E-PAPER PDF 28 FEBUARY 2020 (ISB)

CMYK

Friday, 28 February, 2020 I 03 Rajab, 1441 I Rs 19.00 I Vol X No 240 I 16 Pages I Islamabad Edition

Govt suspends Iran flIGhts amId coronavIrus cases g

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thRee MORe SUSPeCted CASeS eMeRge In lAyyAh, ReFeRRed tO MUltAn’S nIShtAR hOSPItAl

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PIA SAyS PeOPle wIth UMRAh OR tOURISt vISAS wIll nOt be Able tO gO tO SAUdI ARAbIA

‘COndItIOn OF twO PAtIentS StAble, IMPROvIng’; FAMIly OF KARAChI MAn ‘CleARed AFteR teStS’

HYDERABAD: A doctor’s screens a man who recently returned from Iran. in P

ISLAMABAD stAff REPoRt

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day after two cases emerged in the country amid an increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Iran, Pakistan has decided to suspend flights to and from Iran till further notice with effect from midnight. the decision followed an already-suspended road and rail movement between the two countries in the wake of the epidemic in the southwestern neighbour.

“Aviation division has decided to cease all direct flights between Pakistan and Iran with effect from midnight between 27 and 28 February 2020 till further notice,” a mes-

Army ready to defend country at all costs, says ISPR DG

sage from Joint Secretary of Aviation Abdul Sattar Khokhar said. the government has set up a round-theclock coronavirus control room at the Aviation division, confirmed the spokesperson.

Separately, the government barred people wishing to visit Saudi Arabia for Umrah or tourism. however, people holding iqama or having permanent Saudi nationalities will be allowed on the flights to Saudi Arabia. the decision was taken in light of the Saudi government’s decision to suspend Umrah and tourism operations in light of the growing number of coronavirus affectees all over the world.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) also tweeted about these measures and said

that while the national carrier will continue flight operations, as usual, people with Umran or tourist visas will not be able to go to Saudi Arabia as “PIA will fully implement instructions given by the Saudi government”.

Meanwhile, at least three suspected cases, including a couple in the sixties with travel history to Iran, emerged in layyah that were referred to Multan’s nishtar hospital for further diagnosis. the couple suffering from cough and flu was shifted to an isolation ward and their samples were to the national Institute of health, Islamabad, for confirmation. district health Authority Chief executive Officer (CeO) dr Ameer Abdullah told reporters that Khuda bux, his wife Pathani Mai and a relative Azhar Abbas were transferred to nishtar hospital. they had returned to their home located in Paharpur after visiting Iran.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Trump downplays epidemic fears as virus spreads around world STORY ON BACK PAGE

Iran cancels Friday prayer congregations as coronavirus death toll rises to 26 STORY ON PAGE 10

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PAF celebrates first anniversary of 'Operation Swift Retort' STORIES ON PAGE 03

FATF ‘grey list’ poses credit risks to Pakistani banks: Moody’s STORY ON PAGE 11

IMF, Pakistan reach staff-level agreement for $450m tranche STORY ON PAGE 02

India says US ‘politicising’ communal riots after commission demands action STORY ON BACK PAGE

CMYK Friday, 28 February, 2020

02 NEWS

IN Doha, IMRaN ReIteRateS PakIStaN'S coNtINueD SuPPoRt to aFghaN Peace ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday reiterated Pakistan’s continued support for an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process, as he appreciated Qatar’s valuable role leading to the US-Taliban peace agreement due to be signed in Doha on February 29.

Talking to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during a daylong visit to Doha, Imran expressed the hope that all Afghan stakeholders would seize this historic opportunity to reach an inclusive political settlement for the establishment of durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Rana Sana says Shehbaz Sharif won't return before Nawaz’s surgery

The prime minister also briefed the Qatari Emir on the continuing human rights violations in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir under the RSS-inspired BJP government.

The leadership of Pakistan and Qatar also agreed to further enhance economic cooperation, especially in the energy sector.

The two countries also agreed to immediately activate the bilateral Joint Working Group on Commerce and Investment and the MoU on Cooperation in the fields of tourism and business events.

Earlier, on his arrival at the Doha airport, the prime minister was received by Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi.

This was the second visit of the

prime minister to Qatar after taking office. The Emir of Qatar visited Pakistan in June last year. The visit resulted in strengthening of bilateral economic collaboration in diverse areas. During his last visit to Qatar, the prime minister discussed the matter of exporting workers to Qatar with the Doha leadership.

In December last year, Qatar opened a visa facilitation centre in Islamabad for swift processing of visas of members of the Pakistan workforce wishing to work in Qatar.

Qatar also promised 100,000 jobs for Pakistani workers, and the government held talks with the Qatari government to accommodate skilled Pakistani labour force returning to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan faces respiratory masks shortage amid coronavirus fears KARACHI

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah on Thursday said that the party president and Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif would stay in London till his brother Nawaz Sharif undergoes heart procedure.

Rana Sanaullah said that he had talked to Shehbaz Sharif via telephone and the latter said that they could get a date for Nawaz Sharif’s surgery in the next week. “He is currently staying in London due to the planned surgery of his brother,” he said and added that it was necessary to remain admitted at the hospital 10 days prior to the operation. He said that Nawaz Sharif had to undergo a critical heart surgery and it was up to the doctors, who decided against conducting the operation on February 24. He also lamented the federal government and said that there was a consensus that the country should move towards a midterm election. On February 25, the Punjab government decided against extending the bail plea of the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Hours after the confirmation of two positive cases of coronavirus in Pakistan, prices of respiratory masks have surged in Pakistan.

As their demand increase, the masks, which were being sold for Rs5, are now being sold for Rs20, and N95 masks, which are recommended by health experts for protection against coronavirus, saw a 10 times increase in their price. Pakistan Today on Thursday observed that a box of ordinary surgical masks, which was being sold for Rs300400, is now being sold for more than Rs2,000, and at most medical stores, N95 masks are not available considering how expensive they have become.

Medical stores have rationed the sales of respiratory masks by deciding to sell one mask per customer until the supplies are restored.

Moreover, the general population is misinformed about these masks as people believe that surgical masks are a good enough precautionary measure, while the truth is that only N95 masks provide the necessary protection.

Although the government had

SC restores PML-N MPA Kashif Mahmood’s membership ISLAMABAD APP

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday restored Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Kashif Mahmood from PP-241 constituency of Bahawalnagar and suspended the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision to suspend his membership over fake degree. A two-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin heard the case. Abdul Ghafar, a voter of Mehmood’s constituency PP-241, had approached the high court seeking Mehmood’s disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) for submitting a fake degree to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The IHC had disqualified Mahmood over a fake degree allegation and directed the ECP to conduct by-polls in PP-241 (Bahawalnagar).

banned the export of masks, approx 10,000 N95 masks and 3,700 ordinary masks were exported to China as a result of six companies being granted special permission to export masks. This is reminiscent of Pakistan exporting wheat prior to the wheat shortage. Health officials, however, believe that the current rise in prices and shortage is a result of hoarding, which created an artificial shortage. China is the world’s largest producer of the masks, with a reported capacity of 20 million pieces. The domestic demand, however, is approximately 50-60 million per day.

On Wednesday, Pakistan reported its first two cases of the deadly virus. The cases were confirmed by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza.

“I can confirm first two cases of coronavirus in Pakistan. Both cases are being taken care of according to clinical standard protocols & both of them are stable,” he said in a tweet while asking the citizens to avoid panicking or worrying “as things are under control”.

Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has also been asked to take steps in this regard.

WHO DESIGNATES CORONAVIRUS TEST CENTRES IN PAKISTAN LAHORE HUMZAH REHMAN

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated test centres in several cities of Pakistan after two cases emerged in Karachi and Islamabad on Wednesday. In Karachi, test centres were set up in Agha Khan Hospital and Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center, whereas in the National Insitute of Health and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences will deal with the suspected coronavirus cases in Islamabad. In Lahore, the Services Hospital will test the cases, while in Peshawar, a centre has been set up at Police & Services Hospital located on Police Road. In Quetta, Fatima Jinnah Chest and General Hospital and Sheikh Zahid Hospital will collect samples and send them to NIH Islamabad.

CAA’s latest initiative may harm PM’s tourism plan KARACHI ARIBA SHAHID

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is looking at the possibility of suspending flight operations from 12 am to 6 am across the country due to rising electricity costs. Businesses and investors in the aviation sector believe this is negative for the industry considering how this is sending a message to the international players that Pakistan cannot bear electricity expenses. While the government is trying to make 2020 the year of tourism, this will not help the situation.

Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan President Aftab Rana said that the decision would have an adverse impact on the tourism industry.

“Since most flights arrive and depart during the night, the decision would disrupt the operations of the airport. It will also lead to a crowded atmosphere during the day and would prompt international airlines to reconsider their decision of operating in Pakistan, thus directly impact the influx of tourists into the country,” he said.

He urged the CAA to adopt innovative solutions such as solar energy instead of moving towards such a drastic change. “If this decision gets the government’s approval, the prime minister’s tourism initiative will surely go to waste,” he added. Sources said that while the aviation authority of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) charges airlines AED 80 per passenger at Dubai Airport, the charges are approximately equivalent to AED 360 at the Karachi airport.

This decision is likely to hurt the aviation sector as international flight carriers choose to avoid day-time flights from Pakistan as they usually pick up passengers from the region and bring them to the GCC hubs in time for day-time connecting flights onwards around the world.

Speaking to Pakistan Today, Abdul Sattar Khokhar, a spokesperson for the Aviation Division at the CAA, said, “Most international flights operate late at night and very few operate during the day. This move will not only burden the airport infrastructure but would also cause discomfort and inconvenience to the passengers.” “The authority is considering the proposal to balance out the flights and for this purpose, they have asked for comments from the operators after which they will make the final decision,” he added.

Analysts believe that this setback to tourism targets will be further amplified due to the coronavirus cases reported in Pakistan. In order to meet the prime minister’s vision regarding tourism, it is also expected that the CAA may ask for a subsidy from the government if airlines protest the suspension of night operations.

The CAA has also sent a letter to all airlines operating in the country, outlining the recent hike in electricity prices which has resulted in an additional burden on the CAA. This additional expense has prompted the authority to consider curtailing flight operations at all airports across the nation.

While the decision itself is under question, it will only be implemented after approval from the government.

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IMF, Pakistan reach staff-level agreement for $450m tranche WASHINGTON STAFF REPORT

Pakistani authorities and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff have reached an agreement that could pave the way for a disbursement of $450 million in IMF funds, if approved by the IMF’s executive board, IMF said on Thursday. “The IMF staff and the Pakistani authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on policies and reforms needed to complete the second review of the authorities reform programme supported under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF),” said Ernesto Ramirez Rigo, IMF Mission Chief for Pakistan, in a statement issued from Washington. IMF spokesman Gerry Rice also confirmed this and said the staff-level agreement would be reviewed by the Fund’s executive board and IMF management in early April. “Completion of this means that the disbursement, when approved by the executive board, would be around $450m to Pakistan, Rice told a regular IMF briefing. At the end of 10-day talks with the government last month, the IMF had announced that Pakistan had achieved all of its economic goals in terms of performance. “Considerable progress has been made in the last few months in advancing reforms and continuing with sound economic policies,” the global financial body had said. The IMF had further noted in its statement that “all end-December performance criteria were met and structural benchmarks have been completed” and in terms of performance, Pakistan achieved all economic targets.

ANOTHER POLIO CASE EMERGES IN PUNJAB KARACHI INP

Another polio case emerged in Punjab province on Thursday from Dera Ghazi (D.G) Khan area, raising the total number of cases in the year 2020 to 19. According to a report by the Punjab anti-polio programme, the virus was confirmed in an eight month old minor in union council Taunsa of DG Khan. Following the emergence of the case, the provincial government has announced to launch five-day anti-polio campaign in DG Khan from March 16. The recently concluded anti-polio drive across Pakistan yielded more than the expected results as 124,000 children more than the set target were immunised during the campaign. According to a report received by the National Health Ministry, the drive’s success remained at 100.3 per cent in Punjab province showing a 102.4 per cent success rate. In Sindh, the success rate was 100.07 per cent as 63,493 more children were immunised during the anti-polio drive.

CMYK Friday, 28 February, 2020

NEWS

ARMy ReAdy TO deFend COunTRy AT All COSTS, SAyS ISPR dG GEN IFTIKHAR SAYS THERE IS NO SPACE FOR WAR BETWEEN TWO NUCLEAR POWERS RAWALPINDI

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STAFF REPORT

NTER-SERVICES Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar on Thursday reiterated Pakistan Army’s commitment to security and national integrity, saying it will respond “whenever there is a challenge to the country’s security and integrity”.

Addressing his first press conference after taking charge of the military’s media wing, Gen Iftikhar spoke on Pulwama incident, Line of Control (LoC) violations, Kashmir issue and anti-terrorism operations in the country. “After the Pulwama incident, India blamed Pakistan. We offered all cooperation,” he said, adding: “But on Feb 26, they carried out a cowardly attack. We were prepared, the surprise they wanted to give to us, we gave them one instead and they retreated.”

“We salute the bravery of all our soldiers that continue to fight bravely in front of the enemy.

We are aware of all covert and overt operations of our enemies and are prepared for all scenarios.

The game being played by India, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership is very much aware of it.”

‘DO NOT TEST OUR CAPABILITY’: “If there is a challenge to Pakistan’s security, we will respond — do not test our capability and resolve,” he warned.

“There is no space for war between two nuclear powers. The consequences for that will be uncontrollable and things will spiral out of con-

PAF celebrates first anniversary of 'Operation Swift Retort' ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Thursday conducted a ceremony at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad to commemorate the first anniversary of the “Operation Swift Retort” which resulted in the downing of two Indian planes – that had violated Pakistani airspace – last year today. Addressing the event Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan said that they were gathered today to commemorate “resounding victory” in ‘Operation Swift Retort’. “Pakistan Air Force living up to its legacy yet again made its mark through professional excellence and valour.” He said that the “prompt, measured and surprising response busted the aggressor’s arrogance”. “No doubt our successes are attributed to blessings of Allah. Decadeslong hard work, investment in PAF operational capacity by our predecessors and the heroic acts of our personnel, let there be no doubt that PAF is and would remain reassuring fundamental of national defence.”

“Ladies and gentleman Pakistan Air Force is one of the most respected and responsible air forces of a peace-loving country.”

The air chief said that Pakistan has been facing “diversified challenges”. “Despite these PAF has continued on the path of professional consolidation over the last two decades while we solidified our professional training, capability enhancement remained our primary pursuit through indenization. “Today our platforms complemented by advance precision weaponry follow illustrate a successful realisation of our homegrown technological pursuits

trol. Intentions can change overnight but capabilities remain. “Whenever India has taken any such [aggressive] action, we have given them a befitting response.” When asked about India’s defense, the DG said: “We are prepared; India is among the top three countries for military spending, despite this we are 100 percent capable. “We will not let any harm come to our country.”

Earlier in the day, DG ISPR had said: “The way we responded on this day [Feb 27, 2019] is proof that any misadventure by enemies of Pakistan will always be defeated. Our adversaries will be surprised by our bold responses every time.”

LOC VIOLATIONS: Speaking on violations carried out by India across the Line of Control (LoC), he said during the past year there have been 384 violations. “They do not spare [even] children on their way to school,” he revealed, adding that the most ceasefire violations and casualties were recorded in 2019. “The Pakistan Army is a responsible force; when we are provoked we respond on military targets, while the Indian forces target civilians.

“If there is a war in the region, there will be far-reaching consequences,” he warned, repeating the words of Prime Minister Imran Khan who, in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September last year, had warned of “across the border consequences in case of war”.

‘OPPRESSION IN KASHMIR’: “Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute between India and Pakistan,” he pointed out, observing that in the past 207 days, the people of oc-

cupied Kashmir faced violence and oppression.

“International media and human rights bodies have unmasked the violence in the occupied valley while there are protests in India regarding this.

This issue cannot be silenced any longer,” he added. “The United Nations chief [in his recent tour to Pakistan] has also stressed ending the oppression in the occupied valley. A solution to the Kashmir issue is attached to our national interest.

We stood with the Kashmiris in the past, and will do so in the future.” “The entire world is aware of what is going on in Kashmir and we feel for the people of the valley. “All our options are on the table. This dispute is being viewed as a flashpoint, we are moving towards a solution but the pace of this is not what it should be.” “Our country’s leadership has done its best to bring this to light; we are ready, our government needs to decide how to solve this, but everything possible is being done.”

‘FROM TERRORISM TO TOURISM’: Speaking on Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, which was launched in Feb 2017 in the aftermath of a fresh resurgence in terror attacks in Pakistan, he said the operation has normalised the country.

“We claimed 40,000 area of land (muraba) back from terrorists. “The journey from terrorism to tourism has been a difficult one, the people also played a part in this. Our cricket grounds are now filled once again,” he said.

“We respect the white on our flag, and salute the sacrifices made by religious minorities,” he said in a comment on the conditions minorities live in the country.

China to send duck legion to help Pakistan fight locusts ISLAMABAD APP

China is preparing to send an army of 100,000 ducks to Pakistan to help the country exterminate the locust plague that has been posing a huge threat to the country’s agriculture, a Chinese newspaper reported on Thursday. The estimated time of deployment is the second half of this year. Ducks are natural enemies of locusts, will not pollute the environment like pesticides and can lay eggs after having accomplished their mission, experts said.

