an investigation pertaining to the Chaudhry Sugar Mills.

She was granted post-arrest bail by an LHC bench against two surety bonds worth Rs20 million and deposit of an additional Rs70 million. She was also ordered to surrender her passport to secure release.

Addressing a press conference along with following the meeting of the cabinet, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the meeting unanimously rejected the PML-N VP’s request for permission to travel abroad.

Interestingly, Firdous avoided discussion on the matter until a reporter specifically asked her about it. Replying to his question, she, in a veiled reference

Saudi FM likely to visit Pakistan on Thursday In the backdrop of Pakistan’s pulling out of Kuala Lampur Summit, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is expected to visit Pakistan on Thursday, a local news outlet reported on Tuesday. The visiting dignitary is expected to spend a day in the country where he will hold meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Saudi Arabia, earlier on December 21 rejected reports that Pakistan bowed out of the Kuala Lumpur Summit under its pressure. In a statement, the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad clarified that relations between the two countries are superior to the language of threats. These ties are strategic based on mutual trust, respect and understanding, it added. The statement noted that the two countries enjoy a consensus of views on most regional and international issues, especially the issues of Islamic nation. NEWS DESK

to Maryam, said, “The cabinet unanimously rejected the request to remove the name from the ECL of the VIP personality you are inquiring about.”

PM’s aide said that the interior ministry brought 24 cases before the cabinet in the meeting in which no “VIP’s name” was highlighted. “Out of the total 24, the government decided to add four names to the ECL, remove eight names, while the decision on eight cases was deferred and the request to remove one name [Maryam’s] was rejected,” she said, adding that there should be one and uniform law in Pakistan without any special treatment.

Responding to another question, the government spokesperson said that the cabinet had decided to remove the

name of Nawaz Sharif from the ECL after “clear instructions” were given by the high court. “The court had recommended that the cabinet remove his name from the ECL and court orders were honoured,” she said, adding that in Maryam’s case the recommendation of the sub-committee was endorsed.

“The sub-committee has decided against allowing a convict to leave Pakistan. There is no such provision in the law. If anyone wants this condition included then the matter will have to be taken up in parliament,” she added.

It is worth mentioning here that the cabinet sub-committee was directed by the LHC to review Maryam’s plea seeking the return of her passport and onetime permission to fly to London for six

weeks to see her ailing father. The LHC will once again take up the petition of the PML-N leader on December 26.

On Sunday, PTI leader Babar Awan had announced that the subcommittee of the federal cabinet that deals with ECL cases had rejected Maryam’s plea.

“The subcommittee is part of the cabinet and a formal announcement to bar Maryam from travelling abroad will be made by the federal cabinet in its meeting [on Tuesday],” he had added.

Speaking on the cabinet’s 20-point agenda, Firdous also shared various decisions taken regarding appointments in different government departments.

‘SPECIAL PACKAGE FOR LOC VICTIMS’: Firdous also informed the media that the cabinet has approved a special financial package to facilitate people living along the Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). She said that 33,498 families, who are direct victims of Indian firing along LOC, would get Rs5,000 each on a quarterly basis under this package.

She also said that the cabinet has approved a one-time import of polio finger marker from India on the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Firdous said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has also directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman to take immediate steps to clear garbage and waste from Islamabad.

She said that the cabinet has also approved reforms in tax laws and the prime minister has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to prepare a public-friendly mechanism to facilitate common people.

PPP, NAB lock horns after Bilawal skips hearing

Taliban kill 15 in attack on Afghan security checkpoint

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

KABUL: Taliban militants ambushed a government checkpoint in Balkh province in Afghanistan’s north, killing at least 15 members of the security forces, local officials said on Tuesday, the latest in an escalating series of insurgent attacks. More than 18 years after U.S.led forces toppled the hardline Taliban regime, Afghan forces are suffering record casualties with Afghan and U.S. officials warning that the toll is not sustainable. Despite a winter lull in fighting due to heavy snowfall in the mountains where the Islamist Taliban typically rest and regroup ahead of their annual spring offensive, assaults on vulnerable security checkpoints continue across the country. Mohammad Yousuf, the district governor of Dawlatabad where the incident took place said, said dozens of Taliban insurgents targeted a checkpoint manned jointly by Afghan soldiers and intelligence agents, killing 15. An Afghan Defence Ministry statement said seven soldiers had been killed. The ministry tends not to provide exact figures on its casualties sustained in fighting with the Taliban. AGENCIES

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) hit back at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after the latter accused PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari of hurling “threats and undue allegations” to pressurise the bureau from “carrying out its duty”.

In a statement, NAB spokesperson declared Bilawal’s refusal to appear before its probing team contrary to assurance he had given to the watchdog’s Rawalpindi chapter in a letter.