The duck legion from Shaoxing, East China’s

Zhejiang Province, are veterans who wiped out the locust outbreak in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 20 years ago, Li Guowei, head of Guowei Poultry Industry in Zhuji, Shaoxing, which provided the ducks, said in an interview with Global Times.

Locust plagues can be controlled with pesticide or through biological methods, but the latter is preferred because it is more cost-efficient, does not pollute the environment and can restore the biological chain, Lu Lizhi, a research fellow at the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, who is directly involved in the duck deployment plan.

CPNE urges govt against diluting journalists' safety bill KARACHI STAFF REPORT

After the federal cabinet decided to make changes in the Ministry of Human Rights’ bill pertaining to the safety of journalists, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) President Arif Nizami urged the federal government should to have separate laws for the “protection of media persons and media freedom in Pakistan”.

He said the draft bill, which has been approved by the federal cabinet two days back, is actually “a junk and mixture of two separate draft laws presented by the information ministry and the human rights ministry. The CPNE chief said that the “amalgamated draft bill undermines the significance of safety and protection of media professionals”. He said that all stakeholders have already submitted their proposals to the federal government in regard the legislation of safety and protections of media professionals.

The government must ensure safety and protection of media professionals as guaranteed the constitutions.

The statement followed the concerns made by the Editors for Safety (EfS). In statement on

Wednesday, its chief Zaffar Abbas had said: “We [EfS] urge Prime Minister Imran Khan to persuade his cabinet to approve the bill in its present form as it provides the necessary safeguards against all forms of threats and intimidation, and allows journalists to perform their professional responsibilities without fear,” said EfS convener Zaffar Abbas.

The EfS, a forum comprising a large number of newspaper editors and directors of news at leading television channels, said in a statement on Wednesday that the draft bill, once approved, would be a significant first step in fulfilling a long-standing demand of Pakistani journalists to check the prevailing culture of impunity for crimes against them. The statement said the bill was presented before the federal cabinet on Tuesday for approval, but for some unexplained reasons the cabinet decided to club it with an earlier bill prepared by the ministry of information and sent it to the law ministry for vetting. The EfS believed the bill prepared by the human rights ministry was quite comprehensive as it covered key issues, including the setting up of a commission of inquiry under a retired Supreme Court judge.

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03

IHC seeks IT Ministry's comments in social media rules case ISLAMABAD APP

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday sought comments from the Ministry of Information Technology and other respondents till March 7, in another case pertaining to social media rules. Chief Justice Athar Minallah took up the case filed by a citizen, Chaudhry Shafiq against the proposed Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020. The petitioner said that the government wanted to seize freedom of expression of citizens through controlling the social media sites in the country. He said that a national coordinator was being appointed for implementation on these rules.

He claimed that the rules were in contradiction to Article 19 of the Constitution. The court served notices to respondents and sought a written reply from them. It may be mentioned here that an identical petition was already pending with the same court regarding the matter.

Govt suspends Iran flights amid coronavirus cases continue from page 1 First, they went to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Kot Sultan, from where they were sent to Nishtar for further screening. Azhar Abbas, who was serving in Frontier Corps, was posted at Taftan border.

SINDH GOVT FORMS TASK FORCE: Also, the Sindh government has decided to form a task force on novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The decision was taken in an emergency meeting headed by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to chalk out a strategy to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The task force headed by the chief minister will include the provincial chief secretary, health secretary, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani and other health officials. The two cases confirmed in Pakistan included a 22-year old male patient in Karachi who had traveled from Iran, where he acquired COVID-19. The second case was confirmed at PIMS in Islamabad. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, the Sindh chief minister said that about 1500 people have been identified who have returned from Iran or had come into contact with those coming from Iran and later entered Sindh in the past 15 days. Shah added that according to their information, of the 1,500 individuals — 28 individuals may have been exposed to the virus in Karachi, and 5,000 individuals all across the country. He explained that the first step was to check if the 1,500 individuals identified were manifesting symptoms of the virus. “If yes, they will be tested.

Not all 1,500 people and everyone they have been in contact with [in the past 15 days] will be tested,” he said. Later in the day, the PM’s special assistant on health, Dr Zafar Mirza, said that the patients who were tested positive for the virus were “stable” and their condition was “improving”.

04 ISLAMABAD

Friday, 28 February 2020

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Darra Adamkhel gets its first police station PESHAWAR APP

ISLAMABAD: A view of the Islamabad Expressway which is usually packed in the early hours of the day. online

KP CM AnnounCes DeveloPMentAl sCheMes for Dir PESHAWAR APP

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HyBeR Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Mahmood Khan Thursday visited Lower Dir and laid the foundation stone of six kilometer long Chakdarra Bypass. Addressing a public meeting after foundation stone laying ceremony, CM said that Chakdarra Bypass would be completed in two years with an estimated cost of Rs. 450 million and it would reduce travelling time by 90 minutes.

He said that the project would benefit 3.3 million people of Dir, Bajaur and District Chitral. He said that Sanam Dam of Dir is gigantic project of public welfare for which government has approved 500 million rupees.

Chief Minister also announced upgrading of District Headquarters Taimergara and inclusion of upper Dir Cadet College in next ADP. He said that

local industries would be given electricity and Lower Dir Medical College would be made functional very soon. He also announced beautification of Chakdarra.

He said that when PTI assume power performance of public entities were distressing and they were being mortgaged by previous rulers.

He said that PTI government took strict decisions despite having an option to acquire loan and overburden people. He said that economy of the country is strengthening with each passing day while steps have been taken to return foreign loans.

Mahmood Khan said that government has launched various public welfare schemes including ehsas Program that aimed facilitation of poor and needy and give them chances to change their lives.

He said that Prime Minister improved the image of Pakistan and highlighted Kashmir issue on every available world forum.

The Chief Minister said that KP government is the only province that has started legislation to protect the rights of children and added that those found guilty of child abusing would be dealt accordingly.

After merger of erstwhile FATA into the Khyber Pakthunkhwa, the inauguration ceremony of first Police Station was held in Dara Adamkhel on Thursday. Commissioner Kohat Division, Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah, Regional Police Officer Kohat Taib Hafeez Cheema, Brigade Commander 117, Brigadier Brigadier Shahzad and tribal elders of Dara Adamkhel for inaugurated the first police station in the area. Tribal elders warmly welcomed police, civil administration and military officials during the inauguration ceremony. District Police Officer DPO Kohat Mansoor Aman, Deputy Commissioner Kohat Abdul Rahman, Commanding Officer Colonel Shafiq and Assistant Commissioner Dara AdamKhel Shayan Ali were also present on this occassion. Former MNA Malik Baz Gul, Malik Naib Khan, Malik Akbar Khan, Malik Jandol and elders of various tribes also attended the inauguration ceremony. It was announced that police would provide full relief to the people by upholding local tradition and customs. It was also announced in the ceremony that driving license, police clearance and character certificate for the locals would be provided at their doorstep. Addressing the ceremony, Commissioner Kohat, Regional Police Officer Kohat and other speakers said that peace and prosperity has returned in the region due to the constant sacrifices of the police, security forces and local people.

Despite difficult conditions, the tribal people showed solidarity with security forces to defeat enemy forces. They said that police, law enforcement agencies and tribal people set the example of patriotism by acting as a first-line of defense to defeat terrorism.

Pakistan desires peace but won’t compromise on Kashmir: Alvi ISLAMABAD APP

President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday said that Pakistan desired peace but would never compromise on Kashmir, which remained an unfinished agenda of the partition of sub-continent.

Addressing a seminar titled “Radical India vs Responsible Pakistan”, the President said that with the lives of minorities including Sikhs, Christians and Muslims put in trouble, India was following the hatred-based RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) ideology and philosophy, which also led to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. He said that Pakistan air force by shooting down the two Indian fighter jets on February 27 last year defeated their nefarious designs.

The President said that Pakistan

would continue to stand by the Kashmiri people and would never abandon them.

He warned India not to carry out any false flag operation against Pakistan.

The President regretted that Pakistan's every effort for peace vanished into thin air, and the belligerent India did not reciprocate Pakistan's gestures of peace.

He said that India by denying the Kashmiris of their just right to self-determination was also violating the Charter of United Nations, which was created on the philosophy of promoting peace in the world.

Referring to the current situation of violence against Muslims in India, the President said that Khushwant Singh, a renowned Indian author, had predicted the same situation in his book “Bharat Ka Khatma” published in 2003.

The President said that they were proud of their armed forces, which befittingly re-

sponded to the Indian aggression on 26 February last year. He said that despite having limited resources, Pakistan had better defence capability than that of India.

He congratulated Pakistan Air Force and the Army for defeating terrorism and defending borders of the motherland.

President Arif Alvi said that Pakistan was rising with better human rights situation, successful operation against terrorism and improving economy.

He said that Pakistan was a responsible state and it must voice for every minority in the world, adding minorities including Muslims, Sikhs and Christians were being treated with discrimination in India.

The President said that there was problem in India regarding minorities' rights and the international community must put pressure on India for ensuring due rights to minorities.

Well-equipped law university to be established in capital, says minister ISLAMABAD APP

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Dr Farogh Naseem Thursday said the government was planning to establish a wellequipped law university in the federal capital.

He was addressing the participants of a ceremony, held here at Islamabad Bar Council (IBC) as a chief guest for distribution of certificates among the advocates recently promoted to advocates high court.

Speaking on the occasion, he said such university campuses would be established in all the provincial headquarters whereas art of the facilities online library of international standards would also be operational in such varsity.

He said the government was planning to attach such varsity with IBC for better

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practical education and research.

He said the government believed in welfare of lawyers as the whole judicial set up was based on lawyer community adding hefty efforts were needed in this regard.

The minister said the term 'Wukala Gardi' was unfair with this profession and he always opposed such terms, he added.

He said Pakistan also came into being due to the efforts of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah who was professionally a lawyer.

He stressed the young lawyers to avoid short term plannings for success.

The minister hoped that Islamabad High Court (IHC) would be shifted to its new building at constitution avenue which would help reduce the problems of judiciary as well as lawyers being faced at F-8 Katchery.

Friday, 28 February, 2020

TorkHam ConTainerS SCam: FBr aSkeD To SuBmiT reporT in one monTH ISLAMABAD

T

SHAHZAD PARACHA

HE parliamentary panel on Thursday directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to submit a detailed report on Torkham containers scandal within one month.

The directives were issued at a meeting of the National Assembly’s (NA) Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs held under the chairmanship of Faiz Ullah.

FBR’s Acting Chairperson Nosheen Javed appraised the committee that the director general of Intelligence & Investigation (Customs) Islamabad had sent four special reports, in which he had highlighted several issues with respect to clearance at Torkham.

The FBR had constituted a joint investigation team to conduct thorough investigation into the matter, she said, adding the department would take action in the light of the report of the investigation team.

Committee member Qaisar Ahmad Shiekh asked the FBR chairperson that why the department could not ascertain the exact point amount evaded despite passing a month.

Another member Ayesha Ghaus Pasha suggested the bureau to conduct a detailed investigation on the matter.

The committee’s chairman questioned why Customs Intelligence did not stop 355 containers from passing through the borders.

The Customs operations member said they had checked some containers and it emerged during checking that duty and taxes were not paid. However, the authorities had not ascertained the amount of fully evaded tax so far. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is also investigating this matter.

The NA committee decided that the director general of Customs Intelligence, members of the probe committee, and FIA officials might be called after one month for further discussion in this regard.

Torkham containers scandal had emerged last month when Customs Intelligence DG Zahid Khokhar sent the report to FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi that 355 containers had been cleared from September to December 2019 without paying any duty taxes, suggesting that senior Customs officials were involved in this scam.

Meanwhile, the committee also discussed a calling attention notice moved by MNA Ali Nawaz Awan regarding deduction of 5 per cent

maintenance allowance from the salaries of the federal government employees working in BPS-6 to BPS-15.

The committee directed the Ministry of Housing and Ministry of Finance to convene an exclusive meeting with Ali Nawaz Awan.

The committee further discussed the matter pertaining to disbursement of loans to the SME sector in Pakistan by the commercial banks and policies of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in this regard.

SBP Senior Director Irfan Ali briefed the committee about the central bank’s policy for promoting SME sector, saying the bank had taken certain measures in this regard.

The committee noted that the government should review its policy of SME sector at the earliest because the sector considered as backbone of the economy.

Present in the meeting, senior representatives from commercial banks (UBL, ABL, BOP and AlFalah) presented their policies with regard to the SME sector.

The committee unanimously decided that all government bills would be considered in the meeting when advisor to the prime minister on finance would brief the committee.

Omni Group’s Ghani Majeed to remain in jail till bail in all cases ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

An accountability court on Thursday withheld the release order for Omni Group’s Abdul Ghani Majeed, who has been behind the bars in a multibillion money laundering scam involving former president Asif Ali Zardari.

The accountability judge said the accused obtained bail in six cases but he has been named in seven cases.

He needs to secure bail in the last case to pave the way for his release from prison.

An Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench had approved Majeed’s bail on medical grounds. He has not yet obtained bail in a case pertaining to alleged financial irregularities in the Thatta Water Supply Scheme.

Earlier, on Feb 13, the IHC had granted bail to Abdul Ghani Majeed in the fake bank accounts case.

A division bench of the high court comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Fayyaz Anjum heard the bail petition. The bench ordered Abdul Ghani Majeed to submit Rs100 million surety bond for bail.

A video clip has surfaced in which Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan can be heard telling Minister for Technology Fawad Chaudhry that he did a “great job” slapping TV host Mubasher Lucman.

Though Lucman was not named explicitly by the KP CM, it is clear that the reference was being

LHC moved against inflated prices of surgical masks LAHORE APP

An application has been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) for ensuring the availability of surgical masks at reasonable rates. Judicial Activism Panel, a public interest litigation firm, filed a civil miscellaneous application in a pending petition, seeking treatment facilities for the elderly. The petitioner firm claimed that TV channels had reported that surgical masks were not available in the market and the same had been hoarded by some wholesale dealers to gain an advantage in the backdrop of coronavirus epidemic. He submitted that the step would cause exploitation and put an extraordinary burden on people’s pockets. He pleaded with the court to direct authorities concerned for ensuring the availability of the mask at reasonable prices besides action against hoarders.

Shehbaz family money laundering: LHC dismisses bail pleas of 3 co-accused APP

made to him, as Chaudhry had slapped Lucman recently at a private event.

Explaining why he did so, Chaudhry is heard saying: “Sir, is this something one should do? Just for the sake of ratings, you [Lucman] are saying that you are in possession of porn videos featuring me. I told him you don’t [seem to] have any family [whom you care about]…” he says before the video ends abruptly.

Fawad had had a physical altercation with the TV anchor last month at a wedding event.

The federal minister said that he had hit Lucman for making inappropriate allegations about him and TikTok star Hareem Shah.

Fawad had defended his actions, saying: “I will not tolerate personal attacks against myself.

We are all human beings and react when someone makes false allegations of this nature.”

The minister had also rejected allegations that he was involved in any way with Hareem Shah, as the TV anchor had suggested. He said he hadn’t ever met the Tik Tok celebrity.

Chaudhry had also criticised both Lucman and Sami Abraham — another TV anchor he had slapped earlier — saying they were not journalists.

“Has any journalist body condemned my actions? Did the Punjab Union of Journalists say anything about it? These [Sami Abraham and Mubasher Lucman] are accidental journalists — they have nothing to do with journalism,” he had said.

The federal minister had alleged that this was not the first time that Lucman levelled false allegations and maligned someone’s character to get views on his YouTube channel.

The minister accused Lucman of targeting PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Zartaj Gul Wazir in the past with false allegations as well.

A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Thursday dismissed bail petitions, filed by three coaccused involved in alleged money-laundering for the Shehbaz Sharif family. The bench, headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, heard the post-arrest bail petitions, filed by Qasim Qayyum, Fazl Dad and Shoaib Qamar. The petitioners’ counsel argued that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested the co-accused on mere allegations. He claimed that the bureau had failed to produce any evidence during the 90-day custody. He pleaded with the court to grant postarrest bail to them. He submitted that the co-accused could not be held for an indefinite period of time.

However, a NAB prosecutor opposed the request saying that all three co-accused were arrested on the basis of solid evidence against them. He submitted that Fazl Dad and Shoaib were employees of the Shehbaz family and they facilitated the family in money laundering. He submitted that Qasim Qayyum was a money changer who illegally transferred massive foreign amounts in accounts of the Shehbaz family. He pleaded with the court for dismissal of the bail petitions. The bench, after hearing detailed arguments, dismissed the bail petitions.

Five held for thrashing Dolphin Force personnel LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Police on Thursday apprehended five persons for allegedly subjecting Dolphin Force personnel to torture. The police said the arrested men had engaged in a clash with the Dolphin Force personnel when they restrained them from indulging in one-wheeling in Mughalpura area. Afterwards, they called in their friends and tortured the personnel along with them, the police said. The incident occurred when the personnel were on their way home, they added.

Female MPs to get a beauty salon in Parliament Lodges ISLAMABAD APP

The Senate House Committee on Thursday ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to open a salon in Parliament Lodges for women parliamentarians “as soon as possible”.

The committee, headed by Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla, gave the directions after Senator Kulsoom Parveen said that despite clear directions from the convener of the committee to consult her and Samina Saeed for the allocation of a place for the salon in Parlia-

ment Lodges, the CDA officials had not bothered to contact either of them.

The chairman directed CDA to solve the issue on priority with consultations of two senators.

Regarding complaints of different senators about their accommodation in Parliament Lodges, the Senate deputy chairman directed CDA officials to contact senators and solve their issues with immediate effect.

He also reminded CDA that directions to make a financial plan about repair and maintenance work of the lodges were given but were not implemented.

05

LAHORE

KP CM lauds Fawad Chaudhry for slapping Mubasher Lucman NEWS DESK

NEWS

Regarding budget, the committee was informed that Rs319 million were allocated for repair and maintenance work of the lodges whereas the agency had spent Rs203 million so far.

Senator Samina Saeed while referring a report, pointed out that water supply in the Parliament House and Parliament Lodges was substandard.

She pleaded the Senate deputy chairman to direct CDA to ensure purified water supply whereas ensuring the delivery of electricity bills to parliamentarians at least seven days earlier than the last date.

CMYK

Friday, 28 February, 2020

06 WORLD VIEW

The rooTs of The Delhi rioTs: A fiery speech AnD An ulTimATum A LOCAL HINDU POLITICIAN TOLD THE POLICE TO EVICT A GROUP OF MUSLIM PROTESTERS OR HE AND HIS MEN WOULD. NOW, 25 HAVE DIED IN SOME OF THE WORST VIOLENCE IN YEARS

NEw York timEs Jeffrey GeTTLemAn, suhAsini rAJ And sAmeer yAsir

T

O many in the eastern Delhi neighborhood where a convulsion of religious violence erupted this week, it all began with one man.

Kapil Mishra, a local politician with India’s leading Hindu nationalist party, had just lost an election. Acquaintances in the area, which now feels like a war zone, said he had been looking for a way to bounce back.

Mr. Mishra, 39, is known for his outspoken views and flexible politics. As an upper-caste Hindu from a political family, he had worked for Amnesty International and Greenpeace, and risen in the ranks of one of India’s most progressive political organizations. But several years ago he shifted allegiance across the political spectrum to the Bharatiya Janata Party, India’s current governing party, which has deep roots in Hindu supremacist ideology.

On Sunday, he appeared at a rally against a group of protesters (most of them women) who were objecting to a new citizenship law widely seen as discriminatory toward Muslims. There he vented his anger in a fiery speech in which he issued an ultimatum to the police: either clear out the demonstrators, who were blocking a main road, or he and his followers would do it themselves. Within hours, the worst Hindu-

Muslim violence in India in years was exploding. Gangs of Hindus and Muslims fought each other with swords and bats, shops burst into flames, chunks of bricks sailed through the air, and mobs rained blows on cornered men. Many Indians, including Hindus, believe that Mr. Mishra and his Hindu nationalist supporters have weaponized a very dangerous mood. In a Hindu majority nation, with a Hindu nationalist government that has allowed the killers of Muslims to go unpunished, fear has been growing that violent Hindu extremism could spin out of control.

“Kapil Mishra should be in jail,” said Rupesh Bathla, a businessman who says he has known Mr. Mishra since they were teenagers. “He started communal riots. He planted hatred in other people’s hearts.”

By Wednesday, at least 25 people had died, hospital officials said, most from gunshot wounds. Several witnesses said that the live fire came from the direction of the police officers, and the dead included Hindus as well as Muslims. Though property belonging to Hindus was burned, the destruction was much heavier on the Muslim side.

In Muslim areas, shop after shop was destroyed and entire markets were burned down. Dozens of Muslim residents have accused police officers of standing passively by while the destruction was underway. On Wednesday, the few people out on the streets walked quietly past the blackened car hulks and smashed homes. The whiff of

Delhi’s violence: Modi stoked this fire Editorial GuArdiAn

As shocking as the outburst of hatred in Delhi has been, with the deadliest religious violence the capital has seen in decades, it cannot be understood either as an unforeseen eruption, nor as the ineluctable expression of centuriesold intercommunal hostility. Instead, the 24 deaths and hundreds of injuries seen as mobs set fire to mosques and businesses and invaded Muslim homes result from the slow accretion of loathing, indulged and fostered by political leaders. They are the latest step along India’s path away from its founding ideals of pluralism and equality, towards intolerance and hate.

The immediate causes of events are the fallout from Narendra Modi’s unjust Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the dangerous rhetoric employed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata party in Delhi’s city elections this month, and the mob incitement by BJP leaders like Kapil Mishra, to violently remove a group of Muslims who were blocking a road in the capital’s north-west to protest against the legislation.

Scuffles quickly escalated. But it is clear that many defenceless Muslims were the primary targets and victims. Witnesses described the police simply standing by, joining crowds chanting nationalist slogans, or firing indiscriminately. BJP leaders were reportedly recorded encouraging crowds to chant “shoot the traitors” and accusing the peaceful protestors of being “rapists and murderers”. This is awful but unsurprising.

The BJP’s Hindu nationalism is a politics that rose to power by fomenting violence against vulnerable religious minorities. Given

charred materials still hung in the air, in what some scholars said was an eerie echo of previous religious bloodletting in India.

“On the whole, the Delhi riots of this week are now beginning to look like a pogrom, à la Gujarat 2002 and Delhi 1984,” said Ashutosh Varshney, the director of the Center for Contemporary South Asia at Brown University.

While the death toll is nowhere near that of those earlier bouts, the episodes shared a disturbing similarity, Mr. Varshney said, with “mobs unleashing savage violence while the cops look away, or join the mob, instead of neutrally intervening to crush the riot.”

With the violence cooling down for the moment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hosted President Trump as the fighting raged, broke his silence on Wednesday after Mr. Trump had departed, urging people in a Twitter post to “maintain peace and brotherhood at all times.” He added, “Peace and harmony are central to our ethos.” As night fell on Wednesday, a few sporadic attacks were reported, but no large-scale mayhem.

The police, armed now with assault rifles, had been reinforced with paramilitary troops. In the area that suffered the worst in the fighting, many residents laid blame on Mr. Mishra, who declined a request for an interview. But in a Twitter post, he said, “It’s not a crime to ask for blocked roads to be opened. It’s not a crime to tell the truth. I don’t fear this massive hate campaign

the police’s disgraceful performance, Sonia Gandhi, president of the Congress party, was right to demand the resignation of Amit Shah, Mr Modi’s home minister and close ally – and a man who has himself described illegal migrants from Muslim-majority Bangladesh as “termites” to “throw into the Bay of Bengal”.

Mr Modi’s very belated call for “peace and brotherhood” does nothing to compensate for days of silence, nor to veil a career built upon stoking division.

He was previously barred from the US over the 2002 pogrom which killed around 1,000 Muslims in Gujarat while he was chief minister there. Though the supreme court cleared him of deliberately failing to protect Muslims, his international rehabilitation is mostly due to his subsequent election as prime minister. It is no surprise that Donald Trump, visiting India for the first time as the violence flared, should embrace an authoritarian and nationalist leader. But plenty of others have essentially accepted Mr Modi’s dangerous rightwing populism too.

He has accelerated his agenda since his reelection by a landslide last year. He revoked the special status of Indian held Kashmir, the only Muslim majority state, and placed it under lockdown. He pushed through the citizenship act and the National Register of Citizens in Assam, which excluded almost 2 million people.

The political opposition is enfeebled. He continues efforts to muzzle civil society. Yet it is fighting back. Indian citizens have expressed their revulsion at the country’s direction. Though many have been disappointed by the supreme court’s insipid response to the citizenship act, which many believe is unconstitutional, and its judges’ admiration of Mr Modi, it was scathing this week about police inaction in response to the violence. Delhi’s high court attacked the police commissioner for saying he had not watched videos of inflammatory speeches, and ordered authorities to take action to protect and help riot victims.

There is nothing inevitable about India’s current trajectory. But the individuals and institutions who are resisting cannot turn its course without support.

against me.”

Mr. Mishra had said in his speech that he did not want to create trouble before Mr. Trump left the country on Tuesday night.

But as Sunday evening approached, gangs of Hindu and Muslim men began throwing rocks at one another, and that quickly spawned far greater violence.

At a court hearing on the riots on Wednesday, a judge pressed police officials about why they had not watched videos of Mr. Mishra’s incendiary speech — an indication, the judge implied, that they had not seriously investigated the sources of the violence. “This is really concerning,” said the judge, S. Muralidhar, according to LiveLaw, a legal news website. “There are so many TVs in your office, how can a police officer say that he hasn’t watched the videos? I’m really appalled by the state of affairs of the Delhi Police.”

Mr. Mishra’s supporters said the majority of people in the community had backed his effort to evict the protesters. “How could our kids get to school with those protesters blocking the road?” said Alok Kumar Gupta, a retired military officer who lives near the protest area. “Kapil Mishra was only trying to help.”

But others wonder if Mr. Mishra was trying to make a name for himself in Hindu nationalist circles. He had been elected to the local assembly in Delhi in 2015 from the progressive Aam Aadmi Party, but eventually fell out with his colleagues and defected to Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, or B.J.P. He then started espousing Hindu nationalist views and vilifying Muslims, more out of political expediency than true belief, argued Mr. Bathla, who claims to have known Mr. Mishra for 30 years. “When he was younger he wasn’t like that,” he said.

“He was chill.”

Just a few weeks before the Feb. 8 local assembly elections, Mr. Mishra posted what was widely viewed as an incendiary Twitter message, framing the contest as “India vs Pakistan.”

After he lost the race, several people said he took the hard line against the mostly Muslim protesters as a way to improve his

standing in the B.J.P. “He wasn’t getting much attention from the higher-ups,” said Hasrat Ali, a legal officer who lives the same area where Mr. Mishra’s family lived for many years. “This was all a plan to get a firmer position.”

At least one other politician in Mr. Modi’s party is now distancing himself from Mr. Mishra. “Whoever has done this, strict action must be taken,” said the politician, Gautam Gambhir, a member of Parliament from the area. “Kapil Mishra’s speech is not acceptable.”

Protests against the new citizenship law, which makes it easier for non-Muslim migrants to become full-fledged Indian citizens, have flared intermittently since December. There has been a subtext of religious differences, with most of India’s Muslims objecting to the law and many Hindus supporting it. But this past week was the first time the protests turned large numbers of Hindus and Muslims violently against one another.

Most of India’s Muslims distrust the B.J.P. and point to the sectarian killing frenzy that claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people, almost 800 of them Muslims, in Gujarat State in 2002 when Mr. Modi was its chief minister.

Mr. Modi and his state government were accused of quietly ordering the police to stand by as the violence raged. He has denied those accusations, and in 2012, an investigative panel for the Supreme Court found no evidence to support them.

But until he became prime minister in 2014, Mr. Modi was banned from entering the United States. And since he came to power, violence against Muslims, including mob lynchings, has increased sharply.

Muslim families in northeast Delhi are now abandoning their homes. Several said in interviews that they no longer felt safe.

Asgar Ali, whose grocery shop was burned to the ground on Tuesday, said there was no difference between police officers and Hindu mobs. He said he was fleeing his home, where he had lived for 20 years, knowing that he might never return. “I built this house with my blood and sweat,” Mr. Ali said. “Now, I have been reduced to a homeless pauper. I have lost everything.”

Jeffrey Gettleman is the South Asia bureau chief, based in New Delhi. He was the winner of a Pulitzer Prize in 2012 for international reporting. Suhasini Raj has worked for over a decade as an investigative journalist with Indian and international news outlets. Based in the New Delhi bureau, she joined The Times in 2014. Shalini Venugopal contributed reporting.

A deal with the Taliban is a painful price for ending the war in Afghanistan Editorial L A Times

More than 18 years after President George W. Bush dispatched U.S. forces to Afghanistan to help topple the Taliban government, the U.S. and that Islamist group are on the verge of signing an agreement that the Trump administration hopes will lead to peace, the withdrawal of U.S. troops and reconciliation between Afghanistan’s political factions.

If a seven-day period of “reduced violence” that went into effect over the weekend holds, the agreement — which has been the subject of on-again, off-again negotiations — will be signed on Feb. 29, according to Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo.

It’s possible to welcome this impending agreement — and we do welcome it — and still harbor doubts about whether all of the pieces will fall into place.

Will a deal between the U.S. and the Taliban be quickly followed by substantive negotiations between the Taliban and the government in Kabul, as the Trump administration anticipates? That is far from certain, given divisions within the current Afghan political system. Both President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, who served as chief executive in a unity government, have claimed victory in a presidential election that was held in September. Can the Taliban be trusted to honor a pledge that, if it regains a measure of power, it won’t provide a haven for Al Qaeda, Islamic State and other transnational terrorist groups? (It was because the Taliban government provided a haven for Al Qaeda that the U.S. attacked Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks.)

Finally, will the departure of U.S. forces and a possible return to power of the Taliban erase the gains for women and girls achieved since the overthrow of the Taliban government? Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s deputy leader, has promised that, left to their own devices, Afghans would create a political system that would protect “the rights of women that are granted by Islam — from the right to education to the right to work.” But given the oppression of women under Taliban rule, deep skepticism is warranted.

Yet even given these pitfalls, the Trump administration was right to open negotiations with the Taliban and to announce that it would reduce the number of U.S. forces in that country, which now number 12,000 (compared to

100,000 at the height of U.S. involvement). The troops now deployed advise local troops and conduct counter-terrorism operations, but they remain in harm’s way.

Like President Obama before him, Trump has been torn between a natural aversion to protracted military engagements — what Trump (and others) call “forever wars” — and pleas by military advisors that the U.S. not forfeit the political and military gains it has achieved in an operation in which more than 2,000 Americans have died.

In 2017 Trump said in an address to the nation that he had reconsidered his original intention to pull U.S. forces out of Afghanistan and suggested that a political settlement involving the Taliban was only a remote possibility, conceivable only after an “effective military effort.” But later, despite no significant improvement in the security situation, he approved talks with the Taliban.

Those negotiations were stalled after Trump overreached and proposed a premature meeting with Taliban negotiators at Camp David last year — a characteristically grandiose gesture that alarmed his national security advisors.

Trump abruptly canceled the meeting, citing a bombing in Kabul that killed 12 people, including a U.S. service member, and later declared the talks “dead.”

But the negotiations led by longtime U.S. diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad resumed, and rightly so. It doesn’t demean the sacrifice of U.S. troops to recognize that in almost two decades, the U.S. has not achieved the ambitious goals of defeating the Taliban or of ending endemic corruption in Afghanistan. It makes sense to return the focus to the original justification for military action: preventing Afghanistan from again becoming a staging ground for attacks on the U.S. The U.S. isn’t expected to agree to an immediate withdrawal of all U.S. forces; the withdrawal would be gradual.

(Last year Trump indicated that he was inclined to reduce the number of troops to 8,600, perhaps even in the absence of an agreement with the Taliban.)

Phasing out the departure of the remaining troops could provide a measure of leverage for the U.S. over political developments in Afghanistan. But at some point the troops must come home, save perhaps for a small number of intelligence and counter-terrorism personnel. Afghanistan has been America’s longest war and among its least conclusive.

It needs to be brought to a close.

Friday, 28 February, 2020

FOREIGN NEWS 07

BRitain, on tRade Collision CouRse with eu, says it Could walk away LONDON

B

AGENCIES

RITAIN unveiled a negotiating mandate on Thursday for talks with the European Union that puts it on a collision course with Brussels, saying it was ready to walk away if “good progress” was not made by June.

After officially leaving the EU last month, Britain has until the end of the year to negotiate a trade deal and agreements on everything from fishing to transport, to replace more than 40 years of closely aligned political and economic relations.

Having accepted that, by leaving the EU’s customs union and single market, British businesses will encounter new “frictions” in trade with the bloc, the government has made its stance clear – self-determination must trump economic concerns.

So if, by June, “good progress” has not been made on Britain’s demand for what it calls a “standard” free trade agreement or even on the “least controversial areas” of the talks, London said it would focus on preparations for a sharp break with the EU. “At the end of the transition period on the 31st of December, the United Kingdom will fully recover its economic and political independence,” cabinet office minister Michael Gove told parliament as he unveiled the mandate.

“We want the best possible trading relationship with the EU, but in pursuit of a deal we will not trade away our sovereignty.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the face of

Britain’s campaign to leave the EU in 2016, vowed to get Brexit done at last year’s election and, after winning a large majority, has charged his team with the goal of “taking back control”. Both sides say they want a deal to be agreed before the deadline of Dec. 31, 2020 so that trade can flow, albeit with some additional checks, and that arrangements on issues such as aviation can roll over seamlessly.

But with the two sides unable to agree on even the format of talks scheduled to begin on Monday, the negotiations look set to be a battle of wills. Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, said Brussels had taken “note” of the mandate. “We will stick to all our prior commitments in the political declaration,” he tweeted, referring to an outline agreement on future ties signed by both sides.

“We want an ambitious and fair partnership with the UK in the future.”

UNDERWHELMING: Britain’s main opposition Labour Party, locked in a leadership battle, said Brexit was “far from done”.