Through his counsel, the NAB spokesperson added, Bilawal submitted an application saying he had no objection to appearing before the investigators after January 15.

The statement was in response to the PPP chief, who had said that he would not appear before NAB’s investigation team in relation to a case involving the transfer of Rs1.22 billion to JV Opal from an account of Zardari Group of Companies.

“NAB is an institution that operates to eradicate corruption from the country in accordance with the law.

It believes in recording statements from any individual in connection

NAB SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST CORRUPT INDIVIDUALS

Court allows PPP to hold rally in Rawalpindi RAWALPINDI: A bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday granted permission to Pakistan People’s Party to hold a public meeting at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi, on December 27. Justice Tariq Abbasi of the high court’s Rawalpindi bench announced the decision over a petition of the PPP seeking permission for a public meeting on Dec 27 in the city to commemorate the death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The court also summoned the district administration on Dec. 26.

The PPP chairman, Bilawal Bhutto had earlier announced that the party will commemorate 12th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi. He had formed a committee of party leaders to monitor arrangements of the event. INP

with an ongoing investigation so that the person concerned is not deprived of his legal right and that the legal obligations are fulfilled,” NAB added.

Taking exception to the NAB statement, Bilawal’s spokesperson, Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the claims made by NAB concerning Bi-

lawal were “far from the truth”. He said that there was no divergence between the press conference of the PPP chief and the letter to the NAB. Senator Khokhar said if NAB was following the law then why only opposition was the target of its activities.

“The lawyers of the chairman in a letter to NAB declared the NAB’s notices as

political harassment,” he said, adding that NAB’s “misstatements cannot restore NAB’s sagging reputation”.

He said that “the lawyers have also written in the letter that despite reservations, the PPP chairman was ready to appear before the bureau after 15 January”.

“Asking Chairman PPP to appear before NAB just three days before the martyrdom anniversary of his mother is not an impartial action.

Everyone knows that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the PPP are busy in the preparation of the anniversary. PPP leadership will not be frightened by such tactics and will continue to represent the people of Pakistan,” the statement maintained.

Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar further stated that PPP has always respected law and constitution and its leadership has faced courts and never ran away from the country.

NAB is investigating fake accounts cases against Bilawal’s father and PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Zardari, and aunt, Faryal Talpur, who also have the shares in the Zardari Group. They both are among the key accused in a multi-billion rupees money laundering scandal that surfaced last year.

Pakistan rejects US decision to keep it in religious freedom blacklist ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Foreign Office on Tuesday categorically rejected the US State Department’s “unilateral and arbitrary” decision of keeping Pakistan in its 2019 annual blacklist for religious freedom violations.

Nine countries, including Pakistan, remained on the State Department’s annual list of “countries of particular concern” for having engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom”.

Sudan was the only nation removed from the blacklist.

Pakistan was designated in 2018 after years of US hesitation over concerns on the treatment of minorities.

According to the announcement made

by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Pakistan’s name featured in the list of countries, which are subject to sanctions over religious liberty.

The FO spokesperson said Pakistan's designation is reflective of "selective targeting of countries, and thus unlikely to be helpful to the professed cause of advancing religious freedom".

"Pakistan is a multi-religious and pluralistic country where people of all faiths enjoy religious freedom under constitutional protections," the press release said, adding that all branches of the government — the executive, legislature and the judiciary — have made concerted efforts to ensure that all citizens of Pakistan can practice their religion freely.

"The higher judiciary of the country has given landmark judgements directing on ensuring the sanctity and security of places of worship of minorities."

According to the FO, Pakistan has also engaged with the international community, including the US, to develop a better understanding of religious freedom issues and earlier this year, Senator Samuel Brownback, the US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, was welcomed in Pakistan for dialogue to advance the mutual objectives of religious freedom globally. "It is regrettable that this constructive engagement has been overlooked," the statement said.

It added that the subjectivity and

bias of the exercise are further illustrated by the omission of India, "the biggest violator of religious freedom".

"The US Congress has held two hearings and more than 70 US legislators have publicly expressed concerns over India’s treatment of Kashmiris and prolonged suppression of their fundamental rights in the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir," the spokesperson said, noting that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, the UN Secretary General, and several European parliaments have expressed similar concerns.

"In today’s India, people belonging to minority communities are being lynched, persecuted and killed with impunity. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the recently

Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

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adopted Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) are the latest examples of the Indian government's actions to discriminate against people and evidently pave the way towards cleansing of society on the basis of religion."

The press release stated that challenges to religious freedom are a global concern and "only cooperative efforts can help address them".

It highlighted that Pakistan for its part has also raised concerns over the growing trend of Islamophobia in many Western countries, including the US. "Working together in an environment of trust and understanding is the best way forward in realising the objective of promoting and protecting religious freedom," the FO concluded.