“The government’s ambition for our new relationship with our most important trading partner is frankly underwhelming,” said Paul Blomfield, a Labour spokesman on Brexit. With a large majority in parliament, Johnson and his team feel he has won public backing for a clean break in ties to restore what he calls British sovereignty. That is at odds with Brussels’ pursuit of a closer trading relationship. At the heart of the conflict is Britain’s demand for a trade deal along the lines of one between the EU and Canada.

Cannibalism on rise among polar bears, say Russian scientists MOSCOW AGENCIES

Cases of polar bears killing and eating each other are on the rise in the Arctic as melting ice and human activity erode their habitat, a Russian scientist said Wednesday.

“Cases of cannibalism among polar bears are a long-established fact, but we’re worried that such cases used to be found rarely while now they are recorded quite often,” said polar bear expert Ilya Mordvintsev, quoted by Interfax news agency. “We state that cannibalism in polar bears is increasing,” said Mordvintsev, a senior researcher at Moscow’s Severtsov Institute of Problems of Ecology and Evolution. Speaking at a presentation in the northwestern city of Saint Petersburg, he suggested that the behaviour could be due to lack of food. “In some seasons there is not enough food and large males attack females with cubs,” he said. The rise in cases may also be partly due to more people working in the Arctic and reporting such behaviour, he said. “Now we get information not only from scientists but also from the growing number of oil workers and defence ministry employees.”

This winter the area from the Gulf of Ob to the Barents Sea, where polar bears used to hunt, is now a busy route for ships carrying LNG (liquefied natural gas), Mordvintsev said. “The Gulf of Ob was always a hunting ground for the polar bear. Now it has broken ice all year round,” he said, linking this to active gas extraction on the huge Yamal peninsula that borders the Gulf of Ob, and the launch of an Arctic LNG plant.

Friday, 28 February, 2020

08 COMMENT

The world catches cold

Govt’s negligence brings coronavirus to Pakistan

A price to be paid for aggressive globalisation

Delays combined with inefficiency

O

NLY days back health SAPM Dr Zafar Mirza had assured that he was personally monitoring the screening system at the country’s airports to ensure that no coronavirus patient managed to enter Pakistan undetected. Later he claimed that a strong mechanism had been put in place at all the airports to ensure screening of the passengers coming from abroad.

The Karachi patient infected with coronavirus, who had started showing symptoms during the flight from Iran, was cleared despite Dr Mirza’s claims along with the rest of the planeload of passengers. Ironically this happened after Iran had already reported its first cases of coronavirus. Did the new state-of-the-art scanners at the airport fail to work? Did the staff work carelessly? Were only the passengers coming from China being monitored despite the virus having spread to 47 more countries?

As a prominent member of the Pakistan Medical Association commented, the patient from Karachi “roamed around freely in the city for almost a week during which he must have interacted with a lot of people.” According to the Sindh CM, around 1,500 people have been identified who have travelled [to Sindh] from Iran in the past few days. This happened because the government waited for four days after reports from Iran about the coronavirus outbreak before it decided to close the Pak-Iran border. The delays by the government and the failure to keep a proper check on the incoming passengers amounted to opening the floodgates to the deadly viral disease. The issue is not confined to Karachi, as another patient belonging to Skardu, who had returned from Iran, was admitted to a hospital in Islamabad.

While one agrees with Dr Mirza that one must not panic, one also expects the government to take timely decisions, conduct training of the personnel deputed to airports, supervise the detection teams, and purchase monitoring equipment which is in working condition. The government had enough time to prepare to meet the challenge since late December when China reported the virus to WhO. There are signs of the government’s negligence starting to hurt the economy and effect the common man.

The PSX index dropped over 1,400 points to a threemonth low after Pakistan confirmed the two coronavirus cases. Profiteering has sent masks out of the reach of many.

Beyond the Qatar visit Pakistan must ensure that it is not left out

P

RIMe MINISTeR Imran Khan’s visit to Qatar comes only two days before the signing of the deal between the USA and the Taliban. As Qatar hosted the talks leading to the deal, and Pakistan played a crucial role in persuading the Taliban to engage with the USA, there is little likelihood that this signing will not figure on the agenda. however, after Qatar’s invitation to Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the visit becomes something a jaunt. Anything that Mr Khan could do with a personal interaction with the emir of Qatar could have been achieved by Mr Qureshi, who is accompanying the Prime Minister. The pre-signing visit does not seem likely to achieve anything of substance on the LNG front, which is one aspect, apart from migrant labour, of bilateral importance. Apart from the Afghan peace deal, Qatar is also the possessor of the third largest oil and gas reserves in the world. That would explain the presence of SAPM on gas, Nadeem Babar. The visit is also a movement away from Saudi Arabia, with which Qatar has got an ongoing dispute that has led it to develop ties with both Turkey and Iran.

With attention focused on the deal with the USTaliban deal, Imran needs to ensure that Pakistan does not get left out. Already, there are signs that this might happen. While Pakistan should not have an objection, it should not ignore the presence of India at the signing.

India had virtually no role in making the agreement, even though it has invested heavily in Afghanistan and has obtained consulates there, which it has used to spy on Pakistan. Pakistan must not also ignore the reality that the USA has fallen for the Indian claims about Pakistan being a terrorist haven, and that it wants to prop it up as a counter to China in the region.

Pakistan has previous bitter experience with the USA using it and then throwing it away, from the time the USSR invaded Afghanistan in 1979. It must ensure that that experience, which is still not over, as the presence of multitudes of Afghan refugees testifies, is not repeated.

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

At Penpoint

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M.A. NIAZI

he saying ‘If China sneezes, the world catches cold’ is attributed to Metternich, the 19th century Austrian statesman. he was speaking in the economic sense, even though he had actually said ‘When France catches cold, the whole of europe catches cold’, and the phrase was adapted to both the USA, as well as to China. The phrase was about politics or economics, and was not meant to be taken literally. however, now, with the spread of the Coronavirus, now designated by the World health Organisation Covid-19, it is as if the saying must be taken literally. Until Thursday, there were 2,808 dead worldwide, with over 82,419 cases. The majority is still in China, but the disease has reached Pakistan.

It is not the first time a disease originating in China has had global effects. There was the Black Death in the middle of the 14th century, which led to the deaths of as many as 200 million people and the depopulation of europe, and consequently to the demise of the feudal system, as agricultural labourers just died from the plague, leaving no one to till the fields. India, Mesopotamia and China were also devastated. Agricultural wages rose astronomically, and the peasant was no more tied to the land. The plague came from China, reaching europe on the fleas on rats, which came to China on ships. One difference is that the Black Death was a bacterial infection, while the coronavirus, as its name suggests, is viral.

The rats would come off the ships when they reached port in europe, and the fleas would then infect people, who then spread the sickness to each other. Now, the means of transport are much more plentiful, ranging from buses to planes.

There was no WhO in those days, and understanding of infectious disease was so poor that it did not retard the spread of disease. however, one of the things that has suffered in this outbreak has been the globalisation model. One component was freedom to travel.

That included travel to China, as well as from China. That was not the case with the Black Death. It became endemic in europe, and apart from the first outbreak, there were several others, with London experiencing a dire outbreak in 1666, the year of the Great Fire of London. The

Black Death was the bubonic plague, which showed itself in the appearance of buboes, or the swelling of lymph nodes, which might even become infected, after which the disease would travel to the lungs, causing breathing difficulties, ending in Death. One symptom was bleeding into the skin, and hence the appearance of black spots (hence ‘Black’ death) all over the body.

One of the last major outbreaks of bubonic plague came in Asia in the 19th century, originating in China, and spreading into India. The familiarity of the language with the plague (as how it uses the word for any epidemic) indicates that it raged here earlier. however, the 19th century plague also spread to India.

The coronavirus is not yet an epidemic, but it is definitely global, showing that borders controls of states cannot stop micro-organisms. The containment effort has not succeeded, with Italy emerging as the epicentre of the disease in europe.

All the plague epidemics occurred in the preantibiotic era, but the coronavirus is viral, and though the search is on for antivirals, they have not been discovered. Perhaps that is why some positive results have been reported from the drug cocktail now used as the standard treatment for AIDS. AIDS is also a viral infection, and is treated with a mixture of anti-virals, so clearly anti-virals will help against coronavirus infection. however, while the treatment will be debated by doctors even after the disease no longer rages, of more immediate concern for the world is the economic effect. The biggest losses will be in China itself, but because it plays such an important part in supply chains, a factory closure in China will mean that a factory in the UK might not be able to function. The losses are said to be likely to go into the trillions of dollars.

Chinese tourism, as well as tourism to China, will suffer from travel restrictions, as will airlines.

Shipping will also suffer, as will the One Belt One Road Initiative. There have been outbreaks of anti-Chinese racism. A newspaper has already provoked Chinese government protests, with a headline reflecting the century-old ‘Yellow Peril’ slur. The late 19th-century plague outbreak provoked these yellow-peril fears, leading not just to the USA’s exclusion Act, which prohibited Chinese from obtaining US citizenship, but also to the Dr Fu Manchu novels.

The recurrence of chest infection in epidemics coming out of China indicate a common origin.

The present virus has been blamed on the transfer of a virus infesting animals to humans. An initial possibility was the bat, then another was the snake, but a DNA analysis of the virus indicates that it might have transferred from the pangolin.

Pangolins are not native to China, but are nearby, being found (as an endangered species) in Indonesia. They are anteaters covered with scales. These scales are used in Chinese medicine, which is still practised extensively, while the meat is consumed.

That may well be where the infection originated.

Pakistan is particularly vulnerable, and not because it is China’s friend. The disease has caused fatalities in Iran already, and apart from China, where there are about a thousand Pakistanis, both traders and students, it could also get infected from Iran and Afghanistan in its west, or India in its east. There have been no serious accusations of bacteriological warfare, but it should not be forgotten that plague victims’ corpses, both human and animal, were used in the mediaeval ages, mostly being flung over besieged cities’ walls.

One of the problems with bacteriological warfare is that no one knows who will be infected by germs. Perhaps that is why it has never really entered the arsenals of even any secret service. Be that as it may, the USA is trying to resist China’s passing it economically, and this epidemic fits in. however, the spread to the USA may not be stoppable. even if the disease does not get there more prominently, the economic effects are likely to impact it. It should also be noted that this is happening in an election year, and the virus may have negative economic effects which would harm Trump’s chances of re-election.

If history is any guide, such diseases are defeated only to come back. Pakistan knows, for the poliovirus is recurring, despite a global effort to eliminate it. however, the global response to the coronavirus is such that it seems likely that it will be contained. however, it could always recur. It need not be with the same virulence, but if it is anything like the bubonic plague, it will come back. however, it may be attenuated, unlike the bacterial bubonic plague. The ‘flu’ causing colds in winter, after all, may have started out as the Spanish influenza, a deadly disease that killed as many as 100 million people worldwide just after World War I. By those standards, the coronavirus has a long way to go.

M.A. Niazi is a member of the staff

The IMF’s hidden agenda unveiled It began much earlier than envisaged M FAZAL ELAHI

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N an article this scribe in October 2019, the incumbent government was cautioned not to get hooked on to International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance for its dire financial needs. The reasons quoted therein for not falling into the IMF trap were: (1) Going to the IMF for assistance would mean complete acceptance of IMF’s inordinately abrasive terms and conditions by Pakistan (2) IMF is known among its borrowing member countries as a martinet; the borrowing countries have no option but to agree and strictly abide by its extremely harsh terms and conditions set forth for extending loans to them.

It was also stated that while seeking a bailout package from the IMF we should not be oblivious of the stark reality that more than the primary objective of its creation, this international financial organization (the IMF) is functioning under immense influence by the powers that be, particularly the USA. The USA is the largest contributor to the IMF and has 17.68 per cent of voting rights in its major decisions. In view of this, the USA, in particular, and the other sponsors of the IMF, in general, wouldn’t find a better opportunity to make Pakistan to its knees, and compel it to come to terms on all issues crucial to them.

The IMF, as predicted, has now opened up brashly. In fact, it has unveiled its real face much earlier than could be envisaged. As reported last week, the IMF delegation persisted on ‘immediate measures’ for reducing the revenue-expenditure gap and fixing the cash bleeding energy sector. It refused to grant Pakistan’s request to further revise the stringent revenue target (Rs 5, 238 billion) it has set for Pakistan for the ongoing fiscal year.

Official sources confirmed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) desired a further reduction in its revised target of Rs. 5, 238 billion, but Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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the IMF preferred to see the plan aimed at removing distortions and expanding narrowed tax base on a permanent basis. The IMF, it is believed, insisted that, if the need arises, the government must take measures to correct the situation halfway instead of waiting for a worsening of the situation by the next fiscal year.

On the issue of revenue generation it was reported that a couple of months ago the Fund’s executive Board allowed the FBR to reduce the target from Rs 5.5 trillion to Rs 5.238 trillion. If the Fund grants Pakistan’s request for further reduction in the revenue generation target, a question will be raised on the IMF team’s credibility, and the IMF certainly wouldn’t like to take the blame on itself.

All the issues enunciated above are unambiguously crucial and challenging for the incumbent government. however, the most perturbing and inconceivable posture taken by the IMF is its blatantly asking Pakistan “to reduce its trade and commerce reliance on Beijing”, and look for other international options by signing free trade agreements with other countries too. everyone knew this was going to come, and it has finally come. In fact, it has come much earlier than was expected. This issue, if looked at critically, exposes the IMF’s intention to give a serious blow to the ongoing multi-billion dollar Pak-China CPeC mega-project; a project that has been forecast to bring a phenomenal economic boom not only to Pakistan but to the entire region. Those who keep a close eye on international politics are fully aware of the fact that the USA particularly and its steadfast cohort India have never been able to digest the very idea of this gargantuan joint venture project between Pakistan and its time-tested friend China, right from its inception. exchange of pleasantries and bestowing flamboyant protocols by heads of governments to each other is always reciprocal, and are very much a part of standard universal diplomatic norms. Let us, therefore, not get carried away by the pleasantries

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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exchanged and the outwardly amazing offer the US President Donald Trump had made during his meetings with Pakistan’s premier Imran Khan.

During his first meeting held at the White house in Washington on 22 July 2019, Trump offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan, and in the second encounter held on the sidelines of the World economic Forum (WeC) in Davos, on January 21, he renewed this offer. Yet again, while addressing a mammoth gathering at the Motera Cricket stadium in India on February 24, he reiterated his desire to mediate on the issue.

Unfortunately, however, nothing tangible has come out of these offers so far. Contrary to all this, the Indian government, through a presidential decree issued on August 5, brazenly revoked Article 370 of India’s constitution, that guaranteed special rights to the Muslim-majority state.

In the earlier article, this scribe also explicitly cautioned the incumbent government was that the IMF’s stance on the issue of lending to Pakistan would predictably be extremely harsh, for two reasons: its stringent pecuniary policies, and its covert plan to retard Pakistan’s development projects, particularly CPeC. The IMF team came and left without signing the staff level agreement which, if inked, would have led to the release of the third tranche of $452 million of the $6 billion extended Fund Facility Programme. Presumably, it happened so owing to the government’s inability to take ‘prior actions’ by placing a viable fiscal adjustment plan, hiking gas and power tariffs and ensuring the rollover of Chinese loans. According to media reports, Pakistan has categorically stated that it would not increase the gas and power tariffs, whatever the consequences. What would be the ramifications of this decision on IMF demands wouldn’t be difficult to gauge. Whatsoever the end result of this mutually fractious tug-of-war, it would be pretty easy to predict that it is going to make things worse for Pakistan in times to come.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Friday, 28 February, 2020

COMMENT 09 Editor’s mail

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Whither humanity ?

A very expensive cup of tea Getting a medal for being shot down

Sultan M Hali

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February will go down as a Red-Letter Day in the history of Pakistan and its air force.

On 14 February 2019, a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora in the Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The attack resulted in the deaths of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and the attacker.

Without even waiting for a formal inquiry, India blamed Pakistan and conducted a night surgical strike on Pakistan’s sovereign territory on 26 February with 12 Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft.

The strike failed to cause any damage, but Pakistan retaliated with a riposte the next morning.

In the melee, two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft were shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), a MiG-21 and an SU-30. The debris of the SU-30 fell in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and its pilot was killed. The MiG-21 pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured alive. He was treated well and his short interview on TV sipping a cup of tea, which he claimed was “Fantastic”, became a meme. The Indian pilot was treated well and repatriated.

Indian morale was shattered at this huge loss of face. To hide its shame, the Indian Chief of Air Staff appeared on the media, claiming that the 44-year-old IAF MiG-21s were no match and no one even drives such an old car, what to say of flying a fighter aircraft of this vintage. This was misleading because the MiG21s of IAF have been upgraded. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on record to say that if the fresh acquisition of Rafale Fighter aircraft from France had occurred, Pakistan would have been taught a lesson. He was alluding to the opposition’s accusation of Modi having accepted kickbacks in the deal, which had delayed the delivery of Rafale fighters on time.

As an afterthought, India belatedly claimed that Wing Commander Abhinandan, after being shot but before he ejected, successfully targeted a vastly superior F-16 fighter aircraft of the PAF. The bogus claim was belied by the USA,

which was perturbed at the insinuation that a through real time imagery on the TV screens highly sophisticated fighter of US origin had and clearly proved the supremacy but restraint been destroyed in an air battle with an inferior of the PAF. India finally got the first batch of Rafale aircraft of Soviet origin. Two separate defence experts were dispatched by the Pentagon to in- fighter aircraft, despite the smear of corruption vestigate. Both reported independently that all and kickbacks because a weak political opposiF-16 fighter aircraft on the PAF inventory were tion failed to garner enough pressure for the present without even a scratch. The PAF, on its Modi government to drop the deal. The new Inown, recovered all four air-to-air missiles on dian Air Chief was given an extension and has board the Indian MiG-21, which were still in been rewarded for overseeing the sleaze-tainted Rafale induction project. their missile pods and This was payback time, had never been fired. but the real payback India India persisted with its lie is looking for is defeating and awarded Wing ComIndia continues to maintain the PAF. Unfortunately, mander Abhinandan this will never happen. the Vir Chakra, India’s its lockdown of IndianThe PAF has always third highest gallantry medal, for having supOccupied Kashmir, and the faced an adversary many times its superior in numposedly achieved a kill hapless Kashmiris suffer bers and sophistication of against the PAF by shootweapon systems. The ing down an F-16. Even due to the restrictions edge that the PAF has enthe pilots who took part imposed upon them while joyed over its arch rival is in the failed surgical training, and higher strike at Balakot on 26 the jingoism of its military better morale and level of motiFebruary received galvation, coupled with sulantry awards. India had and political leadership perior maintenance claimed that it had depersists. It would have been systems. Pakistan’s warstroyed a “terrorist training camp” of expected that India would riors, whether they are on the ground or air, or sailJaish-e-Muhammad in have learnt its lesson and ing on the seas, have bafthe attack, killing 350 fled their opponents with militants. Pakistan had that Wing Commander their spirit of inspiration promptly taken national to do or die. They know and international media Abhinandan would have that if they lay down their to the supposed site of the been a fighter pilot worth lives in the defence of the strike, where the only nation, shahadat (martyrdamage was to a couple his salt and divulged the dom) awaits them while if of pine trees. Even intertruth about the false claim they return victorious, national sources reprothey will be deemed duced satellite images of of shooting down an F-16 Ghazis (holy warriors). the IAF “target” at Balakot, which contradicted and returned the gallantry Thus, their valour is unthe false Indian claims. award conferred upon him paralleled.

India continues to For far too long, maintain its lockdown of India has been beating its on a fake premise.

Indian-Occupied Kashchest in jingoistic terms, Unfortunately, he continues mir, and the hapless threatening Pakistan to Kashmiris suffer due to back off from its support to relish the “fantastic” but the restrictions imposed for the Kashmiris. The 27 February air battle was very expensive cup of tea upon them while the jinof its military and short and swift. Public provided by his Pakistani goism political leadership perdisclosures by PAF personnel, in a special TV captors, since he paid for it sists. It would have been expected that India would show aired on occasion with an IAF MiG-21 and his have learnt its lesson and of Defence of Pakistan that Wing Commander Day, depicted that PAF own integrity Abhinandan would have pilots were in a position been a fighter pilot worth to shoot down at least his salt and divulged the half a dozen Indian truth about the false claim fighter aircraft but were ordered to limit the kills lest the limited conflict of shooting down an F-16 and returned the galescalate out of proportions and lead to total war. lantry award conferred upon him on a fake It was also revealed that in the retaliatory air at- premise. Unfortunately, he continues to relish tack by the PAF, a military installation in IOK the “fantastic” but very expensive cup of tea was targeted by PAF fighter aircraft where the provided by his Pakistani captors, since he paid top brass of India Army was holding an opera- for it with an IAF MiG-21 and his own integrity. tional briefing. Targeting them would have Sultan M Hali is a retired Group Captain blown the Indian commanders to smithereens but the valiant PAF fighter pilots were ordered and author of the book Defence & Diplomacy. to deliberately target a playground adjacent to Currently he is a columnist, analyst and TV the military installation. This was depicted talk show host.

WE live in a police state. Cases of Naqeeb Ullah Mehsud, Professor Arman Luni, Sahiwal killings and Salahudin are exceptional only in terms of the publicity they manage to generate. Otherwise, fear, humiliation, torture and corruption remain the norm in citizen-police encounters, signaling the grip of coercive apparatuses on everyday life in Pakistan.

Torture in particular is a unique mode of policing. Its purpose is not to serve justice adequate to a particular crime.

Instead, it aims to annul citizenship out of the victims body through the use of excessive pain. Tortured bodies are the stamps carrying dirty secrets of the state to remind the public that beyond all rhetoric of rights and responsibilities, there remains the sovereign’s primordial right to kill. It melts away any remnants of dignity in people’s live and elevates the anxiety of death as the supreme emotion in society.

What is worse is that the state now has mechanism to deal with the periodic rage that spills out. In moments of public outpouring of anger, even ministers will join the chorus to condemn a particular act. The aim is always to ensure that the rage is contained within the parameters defined by the state.

But the moment a campaign develops to challenge the underlying logic of systemic violence, the state will allege treason and use the same police to fix those who cross the line.

PTI governments, much like previous governments, appears helpless in front of the system that reduces citizens to inexistence. This is the third major incident of police violence in Punjab since CM Buzdar took over. Few months ago, we worked with families of Sahiwal incident and observed how bribes and threats were all that the government could offer to protect ‘state institutions’ from any serious accountability.

Walter Benjamin taught us that despite all obfuscations by government officials, rage continues to store in the collective unconscious of the masses. There are then moments in which this accumulated rage bursts into the open to impose divine justice. The suffering of victims has been repressed but has not disappeared. Their limits are being tested. Despite the long night of tyranny, we may not be too far from a sudden eruption of anger that will paralyze the violent apparatuses. When enough of us will muster the courage to declare that the Emperor is naked, we will begin to dismantle the police state that has turned our entire society into a death zone. Just heard of another case of police violence. This time in Peshawar. An alleged thief died in police custody. There was foam coming out of his mouth. In fact, virulent victims of people in Pakistan has become routine of times. Government is sleeping. Every passing day, comes with heartwarming dilemma. Government should leave deep slumber and provide justice to people who are dying by powerful.

NaVEED abbaS MaiTLo islamabad

A talented boy I would like to draw the attention of our politicians towards a talented boy of Lyari (Karachi). When last night I was watching one of the news channels so one of the anchors reported that a 17 years old boy invented a motorcycle which could be started by finger sensor system. Addingly, the boy just bought some old materials from some kabadies (old materials shops) and got his motorcycle invented. When the boy was asked that how much he spent to invent the motorcycle! He said that he had just spent 17000 thousands.

Further, the boy mentioned that if he is given help by government so he could develop such motorcycles which could run by water rather than petrol. I see no doubts that if our youth is given a little attention so our youth can do much for the country. Our youth is not less than anyone. I request the accountable authorities to give a little attention to our youth. There is no denying the fact that our youth has the potential to do anything because of being multiple talented.

Riaz aHMED QuRaiSH aHMED bolani

Cricket questions AFTER revamping, reinventing and restructuring Pakistan’s rotten Domestic System with ambitious one, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also announced the name of Misbah-ul Haq for the earlier vacant posts of the Chief Selector and Head coach. In addition, Waqar Younis has also been finalized as the bowling coach, replacing f Azhar Mehmood.

So far, the reaction of the Cricket fraternity to the decision has been mixed. Some welcome the decision in the context that Misbah-ul- Haq has remained one of the most successful Test Captains of Pakistan Cricket Team. It was his tenure, when Pakistan stood 1ST in ICC Test Ranking. Apart from this, Misbah-ul- Haq sensibly understands Pakistan’s domestic as well as Pakistan’s international cricket very well. With this, it is bore in the mind that Misbah has also the qualities of leadership with great determination. Observing all these traits, Misbah remained the final choice of the five- member panel committee, throwing weight behind Misbah for the all important slots of Chief Selector and Head Coach.

However, people also criticize the choice of the PCB as Misbah has no experience of the coaching and Waqar, who earlier remained the Head Coach of the tram, has been one of the most controversial coaches of Pakistan, has also been recalled as bowling coach without considering his previous record.

To cap this up, the decision by PCB is brave and innovative. By now, the whole responsibility will lie on Misbah with dual all important positions. Time will also test Misbah—Waqar duo’s progress in multifaceted ways in time to come. So far, it is all good. aaMiR KHaN WaGaN Larkana

Friday, 28 February, 2020

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Iran cancels FrIDay prayer congregatIons as coronavIrus Death toll rIses to 26

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AGENCIES

RAN said on Thursday its death toll from coronavirus had risen to 26, the highest number of fatalities from the virus outside China, and the total number of infected people now stood at 245, including several senior officials.

The outbreak prompted authorities to call off Friday prayer congregations in several cities including Tehran, state TV later reported, while state news agency IRNA said Iran has banned Chinese citizens from entering the country.

Those infected include Masoumeh Ebtekar, the vice president for women and family affairs, and the country’s deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi.

Ebtekar’s case was said to be mild and she has not been hospitalised.

“In the last 24 hours, we have had 106 (new) confirmed cases … The death toll has reached 26,” Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state TV, calling on Iranians to avoid “unnecessary trips inside the country”. Jahanpur said there were plans to impose some restrictions at holy sites and cancel some sermons on Friday, the Islamic Republic’s traditional day of public prayer.

“But it needs the approval of the president before being carried out,” he said, adding that hundreds of those suspected of being infected by the virus had recovered and been discharged from hospital.

IRANIAN VICE PRESIDENT TESTS POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS MASOUMEH EBTEKAR BECOMES THIRD IRANIAN OFFICIAL TO CONTRACT COVID-19 ANKARA AGENCIES

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said “some 20,000 coronavirus test kits and some other material” would be delivered to Iran on Friday from China. “A Mahan Air plane will transfer this cargo, which has been prepared by China’s Red Crescent, to Iran,” said the ministry’s spokesman Abbas Mousavi, according to state TV. The death rate among confirmed cases of the virus has been much higher in Iran than elsewhere. The World Health Organisation has said this was likely due to the country’s surveillance systems not

yet picking up mild cases.

Authorities, including President Hassan Rouhani, said on Wednesday that Iran had no plans to quarantine any “cities and districts” despite the sharp rise in numbers in a short time.

Officials announced Iran’s first deaths and infections from the coronavirus as recently as last week.

However, Jahanpur said the government had extended its closure of cinemas and temporary ban on cultural events and conferences for one more week.

Iran’s Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar has tested positive for the coronavirus, an official said on Thursday. Speaking to Iran’s official IRNA news agency, Ebtekar’s adviser Fariba Ibtihaj said the vice president tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

“Everyone in the vice president’s team was also tested and the results will be available on Saturday,” she said. Ebtekar is not the first high-ranking Iranian official to contract the virus. On Tuesday, Iran’s Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi and another lawmaker, Mahmoud Sadeghi, tested positive for the coronavirus. Iran has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases over the past week and the number of infected people in the country reached 245 on Thursday. The country’s Health Ministry also confirmed 26 deaths due to the coronavirus. Iran is one of over 35 countries that account for the nearly 80,000 COVID-19 cases confirmed around the world. The global death toll is nearly 2,800, and China, where the outbreak originated, is the worst hit, with more than 78,000 cases and over 2,700 fatalities. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak an international health emergency and said the global risk level remains high.

Syria rebels fight back but army makes more gains

ODLIB AGENCIES

Syrian rebels on Thursday reentered a key northwestern town they had lost earlier this month, reversing one of the main gains of the government’s devastating offensive in the region.

The counteroffensive could be short-lived however and Russian-backed Syrian troops con-

tinued to chip away at other parts of the rebel bastion, ignoring growing appeals for a ceasefire.

The UN Security Council, where Moscow has systematically vetoed truce initiatives, was due to meet again on Thursday amid growing concern Idlib was witnessing the nine-year-old war’s worst humanitarian emergency yet.

On Thursday, jihadists and Turkish-backed rebels managed to reenter Saraqeb, a key cross-

roads town in Idlib province they had lost earlier in February.

State news agency SANA acknowledged that there were “fierce clashes” between the army and “terrorist groups on the Saraqeb front”.

An AFP correspondent accompanied the rebels into Saraqeb, where he found a ghost town of bombed out buildings deserted by its inhabitants.

The counterattack by the rebels temporarily reverses one of the key gains notched up by the government since the launch of its offensive against the country’s last rebel enclave in December.

TURKISH CASUALTIES: The cash-strapped government had been keen to fully secure the M5, a highway which connects Syria’s four main cities and passes through Saraqeb.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the air strikes were carried out by government ally Russia, which has come under heavy Western criticism for the high civilian death toll from its bombing campaign.

State media accused the “terrorists” of launching car bombings and other suicide attacks against government forces attempting to retake the town.

It said that the army had inflicted heavy losses on the attackers, despite the military support it said they had received from neighbouring Turkey.

Some 950,0000 civilians have fled the government offensive, raising fears in Ankara of a new mass influx of refugees.

India transfers judge who took up Delhi riots case NEWS DESK Delhi High Court judge Justice S. Muralidhar – who on Wednesday grilled the government of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre, the state government and the Delhi Police over the communal violence in the national capital that left 32 dead and over 200 injured, majority of whom were Muslim – has been transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, NDTV reported on Thursday. Official sources have called it a routine transfer recommended by a Supreme Court panel two weeks ago. The notification on the transfer of Justice Muralidhar, the third-highest judge of the Delhi High Court, was issued around 11:00 PM on Wednesday night by the central government, about two weeks after it was recommended by the Supreme Court collegium on Feb 12. Earlier on Wednesday, Justice Muralidhar had said, “We cannot let another 1984-like event [Sikh Massacre which killed somewhere in between 3000-5000 Sikhs] happen in this country” and asked the government – at the centre and in Delhi – to work together to combat unrelenting violence that hit parts of the national capital for a fourth consecutive day. The comment came in a tense hearing during which videos of hate speeches by four BJP leaders – Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur, Abhay Verma and Parvesh Verma – were played.

Norway authorises demolition of building with Picasso murals OSLO AGENCIES

Norway gave the go-ahead on Wednesday for the demolition of a bomb-damaged building adorned with drawings by Spanish master painter Pablo Picasso.

The government, which ruled out a further postponement to the 2014 decision to demolish the building, has said it would relocate the two Picasso murals.

Completed in 1969 in the centre of Oslo, the “Y block”, named for its shape, bears drawings by Picasso sandblasted on its walls – the work of Norwegian artist Carl Nesjar, who collaborated with the Spanish master painter.

Previously the home of a government ministry, the building was damaged in the deadly bomb attack carried out by right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik on 22 July 2011, before he went on to carry out a mass shooting on the island of Utoya, killing a combined 77 people.

In 2014, Norway decided to demolish the building for security reasons as part of a major reconstruction project, and decided to relocate the murals “The Fishermen” and “The Seagull.” Anther building, “H block”, which was also damaged in the blast and has three other Picasso murals, will not be destroyed.

The 2014 decision to knock down “Y block” provoked a backlash among champions of architectural heritage and the ensuing public outcry saw a delay to the demolition.

Three organisations and associations announced on February 13 their intention to take the state to court and asked the government to postpone the demolition until the court had ruled on the matter.

On Wednesday, the government rejected this request, arguing that further delays would lead to financial cost as well as the postponement of the reconstruction project which has already been decided.

The ministry of local government and modernisation said in a statement that the agency in charge of managing the state’s real estate assets, Statsbygg, had been given the “assignment to start preparation work for the demolition of the Y block.” No starting date has been set, but postponing the implementation of the measure beyond April 1 would cost between 30 and 50 million Norwegian kroner ($3.2 million to 5.3 million or 2.9 million to 4.9 million euros) per month, according to Statsbygg.

A petition launched a year ago to stop the demolition of “Y block” had gathered nearly 28,000 signatures by midday on Wednesday.

Friday, 28 February, 2020

BUSINESS 11

EU likEly to ExtEnd Pakistan’s GsP+ statUs nExt month

CORPORATE CORNER

ISLAMABAD

KARACHI: A A National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), in collaboration with the Sindh government, has inaugurated its 16th ‘Chest Pain Unit’ at Cantonment General Hospital. p re SS r eL eA Se

KARACHI: A A Changan-Master Motors has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bank Alfalah. The MOU marks the start of a partnership to jointly promote Changan-Master vehicles in Pakistan. p r e S S r e L e A S e

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SHAHZAD pArACHA

DvISER to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razzaq Dawood has hinted that the European Union might extend Pakistan's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP+) in March.

Talking to journalists in Islamabad on Thursday, the adviser said, "We are optimistic that the EU will extend the GSP+ status [for 2022] in March. The prime minister had held fruitful meetings with the concerned persons, including the EU members, during his visit to Davos, where I had also met the EU legislators in an attempt to gain support for GSP extension."

He informed media that US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross' recent visit to Pakistan was finalized during PM Imran Khan’s meeting with President Donald Trump in Davos, adding that Pak-US relations would be strengthened further after the Taliban-US peace pact.

Dawood said that Pakistan wanted greater market access and investment from the US and that the same was communicated to the US official in meetings. He said that the US officials had informed them of areas where Pakistan could take benefit by sending its products.

"We have agreed to summon a meeting regarding the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). In addition, a business opportunity conference would also be held in the US in the coming months." The adviser said he had asked the US commerce secretary to open representative offices of prominent US brands in Pakistan, in line with their investments in Bangladesh, India and other countries.

He further said that he requested his US counterpart to fully facilitate its travel advisory to Pakistan so that relations between both countries could be taken forward. "But he said the US State Department looks after such matters and that he so cannot say anything regarding this."

Dawood said the US official was apprised of

Pakistan's investment potential in energy, oil & gas, agriculture, food processing and e-commerce sectors, adding that the visiting delegation had expressed a keen interest to invest in these areas.

Replying to a question, the adviser said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor was open for Americans and "we have also offered them to take advantage of the framework."

He said that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was a long exercise which takes eight to ten years.

“As for now, we focused on GSP with the US on how we can take more benefit from this pact.”

He noted that the US was the biggest export market for Pakistan and that the trade volume between the two countries would witness a significant increase in the coming months.

On another query, he said that Pakistani exports in the first seven months increased 2.25pc whereas the exports of India, Bangladesh and China dipped during the same period.

“So it is be wrong to say that the government is not doing anything.”

Auto sales picking up after months of downslide, Senate panel told ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS

KARACHI: A A National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL) has joined hands with National Centre for Cyber Security (NCCS)-NED University to inculcate the national cause of developing information security products in Pakistan. pr eS S re Le AS e

LAHORE: A Bahria Town has taken yet another giant step towards the betterment of the people of Lahore. In a grand ceremony on Thursday, a section of Emergency Ward resorted by Bahria Town at Children’s Hospital was inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar. pr eSS re Le AS e

KARACHI: A A Meezan Bank and Orient Electronics Private Limited have recently signed an agreement, wherein Meezan Bank will enable Orient Electronics to fully automate its dealer collections and business payments. preSS reLeASe

Although the auto industry had reported over 60pc decline in sales during the past few months "owing to inflation, price hikes and taxes", the Ministry of Industries and Production has claimed that auto sales have started picking up from January 2020.

Giving a briefing to the Senate's Standing Committee on Industries and Production on Thursday, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood said that the sale of locally assembled/manufactured vehicles was showing growth after a period of continuous fall.

"In a recent meeting, the heads of major automobile companies -Honda, Suzuki and Toyota -- informed me that sales have picked up in the first two months of 2020," he said, hoping that the upward trend would continue in the coming months.

On a question moved by Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi regarding high prices of locally assembled cars, the committee discussed at length the issue keeping in view the manufacturers' claims that most of the parts were manufactured locally.

The adviser claimed that the new hike in vehicle prices was due to devaluation of Pakistani currency against US Dollar, increase in the number of taxes like custom duty, additional customs duty, federal ex-

cise duty etc., and rising inflation.

However, Senator Bahramand termed the explanation by the adviser and other officials unsatisfactory. He also expressed his surprise over the ministry's admission that there was no legal provision to check/control prices of vehicles.

The committee heard the ministry as well as the Engineering Development Board (EDB) on the matter and decided to call vehicle manufacturers to hear their side of the story before reaching a conclusion.

Meanwhile, the committee was given a bi-annual review of the budgetary allocation and its utilisation by the Ministry of Industries and Production, with special focus on Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocation for 2019-20 along with details of PSDP

proposals for 2020-21.

An amount of Rs14.358 billion was allocated to the ministry for 2019-20, of which Rs7.526 billion was utilised. For the 2020-21 cycle, the ministry has proposed an allocation of Rs20.764 billion for 34 different projects. The details of projects were shared with the committee, which decided to hold further deliberations on the subject in the upcoming meetings.

The progress of Pakistan Steel Mills revival plan and payment to all its retired employees within 120 days, in the light of direction given to the PSM chairman, Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders in its meeting held in October 2019, was also discussed during the meeting.

The ministry told the committee that a number of steps have been

taken to resolve the financial crisis at PSM, including the issue of pending salaries and outstanding dues of former employees, but the dues have increased heavily, standing currently at Rs20.87 billion.

The committee was informed that a fresh summary for the said amount has been moved and in meetings held at the Finance Division, while proposals were considered to develop a comprehensive plan for settlement of dues and liabilities. The committee decided to continue discussing the matter until the grievances of retired employees were addressed.

Moreover, the Senate panel was also briefed by the Utility Stores Corporation managing director on the matter relating to taxation and subsidy being given by the government. The committee was told that the government had released Rs6 billion as subsidy and for procurement.

“PM Relief package includes subsidy on five basic food items; wheat, sugar, ghee, rice and pulses.

Basic food items are available at utility stores at prices lower than open market. The government has also allocated an amount of Rs15 billion to the corporation, of which Rs5 billion will be used for inventory purchases and Rs10 billion for subsidy on essential commodities.”

The committee appreciated the corporation for ensuring quality and registering better sales in the last few months.

FATF ‘grey list’ poses credit risks to Pakistani banks: Moody’s KARACHI MeIrYUM ALI

Pakistan’s banking system faces credit risk from the country’s continued inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) ‘grey list’ of nations, international rating agency Moody’s said in a credit outlook article on Thursday.

On February 21, the FATF, an international financial watchdog that sets global money-laundering rules, announced that Pakistan would remain, along with 17 other countries, on its list of jurisdiction under increased monitoring, or the ‘grey list’ for not fully completing the FATF-mandated action plan.

Pakistan, which has been on the list since June 2018, will now remain on the list until June 2020, when the next evaluation takes place.

“The announcement is credit negative for Pakistani banks because it raises questions about potential additional restrictions relating to banks’ foreign-currency clearing services, as well as their foreign operations. Banks’ profitability risks are being constrained as a result of increased

compliance and operational costs,” Moody’s said.

Though Pakistan’s compliance with global anti-money laundering and terrorism-financing rules had improved, Moody’s said Pakistani banks still faced risks in losing access to foreign currencyclearing services, which are crucial for cross-border payments for clients. This is particularly important because of Pakistan’s high import and export economic activity in US dollars.

However, the article did note that “the risk has so far not crystallised in the jurisdiction that have been placed on the increased monitoring list.”

DEFENSIVE ANALYST REACTIONS: There was a somewhat defensive reaction from local analysts over the recently released news from Moody’s, with many taking the view that Pakistan had taken drastic steps to meet FATF requirements.

According to Arsalan Soomro, managing director at KASB Securities, the “presence in the grey list is surely credit negative. That has implications on sovereign debt apart from other eco-

nomic malaise.”

However, he was somewhat positive, saying that it was a ‘reactive assessment’.

“The country has already fast-paced the implementation program and should be whitened in hopefully a year. This is an old panic,” he noted.

An analyst at Abbasi Securities took a positive approach as well, saying that “the SBP along with banks have been working on improving their risk frameworks over the course of the past two years. On FATF and Pakistan, we have seen solid progress and that we are moving in the right direction.”

He noted that the collapse of the real estate market could be used as an example of how the conversion of ‘black money’ to ‘white money’ was being contained.

“It’s not a magic wand that you wave and everything is ok, it takes time resources and most of all careful planning as to not disrupt the system,” he said.

Fahad Hussain, deputy head of research at Adam Securities, was concerned about the rising cost to income ratio in Pakistani banks due to FATF regulations.

“We expect banks profitability to take a toll from rising compliance and operations cost. Central bank has already raised monitoring of banking operations. It has taken serious steps to maintain a check on banking operations with imposition of penalties on few banks on compliance deficiencies,” he said.

He also noted that the stocks of large banks had tanked by over 10pc from their recent high.

This view on costs was also echoed

by Yasin Hanif at Darson Securities: “We have seen local banks (mostly large banks) are fined due to anti-money laundering and risk management system. Because of this compliance cost and foreign exchange transaction has been increased causing lower profitability and as new regulations come along related to antimoney laundering this will affect cost [more].”

CONCERNS ABOUT PAKISTANI BANKS: The article also noted recent failures on the part of Pakistani banks and their foreign operations, particularly in relation to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing issues.

For instance Habib Bank Ltd was investigated by US regulators for violations of anti-money laundering regulations, and was forced to pay a fine of $225 million, and close its branch in New York by March 2020.

United Bank Ltd. also closed its US operations last year, after being investigated by US regulators for weak compliance with global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist standards.

The FATF out Pakistan on ‘jurisdictions under increased monitoring’ in June 2018, after which the government committed to an FATF action plan, which consisted of 27 action points aimed at fixing anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing deficiencies.

As of February 2020, Pakistan has increased its compliance with 14 of the 27 identified action points, while compliance with the remaining 13 action points has somewhat progressed, according to FATF. While Pakistan remains on the grey list, the State Bank of Pakistan is confident that Pakistan would exit the list in June 2020.

Friday, 28 February, 2020

12 BUSINESS ePay Punjab fetches Rs1bn revenue in five months LAHORE STAFF REPORT

ePay Punjab, the first-ever government payment aggregator for citizens’ facilitation and ease of business, has collected over Rs1 billion in tax revenues from multiple levies across Punjab since its launch. The revenue figures were disclosed during a progress review meeting of the Punjab Information Technology Board on Thursday.

PITB Chairman Azfar Manzoor, Director General IT Operations Faisal Yousaf and other senior officials of board participated in the meeting. ePay Punjab was launched on 4th of October last year as a collaborative endeavor between the Punjab Finance Department and PITB. The system provides general public a stress-free and efficient method of paying all taxes and payments to the government through contemporary banking channels without going through the existing cumbersome process. The meeting was informed that multiple new payment channels like debit/credit card, mobile wallets, TELCO agent networks and direct debit from account are being added to further increase the payment options available to the citizens and businesses. Additionally, it has also been planned to include Government to Public (G2P) and Government to Business (G2B) payment models in future to broaden the horizon of the program and also add Tax/Non-Tax receipts like online admission for colleges/schools fee, driving license fee, echallan, character certificate, domicile, fitness certificate (commercial vehicles) and Agriculture Income Tax. The initiative has proved to be a game changer in the local FinTech industry by playing a pivotal role in increasing tax revenue collection of the province and improving financial inclusion. In its first phase, 13 taxes/levies of five departments are made part of the system. The Excise & Taxation Punjab, the Board of Revenue (BOR), the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA), Industries and Transport are the departments liaised with the system, where citizens can pay token tax, motor vehicle registration, transfer of motor vehicle, property tax, professional tax, Cotton fee, estamping, mutation fee, fard fee, sales tax on services, the Punjab Infrastructural Development Cess, business registration fee, and route permit through e-pay Punjab.

Oil prices slide to lowest in a year KARACHI ARIBA SHAHID

Oil prices fell for the fifth consecutive day on Thursday, reaching their lowest since January 2019 as new cases of the coronavirus emerge, and more countries get plagued with the disease. With deep concerns regarding the epidemic and the impact it will have on global economy and lower crude demand, Brent prices lost 4pc and fell to $51.20/barrel earlier today. Brent has dropped continuously for the past five trading sessions, culminating more than 10.6pc drop; whereas a 10.4pc contraction in WTI has been witnessed. This signifies the biggest five-day loss since August 2019. With warnings issued to the US, speculation regarding the spread of the virus in the US resulted in a series of further selling.

Analysts believe that if cases emerge in the US, the price of oil is likely to further decline being led by the already falling US gasoline prices. As of now, the fall in oil prices is predominantly being led by the spread of the virus to large economies such as South Korea, Japan, Italy, and most importantly China considering their impact on the global GDP and their demand for oil. Analysts further forecast oil demand growth to be 60,000 barrels per day in 2020, which is practically non-existent compared to highs. With the US being the world’s largest oil producer and consumer, it is expected the virus infiltrating the country will prove to be disastrous for oil prices. Investors in oil now look toward Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies including Russia, OPEC+, and whether they agree on a further production cut to tackle receding oil prices. OPEC+ is to meet on the 5th and 6th of March in Vienna.

GOvt mulls deReGulatinG lnG sectOR tO facilitate textile industRy LAHORE

t

HASSAN NAQVI

HE federal government is considering deregulating the LNG sector by allowing the private sector to import gas that is presently available at the spot price of $3/mmBTU in the international markets, Pakistan Today has learnt.

The price of Asian LNG hit a record low of $3/mmBTU this month that has made the longterm LNG contracts, the country had earlier signed, highly expensive and unattractive.

Contrary to Pakistan, India was purchasing the LNG at around $3/mmBTU. Sources in the textile industry, who were part of a high-level meeting on Wednesday, said the federal government had made a commitment to the exports sector that the LNG sector would be deregulated and the private sector would be allowed to import LNG directly.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood and attended by Power Minister Omar Ayub Khan, PM’s Special Assistant on Petroleum Nadeem Babar, Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, APTMA office-bearers, leading exporters and textile millers.

Talking to this scribe, APTMA Group Leader Gohar Ijaz confirmed this development, saying that the government should allow free import of

'IMPORT OF LNG AT COMPETITIVE RATES WILL HELP TEXTILE MILLERS RATIONALISE THEIR PRODUCTION COSTS' LNG that is available at the spot price of $3/mmBTU globally.

Agreeing with Ijaz, APTMA Punjab Chairman Adil Bashir said the government's commitment to deregulate the LNG sector would enable the textile sector in Punjab to import cheaper gas at competitive rates and rationalize their cost of production.

"The government should provide maximum facilitation to the industry as this avenue will give a much-needed boost to new investments and exports," Bashir added.

Sources said that even if the government didn’t allow the free import of LNG to the exports sector, it would still be cost-effective and available at around $4.5/mmBTU. They said due to a long-term contract with Qatar, Pakistan was paying a very high price of LNG at 13.37pc of Brent, while Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) contracts with Gunvor Limited and Eni SPA were at 8.594pc and 11.95pc (of Brent), respectively, which costs around $8.510/mmBTU to SNGPL and SSGC.

The same costs around $11.2/mmBTU to the exports industry but as the government is providing subsidy to the exports sector, it costs $6.5/mmBTU. If the government allows exports sector to import LNG, it could save around Rs23 billion - being provided to SSGC and SNGPL as subsidy to cover up the cost,” sources noted.

In addition, it will also boost the industry and make it regionally competitive with India, Bangladesh and China.

On November 28 last year, PM’s Special Assistant on Petroleum Nadeem Babar had informed the ECC that an earlier attempt made by the government at highest level regarding reduction in LNG prices was not acceptable to Qatar.

Babar recalled that during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Doha in January last year, the then finance minister Asad Umar had requested Qatar to reduce the LNG price that was being supplied to Pakistan under a 15 years contract, but Qatar refused.

According to sources, the premier and his economic team are now trying their level best to renegotiate its long-term LNG contract with Qatar signed during the PML-N’s tenure, which is not cost effective in the current scenario.

They said that the PM, during his one-day trip to Qatar on Thursday, was likely to take up the issue with the Qatari authorities as the long-term LNG contract was not financially viable for Pakistan.

NPLs rise 11.8pc to Rs776bn in Dec 2019 KARACHI MEIRYUM ALI

The non-performing loan (NPLs) within the banking industry increased by 11.76pc YoY to Rs776 billion at the end of the last calendar year, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday.

The NPLs in both banks and development finance institutions (DFIs) stood at Rs776.1 billion in December 2019 when compared to Rs694.4 billion in December last year, registering an overall increase of Rs81.7 billion. The net NPLs to net loans ratio stood at 1.74pc in December 2019, compared to 1.42pc a year before.

According to the SBP’s statistics, during December, NPLs in DFIs stood at Rs14.9 billion, an increase of two per cent on a yearly basis.

The NPLs in public sector banks and local private banks rose by 9.9pc and 15.1pc YoY to Rs234.6 billion and Rs469.4 billion, respectively.

NPLs of foreign banks fell by 2.4pc YoY to Rs2.7 billion, while NPLs of specialised banks spiked 2.2pc YoY to Rs54.4 billion.

Much of the rise can be attributed to an increase in NPLs in local private banks. Public sector banks, foreign banks, and specialised banks all witnessed a

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

marginal decline in NPLs between September and December 2019.

However, it is important to note that the overall rise in 2019 was not even. Between December 2018 and June 2019, the NPLs in both banks and DFIs rose

by Rs88.5 billion to Rs782.9 billion. However, NPLs declined in the second half of the year by Rs6.9 billion to reach Rs776.1 billion in December 2019.

The overall increase in NPLs can be attributed to the higher interest rate. The SBP has kept the policy rate at 13.25pc since July 2019, leaving it unchanged in the most recent monetary policy announcement in January 2020. A cut in the policy rate is unlikely, due to the higher inflation reported in January as well.

SBP reserves up $87m to $12.6bn KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased $87 million to $12,591.5 million during the week ending February 21, 2020, according to data released by the central bank on Thursday.

The total liquid foreign reserves held by the country stood at $18,742.8 million, of which net

foreign reserves held by commercial banks were recorded at $6,151.3 million.

The central bank did not cite a reason for the increase in reserves.

The total liquid foreign reserves have consistently been on the rise for the past seven months.

The total reserves initially crossed the $15 billion mark in July 2019, crossed the $16 billion mark in November 2019, and finally crossed the $18 billion mark in January 2020.

Coronavirus scare takes over stock market KARACHI ARIBA SHAHID

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) took a major hit on Thursday following the confirmation of two coronavirus cases in the country. Investors resorted to panic selling which led to the KSE-100 Index falling below the 37,000 points mark intraday.

Shedding 1,420.11 points in the opening two hours of the session, the KSE-100 Index recorded its intraday low at 36,918.22. However, it managed to recover most of its losses by the end and settled at 38,087.32 (-251.01 points).

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index lost 575.80 points to close at 59,544.08, while KSE All Share Index

ended 290.99 points lower at 26,396.96.

It may be noted that Thursday's intraday drop was the biggest recorded since last year, when the Pakistan Air Forced downed an Indian fighter jet, whereby the market had dropped 1,500 points as fears regarding an Indo-Pak war had escalated.

The overall market volumes surged 69pc on Thursday and were recorded at 249.24 million. Unity Foods Limited (UNITY -3.72pc), Hascol Petroleum Limited (HASCOL -4.02pc) and Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCF +4.91pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 29.43 million, 17.54 million and 15.07 million shares, respectively.

Sectors that drove the KSE-100 Index south included oil & gas exploration (-

Govt lauded for lowering power tariff for export sector

131.24 points), oil & gas marketing sector (-50.34 points) and food & personal care (-42.38 points). Among the companies, Pak Petroleum Limited (PPL -54.64 points), Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC -46.00 points) and Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL -30.96 points) dented the index the most.

"Simply put, it is a spillover of coronavirus and then the potential impact of it. It has just started and we don’t know when may it end. The economy is already at a snail pace…any slowdown is likely to put recovery down the road," said KASB Managing Director Arsalan Soomro. "Decline in oil price decline is also having a negative impact on the index heavy oil & gas sector. Otherwise,

it’s a blessing in disguise and an act of God in the form of macro stimulus.

Solves half of our current problems."

Pakistan confirmed its first two cases on Wednesday evening, which resulted in a bloodbath for investors.

Considering how Pakistan imports a significant amount of raw material from China, and with China being a major buyer of Pakistani textile, the market had been taken over by the bulls over concerns of the virus spreading within the region.

Analysts believe while the market is correcting itself, it is likely to remain range-bound as uncertainty is on the rise.

A contrarian view regarding the chances of recovery comes from Sami

The Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) and the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) on Thursday lauded the government’s decision to supply electricity to the exports sector at 7.5 cents per kWh and gas at $6.5 per mmbtu up to June 30. At a joint meeting that attended by a large number of exporters, PHMA Vice Chairman Shafiq Ahmad Butt and PRGMEA Chairman Sohail Afzal expressed satisfaction over the decision. They, however, called for easeof-doing-business, decrease in cost of production, solution to liquidity crunch through early refunds payment, long term and consistent energy tariff policy and relaxed import policy for industrial raw materials, so that industrialization could be scaled and exports could be enhanced.

Addressing the meeting, PHMA’s Shafiq Butt said the apparel sector was performing well through an increase in exports and should be encouraged through making it truly zero-rated for its whole value chain. PRGMEA’s Sohail Sheikh was of the view that the core issue in Pakistan was high cost of doing business, which had rendered its industrial production uncompetitive. He suggested the government to work on bringing around significant improvements in EODB for the export industry.

KSE-100 RECORDED ITS BIGGEST INTRADAY LOSS IN A YEAR, BUT RECOVERED MOST GROUND TO CLOSE 251 POINTS LOWER Tariq, Director of Research at Arif Habib Limited, who states, "The reasons for decline in the market include impact of coronavirus and related decline in regional markets, not achieving staff-level agreement with the IMF and decline in oil prices resulting in decline in oil and gas scrips. However, after closing for six consecutive sessions, we believe the impact has been overstated and the market is expected to rebound."

Bilal Abbas’ stellar performance in ‘Pyar ke Sadqay’ swept us off our feet!

B

By Rohama Riaz

eing an avid drama buff, Pyar Ke Sadqay feels like a breath of fresh air. Thankfully it comes across as a refreshing change from the presently on-air drama serials based on a typical template showcasing (saas-bahu) fights, domestic violence, tragic or social issues. Pyar Ke Sadqay is an unconventional love story that we rarely get to see on screen. it completely justifies to its hype; tackles serious deeply rooted issues in the society tossed with innocence and light-hearted comedy.

Moreover, the rawness and relatable content, accompanied by powerful performances, is simply the cherry on the cake.

The proceedings in episode five begin with an exciting turn when Sarvar expresses his desire to marry Mehjabeen and faces outright rejection by her father. Resultantly Munshji faces the consequences and is forced to retire from the job. Mansoora Begum

isn’t happy with this decision and reinstates Munshiji with immediate effect. This leaves Sarvar fuming, and he leaves the house. Abdullah is still in awe of Shanzay living every moment of her approval to marry her. Mehjabeen and her husband-to-be continue their pre-wedding chats on the phone.

The performances by the cast are adequate, but for Bilal Abbas,

there’s only one word – Bravo!

He’s a complete package; good looks, acting chops, and, most importantly, a sense of courage to tread the untried. i wonder is there any role this boy can’t pull off? As Abdullah, he nails his part to perfection. He is simply incredible, with his little voice modulations, stammering, and his lopsided smile. The scene in which he con-

soles his mother about Sarvar’s exit is merely remarkable.

This is the most challenging performance of his career so far that leaves us ‘dumbstruck.’ Without the use of conventional coolcatchphrases, dialogbaazi, or other ‘items,’ he stuns you in every single frame. The scene where Mehjabeen asks him to bring her trophies is a moment of absolute perfection. He is a powerhouse performer who balances his craft really well and showcases once again the talent that he is made of.

Within a short span of time, Abbas has time and time again proved his acting prowess. His palette boasts of distinct hues; give him any role, and he will perform it with the required dedication and conviction. His love for acting and his seriousness towards his work can be seen in the choices he makes. That’s the reason why he is gradually becoming a method actor. Post-Cheekh; the actor has yet another winner in hand that will surely fetch him many accolades.

IN JAPAN, INSTEAD OF A "MAN IN THE MOON," PEOPLE SEE A "RABBIT IN THE MOON."

Strings - The Best Live Act in the Country - won Karachi last night Strings, Pakistan’s favourite pop rock band, took the stage in Karachi last night in one of the most vibrant live performances of recent times, as a part of their collaboration with Salt Arts.

Playing a huge part in the revival of the concert culture in Karachi - Strings have played big and small arenas in the country, garnering love every time. Filled with a dizzying array of guitar riffs and drum beats, the band showcased a combination of new and old songs, including hit singles from their recently released album '30'.

The sea-front venue provided an intimate space for the band to give a captivating performance to the thousands of Karachiites in attendance.

“For the legends, for the champions, for being there for thirty years, and for showing us all the way... Thank you Strings! Karachi you are forever #1” was posted on the Salt Arts social media after the event.

The internationally acclaimed band has been in the Pakistani music scene for the last 30 years. Their presence has not yet halted as theirs still remains one of the most enduring stories of the Pakistani musical scene. The band has been performing at concerts and festivals, bringing their live performances to the eager crowds around the country after the release of their album '30'.

DEPENDING ON THE SPEED OF THE WIND, SOME CLOUDS TRAVEL UP TO 100 MILES PER HOUR ACROSS THE SKY.

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD

NAKED MOLE RATS ARE SOMETIMES CALLED SAND PUPPIES.

Johnny Depp’s texts said he wants to ‘drown’ Amber Heard, defile her ‘burnt corpse’: report Actor Johnny Depp sent text messages in which he wrote that he wants to ‘drown’ ex-wife Amber Heard and ‘f**k her dead corpse’. The messages were read out in court on Wednesday, in the presence of the actor.

According to Page Six, Depp texted actor friend Paul Bettany, “Let’s burn Amber,” in november 2013. it was also alleged that Depp texted, “Let’s drown her before we burn her!!! i will f–k her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she is dead.”

Depp is also alleged to have confided in Bettany about his alcoholism. in 2014, he allegedly wrote, “i’m gonna properly stop the booze thing, darling… Drank all night before i picked Amber up to fly to LA, this past Sunday…Ugly, mate. no food for days…powders…half a bottle of whiskey, a thousand red bull and vodkas, pills, 2 bottles of Champers on plane and what do you get..??? An angry, aggro injun in a f–kin’ blackout, screaming obscenities and insulting any f–k who got near…

After breakup with Melvin Louis, Sana Khan Dia Mirza threatens Kapil Sharma with breaks down at Special Ops trailer launch a slap as Thappad team comes visiting Former Bigg Boss contestant and actor Sana Khan could not hold back her tears at the trailer launch of neeraj Pandey’s web series Special Ops on Wednesday. in a video shared online, she is seen thanking the director for giving her the opportunity, before she breaks down.

Sana tries to compose herself but is unable to stop crying.

The audience applauds her and the host of the event tells her, “it absolutely happens, we are humans.” Her co-star gautami Kapoor then consoles her. Sana has been in an emotional state ever since her breakup with choreographer Melvin Louis. She has accused him of cheating with multiple women, many of whom have featured in his dance videos. in a live session on instagram, Sana said that everything was hunky-dory in the first four months of their relationship but when the month of Ramzan began and she mostly stayed at home for prayers, Melvin began cheating on her. She also claimed that he restricted her from talking to people and taking up projects, even as he was being unfaithful to her.

CMYK

TV star Kapil Sharma was threatened with a slap when he entertained Taapsee Pannu, her co-star Dia Mirza and director Anubhav Sinha on his show as the celebs promoted their upcoming film Thappad. in a promotional video that Sony TV shared online, Kapil is seen asking Dia, “Kya lena pasand karengi, coffee tea ya direct flirt (What will you prefer, coffee, tea or direct flirting)?” when Diya cuts him short and asks if he knows the theme of the film.

“Apko film ki theme pata hai na (You do know the theme of our film, right)?”, she asks him. Kapil then jokes as he repeats a famous Sonakshi Sinha dialogue from her debut opposite Salman Khan, Dabangg: “Thappad se darr nahi lagta memsaab, pyar se lagta hai (i am not afraid of slaps, madam. i an afraid of love).” incidentally, it was only recently that Taapsee told Hindustan Times in an interview, “We are trying to question these things, ‘ek gaal pe thappad maaro, dusra gaal aage kar do’ and ‘thappad se dar nahi lagta’ with our film and want the audience to start questioning them as well.”

Friday, 28 February, 2020

14 SPORTS

De BRUyne inSpiReS LaTe TURnaRoUnD aS CiTy STUn ReaL MaDRiD MAdrid

K

Agencies

EVIN De Bruyne orchestrated a dramatic Manchester City comeback on Wednesday as they stunned Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Madrid looked on course to edge a cagey contest after Isco's smart finish early in the second half, but De Bruyne teed up Gabriel Jesus in the 78th minute and then tucked away a penalty five minutes later. A pulsating finish saw Sergio Ramos sent off for preventing Jesus from going clear and Madrid's captain will now be banned for the second leg at the Etihad Stadium on March 17.

City's two away goals will make them heavy favourites to go through, even if manager Pep Guardiola was quick to discourage complacency.

"It's still not over," he said. "If there is one team that can overcome this it is this club (Real Madrid) with their experience and their history."

"We know the situation," said Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane. "We have to go there and win."

Madrid have now won only one of their last five games, with the Clasico

against Barcelona in La Liga to come on Sunday. "We are on a bad run but we have to get ourselves out of it," said Zidane. "Sunday is a chance to change."

Guardiola sprung a surprise by picking De Bruyne up front and leaving Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho all on the bench.

"We played without a proper striker because of the way they defend," said Guardiola.

"They are so aggressive down the

middle and when that happens you have to make the pitch wide." His gamble paid off handsomely, even if Nicolas Otamendi made the mistake that led to Isco's opener while an injury to Aymeric Laporte meant Fernandinho had to be introduced midway through the first half. Laporte must now be doubtful for Sunday's League Cup final against Aston Villa.

Guardiola insisted on Tuesday that Manchester City's two-year Champions

League ban, pending appeal, imposed

by UEFA for breaching financial fair play rules would not act as a spur for his players. But it was on the minds of travelling fans, who were singing against European football's governing body from almost the first minute.

The opening half was tentative with both teams' priority to stifle and City content to concede possession, so long as Jesus and Riyad Mahrez could race away on the break.

Jesus cut inside Raphael Varane but shot straight at Thibaut Courtois and on the stroke of half-time, the Brazilian came close again, this time Ramos blocking and Fede Valverde hacking away off the line. Real should have scored when Karim Benzema's header was palmed out by Ederson but Vinicius Junior slipped when about to tap in from five yards out with the goal at his mercy. City enjoyed their best spell after the break. Casemiro carelessly conceded possession and De Bruyne tore away, feeding Mahrez, who cut in and curled wide. Jesus drove another shot at Courtois. Zidane considered a change and Gareth Bale was warming up when Madrid took the lead. Otamendi failed to control a Rodri pass and Vinicius broke, with Kyle Walker and Fernandinho rushing to meet him.

Nadal cruises into quarter-finals at Acapulco tennis ChineSe fooTBaLL TRanSfeR MaRKeT CoLLapSeS in faCe of CoRonaviRUS Beijing: A double blow of the coronavirus and a new salary cap has seen the bottom fall out of Chinese football's transfer market, while Odion Ighalo led what could become an exodus of foreign stars.

Shanghai SIPG smashed the Asian transfer record when they signed Oscar from Chelsea three years ago for €60 million, with Hulk, Marouane Fellaini, Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez all moving to China in recent years. Their arrivals put Chinese football on the map and provoked consternation in Europe's major leagues that Chinese clubs were distorting the transfer market with world-leading wages. But with wages now capped at €3 million a year, and the Chinese Super League on hold over the coronavirus outbreak, China isn't the destination it once was. China's winter transfer window looks poised to close with a whimper on Friday, with Chinese Super League clubs spending just €28 million so far, the lowest since 2011. There were two notable departures with striker Ighalo joining Manchester United on loan from Shanghai Shenhua and Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco returning to Atletico Madrid from Dalian. China's domestic football is indefinitely suspended because of the virus outbreak, which has killed nearly 2,800 people in the country and has now spread around the world. Harry Belford Spencer, co-founder of First Pick Group, a Shanghai-based sports advisory company, said the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus had put off prospective foreign signings and dissuaded Chinese clubs from doing business. "You are not going to invest a lot of money as a club if you don't really know what's happening," said the Briton, who is involved in the Chinese transfer scene. "You are signing these players with the intention of them playing earlier (from the start of the season in February), and there's now this delay. "You don't want to build up a big wage bill and that's probably why you see a guy like Ighalo joining United because why would Shanghai Shenhua want him on their books paying a salary when they're not playing football?" Agencies

Tousart gives Lyon edge against below-par Ronaldo and Juventus Turin: Cristiano Ronaldo drew a blank as a Lucas Tousart goal handed Lyon a surprise 1-0 win over Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in France on Wednesday. Midfielder Tousart netted in the 31st minute to give Lyon a lead to defend when they head to Turin for the return on March 17. The goal came with Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt off receiving treatment, but it was just reward for an excellent first half by a Lyon side enduring a mediocre campaign. They then survived late Juventus pressure to claim their finest European result since defeating Manchester City in last season's group stage. "It was a top-class first-half performance from us. It was much harder in the second half, but I was happy with how we hung in there," said Lyon coach Rudi Garcia. "I said to the boys that when you're at home in the first leg it's very important not to concede, and now we need to go and score there. We must remain humble, it's only half-time." Maurizio Sarri's side have genuine ambitions of winning a trophy that has evaded Juventus for almost a quarter of a century now, but they could not claim a precious away goal here, with Paulo Dybala seeing a late effort disallowed. "In the first half it was not the Juve that we know. We didn't get going in attack. I am struggling to understand certain things," said Sarri, who thought his team could have had two penalties. Agencies

Bayern players big game drinking prep wows US rock star Jovi

AcApulco Agencies

World number two Rafael Nadal stepped up his bid for a third ATP Mexico Open title with an impressive display of serving and shotmaking to beat Serbian youngster Miomir Kecmanovic on Wednesday.

The Spaniard hit 20 winners as he kept his hopes alive of regaining the top ranking with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over the 20-year-old Kecmanovic to reach the quarterfinals at the Acapulco hardcourt tournament.

"He's a very dangerous player. Young, with a lot of power. I'm very pleased with the victory," Nadal said.

"I played a very good first set and that's important for me. That gives me confidence."

Next up for Nadal is Kwon Soon-woo, who reached

his fourth quarter-final of the month with a 7-6 (7/2), 60 upset against eighth-seeded Dusan Lajovic.

South Korea's Kwon also reached the last eight in Pune, New York and Delray Beach.

Nadal improved to 17-2 overall at this event. He needs to take the Acapulco title and have Novak Djokovic lose his semi-final match at this week's Dubai Tennis Championships to regain top spot.

Nadal roared to a 5-0 lead in the first set thanks to some superb serving and clutch winners.

In the second set, Nadal broke the Serb for a 5-3 lead but Kecmanovic broke back in the next game and held serve to level the set at 5-5.

Nadal, who made 17 unforced errors, clinched the match on the first match point when Kecmanovic blasted a forehand return well wide.

Munich: Bayern Munich's 3-0 Champions League last 16 first leg victory over Chelsea on Tuesday made an impression on US rock star Jon Bon Jovi for the relaxed way the German side prepared for the game.

The 57-year-old is in London to record a special song for Prince Harry's Invictus Game Foundation for military veterans. He told radio station Talk Sport on Wednesday he had been in his hotel bar on Monday as had the Bayern players. "I was minding my own business in the bar," Bon Jovi said.

"And the team were in there the night before last (Monday) and how they, on the power of whisky and beer, overpowered Chelsea last night doesn't say much for Chelsea's drinking habits either." Jovi, whose biggest hit was the 1987 single 'Livin On A Prayer', joked his indiscretion might get some of the players into hot water. Agencies

Japan at 'crossroads' on virus outbreak, expert warns Tokyp Agencies

Japan is at a "crossroads" in its bid to prevent a major coronavirus outbreak and may need to reconsider the Olympics if domestic transmissions are not brought under control, an expert advising the government has warned.

Norio Ohmagari, an infectious disease specialist, told AFP in an interview he believes measures being taken by the government can still prevent the virus from spreading more widely, but that the next three weeks will be critical.

"We are now on the crossroads for the containment of the COVID-19... within our country," said Ohmagari, director of the department of infectious diseases at Japan's National Center for Global Health and Medicine.

Japan has confirmed at least 186 domestic infections, including three deaths since the outbreak began, and

the government has come under pressure for a relatively hands-off approach.

But Ohmagari, who helps advise the government, defended measures, including requesting -- but not ordering -- the cancellation of major events, and encouraging teleworking and off-peak commuting.

"If we keep going with what we are doing right now we do have (the) significant possibility for the containment or the elimination of this COVID-19," he said. He conceded however there is still significant uncertainty, which has cast a shadow as Tokyo gears up to host the Olympics from July.

Ohmagari said he would want to see domestic transmissions of the virus brought under control before the Games. "We have to see the situation at least three weeks from now," he said.

"If we can contain the secondary transmission within the country... I think that's a very good sign, and it's a

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very good signal for us to decide 'go' for the Olympics and Paralympics."

But if infections are continuing domestically, authorities will face a "big, big decision".

"If there is a significant outbreak or... a pandemic of this kind of infectious disease, we really have to think about holding this kind of large event, is it feasible or not?"

Friday, 28 February, 2020

SPORTS 15

QUETTA GLADIATORS DEfEAT ISLAMAbAD UNITED by 5 WICKETS raWaLPinDi

T

Agencies

HE Quetta Gladiators on Thursday defeated the Islamabad United by five wickets to claim yet another victory after a splendid innings by Jason Roy helped them get off to a good start.

Ben Cutting was instrumental in helping the Gladiators see the match through as he made a swashbuckling 42 runs from 17 balls, his innings featuring four huge sixes. Cutting hit the winning six to ensure Quetta won the match for his team.

The Gladiators looked in trouble at one point in time when Shane Watson fell cheaply for 9 runs from 8 balls, hitting only two boundaries. Ahmed Shahzad continued his poor form of the tournament, getting dismissed by a Shadab Khan delivery when he was only on 12 runs.

Azam Khan, on whom the Gladiators have depended so far, failed to live up to expectations as he got out on 10 runs from 11 balls. In walked skipper Sarfaraz and changed the dynamics of the game, scoring 33 runs from 20 balls to lead a Quetta resurgence.

Nawaz gave him much-needed support from the other end, scoring 25 off 20 balls. Cutting and Nawaz saw the Gladiators through to another victory, with the former finishing the match in style with a huge six.

Earlier, Jason Roy gave an excellent start to the Gladiators, scoring 50 runs from 38 balls. He hit two sixes and six 4s Ahmed Safi Abdullah dismissed him. Munro steered United to their 187-run total at the end of the innings by scoring an unbeaten 63 runs from 40 balls. He hit two sixes and six 4s during his innings.

Shadab Khan once again pitched in with the bat, making an impressive 39 runs from 25 balls, hitting two sixes and three 4s before he was caught

by Nawaz off a Cutting delivery.

TODAY’S MATCHES VS 8:00 PM MULTAN SULTAN

MuMbai Teenage prodigy Shafali Verma helped India earn a nail-biting win over New Zealand Thursday and reach the women's Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals, as defending champions Australia inched closer to joining them.

New Zealand won the toss at Melbourne's Junction Oval and opted to bowl, restricting India to 133 for eight after 16-year-old Verma gave them a strong start with three sixes and four fours in a quickfire 46. But they failed with the bat, narrowly missing their target despite a swashbuckling late charge by Amelia Kerr, leaving them on 129 for six.

"It's a great feeling when your team performs

LAHORE QALANDARS

Tymal Mills brought Gladiators back into the game with two quick wickets, dismissing Amad Butt and Asif Ali cheaply.

Right-arm pacer Naseem Shah picked up two early wickets and Mohammad Hasnain chipped in with one to put Islamabad United on the back foot on Thursday, as United lost three early wickets a little after five years were bowled in the game.

Luke Ronchi looked dangerous before he was clean bowled by a blistering delivery from teenage sensation Naseem Shah. The Islamabad United opening batsman made 11 runs from four balls before he was sent to the pavilion.

A few overs later, Shah took another scalp when he made short work of Malan, dismissing him in similar fashion as he did Ronchi, shattering the stumps by beating him with pace. Malan departed after scoring 10 runs from 9 balls.

Munro, who looked really dangerous, was caught near the boundary by Ahmed Shahzad off a Hasnain delivery. He scored 31 runs from 20 balls, hitting three 6s and two 4s.

SQUADS: ISlAmAbAD UnIteD: Shadab Khan (captain), Faheem Ashraf, Asif Ali, Luke Ronchi, Hussain Talat, Amad Butt, Musa Khan, Dale Steyn, Colin Ingram, Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Rizwan Hussain, Phil Salt, Zafar Gohar, Akif Javed, Ahmed Safi Abdullah, Saif Badar, Dawid Malan QUettA GlADIAtorS: Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Nawaz, Shane Watson, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hasnain, Ahsan Ali, Naseem Shah, Jason Roy, Ben Cutting, Fawad Ahmed, Sohail Khan, Tymal Mills, Abdul Nasir, Arish Ali Khan, Azam Khan, Keemo Paul, Khurram Manzoor, Zahid Mehmood

day in day out," said skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, after India become the first team into the last four.

"But we still made the same mistakes after a good first 10 overs -- we got a good start but couldn't carry the momentum. We can't make silly mistakes with harder games coming up."

After opening their campaign by upsetting four-time champions Australia, India beat Bangladesh, and their New Zealand victory made it three from three to ensure a semi-final berth for the second successive tournament. They still need to play Sri Lanka in Group B, with the top two from each of the two five-team groups qualifying for the knockout phase. Two-time finalists New Zealand are now 1-1 from their two games, with Australia two from three after crushing Bangladesh in Canberra by 86 runs, with Alyssa Healy cracking 83 and Beth Moody 81 in an imposing 189 for one -- the highest total of the World Cup so far.

New Zealand play Bangladesh next and should they win will set up a crunch clash against Australia on Monday to determine who joins India in the semifinals from their side of the draw. "We certainly can't dwell on this or sulk about it for too long," New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said of the defeat.

India started solidly before Smriti Mandhana dragged a Lea Tahuhu delivery onto her stumps.

Undeterred, the dynamic Verma clicked into

gear and clubbed two big sixes in a row to get the scoreboard moving. Rosemary Mair snapped a dangerous 51-run partnership with Tanya Bhatia (23) and Jemimah Rodrigues fell for 10.

Verma rode her luck at the other end, surviving dropped chances on 26 and 32, and looked destined for a half-century before holing out to Hayley Jenson near the boundary rope. Rachel Priest smacked two boundaries off the opening over in the run chase but she was gone by the second. Suzie Bates, the highest run-scorer in T20 World Cup history, soon followed, attempting a paddle sweep.

When Devine, who had made 50 or more in her last six T20Is, mishit a Poonam Yadav delivery and was caught for 14 they were in trouble. With 40 needed from the last three overs Kerr (34) rose to the challenge with a Shikha Pandey yorker preventing the six she needed off the last ball to win.

In Canberra, Healy and Moody put on 151 for the opening wicket against a hapless Bangladesh, who were guilty of fielding blunders, with numerous chances dropped.

Fargana Hoque scored 36 for Bangladesh but they were never in the run chase with Megan Schutt taking three wickets in their 103 for nine. "We just had really clear plans in our heads as to what we were going to do," said Healy. "It didn't feel easy batting out there, but we put up a good total."

Agencies

South Africa's Quinton de Kock claimed he had not felt under pressure as captain after a tense one-run win in a Twenty20 international against England earlier this month.

"I was still calm the whole way," he said, citing confidence in the knowledge his players understood if they stuck to the basics they could prevail in a tight finish.

De Kock's calmness has been tested considerably since then – and the challenge is set to be ratcheted up in a three-match one-day series against Australia, starting at Boland Park in the Cape Winelands on Saturday.

On the face of it, De Kock, 27, has been handed an almost impossible task.

Several of South Africa's most experienced players, including former captain Faf du Plessis,

fast bowler Dale Steyn and consistent scorer Rassie van der Dussen, have been rested. Aaron Finch will be leading what looks like a fullstrength touring side with the exception of Glenn Maxwell, who is missing because of surgery.

Steve Smith and David Warner, who returned to the scene of the sandpaper scandal in Wednesday's victory at Newlands retain their places. Already this season, De Kock has carried the burden of being South Africa's best batsman as well as being wicketkeeper and skipper.

South Africa's crushing defeat in the third Twenty20 international against Australia earlier this week meant they have lost five out of six series across all formats since the start of their tour of India in September.

The only exception being a rain-affected one-day series against England. During that time they have won only five out of 17 completed matches. In four of those wins De Kock has

been South Africa's top-scorer and in three of them he has been man of the match.

He has been his country's leading run-scorer in five of the six series and the second-highest run-scorer in the other. As an opening batsman, De Kock has top-scored for his side in six out of ten white-ball matches.

When he fails, as he did when bowled in the first over by Mitchell Starc in the first and third T20 matches, the rest of Never entirely comfortable and seldom articulate in facing the media, De Kock struggled to explain Wednesday's loss.

"I'm not too sure," he said. "It was just another blow-out."

When De Kock was appointed, Cricket South Africa's acting director of cricket, Graeme Smith, described his "unique outlook and manner in which he goes about his business", adding he was "tactically very street smart."

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RAWALPINDI

PESHAWAR ZALMI

Sri Lanka brings back Perera, Pradeep into T20 squad Colombo: Sri Lanka have recalled all-rounder Thisara Perera to the 15-member Twenty20 to play two matches against the visiting West Indies. The cricket board said right-arm medium-pacer Nuwan Pradeep, who was dropped from the three-match Twenty20 series against India earlier this year, was also brought back. Sri Lanka retained the ODI squad with the exception of Dimuth Karunaratne who skippered the 50-overs team, but does not play in the shortest form of the game. In the current three-match ODI series against West Indies, Sri Lanka has already won two and the series with one more match to be played in Kandy on Sunday. Agencies

Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup returned to Karachi for fifth year KArAChI: The champion will represent Karachi in the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup Grand Finals Turkish Airlines, flying to more countries than any other airline, arrived in Karachi at Defence Authority Country & Golf Club for the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup. Attendance for the event was high while local high-profile figures and members of the business community was also present. Established in 2013, the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup comprises 100 tournaments held around the globe at world-class facilities with over 8,000 players in total competing against one another. The winners of this year’s tournament will qualify for the Grand Finals in Antalya in November, when they have the chance to secure a place in the Turkish Airlines Open proam, and will fly Business Class with Turkish Airlines to stay at a five-star golf resort on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Representing Karachi, Sultan Mahmood secured his position as the champion with 43 points, while Aftab Nihal was runner-up, and Adnan Mahmood came third. The Nearest the Pin competition on the seventh hole was won by Adnan Mahmood for the men’s category and Annia Farooq for the women’s. Annia Farooq won the lowest gross score with 76. Gurhan Sozen, General Manager for Turkish Airlines Karachi, said “Thank you again to all of our wonderful guests who made the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup here in Karachi a huge success. What a great tournament it was to watch and congratulations to our winner of this stage of the TAWGC series, Sultan Mahmood. We wish him the best of luck in Antalya.” Press releAse

Pressure on skipper De Kock ahead of Australia ODI series Johannesburg

KARACHI KINGS

VS 8:00 PM

India pip New Zealand to reach T20 semis as Australia edge closer

Agencies

MULTAN

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Friday, 28 February, 2020

NEWS

IndIa says Us 'polItIcIsIng' commUnal rIots after commIssIon demands actIon WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI

I

AGENCIES

nDIA accused a US government commission of politicising communal violence in new Delhi that killed at least 32 people and injured more than 200.

Protests against a contentious citizenship law began on a smaller scale on Sunday but escalated on Monday — as US President Donald Trump started his two-day trip to India — and Tuesday into running battles between Hindus and Muslims in new Delhi’s north-east, where rioters armed with stones, swords and even guns were out in force. Sporadic violence-hit parts of Delhi overnight as gangs roamed streets littered with the debris of days of communal riots that have killed 32 people, police said on Thursday.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, which advises the US government but does not set policy, voiced “grave concern” about the violence which broke out as President Donald Trump was visiting new Delhi. “One of the essential duties of any responsible government is to provide protection and physical se-

curity for its citizens, regardless of faith,” said chairman Tony Perkins, a conservative Christian close to the Trump administration.

“We urge the Indian government to take serious efforts to protect Muslims and others targeted by mob violence,” he said in a statement.

India’s External Affairs Ministry said the commission’s comments were “factually inaccurate and misleading” and appeared to be “aimed at politicising the issue”.

On Thursday, burnt shops and public vehicles stood charred near a highway in Chandbagh, a Muslimdominated locality. Streets were littered with broken glass and charred petrol bombs as dozens of police in camouflage and helmets patrolled.

Several reports by Indian media outlets said Muslim localities in the Indian capital were attacked by Hindu mobs screaming pro-Hindu slogans.

The reports said these mobs rioted with impunity as the police appeared to aid the marauding crowds.

Muslim rioters, too, have been violent, and a number of Hindus, including security personnel, are among the dead and injured.

elderly mUslIm woman bUrnt to death by hIndU mob In delhI NEW DELHI: An 85-year-old woman is among those who died in the violence that has engulfed northeast Delhi over contentious citizenship law protests since Sunday. 34 people have died so far, the majority of whom were Muslims, and over 200 injured after four straight days of violence that saw vandalism, arson and stone-throwing.

Akbari was trapped inside her home in the neighbourhood of Gamri Extension after a mob set it on fire on Tuesday morning. Her son told NDTV that his mother was on the third floor of their home when her four grandchildren saw that a mob was approaching their home to set it ablaze. AGENCIES

Most of the violence, however, appeared to be targeting Muslims who complained that while Hindu mobs went on a rampage, the police went missing. A commissioner appointed by Democratic House Speaker nancy Pelosi, Anurima Bhargava, voiced alarm at reports that Delhi police “have not intervened in violent attacks against Muslims.” However, the Delhi Police have denied the allegations.

“The brutal and unchecked violence growing across Delhi cannot continue,” Pelosi said, adding: “The Indian government must take swift action to ensure the safety of all of its citizens.” Hours before the violence first began on Sunday, local politician Kapil Mishra, who is affiliated with Prime Minister narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, appeared at a rally against the citizenship law’s opponents and issued an ultimatum to the police to clear out the demonstrators.

He told the crowd at the rally if the police wouldn’t clear out the demonstrators, he and his followers would do it themselves.

Many people, including Hindus, believe Mishra and his Hindu nationalist supporters stoked the latest riots.

Trump downplays epidemic fears as virus spreads around world WASHINGTON AGENCIES

President Donald Trump has played down fears of a major coronavirus outbreak in the United States, even as infections ricochet around the world, prompting Saudi Arabia to ban pilgrims from visiting Islam’s holiest sites.

China is no longer the only breeding ground for the deadly virus as countries fret over possible contagion coming from other hotbeds of infection, including Iran, South Korea and Italy. There are now more daily cases being recorded outside China than inside the country, where the virus first emerged in December, according to the World Health Organization.

More than 2,700 people have died in China and some 78,000 have been infected. There have been more than 50 deaths and 3,600 cases in dozens of other countries, raising fears of a pandemic.

“I think that there’s a chance that it could get worse, a chance it could get fairly substantially worse, but nothing’s inevitable,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

His comments contradicted US health officials who urged Americans to be ready to cancel mass gatherings and work from home. There are 60 cases in the US so far.

Following Trump’s upbeat assessment, the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said it had detected the first case of unknown origin in the country, signalling that the virus may be spreading within communities.

The US and other countries are also bracing for more cases to be imported from abroad, with growing concern for poorer nations with weak health care systems.

With the virus spreading in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia suspended visas for visits to Islam’s holiest sites for the “umrah” pilgrimage, an apparently unprecedented move, raising questions over the hajj which starts in July.

The foreign ministry said it was also suspending visas for tourists visiting from countries where the new virus is a “danger”.

Several governments have now also advised against travel to Italy — which has 400 cases and 12 deaths. Iran’s neighbours have shut their borders, while Mongolia has suspended flights from South Korea and Japan.

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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